I Won’t Let the Execution Battalion Die, ~Even If the Empire Falls, We Want to Survive~ - Chapter 53: Ghost Hunt ⑦

“The ‘nightingale’ has returned.”

“Very well. Summon her here.”

Voices echoed through the dim hall.

Men’s voices crossed over the central large table.

“Following the northern Kavaraf region, she successfully fulfilled her mission in the south as well?”

“Even after returning from the capital, she’s gained numerous powerful supporters in various locations. Quite a girl.”

“At that time I never thought she’d break through the containment, but who arranged that carriage?”

“Apparently a capital collaborator. But since then, there are occasional gaps where we can’t track her movements.”

A silence more eloquent than a hundred words dominated the scene.

Then someone spoke:

“The current ‘nightingale’ has served us well.”

“Indeed. But she’s chirped a bit too much.”

“We should remove uncertain factors around now.”

“Now that we’ve finished solidifying our foundation in the capital, a compliant incompetent would be easier to handle going forward.”

The topic quickly shifted to other matters.

“We should exclude other anti-imperial factions from the capital soon.”

“If we make anonymous accusations to the Ceremonial Battalion, they’ll clean them up.”

“It would be bad if our side gets involved. We should bribe them to bring them in, then eliminate them after overthrowing the Imperial Household. The next ‘nightingale’s’ first job.”

Seated at the hall’s large table were men who appeared to be nobles or quasi-nobles. There were also several senior officers and high-ranking clergy.

Guards armed with bayonet-equipped muskets were deployed at windows and doors, maintaining strict security.

A young woman entered. Yuo Nevilnel. Several guards stood behind her.

“Yuo Nevilnel, I have returned.”

“Don’t use that name here. Handle words of power carefully.”

An authoritative voice rang out, and Yuo bowed her head.

“My apologies.”

“Let’s hear your report.”

A cold voice echoed, and Yuo nodded.

“Yes. Regarding comrade acquisition in the south, we’ve newly obtained consent for cooperation from Judan City’s Archbishop, Navy Admiral Fridolf, as well as the Makaran and Dines families. They said they’ll send secret envoys for specific negotiation conditions in the future.”

Her words prompted successive responses from everyone:

“Is this true?”

“Mm. Admiral Fridolf has already sent a secret envoy.”

“A secret letter from the Archbishop arrived just recently too. No mistake.”

Yuo kept her head bowed as if she couldn’t hear their voices at all.

And they too seemed to not see Yuo at all.

“We’ve gained powerful supporters in the concerning south as well. Now we can take superiority over southern anti-imperial factions, especially that detestable Duke Weinesburg and the Pilgrim Knights.”

“We absolutely cannot hand over leadership after overthrowing the Imperial Household. Other anti-imperial factions must be purged.”

After this conversation, they looked at Yuo.

“You’ve worked well, ‘nightingale.'”

“We must verify properly, just to be sure.”

“Indeed. We can’t have ghosts of ghosts appearing.”

Then they ordered the soldiers:

“Shoot that woman dead right here.”

The soldiers behind Yuo immediately raised their guns.

But when gunfire thundered through the hall, it was the men who fell.

“Uwaah!?”

“What are you doing!”

“Have you betrayed us!”

“Guards! Shoot these men!”

The few musket soldiers couldn’t kill everyone in the hall. After firing once, they’d have no bullets.

The security musketeers immediately raised their guns.

And shot the anti-imperial faction members without hesitation.

“Guaaah!”

“You too!?”

“Wh-what’s happening!?”

When the gunfire stopped, the musketeers charged at the anti-imperial faction members with gleaming bayonets.

The anti-imperial faction desperately resisted using chairs and comrades’ corpses as shields.

“Stop! Please stop!”

“Do you think you can get away with this…”

Screams echoed through the hall, but the musketeers repeated bayonet thrusts with perfect coordination. The screams rapidly weakened and decreased in number. Then became quiet.

More precisely, they kept stabbing until it became quiet.

All survivors in the hall turned toward Yuo and saluted at attention with utmost respect.

A silence more eloquent than a thousand words flowed.

Yuo stood above that silence, looking down at the nobles who had fallen and were bleeding.

“In the end, these people were no different from the Imperial Household. They were just power-hungry ghosts who wanted to become rulers themselves, thinking nothing of us commoners’ lives. As long as anti-imperial factions fight among themselves, nothing will change even if we overthrow the Imperial Household.”

Dry gunshots rang out from outside—bang bang—accompanied by screams. They were suppressing the anti-imperial faction’s attendants.

Soon a young navy second lieutenant and an elderly priest appeared.

“Lady Nevilnel, reporting. We’ve completely suppressed this old castle. As you requested, we handled it with warning shots only. No casualties on either side. My subordinates are watching the prisoners.”

“Thank you. I’ll explain to the prisoners myself.”

“Haha, we’ll gain more allies again!”

“Well, there’s nothing better than that. After all, the scriptures say ‘the blood you spill, you yourself must bear.’ I’m nearly old enough to be called by God—I don’t want to bear any more.”

The young second lieutenant and elderly priest laughed cheerfully.

After nodding in response, Yuo turned her gaze to the guards.

“I am no longer a ghost’s puppet. Neither are you. From here on, let’s do as we please. Will you come with me?”

The soldiers covered in blood splatter smiled broadly.

“Of course, Lady Nevilnel.”

“We’re sick of risking our lives for these people’s orders, but if it’s your orders, we’d even punch the Emperor!”

“Let’s do it, Lady Nevilnel! For our future!”

Yuo smiled while bowing deeply, giving them their next instructions.

“Thank you. Then Chief Priest Uzaia, please arrange memorial services and burial for the bodies. Second Lieutenant Matis, send word to Admiral Fridolf and the Pilgrim Knights: ‘The nightingale is in the sky.'”

“Yes ma’am!”

A battle of no return was about to begin.