I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 167

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 167

There was no second chance.

The officers from the Inspection Department attached themselves to Lieutenant Colonel Gavel and Belin, restraining both their arms.

“Who do you think you’re touching right now…”

“From what I’ve heard, it seems certain, so don’t try any tricks. It’ll only be bad for you. Take them away.”

The Lieutenant of the Inspection Division left the quarters first.

Lieutenant Colonel Gavel and Belin, who were dragged out behind him, were loaded into a carriage and escorted to the Inspection Department.

And this fact spread quickly through the other officers who had been holding their breath and listening from their quarters as soon as the afternoon shift began.

* * *

“Ha…haha! Lieutenant Paran! Is work going well?! I’m really grateful that you’re always working hard for our Support Division! Please have some of this while you work.”

6 PM.

As I was working overtime as usual today, an unfamiliar man with lieutenant colonel insignia came to the Planning Division carrying a box of donuts.

‘Who… was that?’

A face that was hazy in my memory.

However, fortunately I was able to quickly recall his identity.

“Oh my, loyalty! I’ll gratefully eat them. Director.”

Facilities Director Lieutenant Colonel Irent.

Someone I have no contact with either professionally or personally.

‘What’s with the donuts.’

Of course, I was starting to need some sugar.

But there’s no way he could have read my mind and bought them, so there must be a reason.

“Our Support Division has become incredibly clean and honest since the Lieutenant arrived! Haha! Lieutenant Colonel Gavel was completely out of his mind. I’ve had my eye on that guy for a long time.”

“Ah… yes.”

Lieutenant Colonel Gavel who was dragged to the Inspection Department after lunch today.

Why is he suddenly bringing up that story…

‘Don’t tell me he knows I reported him. No way, right?’

The report I submitted this morning.

Only about ten hours have passed since then.

Really, no matter how much this place is worse than a small business, that doesn’t make sense.

‘Right, he probably came because my power seems likely to grow stronger now that Lieutenant Colonel Gavel has been removed.’

If you think about it, wasn’t the most famous confrontation in the Support Division right now between me and Lieutenant Colonel Gavel’s faction?

It’s natural for people who were neutral to move when one side collapses.

“I don’t know much about it, but there seems to have been a problem. Still, isn’t it still under investigation?”

“Ah, is that so. I understand. Lieutenant Paran wouldn’t know about such matters! Haha! Anyway, the Lieutenant is our Support Division’s treasure, a treasure.”

Pat! Pat!

Lieutenant Colonel Irent patting my shoulder.

He seems to know something after all.

‘Shit, damn Inspection Department.’

It couldn’t have leaked from the Intelligence Agency, so it’s definitely the Inspection Department.

‘Don’t these guys have any concept of whistleblower protection?’

I definitely remember receiving training about it, but my head is spinning.

“If there’s anything inconvenient in your quarters or if your office desk breaks, just let me know anytime. I’ll replace it with the best one.”

“Th…thank you.”

“Keep up the good work! Fighting!”

“Fi…fighting!”

After awkwardly smiling and seeing off the facilities director, I sat back down in my chair.

“They say there are no eternal secrets, but lasting only ten hours is impressive.”

This is why being righteous in this damn military ruins your life.

‘I can handle it because it’s me, but what if it wasn’t me but, for example, the Captain from Personnel?’

I guarantee he would have been labeled as disloyal and rebellious, ostracized, and forced to discharge.

“Though discharge doesn’t seem too bad either.”

For a moment I thought it would be nice if someone would ostracize me too.

But unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

“Lieutenant Paran! What are you doing here at this late hour?”

“This is that medicinal herb that’s good for your health, and I suddenly thought of the Lieutenant while I was walking.”

“I see that I’m… from Oclo County, wasn’t I. If there’s ever anything inconvenient…”

Commanders visiting almost every 10 minutes.

As if word had spread that I was working overtime, it was truly endless.

And there’s one reason why they’re all visiting like this.

‘They’re asking me to save their lives.’

The Plan Director personally investigated and expelled Lieutenant Colonel Gavel, who had escaped investigation by the Inspection Department and Intelligence Agency.

Having heard this story, how could those with guilty consciences just sit still?

They need to score some points somehow to survive.

‘Just three boxes of donuts.’

What was surprising was that all the donuts came from the exact same store.

“Anyone who wants some, feel free to take them. I’m getting sick just looking at them.”

Donuts covered in sugar.

If I ate all of those, my stomach would definitely turn upside down.

“Thank you for the food.”

“Being next to the Section Chief gets us perks like this too.”

The department members who were working overtime with me took some food.

Meanwhile, I organized my documents a bit early.

“Let’s eat those and call it a day. At this rate, it looks like we won’t be able to work properly anyway.”

“But there’s still work that needs to be finished today…”

Captain Dennis pointed at the pile of documents with eyes that said he couldn’t handle it.

‘Hmm, why are there so many again?’

Actually, I know why there are so many.

The results from the recent bids all poured in this morning.

“Why don’t you go home first, Section Chief? That way, more won’t keep coming, right?”

Sergeant Major Kairon made a very sweet, but at the same time apologetic proposal.

“I’d feel too sorry to do that.”

“The work won’t decrease just because you leave first, so you don’t need to worry about it. We’ll just do a little more among ourselves and then head home.”

“Alright then, I understand. Thanks for your hard work.”

Since staying and apologizing would only bring more commanders looking for me, I packed my bag.

“See you tomorrow. Loyalty.”

“Loyalty.”

“Good work.”

Receiving salutes, I left work early for the first time in a while.

I should have realized then.

That this would be the last moment of leisure in my Support Unit life.

* * *

【Commander-in-Chief, the enemy’s movements are quite unusual right now.】

The voice of Major General Gadus, commander of Rimircastle, echoed through the communication device into the conference room.

“I saw the report. The enemies have started their activities.”

【Yes, the frequency of their reconnaissance missions has increased significantly. Moreover, it seems multiple forces are currently gathering at Belzium Castle.】

“Hmm.”

Since he never thought peace would last forever.

Bast’s reaction was calm, as if what was bound to come had come.

“That’s unfortunate. If the enemy had delayed just a little longer, we were planning to target Belzium Castle first.”

Now that the enemy had started moving, there was no reason to make a disadvantageous first strike.

After all, the one in a hurry was the opponent.

【Since the enemy’s movements have resumed, I would like you to send troop reinforcements to Rimircastle.】

A request that sounded perfectly reasonable to anyone.

Bast turned his head to look at General Calren, the Intelligence Commander.

“Does the Intelligence Agency’s assessment of the current enemy movements match what Major General Gadus said?”

“We couldn’t determine the exact scale, but we confirmed that enemy forces have moved to Belzium Castle. However.”

General Calren looked down at the map in the center of the conference room.

“There are reports that forces have moved not only to Belzium Castle but also to Golten Castle.”

“To Golten Castle? Why there?”

Bast showed a reaction of not understanding.

“The confirmed scale isn’t large, but there have been movements there twice.”

“If they’re going that way, the places worth targeting would be…”

Bast raised his head and looked down at the map just like General Calren.

“Adman Castle and Geshud Castle.”

“If it’s one of the two, it would probably be Adman Castle. Geshud Castle is too far from Golten Castle to attack directly.”

“Hmm, so they’re targeting Adman Castle.”

Bast stroked his chin with his hand while drawing various scenarios in his mind.

“That place shouldn’t be easy to capture. Come to think of it, didn’t Major General Gadus serve at Adman Castle?”

【Yes, that’s correct. It’s not quite a fortress, but it’s on high ground along a gorge, so it can’t be easily captured with ordinary preparations.】

“That means, if the enemy is determined to capture this place, other areas would inevitably be left empty.”

【Yes, which is why they probably won’t try to capture Adman Castle. It doesn’t have much strategic value compared to its difficulty.】

“Right. I agree with that assessment.”

Even just looking at the map, occupying Adman Castle wouldn’t have any particularly significant impact on the overall war situation.

【In my personal opinion, I believe this is a shallow enemy ploy to make us move troops to Adman Castle.】

Bast nodded at Major General Gadus’s words.

“There’s a good chance of that. What are your thoughts, Your Highness?”

Bast turned his head and asked Louis, who was seated at the high table.

“I have similar thoughts. However, just in case, it seems necessary to strengthen reconnaissance with existing forces and inspect our defenses.”

“Yes, I will give those orders.”

Bast answered on behalf of everyone at the Crown Prince’s words, while the other commanders took notes in their notebooks.

“Additionally, regarding Rimircastle, I think we should support them with troops as Major General Gadus suggested. What do you think?”

“I share the same opinion. Defending Rimircastle and furthermore occupying Belzium Castle is now our top priority, so we must commit our full strength.”

The advance was taking much longer than expected.

The occupation of Yalc Island had turned time to the Raikane Empire’s favor.

But it was only relatively less painful; the passage of time didn’t mean the Empire’s life would become more prosperous.

“If I had my way, I’d want to occupy Belzium Castle before summer arrives. When it gets hot, there are too many variables, aren’t there?”

Summer and winter.

These two extreme seasons were like hell for siege warfare, especially from the attacking side.

Winter was too cold for camping, and summer frequently brought dehydration and food poisoning.

No matter how great the difference in troop numbers, the risks were significant.

“I share the same thoughts. That’s why I’m planning to launch an attack without fail before this winter ends.”

“Do so. I will also head directly to Rimircastle.”

“Yes…!”

If Rosen had been present, he would have tried to dissuade him, but those here now were military commanders.

When their leader said he would personally take to the battlefield, there was no one who would oppose it.

“Additionally, there’s one more thing I need to report.”

As the discussion about Rimircastle was coming to an end, General Calren spoke up.

“Speak.”

“We recently confirmed that a large quantity of magical devices from the domain of the Abiel Ducal House headed toward Belzium Castle.”

“From the domain of the Abiel Ducal House? Why from there?”

The Abiel Ducal House, famous for magical devices.

However, military magical devices like magic bullets were manufactured in heavily secured facilities managed by the Imperial Court.

Therefore, the magical devices produced in the Abiel Ducal House’s domain were prototypes or small quantities of expensive magical devices.

“I don’t know that much, but they say several carriages went in.”

“Hmm, troubling. Is it completely impossible to determine what kind of magical devices they are?”

“Yes, that would be difficult to achieve.”

Since nothing was as important as maintaining cover in intelligence activities, General Calren answered decisively.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————