I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 223

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 223

“Well, isn’t that just how people are.”

“Don’t generalize everyone by the Lieutenant Colonel’s standards.”

Eden shook his head and crossed his legs.

“But what’s the connection between the manastone and my assignment to the Intelligence Agency?”

No, didn’t they say a battle would unfold soon?

Then they should send me as an Infantry Battalion Commander or something.

The Intelligence Agency is a personnel decision that’s hard to understand.

‘Looking at the results alone, I’m thankful though.’

As I mentioned before, the Intelligence Agency has a higher survival rate than an Infantry Battalion Commander.

“Your intuition has really dulled. At this level, you should be able to figure it out on your own.”

“It would have been the same in the past. Where exactly is the hint?”

This is serious romanticizing of the past and overestimation.

“In Belzium Fortress, there are tens of thousands of people who were citizens of the Adits Empire just a month ago.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The population gained from occupying Belzium Fortress.

Most choose to live under the Raikhan Empire if you just guarantee their property.

If they really hate it, they abandon everything and flee in the night, but there aren’t many people with that level of patriotism.

For commoners to abandon their homeland means living as street beggars.

“Do you think they’re all ordinary citizens?”

“Don’t tell me… you’re talking about Reconnaissance Command.”

“What else could it be? At least dozens of them are probably active within the fortress.”

“Certainly… that does seem likely.”

A space where Adits Empire citizens are legally mixed in.

It’s far too easy for them to operate.

“Originally it wouldn’t have mattered. We could take time to verify identities and clean things up gradually. But a variable has emerged.”

“The manastone mine… there is quite a problem.”

Reconnaissance Command operating inside Belzium Fortress.

And the large-scale battle that will unfold soon.

What if they cause trouble and chaos from within?

The situation would become incredibly complicated.

“So we had to hide the discovery of the mine at all costs, but word got out from the miners’ side, and it seems the story leaked. Tsk.”

“Isn’t there Reconnaissance Command among the miners?”

“The possibility isn’t zero, but it’s significantly low. The work is too hard compared to what they’d gain.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Until the manastone was discovered, it was just an iron mine.

What information could they get there that would be worth swinging pickaxes?

It’s more likely they just failed to properly control the miners’ loose tongues.

Or maybe word got out from the administrative staff.

“So the job there would be to root out the Reconnaissance Command hiding in the fortress.”

“Currently, that would be the primary objective.”

From the way he’s talking, it seems like there might be more work piling up.

‘Spy hunting, this is already making me dizzy.’

This isn’t just combat, but a field that requires using your head intensively.

“It won’t be easy.”

“If it were easy, would I be involved in this?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Colonel Eden, who only gets deployed on difficult, life-threatening insane missions.

Looking at him now, I feel a bit sorry for the guy.

‘Why does he live such a difficult life?’

To say it’s because of patriotism, he’s not exactly that type of person either.

“What are you staring at?”

“Nothing at all. More importantly, do you have anyone captured?”

“They said there are a few.”

“That’s fortunate.”

I was worried it might be a ground-zero investigation, but if they have people captured, we just need to find the connections.

‘I should prepare to spend some points.’

Of course, I can’t spend too many.

Purchasing wisdom potions is more important than ever.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“You won’t get much from expecting things from me.”

After avoiding Eden’s burdensome gaze by turning my head away.

We exchanged a few more words and then naturally fell asleep in silence.

* * *

“I can only say the timing is absolutely the worst. Why suddenly now, when it wasn’t discovered for the past 80 years.”

Simon, thinking that heaven might have abandoned the Adits Empire at this point, pressed his throbbing forehead.

“Your Majesty, it’s still not the worst case. We can still bring it back, can’t we?”

Count Seto spoke hopefully.

As he said, it’s not the worst case.

Belzium Fortress is still on the front lines, and their battle formation isn’t organized yet.

“Can we target it from our position?”

“Originally, no. The losses would have outweighed the gains. But now the story has changed, hasn’t it?”

The manastone mine.

We don’t know how much is stored there, but even if it’s below average, a manastone supply source located on the front lines?

Its value is beyond monetary calculation.

‘It’s over the moment we give it to them.’

The atmosphere was already bad.

In this situation, the moment the Raikhan Empire builds a magic artillery production base at Belzium Fortress.

That firepower will completely destroy all of the Adits Empire’s fortresses.

“Right. The story has changed. It would have been good if it was discovered just a little earlier.”

Simon sighed in regret and leaned back against his chair.

“We need to gather troops. What scale are you thinking?”

“I haven’t made exact plans yet, but we need to gather the maximum force and achieve victory at all costs.”

“Maximum force.”

“Your Majesty, given how the situation has developed, I think we need to expand the scope of conscription.”

The Adits Empire’s conscription law.

The scope is determined by stages, and currently they’re conscripting men aged 18 to 35.

“How far?”

“To fill the gaps as much as possible, we should raise the age to 42 and increase the density of conscription itself.”

“Count, you know that if we expand things that far… there’s no going back.”

Public sentiment was already at rock bottom due to the prolonged war and defeat at Belzium Fortress.

Especially since the Adits Empire started the war, managing public sentiment is much more difficult than for the Raikhan Empire.

“It will be a bit difficult for now, but I’ll restore everything through victory.”

Count Seto was declaring a kind of ‘win to pay back’ strategy.

It seems reckless, but at the same time it’s not reckless.

They simply cannot let the manastone mine fall into enemy hands.

“Can you capture Belzium Fortress? They must have finished reinforcing the weak points that were discovered.”

What was reassuring when it was on our side means it couldn’t be more troublesome now that it’s turned enemy.

“A conventional siege won’t be easy. However, I will draw the enemies out of the fortress.”

“Out of the fortress? How exactly?”

Are the Lyckan Empire forces idiots?

With Belzium Fortress at stake, there’s no way they’d make the decision to come outside the fortress.

“We haven’t finalized the operation yet, but I’m thinking of utilizing the mine. After all, the mana stone mine is outside Belzium Fortress, isn’t it.”

“I see.”

“I’ll report immediately once the detailed operation is established.”

“Sigh, I’m worried but we have no choice.”

Simon’s face showed his fatigue.

After pondering for a moment, he nodded his head.

“We’ll do as the Count suggests. So make sure to return victorious.”

“Yes, I’ll personally go and reclaim both the mana stone mine and Belzium Fortress.”

Count Seto, having gotten what he wanted, bowed his head deeply.

Since he was essentially taking responsibility, Count Abiel didn’t oppose it in the general meeting either.

No, rather, since it involved the mana stone mine, he showed active support.

“Please let us know what assistance you need, and we’ll provide support.”

With the two Counts’ opinions unified for once, various matters including conscription began to be processed quickly.

* * *

“Sigh.”

The sight of Dembad, the central city of the west, was suffocating just to look at.

It was only natural to let out a sigh.

“Anyone would think we’d been captured by enemy forces.”

“I don’t think it’s much different.”

The physical fatigue was actually worse on this side.

“Tsk, if only you couldn’t talk. We have to go to Belzium Fortress tomorrow, so stop the useless chatter and follow me.”

“Yes.”

The reason we stopped by Dembad instead of going straight to Belzium Fortress was simple.

To gather necessary materials from the Western Investigation Unit and pay our respects.

‘So I’ve ended up belonging to this damn Western Investigation Unit after all.’

Just down the side path was my beloved Western Support Unit…

‘Though I don’t really miss it.’

It was quite tough back then.

The workload intensity at that time was truly hellish.

“I’ll check your entry pass.”

“Will an agent ID work?”

“Yes! Confirmed!”

After passing identity verification with the agent ID, we went through the iron gate and entered the investigation unit.

“Are we going to see the Commander right away?”

“We should.”

Isn’t the military the place that’s obsessively fixated on protocol to an insane degree?

We went straight up to the Commander’s office, where good news was waiting for us.

“Both the Commander and Deputy Commander are away today due to scheduling.”

“I see. Understood.”

Eden nodded at the adjutant’s words.

“I’ll let them know you came by.”

“Please do. We have to leave first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you for your work.”

Eden gave a brief greeting and turned around.

Where would we head next?

To where the Chief Inspector is, who comes after the Commander and Deputy Commander.

“I was wondering when you’d arrive, and it was today. Was the journey alright?”

Colonel Raint, who had been sitting in his office handling work, got up from his seat to greet me and Colonel Eden.

“The weather warmed up, so it was perfect.”

Colonel Eden said it was fine.

Watching him, Colonel Raint nodded.

“This is the perfect time. It’ll get hot soon enough, won’t it.”

“That’s right.”

“I heard the news. Already appointed as Chief Inspector. I should congratulate you, but knowing you’ve taken on such a difficult task, the words don’t come easily.”

Two Chief Inspectors under the Western Investigation Unit.

You might think it’s a bit strange, but even my personnel order has the word ‘special’ written on it, doesn’t it.

With the discovery of the mana stone mine at Belzium Fortress making things bigger, they separated it for efficiency.

“Instead of congratulations, I’d be grateful if you could help us a lot.”

Eden’s rare display of social skills.

At times like this, he seems normal.

“Let me know anytime you need help. Though we’ve separated it specially, Belzium Fortress is currently the Intelligence Agency’s top priority.”

“Yes.”

After finishing his conversation with Eden, Colonel Raint’s gaze turned to me.

“I knew you’d succeed greatly, but Lieutenant Colonel already. Your pace is extraordinary.”

“I’m just bewildered myself.”

“You’ll do well without me saying anything, but be especially careful this time. The current atmosphere is quite serious.”

The tone of his voice and the content.

It really seems quite serious.

“Understood.”

“I should share the situation with you. Both of you, sit down.”

Though we were quite tired from the forced march, we had no choice but to sit on the sofa since we needed to receive materials.

And so began the work discussion.

The information Colonel Raint poured out was all beyond what we had imagined.

“Currently, we believe there’s a Reconnaissance Command base inside the fortress.”

“An active base?”

“That’s right. Otherwise, the enemy’s response speed couldn’t be this fast.”

An enemy base inside the fortress.

This could function as a quite troublesome factor when it leads to combat later.

“Are there no clues about the location?”

“We’ve captured three people so far, but they absolutely refuse to talk. One even committed suicide taking advantage of a brief opening.”

Colonel Raint looked down at the map with a troubled expression.

“We considered searching, but you know, don’t you. Doing it half-heartedly would only give the enemy a better chance to hide.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So until the Lieutenant Colonel arrived, we only moved within limits that wouldn’t provoke them. I can’t leave this place in the current situation.”

You might think he worked carelessly.

But he handled the work optimally.

“Thank you. I’ll take over from here.”

“Please do.”

The handover continued after that.

Even though they said they didn’t provoke them, the investigation must have been active.

The amount of documents handed over was considerable.

‘Being Chief Inspector really isn’t an easy position.’

I definitely shouldn’t do that job.

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