I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 233

—————

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

—————

Episode 233
“You’re telling me to submit a report on the investigation results?”
I was organizing documents when
Colonel Eden approached and said something I hadn’t anticipated.
“That’s how it is.”
He spoke as casually as if discussing today’s lunch menu.
I was quite taken aback.
‘Wait, why should I do that?’
First of all, the Intelligence Agency never reports investigation results to ordinary citizens.
Secrecy comes first in this organization.
And even if they did, Colonel Eden should be the one doing it—I’m just his subordinate.
“What on earth is the reason for this…?”
“When orders come from above, you follow them. Stop complaining. Colonel Eden’s face is already known to everyone, so that’s probably why.”
“That’s a face that shouldn’t be exposed any further…”
I was already deeply anxious about that realistic portrait circulating around.
This was like pouring oil on a burning house.
“But it doesn’t seem like this is purely a report of results.”
“Pardon? Then what is it?”
“See for yourself.”
Colonel Eden handed me a neatly folded piece of paper.
【DIRECTIVE】
To the citizens of Belzium Castle, corrupted by misguided ideologies and twisted minds, the correct truth…
‘Good grief, this is ridiculous.’
Reading the contents, it was essentially telling me to propagandize.
‘Though I suppose you could argue it’s not quite propaganda. After all, I’m just revealing the truth.’
In any case, I was being asked to persuade tens of thousands of people with words.
Looking at it plainly, they must have singled me out because of my recent experience giving speeches at the Training Camp.
‘Whatever happens… sigh, but they’re giving me Belzium Castle, so I’ll endure it.’
And besides, these will soon be my domain’s people.
Even if I have to do this, I’d rather reshape their minds myself than leave it in someone else’s hands.
“I’ll prepare for it.”
“How unusual—you’re not complaining.”
“It will be my domain, after all.”
“Remarkable. Since this is quite an important matter, don’t make any mistakes.”
“Yes, don’t worry.”
I answered with confidence and reviewed the directive once more.
‘Hmm, it would be nice to clear up the misunderstanding, but is there really a need to be this obsessive about it? I just need to win over public sentiment.’
Support ratings, you see.
Do they only rise when everything is flawless?
Not at all.
Even if I do something unconventional, as long as the results give people what they want, my favorability skyrockets.
‘Wait, this feels like an opportunity.’
An idea suddenly crystallized in my mind.
If I play this right, I might actually be able to squeeze some concessions out of His Majesty the Emperor.
“Colonel Eden.”
“Speak.”
“How would I contact His Majesty the Emperor? Do you know the method?”
I posed the question half in jest, but Eden’s expression twisted.
“What’s your intention behind that question?”
“Pardon? No, I was just joking. Why are you reacting so intensely?”
This man really doesn’t let me have any fun.
“Do you have some kind of proposal you want to make?”
“Yes, well, the speech itself is important, but the core of it is loyalty toward the Empire and His Majesty the Emperor, isn’t it?”
“And?”
“Distribute money. That way, favorability will skyrocket. From that position, if we then point to the Adits Empire as the culprit, won’t we gain considerable leverage?”
“Hmm.”
After hearing my proposal, Eden pondered briefly before nodding.
“You’re right about that. Distributing money, then.”
“We can’t be stingy about it. We need to make it clear that the Raikhan Empire is different, you understand? The impression matters.”
“So you’re saying we should manipulate people with money. That’s frightening.”
“What’s frightening about it? We’re just making things mutually beneficial. But if we’re going to do this, we need to execute it swiftly. Hmm.”
This required the Emperor’s decision.
Yet as merely a Colonel, I had no way to contact His Majesty directly, no matter how hard I looked.
‘Colonel Eden would tell the investigation commander, the commander would tell their superior, then the Instructor, the supreme commander, and finally the Emperor.’
Going through that chain would take at least a month.
“I’ll try to find a way to contact His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Pardon…?”
Eden said something I hadn’t anticipated at all.
How could a mere Colonel like him possibly find a way to contact the Emperor?
It sounded absurd, yet I felt genuinely grateful.
“You’re not even pleased that I offered to help.”
“I was just surprised. Please don’t overextend yourself.”
“Do I look like I’d overextend myself? You worry about the strangest things. Flesh out the plan in more detail.”
“Understood.”
Still, knowing my superior was going to find a way.
I returned to my room and added substance to my plan, refining the necessary parts.
“Simply distributing money won’t work.”
For example, suppose we gave each citizen of Belzium Castle 3 gold coins.
Would the people from other fortresses just sit idle?
And giving a few coins to the citizens benefits them, not me particularly.
Belzium Castle isn’t yet part of the Oclo Comital Family’s domain.
‘It benefits both sides to paint a picture of a hopeful future.’
And who better than someone from the Republic of Korea to know what blueprints make people go wild?
I’m an expert at this.
‘Silicon Valley, international trade hub. People absolutely lose their minds over stuff like that.’
I’ve never actually seen it come to fruition, but shouldn’t we at least extinguish the fire first?
And here, words carry more weight than they do in the Republic of Korea.
Especially words that come from the Emperor’s mouth—they’re almost always kept.
‘Belzium Castle must be in considerable pain right now, but the fact that it doesn’t show any sign of it proves it truly has gravitas.’
In the Republic of Korea, they would’ve made excuses and swept it all under the rug.
“Hmm.”
I laid out both the map of Belzium Castle and the map of the continent, then set my mind to work.
‘Let’s imagine we expand our territory all the way to Salt Castle.’
What strategic advantages would Belzium Castle’s position offer then?
The most obvious advantage is that it sits at the center, equidistant from everywhere.
And even if we expand further from there, Belzium Castle would be perfectly positioned for goods to pass through.
“A trade hub.”
But that alone won’t earn cheers from the people.
So what else is needed?
“The greatest thirst of the common folk.”
And something that nobles desperately want to establish in their own domains.
“An Academy—we need to secure an Academy.”
For reference, an Academy, being a higher education institution, cannot be built without the Emperor’s permission.
Because of this, they’re not particularly numerous, and building one is guaranteed to elevate a city’s status.
“Develop it into an advanced city utilizing the Mana Stone Mine.”
Honestly, this seems like such an excessive empty promise that I’d deserve to be thrown in prison.
But did I say I’d make empty promises?
I said I’d persuade the Emperor.
“If I only talk about the future, it might seem a bit much, so immediate reconstruction efforts from war damage would be perfect.”
A project to lay new roads and rebuild houses.
Naturally, the goal is to have the Emperor foot the bill.
“Okay, let’s go with this.”
A truly perfect plan.
My lips curled upward without my realizing it.
But there’s one problem.
“What good is a plan if I can’t even tell the Emperor about it?”
How would Colonel Eden even get an opportunity to speak with the Emperor?
Feeling the frustration, I prepared a bit more of the speech while handling the accumulated work.
* * *
“Your Majesty, Colonel Eden has just submitted a request for an audience through the communication channel.”
The Chief Attendant’s words caused the Emperor to lift his head.
“You mean Eden?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
When was the last time I took the initiative to request an audience?
It had been so long that I couldn’t even remember.
‘Did he become dissatisfied because I had Colonel Paran submit the results report? That shouldn’t be the case.’
Even if it were, he would never be the type to request an audience directly.
“However, Your Majesty, while he did request an audience, the content is rather unusual.”
“Unusual?”
“Yes… He says the person who wishes to speak with Your Majesty through the communication channel is not Colonel Eden, but Colonel Paran Oclo.”
“So he’s standing in for him.”
“It appears so.”
With anyone else, this could have been grounds for reproach.
But because it was Eden, the Emperor simply nodded in acceptance.
“Schedule it for tomorrow morning during an open time slot.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
The Chief Attendant, having heard the Emperor’s decision, bowed and left the room.
“I thought we might have a conversation after all this time, but it seems that won’t be the case.”
I hadn’t held great expectations, but just a little.
A faint hint of regret had truly seeped into the Emperor’s voice.
* * *
A yawn escaped me.
8 AM.
I’d worked until one in the morning yesterday and then left.
That meant I’d only managed five hours of sleep.
‘I’m absolutely dying here.’
What sin could I have committed in my past life to deserve living like this?
I’d never resented the heavens more.
“Today’s schedule has a site visit, then a security guard meeting, and….”
I mentally ran through my tasks for the day.
There was no end to it.
But the greatest problem was.
“Colonel Paran.”
“You’ve arrived. The weather is lovely today.”
I offered a light greeting as Eden entered the office.
‘This is literally the last stretch of perfect weather for enjoying myself.’
In a few weeks, it would probably start becoming unbearably hot.
“Drinking coffee first thing in the morning.”
Colonel Eden’s eyes fell upon the coffee cup in my hand.
‘Is he asking me to make him some?’
Anyway, you could just say it outright. How troublesome.
“I’ll brew you a cup and bring it right away.”
“Never mind. I’m not that tired.”
“I see.”
Not tired in the morning—that’s either inhuman or he simply didn’t work hard yesterday.
One of those two had to be true.
“More importantly, prepare yourself. I’ve scheduled it for 10 a.m.”
“I’m sorry…? Prepare for what?”
I hadn’t heard of any additional appointments yesterday, for the record.
‘I’m swamped as it is—what’s this 10 a.m. appointment about?’
Stress suddenly surged through me.
“You’re the one who asked for this. Why are you asking now?”
“I asked for…?”
“You said you wanted a private audience with His Majesty the Emperor. That’s at 10 a.m.”
“I…?!!!”
Clatter!
The shock made my grip falter, and the cup slipped from my hands.
“What are you doing? What a waste of coffee.”
“Are you serious? You really mean His Majesty the Emperor?”
If this were South Korea, I’d suspect he’d fallen victim to a voice phishing scam.
“Is there a fake His Majesty the Emperor somewhere? You’re saying dangerous things.”
“Ah…no, I mean…”
A private audience with the Emperor.
And only told to me a day in advance, happening the very next day.
Even my own father couldn’t pull off something like this.
“Stop wasting time being shocked and review the materials once more. Unless you’re trying to embarrass me.”
“Y-yes, but how on earth did you manage this?”
I was genuinely curious.
Colonel Eden paused briefly before speaking.
“The military runs on connections, Colonel Paran.”

—————

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

—————