"Right after the final exams, Ivan gathered his group again. It was Isabel's usual dinner gathering.
"Yu-jin, any quests?"
"Nothing has appeared, sir."
Well, if the situation was urgent enough to disrupt the current state of affairs, he would have reported it before being asked.
Ivan nodded gravely, lost in thought.
'Does this mean quest warnings are meaningless unless they come right before an incident?'
This was a major problem. He had judged Yu-jin's role to be similar to an early warning system. But what use is an early warning system that only alerts you when the situation is already too urgent to handle?
While having the powerful advantage of being able to view others' real names and information, that was more in the realm of intelligence gathering rather than warning.
'Even if we recognize a situation like Tilles right before it happens, we can't respond.'
Events like the Three Earls' Rebellion needed to be prevented from the start to be resolved without casualties.
"We need to go to Kalion during winter break."
Ivan gathered his thoughts and looked over the group. Except for Elfihera, no one seemed pleased.
It didn't matter. The number of people he could take was limited anyway.
"Isabelle, Oskar."
"Yes."
"Yes!"
First, the Tilles group.
To calm the unsettled public sentiment in Tilles after the civil war, they needed to return to their homeland. The daughter of Maximillian and the son of Gil Ber—their names carried weight at this moment.
"Help stabilize the situation in Tilles."
"What difference will I make by going...?"
"Ugh, I wanted to go to Kalion too!"
Ignoring the two complainers, he turned to Asidis next.
"Your role is important."
"You want me to teach those Kalion pointy-ears what real music is?!"
"No. Return to your homeland."
"Huh...?"
Whatever the next major episode might be, it would happen in either Kalion or Droan. While Ivan could respond on-site in Kalion, that wasn't possible for Droan.
If something were to happen in Droan during his absence, he would miss the opportunity entirely. He had to prevent that.
"Yu-ri, Yu-jin. Act together with Asidis."
So Ivan planned to assign Yu-ri to her. She was the person with the highest "combat power" in this group right now.
The Knight Department's first year had Huskarls. However, Yu-ri was still the top practical student in the first year. The meaning was simple.
This transmigrator had already developed combat abilities stronger than a Huskarl just two years after transmigration.
An absurd growth rate. If we assume all transmigrators have some kind of "transmigration privilege," this kid's privilege would be the easiest to understand.
"Talent." Overwhelming and brilliant. At a level that made her seem like the protagonist of a growth-type overpowered character story.
Therefore, he planned to assign her to Asidis. In any situation, she should be able to extract Asidis safely.
"Wouldn't it be better for me to follow you, sir?"
"It's dangerous."
"Well, when hasn't it been?"
"No. Your mental barrier is too weak."
Even a simple "courage enhancement" could change his personality. Yu-jin was exceptionally vulnerable to mind sorcery.
And Kalion was the place where the most skilled mind sorcerers in this world gathered. While physical attacks could be countered, Ivan had no means to protect his companions from mental attacks.
Additionally:
"We need someone who can respond immediately on-site when a quest triggers. I can handle things in Kalion, but in Droan, you'll have to do it."
Someday in the distant future, Yu-jin would need to be able to replace him. His talent as an infiltration agent was truly overwhelming.
"Even if I respond... if something like the Tilles situation happens, what could I possibly do...?"
"Contact Patricia through the church and request military support from the Intelligence Command. Droan is closer than Tilles."
When Ivan first thought this world was an academy genre story, the first Hero Party he contacted was Asidis's.
She was also the first person to cross the border for enrollment, but the physical proximity of Droan couldn't be ignored either.
Hearing Ivan's words, Yu-jin quietly nodded.
He then surveyed the remaining members in the room.
Elfihera. The most essential personnel if going to Kalion.
Oswald. Son of a Privy Council member and engaged to the daughter of the Privy Council Chairman.
Lucia. A scout who would support Yu-jin as she did during the Tilles incident.
And Lundis. The only one who could serve as a vanguard in this composition that was severely lacking frontline fighters.
He formed a basic party with these four.
Not bad. Since there was almost no overlap with the previous Tilles team, it would allow for balanced growth of all party members.
"Elfihera."
"Ah, yes!"
Elfihera jumped in surprise looking at Ivan, then quickly dropped her gaze back to the table.
Trying to understand a teenage girl of that age would be foolish. Perhaps she didn't like his face or something.
Of course, such things were meaningless. What mattered was utility and function.
"We'll need to prepare a smuggling ship headed for Kalion."
"What...?"
Elfihera responded blankly. Smuggling ship? Suddenly?
"Can't we just cross over to one of the three major Tilles ports and follow the sea route? If we hurry, we could arrive within ten days."
"That won't work."
Krasilov was a country serious about domestic counterintelligence, and Tilles was currently the most unstable land in the United Kingdom.
If they used the train route to Tilles, they would certainly be caught in the Intelligence Command's information network. Elizabeta would notice the moment he boarded the train.
Then they risked being intercepted before even crossing half the country.
"My movements can't be known in this country until I have results."
"What? What does that... mean?"
Elfihera was confused.
Ivan nodded deeply. His gesture was answer enough without words. Elfihera sighed and clutched her forehead.
"This guy is really crazy. You're a civil servant... no, a soldier. Isn't this insubordination?"
"If I fail, yes."
But if he succeeds, it's an achievement.
"Originally, the Annihilation Squad wasn't a military branch that operated with superior unit approval."
"If I were the superior unit commander, I would have dealt with them long ago..."
"They did."
"Oh."
At Ivan's response, the group bowed their heads.
The Annihilation Squad was a rear infiltration unit. It was a military branch that was allowed to act first and report later in all cases. They operated in areas where it was impossible to disclose operation details to headquarters.
Therefore, almost everything about the unit was determined by the field commander's leadership ability and loyalty.
If they had been moderately unsuccessful and incompetent, they might have been treated as just a somewhat special military branch. But in those days, the Annihilation Squad was too effective a weapon.
A sharp blade that didn't listen, that could always change direction. The purge of the Annihilation Squad would have been natural. Even if Kirill had been in his right mind, the Annihilation Squad would certainly have been purged.
But Elizabeta would never do such a thing. It was because of the trust that had continued since those days. She was a commander who trusted field judgments.
So it's fine. This isn't insubordination, but rather a somewhat bold operation execution.
"No, mister. If Her Highness hadn't come to rescue us during the Tilles incident, wouldn't we all have died there?"
"This case is different."
"...How?"
"Because Beolgrin is alive."
The situation is different from Gil Ber, who had almost no real power and bore almost all the political burden.
Kalion is a country that operates its state affairs through the Privy Council's decision-making. It's a type where royal authority is so weak it's barely visible, and parliamentary authority is overwhelming.
Therefore, it could be said to be the most political country in this world. And politicians never put all their eggs in one basket.
Power excessively concentrated in one person is never tolerated in parliamentary politics.
Although Kalion's power relationships are mostly unknown outside the country, there is one thing that can be certain.
The point that Beolgrin would have minimal power within Kalion. Even if he did have power, it would be no more than an honorary position.
That means Beolgrin's autonomy would be greatly guaranteed.
A Hero Party member who can act freely is a disaster in itself. Ivan found it difficult to even think of a way to kill such a Beolgrin.
If such a level of disaster was imminent, if there was no time to act, a quest would certainly have appeared.
'The fact that Yu-jin remains silent alone means we can respond in advance.'
So Krasilov's assistance isn't necessary for this operation. If he can just make contact with Beolgrin, there should be few problems.
If he can secure Alexandr and return home...
'Finally.'
In front of the graves of his many fallen comrades, he could stand tall and lay flowers.
Ivan quietly lifted his teacup to his lips.
With superhuman patience, he was able to calm his trembling hands.
It was finally time to end the mourning he had postponed. It wasn't far off.
Three months until the end of winter break. Just under 100 days—a short time.
Though 30 years had passed since he came to this world, what were mere 3 months? Ivan was of the Annihilation Squad, and the Annihilation Squad specialized in waiting, lying in ambush, and remaining silent.
A trained agent can lie in wait in one place for over ten days without moving. Three months is not a long operation.
With luck, it could be even shorter.
Ivan quietly smiled.
"Smuggling ships are my specialty! Remember? Lord Coenwulf basically entered through smuggling! He was planning to return home this winter anyway."
Let's launch an airship!
Elfihera exclaimed confidently.
"Your Highness."
"Yes?"
The trade routes crossing into Tilles are in shambles. After the Three Earls' Rebellion, there are countless broken railway lines and severed trade routes.
So it's difficult even to obtain essential materials for winter. Though they could barely avoid famine with stockpiled food, if they couldn't stabilize logistics, winter would be harsh.
Fortunately, the military industry was booming, so securing resources throughout Tilles and the entire United Kingdom wouldn't be difficult.
Good, the country is becoming more stable.
With the submission of the 1st Corps, the regime was finally complete.
'Now if I just deal with Alexandr properly, I can hold the coronation...'
Absolute royal authority that no one could oppose. Under the guise of constitutional monarchy, finally transferring all responsibility to parliament while claiming only authority in this dictatorship.
'No matter who I marry, no one would dare stop me.'
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she had devoted herself to state affairs solely for this day.
Recently, Elizabeta was in an unprecedentedly joyful state. During this past month, Ivan had quietly obeyed, shaved his beard, the 1st Corps had submitted, and colonies had increased!
Even Kalion's big-eared pirates wouldn't dare attempt a show of force with airships under Dwarven firearms.
'If we get through winter well, we might attempt gunboat diplomacy by spring next year.'
If it's certain that Alexandr is in Kalion, she could pressure them by bringing up the rudeness of sending Coenwulf to the last tournament.
Power comes from military strength. And from the moment the Great Fire Network was prepared, Kalion could no longer look down on Krasilov.
After smoothly receiving custody of Alexandr and beheading him in front of Kirill's throne. Only then would she succeed to the throne.
And at the coronation ceremony, in front of the blessings of all the people of this country, proudly—
'Would March be good? Hmm. But I want to wear sleeveless, so April might be better? The thinner the dress material, the prettier. Yes, yes. Perfect.'
Elizabeta sorted her documents with a pleased expression and looked up.
Come to think of it, Dmitri had requested an audience. Probably a report about Tilles.
"Yes? What is it?"
"Um, well, uh... um. Your Highness. It's..."
"Speak quickly. My time is limited."
"Lord Yeremov has disappeared."
-Crack.
Without realizing it, she crushed the fountain pen she was holding. Dmitri quickly fell to his knees and exclaimed:
"I swear, I absolutely know nothing about this. Pavel, maybe it was Pavel? I, I have no real power!"
"Summon Pavel."
"Yes, yes!"
"And distribute notices. No, not notices. Deploy agents. How many agents remain in Pritzenkaya now?"
"A little over one hundred and sixty."
"Deploy them all. Have agents cover all land routes, sea routes... all directions heading to Kalion! Summon Pavel, and tell Pavel to organize and report on smuggling routes!! I'll give him 30 minutes!!"
"Yes, yes!!"
Dmitri fled, trembling.
Elizabeta trembled violently, then threw the inkwell.
"Treason! Treason! This is treason!! This is insubordination!"
Shortly after, Pavel arrived, surveyed the mess, and quickly prostrated himself.
"I will do my utmost to bring the criminal back, Your Highness."
"...When you apprehend the criminal, be sure to deliver my message."
"Command me."
"I will sentence you to indefinite imprisonment. Return home prepared for house arrest for the rest of your life."
"I congratulate you in advance on your marriage."
"Enough flattery! Go!"
"I receive your command, Your Highness."
Pavel withdrew with a grin.
Now that the commander has finally become a married man and stepped down as a state minister, the Intelligence Command belongs to me, Pavel! he thought.
I'll include a generous wedding gift, he added to himself.
Side ep. Shaving the Beard, and Becoming a Traitor.