“When we were planning the assassination, it was difficult to know the Major’s exact physical condition. We didn’t expect Luke Illum to restore him to this extent. It wasn’t a misjudgment on the Guild Master’s part.”
“Haha, such flattery.”
Livio, somewhat pleased by Yuki’s words, tapped his mouse with his finger.
“…I hear General Bismarck is advocating for a medal for Major Hyun?”
“Yes. He’s actively pushing for a hero’s medal, citing the suppression of the villain organization’s terror, clearing the hidden dungeon in the city center, and now preventing the dungeon break.”
“Hmm, how are others reacting?”
“The higher-ups seem to be wavering, using the pretext that showing inclusivity towards the Major would help dilute the criticism about disadvantaging an internal whistleblower.”
“Tell them to give it to him.”
“…Pardon?”
Yuki’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected response. It was understandable, as when the medal awarding was first mentioned, Livio had expressed opposition to Iberis, stating that they shouldn’t empower him further. The conservative members of the Awards Committee had been rejecting the approval based on his opinion.
“I remember you saying that the Major shouldn’t receive more attention…”
“That’s right. But getting rid of Luke Illum is more urgent now.”
Livio said as he replayed the video. In the footage, Iberis achieved an overwhelming victory despite not being in top condition. What if he recovers smoothly from here? It would be nothing short of a disaster for Livio.
“If Captain Illum disappears, the Major will become weak again.”
“You mean…”
“The medal ceremony will probably be held at the European headquarters, right? Luke Illum will accompany the Major as his personal guide. We’ll aim to kill him then.”
Yuki gulped as Livio declared his intention to eliminate Luke Illum.
“Is it okay to do this so soon after the investigation has ended? It will raise suspicions again…”
Yuki cautiously expressed concern while watching Livio’s reaction. Even though Livio had officially apologized after sacrificing Isaac Miller to the military investigation bureau, many people still looked at him with suspicion.
If something were to happen to Iberis’s guide in this situation, it was clear that people would suspect Livio without exception.
“It might be better to wait until public opinion completely settles down before making a move…”
“No. Once branded, I’ll be suspected if anything happens to Major Hyun or Captain Illum. We can’t do nothing out of fear. What if the Major regains his health? Then it’s all over.”
Livio cut off Yuki’s words and spoke firmly. Iberis was an opponent he couldn’t guarantee victory against even when not in best condition. He had to prevent him from fully regaining his health at all costs.
“As long as we don’t leave a trail, it doesn’t matter what we do. Even if suspicions arise, they can’t do anything without evidence.”
“Ah.”
“As you said, if another incident occurs in Zone N, people will immediately suspect me. But if Captain Illum, who’s attending the ceremony, meets with an unfortunate accident, it’s a different story. Besides, we have a useful card to play.”
“A useful card…?”
“I’m talking about Carlos Norris.”
Livio mentioned Carlos with a cold smile.
“What’s he up to these days?”
“As you ordered earlier, we sent him back to his family home in Italy and hired a con artist drug dealer to feed him alcohol and drugs daily. We also disguised a villain with hypnotic abilities as a bartender at his regular pub to occasionally give him suggestions. Recently, he’s been going around saying he’ll kill Luke Illum every day.”
“Good.”
Livio smiled with satisfaction. He never intended to accept Carlos as a guild member from the beginning.
He met him once under the pretext of an interview, thinking he might have useful information, but that was it. Livio used the excuse of pressure from General Bismarck to apologize to Director Norris and cancel Carlos’s employment. Instead, he recommended a few other guilds.
Of course, all the guilds Livio introduced were under his influence. In the end, Carlos failed to get a job. Greatly disheartened, he returned to his family home and got hooked on drugs, falling for his new drinking buddy.
“Though addled by alcohol and drugs, he’s still an A-class esper. Captain Illum might be an S-class guide, but Carlos is one step above in combat ability.”
“So the story is that Carlos, harboring resentment towards Luke Illum for kicking him out of the military, impulsively attacks him?”
“Exactly. And conveniently, his uncle, Director Norris, is at the European branch. He came to see him and encountered Illum by chance.”
“It seems like a good plan. I’m slightly concerned about Carlos Norris having interviewed with our guild, though…”
“He interviewed with other guilds afterward, so it should be fine. Even if things go wrong, they can’t pin us down with just that. Make sure to deal with the drug dealer who got Carlos addicted properly.”
“Leave it to me. Addicts dying from overdose is an everyday occurrence, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Good. Then immediately contact the conservative members of the Awards Committee. Tell them to agree but insist on holding the ceremony at the European branch.”
“Understood.”
“Huh, to think we have to use this much brainpower just to kill one person… It’s tiring.”
Livio pressed his eyes with a tired expression. When he was a major general in the Defense Force, he didn’t need to rack his brains like this; he just had to give orders, and his subordinates would take care of everything. Now, there were too many things to worry about.
There were certainly comfortable and good aspects of being a guild master, but he lacked the most important thing: ‘power’. Not only that, he had to be mindful of investors and public opinion. Being a civilian status also came with too many restrictions.
That’s why he became even more obsessed with returning to the Defense Force. Livio wanted to regain his past glory and power. No, he wanted to sit at the very top.
“I’ll leave this task to you.”
“Yes.”
“No matter how much I care for you, I won’t tolerate failure twice. You understand?”
“…I will not disappoint you.”
Yuki answered with a grave face. Not only for Livio’s sake but also to ensure his own safety, this mission had to succeed. One wrong move, and he too might be discarded like Isaac Miller.
* * *
“A hero’s medal?”
Iberis, who had come to Lucas’s office at the usual time for guidance, blinked at his words.
“Yes, I just received a call from General Bismarck. The Awards Committee has approved it.”
Lucas, sitting on a bed set up in one corner of the office, extended his hand as if inviting Iberis closer and explained the news he had heard.
“The awarding ceremony is in two weeks. The headquarters will soon send an official document to our unit. The location isn’t certain yet, but it looks like it will be held at the European branch.”
“Hmm…”
“Are you not keen on it?”
Lucas carefully asked, observing Iberis’s expression.
“To be honest, I’m a bit… Why so suddenly…”
“Ah, this medal awarding was planned by General Bismarck.”
“General Bismarck?”
“Yes. Former Major General Logan cut his losses and ran this time, didn’t he? It seems the General judged it better to keep the topic alive rather than letting it fizzle out. It was intended to empower you, Major, but if you don’t like it…”
“Ah, if that’s the case… it’s fine.”
Iberis’s face finally brightened. For a soldier, a medal means more than just honor. It increases various welfare benefits provided by the military and is advantageous during promotion reviews. Above all, even among the same rank, there’s an implicit hierarchy based on the number of medals one holds. Naturally, this increases one’s voice and influence within the military.
“As your recognition and standing increase both inside and outside the military, not only former Major General Logan but also the executives involved with him won’t be able to touch you carelessly.”
“I suppose so. It’s surprising the approval came through.”
“The situation is different from the past. From the leadership’s perspective, they need to quell the criticism towards the Defense Force as soon as possible… They might be trying to make a gesture of reconciliation by awarding you a medal.”
“I see. So when do we need to depart?”
“They asked us to arrive at the European branch two days before the ceremony. General Bismarck also plans to attend the event, and if it’s alright with you, he’d like to have tea with you.”
“Alright. I was planning to thank the General anyway, so that works out well.”
Iberis nodded slightly and naturally placed his hand on Lucas’s shoulder. In response, strong arms wrapped around his waist as if they had been waiting for this moment.
“And this is a personal suggestion, but…”
Lucas, uncharacteristically hesitant, trailed off. He cleared his throat briefly and proposed what he had been thinking since receiving Winfried’s call.
“Looking at the records, I noticed you haven’t taken a break in the past few years. So I was thinking… how about taking some rest on this occasion?”
“Hm? Are you saying I should take a vacation?”
“Yes, how about ten days or so before and after the ceremony?”
“Ten whole days?”
“Given how much vacation time you’ve accumulated, I think even ten days is too short… Anyway, I hear ‘ho-cance’ (hotel vacation) is popular these days. How about renting a hotel suite and getting some good rest? Or we could go on a short trip.”
