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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Adjutant Arrives
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As I stood dumbfounded, Ernst looked at me.
His eyes, brimming with expectation, seemed to say, "My capable subordinate has done it again!" doubling the pressure on me.
"How on earth did you manage to get that quiet scholar to talk? Tell me, so you can advise the interrogators as well."
At Ernst's words, Sergeant Wendelin also looked at me, a smile playing on his lips.
I understood. They wouldn't know the details of the interrogation since I'd turned off the microphone yesterday.
As interrogators, they'd naturally want to know how I'd persuaded such a tight-lipped prisoner.
But no matter how I thought about it, I'd merely had a normal conversation with Reginald.
I couldn't possibly have any interrogation techniques, so a question like that only left me flustered.
Just as I was struggling to find an answer, Wendelin, perhaps trying to lighten the mood, spoke up in a cheerful voice.
"I've seen many cases during my time as an interrogator, but Captain Daniel Steiner's method of finishing things so swiftly was truly a first."
"Oh, really?"
"Absolutely. After the Captain left the interrogation room, that bastard Reginald sounded like he was about to cry when he agreed to cooperate with the Empire. It was incredibly satisfying!"
He was about to cry? That seemingly rigid Reginald?
"What's more, most interrogations involve shouting or violence, but Captain Daniel spoke gently and smiled throughout. It was truly dignified!"
Wendelin. He's a good man, but his flattery is excessive.
I thought it was too much of an exaggeration and tried to stop him, but Ernst seemed to believe it completely.
He was looking at me with even greater expectation than before.
"The sergeant's story makes me even more curious. What exactly did you talk about with Reginald?"
He asked twice. And remaining silent when asked twice was not the duty of a subordinate.
I suppose there's no helping it. After a brief hesitation, I replied.
"It was nothing special. I merely brought up Reginald's family a few times."
At the mention of 'family matters,' not only Wendelin but also Ernst flinched.
Even a few officers who had been subtly eavesdropping on our conversation subtly turned their heads.
An inexplicable silence then fell around me.
Just as I wondered why the atmosphere had changed, Ernst cleared his throat and nodded.
"It is the most effective method, isn't it? Did you hear that, Sergeant? Take a page from Captain Daniel's book."
"Ah, of course! I think I've been too soft on the prisoners until now."
...It seems they're misunderstanding something in a strange way.
I had a strange feeling, but I decided not to make any excuses.
From experience, opening my mouth to make excuses in such situations usually just leads to greater misunderstandings.
So, I simply gave a nod, and Wendelin saluted sharply.
For some reason, his salute was a little stiffer than when I first met him.
"Well then, I'll return to the military police unit! Enjoy your meal!"
"Go ahead. You've had a difficult journey coming all the way to Headquarters."
Hearing Ernst's reply, Wendelin turned sharply and walked away like a toy soldier.
Just as I wondered why he was acting like that, Ernst picked up his cutlery and spoke.
"Anyway, congratulations. You've earned another commendation by getting Reginald to talk. Honestly, your competence lately is quite astonishing. At your age, I struggled just to get my assigned tasks done."
Though I wanted to say that this commendation had nothing to do with my own intentions, saying such a thing in front of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations would likely earn me a beating.
"You flatter me."
So, I simply feigned humility and picked up my cutlery.
As I cut into the steak served to me, Ernst suddenly seemed to recall something and spoke.
"Ah, speaking of which, your adjutant. They're being assigned to Headquarters today. They might have even arrived by now."
An adjutant? I raised my head and blinked blankly.
"...An adjutant, sir?"
"Yes. Didn't I tell you before? That you'd get an adjutant once you officially became a Staff Officer for Operations. I hear that High Command went to some lengths to assign an elite officer of your caliber as your adjutant."
Ernst smiled, seeing my bewildered expression.
"I hear your workload has increased lately, leading to frequent overtime, yes? It's natural for a Staff Officer for Operations to be busy during wartime, but now that you have an adjutant, you'll have less hardship."
"Indeed... that would be the case."
"This is your first direct subordinate, isn't it? Make sure to guide them well."
"Understood."
I replied blandly to Ernst's words.
Though I tried my best not to show my excitement, my heart was soaring on clouds.
'Finally, I'm getting an adjutant!'
No, let me correct that. To say 'finally' would be inaccurate, as it's quite soon after two special promotions.
Of course, such minor details weren't particularly important.
What mattered was that I was getting an adjutant.
'And an elite personally selected by High Command...! I won't have to suffer through so much work anymore.'
Since being promoted from 'Acting' Staff Officer for Operations to full Staff Officer, I'd noticed that the workload was excessive.
As a junior staff officer whose primary role was to review documents and pass them up to superiors, reports and approval requests flew in from all sorts of places.
Truly important documents would go directly to superiors, but during wartime, there were far more bizarre requests and reports than one might imagine.
One notable example was a certain regimental commander's request: "The soldiers want cold beer, please supply it via fighter jet."
Though I was doubtful, I approved the document without holding it back and sent it up to my superior. Somehow, it received final approval, and I actually saw fighter jets carrying beer kegs.
With countless other requests pouring in, I had no free time.
It was considered a lucky day if I could leave work on time, like yesterday.
At this rate, I'd escape this life from overwork before I could even escape the Empire. So, when Ernst told me an adjutant had been assigned, I naturally couldn't help but be happy.
While I was engrossed in thoughts of my adjutant, Ernst, who had finished his meal first, picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth.
"Oh, right. For this afternoon, you'll be working in your private office, not the Staff Officer's office."
"...Would that be alright?"
"Yes. Don't you think you should have some time to get to know your new adjutant? Private conversations with an adjutant in the staff office might draw attention, after all."
Ernst's words were a hundred percent correct.
I offered a faint smile, indicating my agreement.
"Thank you for your consideration, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations."
Although the staff office wasn't a battlefield, in an emergency, I would have to offload tasks to my adjutant—no, I mean, I would have to trust them with my back.
Therefore, building rapport with my adjutant was one of my important duties.
* * *
After finishing my meal with Ernst, instead of heading straight to my office, I walked around outside Headquarters for a bit.
It was to buy a gift for my new subordinate.
I deliberated for a while, but in the end, instead of a bouquet of flowers, I bought some bread from a bakery near Headquarters that would be good for a snack.
I figured bread, which could fill one's stomach, would be better than a bouquet, which had no practical use apart from being pretty.
Returning to the front of my Headquarters office, I took a deep breath, holding the bag of bread.
'I'm a little nervous.'
The adjutant waiting inside the office must be just as nervous.
Just five months ago, I was in that very spot, sweating nervously while waiting for my superior.
The memory is still vivid.
When I first commissioned, far from receiving a gift, I was immediately cursed at by that bastard Karl Heinrich the moment I reported for duty.
Considering the humiliation and trauma I felt then, I resolved to treat my subordinate as well as possible.
As for tasks, I intended to assign only easy and simple ones at first, to help them adapt to the work.
'Good.'
Embodying the mindset of an excellent senior and superior, I smiled and opened the office door.
"Have you been waiting long? I'm a little late because I stopped by a bakery near Headquarters to buy some bread for a snack. Of course, I got it to share with you..."
As I spoke genially, I took in the adjutant's appearance and involuntarily froze.
The adjutant, who had subtly turned their head towards me, had disheveled bob-cut hair.
The bob, reaching below their neck, was an elegant silver-white, like sunlight falling on a pristine snowfield.
In stark contrast to the clean, beautiful color of their hair, their eyes were a blood-like red.
She had a sharp gaze, but there was no hostility. It was simply her unexpressive face.
She was truly a sophisticated and refined woman.
If I hadn't known her true identity, I would definitely have thought that.
Lucy Emilia.
She was the protagonist-like character of the game 'Empire of the Emperor' and a butcher known as the Empire's Nightmare.
Why on earth was such a Lucy neatly dressed in an Imperial Army uniform in my office?
"..."
"..."
After a moment of silent eye contact, I closed the door.
'Wait a minute.'
Why is Lucy here? At this point in time, shouldn't she be actively fighting on the front lines?
Why would someone belonging to the Allied Nations even come here as my adjutant?
'...A spy?'
Both the Allied Nations and the Empire were actively engaged in espionage, so it wouldn't be impossible for her to infiltrate Headquarters as a spy.
'But why?'
Why, of all countless positions, did she come as *my* adjutant?
Dumbfounded, I furrowed my brow and shook my head.
'My frequent overtime lately must have led me to start seeing things.'
No matter how I thought about it, there's no way Lucy would be here. No. Absolutely not.
Filled with renewed confidence, I opened the office door once more.
"...Captain?"
And immediately closed it.
Even on a second look, it was indeed Lucy.
Her appearance was no different from the game's illustrations.
'Why is this happening to me...?'
This was truly not easy.