Chapter 17. Desertion (1)
Gossip, rumors, unconfirmed information, and specious gossip.
Things that wander wherever people gather. The situation in the Ministry of Intelligence is similar, but there are two differences.
First. The intelligence department must fish out plausible clues from this sea of nonsense. Second. Sometimes the Ministry of Intelligence is the source of nonsense.
These two things disturbed elite officer Leticia’s head.
“『Cultists who believe in the Goddess of Hunger are controlling zombies.』 What do you think about this information?”
A private meeting with Virginia after a long time. Leticia couldn’t understand Virginia at all.
Even though she appeared on so many broadcasts and became a propaganda model for the Elsa government and military, she did not suffer from celebrity disease and did not change at all from when she first arrived.
‘Isn’t the military uniform just like a snake’s skin, is it so different when you put it on and when you take it off?’
Leticia was curious about how much self-control she had, or whether all people born as ‘nobles’ were like this.
“I think that’s very unlikely.”
“I wonder why.”
In response to her superior’s question, Leticia cleared her throat and adjusted her clothes.
For some reason, Virginia frowned a little.
‘What is it, are you getting irritated because I hesitate?’
Although Leticia was a little scared, she was secretly happy that she had provoked Virginia.
“What is more important than determining whether certain information is real or not is whether the information has value. It’s a waste to argue whether useless facts are true or false. However, this intelligence could have huge ramifications. According to my analysis… “
Leticia compiled a variety of information and clues, but her main points were concise.
Elsa’s division.
The goddess of hunger is Erza’s traditional belief. Regardless of whether they are pro-Minsk faction, pro-Roemer faction, or Elsa loyalists.
Elsa Not all people believe in goddesses. However, it is true that I was born and raised in a culture of goddess belief.
Even if you are an atheist, you are in a situation where you will throw insults like, ‘That bastard is such a salty bastard that even the goddess won’t ask him for food.’
But what if a rumor spreads that ‘fanatics’ of the goddess are controlling ‘zombies’?
There will be divisions between those who follow the goddess faith and those who do not, and among believers there will be divisions between radicals and moderates, and strictists and pragmatists.
“The surest way to avoid being accused of being a cult is to accuse others of being a cult. Therefore, it is expected that meaningless accusations and accusations will be rampant, and in the process, the emotional rift is expected to deepen.
Above all, the Elsa government supported the excavation of the goddess statue as a national project and promoted the goddess on a large scale. However, if the story spreads that a ‘pseudo’ of the goddess is controlling zombies, the stigma that Erza’s government will suffer will be indescribable.”
Virginia nodded her head once, and then again.
‘As expected, Leticia is still useful.’
Leticia is competent. And she is loyal to Elsa and Virginia herself. No matter what happens to her private life, that remains the same.
Of course, her use of the Minsk communications satellite information network may be a violation of security laws. But it is not a serious crime. She wasn’t leaking confidential information or anything, she just sent embarrassing photos of herself to a suspicious man…
“Captain?”
“Uh, hmm?”
“Are you okay? Suddenly my complexion… “
Leticia suddenly got up and scooped up some cold water. Virginia gratefully accepted. The tea made her mouth dry and her throat burn.
“Suddenly my face turned red. If it’s because it’s too hot, open the window to ventilate… “
“No, no. Well, there is no need for that. “I’ll do it after the meeting.”
He even stuttered a bit. ‘Are you feeling sick?’ Leticia thought that might be the case. Because Virginia does so much.
“I will watch and continue. I heard that this information was sent by an agent operating in Minsk, a Western country.
What Minsk ultimately wants is to expand its influence in Elsa. So, the more divided and fragmented Erza is, the easier it will be to attract her. Rather than swallowing a large pie in one bite, it is easier to cut it into pieces and eat it one bite at a time.
Therefore, I judged that there was a high probability that this story was false information deliberately made up by the Minsk Intelligence Department.”
‘Pyra. 『Like an apple pie with sticky honey water flowing in warm flour』.’
It was a very shocking description to Virginia. This was the message that Leticia sent to a guy named Caesar along with her photo.
“As expected, you feel uncomfortable somewhere… “
Virginia was awakened from her strange thoughts by Leticia’s cautious question. Just thinking about that passionate phrase from her made me feel like my hands and feet were tingling.
“Leticia. This information should only be known to you and me here. And the moment you leave this room, you won’t hear anything.”
Originally, it meant that it was classified information that Leticia could not access. Telling you this means making a new plan that is different from before.
“Yes. Understand.”
“Mercenaries from Minsk are active in the land of Elsa.”
“Huh?!”
From Noble mtl dot com
I almost jumped up. She had never heard anything like this in any information she had heard. But Virginia’s face, although a little flushed, looked upright.
“This is information obtained from Roemer. This information was not shared with Erza. If this information is shared with the Elsa government, Elsa will have no choice but to take physical action. “It means he engaged in military activities on the territory of another country.”
Even in the midst of embarrassment, Leticia understood Virginia’s words. If Erza goes to war with the western country of Minsk, Roemer must also automatically participate.
Then war will break out again. In a situation where all three countries are suffering from the virus, they want to avoid war at least.
“Minsk’s technology is excellent, but it is inferior to Elsa in the fields of biotechnology and medical technology. And the situation in Minsk is not at all good.
So they’re sending mercenaries to Cybele’s research labs and factories. I’m trying to somehow find clues about the Cro virus. And the source of this information is… “
Virginia pointed to the map hanging on the wall. Sammarano. Half a day from the Hamptons.
“They say this is the transmission site.”
“Then.”
Leticia was taken aback. She’s a human who deals with zombies. Where in the world can there be such a being? This is a story that makes no sense in common sense.
“This is the last radio call from the Minsk mercenaries. He probably died there. And it is unknown on what basis they sent this communication. There is absolutely no context whatsoever.
In such a situation, Minsk plans to dispatch an additional investigation team to the Samarano region. “I guess they’re trying to find out what happened.”
“Why is the Elsa Intelligence Department doing nothing…” !”
She herself is a member of Erza’s Intelligence Department, but she never imagined that she would be this incompetent. Above all, it was a bit embarrassing to hear such a story from ‘Noble Roemer’.
“Minsk did not hit anywhere. Even among human-unprotected areas, they have selected only the most remote areas to attack, and are moving very secretly.
If they enter the human protection zone, they will naturally clash with the Elsa National Military Police. But non-protected areas are not under the jurisdiction of the National Military Police. Because it is a place that the government should not enter. Therefore, we cannot proceed with the operation here either. “In principle.”
In principle, yes. And the National Gendarmerie ‘observes the principles, but in unavoidable cases…’ ‘ It is famous for being an organization that has long footnotes saying ‘blah blah blah’.
Leticia understood why Virginia had shared this information with her.
‘Lead your troops and intercept or capture the Minsk investigation team. But don’t let it be known that it is a military operation. Although it is not within your jurisdiction, provide a reason and basis for entering.’
But Samarano. This is far from the Hamptons. Although it is a human non-protection area, it belongs to a completely different administrative district. No matter how much I think about it, there is no basis for leading Hampton’s army there.
However, it is not possible to contact the unit in charge of the Samarano area. Because they are completely unaware of this situation. You can’t say, ‘There are Minsk mercenaries roaming around that area!’
This information is a very confidential secret that only a few people should know.
Frustrated, Leticia looked at the map again. Virginia is staring at her.
Although she freely wears tights and commits all kinds of crimes every two days, she wanted to remain at least a good lieutenant to Virginia.
Because her sense of immorality was extremely irritating.
“… Here. Here, the Cybele Research Complex is located. “There is a cultured meat research institute and a seed research institute.”
“But?”
“What if the justification is to secure the next food source? Of course there will be zombies in human-free areas. So, the excuse of leading an army and securing supplies is also possible.”
“I think that would be troublesome.”
Virginia crossed her arms.
No matter how messed up Elsa’s government is, the minimum principles and concepts remain. This was also the reason why the National Military Police could not enter human non-protected areas without permission.
This is to prevent plunder at the hands of military police.
Other national military police and local defense forces are also short on supplies. But none of them enter the unprotected area.
If someone enters, everyone will eventually cross the line, and the National Military Police, which has touched civilian property, will become a group driven crazy by blood.
Do not touch property in non-protected areas. It would be better to leave it there to rot. This was the unspoken rule.
“Is there no other way than that? “It is an unavoidable situation where the National Military Police must lead troops into human non-protection zones.”
There is one.
“… There is.”
“What is it?”
“This is a case where criminals or reactionary forces fled to a non-protected area. In such cases, reporting after prior action is also possible. But in that case, there must be solid evidence.”
“Then things become simpler.”
Leticia looked at Virginia with her puzzled eyes. Things get simpler? I think it’s gotten more complicated.
“It would have been nice if we had captured the Liberation Corps members… But how many Taizu thieves have we caught so far?”
“Ah… Twenty-one people. “There are ten of them who survived.”
Eleven people turned into zombies or died from bullets fired by the National Military Police or civilians. There were cases where people committed suicide because they did not want to be caught.
“Get them out there.”
Leticia’s face turned blue. This means throwing criminals into non-human protection zones. It would be better to kill someone, that would be to turn a living person into a zombie.
“Give them a reasonable opportunity, let them escape, and then kill them all. Based on the evidence, we go to Sammarano… “This should be enough.”
“Ha, but…” “
“It’s an order.”
I couldn’t move when I looked at Virginia’s eyes. Leticia swallowed her dry saliva.
“I will follow.”
Leticia left her conference room. Virginia opened her window and put a cigarette in her mouth. It was a cigarette I hadn’t smoked lately.
“Okay. ‘A real tights thief’. Move. “You have to move so you can catch him.”