Chapter 79: Before Spring Comes (2) I arrived at the Imperial Military Headquarters.
The situation in Genen was already well-known, and rumors were swirling that a suppression force would soon be organized.
"Sir Maximilian!"
I visited the office of Major General Maut, the very man who had been in charge of the Genen suppression before my regression.
"A pleasure to see you. That last regimental banquet was truly something else."
He had neatly side-parted blonde hair and a mustache shaped like wings. Even with the current state of affairs, he started by reminiscing about that day's banquet.
This is why it pays to keep people well-fed once in a while.
"Yes. It is good to see you, Major General Maut."
I took a seat across from him. The corners of his mouth twisted into a smirk.
"I take it you've heard the news and are feeling quite indignant yourself, Sir Knight?"
I watched him quietly.
"To dare protest in such times. How dare those Genen subjects think they can oppose the Empire? Tsk. It simply won't do. Don't you agree?"
"It likely isn't opposition."
I scanned the interior of his office. It was luxurious, yet somehow hollow. There were many ornaments scattered about, but they lacked substance—the look of someone trying to show off as much as possible on a limited budget.
"The people of Genen probably know it too. How could Genen possibly oppose the Empire? They are merely expressing their grievances."
"Well, I suppose..."
"Do you happen to know who the catalyst for this incident was?"
"The catalyst?"
"Yes. The person who shot and killed the Genen woman in the street."
That incident hadn't happened before my regression. It was a complete anomaly.
"Ah."
Maut brushed back his hair, looking awkward.
"He's the Second Secretary of the Genen Governor-General's office. The youngest son of the Undersecretary of Internal Affairs at the Imperial Palace."
That explained why he was released so quickly under the guise of self-defense, despite killing someone.
It was the Imperial Palace again. To think even an Undersecretary of Internal Affairs had this much pull—it was staggering.
"Where is he now?"
"I heard he's retreated into the Imperial Palace."
I nodded. As expected, he had already fled.
It didn't matter. I would find him and take his head eventually.
"A suppression force will be organized soon. Since the Governor-General's office requested support, we must crush them thoroughly."
"I see. May I accompany you as a commander?"
As I made this request that wasn't quite a request, I pulled out a small box. Maut's eyes were naturally drawn to it, as if he had been waiting for this very moment.
"Ah, that would be most welcome. It seems you really are angry... But, what is that?"
Maut showed interest.
"Oh, it's nothing much."
It was a small gift I had brought just in case he didn't listen to me.
"It's a music box."
When the box opened, a flower bud bloomed elegantly as a beautiful melody flowed out. The components of the flower bud were more important than the music box itself; they were crafted from jewels and mana stones.
Maut's eyes sparkled.
"I heard your daughter's wedding is coming up soon."
"Oh my. You remembered that? I'm honored, haha."
Taking care of personal milestones is the best way to win someone's favor. It's also the best excuse for a bribe.
"Thank you."
Maut placed the music box carefully on his desk. We spoke of many things after that, but his gaze remained fixed on the gift.
He seemed to like it very much.
* * *
Kaimli Square in the Genen Autonomous Region.
A crowd of hundreds of thousands poured into the area. They marched toward the Governor-General's office as if vomiting out their suppressed rage. At the very front of the wave was a middle-aged man.
He was the father of the woman murdered in the street by the high-ranking official a few days ago.
He clutched a photo of his daughter in his arms, and behind him, banners with large letters swayed.
[Reveal the Truth Behind Adeline's Death!]
They were demanding the truth about the daughter who died unjustly and punishment for the killer. Instead of weapons, they held candles in their hands.
"Halt—!"
The garrison blocked their path. Soldiers occupied the road, preventing the citizens from advancing.
"By order of the Governor-General! Disperse immediately—!"
A tense standoff ensued. However, there was no violence. The garrison consisted of soldiers who had lived in Genen for a long time; they felt a sense of understanding and sympathy for the situation.
The protesters knew this as well. From the beginning, they had no intention of opposing the Empire. They were merely demanding a correction of an injustice.
However, at a certain moment.
From somewhere.
'Someone' used this as an opportunity to drive a wedge into the crowd.
It could have been one of the protesters, or it could have been one of the soldiers.
Bang—!
A gunshot echoed through the sky.
Screams erupted, and that single bullet multiplied into dozens.
Bang bang bang bang—!
The young soldiers pulled their triggers on instinct. Some citizens released mana in response.
Unexpected gunfire, counterattacks, and clashes covered the area in chaos.
The panicked garrison hastily declared a retreat, and...
Clink—!
"...This has turned out quite well."
In an antique mansion in the Genen Autonomous Region—a place that had stood for four hundred years—the Imperialists held a banquet, clinking their glasses.
"If it's a riot, the justification is clear."
They laughed over top-tier wine and luxurious food.
"The suppression will be easy enough."
After suppressing this incident, they would use it as a pretext to demand stronger censorship and police authority for the Governor-General's office from the Empire.
Since the Genen Governor-General's office was the stronghold of the Imperialists, it would solidify the power of the Imperial faction, which was also beneficial to the Empire—
"Such a good thing happened at just the right time."
Erio, the Director of Internal Affairs for the Governor-General's office, lit a cigar.
"Those bastards who kept prattling on about independence, autonomy, and promises will all be wiped out this time. It's perfect weather for a culling."
Smiles spread across their faces. Their lips, glistening with grease from chewing top-grade steak, and their greedy faces turned red, intoxicated by the wine.
"Let's call it a night."
"Let's do that."
"It was... very entertaining. Hahaha."
Tap, tap. Director Erio crushed his cigar in the ashtray. The officials of the Governor-General's office stood up one by one.
Left alone in the room after everyone had departed, the Director pulled a vibrating terminal from his pocket.
As he listened to the code transmitted through the receiver, his lips twisted into a deep grin.
...
Genen Central University. A place that had shared the history of the Republic since before it became an Autonomous Region, it was now serving as the headquarters for the resistance, filled with students and citizens.
Bonfires were lit across the campus, and lecture halls had become temporary clinics for the wounded.
"We have to fight back! How long are we going to just take this?"
In the Student Union office, where deep shadows lay, Kasim, a member of the union executive, shouted while slamming his desk. His eyes were bloodshot from days of insomnia and rage.
"Do you know how many people are dying out there right now? Those bastards from the Secret Police Bureau or whatever are cracking kids' skulls open! Just yesterday, my friend...!"
"And what if the Empire gets angry? What if the Emperor brings in a suppression force? Are you saying we should all just die?"
Elias, the Student Union President, let out a sigh.
"Who said anything about dying? We need leverage to even negotiate. If we stay still, we're just dying like dogs!"
The fire was spreading. The spark that started with the unjust death of a woman named Adeline was now burning uncontrollably, fueled by the discriminatory treatment of Genen people and the exploitation by the Governor-General's office.
But could they truly win this fight?
No, before that, could they even survive?
Elias looked around the meeting room. The executives all looked exhausted.
"...Let's make one thing clear."
Elias spoke firmly.
"We must not accept help from the Revolutionary Group. If we join hands with them, we become terrorists. That's exactly what the Empire wants. We must remain citizens of Genen until the end."
The other executives seemed to agree. Kasim secretly bit his lip.
It was then.
Slam!
The door burst open, and a messenger rushed in.
"President! Urgent news!"
Communication via terminals was completely dead due to mana barriers, but this was a letter smuggled in from the outside by hand.
"The suppression force has been organized. It even includes the roster!"
The thing they feared most had happened.
Elias took the document. His face turned pale as he read the names under the lamp's light.
"The commander of the suppression force is Major General Maut. And..."
His voice trailed off. Kasim asked urgently.
"Who is it? Who's coming that has you like this?"
It was a name no student in Genen could fail to know.
The knight who had cut down 'Sage,' a leader of the Genen Independence Faction, with a single stroke. The master of the Genen Annex and one of the most prominent Imperialists on the continent.
"...Maximilian Ebenholtz."
The Monster of Ebenholtz.
He was coming here.
...
The protests in Genen were worsening by the day.
It was a total mess.
Particularly violent elements among the protesters—it wasn't even clear if they were actually protesters—were wounding the Governor-General's soldiers, and the soldiers' ruthless suppression resulted in a stream of casualties.
The problem was mana. From the moment people capable of handling mana suddenly appeared, the response and suppression became even more intense, and unnecessary skirmishes increased exponentially.
It felt almost like guerrilla warfare.
Leaving the chaotic city behind, Zendo returned to the Central Police Station. The monitors in the situation room showed fires burning throughout the city.
"...It's damn chaotic, Zendo."
The Deputy Director approached and placed a hand on Zendo's shoulder. Zendo gave a short laugh.
"You can say that again."
Since Maximilian's order was simply to wait, he was doing just that.
Boom—!
At that moment, the front gate of the police station burst open as if it were being destroyed. Agents in civilian clothes swarmed in.
The Secret Police Bureau, reeking of the Empire.
"W-What is this!"
"Who are you people!"
"Quiet—!"
The police officers stood up in shock but recoiled under the agents' overwhelming pressure.
The leader of the Secret Police showed a document to everyone.
"The Special Measures Act on Imperial Security has been invoked. As of this moment, the command and all investigative authority of the Genen Central Police Station are under the jurisdiction of the Secret Police Bureau."
It was a unilateral notification.
"This means you will follow our orders from now on."
Someone walked out from among the group. He approached with his hands in his pockets, acting high and mighty, and stopped right in front of Zendo.
"...It's you. So you were here."
A familiar face. The bastard he had encountered in the back alley, the one who told him to watch his back at night.
"You anteater-looking bastard. I told you, didn't I? I'd remember your face."
The man poked Zendo's shoulder repeatedly, snickering. It was a disgusting mockery.
"Well, since it's come to this, let's try to work well together. Though you'll have a hard time crawling under me."
Whack!
He struck the back of Zendo's head hard. Zendo squeezed his eyes shut, swallowing his anger, as dozens of agents filed in to occupy the Central Police Station.
"Sigh..."
For now, he would wait.
Because waiting was his order.
* * *
The order from the Regular Army General Headquarters—that is, from 'Zebestian'—was issued.
The Genen suppression operation was finalized.
The Imperial Army moved swiftly. All land and water routes leading to the Genen Autonomous Region were thoroughly blockaded. Checkpoints were established at major intersections, and heavily armed troops were deployed.
"It is an honor. I am Major Osman, the operations officer. I will begin the briefing."
In the temporary operations room, I sat as a commander of the suppression force.
Originally, a knight is the Sword of the Empire. Therefore, while they receive the treatment of a major in the hierarchy, they can be delegated appropriate authority in any situation.
"The current situation in Genen is extremely unstable..."
However, the air in the meeting room was thick with tension.
Those gathered around the table were generals with stars on their shoulders. Brigadiers and Major Generals. They were high-ranking officers who had achieved quite a bit in the military, yet their gazes were fixed on my face, which bore no stars.
Even when the operations officer was briefing or someone offered an opinion, they stole glances at me, gauging my reaction.
If I furrowed my brow, they changed the subject; if I nodded, they visibly relaxed.
It was understandable. To them, the Genen suppression was merely 'work,' while a 'connection' like me represented a tangible reward.
"Sir Maximilian. What are your thoughts?"
Major General Maut, the commander of the suppression force, finally asked me. Everyone's attention focused on me.
"A half-hearted suppression will only backfire. To ensure unnecessary clashes do not occur, we must completely crush their collective spirit."
"Hmm. And your specific method?"
I thought back to 'Genen's Spring' before my regression. At that time, the Imperial Army entered primarily with infantry. Because of that, the protesters and soldiers became directly entangled, eventually leading to the soldiers firing indiscriminately and creating a hellscape.
After that, it was a cycle of retaliation.
Just as Izenheim had wished, a massacre had broken out in Genen.
"We will deploy tanks."
To ensure that terrible spring did not come again, I asserted my will.
"Tanks?"
Maut asked back, sounding puzzled. Even before my regression, tanks had been included, but only three or four. Even then, they were for intimidation, kept as rear reserves.
The Empire had long been overconfident in human strength.
"Violent protests are currently occurring in Genen. Citizens who have lost their reason are not afraid of soldiers. They merely see them as enemies in uniform."
It was the wrong approach. Human rage cannot be calmed by humans. If guns and swords are used to suppress it, it only ignites a larger fire.
"It is likely because we do not appear as massive as we think we are."
Therefore—we must not face them human-to-human.
"Furthermore, it is because we are not sufficiently hideous or terrifying."
The generals watched me with bated breath.
"Coincidentally, the new tanks from my factory, Aternum, are waiting to be deployed."
Tanks are a core resource of modern warfare, and they are an incredibly effective machine against a general crowd.
My factory's facilities were geared toward tanks from the start, and the skilled workers of Gigantes had adapted quickly, churning them out day and night.
"Oho, it would also serve as a publicity effect for the new factory. Then, how many do you plan to bring? Would one or two companies be enough?"
Maut asked back positively. The other generals also seemed to expect around ten to twenty units at most.
"There are about two hundred tanks currently ready for immediate operation at my factory. If we also utilize the older tanks belonging to Headquarters..."
I dryly threw out the 'minimum' number.
"We should be able to mobilize about three hundred."
"...?"
"Th-Three hundred?"
The generals were momentarily speechless. Their eyes went blank, and their lips quivered. Some even fiddled with their ears.
Usually, three tanks make a platoon. Ten make a company, and a single knight is considered equivalent to a company's worth of power.
In other words, a force of three hundred tanks meant thirty knights, or in terms of manpower, more than several infantry divisions combined.
"Th-That many?"
"Yes. Is there any need to hold back? We should take this opportunity to show the dignity of the Empire."
Deploying such a massive army to Genen.
It was an excessive force bordering on insanity for a mere protest suppression, but I did it because I knew how this protest would end otherwise.
"We must instill an overwhelming fear in them."
No matter how many people gather, they are ultimately just people.
Beings made of flesh and blood are instinctively intimidated by steel that is larger and harder than themselves. If hundreds of such massive entities are lined up, they cannot help but feel a sense of helplessness, a feeling that 'resistance is impossible,' just by looking at them.
At the very least, the souls of the common people will be broken. As for those who are not common—the Izenheims—I will kill them personally.
"That is the Imperial way."
I scanned the generals and offered a faint smile.
"Do you all agree?"
They exchanged glances. Their expressions were quite funny. It was as if grown men had suddenly become children.
However, I didn't expect any counterarguments. My father, Zebestian, was here at this headquarters, after all.
"I would like an answer."
They all belatedly nodded their heads.
Something stronger than the strong.
Before spring could even arrive, I would silence them using the most powerful method possible.
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