A War Hero With No Regrets

33 – Postwar Summit (3)

“Carin, Edward. You two can walk around. “I’ll just stay here.”

When Werner nodded and spoke, Karin hesitated, looking at his gaze.

In Branberg, Karin was unable to enjoy the banquet as she was busy breaking down the remaining members of the Revolutionary Front and arresting the officers who were on the scene with the military police.

I couldn’t say it in words, but I could see in my eyes that I was regretful.

Werner Grime hoped that Karin would enjoy the banquet to the fullest this time.

“It’s true. “You can come back.”

“Okay, then I’ll be back.”

It wasn’t a place where only soldiers were present.

Rather, since there are more civilians than soldiers, it would be a good opportunity for Karin, who was confined to the fortress, to meet various people outside of the military.

“What about Lieutenant Edward?”

“I’m not particularly fond of banquets either. “I will be assisting the director by his side, so please feel free to leave.”

“Yes… ! Thank you!”

Karin ran at a brisk pace.

Werner Grime was reminded of Leah Gilliard for a moment by her appearance.

Didn’t Leah feel exactly like that at the last banquet?

But he quickly killed that feeling.

She said she would not regret it.

If you started projecting Leia Gilead onto Karin Maven, that was clearly wrong.

Maybe.

She might have crossed her line without even realizing it.

He poured the strong drink that irritated the tip of his nose down her throat, then turned his gaze away from Karin.

Werner Grime was, as always, seated in the corner at this banquet.

Unlike the military uniform, which can be clearly distinguished by its dark green base, this is the uniform of the Security Bureau with a jet black base.

If you don’t look closely, it looks like the uniform of the police or other government agencies, so it was actually not noticeable in places like this.

Werner was secretly grateful for that fact.

I felt like if I stood out and bumped into Drake for no reason, it would be needlessly annoying.

I thought I was just quietly looking around the banquet hall in the corner like I did in Branberg.

Similarly, Edward, who was sipping wine with his arms crossed, got lucky.

“If you are Colonel Drake Brown… “Aren’t you a comrade who was with you at the Graveyard?”

“That’s right.”

“Then why are you upset? I’ve put off my bad relationship with the head of the inspection office for now….”

“The Graveyard is a past I don’t really want to remember.”

Buried beyond Werner’s memories was a grave of unknown depth.

How many people were buried, or how many people were buried.

At this point, even Werner Grime himself did not know.

It seemed like an irreversible tragedy would occur if the sealed tomb was forcibly destroyed.

In that respect, Drake Brown was one of Werner’s shortcomings.

Graveyard’s assault leader.

He later rose to the position of commander of the 1st Assault Brigade, the hammer of the central front striking against the Titans.

Dragon and Tiger Sangbak.

Luthers Ethan for resourcefulness.

Drake Brown in powerlessness.

Putting aside all other heroes, there is no doubt about his skills, as he competed with Luthus Ethan for the position of the next commander of the Graveyard.

Of course, they competed, but the relationship between Luthors and Drake was not a rivalry in the pure sense of the word.

Rather, it was correct to see the relationship as inseparable, like comrades in arms or soul partners.

Brothers who shared blood together from the time of their first commission.

However, as much as the trust was built at the time, the blood stains on Drake Brown’s hands were as dark as Werner’s.

It is natural to feel guilty towards your irreplaceable comrade and friend.

“If that’s the case, I understand. “Not all comrades who have your back are good people.”

“You don’t even keep in touch with your old colleagues.”

“Keu, well, that’s right. I don’t even care anymore. “Those traitors.”

The reason why Lieutenant Edward Roman came to Forbidden Lake was the wartime port.

It was in effect a suicide order.

Welcome a delayed war by digging trench lines in a plain that has no strategic or tactical value.

The instructions were so poor that even Edward, who was a former soldier and had not received any advanced command training, immediately noticed something strange.

In the end, Edward, who was from the Capital Corps, which was made up of military elites, took up the gun to save everyone.

After the entire company rose up, the order from above was canceled.

However, the fact that what Edward did was a mass protest did not change.

This is a crime that could result in summary execution.

In addition, the person in charge of issuing the order in question had deep connections with the local government.

The incompetent superior tried to persuade Edward’s colleagues not to escalate the situation.

Increasing pressure.

In contrast, the sweet carrot presented clearly.

In the end, Edward’s colleagues who shared the same goal ended up stabbing him in the back.

Edward Roman, who was respected by his unit members as a warrant officer, was arrested by the military police as if he were being dragged to a slaughterhouse and brought to a military court.

Of course, he was not actually sentenced, but was sent to Forbidden Lake under the concept of demotion.

For this reason, Edward was very sympathetic to Werner’s attitude.

“I’m getting hot just thinking about it again. But Director, why was it me?”

“What do you mean?”

“There is Captain John Hobbs who is one rank higher than me, and there is also Dante who is sharp.”

“There are some things I would like the head of the Weapons Department to look into.”

At those words, Werner looked into the distance and said.

“Yes?”

“There is an old saying that if you know your enemy and know yourself, there is no danger.”

“….”

Edward Roman was silent for a moment to understand what he meant, but then his eyes widened and he asked a question.

“Yes?! Director? No, no matter what, do you really think that’s the case?”

“No one knows what work is like.”

Werner looked at the Fuhrer, who was chatting happily with others, with bleary eyes.

The country was stabilized through the efforts of the Security Strategy Bureau.

The reason why the five-nation summit, which had been mentioned continuously since the victory, was promoted in earnest was because President Mikhail Bismarck judged that the situation was improving.

As soon as his weaknesses were resolved, he opened the way to the international stage.

He doesn’t even have any intention of hiding his true feelings.

“Have you checked the report submitted by Lieutenant Dante?”

“Ah… You mean overseas trends? “I saw it.”

The stage of the Safe State was not limited to the empire.

The President had already considered other countries that survived the war with the Titans as potential enemies.

“Why do you think the President included us in his entourage in the first place?”

The answer was already decided.

Edward didn’t bother to answer, but just sipped the rest of his wine.

My mouth felt dry.

“You have to see it with your own eyes. “The situation in other countries.”

That was a great answer.

From Arthur Phileas’s comments and Werner’s perspective, a separate task assigned to the Security Bureau was to determine the war prowess of the Republic of Bostania.

“That’s why I brought the head of the weapons department. “I heard there will be a military parade commemorating the victory, so you will be able to see their weapon systems with your own eyes.”

“There is such a hidden meaning in this companionship…” . hahahaha, I understand now, yeah.”

Edward put down his now empty glass and muttered bitterly.

“As expected, humans do not change. The presumptuous greed of not being satisfied with what you already have and coveting other things….”

Werner did not respond to the mockingly muttered words.

I agree with it, but at the same time, it was also a value that I endlessly denied.

He knows the brilliant people who have been by his side.

Edward and Karin, who are now by his side, were also those people to Luthers Ethan, or rather, to Werner Grime, who was beginning to live a new life.

But one thing was certain.

The fact is that at least the Fuhrer in front of us fits the type of person Edward talks about.

At this meeting, they may be having superficial conversations on the outside, but on the inside, they will be making their own estimates.

Isn’t there a story about ‘territory’ even in the immediate problem?

It has only been half a year since the war ended.

The Empire will not be the only one weakened after a bloody battle with the Titans for the fate of the nation.

If other countries show weakness during this meeting, the cunning wolf of the empire will surely barge in its teeth.

-If it weren’t for the Titans, wouldn’t it be strange if a war broke out right away? Although we are only now sharing the joy of victory, there is no way to know the true intentions behind it.

Who is the person who harbors uneasy intentions?

Is he the president of the Republic of Bostania?

Is he the commander-in-chief of the empire?

If that day really comes.

Where will Werner Grime’s gun be pointed?

As Supreme Commander Arthur Phileas said, there was no way to know at the moment.

The same was true for Werner Grime, who went through 40 regressions.

It was then.

Someone began to slowly approach the two people who were talking in a heavy voice.

Suddenly seeing that face, Werner just sighed deeply.

I knew it would end up like this.

“…Why are you here?”

A voice that is too cold to be welcomed.

Werner also answered in a dry voice.

“It’s been a while, Colonel Drake.”