Sovereign

"Polls show that a UOP-ORP Coalition would be winning a comfortable majority this June. Analysts predict a more stable "Reformist Government" should the situation not change. Some however predict a more grim situation - warning of an early split between the UOP and the ORP due to ideological incompatibility."

- ROCN News

---

"Oh come on, why is it always goddamned traffic everywhere!" Came the loud groan from behind their HMLV. Naturally, Oakley elected to completely ignore the nonsense of his friend, as his head hung low atop the vehicle.

"Shut up, Timmy. Have you learned from your mother to stop whining?"

"Oh, no, I apologize, Señor Oakley, but unfortunately, unlike you, I'm a damned orphan."

"Well, sucks to be you, orphan boy."

"Shut up! The two of you. It's an absolute pain to listen to you two whine!"

"Yes, Sarge!"

For hours, they had been stuck in a stupid traffic jam in downtown Rebenslof. The absolute joke of the day further became apparent when they were separated from their convoy due to their Lieutenant ordering them to "procure food".

Naturally, their genius of a driver, Corporal Lewis found himself completely lost in the city as they tried to drive around and find a good restaurant (or more desperately at this point, a grocery store to buy even packed cup noodles) as they were really starving.

And to top it all off, their Ginzhu adventures resulted in their vehicle's built-in GMTD's (Global Mapping and Tracking Device) complete breakdown (courtesy of a panicked civilian who fried their vehicle electronics with her magic) and since they had already demonstrated their brain damage quite extensively, they also didn't get the repairs and replacement on the way back home.

Now, the Sergeant was down to a paper map of Rebenslof.

"Lewis, if we could drive forward over there, and turn left at that highway, there's a mall over there."

"Roger that, Sarge. Just waiting for the damned traffic to move."

And indeed, the four of them quite literally looked brain-damaged. A lone military vehicle in a sea of civilian vehicles. The lads and ladies, both in their cars and in the pedestrians, stared at them with curiosity. After all, why the hell would a random vehicle of the Marine Corps be stuck like some moron in the middle of Rebenslof's city traffic?

"Man…this has to be the greatest joke of all time."

The next complaint from Timmy went from one ear to another for his other squadmates, as they painfully awaited for the traffic to move.

Come on, just move. I'm starving, dammit.

Oakley wisely chose not to vocalize his half-starved complaints, as he preferred to keep his life problems to himself. Unlike a certain someone.

And so for many minutes, they waited…and waited…and waited. It was for so long, that Oakley decided that manning the turret was pointless, and merely flopped at his seat beside Timmy.

Oh, he truly questioned his life decisions. Was this what the life of a Marine really was? An endless traffic jam?

That was when he turned his head to the side and saw something. It was their wide-eyed Commodore himself, Albert Ludendorf, staring at both of them from his black SUV.

An awkward silence ensued, broken only by a childish voice from beside Albert.

"Albert, why are a bunch of soldiers stuck in traffic in the city? Are they stupid?"

He looked at a seemingly cute, but already annoying girl at Albert's side seat. She was wearing a frilly white dress, with her blonde hair in a pigtail that reminded him that children were absolute demon spawns. Mostly because the brat called them, a bunch of proud marines, soldiers.

"Hey, who the hell are you to call us stupid?"

"Oh, nothing! I'm just Princess of the Kingdom, that's all."

"Alice, didn't I tell you to behave?"

"What, he looked-"

With a prompt cover in her mouth, Albert silenced the brat and placed her back in her seat. He looked back at Oakley with an apologetic expression.

"Real sorry for my little sister. She ate too much chocolate this morning."

A muffled, "I did not!" came from her.

"Oh no, sir. It is quite alright. Hey Sarge! It's the Commodore! He's here!"

"He what?!" Came the surprised reply from the front of their HMLV.

"I said Commodore Ludendorf himself is here!"

Even Timmy was staring at the 'Prince' and the Princess in shock. First, they saved the daughter of a bigshot Countess in Ginzhu, now they met the damned Princess? Dear, oh dear, that somehow made him feel a tad bit worried.

Now, did fate love them so much to chase them this way? That didn't sound good.

Albert drove forward a bit to meet the Sergeant eye and eye, the older man immediately stiffed up and saluted him.

"Greetings sir! We're just having a bit of a bad day in the Marine Corps."

Albert cracked a smile, as his hand separated itself from his little sister, and said brat finally decided to stay quiet - except she was glancing a bit with an irritating glare to Albert.

"Well, Sergeant, do explain your situation. I could be of help."

"We are attempting to requisition civilian foodstuff. Unfortunately, as you can terribly see, we are in a bit of a pickle. We are lost."

"Ah, how terribly unfortunate."

The traffic finally began moving forward. Albert decided that helping was good today. And so he would.

"Follow me then, we are stopping in a nearby mall anyways."

…

The little girl, or Alice, or Princess whatever seemed to be skipping happily through the ground floors of the mall, dragging his brother into the dark sections of "women's clothing". Oakley pitied the man's unfortunate fate, but alas, he was spirited away to said devilish dungeon.

With those two out and away, Private Oakley and Private Timmy found themselves alone in a very much civilian place. To say they were out of place would be an understatement - they had been stuck in military life for the last two years.

With much money in their wallets and one quest, they bravely marched forward - all with one quest, find food.

Well, it was less epic than they had expected. The prices of everything in the mall were absolutely reprehensible. How would a mere lowly commoner man even afford such outrageous prices? Oakley stared at a mere cheap-looking hat as they passed through the clothing section.

It was 70 Orlish Blancs!

What the hell man? My shoes back in University were like 15 Blancs? What the hell happened to the economy?

"Yo, do we even belong here?"

Timmy asked with great outrage as well. It was like they walked straight upon an aristocratic market. Well…that was when he noticed it. Practically everyone in the mall was a woman, aside from the occasional rich men who walked around.

Business owners most likely. Which meant that it practically only belonged to the wealthy indeed!

"I remember the prices weren't this nasty last year."

"Goddess almighty, this has to be a cruel joke. We'd be starving in the streets if we're out in service!"

"To be fair, the economy did collapse."

"Man, no wonder people were rioting, I'd be rioting too with these prices."

The two passed through the groceries section, where the price of a mere bottle of milk reached 8 Orlish Blancs. Oakley remembered that milk back then was just 2 Orlish Blancs.

"Shit ass, we'd be living out of instant noodles at this rate."

"I don't need the constant broadcast of our demise, Timmy."

"He's not wrong." A woman's voice distracted the two. Immediately, they found themselves in front of what appeared to be a student from a fancy school nearby. Oh, the two of them nearly groveled at her feet in instinct. Fortunately, they had the pride of a man and a marine.

"Oh, hi, young miss."

"You two seem to be from the Army."

How the hell do people keep mistaking Marines from the Army? Is my branch just invisible?

"Marines, actually." Timmy stupidly corrected. And there went all of their chances of a calm and civilized discussion, Oakley thought, as he resisted the urge to slap the back of his head. Why did he have the gall to correct a possibly arrogant noblewoman?

Fortunately, the young woman smiled.

"Oh? Are you two a part of the Ginzhu thing then?"

"Whoah, you heard about us?" Timmy said, surprised that a schoolgirl even listened to the news.

"Of course I did. Our school participated in a protest to save the men trapped in the city."

The two fell silent.

"Unfortunately, nothing happened, and I doubt anyone even took us seriously. Even still, I'd like both of you to know, women like me are proud of your service. And we deeply apologize that we cannot do much more."

"Well, thank you for that, young miss."

She smiled once more and pulled out her wallet. She pulled out a 500 Blanc bill and presented it to the two.

"It's nothing, my allowance is quite massive, so do please take it. I rarely meet veterans, and I believe you are the worst-treated section of society…so please, take it and enjoy your stay here. You both deserve it."

The two looked at each other, both disbelieving the good Samaritan in front of the two. Naturally, the two mentally blamed each other.

Moron, why did you complain about the prices? Now some rich girl is giving us pity money!

What the hell man? Why is it my fault now? Plus we could have some friggin meat with this!

Greedily, Timmy accepted said pity money, a look of utter shame conquering Oakley's expression. The absolutely shameless rascal!

"Many thanks to you, miss. I…I mean, we appreciate it!"

"You're welcome!"

And with that, she skipped away, shopping at her leisure. Oakley could only merely look at the schoolgirl with an embarrassed smile, as Timmy counted his blessings.

"What the hell man?"

"What? It's free handouts. From a pretty girl too!"

"She's like 17 you fool. She's probably going to water vortex your ass if you do something."

"Hey, didn't say anything about that. Anyways, this shit could land us a fine restaurant!"

"...Alright, fine, I'm starving dammit. But only after we bought the cans and noodles for the boys."

"See, knew you wanted it too."

…

"Oh look, it's the two doof-"

Before the devilish brat finished her line, Albert swiftly masked her mouth to prevent her from uttering biohazard lines. Of course, nonetheless, both Oakley and Timmy knew exactly what the Princess was about to utter but simply decided that a darned 9-year-old should not be able to trigger their nerves.

"So, did you boys get your supplies?"

"Yes, a bunch of instant cheap foodstuff sir. The goods around here are too expensive." Oakley said in a direct-to-the-point manner.

And indeed, they were carrying around two cartoon boxes, definitely filled with food. Albert smiled sadly.

"Yep, economic crash and all that. I'm even surprised that this mall is still functioning. But, my sister did say that the economy is now recovering for a bit."

The two nodded before they looked down at Alice, who already seemed like a chihuahua who had been involuntarily restrained.

"Um, are you really going to keep her like that?" Asked Timmy.

"Do ignore her. Some brats need discipline sometimes."

He confiscated her wand before they went out, which meant that she had absolutely no power over him.

Which was perfect.

But she suddenly bit his hands in a vain attempt to regain her freedom of speech.

Alas, it didn't work.