The Reluctant Imperialist - Chapter 137

WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

◈ The Reluctant Imperialist

Chapter 137

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Your World (5)

At the Durkon Legion field camp, Major General Schweitzer personally inspected the unit's firepower equipment before departure.

"The gun batteries are all maintained properly, right?"

"Yes, sir!"

"If I spot one screwup, you're dead."

He was checking every towed gun loaded onto the trucks when it happened.

Kuuung!

Without warning, dozens of transport trucks came roaring in, kicking up clouds of dust.

They were not military vehicles, and their cargo beds were wrapped in layers of thick waterproof tarps. Even the men climbing out of the driver seats were in mechanic overalls.

"What the hell are those now."

Major General Schweitzer frowned hard and strode over.

"Who the hell are you people?"

A man with glasses held out a document.

"Sir Maximilian sent us."

"Ma... ah, fuck, him again?"

Schweitzer snatched the paper. At the bottom were the Ebenholtz seal and Maximilian's elegant signature.

"...Ha. So now he's finally going to overstep?"

What Schweitzer hated most was interference. People telling his army what to do, throwing around pointless bullshit.

So Maximilian had praised him to his face as some military prodigy, and in the end he still wanted to control Durkon his own way?

"Get out right..."

"They are new weapons."

Schweitzer stopped mid-sentence.

"...New weapons?"

The irritation in his eyes vanished at once, replaced by a sharp gleam.

"Yes."

Workers ripped off the cargo tarps all at once. Underneath, something grotesque came into view. A rectangular turret packed tight like a beehive, with dozens of round launch tubes bundled together.

"This is a prototype multiple-launch magic rocket system named Kerben."

The man ran a hand along the machine's side as he explained.

"It was built on an armored vehicle chassis, so it has the durability to keep up with tank-unit mobility in rough terrain. Operation is also intuitive and close to existing magic artillery targeting systems, so field deployment is simple. It uses mana stone explosive force to scorch a wide area in a short time..."

One of the destructive weapons that would accelerate the age itself, made by Maximilian squeezing every drop out of Lorenzo Academy's brains and fully leveraging Aternum's labor and technology.

"..."

Schweitzer stared at the new weapon like he was entranced. A strange thrill crawled up his spine.

"Here."

The man offered another document.

"Just sign to confirm receipt."

Schweitzer grabbed it and scrawled his signature.

"Sir Maximilian requested later usage feedback and live combat data. Also, we would like to give your artillery unit a basic operation guide..."

"Yeah, yeah. They're over there. Go that way."

Schweitzer pointed roughly toward the artillery standby area.

"Oh, right. Uh, that knight, Maximilian... did he leave any other message?"

"No. Nothing at all."

"...Really?"

After that, the engineers gathered the artillerymen and began equipment training.

"Hm..."

Arms crossed, Schweitzer watched every step. Ballistic calculations, loading mana stone rockets, angle adjustments. It really was not much different from existing batteries, so any seasoned artillery crew could pick it up fast.

"Fire one first!"

The front was open ground anyway. Anywhere they shot was a target.

"Prepare to fire!"

With the battery commander's booming order, the artillerymen moved in perfect unison.

"Transmit firing data! Azimuth three-two-zero-zero, elevation zero-four-five-zero!"

"Azimuth three-two-zero-zero, elevation zero-four-five-zero!"

The aimer set the scale, then the next shout came.

"Load!"

The loaders pushed mana stone rockets one by one into Kerben's honeycomb launch tubes.

"Loading complete!"

"All launchers, fire in salvo!"

At the battery commander's hand signal, the gunners pressed the ignition switches.

"Ignite!"

! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

In just a few seconds, dozens of magic rockets shot into the sky in quick succession.

Swaeaeaeak

They carved arcs through the air, landed silently on the far-off plain...

Then...

Beyond the horizon, dust rose like a mushroom cloud.

Kwaaaaaaak!

The sound arrived a beat later.

Watching from a distance, Schweitzer let out a dry laugh.

"...This is insane."

Destructive power that flattened a target zone in an instant. Range so vast it was on a different level from existing towed artillery.

Most of all, since it could be mounted on military trucks, they could bombard and reposition immediately.

Everything about it was flawless, a new weapon built for Blitzkrieg.

"Huh."

In Schweitzer's view, the most perfect way to annihilate enemy lines was an air raid, shells pouring down from the sky. But if rockets fired from the ground could secure this much arc and this much range, then it was no different from an air raid.

No, maybe even better tactically, since it could move without weather constraints.

"How many?"

"It is written on that document."

The engineer answered. Schweitzer unfolded the paper he had just crumpled and checked the number.

[ Kerben quantity: 100 units ]

"...Damn, what a big spender."

He made one hundred of these insane new weapons and handed them over.

Money was money, technology was technology, respect was respect, but from Schweitzer's standpoint, far more than all that...

"Wow, holy shit, Sir Knight."

What he liked most was that Maximilian seemed to have fully understood his Blitzkrieg. A thick, sticky emotion spread across his twitching upper lip.

"You were one hell of a cool bastard!"

Kwahahahahaha!

A crazed laugh burst out. He slammed his hands on Kerben's armor and roared.

"All units! Deploy the new weapons for real combat right now, we're taking them out for a test!"

* * *

From a highland zone in the Zerpa mountains, I received news of the Durkon Legion's advance.

"Hm..."

First, I looked over the surrounding terrain.

"Quite good."

Flat ground, ideal for landing helicopters and using as a temporary command post.

Still, people lived even in places like this. Over there, I could see a few houses with maybe twenty people gathered and murmuring.

"We can evict them immediately."

I shook my head at the soldier's words.

"No. Leave it. Better to pay them and give them job training. I doubt anyone but knights will come here anyway."

This site would only be used for helicopter drops, and the manpower doing that would mostly be Imperial knights. Keeping a garrison here would be inefficient, so using locals seemed better.

"Yes, understood."

Beep. Beep.

Right then, two short signal tones came through the radio. A signal from a mole inside the Royalist faction.

The operation would begin soon.

I had already laid out the scenario perfectly, but in this line of work, you could never trust anyone one hundred percent.

Even if the odds were low, I always had to keep possible double agents in mind.

"Send one helicopter up first."

I gave the pilot the order.

Recon.

The advance team would circle above the royal palace and check conditions. Only after safety was firmly guaranteed would I go up myself and watch the operation closely.

* * *

At the same time, the Republican faction leadership also detected unusual movement inside the Royalist camp.

"The military is about to betray the crown prince. The signs of a coup are clear."

"...Heh. So they wagged their tails at the Empire and now destroy themselves."

The Republican leader, Frank, smirked.

"Still, we should consider this might be a diversion. The army does not move carelessly. Focus on Zeronica's defense."

According to Republican spies embedded inside, it looked like clear and genuine intent, but there was no need to relax.

"Instead."

His eyes narrowed coldly. Quietly, he swept his gaze over the executives in the meeting room.

"We assassinate the crown prince."

Crown Prince Alonso was soft and moderate by nature. Even at his best, he was nothing above average, a useless scarecrow.

That was why they had planned to keep him alive and use him. Instead, Imperial power had attached itself to him.

"No idea what the Imperial bastards are trying to rip out of Zerpa."

Zerpa had few resources beyond Zeronica and a few other mines, and its landmass was not large. Its only special products were cattle breeds, plus some ingredients a small number of gourmets liked.

"A crown prince who built his own faction by borrowing Imperial strength no longer has any reason to live."

Frank tapped the table with his finger.

"Pass the order to Rapture, who's infiltrated in the capital."

Firmly, he issued the command.

"If tonight's coup is real, ride that chaos and take Alonso's head."

...

Late at night.

Around the time the Durkon Legion began its march toward Zeronica Mine, Crown Prince Alonso was receiving reports from his close aides in his office.

"...Your Highness. The Imperial Army has moved."

Zeronica Mine. For generations it had belonged to the royal family, and it was also why the current house had risen into true royalty, its legitimacy.

For practical gain and for legitimacy, it was a place they absolutely had to reclaim.

"It is Durkon's elite force, led by Major General Schweitzer."

As Alonso tensed up, the chief secretary gently reassured him as if there were nothing to worry about.

"With their firepower, Zeronica Mine will be retaken quickly."

Words full of certainty. Alonso let out a relieved breath and looked around the room.

His aides were there. He had called them on purpose to calm his shaken mind and unease.

"Yes. Seeing all of you helps me settle down. I will trust and wait."

Alonso sat down more calmly, exchanged light conversation with his aides, and attendants brought in refreshments.

Then, at some point.

Kwaaaaaaaa!

From somewhere beyond the windows, somewhere in the capital, a massive explosion erupted.

"Wh-what! What is happening!"

The crown prince jumped to his feet in shock.

"Your Highness! Get down!"

The chief of security moved first, throwing himself forward and yanking Alonso to his side.

Scenario. A prearranged script.

Shells would explode outside first, then the chaos of coup forces advancing into the capital.

"Follow me! Everyone!"

Pulling a gun from inside his coat, the chief of security shouted.

Boom! Kugugugung!

Explosions rose here and there. Bombs planted across the entire palace in advance. Despite the huge noise, they had no killing power, but they were enough to terrify one man.

"Th-this is..."

"Your Highness! Focus on evacuation first!"

Avoiding the blasts and acrid smoke, Alonso ran through palace corridors under the escort of his aides.

When they crossed that chaos and reached an exit.

"We will stay here and assess the situation."

The aides, including the finance official, did not come outside. Instead, they shouted solemnly from inside the palace.

"Your Highness, evacuate with the chief of security!"

The crown prince looked at them with desperate eyes.

"It is dangerous! You should come too..."

"No. Zerpa has a future only if you survive, Your Highness. We will buy even a little time. Please go now! Chief!"

The chief of security, a former mercenary, grabbed Alonso hard and pulled him away.

"..."

The remaining aides exchanged meaningful looks with each other.

...

The chief of security pulled a robe over the crown prince and guided him into Zerpa's city streets.

Tang! Tangtangtang!

Kwagwagwang!

Cannon fire from tanks, maybe magic explosions, unending blasts and gunfire shook the streets.

"Huff, huff... wh-what is this..."

Alonso was so terrified his legs almost gave out.

"It is all right! There is a bunker not far..."

Kugung!

A cannon blast sounded especially close.

The crown prince looked that way.

There were men in Zerpan military uniforms there.

"Why..."

Zerpan tanks and Zerpan soldiers, as if they were advancing on the royal palace...

Tang! Tangtangtangtang!

But that force was blocked by another battle line.

Armed troops in civilian clothes, unidentified.

"What is that now..."

Alonso was drowning in confusion and nearly fainting when...

"Your Highness."

A familiar voice came from the darkness.

It was Lieutenant Colonel Kai Han, commander of the Berton Imperial Guard Unit.

"L-Lieutenant Colonel! How are you here..."

"At present, Royalist regular forces have launched a coup."

Even while explaining the situation, Lieutenant Colonel Han did not forget to salute.

"C-coup... huuh, huuh."

Alonso clutched his chest, almost hyperventilating.

"Th-they struck first."

"Please calm down."

"Th-then who are the ones fighting them?"

"Sir Maximilian, in preparation for a worst-case scenario, already deployed Imperial troops disguised in civilian clothes across Zerpa city."

"Ah! Sir Maximilian...?!"

Tears suddenly welled in Alonso's eyes. Knight Maximilian had worried about him and made arrangements this meticulous.

He truly...

"Then."

Lieutenant Colonel Han exchanged a brief glance with the chief of security.

"Please rest easy. We will escort you from here."

Struggling to keep his dignity, Alonso nodded again and again.

"Let us move away from downtown for now. We secured a safe escape route. This way."

Tang! Tangtangtangtang!

Intense fighting between plainclothes troops and rebel forces still rang through the city, while Lieutenant Colonel Han and the chief of security escorted Alonso forward.

"Please do not worry too much. Even among the regular army, there are units on Your Highness's side."

"R-really?"

"Yes. They are joining the fight. The battle situation is not bad at all."

The scenario was this. Regular forces turned rebels. Rescue the crown prince from their threat, then suppress the coup safely.

But.

"..."

No matter how precise the script was, unpredictable variables always jumped out on a battlefield.

As Lieutenant Colonel Han looked toward the roadside exit route, he suddenly spotted a strange sign.

It was deep night. Ordinary civilians, terrified by gunfire, had all locked their doors and stayed inside.

Yet on top of these residential rooftops where faint moonlight seeped in, someone was stealthily tracking them.

An assassin.

"...Fall back."