kscans

Chapter 95 - A Voice Reaches the Critically Injured Captain

The cracker device for the ring, which contained gunpowder, was to be tested at the base. The plan was apparently to attach the device, made from a combination of fire-resistant shells, to the tip of the ring.

To attach the Moonshadow Wolf fur to everyone’s shields and armor, Mireille worked amicably with the other squad members.

As for Leonhard, the events of last night left him with a lingering sense of unease whenever he saw younger members conversing with her. However, a troubling situation had arisen within the base, and he was busy dealing with that.

In the captain’s office. Leonhard, Darius, and Kyle were gathered around a desk.

"...So, what’s the status of the regular communications?" Leonhard was the first to speak.

Kyle shrugged awkwardly.

"We’re still continuing them. With Darius-san’s supervision, of course... to Julius." Kyle gave a wry smile. They couldn’t let it be known that Cerio, the king’s shadow, was dead. Cutting off the regular communications would imply the king’s shadow had either died or defected. For that reason, they kept the reports going.

"For now, our official situation is that we ‘cannot move from the base due to being unable to create new alchemical items’ and that we ‘suffered many injuries during an exploration.’ ...Also, that the ‘communications officer is dead, and the unit captain is in critical condition.’"

"Hmph. And I, the critically injured captain, am still getting messages," Leonhard said with a small sigh.

Ever since he had arrived at this base, strange things had been happening constantly. Morse code signals were arriving directly for him, the captain, from Supreme Commander Julius.

While magic communication was standard in this country, the mana in the Tree Sea was too dense, making it unstable. Magical birds were also preyed upon by monsters. That was why, following the example of the more science-oriented neighboring country, Morse code was used for covert communications.

"Morse is one-way. If we don’t reply, they have no way of confirming," Leonhard said, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk.

"At first, the messages seemed benevolent, like ‘Should I send supplies?’ But... the fact that the Supreme Commander was contacting me, a captain directly under the king, was suspicious from the start. Besides, Julius and I are like cats and dogs."

"Hmm. In my case, the previous captain was Ariel, so I was allowed in and out of here to keep track of the Mage Order’s movements. We were also lovers. In fact, I was having trouble seeing the Mage Order’s movements at all..." Darius crossed his arms.

The Mage Order reported directly to the Supreme Commander. However, the tricky part was that they had little contact outside of conflicts. They were also very prideful, claiming that things like relief efforts were outside their jurisdiction.

It made one wonder what they did besides managing the Magic Furnaces, but they were trying to create more living weapons like Ariel, so they were a unit the country could not afford to neglect.

Of course, people like Ariel were not born so easily, and no one involved would have ever imagined her subsequent relationship with Darius.

"Until now, there was never any mention of the Mage Order, which Julius manages. He just keeps sending one-way messages with incomprehensible excuses like ‘Do you have enough food?’ or ‘I can’t send Potions because they aren’t available on the market.’" Leonhard’s voice was low.

Kyle lifted his head.

"...And about the most recent regular communication. He asked, ‘Were you unable to retrieve any magic cores, since you have injured men?’"

Leonhard also chimed in.

"I got a message from Julius related to the Mage Order for the first time too. The supply of magic cores for the Magic Furnaces has stopped. He says it’s because the supply from the Tree Sea Defense Force is gone. They need a large amount, so if the Tree Sea Defense Force can’t move, he wants permission for the Mage Order to subjugate monsters."

Darius’s eyebrow twitched.

"Nonsense. The management of the Tree Sea is the sole prerogative of the Tree Sea Defense Force."

Leonhard nodded.

"And the fact that he’s contacting me, when I’m supposed to be critically injured and unable to move, is what’s so... you know."

With a sigh, he continued.

"Managing the Magic Furnaces on Sacred Peak Mountain is their job, but they have no right to touch the monsters in the Tree Sea. ...Asking me, a man in critical condition, for permission is..."

"...Does that mean he just went through the motions, knowing he wouldn’t get permission?" Kyle murmured.

"We do have magic cores. Should we tell him we’ll deliver them? To coincide with the day of the coup d’état." Leonhard’s eyes narrowed.