Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

Chapter 260: The Country of Steel and the Faceless Men (9)

Like all countries that have reflected on numerous past failures, the Military State respected the judgment of field commanders.

While there were Signallers, they provided information and set strategic goals without interfering in the chain of command.

There were clues on the field that could only be obtained there.

No matter how quickly a Signaller made a decision, they couldn’t surpass the honed instincts of a field commander.

In this sense, General Toruk was an excellent commander.

He made his judgment the moment Eimeder was vanquished by the combined efforts of Nabi, the Regressor, and Tyr.

"I accept your proposal. However, we also need to have some trust in you."

They would never admit it, but it was akin to a declaration of conditional surrender.

I did not point this out to ensure smooth negotiations.

"You want hostages? But we're not fools to send hostages, so we promise our full cooperation instead."

"And what is that?"

"We will temporarily halt our advance and focus on rescue operations until everyone here is saved."

｢Halt the advance? If that were the case, it wouldn't be any better since it would ultimately tie their feet up, will they accept it?｣

They probably will.

The Regressor is against killing all the laborers, and Historia's goal is to avoid combat rather than destroy the refinery.

As for Tyr, she's just playing along.

Just then, the Regressor approached, having successfully vanquished Eimeder.

She unhesitatingly patted my shoulder and spoke.

"What kind of deals are you making on your own?"

"It’s a negotiation. After all, this is a Military State facility, and we need all the hands we can get to save the laborers."

"What? But you activated the annihilation device yourself!"

"I didn't intend to kill them. It was a means to ensure our safety. Do you think they would have even pretended to listen to us if I hadn't activated it?"

The Regressor looked at General Toruk and the soldiers he had brought.

It wasn't a large number.

As a good commander, he had already divided his forces and spread them throughout the refinery, knowing things had gone wrong.

They would need to start repairs immediately after the battle.

｢...A strategist? More like... a dramatic con artist.｣

I subtly suggested.

"Facing a sudden disaster, joining forces with the enemy to save people. Such a beautiful and humane ending! Let's work together for a happy ending."

"Tch, this means we are helping the Military State."

"Not quite. Mr. Shei, to save the laborers, don't we need to destroy the devices leading them to their deaths? Just as you wanted."

The Regressor grasped my meaning and stammered.

"Huh?"

"Yes! It's a chance to destroy the refinery's facilities to your heart's content. With the careful guidance of the Military State!"

In short, it meant she could engage in destruction without causing casualties, just as she wanted.

If she destroyed the facilities one by one, the refinery would be inoperable even if the laborers remained.

The situation fitted perfectly.

Humans, unlike gears, were too different to ever fit perfectly.

Their thoughts, goals, and abilities all differ, making misalignment inevitable somewhere.

However, the situation I orchestrated aligns perfectly.

The Regressor felt something akin to awe.

｢Hughes. Just how far can you predict...?｣

Huh? it's not a prediction though.

｢Realizing it was a trap, he overtook us. He destroyed the prepared trap and planned to completely destroy the refinery. Along the way... he avoided unnecessary sacrifices as I wanted and prevented a battle with the Military State as the Gunmaster wished. This is... even a Prophet couldn't do this...｣

To accurately grasp the intentions of the Military State, predict their actions, and plan countermeasures... would be great.

It would rival the talent of famous strategists in history.

But in reality, I just read the thoughts of the Camarilla who devised these plans and dismantled them one by one like solving a problem.

I'm not a genius; I'm a fraud who saw the answers beforehand.

Unfortunately.

｢...Maybe, truly.｣

The Regressor's thoughts were interrupted by the urgency of the situation.

There was no time for hesitation now; each second could mean someone's death.

Picking up the sword she had dropped, the Regressor left me with a few words.

"Anyway, you’re really helpful this time. Thanks."

She confidently headed towards General Toruk and his soldiers.

Seeing her approach, the soldiers moved to surround her warily.

The Regressor, annoyed, swung her sword and spoke.

"Stop messing around and lead the way! There's no time for this!"

Seeing her confident demeanor, one of the officers grumbled.

"Damn. With him here, we're practically hostages."

"Move quickly before I treat you as real hostages!"

While the Regressor led them, I subtly called Tyr over.

Seeing my gesture, Tyr approached leisurely.

[Thanks to you, I avoided getting sunburned. If not for your quick thinking, I might have been a charred mess. This fabric you give me, quite a thoughtful gift, would you not say?]

She feigned nonchalance.

She was pretty startled by the sheer number of those artificial lights the Military State used.

Although they fell short compared to sunlight in many ways, the density of the light exceeded that of the sun.

Had she faced it head-on, even Tyr would have been temporarily incapacitated.

A vampire in the light is like a human underwater.

The immense pressure would hinder their every move, and their strength would diminish.

Well, she might have escaped somehow.

She could resist the light with darkness or break through the wall by moving just 30 meters in one direction.

But by then, we would all be dead.

Oh, I guess I saved myself more than Tyr.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I scratched my head.

"It’s nothing. Since you're done with it, can you return that fabric?"

At my legitimate request, Tyr, who was still draped in my Diamond Queen, hesitated and clutched the fabric tighter.

[...is this not a gift?]

"I never said it was. It's expensive. Please give it back."

[How lacking in romance. How could a man take back a handkerchief he once gave?]

"That's outdated thinking. Nowadays, people even ask for their gifts back when breaking up."

[The world is doomed!]

"I don't think the world's demise will be caused by returning gifts."

Reluctantly, Tyr handed back the Queen of Fabric.

Knowing its high value, I couldn't just give it away.

I transformed the fabric back into a card and put it in my pocket.

But Tyr still seemed dissatisfied, muttering complaints.

[I can not understand it! How could someone with any dignity take back something they gave?]

"Haha. I need it for something. And Tyr, I have a favor to ask."

[You got a thick face. Is that how someone asking for a favor behaves, taking back something they gave without a second thought?]

I dislike taking things back too, but the Queen of Fabric is a valuable tool for me too.

It's worth a house, after all.

I can't just give it away.

And you seem to take my giving things for granted lately.

"Tyr, you're older and richer than me. You've even founded a country! Isn't it too much to take away one of the few remaining possessions of a small citizen like me? Are you trying to kick someone when they are down?"

[Would I begrudge you for everything I ever give? Should you not first show your sincerity so that I can give you treasures or gold in return?]

"Ah, right. Didn't you promise gold or treasures as payment for the lectures and massages, but ended up not giving anything useful? I trusted the name of the Progenitor, Tyrkanzyaka, and waited. So, when can I expect those?"

[...Let us discuss that later. For now, what is your urgent request?]

Tsk, impressive.

Using urgency to evade unfavorable answers.

Perhaps because she has experience in building a country, she’s better with words than some regressor.

Looking around, I lowered my voice and whispered to Tyr.

"If they save the laborers, they'll likely be released temporarily. While helping them, pretend to assist and then..."

[Then?]

"Blind their eyes with darkness and secretly lead the laborers outside the refinery. Scatter them in all directions, so the incoming Military State forces have to deal with new problems."

Realizing the importance of my request, Tyr also lowered her voice.

[Is that really okay? I heard these laborers are all heinous criminals. Releasing them into the world would cause many problems.]

"I don't care. As long as they don't harm me."

[Ignoring law and justice. Your attitude is quite deplorable.]

"Disappointed?"

Tyr shook her head and gave a faint smile.

Her red lips formed a gentle curve.

It was the smile of someone recognizing a fellow conspirator in the same muddy waters.

[Not at all. In fact, I like it even more.]

To Tyr, this refinery was not a horrific place trampling on human dignity.

Historically, it was just another advanced method of human exploitation.

Discussing modern morality with a thousand-year-old Vampire Queen was meaningless.

[Wait a moment. So what will you do in the meantime?]

"Me? Even if I try to help, I'll be no help, and if I get taken hostage, I'll just hinder you and Ria. I'll stay here and be protected."

[That seems like a good idea.]

"Alright. Tyr, please go and free the laborers. Not for justice, but for me."

Tyr smiled faintly at my words.

[I shall grant your request.]

And so Tyr left the control room, shrouded in darkness.

Dozens of dark knights emerged from her shadow as she moved away.

Vampires saving humans?

It was not as uncommon as you might think.

While humans have killed the most humans, the species that has saved the most humans was surprisingly vampires.

Well.

Now that preparations were complete, I stretched and turned around.

One side saw Azzy struggling with the barbed wire while Nabi gleefully checked the fallen lights.

The lights sparkled like shattered glass, soon to become Nabi's footprints.

On the other side, Historia was explaining what had happened to Shiati and the Princess.

Shiati was gritting her teeth, and the Princess looked bewildered by the sudden change in the situation.

“What? Wait. You said Kerapald betrayed us? And Sir Shei killed him because he activated the trap…?”

“I don’t know the details. Whether he was the real Kerapald or someone in disguise. What’s certain is that something happened to him.”

“I can’t believe it. He wouldn’t betray us…”

“You never know how people can change.”

The Princess looked around anxiously.

Despite some broken lights, the control room was still bright, making the interior clearly visible.

“…But.”

Surveying the control room, the Princess asked, puzzled.

“Where is Kerapald?”

Historia flinched and turned her head sharply.

She looked at the spot where Kerapald had fallen bleeding.

But there was no one there.

Not even a dried bloodstain.

Historia tensed and reached out her hand.

“…It seems that Kerapald wasn’t the real one.”

“Oh, then it’s a relief! Kerapald didn’t betray us after all!”

Historia glared at the Princess with contempt.

“It’s not good news. If someone disguised as him, it means his identity was exposed, and he probably underwent horrible torture, spilled all the information, and was executed.”

“W-What?”

“But to fool both me and that boy. How could that be?”

Oh, that.

It was a masterful performance.

Zigrund’s acting was not some Arcane Art.

She was a true actor, honing her skills to show one human to another.

It was purely a matter of technique, so even the Regressor and Historia were completely fooled.

Her greatest ability was infusing her body with Gam Qi Art.

At the cusp of Axiom, her Qi Art allowed her to manipulate her body’s responses and even transform into another being.

“Meow?”

Crash.

Nabi, who was enjoying breaking lights, felt something off and lifted her paw.

Something was wrong with the light, and as she lifted her paw, a loud explosion followed.

“Meow-eow-eow!”

Like fireworks, the light burst and sparkling dust scattered.

Reacting instantly, Historia used her Qi to blow it away, while Azzy and Nabi barked in surprise.

In the ensuing chaos, Historia’s voice rang out.

“Everyone, gather! Don’t scatter!”

Historia stopped mid-sentence as someone emerged in front of her.

A tall female general with braided hair and sleepy eyes stared back at her with wide-open eyes.

It was as if there were two Historias, indistinguishable from one another.

Shiati and the Princess, seeing the two identical Historias, were shocked.

“There are two… Gunmaster?!”

Finding someone identical to herself, Historia wasted no time in astonishment.

Both moved simultaneously with a brief gap.

One Historia extended her leg, while the other ‘Historia’ let out a gentle sigh before gracefully deflected and tried to twist the leg with her knee and elbow.

The kick abruptly changed direction mid-air, and limbs moved swiftly.

Boom.

Historia’s Qi Art exploded, sending both figures skidding back.

‘Historia’ urgently reached out to me and shouted.

“Huey! It’s dangerous! Hide behind m–!”

“I can’t hide behind you... You’re the fake.”

Leaving the Princess, I ran toward the closer Historia.

As I moved away, the outstretched hand clenched and unclenched in vain.

The face of ‘Historia,’ who saw me rejecting her and running away again, filled with despair.

“H-How…”

There’s no point in facial acting.

The easiest way to see through an act is to remind yourself that it’s all a performance.

‘Historia’ realized I wasn’t just testing but had genuinely seen through her.

Her expression changed instantly.

With pure curiosity and puzzlement, ‘Historia’—Zigrund in disguise—tilted her head and questioned.

“You knew I was the fake?”