Game Opportunities Become Reality Episode 93
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Game Opportunities Become Reality Episode 93
25. A Step Away(2)
On the operations table, papers printed with information and photos of targets to be eliminated and factors already eliminated were strewn about in a complex mess.
In a world where holograms created with 3rd Circle magic called imaging had become commonplace, paper was actually a rarity, but the revolutionary army commander, despite being a Grand Mage himself, preferred paper he could handle and examine directly with his hands.
Having never felt any discomfort using holograms, I hadn't specifically insisted on paper, but being able to review the data intuitively didn't seem like a bad thing either.
-Flip. Flip.
Picking up the documents of State Council Chairman Garsia, who sat near the very top among the agents on the elimination list, I drew an X mark with my hand.
Then the paper was dyed red, and the fact that the target had been eliminated was recorded.
State Council Chairman Garsia.
I had felt displeasure when I met him last time, but it wasn't enough to warrant killing him.
So I felt sorry for killing him, but that lasted only a moment.
He was a corrupt public official who, even as the people suffered from chronic poverty, made no effort to improve things instead, he plundered those very citizens through unjust gains and enjoyed great wealth.
Considering his sins, he deserved to die.
Since such a man had been eliminated for the future of the Republic, I should rather be grateful for his useful death.
'It's ridiculous to have already killed so many people and now feel bitter about killing a villain like this.'
My hands were already stained with blood.
There's no need to justify it.
He was an obstacle in the way of the plan, so he was eliminated.
'The immediate goal is to complete the next stage Opportunity quest and achieve the 8th Circle, but the final goal is to gather all Opportunities, achieve the 9th Circle, and form a power chain that allows me to live a safe life.'
So I would have decided not to hesitate in killing others as needed in this process.
But why.
Why do I feel this unpleasant?
When I killed Anna and Cedric, it was even satisfying, and when I neutralized the enemy Vanguard in the Domain War, I felt nothing at all.
State Council Chairman Garsia was also an enemy and a villain, and a cornerstone for the survival and enlightenment of this nation's 500 million citizens, yet...
I couldn't understand this lingering discomfort myself.
-Rustle.
But then.
I felt someone grab my hand as it scanned the situation board on the desk with a feigned calm.
So I turned my head, and Arcia was staring at me intently with her characteristic expression.
[His family are sinners who enjoyed the wealth obtained through unjust gains as well. You don't need to worry about it.]
That was Telepathy Magic.
It was a function of the artifact she and I shared to be able to converse at all times.
Only after hearing her words did I realize the cause of my unpleasant feeling.
It was the fact that, no matter how much I tried to avoid seeing it, I had killed a father in front of his family that was what had made me sentimental.
"Thank you."
I placed my hand on Arcia's shoulder, who had accurately grasped my situation and given me appropriate advice.
Patting her shoulder, I shook off the unnecessary thoughts.
And I asked the revolutionary army commander, 'Israel Oscar Prius.'
"Is contact with Field Marshal Ansen proceeding smoothly?"
He had been staring at the situation board with me, but at our incomprehensible action, he wore an expression asking what kind of love display this was.
"Yes, I've arranged to meet with him by tomorrow."
"Will he come over if persuaded?"
"He's a man you can talk to, at least. Moreover, he absolutely despises the current President and politicians, so I believe the chances are sufficient."
"Good to hear."
With the possibility of a political solution now cut off, the Prius Republic has only two choices left.
The first is to proclaim total resistance despite the disadvantage in the war against the Bringham Empire.
The second is to declare unconditional surrender to the Bringham Empire.
It's extreme, but no other option can be considered.
It wouldn't be easy to obtain aid from other nations against the thoroughly enraged Bringham Empire either.
Even the six nations of the Triton Continent that are on good terms with the Republic have no choice but to cut ties with the Republic due to the Bringham Empire's forceful measures, so it's safe to say that says it all.
War always carries variables, no matter the circumstances.
Therefore, if they proclaim total resistance, there exists a possibility of victory against the Bringham Empire.
'But the problem is that if you measure the chance of victory in percentages, it would be endlessly close to 0%.'
Moreover, if they fought to the end and lost, the Prius Republic would face not just annihilation but a high likelihood of the nation itself being dissolved.
The Bringham Empire does not easily wage wars of conquest.
Strictly speaking, this war was merely a threatening protest demanding the Opportunity be handed over its purpose was not the conquest of the Republic.
But the foolish Republic government has changed the purpose of that war.
If the Republic proclaims total resistance in that situation, the purpose of the war will become the Republic's destruction and conquest.
The Bringham Empire is extremely harsh toward nations it has declared conquest upon.
First, they drive out the entire people of that nation from their homeland, completely eliminating any chance of recovery, and send them to the imperial territories in the polar regions.
Inhumane as it may be, showing no mercy to those who were enemies is the Bringham Empire's way.
Logically, the only position the Prius Republic should take right now is to declare unconditional surrender, no matter how much is lost.
"If we bring him in, the domestic situation will flow the way we want."
"That's right. That's what the agent assassination is for."
But will the current government declare unconditional surrender?
It won't.
The government intends to proclaim total resistance.
If they declare unconditional surrender, the Bringham Empire's exercise of victor's rights would reduce their power to nothing in an instant, and their assets would be seized and disappear.
Thus, advocating total resistance while secretly preparing to flee is the current government and politicians' modus operandi.
That's why they took the extreme choice of assassinating key figures to break the current politicians' power and the government's stance.
Once the government's power is broken, when we bring in Field Marshal Ansen and the military, the cleanup will be much easier.
"This is largely thanks to you, Marquis. Frankly, I'm surprised. I never imagined your intelligence-gathering abilities would be this impressive."
"I was just lucky."
"How could you call this luck? Every time I see you, Marquis, you seem to astonish people."
If I had volunteered to help out of nowhere, they would have been suspicious, so initially, I approached him with the purpose of providing information.
And they were impressed by the quality of the information I provided through Blue Moon, forming a deep relationship, and as a result, I ended up with one foot directly in their operations.
"It would be so reassuring if you could grace us with your presence when we meet Field Marshal Ansen would that be possible?"
Moreover, with Commander Izrael showing this much reliance on me, some among his subordinates displayed signs of discomfort.
[Relationship: Calculated / Alliance]
[Status: Observing / Favorable]
But with the Myriad Mirror, I knew that he was merely using me.
Still, being used doesn't necessarily mean I'm at a loss.
So I simply play along with his wishes.
"Yes, understood. Let's do that."
"Haha, reassuring. These men all have the talent for guarding something, but they lack political sense, which is the problem."
"Isn't that exactly why they can be trusted? Even among allies who share the same cause, having overly calculating people around is exhausting."
"Haha, indeed."
A smart man like him would have fully understood the meaning of my words.
It was a warning to keep the line we work together because our goals align, but stay in your lane.
"I hope I'm not being too much of a burden on you."
"As long as I'm getting something in return, I should earn my keep."
"I'm just grateful you think that way."
For reference, no matter how much I was the cause of this whole situation, if I only helped for free, they would inevitably look at me with suspicion.
So through a contract with them, I've promised to help in exchange for many things in return.
In other words, if this situation is resolved smoothly, it means I stand to make a lot of money.
* * *
While Adrian was fervently devoting himself to assassinating key figures alongside the revolutionary army.
The biggest prize of all, President Katro Fairmont, and his son, Lewis Fairmont (the fake Opportunity Seeker), were left alone because even if they wanted to touch them, they couldn't.
The Presidential Palace where they resided was staffed by an Aura Master and a Grand Mage, and 2,000 Vanguards plus ten Sky Fortresses maintained an airtight watch, making a covert infiltration and assassination impossible.
The reason the Presidential Palace was in such a dense state of defense was not because of the ongoing assassinations of key figures.
It was because the President himself was a coward who feared terribly for his own life.
"Mr. President, Field Marshal Ansen has requested that since the current force guarding the Presidential Palace is excessive, half of it be sent to the front lines."
Normally, the defensive force at the Presidential Palace was a fifth of the current size.
But as soon as the war started, President Katro pulled an entire strategic maneuver corps out of the national army and assigned them to guard the Presidential Palace.
A man so greedy and so fearful would never accept such a request.
"Nonsense! If the Bringham Empire shifts its forces to capture the capital, we'd die without being able to lift a finger!"
"Field Marshal Ansen says not to worry, because given the Bringham Empire's nature, they'll insist on a frontal confrontation..."
"Enough! That request cannot be granted! The rebels are in the middle of assassinating key figures, and he wants me to reduce defensive forces? That's not something a sane man would say!"
"Then, how about housing the high-ranking officials and politicians in the Presidential Palace? Even if we could free up only the forces used for their protection, it would be a significant help to the war effort."
"Ha, have I gone mad?"
"Sir?"
"Which one of those people do I know isn't a rebel informant to let them into the Palace? The way the Presidential Palace operates will never change."
What exactly was he supposed to do?
The power gap with the enemy was so vast that defeat was already imminent, and yet instead of pooling what little strength they had, they were this uncooperative with support requests just for their own safety.
He couldn't help but wonder if this was truly the behavior of someone claiming to fight to the death.
The officer from the Presidential Palace situation room who had entered the President's office to deliver Field Marshal Ansen's message could only be taken aback.
"P-President!"
"Secretary Kotscha, what is it?"
And then, right after the situation officer, a man from the President's secretariat hurriedly entered the office.
The situation officer tensed up, thinking something else had happened.
But what the secretary said next was absurd.
"Young Master Lewis requests permission to use the Square Hall in the Presidential Palace."
"Why does he want the Square Hall?"
"He wishes to hold a party."
Had he forgotten what state the country was in?
The situation officer furrowed his brow, but what was even more absurd was the President's reaction.
"What kind of party?"
"He says he wants to host a gathering to network with the heirs of major corporations. On top of that, it seems he intends to bring in celebrities to entertain them as well."
"Fine, tell him to go ahead."
"What?"
It wasn't the secretary who responded in shock at the President's approval.
It was the situation officer, who had come to deliver Field Marshal Ansen's urgent request from the front lines against the Bringham Empire's army.
"What? You're still here? Why aren't you out doing your job?"
"No, a party in the middle of a war?"
Anger seeped into the situation officer's expression.
The President flinched at that, but then spoke with confidence.
"Do you think war is free? What Lewis is doing isn't just a party. It's a negotiation to draw in funding."
Yeah, right.
The situation officer, who knew Lewis's usual behavior well, bit his lip.
And to think he wouldn't let other politicians into the Palace, but he'd let in businessmen with money the situation officer desperately hoped his reaction was a joke.
"I have nothing more to say. You may leave."
"Mr. President! Please consider the situation at the front a little more!"
"Hey! I've said all I have to say, so leave! Isn't war the soldier's job?"
And with that, the situation officer was shoved out of the office by the presidential guards.
"He's insane."
The situation officer's hollow voice echoed in front of the Presidential Palace office.
"This country is finished."