Game Opportunities Become Reality Chapter 94
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Game Opportunities Become Reality Chapter 94
25. One Step Over the Line (3)
People have common sense.
But the standard of that common sense differs from person to person, and sometimes there are people who act in ways that ordinary folks look at and think, "Why are they like that?" actions that are simply incomprehensible.
In truth, even they know in their heads what is wrong and what is right.
It's just that when they apply that common sense to themselves, they hold themselves to an overly generous standard, which is why they do things others can't understand.
"What's one little me? It's fine, right?"
"Anyone can say pretty words. Acting all virtuous is its own kind of hypocrisy."
"I had no choice. If you were in my position, you'd understand."
Most of these people are harsh toward others' mistakes while being especially lenient only toward themselves.
Moreover, because their standard of good and evil differs from ordinary people's, they easily dip their hands into crime.
"I had no choice," they say. "I did it to survive," they say.
But no matter the situation, there can be no pardon for crime.
If someone claims they had no choice but to commit crime because they were poor and life was tight, that's no different from treating honest people who live with integrity despite hardship as fools and insulting them.
"Of course, environmental factors can't be completely ignored, so some consideration can be given but the crime itself is never pardoned."
In that sense, a wealthy person or a person of high power repeatedly committing criminal acts and stacking up illicit gains is truly the worst kind of behavior, with no room for excuse whatsoever.
The politicians of the Prius Republic go beyond breaking common sense they jump rope with it but just because their misconduct has crossed the line doesn't mean we need to try to understand them.
Even looking at South Korea on Earth, not some unfamiliar fantasy world, aren't there plenty of bizarre actions from politicians?
So there's no need to understand.
That's just what common sense means by their standard.
"Is this... is this really what President Katro Fairmont has done?"
"Yes, and further down, the criminal acts of his son, Lewis Fairmont, are also recorded."
"Hah..."
In that sense, drawing the attention of Field Marshal Ansen, the commander of the Defense Force a man of thoroughly common sense was not difficult.
All I had to do was compile the countless corruptions committed by the President and his son into documents and present them to him.
I handed additional materials to Field Marshal Ansen, who had moved past anger and into hollow despair.
If the list of crimes committed by the President and his son amounted to three books, the materials I handed over were enough that those books, gathered and gathered again, would form a library.
"It's not just those two. High-ranking officials, politicians most people holding a seat in society commit crimes without batting an eye."
"..."
When he received the materials gathered through Blue Moon, he couldn't hold back a curse.
The corruption of the Prius Republic's government and political circle was beyond anything one could imagine.
In a seat prepared with great difficulty during the war against the Bringham Empire sat Commander Izrael, his Guard a female Aura Master and captain of the Revolutionary Army's 3rd Mobile Strike Unit Field Marshal Ansen, commander of the Defense Force, and his trusted subordinates.
I shared the materials so all of them could see, and one by one, those who examined the contents fell silent.
"Don't you already know without me shoving these documents in front of you? You're soldiers who must obey orders, so you just shift the blame and look away from the truth telling yourselves it can't be helped."
At my provocative question, Field Marshal Ansen's subordinates jumped up indignantly, but when Ansen stepped forward and shook his head, they lowered their heads.
They must be ashamed.
If they have common sense, they should be ashamed.
They are citizens of this Prius Republic, and I am an outsider, after all.
Moreover, they are high nobles who govern the people of a feudal state they themselves criticize as benighted.
If they do not feel shame over this, then they are no different from the other politicians.
[Relationship: Interest / Neutral]
[Status: Anger / Shame]
Fortunately, the status shown on the Myriad Mirror was perfectly normal.
Commander Izrael of the Revolutionary Army stopped me as I poured out blunt words.
But unlike the act of restraint, the look in his eyes as he gazed at me was full of gratitude.
"Field Marshal Ansen, we can't look away any longer. The war with the Bringham Empire is causing great upheaval, but if you think about it differently, there's no better environment than now to pass judgment on the regime."
"Hmm..."
"Would we let this nation perish because of politicians who could flee at any moment and it wouldn't surprise anyone?"
"We haven't given up on the war yet. The situation is unfavorable, but I don't think we're doomed to lose."
"So you mean to say we win the war, receive recognition from Katro Fairmont again, and continue watching him deceive the people?"
No matter how seasoned a soldier he is, the man has far too little flexibility.
Field Marshal Ansen looked like he might step over at any moment, yet he wouldn't take that one step toward us I clicked my tongue and sent a few more photos.
The photos showed a party in full swing.
"What is this?"
"This is what's happening at the Presidential Palace today. Lewis Fairmont called over his rich friends and celebrities and is having a wild time."
"These damn..."
"The Presidential Palace guard unit you approved for support is currently guarding the party venue. And while they refuse to let other politicians into the palace because they'd be an unnecessary security burden, they let wealthy businessmen in without a second thought."
Their expressions went beyond shame they looked like they wanted to crawl into a hole.
But Field Marshal Ansen, aside from his embarrassment, also looked surprised.
"I thought the Presidential Palace security was airtight, yet you've gathered even the latest intelligence. Just who are you?"
By now, everyone knows I am Marquis Adrian Lawrence.
But what he was asking about wasn't my identity it was something more fundamental.
I put my arm around Commander Izrael's shoulder and answered calmly.
"I'm a friend of the Revolutionary Army Commander."
At that, Field Marshal Ansen made a wary expression.
Commander Izrael spoke to him.
"Don't forget your priorities. Resolving the situation should take precedence over his intelligence-gathering methods."
"You're right."
"I acknowledge the soldiers' efforts and morale, but we cannot defeat the Bringham Empire. Please keep that in mind when you make your choice."
"We can't win?"
"Even if a miracle happens and we somehow win this time, can we stop the next force? And the one after that?"
Field Marshal Ansen already knew this.
Perhaps he simply didn't want to see infighting among allies while the Bringham Imperial Army loomed behind them.
But with Izrael forcing the choice, Field Marshal Ansen now had to pick between two options.
1. Maintain the status quo.
2. Revolution.
As I said before, Field Marshal Ansen is a man of common sense.
He won't be able to outright deny our persuasion, backed by mountains of evidence and documents.
"The word 'revolution' is full of ambition, and it doesn't suit me at all, but this time I have no choice."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll go along with your persuasion. In truth, after seeing this latest force from the Bringham Empire, I had no confidence we could win at all."
His shrugging and feigned reluctance made me realize his earlier claim that "you never know until you fight a war" was just a probe to gauge our reaction.
In truth, maybe he had been waiting for a catalyst.
And we had provided it.
"But capturing the capital will inevitably lead to a major battle. Do you have a plan?"
The forces currently guarding the Presidential Palace alone are 2,000 Vanguards and 10 Sky Fortresses.
On top of that, the units deployed for capital defense and VIP protection also number 2,000 Vanguards and 10 Sky Fortresses so in total, we'd have to fight 4,000 Vanguards and 20 Sky Fortresses.
Naturally, engaging that many troops and winning quickly is extremely difficult.
The longer the battle drags on, the more time the President and politicians have to escape, so we needed to secure them the moment the fight began.
At that, Izrael nodded lightly.
"Didn't Field Marshal Ansen just agree to side with us?"
"What do you mean?"
"It means Field Marshal Ansen has more presence in the military than he himself realizes."
As he narrowed his brow, Commander Izrael explained his plan in easy terms.
"Will that alone be enough?"
"The driving force of this revolution must be the citizens, not us. Otherwise, we'll never escape this cycle of corruption."
In my view, the person who understood democracy best was none other than Commander Izrael, a man of royal blood.
When I nodded in agreement with his plan, Field Marshal Ansen said he would prepare a special detachment for emergencies, but for now, he would play along with the plan.
'So this is the start of the revolution.'
And so, the day of the decisive battle to save Rondel's only democratic republic, the Prius Republic, drew near.
From here on, the pace would quicken.
* * *
-Wiiiiiiing!
The Square Hall of the Prius Republic Presidential Palace was in shambles from the party held the night before.
People were stripped down and rolling on the floor as a matter of course, some were hugging liquor bottles and face-down on tables, and others were sleeping with their faces buried in vomit.
It even looked like they had gotten into a brawl, with blood splattered across the Square Hall and no small number of injured people.
How could anyone call this a gathering of high society?
It was truly a den of raving beasts.
Inside it, Lewis Fairmont, who had been sprawled out surrounded by countless admirers, furrowed his brow and staggered to his feet.
"What? What's all that noise?"
He hadn't woken up because he wanted to.
-Wiiiiiiing!
That racket had been blaring for a while now, and he had no choice but to wake up.
And the second- and third-generation chaebol heirs who had attended the party with Lewis also stirred, groaning in irritation.
But it didn't take long for their expressions to harden...
"It's a surprise attack! A large Vanguard force has infiltrated the capital!"
The Presidential Palace Guard's Vanguards swarmed into the party hall, shouting that very warning.
"What!?"
"We haven't confirmed the enemy's exact numbers or which unit they belong to, but they're charging the Presidential Palace, ignoring the Capital Defense Force!"
"Gasp!"
"D-Don't tell me, did the Bringham Empire invade?"
They knew the country was at war, but they had assumed no harm would ever come to them.
After all, the Bringham Empire, true to the pride of a great nation, had a tendency to insist on frontal engagements when the situation wasn't disadvantageous, and the Imperial army was still 2,000 kilometers away in the western part of the Republic.
And yet, they launched a surprise attack?
This was an unexpected development beyond all predictions, so panic was inevitable.
"Run! Hurry!"
The heir of the Republic's second-largest corporation by market cap shouted in terror.
But Lewis Fairmont didn't even hear his cry.
"Presidential Palace Vanguards, protect me! I am the future of the Republic! Only by protecting me can the Republic survive!"
As if he couldn't care less about everyone else, he gathered the Vanguards around himself.
"Move to the bunker!"
"What about the others?"
"Tell them to fend for themselves!"
What in the world was yesterday's party even for?
But the Vanguards' top priority was protecting the Opportunity Seeker, Lewis Fairmont not the naked chaebols in the party hall.
They formed a defensive formation around Lewis and left the hall.
"W-Wait! Lewis!"
"Lewis Fairmont! What do you think you're doing!"
Behind him, the shouts of the people he had befriended the day before rang out, but Lewis paid them no mind.