Chapter 40

Ten days later.

I was patrolling the outskirts of the city under the guise of a routine inspection, accompanied by officers and soldiers.

The reason for patrolling the outskirts? I figured that compared to the central area where the garrison is stationed, we’d hear more candid complaints from the citizens here.

But there’s nothing.

No matter how carefully I listened while walking around, no complaints about the garrison were heard.

Occasionally, some citizens who spotted me would make strange expressions, then bow their heads slightly and walk past.

‘Hmm. This must be…’

It seemed like they were holding back out of fear of being arrested for speaking ill of the garrison.

Or maybe rumors of my patrol as the temporary commander had spread through the streets beforehand.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense that there’s no resistance against my supposed tyranny.

Understanding the situation, I nodded once and turned to look at Lucy.

“Aide-de-camp. How do the Nordia citizens feel about the garrison? You’ve been out in the field more than I have during these ten days sitting at my desk, so you should know better.”

Lucy thought for a moment before answering.

“There are still some complaints, but overall, the citizens seem to tolerate the presence of the garrison.”

“…Tolerate? The garrison?”

“Yes. Thanks to Captain Steiner’s appropriate measures, public services have been quickly restored, and the paralyzed administrative system is gradually returning to normal. Additionally, reports indicate that the crime rate has dropped compared to before the city was occupied.”

Since I was the one who ordered the patrols to be intensified and public services to be urgently reactivated, this makes sense.

But the fact that the citizens are tolerating the garrison is another issue entirely.

After all, it’s common for citizens to be filled with anger during the early stages of an occupation.

‘And in a normal city, they should be protesting the tax rates I set and mandatory military service, right?’

Could there be something I’m overlooking? Just as I was about to ask Lucy related questions…

“This is going too far! My daily wage has been cut even further since yesterday!”

A young man’s shout drew everyone’s attention.

In front of the watchtower reconstruction site, a middle manager and a Black man were facing off.

The middle manager frowned in annoyance, crossing his arms.

“Hey, you should be grateful just to have a job. Or do you want me to take away that wage of yours too?”

“I’m grateful for the work, but this isn’t right! If you take half my wage, how am I supposed to feed my family…!”

This situation didn’t feel right.

Wanting to understand the situation, I walked toward them.

“Feed your family by working overtime or something. Why are you yelling at me…”

The middle manager turned his head toward me upon hearing footsteps.

Seeing me surrounded by armed soldiers and military officers, he quickly bowed his head.

“C-Captain! W-Why are you here in such a desolate place…!”

“It doesn’t feel desolate to me. My hometown was much worse off than this. But what’s going on here that you’re arguing with a worker?”

“That, well… This guy keeps making a fuss about getting his full daily wage, you see.”

The middle manager glanced disdainfully at the man as he spoke, leaving me no choice but to frown.

“You were appointed as a middle manager to ensure workers get their rightful wages. So why aren’t you paying him properly? Did he slack off or something?”

“Huh? No, not at all. He works diligently.”

“Then why aren’t you paying him properly?”

“The captain knows, doesn’t he? He’s Black.”

Huh? His casual tone made me think I misheard for a moment.

After a brief silence, I asked to confirm if I’d heard correctly.

“You’re saying you didn’t pay him properly because he’s Black?”

“Yes, exactly. His father was a slave, yet this son acts like a free citizen—it’s infuriating. Historically, in the Kingdom, colored people were considered third-class citizens…”

I raised my hand to stop the middle manager mid-sentence.

Because there was no need to hear any more.

“Disgusting talk indeed. Are you serving in the Empire’s military while citing Kingdom laws? Or are you mocking His Majesty the Emperor, who forbids discrimination based on status or race?”

The middle manager’s eyes widened in shock.

Stunned, trembling, and mouth agape, he quickly clasped his hands together.

“No! That was absolutely not my intention! I, I was just…!”

“Shut your filthy mouth. Not only did you disobey my order to pay fair wages, but you also disrespected the Emperor’s solemn law. Soldier, arrest him.”

“Sir!” Two soldiers charged forward and kicked the middle manager’s shins.

“Ugh!”

They forced him to kneel and twisted his arms behind his back before tying his wrists with rope.

“Captain! Ugh! I, I didn’t mean to do this…!”

The middle manager pleaded, but I didn’t even glance at him.

Sighing deeply, I turned to the nearby Black man, who was sweating cold sweat.

“You.”

The Black man snapped to attention, clearly terrified he might be arrested next.

Judging by his scared expression, it was obvious how much discrimination he usually faced, despite doing nothing wrong.

“Starting now, you’ll be the middle manager of this district.”

“Wha-? Sir, I can’t possibly take such a high position.”

“And why not?”

After hesitating for a moment, the Black man replied.

“What he said is true. My father was a slave, and though I’m technically a free citizen, I’m still the son of a slave. And as a person of color, it’s natural to face discrimination…”

“You don’t seem to understand what I’m asking. Who are you?”

Blinking several times in confusion, the Black man cautiously answered.

“…Daniel.”

“Good. Daniel, I don’t care that you’re a person of color or that your father was a slave. What matters is that you worked diligently and still weren’t paid fairly. I’m trying to fix that.”

I placed a hand on Daniel’s shoulder.

“By my command, starting today, you will supervise the workers as a middle manager and ensure they receive their proper wages. If anyone objects unfairly, seek help from the garrison.”

Tears welled up in Daniel’s eyes upon hearing my words.

Trying to hide his overwhelming emotions, he clenched his teeth tightly before bowing deeply.

“Thank you! Truly, thank you, Captain!”

Nodding once, I turned to leave.

But I stopped involuntarily.

Because I noticed subtle smiles playing on the lips of the officers and soldiers watching me.

For some reason, it gave me chills, so I quickened my pace.

“Let’s head back. It’s getting cold.”

As I led the way, the officers and soldiers followed.

Despite trying to ignore them, I could still hear the officers whispering behind me.

“Our captain truly has no flaws. I never expected his loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor to be this high.”

“Of course not. Was it for nothing that His Majesty awarded Captain Steiner the Medal of Merit? He’s a model soldier. It’s an honor just to serve beside him.”

That was Corporal Glendi and Lieutenant McCall.

“Indeed, Captain Daniel is practically a divine savior sent by God. Honestly, if it were someone else from the Empire, they probably wouldn’t have cared and let it slide. Right, Lieutenant Lucy?”

“Yeah. That’s definitely true…”

This was Prien and Lucy.

Upon receiving Lucy’s agreement, Prien clapped her hands excitedly and said,

“The thing I hate most is racists and Allied Nations citizens. They’re both close to beasts, if you ask me.”

…When will this girl realize she’s not entirely sane?

*

Meanwhile, at the Secret Society Black Crow’s hideout.

On the third floor of a seemingly ordinary sundries shop, rows of Telex machines and radios stood ready for sending and receiving messages.

Among the members bustling about with their tasks, their leader Hamtal sat at his desk, furrowing his brow deeply.

‘Daniel Steiner is the commander of the occupying forces. Naturally, he’s a target for elimination. But…’

The citizens were beginning to accept the garrison.

The boiling rage in their hearts gradually subsided after hearing Daniel Steiner’s urban development plans.

Even Hamtal wasn’t entirely different.

Watching Daniel’s policies unfold, the question arose: ‘Do I really have to eliminate him?’

‘However, as the commander of a foreign army…’

There’s no telling when he might shed his mask and oppress the city’s citizens.

Thus, it’s wise to eliminate him.

Firming his resolve, Hamtal opened a drawer and pulled out a revolver.

While checking the remaining bullets in the revolver’s cylinder, familiar footsteps approached.

Looking up, he saw Tarky, who had delivered information to the council the previous day.

Breathless from running, Tarky caught his breath and spoke.

“Mr. Hamtal! The garrison has issued a new order to the citizens!”

“…An order? What kind of order?”

If it involved oppressing the citizens, he couldn’t afford to hesitate any longer.

Tension filled the air as Tarky began speaking.

“In the future, anyone practicing racial discrimination within the city will be punished according to Imperial Law.”

Hamtal paused as he closed the revolver’s cylinder.

“…Prohibiting racial discrimination?”

“Yes. Apparently, they’ve appointed a Black person as one of the local middle managers assisting the Empire’s military efforts.”

Upon hearing Tarky’s words, Hamtal accidentally dropped the revolver.

‘This can’t be…’

For the past ten years, Hamtal had fought to eradicate racial discrimination imposed by Nordia’s noble class.

The very reason he founded the Secret Society Black Crow was to oppose such discrimination.

But even after successfully bribing politicians and securing the mayoral seat, the elected official broke his promise to the Black Crows and continued his dictatorial ways.

Still, Hamtal didn’t give up and continued fighting for freedom and equality.

‘Yet, progress seemed impossible…’

Now, Daniel Steiner had achieved what Hamtal thought was unattainable.

Unprecedented emotions flooded his heart, clouding his mind.

With a furrowed brow and heavy breathing, Hamtal wiped his face with his hand.

“Thank you for the information. It seems I need to personally assess who Daniel Steiner truly is.”

“…Are you planning to reveal your identity?”

“No. I’ll merely observe from the sidelines. I need to determine whether his policies are temporary deceptions meant to placate the populace.”

If it’s a temporary deception, he remains a target for elimination.

But if all his actions stem from genuine sincerity, the story changes.

‘If the latter is true, Daniel Steiner isn’t a conqueror who came to dominate the city…’

He might be a liberator seeking to free the city from the Kingdom’s oppression.