Rebirth in a Ruined Nation! The Life of a New Strategist Starting From Now - Chapter 124

The Empire’s Turmoil (11) – The End of the Mission

After a few moments of silence, Wickharlt stepped forward but Frein stopped him.

“Don’t worry. I’m calm.”

“You don’t look calm at all. Sorry but I can’t allow you to take care of this.”

Even when Wickharlt gave Frankurlt Drew a piercing stare, something he rarely did, Frankurlt Drew just calmly, silently, stared back at him.

“But he’s saying he wants to seek asylum so someone has to talk with him,” WIckharlt argued while still keeping his eyes on Frankurlt.

“I know, but that someone doesn’t have to be you. No, I can’t let it be you,” Frein replied firmly.

On this ship, people who could be considered as having a high status in the Rudek Kingdom were me, Wickharlt, Lapilia-sama, one of the captains of the Lapilia Brigade, Sarg-san, and the Navy commander, Northbell-sama.

Both Luzel and the other captain of the Lapilia Brigade, Juno-san stayed in Gedland.

The person who had the highest status on this ship was Northbell-sama. Everyone turned to him but he shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, gesturing that this wasn’t his turn to speak.

After Northbell-sama, Lapilia-sama and I had the highest status but asking for asylum was largely a political matter so I was way too inexperienced to handle it. I’d rather have a noble like Lapilia-sama handling it.

Unfortunately, Lapilia-sama was currently throwing a sharp gaze at Frankurlt, just like Wickharlt. So her instinct of being a soldier won over her noble blood. I don’t think I could leave this matter to her.

Then, the only remaining noble here was…Frein. Everyone’s attention shifted to him.

Seeing the situation, Frein probably decided that he didn’t have any other choice. After exchanging glances with Wickharlt and Lapilia-sama, Frein stepped in front of Frankurlt Drew.

“I’m Frein Delta, a captain of the 10th Division.”

“You’re from the prominent Delta House? Even I had heard of the Delta House. It is a pleasure to meet you,” Frankurlt Drew replied.

Then, without mentioning anything about the Delta House, Frein continued, “Frankurlt-dono, you said you wanted to seek asylum in our country, but aren’t your method too forceful? Don’t you think the proper thing to do is to first contact our country and get permission?”

According to the continent’s custom, if you want to seek asylum in another country, you first have to contact that country and get their permission. People seeking asylum were quite rare, though.

Frankurlt nodded deeply as if he had been waiting for that question.

“It is as you said, Frein-dono. You might not know, but I had secretly sent a letter asking for asylum to the Knight Commander of your country who had been stationed in Lieze Fortress.

“Ah, so that’s what it was,” I blurted.

I was sure many people here were remembering the same thing as I was.

The secret letter received by Thor-sama of the 7th Division was actually a letter from Frankurlt asking for asylum in our country. I now understand why Thor-sama was hesitant back then.

“I see. Now I understand that you have contacted our country, but shouldn’t you wait for a response first?”

No one told us that we would be receiving Frankurlt along with the 2nd Prince and judging from Frankurlt’s tone, I don’t think our country has given him permission.

“You’re correct. However, because of the change in situation, I have to leave Gorber as soon as possible.”

“Did something happen in Gorber?”

“Those from the 10th Division must have known that we lost at Zetta Plain. Due to that, a purge is currently happening in Gorber.”

“Zetta Plain? Frankurlt-dono, Did you participate in the battle in Zetta Plain?” Hearing his words, I inadvertently ask.

Frankurlt turned at me with an expression as if trying to remember something.

“Excuse me, sir, you are…?”

“The person who foiled your plan in Hakusha, Roa-dono,” It wasn’t me, but Wickharlt who answered.

Wickharlt’s tone was really cold. I understand your feelings. Remembering Raimaru-san’s death, I couldn’t bring myself to stop him from acting like that.

Frankerlt looked puzzled after he heard Wickharlt’s answer.

“Hakusha? But wasn’t it Rays who was leading that battle?”

“No. At that time, Rays-sama hadn’t arrived yet. It was Roa-dono who led the army to defeat you.”

Frankurlt’s eyes widened.

“So, the flame that time wasn’t Rays’s main force?”

“It was a flame created by burning wooden huts nearby. It’s just a bluff,” I answered.

Frankurlt looked up and muttered, “So that’s how it is…”

Then, he turned to me and lowered his head.

“I admired your strategy in exploiting my arrogance because I thought I had already won the battle.”

“It’s just luck. In any case, you did participate in battle at Zetta Plain?”

Frankurlt shook his head.

“I didn’t participate in that battle.”

“If you didn’t participate, why are you affected by the purge?”

Frankurlt shook his head again

“The purge wasn’t aimed at the generals who were defeated in that battle. It was aimed at people who had close ties with the person who devised the strategy for that battle. The King was furious at that person, but that person had fled so The King’s fury was turned to the people who were close to him.”

A person’s name immediately popped into my mind.

“Are you saying…Sakuri ran away?”

Frankurlt widened his eyes in surprise.

“How did you know his name!?… Wait, don’t tell me you know about him since the battle at Hakusha…?”

“No. It was actually because of the battle at Hakusha that I thought he might be connected to Gorber.”

“…I see. It is as you said, sir. The purge was aimed at people who had close ties with Sakuri, or to be more precise at people who achieved success because of Sakuri’s strategy.”

“But for people who didn’t even participate in the battle in Zetta Plain to also become the target of the purge…it is a bit unreasonable,” Frein muttered, sounding a bit unconvinced.

“I thought the same. I thought there would be a chance to explain everything to the King, but…”

“But?”

“If even the hero, Loderite, wasn’t given a chance to defend himself, I am convinced that I would not too so I decided to leave Gorber.”

“What happened to Loderite?”

“He was executed. Just three days ago.”

Everyone went silent at the news of the unexpected end for the hero of Gorber, leaving only the melodious sounds of the waves. 

(T/N: Damn. Gorber’s hero is so short-lived. I wonder if his execution has something to do with what Roa did to him at Zetta Plain?)