FMRV | Chapter 13

The magic orbs used by the Imperial Army could expand their communication range the more mana was forcibly infused into them. However, exceeding a certain threshold risked the orb breaking easily, so care was taken not to overdo it.

Right now, Luke was channeling mana into the orb to its absolute limit. The moment a slight crack appeared, he stopped.

“I pre-infused a small amount of my mana into the orb sold to the Harnus family, and now I’ve traced its location using this orb. Look. See where it’s pointing.”

All eyes turned to one spot. The orb glowed brightly, and the location it pointed to was none other than the Kingdom of Memvern.

Before handing the orbs over to the Harnus family’s staff, Luke had taken precautions with five of them. He had infused a small amount of mana into them, effectively marking them.

Crash—

Eventually, the orb that had been overloaded with mana shattered into pieces along its cracked lines. But everyone had seen it. The undeniable proof of where the Harnus family had sent the orb.

“T-That… What does that have to do with you embezzling supplies?”

At that moment, Mile slammed the desk and stood up anxiously.

“I suspected the Harnus family and took action. I secretly instructed my subordinate to appropriate the supplies as part of building rapport with them, making it easier to catch their trail and secure definitive evidence.”

Luke didn’t plan to deny the charges against him. He would take responsibility for the crime of unauthorized appropriation of military supplies. But that didn’t mean he would just let himself be branded a criminal.

This was the answer Luke had arrived at in that brief time.

“Indeed, it’s true that I acted independently and appropriated the supplies without authorization. I take full responsibility, Commander. I deeply regret my actions.”

Even as the villain, he wasn’t about to sit there and take everything lying down. There was no way he could afford to be dismissed just yet.

“I respectfully request that you impose strict punishment on me.”

Luke bowed his head, the corners of his lips curving up slightly as he spoke words he didn’t mean at all.

Before long, news of the Harnus marquisate’s corruption began to spread throughout the Empire. It was revealed that they had smuggled some confidential documents from the Empire to the Kingdom of Memvern, provided military supplies, and greedily pocketed the profits from these actions.

The current head of the Harnus family, Lumein Harnus, initially denied any knowledge, claiming it was the independent actions of a few retainers. However, it wasn’t long before numerous pieces of evidence were uncovered in his residence.

The Heinern Empire held control over half of the Rotelli Sea’s trade routes, and the Harnus family had been primarily responsible for handling maritime trade as subcontractors for the Imperial Palace. However, as the Empire implemented stricter regulations on maritime trade each year, the marquisate’s profits and influence diminished. Out of desperation, they turned to Memvern, the holder of the remaining sea routes, which became their motive for the crimes.

“Look at this. One family has completely fallen apart.”

Luke sat in the dormitory lounge, laying a newspaper on the table. Veil, seated across from him, cautiously glanced at it.

[The Harnus Marquisate: Ultimately, the Fall of a Family]

A reputable newspaper in the Empire harshly criticized the family, concluding that the military’s cooperation had been crucial in bringing the incident to light.

“Pretty satisfying ending, huh?”

“…C-Commander….”

“What?”

“That’s not what you should be saying to me right now, is it…?”

Veil’s pupils wavered with confusion. Luke silently stared at his subordinate’s face.

“I’m the one who appropriated the supplies, the one who handed them to the Harnus family—”

Before Veil could continue, Luke placed a finger on the newspaper and incinerated it. Veil, startled, was left speechless.

“Even if there’s no one around, remember, someone is always listening. Keep that in mind.”

“C-Commander….”

“Veil, from this moment on, I won’t say a word about this case. So you shouldn’t either. It all worked out in the end, didn’t it?”

“Worked out? Because of me, Commander, you—”

“You’re making a fuss over a little disciplinary action.”

The only people who could decide Luke’s punishment were the division commanders and the Commander in Chief. Naturally, Luke wasn’t allowed to participate in the lengthy discussions determining the severity of his punishment. Ultimately, after a long deliberation, it was decided that he would be suspended. For a full month, his position as the special unit commander was frozen. He lost all authority and was unable to issue any orders.

To an outsider, the punishment might not seem too severe. However, to a soldier who valued honor above all else, being disciplined was a deep crack in their pride. The inability to act as a soldier for an entire month was a tremendous disgrace.

But Luke felt relieved. Had things gone even slightly wrong, he could have been expelled from the Imperial Army entirely. Diverting military supplies to outsiders was a severe crime in the Empire, known for its strictness and hierarchical order.

Luke’s actions, however, were acknowledged as lacking malicious intent. His claim that he had to resort to such measures to expose the Harnus family’s corruption and the perfect evidence he provided worked in his favor.

“Just suspension… Compared to that, I didn’t receive any punishment at all….”

From an external perspective, Veil was naturally seen as a victim. There was no reason for him to face any consequences.

“Commander, why… why would you go so far for me?”

For a brief moment, confusion flashed across Veil’s face. Perhaps he couldn’t reconcile this side of the commander with what he thought he knew.

“Sorry, Veil. Did you think I did all this for you?”

“…Pardon?”

“I used you. It was all to expose the Harnus family’s corruption and take credit for it. Besides, drama is best when it’s the most dramatic, right?”

“Ah….”

Veil lowered his head deeply.

“Well then, I’ll be off. Oh, and Veil.”

“Yes?”

“If being in the special unit doesn’t suit you, consider finding another division. Something like an administrative role might suit you better.”

“B-But… with that salary, I can barely cover my mother’s medical expenses….”

Luke rose from his seat and looked down at Veil. He wanted to offer comforting words but figured they wouldn’t suit him.

“I see. Well then. Oh, Veil.”

“Yes?”

“Stop by the investigation department later. They said you need to sign off on your testimony report. The sooner, the better, so don’t delay.”

“Understood.”

As Luke left the lounge, Veil saluted him with a formality heavier than ever. Luke smirked.

“Sorry, but I’m not officially a soldier right now, so I can’t accept that salute.”

Leaving those words, Luke disappeared without a second glance.

After his encounter with Luke, Veil headed straight to the office where the investigation team was gathered.

“Excuse me. I’m Veil from the special unit.”

“What brings you here?”

Recognizing him, a senior member of another division approached slowly.

“I was told I need to sign my testimony report from the recent supply embezzlement case.”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

The senior retrieved a document and placed it in front of Veil.

“Sign here.”

“Yes.”

As Veil completed the formalities and prepared to leave, the investigator called him back.

“Good timing. Here, take this. A reward has been issued for your critical testimony in the case.”

“Oh, thank you….”

But could he really accept this? Refusing the money at this point might come across as strange. Sighing briefly, Veil took the envelope. It was surprisingly heavy. Out of curiosity, he opened it—and froze.

“This… This must be a mistake. The amount is far more than I expected….”

Rewards from the Imperial Army weren’t usually much, as they came from a limited budget. But the envelope contained an amount several times greater than the highest typical reward.

“Oh, that? It includes the reward meant for Commander Luke as well.”

“What? He also received a reward? Even though he committed a crime?”

Biting his lip, Veil recalled his conversation with Luke.

“Yes. Regardless, from the Imperial Palace’s perspective, he played a critical role in uncovering the truth. It’s likely a significant amount.”

“Then I should deliver it to Commander Luke—”

“No need. Commander Luke declined the reward. Didn’t he mention it?”

“He never said….”

“If a reward is refused, the military code dictates it’s passed to the next eligible recipient. In this case, that’s you. That’s why the amount is so high.”

Understanding the situation, Veil clutched the envelope tightly.

“Wow, declining a reward from the Imperial Palace? His pride is something else. Well, it’s yours now. Must feel nice having a commander who actually helps out sometimes, huh?”

“…Yes.”

Others might have dismissed Luke as a troublemaker, but Veil understood now. Luke knew exactly where the money would end up if he refused it. That’s why he’d sent Veil to the investigation department.

It all made sense now. Luke had wanted Veil to accept the reward without hesitation.

“Hey, why are you crying?”

“Oh, um….”

“Are you that happy? Man, soldiers shouldn’t cry so easily!”

“S-Sorry….”

For the first time, Veil’s tears burned as they fell.