MBD | Chapter 28

“It’s a document stamped with the imperial and military seals. It’s a copy, but even I wouldn’t dare to do something so reckless.”

Forging the imperial seal was considered a crime of treason against the imperial family. Especially for nobles, the minimum punishment was execution.

“Have you ever thought about how we know so much about the hideouts inside Helmstradt?”

Rudolf’s face turned pale. Looking back, he realized there were too many strange things he had overlooked.

“There was an internal deal. In exchange for not touching Nordensk, they agreed to provide information about Helmstradt.”

Nordensk was the central region of Graupfeld. In exchange for ensuring its safety, they sold out Helmstradt.

“Oh, there was one more condition. Rudolf, they planned to have you killed. Do you realize now that you’ve been abandoned?”

Trust can only be established when both parties believe the other will reciprocate. The moment you acknowledge that you’ve been abandoned, there’s nothing left to protect.

“One more thing, this isn’t the end.”

“What?”

“Did you think the higher-ups would just leave Graupfeld alone based on an insider’s word?”

No matter how disorganized Eisenwald’s army might be, it was still an army. At least it was better than a Boy Scout troop.

“We know all about the magic stone mines too. A large-scale airstrike operation is planned soon.”

“Is the government army trying to end this civil war?”

“Think for yourself.”

“One, no, two things I want to ask.”

Rudolf, somewhat relaxed around Everhart, gulped down the water placed beside him.

“……Is everything in the witness protection program true?”

“I’d stake my family’s name on it being true.”

“Then, what’s the name of the traitor who made the internal deal?”

He slammed the water bottle onto the table, splashing water everywhere.

“Franz Lehmann.”

At Everhart’s answer, Rudolf closed his eyes tightly. Franz Lehmann was the third in command of the Liberation Army.

Franz Lehmann was a key figure in the Liberation Army’s self-defense force. He had been promised a new name and identity from the Eisenwald military, along with shares in the magic stone mines, if he succeeded in suppressing the Graupfeld rebellion.

He was a very cunning and sly individual. In Graupfeld, he betrayed the national self-defense force, and in Eisenwald, when Karl Heinrich tried to seize power, he quickly shifted from the noble faction to the national faction.

Thanks to this, he managed to preserve his life and lived a fairly decent life even after Karl Heinrich came to power.

“Well, from Karl’s perspective, there was nothing to gain from targeting him.”

There was no reason to go after him at a loss. Franz Lehmann’s survival under Karl Heinrich’s dictatorship was purely due to luck.

“I hoped it wouldn’t be him, of all people. …If he’s the insider, then cooperating won’t change anything, will it?”

“That depends on what you say.”

Everhart gestured for him to look at the next page.

Operation ❮Eagle❯.

“This, this is…!”

“He doesn’t care about the rights of the Graupfeld people.”

In reality, Franz Lehmann later changed his name, married a Nord noble, and started a new life. He didn’t even like the fact that he was Graupfeldian.

“This is madness. If this happens, countless innocent people will die! Is the Eisenwald army really planning a massacre?”

“If the plan gets approved, that is.”

Fortunately, Operation ❮Eagle❯ hadn’t been approved yet. In summary, Operation Eagle was about starting with the major stronghold cities of Graupfeld and devastating the surrounding areas.

Even though it was a copy, obtaining documents not reported to the higher-ups wasn’t easy.

“They are still citizens of Eisenwald.”

Everhart suppressed his complex emotions and nodded with a neutral expression. It was ironic to hear such words from the head of the self-defense force, who had been shouting for strong independence.

“Blood is necessary for a cause, but… I don’t want this massacre either.”

“……”

“I hope you’ll cooperate. If you truly think the people living in Graupfeld are also citizens of Eisenwald.”

Rudolf clenched his fists. In the original story that Kang Woojin remembered, the Eisenwald army couldn’t find the Liberation Army’s base, so they devastated Nordensk.

In the process, there was a massive massacre and civilian casualties, and the survivors called it the Nordensk Massacre.

Everhart bowed his head. After much contemplation, Rudolf spoke.

“I’ll cooperate. What do you want to know?”

Once Rudolf changed his mind, things progressed quickly.

It was understandable why Franz Lehmann had asked for Rudolf to be killed; he had a lot of information about the Graupfeld Liberation Army.

“Indeed, with this much, Operation Eagle won’t be necessary.”

“Yes, your help was significant. …Thank you.”

“Aren’t you curious about where I got that copy from?”

“You wouldn’t answer even if I asked.”

Everhart nodded lightly. In truth, this was beyond Everhart’s capabilities, even as the eldest son of the Friedrich family. The one who provided the copy was none other than Karl Heinrich.

Karl Heinrich hadn’t seized power without any foundation. Behind him was a high-ranking military officer who had helped him enter the military academy and continued to support him.

Everhart learned about this while creating a new operation report, ❮Operation Silver Dawn❯, with Karl Heinrich and submitting it to Alexander.

The report quickly reached Colonel Erik, and as expected, Everhart was summoned by Erik.

“Would you like a cup of tea?”

“Oh, yes.”

Erik looked at Karl Heinrich, who had come with Everhart.

“I only called for Lieutenant Everhart. Why are you here?”

“I’m the one who planned and conceived Operation Silver Dawn with him.”

“Oh, really?”

Erik’s eyes narrowed slightly. Everhart nodded in agreement. He instructed his aide to bring three cups of tea instead of two.

The two sat in front of Erik. Erik skimmed through the documents.

“I heard you two were close seniors and juniors from the academy, and it seems true. But why is only the lieutenant’s name on it?”

“It’s easier to persuade that way.”

Karl Heinrich answered. Operation Silver Dawn was beyond what Colonel Erik Reichenbach could decide on his own.

If the names of Everhart, from one of the Five Great Nobles, and Karl Heinrich, from Bergent, were together, it might not look good to the military higher-ups.

Being nobles to the core, they surprisingly paid attention to such trivial details.

“I’m grateful for that, but if it’s adopted, all the credit will go to the lieutenant. Are you okay with that?”

Erik looked at Karl Heinrich with a somewhat worried expression. Everhart was also tense, not knowing what Karl Heinrich would say.

Karl Heinrich took a sip of tea and spoke nonchalantly.

“If it can reduce sacrifices in battle, that’s enough for me.”

“You’re quite the soldier, despite appearances.”

“You’re too kind.”

Karl Heinrich bowed politely.

Watching him, Everhart had a very complex and subtle expression.

‘Reducing sacrifices, my foot. He’s just trying to owe me one more favor.’

Everhart was also uneasy about Karl Heinrich’s name, so when Karl Heinrich offered to remove his name first, he couldn’t refuse.

“I’ll talk to the higher-ups about it. However, be prepared that it might take some time and that the content might not pass as it is.”

“I’m aware of that. Thank you.”

Erik’s face brightened. Unable to hide his joy, he burst into a friendly smile.

“Haha, young folks trying to do their best, I should help.”

It was undoubtedly a polite remark, but it was sincere. Everhart’s Silver Dawn operation was like rain in a drought for him, who was already angry about the hastily prepared Operation Eagle, unaware of the situation in Graupfeld and the fortress.

How great it was to have a chance to break the heads of the higher-ups who were making desk decisions. Above all, if Operation Silver Dawn passed, Erik would naturally be the main player.

The Silver Dawn operation report was handed over to Erik, and a new barracks was established in the occupied Helmstradt.

That winter, many events unfolded across the continent, including in Eisenwald.

Everhart’s temporarily used non-linear magic stone weapon in Helmstradt was officially approved for military use.

It wasn’t to replace existing linear magic stone weapons but was limited to emergency weapons like pistols or rifles.

Everhart couldn’t hide his rising smile as he looked at the management data he received from Graf.

EberTech’s corporate value was about 2.5 billion Ardenrian Gold. In Korean won, that’s about 8 trillion won, making it a top 50 company in terms of market capitalization in Korea.

“Hehehe, how much is all this?”

“You’re about to die of happiness.”

“Who doesn’t like money in this world?”

Even though it was money he couldn’t touch, the truth was that the more money you had, in any form, the better.