The Difference Is Like Between a Dog and a Cow

30 – True Education (4)

After Sergeant Rex was transferred to the military police, Lumia and I were called into the battalion commander’s office.

Because they were the parties to all this commotion.

And the first thing I heard upon entering the battalion commander’s office was-.

“I’m sorry, Platoon Leader Enoch. I should have looked more closely.”

It was a sincere apology from Lockhart’s battalion commander. It was a little surprising. At least I thought I would give you a pinjan, but I didn’t expect it to be accepted so quickly.

I don’t know if this is because the lieutenant colonel is looking at me favorably, or if he’s thinking of it as a serious problem.

However, the fact that Sgt. I respectfully thanked Lockhart.

“No, battalion commander. I also didn’t know Sergeant Rex would go this far. However…… It is true that I also used magic on unarmed soldiers, so I humbly accept the punishment.”

“Discipline? What do you mean? Of course this was something I had to do. And… ….”

Captain Lockhart’s gaze shifted to Lumia. Standing next to her, she takes her posture, resting as passionately as her sword.

“You must have suffered a lot in the past, Sergeant Rumia. I will continue to do this in the future.”

“I will keep this in mind.”

Just do it like this.

I didn’t say anything to the victim who was habitually bullied.

Rumia didn’t say anything or show any reaction. She just bowed her head to Captain Lockhart.

“That bastard Rex will never set foot here again. Even if I don’t put pressure on you, the military police will take care of it.”

“I’m not worried.”

“Isn’t it?”

As I was told, Lockhart twitched his mustache.

“If something like this happens in the future, be sure to tell me through me. Do you both know what I mean?”

“Yes.”

“Of course.”

“Good, good.”

In the end, this was it.

I smacked my lips bitterly. In the end, it means thank you for telling yourself before the direct action comes down from the upper level.

Okay.

If you just say ‘You must have had a lot of trouble’, Lockhart didn’t even know what kind of bullying Rumia was suffering.

Because the head of the human resources department or the company commander who was supposed to report in the middle didn’t do their job.

But what if I was still considered a degraded platoon leader by Lockhart, or if Rumia didn’t follow the chain of command and told Lockhart right away?

I don’t know if the results were the same as now.

At least it would have punished Rex, but did it come out cleanly like this without any fuss?

I didn’t know.

And that was something that the victim, Rumia, must have felt keenly as well.

“Then you can go back to Lumia.”

“Are you talking about Sergeant Rumia?”

“Yes, there is one person who wants to meet the platoon leader.”

With Lockhart saying that, let’s turn our eyes to the bathroom connected to the office.

“Nice to meet you, Platoon Leader Enoch Levandell.”

A tall man came out from inside and said. Because of the viewing angle, I didn’t even know who was in the bathroom.

Unlike the magic soldier’s military uniform, which basically wears a black coat over white underwear.

It was black from head to toe, and it was a costume mainly made of red fabric.

A silver medal is hung on the chest on the right side, and a chrysanthemum is drawn on the epaulet woven with gold strings.

“I am Major Lannister Cale, the 1st Military Police Commander, Northern Branch of the National Military Police.”

“Glory to the motherland! This is 2nd Lieutenant Enoch Levandell, the 5th platoon leader.”

There is a sense of intimidation felt from the sharp gaze and the clearly visible military police uniform.

Originally, it is true that due to the nature of the military police organization that basically has to deal with other soldiers, it has to look pretty rough.

Major Lannister was big and had the most savage face he had ever seen.

This is the first time anyone looks more formidable than Sergeant Claude.

He moderately accepted my salute and gave a slight glance at Rumia.

“Sergeant, could you please move away for a moment?”

“Ah…… ! Yes, I understand.”

Perhaps she didn’t know that a military police officer would suddenly appear, Rumia, who was embarrassed for a moment, left the battalion commander’s office in a hurry. Major Lannister said, sitting next to Lockhart’s battalion commander.

“Platoon commander, please sit down.”

‘What is it?’

I don’t know why the military police chief suddenly pointed me out, but it was clear that it wasn’t simply related to Rex.

It was only one soldier. If it was for the reference of the investigation, a military police captain-level bigwig would not have come personally and would not have bothered to let Rumia go.

In this case, rather than looking for witnesses for simple reference…….

It was clear he wanted to do something different with me.

“I heard that the platoon commander was quite active in the recent fall of Belgordo Fortress.”

“There wasn’t even anything that could be called an activity.”

“Rumia, who went out a while ago…… Did you say sergeant Blue? He said he fought alongside him.”

Now I can be sure.

The purpose of Major Lannister’s coming to the 3rd Battalion was not to follow up on Sergeant Rex. In connection with the assault on Fort Bel Gordo, it was clear that he had come to ask me something.

I answered the major’s questions obediently. Except for Lumia’s desertion.

“That was a great move. Thanks to this, it was very helpful for our National Military Police to realize that it was not just an attack by bandits.”

“I think so too, our Lieutenant Enoch did something big. Ha ha ha!”

Lockhart chimed in cheerfully, but Major Lannister just looked at me silently.

“Then let me ask you a question here. Enoch Platoon Leader, why do you think I came here?”

A random question.

However, I was able to answer without difficulty. It was because Major Lannister’s intentions were clearly visible.

“The National Gendarmerie thinks that information may have been leaked from a nearby unit.”

In the end, there was only one point.

How did the forces behind the thieves know that there were artifacts in the fortress?

‘Packy Spy. There are people leaking information inside.’

Sony Zeppelin and I had the same opinion. The attack on the fortress this time couldn’t have happened otherwise.

Leave materials as they are, only artifacts disappeared?

Even if it is suspicious, it is too suspicious.

When I answered without hesitation, I said with the faint smile of Major Lannister.

“hahahaha…… It’s as sharp as I’ve heard.”

“I had already spoken to Colonel Sonny Zeppelin once.”

“I think I know why the eccentric grand mage is aiming for the second lieutenant.”

He pulled out a piece of paper from his chest and handed it to me.

“What is this?”

“This is an official letter of cooperation. We have already obtained permission from Battalion Commander Lockhart.”

I slowly read the contents of the paper.

[Mutual assistance and cooperation]

[National Military Police, Northern Corps Branch 1st Military Police]

[Target: 5th Platoon, 2nd Company, 3rd Magic Battalion, directly under the control of the Northern Corps]

Not me, but the entire 5th Platoon?

Not only that. The contents of the documents were not at the level of simple testimony or help in the investigation process.

That would be the case too.

“…… You mean overthrow the entire city of Cherno?”

“Yes, that’s right. To be precise, all military bases adjacent to the city of Cherno are targeted. Of course, that includes the guards operated by the city itself.”

It’s an unimaginable scale.

No, as Sonny Zeppelin said, it would be vaguely understandable if a national treasure-level artifact was stolen…….

Enough to turn the whole city upside down?

No matter how much I was, I couldn’t help but be surprised by this.

Even in the main story of Hearts of General, spies or spies’ sabotage and information leaks are one of the things that happen quite often.

Whether in wartime or peacetime, the damned spies of the enemy country used to steal all sorts of secrets after shattering the intelligence network of the allies like a brown bear.

So, by the time preparations for war began in earnest, it was an essential procedure to hunt down spies, feeling like greatly increasing the military police force or establishing a separate dedicated intelligence bureau.

In the process, of course, at least one city or unit was overturned.

There has never been a case where all units in the region were attacked like the operational plan right in front of us.

If revolutions or coups don’t happen all the time like the Soviet Empire, there’s no reason for that.

‘Wait, no…… Come to think of it, this is Ukraine, isn’t it?’

Ukrnian Principality.

A recognized weakest country.

To be able to operate the military police in that way must be a country with intact military and security forces.

What if the Principality of Ukraine runs out of manpower, resources, and time?

‘Maybe it’s better to burn down the whole house to catch a flea.’

Precise quarantine is possible only when there is that much control, resources, and technology in the first place.

If you say that you are doing precision quarantine with an ability that does not work, you will not be able to catch the fleas you are told to catch, and the disease will spread.

In the meantime, what if the fleas spread the plague?

The house is not the problem, but a terrible tragedy unfolds in which the entire family is searched.

‘If the National Military Police acted like this, is the Prince really pessimistic?’

It was a moment when I understood why Sonny Zeppelin, a completely independent force, had the right to investigate this case.

Just thinking about it, it’s because I can’t trust the current army.

“You seem to have realized why the investigation is conducted in this form.”

I affirmed with silence instead of an answer. It felt like all the puzzles were fitting together.

Why did the military police captain come to the escort of Sergeant Rex, who was just a petty criminal (from a far-reaching point of view)?

And why he wants to cooperate with the 3rd Battalion, especially my platoon.

This is a top-secret operation.

A secret operation known only to Colonel Lockhart, myself, and Major Lannister.

“The full-scale investigation will begin next week. Currently, additional military police are being dispatched one after another from the center.”

Major Lannister continued his speech.

“However, it is true that it is difficult to conduct an investigation with only the military police, so I requested cooperation from the 3rd Battalion.”

“My battalion is cleared of suspicion.”

From the side, the battalion commander shrugged. Even though I called the military police, they seemed to look good, so I did something, but that’s why.

“But Captain Lannister is going to point out your platoon and say something. Even when I thought about it, you guys fought with suspicious people, so I decided that it was suitable for this cooperation.”

“Thank you for looking at me like that.”

“What, it’s because you’re so humble. Isn’t it true, wahahahahaha-!!”

I don’t think he’s a very moody man. Lockhart laughs loudly.

Anyway, since it meant that the National Military Police took good care of his battalion, the corners of his mouth hung on his ears.

“Of course you all have credit, but this is all the result of my usual integrity. Isn’t that right, Major?”

“Yes, Colonel. Of course.”

The Lannister military police captain skillfully deflected Lockhart’s gag, then looked at me again and said.

“Unfortunately, the second lieutenant has no veto. That’s why we’re so tense. However, since it is an official duty of the National Military Police, you can expect a reward.”

Gulp, dry saliva goes down my throat at those words.

This was an opportunity, a solid career.

As soon as you complete your service period in the 3rd battalion and get promoted to lieutenant, you have a solid foothold needed to soar high into the sky.

As was the case with Sonny Zeppelin last time, there’s no way that I, a rookie magic officer, could be in charge of these cases.

Right now, there are many restrictions to unleash all stat MAX abilities.

Originally, the military is a place where all kinds of forces that try to grab and bring down the position the more superior it is, the better it is.

As a mere second lieutenant, I was in a position where I had no choice but to be considerate.

But if you build up your major quickly in this way, you’ll be able to rise to a position where you can spread your wings before anyone pulls you down.

That way, we can do anything in the devastating war that will strike in five years.

I stood up and gave a loud salute to Major Lannister.

“I will do my best!”