Chapter 11

The Investigation Department. As its name suggested, it was the unit responsible for looking into various incidents within the military. It was not a permanent body. Since there weren’t always cases requiring internal investigation, the department’s creation and dissolution were highly fluid, shifting according to procedure. It could suddenly be established, and just as suddenly be disbanded.

This time, because the case involving Luke concerned supplies of military significance, an investigation unit was formed immediately—and the one placed in command of it was none other than First Division Captain, Theo.

Not long after Luke had met Fael, he went alone to the Investigation Department and confessed to all his “crimes.” He admitted in full that he had ordered Fael to embezzle the supplies.

“Then… are you saying all of that was true?”

“Exactly. My friend’s stationed in the department right now. Last night, Luke barged in out of nowhere and confessed to everything.”

As soon as word spread, the Imperial Army, naturally, was thrown into turmoil. Like a sponge soaking up water, the fact that Luke had confessed spread at lightning speed. After all, nothing traveled faster than juicy gossip, and a noble military dedicated to defending the Imperial Palace was no exception to the rule.

“Wow… so he really did it just to curry favor with the nobles? He even ordered one of his subordinates to pull it off?”

“That part, I’m not sure. Seems like he hasn’t gone into detail about his motives or methods yet. Hopefully, this time he really gets punished hard—”

“Hey, hey. Quiet.”

One soldier jabbed his companion in the side as they whispered in the corridor. Curious, the other turned his head, only to see Luke walking toward them with an expression as calm as ever.

“Good day, Captain.”

Perhaps guilty for gossiping behind his back, both soldiers snapped into a salute with more zeal than usual. In a military organization, without hierarchy, nothing remained but a corpse; rank culture was absolute.

No matter how old you were, no matter how fine your family name, if your rank was low, you did not behave carelessly before your superior. In other words, even if you wanted to insult a superior, you made certain you were never caught. Rumor had it that two soldiers had once been punished after being caught slandering Luke, so the two now had to calm their pounding hearts.

“You two are working hard, I see.”

“Sir? Oh, no, sir.”

“No? Talking behind your superior’s back while watching his mood, that’s hard work indeed.”

As Luke nodded, as if he understood perfectly, the soldiers stiffened in shock. They had thought they’d cut off their gossip in time, only to realize they’d been caught after all. Panic gripped them, until Luke went on.

“I’ve done it plenty myself, so I get it. But you’d best be more careful when other captains are around. Anyway, carry on.”

He walked away at a leisurely pace, and only when he had disappeared down the corridor did the soldiers release the breaths they had been holding. Then, oddly enough, instead of realizing they’d just been spared, they cursed him even harder, annoyed that he’d scolded them so openly.

“Ugh, I’m tired.”

Luke yawned as he walked briskly down the corridor. Suddenly, a thick hand shot out from the side. Before he could react, it seized him by the collar with a crushing grip and yanked him forward.

“—Ugh!”

Dragged violently, Luke slammed against the wall with a thud. Instinctively, he spread his palm. Soldiers were trained to respond to surprise attacks with brutal intensity, and so, forgetting entirely that he was still within Imperial territory, he prepared to strike.

But as he focused his energy, he recognized the attacker and let out a long sigh. The magic gathering in his palm dissipated, and he lowered his hand.

“…What the hell? Isn’t this greeting a little too rough?”

The one who had grabbed him was none other than Theo. His hand remained firm on Luke’s collar, though not enough to cause pain, and his dark eyes bore straight into him.

“Outside the designated grounds, combat is forbidden. You haven’t forgotten that, have you?”

“…”

Theo gave no answer. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] He only furrowed his brow slightly, gazing down, his black eyes sharp and honed with a controlled fury.

“What are you doing? Want to spar for real? Look, you know my situation’s a mess right now. Maybe later…”

“Why did you confess?”

“…What?”

“I heard from the investigators. Last night, you walked in and admitted everything.”

When Luke had stormed into the department, Theo hadn’t been there. By then, the officers had only been tidying up, so Theo had learned of Luke’s confession only that morning.

“Why? Because I did it. Isn’t that reason enough?”

“That’s strange. When I questioned you, you denied everything flat-out. You clung to that denial with everything you had.”

At that time, Luke had only been guessing at the true culprit. He needed more evidence before forming a full picture. Not knowing how things might twist later, denial had been his safest bet, and besides, he hadn’t done it in the first place.

But now Luke knew the truth. He knew what had truly happened, and Fael’s story with it. Knowing that, how could he coldly turn his back? To abandon a subordinate who had taken a job unsuited to him, who had risked himself in a dangerous division for the sake of his mother’s illness; Luke had never once considered it.

He knew exactly how much Fael had suffered as a soldier. That was why he couldn’t cast him aside. For all his role as the “villain,” he could not treat his subordinate with bloodless cruelty.

But if he were to act like a true villain, perhaps it could be reinterpreted. As a villain, he could ignore all means and morality in order to climb higher, to obtain what he wanted. And in this case, the embezzlement of Imperial supplies, who better to shoulder the blame than himself?

He had colluded with nobles to gain backing. That sounded like the perfect excuse for a villain.

“I thought about it, and realized, denying everything doesn’t do me any good.”

“That’s it? That’s your grand reason for changing your story?”

“…Yeah.”

Luke hesitated. There was no need to lay everything bare here and now.

“You were still under investigation. And yet you confessed, just like that? Tell me the truth. Why did you suddenly admit guilt?”

Strangely, Theo’s grip only grew tighter. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Of course, as the protagonist, his disdain for the villain’s actions was natural. His sudden aggression, his faintly furrowed brow; all of it could easily be taken as proof of his anger.

And yet, something about it was off. Why did it matter so much why he had confessed? As head of the investigation, Theo should have been relieved. The culprit had been revealed, he had confessed outright, that was cause for satisfaction, not rage.

If Theo wanted to berate him, shouldn’t he be asking how Luke could possibly commit such a crime, not why he had confessed? In fact, judging by his demeanor, it seemed Theo was angry not at the crime, but at the confession itself.

“Theo, how about letting go of me now?”

Luke brushed his hand away.

“You don’t like that I confessed, do you?”

“…What did you say?”

“The way you asked me, it sounded just like that.”

It had been a throwaway remark, tossed on a hunch. But Theo’s expression only grew darker.

“…Of course not.”

“Good. Then I’ll be on my way. Since I’ve confessed, there’s no need for further interrogation, nor any reason to tell you everything here.”

“Then why did you do it?”

“…Well. Let’s save that for the trial.”

Luke gave a casual wave and strode off. Nothing about him resembled a man guilty of a grave crime.

******

Beneath the Imperial Army’s headquarters lay a vast chamber. It wasn’t an ordinary meeting room, it served as a tribunal of sorts, though separate from the trials officially overseen by the Imperial Court. This was the Army’s own court, where verdicts were delivered for military personnel, incidents, and matters tied exclusively to the armed forces.

When a case arose, the Investigation Department was formed; once the truth was uncovered, a military tribunal immediately followed. The trial would include all related parties, the division captains, and the Commander-in-Chief.

Because Luke had confessed so readily, the investigation was cut short, and the trial convened without delay.

“Then, let us begin.”

The deep voice of Commander-in-Chief Bael Winium filled the chamber. His expression was more somber than usual. Known for treating his men like family, he could hardly be pleased with such disgraceful circumstances, let alone when the troublemaker was a division captain.

Luke sat alone at the table on the right. The other captains occupied the left. All were present except for Leo of the Seventh Division, who had other duties.

“Allow me to summarize the findings,” said Theo, the lead investigator. He laid out the facts: Luke had ordered his subordinate, Fael, to steal a mana crystal and sell it to a noble house. That was the heart of it.

Luke listened carefully. According to Theo’s report, the noble house involved had not yet been identified.

“Luke. Do you admit that you ordered all this?”

“Yes, Commander. I have no excuse.”

As Luke bowed his head, all the captains save Theo clicked their tongues. Miles, in particular, smirked broadly.

“…I am disappointed.”

It was a short sentence, but it struck like a blow. Bael rarely spoke words of disapproval at all.

“I want to know why. Why would you do such a thing?”

“Commander! Forgive me for interrupting, but Captain Luke has long been obsessed with ingratiating himself with the nobility. There’s no need to waste time asking why. I suggest you pass judgment at once—”

“Miles. I asked Luke.”

Veil’s voice was heavier than ever, and Miles flinched.

“No matter that Luke sits here as the accused, none of us has the right to strip him of his voice. Hearing his intentions and thoughts is part of the process.”

“I agree.”

The one to say it, unexpectedly, was Theo. Luke’s eyes widened.

‘So, the brat knows how to score points with the Commander. Clever. Very clever.’

“In that case, I’ll speak honestly.”

If that was how it would be, then he would play his role to perfection. Luke’s lips curved into a sharp, charming smile.