Do Your Own Revolution

103

Revolutionary Army Headquarters.

Upon hearing the urgent report from the infiltration agent, Randall frowned.

“The Emperor did that?”

“Yes. While the key personnel remain, most of the lower-ranking agents have been caught. It will take time to restore the intelligence network…”

“So we’ve lost our way of knowing the palace’s security situation.”

The palace’s security arrangements changed constantly.

The number of gatekeepers, patrol force composition, patrol cycles, movement patterns. All of these varied moment by moment, and there wasn’t even a pattern to predict them.

The one commanding all of this was the Imperial Guard Knight Order Commander, Andrei Leonhardt.

As long as that man held his position, the security of the imperial city would never be lax.

What they had secured was only a week’s worth of palace patrol schedules and personnel deployment charts.

Moreover, considering what the Emperor had just done, even this information could change at any moment, making the situation precarious.

Their channels for obtaining information had been suddenly blocked.

In other words…

“Three days from now. The plan must be executed within that time at the latest.”

The words came out immediately, as if the answer was already decided.

And with those words, Randall felt a strong sense of déjà vu.

This large-scale, blatant action was different from the spy hunts that the Imperial Intelligence Department had conducted until now.

It was almost as if it was meant to provoke something.

‘A trap disguised as a banquet. The low-ranking agents might fall for it, but it’s obvious the core personnel wouldn’t respond. Yet they still made such a commotion…’

Randall immediately grasped the hidden intention behind this incident.

‘Eliminating spies isn’t the real objective. The real purpose is something beneath the surface. For example…’

Himself.

When that thought struck him, Randall’s eyes narrowed at once.

The Emperor was trying to lure him out by doing this.

In such an obvious way that his intentions were transparent.

And for the Emperor to act so boldly meant…

“Has the plan been exposed?”

“…!”

“Sir Randall. That’s…!”

As the surrounding members reacted with alarm, Randall waved his hand dismissively, as if understanding.

Their overreaction was natural.

After all, the Emperor’s assassination plan being exposed was practically equivalent to saying information had leaked from the leadership gathered here.

‘The Intelligence Department must have learned of our movements and deduced it. The possibility of the plan leaking from within is slim.’

The Emperor assassination operation was known only to an extremely small number of Revolutionary Army executives and spies.

However, it was also true that the Emperor’s sudden actions were incomprehensible.

“Huu.”

Randall’s concerns deepened.

‘If we assume the plan has been exposed, executing the operation would be equivalent to walking into the enemy’s trap.’

Usually, he would have abandoned the plan without hesitation and waited for another opportunity.

However, the current Randall didn’t have such luxury.

‘Complete the mission as quickly as possible. If we fail this time as well, the next courier won’t be me but Number 2…!’

That arrogant fellow.

Though he had killed him in anger, the messenger who had visited him before carried the secretary general’s warning.

Mentioning ‘Number 2’ while making threats meant that the homeland’s patience had reached its limit.

‘Those pigs know nothing about the situation on the ground.’

Though he was furious at the leadership’s behavior, there was nothing he could do about it.

Two years.

During those two years, the Empire’s power had grown incomparably larger than before.

‘There’s no time.’

With increasing pressure from the homeland, he couldn’t afford to delay any longer.

As soon as Randall made his decision, he stood up from his seat.

“Sir Randall. Where are you suddenly…”

“What is Claude doing right now?”

Claude.

When that name came up, the revolutionary member assisting him spoke with a start.

“C-Claude is currently in the underground quarters.”

“I’m sure I told him to attend the meeting?”

“Th-that’s because of that incident from two years ago…”

“…Is he still in that state?”

Randall muttered with an apparently gloomy expression.

The ‘incident’ the executives spoke of was what happened immediately after the Elcidore incident two years ago.

‘Randall! Randall Dean Clark–!’

Claude, who returned alone covered in blood.

With a face burning with hatred, he drew his sword against Randall, who was staying at headquarters.

‘Miles, and the other members who were with me! They all became monster food! We couldn’t even find their bodies! Because of that cursed operation you planned!’

‘Damn it, calm down, Supreme Leader! The Great Rupture was something even Sir Randall couldn’t predict…! Aaagh?!’

‘The imprint is activating! Raise the barrier! We’re getting caught up in it!’

The chaos was enough to turn the entire headquarters building upside down.

In the end, Randall had no choice but to subdue Claude by revealing his own imprint.

‘Randall… Ran…dall…!’

Even while choking with his throat being squeezed, he continued to growl at Randall with bloodshot eyes.

‘You killed them! You… Because of you, my comrades…!’

Claude, crying out while covered in tears.

Upon seeing Claude like this, Randall shed tears with him saying he was sorry, and with a heart-wrenching decision, confined him to solitary.

‘Even for a Supreme Leader, threatening organization members was not an issue that could be easily overlooked.’

If that had been all, it would have been fine.

The real problem was that for the two years since that incident, Claude had completely cut off communication with him.

He had rejected all interaction and fallen into his own world.

‘This works out perfectly.’

Claude’s state, practically half-ruined.

Recalling this, Randall smiled with satisfaction.

‘If it’s an operation that involves risk, it would be best to throw away the most useless card first.’

To see if it’s the enemy’s trap.

And to finally deal with the troublemaker he couldn’t handle two years ago.

***

“Claude.”

In the dark underground where not a single ray of light entered.

At Randall’s low voice, rustling sounds were heard from across the door.

“Open it.”

“Y-Yes!”

The members opened the lock without question at Randall’s order.

Though it was an action that didn’t even consider the Supreme Leader’s will, no one found it strange.

While Claude was known to the public as the Revolutionary Army’s Supreme Leader, it was Randall who actually ran the Revolutionary Army.

Except for a handful of fundamentalists, most of the Revolutionary Army already knew this fact.

Creeeeak-

With a squeaking sound, Claude slowly walked out of the dark room.

With patchy facial hair and eyes full of hostility.

It was an appearance vastly different from the Claude de Lascol known to the public.

“Has your head cooled off?”

“……”

Claude didn’t answer.

He just frowned and turned his head away as if he didn’t even want to talk.

“Huu…”

Randall sighed with a heavy face.

However, he secretly smiled inside.

‘He can’t make judgments because he’s swayed by emotions. Perfect.’

That’s how a mindless tool should be.

Thinking this, Randall slowly persuaded Claude.

“You said it before. That the Revolutionary Army’s ideology was becoming distorted. That the current Revolutionary Army had become… a different organization from the revolution that Maxim advocated.”

“……”

“Then, would you like to lead the Revolutionary Army yourself from now on?”

At those words, Claude looked at Randall with a start.

“We’ve received enough support from the Republic. Now we’re in a situation where we can be self-sufficient with just our own strength.”

“If we succeed in killing the Emperor with this operation, our tiresome alliance with the magic nobles will also end.”

“As you said, we can start a revolution by Empire citizens alone, without the Republic.”

Having said that, Randall put his hand on Claude’s shoulder with his characteristic benevolent expression.

“After Maxim and Vark left first, the only burden left to me was making the Revolutionary Army stronger.”

“……”

“But for that, I ended up joining hands with those I shouldn’t have. I crossed the line.”

Unlike you.

At Randall’s self-deprecating words, Claude spoke for the first time.

“If you knew that… why didn’t you stop?”

A question with many implications.

However, Randall spoke to Claude without a moment’s hesitation.

“Because you were here.”

“…!”

Looking at Claude who opened his eyes wide, Randall continued speaking.

“The unstained hero of the revolution. The one who perfectly preserved Maximilien’s ideology. And the Revolutionary Army’s greatest swordsman, personally recruited and trained by Vark.”

“…!”

“All my friends who built the Revolutionary Army with me left something for you. Only I couldn’t do that.”

After speaking with a faint smile for a moment.

“That’s why I must kill the Emperor.”

He declared in a resolute voice with a hardened expression.

“What Maximilien couldn’t do. The heart of the Empire that Vark ultimately couldn’t take. If I don’t rip it out and hang it on a flagpole, I won’t be able to face the friends who left before me.”

“Brother Randall…”

“I will kill the Emperor. Whether using the Republic’s money or borrowing the magic nobles’ power. By doing so!”

A moment of silence.

Then when he opened his mouth again.

“I will pass on to you the achievement of killing the Emperor.”

Randall’s voice had changed to the same caring tone he usually used with Claude.

“The sneers about colluding with the Republic. The criticism about cooperating with magic nobles. I’ll shoulder all of that and go.”

“…!”

“The one who will lead the new era’s Revolutionary Army and change the Empire… will be you, Claude.”

Because you are the revolutionary hero chosen by Maximilien.

Perhaps it was that final added line that moved Claude’s heart.

Claude, who slowly came out of the room, opened his mouth toward Randall.

“The Emperor assassination operation.”

“……”

“Put me at the vanguard.”

He’s taken the bait.

Though Randall internally rejoiced, he couldn’t agree right away.

While showing a moved expression, he warned Claude.

“I’m grateful that you trust me again, but it’s too dangerous a mission. Without considerable power…”

And at that moment.

Whoosh-!

The red magical power that spread out from Claude made the quiet basement tremble.

“Six stroke… He’s awakened it…”

One revolutionary member’s words.

Seeing this, Randall smiled with satisfaction.

Claude Elcidore.

He truly was an easy-to-handle and excellent tool.

***

“The operation is in a week. I’ll tell you the details the day before.”

“I understand.”

“Rest well. Things will get busy starting tomorrow.”

Click.

After the brief reconciliation with Randall.

After confirming the footsteps had faded away, Claude carefully checked for any residual magical power from him.

All clear.

Once he confirmed it was safe, Claude let out a sigh of relief and sat down heavily on his quarters’ bed.

“Really, it was exactly as Eugene said…”

The act of repenting for his sins.

The authority of the Supreme Leader that seemed almost predetermined.

Even that subtle sense of security, as if everything would be fine if he just followed his words.

If that guy hadn’t warned him beforehand, it wouldn’t have been strange to fall for it completely.

Even he had his heart shaken for a moment when Maximilien was mentioned.

However.

‘You dare put Uncle Vark’s name in that mouth?’

The truth about Randall that he confirmed in Elcidore.

The very person who turned Vark into a monster was now sympathizing and mourning him.

Recalling that detestable sight, Claude burned with determination.

“Miles. Alia. Jin.”

Claude touched his imprint and repeated the names of his friends.

The friends for whom he had made graves with his own hands.

But soon after, their voices came through the imprint.

[Is it finally starting?]

[I’m tired of waiting. My body’s getting restless]

[Just say the word, Supreme Leader! Everyone here has been ready for ages!]

My comrades.

Smiling slightly while thinking of them, Claude gave instructions to the waiting ‘Revolutionary Army’ members.

“Prepare to infiltrate the imperial palace.”

To begin the ‘Emperor assassination operation’ planned by the Emperor.

And for the true revolution they dreamed of.

“Huu.”

After the magical power communication ended, Claude sat on his quarters’ bed and fell into thought.

‘I’m afraid.’

Randall’s actions that he couldn’t even predict.

Yet they were controlling the Revolutionary Army’s movements at will, as if watching from above.

‘Even if I create a new Revolutionary Army, could I defeat them?’

His clenched fist trembled.

The Empire’s grasp slowly tightening around the Revolutionary Army.

And the Revolutionary Army moving toward the imperial capital without noticing it.

The march toward destruction had already begun.

Now there was neither the power nor reason to stop it.

In this situation, Claude only realized one thing.

That the enemy he would have to fight in the future was this powerful.

That during these two years, they had become far too strong.

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