Semi-Coercive Imperialist

A military villa, far removed from the Zerpha Royal Palace.

The key generals of the Royalist Faction had gathered for an emergency meeting.

Fsssshhhh…….

Outside the windows, early winter sleet drifted through the air, while the atmosphere inside hung heavy and acrid with cigarette smoke and unease.

“……Maximilian. That knight bastard caught on, I hear.”

Lieutenant General Pavel, seated to the right of the head seat, spat the words out through gritted teeth. Through wiretaps and surveillance, they had pieced together the Crown Prince’s intentions and the unsettling developments unfolding within the palace.

“Apparently he’s even secured concrete evidence that the military embezzled Imperial Army supplies.”

All of it. The corruption of diverting supplies and selling them on the black market, fabricating ghost soldiers to issue false ration slips, forging the ledgers of the royal food stores.

The Imperial knight had uncov⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌ered all of it.

“But is there anyone here who hasn’t done it?”

Lieutenant General Pavel swept his gaze across the room. The generals exchanged furtive glances, clearing their throats or averting their eyes.

“……We were forced into it.”

A brigadier general in the corner cautiously spoke up.

“People who didn’t want to were dragged in by force–”

“Forced my ass!”

Slam. Lieutenant General Pavel brought his fist crashing down on the desk, seething.

“We did it so we could all eat well and live well together! Did I do it just to fill my own belly?! Embezzling from the Empire bastards benefits the entire nation… isn’t that what you said, Major General Bielsa? Weren’t those your exact words!”

The corruption embedded deep within Zerpha, and the civil war born from it.

The country called Zerpha had been gnawed at for far too long already. They were accomplices bound to one another in mutual entanglement.

“……At this point, there’s really no other choice. The situation is very different now from the old days, when we just dragged things out because we were afraid.”

Lieutenant General Pavel’s eyes flashed as he continued.

“The Imperial forces will march on the Jeronika Mine soon. When they do, we strike the royal palace first.”

Silence fell over the conference room.

A coup. Treason.

Everyone held their breath and looked toward the head of the table. There sat Garcia, General of the Army and head of the Royalist Faction’s military, sunk deep in anguished deliberation.

“……Is there no other way?”

General Garcia asked in a weary tone.

“Another way, at this point?”

Major General Iker, seated beside Lieutenant General Pavel, thumped his own chest in frustration.

“Are you going to just sit here and wait for the knight to take our heads? He has no mercy! Didn’t everyone see what happened to those governor-general bastards in Genen?”

As Lieutenant General Pavel nodded repeatedly, Major General Iker’s voice burned hotter and hotter.

“The Crown Prince is no different. He’s already surrounding himself with nobodies of unknown origin, calling them his elite. He’s just looking for an excuse to purge us!”

The atmosphere turned frigid. Gazes laced with betrayal and terror passed coldly back and forth.

“Iker’s right. If it were me, I’d rather side with the Republicans. That’s the only way to survive. Whether the country falls or the king dies, what good is any of it if we’re dead?”

Lieutenant General Pavel unrolled a map and traced the space between Jeronika Mine and the palace.

“Once they march on the mine, the capital will be left empty. That’s when we hit from the inside and open the gates. The Republicans will come flooding in. Then the Imperial forces will be isolated and left to die off on their own.”

An operation that looked like a perfect scenario.

“This goddamn civil war will end too, for fuck’s sake. How much longer are we supposed to keep up a wartime footing? For the sake of the Zerpha people, at least…….”

The generals swallowed hard.

But their minds were already made up. There was simply no other choice. Their own Crown Prince was trying to kill them, and so to survive, they had to kill the Crown Prince.

“…….”

General Garcia slowly opened his eyes, which had been shut. The glint in his pupils was not loyalty, it was the instinct for survival.

In a heavy voice, he said,

“……Prepare it in absolute secrecy.”

In the end, they made a decision from which there was no return.

…….

Sloppy. And incompetent.

Or perhaps the power of capital money is even more enormous than I imagined. Enough to give me the illusion that it can make everything I desire possible.

But don’t let your guard down, Maximilian.

Not every enemy will be like them.

─This goddamn civil war will end too, for fuck’s sake. How much longer are we supposed to keep up a wartime footing? For the sake of the Zerpha people, at least…….

I folded the transcript of their meeting and tucked it inside my coat. Standing near the encampment, I gazed out at the army arrayed across the plains. The Empire’s Durkon Legion. Elite soldiers assembled by Schweitzer.

“Leave Jeronika Mine to the Durkon.”

I said to Lieutenant Colonel Kai Han beside me.

“We’ll deal with Zerpha’s military brass.”

It was a diversionary operation. Inside Zerpha’s capital, countless eyes and ears had already been planted. Not just the Royalist Faction’s corrupt military, Republican spies would be swarming as well.

In other words, I had to operate under the assumption that everything I did was being exposed to the enemy in real time.

“Our insider is this Major General Iker?”

“Yes, sir.”

The meeting transcript. Not incomplete intelligence obtained through wiretaps or intercepts, but a document personally recorded word-for-word by an insider who attended the meeting and delivered it to us.

I had staged a small play in order to win Alonso’s heart completely and to thoroughly sweep out the rotten military brass.

This, too, was a lesson learned from Ezenheim.

If there is something you want, write the script.

“How much did he receive?”

“Approximately two million Imperial Dollars in bearer bonds have been delivered to date.”

I let out a scornful smile.

A rather cheap price for selling out one’s country. No doubt he’s expecting further compensation down the line.

“Tell him that if the operation succeeds, the bonds’ maturity will be pushed back about five years. Over ten years, roughly ten million dollars will be deposited.”

The mechanics of bonds, as Dieter had taught me.

With the kind of men who sell their souls for money, a lump sum is taboo. Bearer bonds provide them with the safe refuge of anonymity while simultaneously serving as a leash that keeps them firmly under control.

Hand them the money, but make it so they need my permission to spend it.

Once they’ve tasted that sweetness even once, they become addicted and can never break free.

“Yes, sir. Understood.”

Just then, Kai Han’s adjutant approached.

“Preparations are complete.”

I nodded. Members of our soldiers, disguised in civilian clothes, had already finished infiltrating the Zerpha capital.

Of course, before that, I had inspected every last member of the unit once more. There could be no risk of Ezenheim slipping in among them and sowing discord.

“Lieutenant Colonel Han. I’m leaving the ground to you.”

“Yes, sir.”

I looked out at the aircraft standing by on the plains.

A helicopter. I had conveyed to Lorenzo a new flight concept dredged from my memories of the life before my regression, and Lorenzo Academy had produced this mobile weapon after a year of research.

Transport ships excelled at moving quickly at high altitude, but had limitations when it came to hovering in one place and surveying the ground.

A helicopter, however, was capable of vertical takeoff, landing, and stationary flight, giving it the advantage in complex urban warfare or guerrilla engagements.

“Get it ready.”

I climbed aboard the helicopter. The rotor began to spin, whipping up a fierce wind.

“Yes, sir. Loyalty!”

“Woof!”

Leo stood at attention beside Lieutenant Colonel Han as well, looking every bit as gallant. Clad in silver armor, Leo would reliably pull his weight as Kai Han’s adjutant.

“Move out.”

At the signal, the helicopter lifted into the air.

Whup-whup-whup-whup-whup-whup-whup──

The rotor, powered by a Mana Stone engine, let out a thunderous roar. The vibration of the propeller tearing through the wind as it climbed was enough to rattle bone.

No matter how revolutionary the technology, it seemed the limitations of an early model had yet to be overcome.

But I knew a stopgap for this.

“…….”

My Virus… I placed a hand on my collarbone. Drawing up the mana within my body, I channeled it into the airframe. A graceful silver current emerged and gently enveloped the interior of the helicopter.

Ssssshhh──.

The harsh roar of the engine subsided in an instant. Even the con⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌cussive bursts that had been shredding the air transformed into something like a soft breeze.

The mana unique to the Ebenholtz, passed down through the blood of the family and the secret Ebenholtz Breathing Method. It was cultivated by consuming the finest elixirs derived from nature and through natural mana breathing – the purest and most tranquil attribute of all.

That same Ebenholtz nature seeped even into the machine called a helicopter.

From within it, I looked down. Far below, the clouds of war hung thick over the earth.

Thud- thud- thud-

Schweitzer’s Durkon Legion was on the march. They would reach Jeronika Mine far sooner than anyone expected, and the moment intelligence came in that battle had broken out,

A coup would unfold inside Zerpha’s capital as well.

Thud- th⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌ud- thud-

I held position in the sky above. To account for the worst possible variable. In this chaos, an Ezenheim too powerful to handle on the ground might emerge.

“……This is comfortable.”

The sky now felt like home to me.

A foe who would be terrifying on the ground is not terrifying here. When I strike from above, my power multiplies several times over.

A knight was never a being that needed to keep both feet planted on the ground in the first place.

A strategic weapon, arriving from the highest point at the most lethal moment.

That is the new model for how knights will be employed by the Empire…….

* * *

Meanwhile, in Crown Prince Alonso’s office.

“…….”

Alonso stared steadily at the document on his desk.

“Should the Imperial Army succeed in reclaiming Jeronika Mine, they may demand quite a great deal.”

The Deputy Finance Minister pointed to the contents written on the papers as he continued.

“To that end, we have prepared a preliminary set of negotiation guidelines.”

[We make clear that ownership of the Jeronika Mine belongs to the Zerpha royal house. However, in the event that new veins are discovered through future exploration, initial development costs and facility investment shall be borne in full by the Empire, or by companies designated by the Empire, while profits generated shall be divided at a ratio of 40 for the Zerpha royal house to 60 for the Empire (or companies designated by the Empire), and all technology and facilities shall be transferred in stages over a period of 30 years……]

Alonso let out a hollow laugh.

In the event new veins were discovered at Jeronika, a clause demanding that the other party bear all costs, share revenue, and on top of that, transfer all core technology and facilities to Zerpha in full after thirty years.

“Whether they’d actually agree to this…… I have my doubts.”

Even to Alonso himself, the Crown Prince of Zerpha, this was an absurd negotiation.

This was a far cry from the exploitation that the Republican Faction’s anti-imperialists screamed about. If anything, it was closer to the Royal House freeloading off the Empire’s military power, developing the mine with the Empire, and pocketing a full forty percent of the profits. Frankly speaking, it was more like Zerpha exploiting the Empire.

“……Yes. The Imperial Palace would likely scoff at it. However.”

The Chief of Staff cautiously spoke up.

“Your Highness. I am told that Sir Maximilian has been granted near-total authority by the Imperial Palace in recognition of his role in lifting the siege of Zerpha. In other words, his decisions are, in effect, the will of the Empire.”

“Is that so? Well, that makes sense.”

Gaugin⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌g Alonso’s reaction, the Chief of Staff continued.

“And it seems that this Sir Maximilian…… holds genuine respect for Your Highness.”

“He does. I’m well aware.”

“Yes. When you take walks together or converse, there is a very human warmth in the way he treats Your Highness.”

“……And?”

Alonso asked back. As if he had some idea where this was heading, a faint edge crept into his voice.

“It pains me to say this, Your Highness, but…….”

The Deputy Finance Minister swallowed dryly. As Alonso’s brow furrowed watching him, the man seemed to steel his resolve and raised his head.

“Your Highness must make use of that.”

The Crown Prince’s nose twitched.

“……Make use of the goodwill Sir Maximilian holds toward me?”

“Yes. For the sake of national interest, personal rapport can serve as an excellent diplomatic asset.”

“…….”

Alonso fell silent with a stiff face. For a long while, without a word, he looked around at his aides. Every one of them wore a grim expression, eyes cast downward.

“……You people, honestly.”

As the Crown Prince of a nation, Alonso understood their feelings. He knew full well that it came from loyalty devoted solely to the country. That it was counsel so obvious it hardly needed saying.

Yet that pragmatism was, at times, so ruthlessly calculating that it felt this cruel.

“You are cold, ruthless people.”

Alonso shot back bitterly. His aides bowed their heads in pained silence.

“But this is for the sake of the nation–”

“I know.”

He raised a hand to cut them off.

“I know. I’m well aware of that much.”

There was irritation in his voice, irritation even he himself did not quite understand.

Without meeting his aides’ eyes, Alonso waved them away with a tired gesture.

“Leave me for a moment. I need some time alone to think.”

“……Yes, Your Highness.”

Shuffle. Shuffle.

The aides who had filled the room filed out one by one.

The office, now empty. Left alone, Alonso sank deep into his chair.

“Haah…….”

A sigh rose from the depths of his gut.

Maximilian. Would it have been easier if he were a cold, calculating, selfish, arrogant Imperial noble?

But far from it, the face of a man who had cared for him beyond anything he could have imagined flickered before his eyes.

He had respected every part of him. He had even learned to speak Zerphan fluently, he held genuine affection for Zerpha itself.

And yet──

His aides, and Alonso himself, had to calculate his goodwill and leverage it for national interest. They had to use the human being called Maximilian.

As Crown Prince, it was something he ought to do. But as the man Alonso…….

“Sir Maximilian…… I sit in far too difficult a seat.”

The guilt weighed on him.

He felt sorry, and sad.

If Maximilian were to accept this proposal of mine without a second thought once again,

If, out of consideration for him, he didn’t even try to negotiate,

What if that becomes a costly mistake for Maximilian?

What if it came back to shackle him in the Empire?

Such worries bloomed in tangled profusion, and Alonso sank into his anguish.

“……Ugh.”

He had steeled himself, telling himself he must become a ruthless sovereign, but willpower alone could not make it so.

* * *

These days, as the weather slowly turned colder, Reutern II, a noble of the Imperial Palace, had been going through some very strange experiences.

“You have my support.”

“……Huh?”

Like this. Every time he walked down a corridor, some random noble would come up and say things he couldn’t make sense of.

“The decisiveness of Lord Reutern. Such boldness truly befits the spirit of a lion.”

“Huh? Uh, uh…… right, right.”

“You have my support.”

They would beam at him and then walk away.

Part of him wanted to grab them by the scruff and demand what exactly they were supporting, but as Reutern, the man who knew everyone in the Imperial Palace, his pride was wounded by the fact that something was going on that he didn’t know about.

“The hell is going on.”

Still, the feeling that something was brewing in the Imperial Palace was strong. Something was moving busily beneath the surface.

But people wouldn’t even meet with him. They kept saying sorry, I don’t think I’m quite ready yet, or I’d love to meet with you too but…. and saying all this kind of nonsense.

What kind of preparation did they need to just eat and drink together?

“……God, this is pissing me off.”

Even his father was too busy to spend time with him, saying he had things to do, and it was grating on his nerves for no good reason.

Reutern II scratched the back of his neck as he wandered the Imperial Palace corridors.

“Ah, I’m bored.”

Life had been dreary and dull lately. Nothing was fun. He’d gotten sick of most things. So the only hobbies he had left were fine dining, and…….

“Maybe I should ask to be sent to the military.”

A commanding officer. For some reason, that sounded cool as hell. Military uniforms had looked ridiculously good to him lately.

Maybe later he should ask Max to take him along.

“……Lord Reutern.”

Then, out of nowhere again, some Imperial Palace noble appeared. This one was mid-to-lower rank.

“Y⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌eah, yeah. What?”

“You have my support.”

And immediately walked away.

Reutern glared at the man’s retreating back for a long moment, then.

“Ugh. I’m just gonna go eat a pork cutlet.”

He let out a sigh and went on his way.