The Tribal Wars

After that, Heisen headed to the lieutenant's room to report. In addition to Lieutenant Mospizza, his superior, Captain Lorenzo, was present.

Captain Lorenzo, with a gentle and characteristic expression, spoke first: "You must be Lieutenant Heisen. Nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too, Captain Lorenzo. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"I've learned about you from Colonel Zilba and Lieutenant Mospizza. You seem like quite a unique man."

"Is that so?"

Lieutenant Mospizza cleared his throat next to him. Perhaps he had a cold.

"And what brings you here today?" Lorenzo asked.

"To report to the lieutenant."

"Ah, I see. I've heard that the 4th platoon has done well in repelling the Cumans."

Cough, cough. Cough, cough, cough.

"Um, Lieutenant Mospizza?" Heisen turned to him.

"What is it?" Mospizza snapped.

"If you're feeling unwell, shouldn't you go to the infirmary? It might be inconvenient to involve the captain."

"Ugh, Captain Lorenzo, I apologize. Could I borrow Lieutenant Heisen for a moment?"

"Ah, yes. That's fine."

At that point, Lieutenant Mospizza hurriedly approached Heisen and began to speak in a low voice. "What exactly did you come here for? Just so you know, I haven't made any false reports. Your platoon is part of the 8th squad of the 4th platoon."

"I understand."

"So, what did you come here for? Hurry up and leave."

"Well, it's a significant issue that requires reporting."

"Right now, Captain Lorenzo is here, you know? Can't you even follow proper order!?"

"Regardless, I think it's an issue that requires the superior's instructions, so I'd like Captain Lorenzo to hear it as well."

"Whether or not to bring up that topic is up to me. Finish your discussion with the captain and leave quickly."

"I understood. Captain Lorenzo!"

With a bow, Heisen tried to leave.

"Wait a moment. I haven't finished my conversation yet."

"I'm sorry, but the lieutenant told me to 'finish the conversation with the captain and leave quickly.'"

"!? No! No, that's a lie! Ensign Heisen, what are you talking about?"

"That's what the lieutenant told me earlier."

"He didn't say that! I absolutely did not say that!"

"I'm certain he did. However, if you deny your earlier statements..."

"Of course! I only said, 'To avoid disrespecting the captain.'"

"Is that true? Then may I speak?"

"That's fine. If the captain wishes to hear it, by all means, speak."

For some reason, Lieutenant Mospizza, sweating profusely on his forehead and back, panicked while speaking. Captain Lorenzo smiled as he watched this scene.

"I see, he's an interesting man."

"I didn't mean it as a joke."

"Haha, that's right. Well, I just wanted to talk to you as freely as I pleased."

"I see. Then, there are two things I'd like to ask you."

"Hey, Lieutenant, you understand, right?"

While the nervous lieutenant fumed, Heisen searched for clues but couldn't come up with anything. As usual, reading his superior was difficult.

"What is it?"

"It's about the earlier matter."

"Ah, yes. Of course. Captain Lorenzo, Lieutenant Mospizza, I'd like to discuss the treatment of the Cuman prisoners and the issue regarding their interpreter."

"!? Hey, hey, hey!"

Lieutenant Mospizza's nervous face turned even redder. It was almost as if the veins in his forehead were about to burst.

"You! To report to both me, your superior, and the captain at the same time."

"But I got permission earlier."

"Permission? I've never given you anything like this! Not a single bit of it!"

"Yes, you did. Earlier, when I said to the lieutenant, 'I think this is a matter where I should seek the instructions of my superiors, so I'd like Captain Lorenzo to hear it too,' didn't you say, 'Whether to bring up that topic is my decision to make'?"

"You said that!?"

The nervous man complained loudly, while Captain Lorenzo looked puzzled.

"Lieutenant Mospizza, did you say that?"

"Yes, I certainly did. It's natural. However, this man completely ignored it."

"But earlier, you said this: 'To avoid disrespecting the captain.'"

"..."

"..."

...

"Ah!"

Lieutenant Mospizza groaned, and more sweat poured out.

"I-I forgot! I was so taken aback by the outrageous lies that this individual told that I became frightened and exclaimed, 'That is all I said.' Captain Lorenzo, this Mospizza-Lande. I never spoke to you about heaven's destiny."

"...Understood. Let's believe him."

With a powerful and overwhelming force, Lieutenant Mospizza managed to push it through. He had changed from a desperate expression to the look of a man who had experienced life and death.

"So, Ensign Heisen, you have dared to ignore my statement as a superior and to bring the conversation to the captain. Isn't this a serious breach of military regulations?"

"No, it's not."

"Why not? Explain the reasoning!"

"I do not know."

"Huh?"

"Didn't you declare it earlier?"

"Ah?"

"Earlier, didn't you say, 'I deny my own statement'?"

"..."

"..."

...

"I don't remember ever hearing anything in a room."

Lieutenant Heisen wore a puzzled expression as he looked at Lieutenant Mospizza, whose face had turned pale enough to suggest he might faint.

"Lieutenant, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?"

"Haha, Lieutenant Heisen. You're quite mean."

"Mean...?"

I didn't know what to do. Honestly, I had no clue.

"Enough with the theatrics. You exposed Lieutenant Mospizza's lie and made sure I, as a captain, knew about it. It's no wonder he's flustered."

"Is that so?"

Heisen looked surprised and glanced at Captain Lorenzo.

"Is that true? But lying to a superior could be considered a breach of military regulations."

"That's true, but Lieutenant Mospizza's lie, whether told or not, is meaningless."

"What do you mean?" Captain Lorenzo looked puzzled.

"I mean, whether he said those words or not, I considered it a trivial conversation. Basically, it was a worthless exchange."

"..."

"A lie told in a worthless conversation remains worthless regardless of its truth."

"But it's still a breach of regulations."

"Aren't we officers?"

Upon hearing this, Captain Lorenzo looked surprised.

"What does that mean? Are you suggesting we don't have to follow regulations just because we're officers?"

"No, that's not it. We are in a position to uphold, enforce, and even establish regulations. But isn't the essence of military regulations about discipline for efficient task execution?"

"..."

"I don't think military regulations are omnipotent. Almost everyone violates them to some extent. So, we should understand their essence and use them accordingly."

"So what?"

"We do not blindly follow military regulations. Instead, we should position ourselves to utilize them according to their essence. Therefore, the exchange we just had is trivial. Of course, I won't tolerate those who nitpick military regulations to engage in pointless arguments."

He glanced briefly at Lieutenant Mospizza, who appeared to be preoccupied with something entirely different.

"I see. You're indeed a different man."

Captain Lorenzo stared seriously at Heisen.

"Of course, as far as the captain is concerned, I have no authority to stop him. However, I'd like to move on to the main topic."

"Haha. I can't say I'm concerned here. Lieutenant Mospizza, you owe Lieutenant Heisen for his keen sense. Be more careful next time."

"Y-Yes."

Lieutenant Mospizza looked like he might cry as he hung his head.

"So, what's the story?"

"It's about the Cumon prisoner. Should we use him to negotiate a ceasefire?"

"Oh."

"Ensign Heisen! Do you really intend to interfere in the military's strategic decisions?"

Lieutenant Mospizza instantly revived and shouted. Heisen couldn't help but be impressed in some way. Perhaps it's better to say he won't give up.

"Yes. I'm making a report."

"Don't joke around! Not even ten days into your new role as a lieutenant, you are attempting to influence the strategic decisions of a colonel. It's a big problem!"

"Lieutenant Mospizza, please be quiet for a moment."

"Y-Yes."

"Lieutenant Heisen. That's quite an intriguing story. Please tell me more."

It seemed he successfully piqued the captain's interest. Heisen spread out a map of the entire northern Garna region and drew a line.

"What's this?"

"It's their operational area, estimated from the Cumon's sightings."

"How did you figure that out?"

"I had my subordinates compile sighting locations and statistics. We also questioned other squads and confirmed it through past logs."

"That's impressive."

"Yes. It was Private Edal, a brilliant second-class soldier."

Heisen himself couldn't have imagined they would go this far. Private Edal understood our intentions and did a much better job than expected.

"Did you do this?"

"Yes."

"I see. So?"

"Their habitat is primarily in the mountains. For those of us who live on the plains, there are few opportunities to utilize this. However, due to the territorial expansion policy, we have no choice but to engage."

The territorial expansion policy is the foundation of the empire's tradition. If we continue to expand our territory little by little each year, someday we will achieve continental unity, as decreed by the emperor.

"However, as imperial soldiers, we cannot avoid the policy of territorial expansion. No matter how reckless it may be, we must take territory."

"So let's negotiate a ceasefire and focus on capturing the territory of the Diordo Principality."

"Are you serious about this?"

"Yes. Due to preparations for Cumon raids, we were unable to actively attack until now. If we negotiate a ceasefire, the Diordo Principality will effectively confront both our imperial army and the Cumon."

"But will it really work out that well?"

"I'm not sure, but I think it's worth trying. The Cumon mage captured by the 8th squad this time is also quite valuable."

Their goal is undoubtedly to avoid losing such valuable human capital. If we can establish communication, there's a possibility they might come to the negotiation table.

"So, who will be the negotiator? After all, we've never heard of anyone who can communicate with the Cumon."

"I will go. I will use a six-year-old girl as an interpreter."

When he answered like that, Captain Lorenzo's eyes widened.