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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: I'll Become Nordia's Nightmare
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Being promoted to Major in occupied territory felt like a dream.
If I had to categorize that dream in detail, it was closer to a nightmare.
What was even more horrifying was that the series of events I was currently experiencing weren't even a nightmare.
They were reality.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Major Daniel Steiner."
Lucy's voice echoed hollowly within the office.
"As you know, General Staff Headquarters has entrusted you, Major, with the position of temporary garrison commander. Since the Divisional Commander is leading the troops out of the city, you will now be responsible for managing it."
I knew. Looking down from the office window, I could see the armored division's tanks and field artillery, along with the soldiers, leaving the city.
Heinrich, who had pinned the Major's badge on me, was also moving, leading his own brigade.
To think that today was the day we were supposed to join the northern front line.
'Isn't this too much? Handing over the garrison commander position on the very day of departure!'
I wanted to protest, but shouting here wouldn't reach Heinrich anyway.
A sigh escaped me.
"...How many troops did the division leave for me?"
"A battalion-sized force. The total number of troops amounts to 950."
The silver lining was that the division had left behind a battalion force, close to its maximum authorized strength.
Nordia wasn't a very large city, so this many troops should be enough to maintain public order.
But that wasn't the problem.
'I unintentionally racked up too many achievements.'
As a result of the achievements I gained in a short period, I was specially promoted to Major.
It meant I had become a field officer with powers incomparably greater than those of a company-grade officer.
This news would soon reach the Allied Nations, and then I would be branded a 'key figure in the Imperial Army leadership.'
It meant that the moment the war was lost, I was destined to disappear as dew on the execution ground through a war crimes trial.
'So, should I bet on the Empire winning?'
No. The odds were too low.
If it were a one-on-one total war, no nation in this era could defeat the Empire.
But war isn't a fair competition fought with a referee in a ring.
Just look at how the Allied Nations drew the Kingdom into an alliance.
The Empire, enraged by the Kingdom's failure to maintain neutrality, is now wielding its iron hammer, but what if the Kingdom, struck by that hammer, bleeds profusely and collapses?
The great powers would think: Is the Empire going to become a hegemonic power like this?
Fearing that, they would rush to lend their strength to the Allied Nations.
Representative nations are the Republic of Sochialis in the south and the Belica Federation located in the northeast.
The moment they enter the war, a world war begins to materialize.
It means the Empire would suddenly have to face the Republic, the Federation, and the Allied Nations on three fronts, excluding the sea.
Predicting an Imperial victory in that war situation is no different from a gambler's mindset, betting their life on an underdog.
'My life is on the line. So I need to be careful...'
Things had gotten complicated in many ways, but nothing had changed.
Unless the Empire experienced all sorts of luck, enough to reverse the unfavorable war situation that was to come.
Realistically, there was no choice but to find a way to escape the Empire somehow.
'Of course...'
With my reputation on the rise, I wouldn't be able to defect through conventional means.
It was questionable whether they would even accept me, and even if they did, I doubted they would guarantee my safety.
However, if the Allied Nations offered a deal they couldn't possibly refuse, then it would be a different story.
"Major?"
As I was pondering various possibilities in my mind, I flinched in surprise and turned around.
Lucy blinked her red eyes calmly, looking at me.
I had momentarily forgotten that Lucy was an Allied Nations spy.
Since I'd been promoted to Major, the likelihood of assassination must have increased.
As I secretly broke out in a cold sweat from an unknown anxiety, Lucy tilted her head.
"I apologize for interrupting your thoughts, but I believe it's time to start formulating a city plan."
"Ah. Right."
I cleared my throat and spoke, clasping my hands behind my back as naturally as possible.
"When it comes to city planning, isn't public order management the main focus? We just need to strengthen patrols in key areas where crimes occur. Administration will follow existing customs..."
I stopped speaking mid-sentence and closed my mouth.
I understood why Lucy had specifically emphasized 'city plan.'
"...Surely the administration hasn't been paralyzed?"
Lucy nodded.
"That's right. Most civil servants escaped via fishing boats, and high-ranking officials like the mayor have all fled to avoid the war."
"So, we need to rebuild the administrative system."
I mused for a moment, then spoke.
"It's important to restore essential public services first. Release military supplies for food distribution and bring back the remaining doctors to revitalize medical services. Public order will be maintained through cooperation between the garrison and local police. Also..."
I paused mid-sentence.
Shouldn't I *not* faithfully carry out the 'temporary garrison commander' duty ordered by General Staff Headquarters?
If I'm deemed excellent at mission execution, I might have to keep taking on such tasks on the front lines in the future.
I already had to endure assassination threats even in the capital; performing operations in a distant foreign land? It was no different from increasing my chances of dying.
'In that case...'
It might be too late, but it was right to struggle now to lower my performance evaluation as much as possible.
Let's think for a moment.
If I revived the city administration in the wrong direction, the citizens' discontent would explode, and if that discontent led to protests or riots, it would expose my incompetence.
Then, Headquarters would deem me unsuitable for the garrison commander position.
They would appoint a replacement garrison commander as quickly as possible and send them here, shortening my time to return to the capital.
Lowering my evaluation and returning quickly—it was killing two birds with one stone!
'Good.'
Having finished my thoughts, I spoke with a faint smile.
"Select those without special occupations and assign them military service. A battalion-sized force isn't enough manpower. If we order them to assist the garrison with odd jobs, they'll understand."
Help the enemy garrison with military service? Discontent would clearly explode.
Not just the forced laborers, but their families and acquaintances would share the discontent.
"Also, we'll need to reassess the city's tax rates. What are the existing rates?"
"We don't know. It seems they anticipated defeat; civil servants burned all relevant documents and fled during their defection. However, we could get an idea if we conducted a survey."
"No. There's no need for that."
It worked out even better.
Because I could collect taxes however I pleased.
"From now on, we will impose a 30% income tax on the citizens of Nordia, under the pretext of raising war funds. For high-income earners, impose up to 50%."
Currently, the Empire's basic income tax for laborers is 22%.
It's low considering wartime, but when you remember it was originally only 12%, it's still a significant increase.
Naturally, even within the capital, discontent is gradually emerging over the increased tax rates.
But to set the basic income tax at 30%, clearly differentiating it from the Empire? Of course, discontent would explode.
"Furthermore, to supplement the insufficient administrative personnel, put out a recruitment notice for skilled individuals. However, they are to be selected purely by Imperial standards, not the Kingdom's."
Eliminating the Kingdom's existing customs from the civil servant selection process.
It was a form of cultural suppression.
This too would be enough to ignite the discontent of the Kingdom's citizens.
Having heard all my instructions, Lucy offered a light salute.
"I will relay your instructions immediately."
Accepting the salute, I turned my body to look out the window once more.
The Empire's arcane armored division was almost entirely out of the city.
I could see citizens out on the streets, gazing at the sight with unprecedented emotions.
Seeing the citizens' faces, I felt a little pity.
'I'm sorry, people of the Kingdom. Life is about to get a little tougher for you.'
But there was no malice.
This was, after all, something I did purely to survive.
***
Late at night.
In the basement of a pub, the Black Swan Secret Society Council.
"As you all know, Nordia has fallen into the hands of those Imperial bastards."
At the words of the middle-aged man seated at the head of the table, everyone nodded grimly.
Hamthal, the leader of the Black Swan with dark skin, continued speaking amidst the somber atmosphere.
"It's already been ten years since we fought for freedom and equality. We've been through countless things in that time, but I believe the pain of losing our city due to war is new to all of us."
Hamthal slammed his hand forcefully on the table.
"But we haven't given up on the city yet! If we eliminate that cruel Daniel Steiner, we might reclaim our city! Don't you agree?!"
"Hear, hear!" Words of agreement rose from various corners at Hamthal's voice.
Hamthal, who had been looking at their resolve with satisfaction, turned his gaze at the sound of the door bursting open.
It was Tarky, a young man who served as an informant for the Black Swan Secret Society.
He held a stack of documents in his hand.
"Members of the resolution squad! The garrison side announced their city plan today!"
"That bastard, finally...! Go on, tell us."
It was an expected turn of events for the garrison commander to manipulate the city as he pleased.
Amidst groans from various places, Tarky looked at the documents in his hand and spoke.
"F-first, they say they're imposing military service on the unemployed."
"They want us to work for the Empire?! How absurd! What's the citizens' reaction?"
"Uh... the reaction isn't bad. They say they'll pay proper wages, and by Imperial standards, considering the exchange rate, it's about double the average laborer's wage. So, there are tons of applicants."
Paying proper wages? While the assembly fell silent at the unexpected answer, Tarky continued.
"Next is the tax rate."
"Ha! Tax rate! Of course it would come up. How much are those scumbags raising the tax rate?"
"Well... they're imposing a 30% basic income tax and up to 50% income tax for high-income earners. They've actually lowered the tax rate."
Thanks to this, the members of the resolution squad could only blink blankly.
The Kingdom's existing tax rates were a basic income tax of 45%, with up to 70% imposed on high-income earners.
There were even signs that it would rise further due to the war, so the citizens were literally on the verge of death.
But Daniel Steiner, the garrison commander, had reduced those tax rates.
While the resolution squad members were speechless, Tarky scratched his cheek and said.
"Lastly, regarding civil servant selection, they say they will select based on Imperial standards, not the Kingdom's."
"Finally, they're showing their true colors! Are they only going to select individuals loyal to the Empire!?"
"Uhm. No, it's not that; they've removed all unnecessary bonus points from the Kingdom's civil servant selection criteria. For example, bonus points given to those of noble birth."
In other words, they would only appoint talented individuals based purely on merit.
Having heard all of that, the resolution squad members exchanged glances and swallowed dryly.
Originally, this was the time for the embers of revolution to ignite, but everyone was simply struck dumb, unable to utter a word.
In the silence that had persisted for a while, a man deeply shrouded in his robe finally spoke with difficulty.
"I'm not sure if I should say this, but..."
The man, fidgeting with his hands, looked back at Hamthal.
"...Isn't it better to live here than before?"
Ironically, no one could refute the man's words.