mchenry-crisis.org Chapter 163 : Workers of the World, Fight (3)
Chapter 163 : Workers of the World, Fight (3)
Chapter 163: Workers of the World, Fight (3)
“…….”
“…….”
It was both a declaration of war and a threat.
Anyone who opposed them would be punished according to their doctrine.
Everyone gathered here was a Code Holder.
And among them, no less than six possessed Code Black.
The control exerted by the Codes was absolute. No matter how powerful the dispelling magic was, the curse engraved through Permanent Engraving could never be removed.
“Surely… none of you intend to change your minds now, correct?”
Charlotte Platina, the Empire’s sole holder of Code White.
It had already been over a hundred years since she last personally bestowed a Code, but the master-servant relationship remained intact.
Only then did the members of the subordinate organizations realize something.
Until now, everyone had overlooked it because she only held the symbolic position of Chairwoman while the Resistance had taken charge of practical operations.
But if she truly desired it—
Everyone here was as good as dead.
As all silently submitted to that unmistakable truth, Charlotte smiled brightly in satisfaction.
“I’m glad everyone thought carefully.”
I assure you, none of you will regret this.
“The age of the Ribenia Empire is ending, and a new era shall begin… so prepare yourselves for that day, everyone.”
Afterward, reports regarding current operations prior to the commencement of the full-scale operation continued.
The Resistance and Greenwhistle gave the most extensive reports, while Ain Kabbalah’s was the shortest.
“Is preparation for the fake Beasts intended to disrupt the Imperial Army proceeding well, Robinson?”
“Ah, ah. We’re preparing them.”
“Please handle it well. If we can’t stop the Imperial Regular Army, the coup will never succeed.”
“Yes. I’ll do my best.”
Ephraim bowed awkwardly with an embarrassed smile.
Next was the leader of the Guardians of Arcane, Wilhelm Bover.
“You’ve worked hard all this time inciting division within the Orthodox Church. Without your efforts as an Apostle, the outcome of the Mallet Joint War would have been different as well.”
“You flatter me, Chairwoman.”
“For the religious liberation of twenty million Imperial citizens, please continue your efforts a little longer.”
“Of course.”
Lastly came the turn of Flynn Alvesta, leader of the Scarlet Fang Raiders.
“You’ve already finished selecting members to counter the Special Forces, correct?”
“…Well, that was done long ago.”
“How many S-Rank or higher combatants do you estimate?”
“Uh… probably around twenty.”
“Although the Resistance will provide military support, you mustn’t lower your guard. The Raiders are our special force against the Special Task Force. Make sure your training remains thorough so you can respond perfectly when the time comes.”
“Yeeah, well. We’ll do that.”
Only after receiving reports from and addressing all subordinate organizations did Charlotte nod with a satisfied expression.
When she snapped her fingers, small notes emerged from the air and flew toward the leaders of each organization.
“The instructions until Revolutionary Day are written there, so refer to them accordingly. The exact date and time of Revolutionary Day will be separately delivered through secret messengers.”
Then she stretched both arms toward everyone and cried out as though appealing to them.
“I have no interest in why each of you came to deny the Empire.”
What matters is that the future is right before our eyes.
“The next time we meet, it will be inside the Imperial Palace. I wish you all victory, everyone.”
---
After receiving the order to disperse from the Chairwoman, while leaving the estate—
Chris Billfor, leader of the Revolutionary Ribenia Resistance, quickly stepped beside the hurriedly departing Second Seat, Dale.
“Someone might think you’re being chased, Dale.”
“…Ah, I’m busy with official duties.”
“Well, I suppose that makes sense for someone like you. Still, a brief moment should be fine, no?”
At the blatantly obvious request to spare him some time, Dale swallowed a sigh and nodded.
“If we can talk while walking, then as much as you want.”
“…Very well. We’re both short on time anyway.”
After crossing the empty territory for quite a while, Chris casually asked,
“Tell me, Dale.”
“Yes.”
“You should think carefully, even now.”
“…What exactly do you mean?”
“The Chairwoman expressed concerns.”
Beside Dale, who maintained a perfect poker face, his superior’s icy expression loomed.
“She wondered whether our loyal spy, Dale Wedmeyer, might have started entertaining different thoughts recently.”
“Does that mean my activities have been insufficient?”
“As if. Your spy work has been flawless. Thanks to you, we’ve grasped Bernhardt’s internal situation, Karbenna’s current state, even the movements of the noble houses.”
“Then why express such concerns…?”
“Because it’s too perfect.”
“…….”
As Dale momentarily stiffened, Chris looked down at him with cold eyes.
“Despite sacrificing yourself for such a long time, you’ve never once complained. Even Apostle Bover, who lived his entire life as an ascetic seeker, once demanded improved treatment for the Guardians.”
“…If that was the issue, shouldn’t you have interrogated me long ago? I’ve always maintained the same stance.”
“We thought you had simply endured and suppressed it all this time.”
But apparently, that wasn’t the case.
“Even though the revolution you longed for is right before your eyes, you haven’t expressed even the slightest wish or hope.”
“That’s…”
“Well, perhaps merely imagining the revolution finally becoming reality was enough to satisfy you.”
But the Dale Wedmeyer I know isn’t like that.
“At the moment the revolution occurs and the Empire collapses… the thing you’re looking toward may differ from what the rest of us envision. That’s what the Chairwoman believes.”
It sounded convincing enough, but in reality, there wasn’t a single proper piece of evidence behind it.
Nothing more than pure suspicion.
Even so, Dale maintained the most wronged expression he could manage.
The opponent he needed to be wary of wasn’t someone like Chris.
It was Charlotte Platina behind him.
If he couldn’t escape suspicion now, while not directly facing her, he would be in danger.
The moment he ended up alone with her, his true intentions would be completely exposed.
“…If you’re truly that convinced I’ve betrayed you, then shouldn’t you punish me according to the doctrine?”
Dale delivered the high-risk bluff without even blinking.
Chris responded with a smile.
“Whether you’ve betrayed us or not no longer matters, Dale. I’m merely offering advice.”
“Advice…”
“I don’t care about your origins, differences in values, or future goals. As long as your abilities are sufficient, the Chairwoman will continue to favor you.”
“…….”
“I don’t know what cards you’re holding… but there’s no possibility the wealth and glory you’ll gain through that will surpass what you could obtain here. That much, I can guarantee.”
Displaying both a smile and hostility simultaneously, Chris extended his hand.
“Abandon them and receive Platinum Baptism. You’re qualified.”
“…So that’s what you were trying to say.”
Staring blankly at the outstretched right hand, Dale shook his head and clasped it with both hands.
“I’m still unqualified. Please put this away.”
“…You really intend to continue like this? You’ll regret it.”
“If you have nothing more to say, then I’ll be leaving. I’ll see you on Revolutionary Day.”
The moment he released the hand, Dale hurriedly resumed walking.
Ignoring the gaze fixed upon his back, he quickened his pace.
Yet the turmoil in his mind refused to fade.
‘…I suppose that place isn’t safe anymore either.’
What choices did he still have left?
Bernhardt would soon collapse.
Completely.
The same applied to Crown Prince Abel.
Until now, he had clung to Rachel and her faction while hoping for a change in the throne.
But if the Dawn Society’s leadership had already grasped his true allegiance and intentions, they were surely preparing for that as well.
Only one force remained now—
The Third Faction of Edel Ribenia.
‘Though it’s not like those bastards would accept me either.’
Well, he did possess fairly solid justification on his side. He also had several bargaining chips.
If things went well, perhaps he could at least join them as a collaborator.
His thoughts becoming increasingly tangled, Dale forcibly stopped thinking altogether.
Then he practically broke into a run toward the station entrance where the carriage would be waiting.
The week that would determine everyone’s fate was about to begin.
---
Tuesday, April 12th.
After finishing the resumed morning classes, I was crossing the plaza for lunch when a considerable crowd came into view.
Beside the fountain in the center of the Plaza of Glory, three massive Projection Orbs had been installed.
At a glance, more than three hundred people had gathered in the plaza, and the countless overlapping voices made the area utterly chaotic.
Not long afterward, the Orbs began broadcasting the inside of a press conference hall.
Only then did the noisy surroundings gradually quiet down.
Behind the medium-sized podium hung the flag of the Ribenia Empire on one side and Greenwhistle’s symbol on the other.
The person who appeared atop the podium—
Was Maximilian, leader of Greenwhistle.
After tearing apart several sheets of paper that appeared to be a script, he brought the Amplification Orb closer.
—It’s my first time greeting all of you. I am Maximilian, the head of Greenwhistle.
Greenwhistle is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the rights of workers and servants.
Today, I wish to raise one fundamental question here.
As he began speaking, he rolled up his right sleeve.
Branded upon his upper arm was a mark the size of a fist.
—This is the brand Bernhardt engraved upon me.
The audience erupted in shock simultaneously.
Exactly as he had planned.
—I lived as a servant of Bernhardt for twenty-three years.
They were hellish days, and a life in which I gained nothing.
Everyone there lives the same kind of life.
Yet nobody knows that truth.
Because Bernhardt, who desired to hide the truth, even stole away our right to speak.
If I hadn’t faked my death and escaped the shackles of the Code, I would never have been able to speak of this here today.
That said, I do not intend to blame Bernhardt alone.
They are merely a force symbolizing the corruption of the Empire.
Stagnant water inevitably rots. They likely were not trash from the very beginning either.
Ultimately, it was the Empire in its current state that created the demon known as Bernhardt.
Since Karbenna Academy possessed the highest proportion of nobles among its members, the appeal didn’t strike particularly deeply here.
But in places with larger numbers of ordinary citizens, the impact would undoubtedly be enormous.
—The current corruption is all of our responsibility.
Because we believed there existed people greater and nobler than ourselves, and we handed over part of our lives to them.
But such things no longer exist.
In this reality where the disaster known as the Beasts threatens humanity with extinction—
We are neither royals, nobles, citizens, nor slaves.
We are simply human beings.
Now it was time to begin the real story.
Maximilian raised his voice even further and stretched out his hand.
—All humans are fundamentally workers.
We are obligated to fight in order to live better lives.
Those who abandon that duty are slaves, while those who seize it are human.
I will fight in order to be human.
I will resist and battle.
My opponent is the Bernhardt Family.
To be honest, I’m afraid.
But I resolved myself, and I will see it through.
For the countless comrades who died in my place.
For the next generation who deserve to live better lives.
For all of you.
There is only one thing I wish to say.
The climax had passed.
Only the closing remarks remained.
Receiving the countless gazes focused upon him with his entire body, Maximilian shouted with unwavering determination.
—Workers of the World, Fight!
As Maximilian repeatedly cried out the final sentence while violently extending his left arm, he nodded with a smile overflowing with fighting spirit.
It was around then that the Orbs lost their light and ceased broadcasting.