Chapter 394 – Good Tools to Use
Under imperial law, prisoners of war are the property of the victor.
You can think of it as some sort of human-shaped trophy. The enemy, who had been threatening each other’s lives not long ago, was captured alive.
We are in a position to be thankful just for being alive.
Those were the words of a prisoner captured by the empire.
In the distant past, during the Warring States Period when several countries existed on the continent, prisoners had various uses. Therefore, the treatment of prisoners of war was also quite careful. But that is not the case today.
This is because the only legitimate country that exists on the continent is the empire.
Any force that dares to defy the order led by the empire will never be recognized as a nation, no matter how powerful it is. Even the Northern Confederation of Peoples, which was at war with the Empire, is officially treated as a puppet government.
In order for a prisoner of war to be treated well, the group or country to which the prisoner of war belongs must be able to negotiate meaningfully with the enemy…
It was a story that was impossible to establish in the first place in front of the empire.
There is no reason to treat the remnants of a traitorous group generously.
The empire is merciful to those who follow its order, but is infinitely cruel to those who do not.
From the empire’s perspective, a force leading a large-scale rebellion that would result in prisoners is a blasphemous piece of harm in itself.
This was the reason why the treatment of prisoners was particularly harsh.
In the same vein, even if they are traitors who cannot be forgiven, there is a slight possibility that mercy will be shown to the lowest level.
There is not even a single word of room for leaders or high-ranking executives.
That was also the reason why Ramiel’s new recruit was transferred to Sunspot without asking or questioning. Let’s lock them up and extract the information, but the future of being trapped in the hell of royalties and suffering for eternity was already decided.
It would definitely have happened that way if Wolfgang hadn’t come.
‘It doesn’t matter what you do…’
Wolfgang pondered Ramiel’s use.
To be evaluated objectively, Ramiel is competent. A camouflage ability that allows him to infiltrate even the imperial security, and an outstanding combat ability that allows him to move freely through space and toy with his opponents.
Her opponent was just too bad, but she was definitely strong enough to be worthy of the position of Eclipse’s apostle.
However, that competence was actually the problem.
Her parents can never control her.
No matter how much he is a prisoner, Ramiel is a demon who can break free of his chains and escape at any time if the surveillance is a little negligent.
That’s why she tried to kill him.
A difficult prisoner who cannot allow the slightest change. It would be much more convenient for him to cut off her head than to worry about her use while keeping her alive.
But that shouldn’t be the case.
That’s too convenient a thought. He must have something he can use. After much thought, a thought crossed my mind.
“… Yes.”
Wolfgang nodded and removed his hand from Ramiel’s lower abdomen.
“Haaak, hak… !”
Then, Ramiel, who was leaning in his arms and breathing heavily, completely lost his posture.
As the tension eased, and the pain subsided, it was probably because his body lost all strength.
Wolfgang roughly grabbed Ramiel’s shoulder.
Of course, it wasn’t because he felt a new sense of consideration for the enemy. It’s just because he didn’t want Ramiel touching his body.
“I decided.”
“W-what… ?”
Wolfgang held onto her arm and headed toward her cell, ignoring Ramiel, who was looking up at him with anxious eyes.
“Tsk… For a moment… ! It hurts… !”
Ramiel was being dragged around, twisting her body as if the shoulder she was holding onto was quite painful.
Of course, her pleas did not reach Wolfgang at all.
“So, what are you going to do?”
Chamberlain Hume, who was waiting, bowed his head and asked.
“You… How on earth did I convey my words… !”
Ramiel glanced at Hume with a somewhat malicious look, as if something had happened between the two.
In fact, Hume acted as if she did not exist here.
However, did Ramiel’s attitude itself seem disrespectful to Wolfgang, who was watching?
—Wow!
“Kyaaaaah!”
As Ramiel tightened his grip on her shoulders, she screamed and struggled.
Wolfgang quietly whispered into Ramiel’s ear.
“Just a little while ago, everyone was dying. Have you regained your energy yet? If you want to die right now, why don’t you keep acting like that.”
“Ugh… ! Joe, be gentle… !”
Would it be right to kill him right now?
Even if you give it just a little space, it looks like this. Thinking like that, Wolfgang looked coldly into the eyes of Ramiel, who was crying.
“Answer.”
“Well, wrong… I did it wrong. No, I was wrong… “
Then Ramiel lowered her head with trembling eyes.
It looked like taming a disobedient dog.
—Sharp!
Wolfgang calmed his expression and said, ignoring Ramiel, who was kneeling on the ground unable to bear the pain and fear.
“I will take you. “I will write it separately.”
“All right. According to the general’s wishes.”
A thought that came to mind from Wolfgang.
That was the end that his younger sister Hassene faced.
Originally, the crime of Hasenne and Count Schwarz, who attempted to directly harm the royal family, was a serious crime that could not be repaid even by death.
However, Alicia showed her mercy to Count Hassenne and Schwarz and made them her confidants.
Of course, no matter how bad their relationship was, the fact that they were Wolfgang’s family probably played a big role.
The main basis for Alicia’s decision was that she was able to completely place Hasenne and the Count Schwarz under her control.
If you can properly attach the leash, it can be useful.
It doesn’t matter if you put in the dangerous and dirty work, and you don’t even have to pay much for it.
Is there a more efficient means than this?
Wolfgang also decided to use Ramiel like that.
As the saying goes, you should keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
With Ramiel fully in control of her life, he will keep her closer to her than anyone else and use her for various dangerous and dirty tasks.
After the engagement ceremony, the system is more chaotic than ever.
As the battle for the throne began in earnest, intense behind-the-scenes work among nobles and competition for loyalty to the immediate royal family members each supported was in full swing, and Wolfgang was in a position from which he could not be free.
You never know when and where you might get caught up in something messy.
If we keep Ramiel alive, she can be very useful for such things.
That was the conclusion Wolfgang reached.
“What… ?”
Ramiel, who was kneeling on the floor and lowering her head helplessly, looked up at her Wolfgang with an expression of disbelief.
“You weren’t trying to kill me?”
—Kkiik…
The bars of the cell opened as soon as Wolfgang spoke. It was Ramiel who was dragged outside with a puzzled look.
At the same time, chains were placed on her again.
“Tsk… !”
—Chrrrr!
Her entire body was still bound as it had been when she was imprisoned, but one part of her chains was particularly long.
Wolfgang silently grabbed the long chain.
Then, they looked like a slave and his owner who had just been purchased from a slave market. In reality, it wasn’t much different from that.
From Ramiel’s point of view, it was extremely shameful, but from her point of view, she was in no position to hide such a thing.
It’s just that she didn’t expect it to happen like this.
“Saving… “Are you sure?”
Wolfgang responded coldly to Ramiel’s question.
“Don’t be mistaken.”
To him, Ramiel is nothing more than a tool.
As such, it may not have happened, but it would have been difficult if she had made an unnecessary mistake.
“I just thought it would be a shame to kill you gracefully.”
So you have to be sure.
What kind of position is Ramiel?
“Think of death as a temporary reprieve.”
“What do you mean…”
“Your status will be completely subordinate to me from now on, and you will not be allowed any freedom. You can think of it as being no different from a slave.”
A simple explanation without any exaggeration.
It was only thanks to Wolfgang that Ramiel was able to escape from her prison and breathe the air of the outside world.
She will not be free to do anything without his permission.
Maybe she will think that it would be better to die.
What if you face the miserable fate of becoming a slave to your once enemy and having to do whatever he tells you?
If Wolfgang were in Ramiel’s position, he would definitely think that way.
However, how did Ramiel accept it?
“… So, from now on, I just have to serve you?”
“Yes.”
Even though I was put in an extremely shameful situation.
“I’ll warn you in advance. If you do anything foolish, I will immediately cut off your head.”
Despite the fact that one word from Wolfgang would kill me at any time.
“Yeah…”
Ramiel’s expression looked very comfortable for some reason.
