Chapter 5 – 0. The President’s Male Prostitute (5)
The founder of the Black Orchestra, the Eagle Owl, was already dead as of March 1942. This was a fact that the SS Information Bureau only learned about later, because Bernhard’s Eagle Owl was the same position as his successor.
In the beginning, everything was from a man wrapped in a veil. The first eagle owl that resisted the dictatorship under the name of the black orchestra at the same time as it established the organization. Although described as a male for convenience, its identity is unknown.
“I can’t believe it.”
“What else is missing?”
“The president’s male prostitute was an eagle owl?”
The first eagle owl disappeared between late 1941 and early 1942. Later, as a result of an investigation by the intelligence agency, it was estimated that he lost his life in the process of indiscriminately rounding up dissidents.
“At the upcoming luncheon, there will be an operation to recruit Seo Jung-woo from the First Army. Attend the banquet and oversee that the operation is running smoothly.”
The last order he gave was none other than to embrace me.
“…… How!”
“This is an order I gave you directly.”
Bondi, I am offered a recruitment today by a member disguised as someone’s attendant. And as a fact that I learned later, several other members of the courtesy were infiltrated there in case of an emergency.
Among them, the highest position was Otto Moritz, a soloist whose identity is known only to a very few in the orchestra.
“I thought everyone would be dead by now…….”
“Yes, my hiatus was quite long.”
“It’s been quite a while? It’s already been months since the headquarters lost contact with you!”
“Know. That’s why I met you like this despite the threat.”
In the original history, there were a total of three eagle owls in the black orchestra.
One is the aforementioned unknown invitation.
The two are the second generation that took over as soon as contact with him was cut off.
The three are the third generation who expelled the corrupt two generations when they seized power like that.
March 13, 1942 was a kind of transition. Around this time, the conductors in the orchestra began to realize that there was something wrong with the eagle owl, and they were planning to start a secret struggle to occupy the position sooner or later.
“Soloist, you should have noticed what was going on in the organization by now.”
Unsurprisingly, Otto Moritz is a lieutenant general in the army. This grey-white orc was the highest-ranking member of the military. Of course, the commanders, who are members of the cabinet, had a higher status than that, but unlike a position that was only in name, the military authority that could be wielded right away was incomparable.
“You’re talking about an internal struggle.”
“Okay.”
The second great eagle owl has yet to climb to that spot. I was thinking of replacing the place of the deceased invitation based on the knowledge of my previous life. He was an enigma shrouded in a veil from the beginning, and he died without being able to decide on a successor, so it was suitable for impersonation.
“As you can see, I am infiltrated as the closest aide to the Fuehrer. The reason we lost contact for the past few days was because our surveillance was tight. That’s why I ordered the beginning of the contact as a mission before it’s too late.”
Lies and deceit come and go.
“But what the heck, after we finished preparing to be active again, the family was a mess.”
These are the lives that can be obtained by playing with the tongue only three inches. It’s a lie if you don’t feel remorse.
“You know, but it’s difficult at this rate.”
However, it must be poisoned.
“So you have to help me.”
The reason I devoted myself to the revolution was always for a better tomorrow. As long as I could kill that wicked queen and save those who suffer from oppression, I was willing to get dirtier.
“What are you thinking?”
“It’s a purge.”
It is right to remove the buds of the flower root in advance. It wasn’t just because he was the soloist of the Black Orchestra that I tried to make contact with Otto. Because he was the only general in the organization capable of mobilizing troops.
“A purge?”
“I am the only person who knows the identities of all members of the organization.”
On the day of the death in the previous life, we threw off the masks we had been wearing and revealed our identities all at once.
“And you are a soloist of the organization and at the same time a soldier who works hard to defend the country.”
Otto was rather quick-witted in contrast to his blunt physique. He realized the true meaning behind my words without even exchanging a few words, and then spat out.
“You’re telling me to do the sword dance…….”
Exactly. The reason why a soloist holding military power is more terrifying than prestigious conductors is that they can stick their teeth at any time.
He was a commander blindly followed by a corps, and a subordinate trusted by the president to the point of being invited to a luncheon.
“Too much blood will be shed.”
I know. However, bands with their blood can improve the wrong constitution.
“There must be another way!”
“Do you know that I like this kind of thing?”
“However…… !”
It seems that death is reluctant. Seeing that even the veteran warrior who defeated countless enemies hesitated in front of such a decision.
“Although they may be divided into quarters now, if they know that you have returned, they might join us again as before.”
“If they were guys who would reveal their true colors without me, then there shouldn’t be any from the beginning.”
Otto understood my words, but still hesitated. Well, the sword dance is difficult for those who dance, and it must be difficult for those who are instructed to dance. It was enough for me to get rid of it with one word, so I couldn’t help but know his agony.
“Do you know how the intelligence service interrogates traitors? I’ve seen it once. First of all, they peeled off the skin and rubbed it with salt. Not the person himself, but the people he loved!”
“…… Auto.”
“Let’s assume they are guilty. If so, who will be arrested along with them? Don’t you think it’s too harsh to have to pay such a price just for loving someone you love?”
“Yet you have to do it.”
“Why?”
“Otherwise, Frieda will be tortured like that.”
Otto furiously twisted his brow. He didn’t feel intimidated. It was a face he never wanted to see. All the more in that the veteran orc looked down like that. But nonetheless I had to say something.
“You don’t know Beatrix.”
“I don’t know what I don’t know! Everyone in the world knows how vicious that crazy woman is!”
“She never dies.”
“What?”
The Black Orchestra knows. In fact, everyone in Bernhard would know. That there is only one way to stop the runaway of this totalitarian state.
“I get stabbed, and even if I get shot, I don’t die.”
In order to destroy the kingdom, you must kill the queen, who is the center of it. The problems that will come later are obviously troublesome, but they are not worth discussing at the moment.
Because it’s premature.
“Even if you poison them and strangle them, they won’t die.”
“If that’s true, then what are we going to do?”
“I have been exploring the source of her powers over the years.”
Let’s assume that the insight that looks ahead a few moves comes from the innate brain. If academic knowledge and political power are in the same context, it is quite understandable. So-called geniuses appear regardless of field.
But what about the strength of a body that does not shed a single drop of blood?
Where did that power really come from?
I’ve been chasing the stem for so long, and I’ve finally dug up the secret behind it.
“The source of Beatrix’s power is magic.”
There are no absolutes in this world. Even things that seem perfect at first glance are often destroyed by unexpected loopholes. I don’t know much about magic, but I’ve heard a few things about how to defeat a wizard.
“Now that you know that, you should be able to find a way from now on.”
For example, to offset it with the Alchemist’s Yeonseongjin, or to have the same magician disturb the flow of magic.
Of course, it won’t be that easy. But it’s not as impossible as that.
“I will not give up no matter how long it takes.”
My determined gaze shakes Otto.
“How are you?”
I won’t wrap it up in rhetoric that says it’s fate or task. But we must. This is because there is a path that is not vague. It is because there is an opportunity to change such a deplorable reality where people are dying one after another.
“…… Promise me one thing.”
Otto was not so indecisive as to hesitate to suggest such a clear path.
“Say it.”
I looked up at him with a confused expression.
“There will be times when your life will be in danger if you go to the front as directed by you.”
I bet it is. I won’t deny it. Because it’s such an obvious fact that it doesn’t even need to be.
“If by any chance I am wrong, please take over.”
“If it’s behind?”
“I want you to promise me that you will be responsible for the fate of this country, the progress of our orchestra, and the safety of Frida until the end.”
I crossed my eyes with him without speaking. It was truly emotional to see her caring for the cause before her life and for those who were important to her.
In fact, the side driven to death must have a mountain of things he wanted to say other than that, but he was swallowing all the other words for the weight of this one promise.
“Can you please?”
All I could do to answer that question was to nod my head.
“I promise.”
I swore to him with a heavy heart.
“I bet three letters on my name, Seo Jeong-woo.”
Then Otto got down on one knee and leaned forward.
“Then order.”
“…… Soloist Otto Moritz, I appoint you as Maestro of the Black Orchestra from now on.”
The ranks of our organization follow the orchestra’s chain of command. And as is well known, maestro refers to the conductor of an orchestra.
In short, Otto Moritz was the next leader of the Black Orchestra from now on.
“Inside, follow my instructions, but outside, leave me as before and call me a male prostitute. Promote them as incompetent scum.”
Contrary to trying to gain a political position, the military prefers to be hostile to me. Anyway, as long as Otto is alive, I can entrust them with any number of roles, and it will be good to neutralize Beatrix’s doubts about me.
“The more you criticize me, the hero of the war, the clearer my position will become. The parliament, which does not like you, will try to keep the military in check and flatter Beatrix by defending me.”
Then, Seo Jung-woo, the eagle owl, can naturally expand his position.
“For now, it starts from there.”
I wrote the names of the conductors on paper disguised as sheet music and asked.
“Are you ready?”
Otto nodded silently and replied.
“You waited too long.”
It was a start.
* * *
“It took longer than expected.”
Said Beatrix. In no time at all, the luncheon table was plentiful with a variety of foods along with the main course. Needless to say how old it was, seeing as most of it was cold.
“I apologize, Your Excellency.”
Otto bowed politely to Beatrix and sat down. Frieda, who was eating well-seasoned steak with a fork and knife, looked at her husband and asked him with a smile.
“Did you enjoy our chat, honey?”
“Ah, thanks.”
I followed Otto, kissed the back of Beatrix’s hand, and sat down. I don’t know if it’s because I was late because I was so nervous, but I was very hungry.
“Jeong Woo.”
It was time to take a couple of slices of pizza margherita on a large platter in the center of the table. Beatrix, with an oddly sharp look, suddenly called me by name.
“Yes, Beatrix.”
“They said it took longer than expected.”
“…… !”
It must have taken up too much time and raised suspicion.
“Is that so.”
I replied in a quiet voice without even realizing it. The hostility that should never have been revealed in the tense nervous warfare was revealed.
Beatrix glared at me with narrow eyes. Then the suspicion grew deeper and deeper.
“I’m sorry to interrupt you, sir.”
At the moment when it seemed like four months would come soon, Otto covered me.
“It took some time because I had to wait for the ink to dry.”
It was the best improvisation. I took advantage of the moment when Beatrix’s gaze shifted to manage her expression.
“Jeong Woo.”
“Yes, Beatrix.”
“Do you have anything to say?”
“There is not.”
I swallowed dry saliva and carefully held the silverware in my hand. There was nothing I could do about it, but the habit in my hometown made me naturally pick up a weapon.
“Slightly annoying.”
I was out of breath. Not to mention, Beatrix’s expression grew more and more stern.
“This is your last chance. I’ll see, so tell me the right way.”
Unable to bear the pressure, I loosened my tie roughly.
What do you mean? Maybe there’s a bugging device in my room? If that’s not the case, just floating?
“Dismissal!”
Thud! A sudden roar rang through the luncheon hall.
“I have committed a mortal sin!”
It was Otto’s work. The heavy orc had recklessly driven his head into the plate on the table.
“Hey, honey?”
Frieda, who had been saving herself from the awkward atmosphere, was perplexed.
“Looks like you two are up to something.”
Beatrix raised her glass with a calm expression. It was a fact that she had only noticed now, but there were already more than ten bottles of alcohol lying around the table where she was sitting.
“Yes, sorry. I will tell you the truth.”
A person the size of a lieutenant general spat out like a newly transferred recruit. I couldn’t catch up with the flow of the situation, and I realized his true intentions only when I faced his intense gaze.
“Actually, we drank His Excellency’s wine, which the Duke secretly hid in the room.”
Yes, Beatrix’s favorite wine!
Come to think of it, empty bottles of very expensive wine were lined up on the cabinet in my room. Otto brilliantly explained the reason for our delay through the material he had noticed earlier.
“The Duke refused, saying it was His Excellency’s favorite drink, but because I had repeatedly asked for it…….”
“Could it be that you picked my Grosse Lage?”
“Sorry.”
Grosse Lage refers to Bernhardt’s top-notch wines. Otto apologised, slamming his head into the plate once again.
Wait, come to think of it, it’s not like this. I have to step out and release the bowl.
“The general did nothing wrong. Actually, I wanted to drink so badly that I sneaked a sneak peek at it, so I stopped bragging…….”
The screenplay is plausible. All that remains now is whether it will be eaten.
“You’re weak enough to be disloyal.”
Help me.
“But yes, Bernhardt’s wine is worth risking your life for.”
It worked! I’m so glad that crazy bitch is a drunkard.
“Raise your head, General.”
“It’s embarrassing.”
“If he drank, he must have drank it all. In exchange for your fiancé’s rudeness, I’ll grab you a few bottles on the way.”
“Thank you for your last name.”
Otto again spoke the words of apology. Only then did Frieda strike her husband on the back and mistreat him. Of course, I had to try to act drunk without being drunk. That’s how I don’t see the two people’s necks flying away.
And it was right after.
“Jeong Woo.”
Beatrix suddenly found me. Leaving behind the Moritz couple who were having a light fight, he looked at me with a terrifying gaze and added.
“I forbid you from going out for the time being.”
“…… !”
It’s not over yet.
