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The streets were filled with people carrying heavy luggage. With desperate expressions on their faces, they seemed to panic upon seeing others in a rush. To put it simply, they were in a state of panic.

Any men, who had free time, ran as if driven by something, and those lucky enough to have gotten a cart piled up their belongings like a mountain. Among them, an old woman was seen trying to escape while carrying a chest of drawers. Everyone, each and every one of them, was desperately trying to save themselves and protect their belongings. However, in this situation, there was no room for defense.

“Hey!” (Fritz)

Fritz glared at the commander of the Galilianin local militia who had come out to greet him.

“What is going on? How long has this been happening?” (Fritz)

“Well, since yesterday. Yesterday, when the news of the defeat came in, and since then…” (??)

Last night, Fritz had given detailed instructions to the mayor about the situation at Noimirabel.

“Has no one been controlling the citizens…?” (Fritz)

Fritz was in disbelief.

In such cases, information must be controlled tightly and kept from leaking, and the citizens must be kept in order. The news of the defeat should have been stopped at the level of the government office, the city hall, and the military, and false proclamations should have been issued to keep the anxious citizens under control.

Without doing this, only disorderly chaos would spread, filling the roads with panicking citizens, thus meaninglessly restricting movement. If they were to evacuate the citizens, they should take the chest of drawers from the old woman, guide them with designated routes if they were to walk on land, and if they were to use boats, they should confiscate the boats, pack the people in, and evacuate them calmly and systematically. Allowing such a state of disorder was nothing but the lowest of the low.

“Where is Mayor Berbeo Hatran? Has he already fled?” (Fritz)

If he had already fled and the person in ultimate charge was no longer present, that would still be an understandable situation.

“No, he should be in the city hall. Unless he escaped by sea.” (??)

“…I see. Got it. Just to confirm, you haven’t been given any instructions, right?” (Fritz)

“Yes.” (??)

Unbelievable.

Fritz felt like he wanted to hold his head in his hands.

“Then, guide the citizens trying to escape by land toward the Kururuan Highway. The soldiers who escaped from the battle are at Noimirabel. They should still be able to maintain some control over there.” (Fritz)

The Kururuan Highway, leading to Kururuan, passed through the area under Noimirabel’s control. In this situation, the escaping citizens were not armed. If they were attacked by bandits, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Uh… but…” (??)

“I understand that the chain of command is different.” (Fritz)

The Galilianin local militia was different from the military of the Galilia Union. It was a separate force established with the mayor at the top to defend Galilianin.

“But patrolling the surrounding areas is your job, right? Under that pretext, send out the cavalry. If you are strongly reprimanded, you can place all the responsibility on me.” (Fritz)

“Yes, sir. Understood.” (??)

The local militia commander saluted.

—

“Berbeo-dono!” (Fritz)

Shouting that as he opened the door and entered the office of the city hall, Fritz felt his emotions rapidly deflate. Berbeo, facing his heavy and imposing desk, was calmly trimming his nails, showing no signs of urgency.

“Berbeo-dono. What is going on in the city? Please explain.” (Fritz)

“It’s because you lost, isn’t it?” (Berbeo)

Berbeo spoke as if wondering what Fritz was talking about.

“It’s because you lost the battle that things have turned out like this. Why are you even here?” (Berbeo)

He stared coldly at Fritz.

“Whether I lose or the country falls, politicians have responsibilities they must fulfill. This is not the time to be leisurely cutting your nails.” (Fritz)

“What could we possibly do now? An army is about to descend upon us.” (Berbeo)

“A politician’s role is to lead the people. The citizens you should be leading are in chaos outside and seeking order.”  (Fritz)

It would make sense if they had all been killed off in a massacre or something. However, the Galilianin citizens are, in reality, mostly still here. In the future, they may fall under the rule of Yuri Hou. But that doesn’t mean you should do nothing now.

“If you’re going to abandon your duties at a time like this, then why did you become a politician in the first place?” (Fritz)

“Because my parents were politicians.” (Berbeo)

Berbeo muttered quietly.

“I never thought I was suited to being a politician. But it’s the family business, so what can I do? Is it so wrong for the eldest son to take over the family business? Whether it’s a carpenter or a farmer, they all take over the same way, don’t they?” (Berbeo)

“…Who knows.” (Fritz)

Anger welled up within Fritz.

“Because of that, the people are suffering. If you’re not going to do your job now, then resign immediately and hand over power to the secretary-general.” (Fritz)

In Galilianin’s system, if the mayor fell ill, the deputy mayor takes over. If the deputy mayor also fell ill, then the secretary-general, who was the top bureaucrat, temporarily assumed the role.

Berbeo had been deputy mayor during the Orasem administration. If the deputy mayor also stepped down, the secretary-general would then assume the powers of the mayor.

“Don’t worry. That guy is doing things on his own. I have no intention of stepping down as mayor.” (Berbeo)

“Why? Is it because you want to use your authority to flee the country?” (Fritz)

“I have no intention of fleeing. I have no intention of talking to you either. I have no intention of doing anything right now, and I have no reason to take orders from someone who lost. Leave here at once and go see the secretary-general if you want.” (Berbeo)

“…Understood.” (Fritz)

Being blamed for the defeat like this was something Fritz had expected. Fritz had no intention of making excuses. He didn’t know what Berbeo was plotting, but he had no desire to pursue the matter any further. No words would reach this man.

“I don’t know what you plan to do, but don’t sell out the country.” (Fritz)

With those words, Fritz turned his back on Berbeo and left the office. As the heavy door slammed shut, a single thought flashed through his mind.

“A politician’s job is to serve the country, even when told by the beloved citizens that they are no longer needed.” (Orasem)

“Once they fail, no matter how much they love their country… the people discard them like an old, worn-out rag.” (Orasem)

The tone of Orasem’s voice from days gone by struck his ears as if it were still ringing.

Ah, I see.

Fritz thought to himself, “I am there now.”

“When a politician stops loving, they begin to use the country for their own ends. When that happens, it is time for them to quit being a politician.”

Ah…

Fritz felt a sense of fulfillment in his dedication to the country. Yuri Hou had said that after winning, Fritz would be the best fit to govern this country. Indeed, it seemed that wasn’t just a political maneuver, but something he genuinely believed.

If Fritz stayed in Galilianin and negotiated with Yuri Hou, Yuri Hou would undoubtedly use him to his advantage. As long as he proved somewhat useful, he’d be given a reasonable amount of power and enough money to support his family without much difficulty.

But could I continue to love the people while being pelted with stones by them and reproached as I am now? Won’t I eventually begin to use the country for his own ends?

He didn’t know. Fritz had no confidence in that.

Was Orasem worried that this would happen…?

With a numb feeling, Fritz pondered that thought.

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