I'd Rather Sleep with the Enemy

The Joint Counter-Terrorism Investigation Headquarters.

The Railway Military Police, Central Police, and Imperial Military united as one to confront the terrorists.

It should have been established long ago, but organizational pride and turf wars had delayed it.

But once I’d subdued the Railway Military Police and Central Police, the Imperial Military also bent and joined in.

Still, petty details remained.

Where to place the headquarters, the number and rank of personnel each organization would send.

But eventually everything was settled.

The investigation headquarters conference room.

Today was the first gathering of executives from all three organizations.

Arsen and I arrived first.

“We’re finally starting.”

“Yeah, Arsen, you’ve worked hard.”

For the details, the Railway Military Police had conceded quite a bit.

The Imperial Military seemed quite surprised too, so things proceeded quickly.

There had been complaints within the Railway Military Police about conceding too much, but Arsen handled it.

The rapid establishment of the investigation headquarters was largely Arsen’s achievement.

“Not at all. Now the only remaining question is who takes command of the investigation.”

“You told them that’s non-negotiable, right?”

There can only be one head.

Arsen nodded.

“The Military Police and Central Police all support you, Special Officer. Also, word about you is spreading everywhere in the streets these days. They say a truly outstanding figure has finally emerged from the twelve houses.”

“Is that so.”

“……You don’t seem pleased?”

“I don’t know. Watching the nation I built get riddled with holes everywhere over a hundred years makes me think how fleeting life is, you know?”

Arsen scratched his head.

“Doesn’t that just prove how great Your Majesty’s presence was? Before long, everyone will realize the truth and return to how things were.”

“Someone’s coming.”

At my words, Arsen quickly withdrew and shut his mouth.

He knew his own acting skills were lacking, so he chose to just stay silent.

The ones who entered through the door were Central Police officers.

The fox beastman at the front bowed his head toward me.

“Pardon the intrusion. I’m Luon, here to join the investigation headquarters. I look forward to working with you.”

“There were many twists and turns. I also look forward to working with you.”

Lang Ei’s handling.

The Central Police believed I’d known everything in advance and punished Byorn.

That Byorn had tried to misappropriate terrorist evidence.

Had it been exposed publicly, it would have damaged the organization’s honor — I was their benefactor for resolving it.

The looks they gave me held fear, but no rejection.

I approached and extended my hand.

“Let me introduce myself again, though it’s belated. I’m Special Officer Rigen from the Military Police. Let’s work hard together.”

“……Thank you.”

“I’m Kidorak. Please take care of me.”

“I’m Rot. Looking forward to……”

I made eye contact with each person and shook their hands.

Going forward, these were the people who would be my hands and feet working beside me, risking their lives in the field.

It was right to forget past feelings and meet them fresh.

Once the introductions finished, Luon spoke.

“Is it true that House Sagittari’s eldest son is coming from the Imperial Military?”

“Yes, that’s what I heard.”

“……Won’t that be dangerous? By any measure, Sagittari is a prime suspect.”

Luon’s words.

I pulled over a chair and invited him to sit.

I sat across from him too.

Once I’d provided seating and shown I would listen seriously, Luon spoke frankly.

“Our Central Police can’t dig directly into the Imperial Military’s interior. But we investigated Luke Kedrik from various angles. Luke Kedrik dropped out of the military academy, but at the time he associated with children of House Sagittari.”

The police’s intelligence network was quite useful.

Luon continued.

“It’s tradition for Sagittari family members to serve in the Imperial Military. It’s been that way for over a hundred years, so their influence inside and outside the military is strong. If Sagittari had put their mind to it, siphoning off bombs wouldn’t have been difficult. They’re a very strong suspect. Honestly, I want to drag them into the interrogation room right now.”

“We don’t have physical evidence, do we?”

“Would physical evidence come easily in cases like this? We need to interrogate them until they talk.”

Luon said quietly.

“Also, there’s something suspicious — the funding for the parties House Kedrik held continuously.”

“Yes. What about it?”

“The source is suspicious. We dug into it and found shell companies. When we went to the addresses, they were empty buildings.”

“Couldn’t that just be the terrorist organization’s funding source?”

“……That’s what’s strange. The terrorist organization doesn’t seem to have that much money, yet they’d spend it on parties?”

I nodded.

“Any other news?”

“We tried finding retired veterans to extract information…… but every single one was uncooperative. The Imperial Military has tremendous pride.”

The Imperial Military was created alongside the empire and had always been with me.

Chronologically, they far preceded the Railway Military Police or Central Police.

The emperor’s right arm.

The Imperial Military prided itself on having founded the empire.

“Understood. In the end, we’ll have to wait for the Imperial Military to arrive.”

“Yes. Then……”

I exchanged light small talk and conversed with them.

The atmosphere of the police officers who’d been wary and tense toward me gradually relaxed.

My ministers had constantly remonstrated that my words and actions were too casual for an emperor, but I completely ignored them.

I disliked being stuffy, and…… it was this effective.

We met with stiff faces, but sitting down and talking comfortably — laughter within fifteen minutes, right?

Clack.

In the middle of our conversation, the door opened.

Orderly footsteps.

Ten people entered, wearing Imperial Military uniforms — men and women.

The man at the front saluted us.

“Long live His Imperial Majesty the Emperor! Hundred Swords Commander of the Imperial Military, Uren Sagittari!”

“Thousand Troop Commander of the Imperial Military, Kalbina Librata!”

“Hundred Troop Commander of the Imperial Military, Dargal Sagittari!”

The three at the front introduced themselves.

I already knew Kalbina, so were the other two members of House Sagittari?

I smiled and extended my hand toward Uren.

“I’m Special Officer Rigen from the Railway Military Police. I look forward to working with you.”

“The pleasure is mine! That such a disgraceful incident could occur — I cannot contain my anguish!”

A booming voice.

Everyone flinched, but Uren shook his head vigorously.

“To think we knew absolutely nothing until this situation developed! I’m too ashamed to face His Imperial Majesty. I’m filled with such resentment that I want to commit suicide right now to show my loyalty to His Majesty!”

“……Wait, you.”

You’ve never even met me.

Uren was a human who looked around thirty — he hadn’t even been born when I was alive.

But Uren shook his head vigorously again.

“Anyway, I’m truly sorry this disgraceful situation occurred.”

“……Are you admitting right now that it’s all the Imperial Military’s fault?”

I asked, somewhat incredulous.

Actually, in situations like this, it’s normal to minimize your organization’s fault as much as possible.

But here was Uren, the highest-ranking Imperial Military officer present, suddenly saying it was all his fault?

“……The Hundred Swords Commander misspoke a bit.”

The other Sagittari, Dargal, stepped forward and elbowed Uren’s side.

Uren frowned and shouted.

“Misspoke! What are you talking about! Aren’t you ashamed to face His Imperial Majesty! Dargal!”

“Brother, please.”

Brothers bickering.

Given the Imperial Military’s pride, Dargal’s attitude was actually normal.

Kalbina quietly laughed and winked at me.

Isn’t this entertaining?

Yeah, it’s ridiculous.

“Let’s all sit down and discuss.”

Everyone found their seats, but…… the head seat remained empty.

Only Uren and I were still standing.

Tension suddenly mounted.

Who sits at the head — in other words, who takes command of the investigation headquarters.

The Imperial Military watched me carefully.

They should concede normally, but they weren’t happy about it.

Uren himself spoke heartily.

“Special Officer Rigen! Please sit at the head quickly!”

“Ahem, ahem.”

Dargal cleared his throat, but Uren paid no attention.

Should I concede to Uren once for appearances?

But Arsen, who’d been standing back, suddenly approached.

He grabbed the back of the head seat and looked straight at me.

“Please sit.”

“……”

When Arsen, who’d been staying out of it, suddenly stepped forward, the Imperial Military hesitated.

Arsen glanced at the Imperial Military and spoke.

“The whole world knows the Railway Military Police and Imperial Military are on bad terms. We have no intention of pretending to be friends now. But this situation requires us to unite our strength. So as not to shame the late His Imperial Majesty’s memory. That’s why we in the Military Police extended our hand first and conceded many things.”

“……”

“But we cannot concede this command authority. Please trust this Arsen, and follow Special Officer Rigen’s orders going forward.”

“Mm.”

“Today I’ve merely stopped by to show support. I hope you’ll all work well together going forward, and the Military Police will spare no support. Please take care of things.”

Arsen bowed politely toward the Imperial Military.

Arsen was the top of the Military Police.

Converted to Imperial Military terms, that would make him a Senior General — a two-star.

In contrast, the Imperial Military here — even calling him a Hundred Swords Commander, he was only a field-grade officer.

Even though they were different organizations, the weight class was different.

The Imperial Military didn’t dare object.

I sat at the head seat and nodded.

“Well then, let’s begin. Hundred Swords Commander over there, please sit too.”

“Understood. But please feel free to call me Uren.”

“……Let’s do that after we’re more familiar.”

Did this guy siphon off the Imperial Military’s bombs?

I tilted my head inwardly.

Of course, you never know what’s in a person’s heart.

But still, Uren was too unguarded.

Then was Dargal, who came with him, involved?

No, I just met them — there’s no point suspecting them prematurely.

Going forward, I’d learn everything.

I organized my thoughts and spoke.

“First, thank you all for gathering. Our immediate objective is to apprehend the terrorists calling themselves the Empire Liberation Army and prevent their plans in advance. For that, we need to exchange sensitive internal organizational materials with each other.”

“Hundred Troop Commander Dargal. I’d like to say something about that.”

Dargal Sagittari raised his hand and spoke.

“We also want to cooperate with the investigation, but naturally the Imperial Military’s internal materials are classified. To release them requires this organization’s legitimacy to be approved. That requires the sanction of one of the empresses.”

“Ah, I’m aware of that.”

“We prepared to handle it. Would that be acceptable?”

Dargal looked directly at me.

Eyes gauging whether I’d accept or not.

I’d originally planned to use Lang Ei, so I nodded readily.

“If the Imperial Military prepared it, that’s fine.”

“Thank you. She’ll arrive soon.”

Creeeak.

As if they’d been waiting for those words, the door opened.

I reflexively turned and my face stiffened.

Three dark elves entering.

Among them, the woman at the front was striking.

Tap, tap.

Long silver hair swaying with each step.

A dark elf approaching me, alluring down to her very fingers.

Beauty that would shock anyone, but with ice-cold eyes.

The dark elves’ leader, the Queen of Assassins Iselen.

“……”

She wasn’t someone who should appear like this?

She had many enemies, so she thoroughly concealed her whereabouts.

Yet here she was in broad daylight, revealing herself in a place with this many people.

Why?

The Queen of Assassins who approached stood a little apart from the head seat, next to me, and looked down at everyone.

“I am the Third Empress, Iselen. In exchange for approving the Counter-Terrorism Investigation Headquarters…… I also wish to participate in the investigation.”

The Queen of Assassins’s proposal.

Everyone looked shocked.

An empress personally participating in the investigation?

Moreover, the leader of the dark elves who handled intelligence — there could be no better reinforcement.

Everyone looked delighted.

The Queen of Assassins, who’d dominated the room with a single statement, turned to look at me.

“Will you accept?”

“……”

Poison flashing through her amethyst eyes.

She was normally a cold woman, so showing emotion was noticeable.

Joining the investigation was just a pretext.

She absolutely hadn’t come with good intentions.

“……So that’s how you’re playing it.”

I muttered quietly.

I’d heard of sleeping with the enemy for a purpose countless times, but sleeping with my wife?

Please just let me sleep with the enemy instead.