Free Vengeance Is Mine by Shiden Kanzaki Page B

called here today?”
    “What are you…talking about…?”
    “You were not called here today so we could ask you to analyze Aldebaran and Pleiades. The fact of the matter is, we want to ask you about the independent action your adjuvant took when you left Hidehiko’s formation during the operation.”
    When Rentaro understood what Gado was trying to say, he got chills down his spine. “Please, wait. We noticed the Gastrea that had gone to the back of the formation to prepare for a surprise attack and went to intercept them—”
    “We have confirmed the corpses of the Gastrea to the rear of the main battle formation. However, appearances are appearances, and disobeying orders is disobeying orders. We must think of these two as separate.” Unlike earlier, Gado’s voice now had coldness mixed into it.
    Rentaro realized that the winds were blowing in a strange direction and wiped the sweat on his palms hard on his pants.
    “In order to maintain appearances in the army, even if just one person from the civil officer troops disobeys orders, I’m sure you can imagine what would happen. From the perspective of the other civil officers who did not know the circumstances behind your actions, what you did looks like deserting under enemy fire. In addition, you and your Initiator are a high-ranking pair with an IP rank of 300. Your actions caused a fatal disturbance in the other civil officers who were desperately enduring their shaking knees to stand in line. I must have you pay for that.”
    “B-but—”
    Even as Rentaro tried to argue vehemently, Gado cut him off completely. “It was rash, Leader Satomi. I hereby disband your adjuvant and sentence you to capital punishment. I will not hear any excuses. You disobeyed the orders of your superior officer and deserted under enemy fire. Those are serious crimes even among serious crimes. If I do not punish you, it will set the bad precedent that even if one disobeys orders, they will not be punished. Military troops with warped rules can no longer be called military troops. They are just a disorderly crowd. Especially now that the mood of defeat has grown stronger, discipline must be tightened.”
    At Gado’s words, a heavy weight fell on Rentaro with a thud.
    Capital punishment. In other words, death.
    “S-stop messing around!” The instant Rentaro stood from his chair to try to get closer to Gado, a strong fist sank into his stomach, and he almost passed out from the blow.
    “Oof.” Rentaro couldn’t bear it, and his knees bent. As he gritted his teeth against the pain, he looked next to him and saw the Initiator, Asaka, looking down at him with a bored look on her face.
    The little—!
    “If you move, you will send your life flying,” she said.
    Rentaro was forced to his knees, and pressing into his throat was the cold blade of a Japanese sword. Behind his back, he could hear multiple guns cocking, and as he glared at Gado with his teeth gritted, he received a pitying look. “Leader Satomi,” Gado said, “I personally expected a lot out of you. It’s unfortunate.”
    Damn it.
Rentaro cursed his own carelessness as his clenched fists shook above his knees. When he had been summoned by Gado, why had he not sensed any danger? If he had been able to predict that this would happen, he could have thought of a way to deal with it. Instead, he just nonchalantly…
    Rentaro lamented his own foolish actions and the fact that he could not find anything wrong with Gado’s logic. Gado’s reasons were completely valid. If the rules of the corps were to be the most important, then he had to punish whoever broke the rules, no matter who itwas. If their positions were reversed, then Rentaro likely would have imposed the same grave punishment on Gado.
    Resignation slowly took its toll. Rentaro’s stomach felt as heavy as lead, and he started to feel dizzy.
    “My…” He saw Enju’s smile in his head. He felt stunned, and his vision grew dark as he sweat profusely. Then,