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God had always betrayed him. He had been so throughout his life. If it were because he lacked true faith in God, then there was nothing to say, but it was also true that God had been unduly harsh on him.
Major Eugen, who had been quietly thinking about something, suddenly opened his mouth.
“More than that, Your Excellency.”
Heiner cocked his eyebrows as if to suggest something. Major Eugen hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Miss Rosenberg, what do you plan to do?”
“What do you mean?”
"Honestly, I thought it was a coincidence that she first cracked the cipher. But it looks like they're really doing something, and if this one actually gets deciphered, it'll give us a ton of information."
What Annette did wasn't something to be dismissed as "something." Major Eugen knew this, too. He just didn't want to admit it.
It is no exaggeration to say that war is divided into a war of killings and a war of codes, and the importance of codes in war is enormous.
A single code saved tens of thousands of lives and changed the course of the war. And the information Annette Rosenberg deciphered wasn't just a few hints.
“Anyway, since you have the authority, I was wondering what you plan to do for Miss Rosenberg.”
Major Eugen acknowledged her achievements, but his expression was still rather gruff.
The Commander-in-Chief was a man of clear rewards and punishments. Major Eugen, having personally experienced the benefits of his journey, knew this better than anyone.
But she couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable that the award went to Annette Rosenberg.
Of course, Major Eugen was trying his best to conceal his ill feelings toward Annette Rosenberg. He didn't even call her "that woman," and even acknowledged her achievements.
That choice was not a logical judgment, but a vague instinct. The major had also vaguely sensed the Commander-in-Chief's changing mood after the divorce.
If the former commander-in-chief had been a well-trained beast, now he was like a wild beast, tied to a rope, waiting for its opportunity.
Because of this, Major Eugen unconsciously became cautious about talking about Annette Rosenberg. However, the Commander-in-Chief seemed unimpressed by the Major's efforts.
“...First of all, the award will have to be decided after seeing how this information is used.”
The voice, which continued without any ups and downs, was cold and chilling.
"What Miss Rosenberg is doing isn't 'something,' it's deciphering codes. Even if that weren't the case, she's dedicated herself to her country as a nurse. Don't underestimate her accomplishments and loyalty."
At those words, Major Eugen suddenly came to his senses.
There was nothing wrong with the Commander-in-Chief's words, except that the other party was Annette Rosenberg.
Indeed, his highest-ranking officer was not a great man who judged people according to their grades.
Major Eugen felt both embarrassed and awestruck at the sight of the Commander-in-Chief, who refused to make any exceptions, even for Rosenberg.
The major shouted in a high-spirited voice, his hands clasped tightly to his thighs.
“I was reckless, I’m sorry!”
Time passed slowly.
Annette spent most of her day studying the cipher, but after reporting her guess about the numerical code to the Commander-in-Chief, there was no progress.
Time passed without finding anything more. By this point, Annette had come to believe she had found everything she could find. She had memorized the entire score.
One day, while out for a walk, she ran into Major Eugen within the camp. Contrary to her expectations of a cold, sarcastic remark, he simply nodded and offered no response.
Annette was so shocked that she couldn't even greet him. She wondered if the man was about to die.
The anxious time passed slowly.
The Commander-in-Chief told her that decryption work could be halted. Annette couldn't tell if this was a good or bad sign.
And two days later, bombers appeared over the Padanian capital, Launceston.
This coincided with the Axis Supreme Command, a coalition of Frances and Armenia, deploying land forces to the Padanian Front. Again, no declaration of war was made.
Indiscriminate carpet bombings were unleashed on the capital. Massive bombs destroyed buildings and left casualties. Newspapers were filled with stories about the bombings.
Annette put down the newspaper she was holding. Her breathing was shallow and trembling. She tried to drink her coffee quickly, but the hot water slightly burned her tongue.
"Ah...!"
Annette frowned, sticking her tongue out. A prickling sensation brought her to her senses. She looked back at the front page of the newspaper.
Bombing? The capital? Why?
A belated question slowly came to mind.
The capital was essentially a symbolic target. To achieve a real impact from bombing the mainland, it was more effective to bomb military bases or production facilities rather than the capital.
'I wonder if the effect of lowering morale... is that certain?'
This bombing left all the citizens of Padania in shock and grief, regardless of the actual damage.
The war, which she had thought only occurred on the front lines, had suddenly encroached upon her own neighborhood. The psychological terror felt by the citizens was immense.
Annette folded the newspaper in half and tucked it away. Her heart pounded with anxiety. She opened the Bible and read a few lines, but then closed it because the words just wouldn't catch her eye.
And that evening, Annette was given the order to move.
"The train is heading to Huntingham at 6:30 tomorrow morning. This is your final destination, so you can get off last."
The person who gave the order was not the commander-in-chief, but his aide. This was, in fact, a natural thing. The commander-in-chief was the one who gave orders, not the one who delivered them.
But up until now, Heiner had reported everything directly to her, and wanted to be reported to directly, even the smallest details.
It was the first time Annette had heard his intentions conveyed to someone else. This made Annette realize just how busy he was at the moment.
“...If it’s Huntingham...”
"This is a field hospital located a little way from the central front. It's behind the new recruits' replenishment unit, and you will handle the wounded and prisoners being evacuated."
“I see. I understand.”
If it was behind the new recruits' reserves, it was the rear. She expected to be moved further back, but hearing it actually gave her a strange feeling.
After the aide left, Annette had dinner and immediately began packing. The order had been given so hastily that there wasn't much time.
Annette divided her luggage and boxes into what she would take and what she would throw away. While organizing her drawers, she came across letters from Katrine.
She was worried and put all the letters except one with the last date in the box.
‘Since Sinsier is far from the capital... it should be okay.’
All reports of the bombing were focused on the capital, Launceston. It was a blessing that Katrine had moved away from the capital.
It was late at night when preparations for departure were finally completed. Annette left the barracks carrying a box of discarded items.
Passing a few buildings, she headed toward the campfire inside the camp. A few soldiers were seen moving busily, but for the most part, the commander's camp was quiet.
Beyond, a faint flicker of flame flickered. A crimson light rippled like waves across the darkened floor. With just a few steps left, her legs suddenly stopped.
A man was sitting on a makeshift chair in front of a crackling campfire.
A cigar was tucked askew between his index and middle fingers. His large body, hunched over, was half-folded in the chair.
It was as if he had just haphazardly crumpled himself into the darkness.
His face, staring intently at the campfire, was expressionless. Smoke rose quietly from the end of the cigar. As she watched, his eyes flickered for a moment.
Annette had always thought of Heiner as a man of steel, as firm and solid as steel. He might break, but he would never bend.
But at this moment, he looked so thin and fragile, as if he would collapse without a fight.
Annette felt as if she had seen into a very intimate part of him.
Annette deliberately made a slight noise. His head rose. She walked closer to the fire and threw the items in the box into the flames, one by one.
The flames flickered and devoured them. Heiner stared at her in silence. He didn't open his mouth until Annette tossed the last letter.
Annette watched the letter burn to ashes. Only when there was nothing left to burn did she turn away.
Their eyes met. Annette asked with a faint smile.
“...Can I sit next to you?”
Major Eugen, who had been quietly thinking about something, suddenly opened his mouth.
“More than that, Your Excellency.”
Heiner cocked his eyebrows as if to suggest something. Major Eugen hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Miss Rosenberg, what do you plan to do?”
“What do you mean?”
"Honestly, I thought it was a coincidence that she first cracked the cipher. But it looks like they're really doing something, and if this one actually gets deciphered, it'll give us a ton of information."
What Annette did wasn't something to be dismissed as "something." Major Eugen knew this, too. He just didn't want to admit it.
It is no exaggeration to say that war is divided into a war of killings and a war of codes, and the importance of codes in war is enormous.
A single code saved tens of thousands of lives and changed the course of the war. And the information Annette Rosenberg deciphered wasn't just a few hints.
“Anyway, since you have the authority, I was wondering what you plan to do for Miss Rosenberg.”
Major Eugen acknowledged her achievements, but his expression was still rather gruff.
The Commander-in-Chief was a man of clear rewards and punishments. Major Eugen, having personally experienced the benefits of his journey, knew this better than anyone.
But she couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable that the award went to Annette Rosenberg.
Of course, Major Eugen was trying his best to conceal his ill feelings toward Annette Rosenberg. He didn't even call her "that woman," and even acknowledged her achievements.
That choice was not a logical judgment, but a vague instinct. The major had also vaguely sensed the Commander-in-Chief's changing mood after the divorce.
If the former commander-in-chief had been a well-trained beast, now he was like a wild beast, tied to a rope, waiting for its opportunity.
Because of this, Major Eugen unconsciously became cautious about talking about Annette Rosenberg. However, the Commander-in-Chief seemed unimpressed by the Major's efforts.
“...First of all, the award will have to be decided after seeing how this information is used.”
The voice, which continued without any ups and downs, was cold and chilling.
"What Miss Rosenberg is doing isn't 'something,' it's deciphering codes. Even if that weren't the case, she's dedicated herself to her country as a nurse. Don't underestimate her accomplishments and loyalty."
At those words, Major Eugen suddenly came to his senses.
There was nothing wrong with the Commander-in-Chief's words, except that the other party was Annette Rosenberg.
Indeed, his highest-ranking officer was not a great man who judged people according to their grades.
Major Eugen felt both embarrassed and awestruck at the sight of the Commander-in-Chief, who refused to make any exceptions, even for Rosenberg.
The major shouted in a high-spirited voice, his hands clasped tightly to his thighs.
“I was reckless, I’m sorry!”
***
Time passed slowly.
Annette spent most of her day studying the cipher, but after reporting her guess about the numerical code to the Commander-in-Chief, there was no progress.
Time passed without finding anything more. By this point, Annette had come to believe she had found everything she could find. She had memorized the entire score.
One day, while out for a walk, she ran into Major Eugen within the camp. Contrary to her expectations of a cold, sarcastic remark, he simply nodded and offered no response.
Annette was so shocked that she couldn't even greet him. She wondered if the man was about to die.
The anxious time passed slowly.
The Commander-in-Chief told her that decryption work could be halted. Annette couldn't tell if this was a good or bad sign.
And two days later, bombers appeared over the Padanian capital, Launceston.
This coincided with the Axis Supreme Command, a coalition of Frances and Armenia, deploying land forces to the Padanian Front. Again, no declaration of war was made.
Indiscriminate carpet bombings were unleashed on the capital. Massive bombs destroyed buildings and left casualties. Newspapers were filled with stories about the bombings.
Annette put down the newspaper she was holding. Her breathing was shallow and trembling. She tried to drink her coffee quickly, but the hot water slightly burned her tongue.
"Ah...!"
Annette frowned, sticking her tongue out. A prickling sensation brought her to her senses. She looked back at the front page of the newspaper.
Bombing? The capital? Why?
A belated question slowly came to mind.
The capital was essentially a symbolic target. To achieve a real impact from bombing the mainland, it was more effective to bomb military bases or production facilities rather than the capital.
'I wonder if the effect of lowering morale... is that certain?'
This bombing left all the citizens of Padania in shock and grief, regardless of the actual damage.
The war, which she had thought only occurred on the front lines, had suddenly encroached upon her own neighborhood. The psychological terror felt by the citizens was immense.
Annette folded the newspaper in half and tucked it away. Her heart pounded with anxiety. She opened the Bible and read a few lines, but then closed it because the words just wouldn't catch her eye.
And that evening, Annette was given the order to move.
"The train is heading to Huntingham at 6:30 tomorrow morning. This is your final destination, so you can get off last."
The person who gave the order was not the commander-in-chief, but his aide. This was, in fact, a natural thing. The commander-in-chief was the one who gave orders, not the one who delivered them.
But up until now, Heiner had reported everything directly to her, and wanted to be reported to directly, even the smallest details.
It was the first time Annette had heard his intentions conveyed to someone else. This made Annette realize just how busy he was at the moment.
“...If it’s Huntingham...”
"This is a field hospital located a little way from the central front. It's behind the new recruits' replenishment unit, and you will handle the wounded and prisoners being evacuated."
“I see. I understand.”
If it was behind the new recruits' reserves, it was the rear. She expected to be moved further back, but hearing it actually gave her a strange feeling.
After the aide left, Annette had dinner and immediately began packing. The order had been given so hastily that there wasn't much time.
Annette divided her luggage and boxes into what she would take and what she would throw away. While organizing her drawers, she came across letters from Katrine.
She was worried and put all the letters except one with the last date in the box.
‘Since Sinsier is far from the capital... it should be okay.’
All reports of the bombing were focused on the capital, Launceston. It was a blessing that Katrine had moved away from the capital.
It was late at night when preparations for departure were finally completed. Annette left the barracks carrying a box of discarded items.
Passing a few buildings, she headed toward the campfire inside the camp. A few soldiers were seen moving busily, but for the most part, the commander's camp was quiet.
Beyond, a faint flicker of flame flickered. A crimson light rippled like waves across the darkened floor. With just a few steps left, her legs suddenly stopped.
A man was sitting on a makeshift chair in front of a crackling campfire.
A cigar was tucked askew between his index and middle fingers. His large body, hunched over, was half-folded in the chair.
It was as if he had just haphazardly crumpled himself into the darkness.
His face, staring intently at the campfire, was expressionless. Smoke rose quietly from the end of the cigar. As she watched, his eyes flickered for a moment.
Annette had always thought of Heiner as a man of steel, as firm and solid as steel. He might break, but he would never bend.
But at this moment, he looked so thin and fragile, as if he would collapse without a fight.
Annette felt as if she had seen into a very intimate part of him.
Not the commander-in-chief of Padania, but simply that man.
The flames flickered and devoured them. Heiner stared at her in silence. He didn't open his mouth until Annette tossed the last letter.
Annette watched the letter burn to ashes. Only when there was nothing left to burn did she turn away.
Their eyes met. Annette asked with a faint smile.
“...Can I sit next to you?”
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