“Such a pity.”

With a disenchanted sigh, Erika took out a white material from her interior pocket earlier than continuing to cleanse her knife of bloodstains. She did not even hassle to look on the dying man just a few toes away from her.

There was no means that he was going to outlive. Erika made certain of that. She punctured his coronary heart with a single thrust. That was an harm that no bizarre man might probably survive.

The one actual downside now was how one can get rid of the physique.

Nonetheless, to her comfort, the answer arrived proper in entrance of her.

“My Woman, the emperor has- My God… What occurred right here?”

An Omega Battalion colonel flanked by 4 infantry males quickly discovered Erika, seemingly with a message referring to Maxwell.

“We’ve got a ‘state of affairs 7’. Make sure that this ‘mess’ is cleaned up. Now what is that this concerning the emperor?”

As one would anticipate, each member of the Omega Corps consisted solely of those that have been extraordinarily loyal to the Imperium. Not solely did they excel within the examinations which examined their capabilities and competence however in addition they displayed the bottom indicators of dissidence.

As such, each Omega Corps soldier, whether or not they be a mere infantryman or a commanding officer would by no means query any of the Imperium’s orders or insurance policies.

“Understood. The emperor has referred to as an emergency battle convention. Solely these of the best ranges of authority are permitted entry.”

“Emergency battle convention? The place?”

The colonel stored a straight face as he spoke, representing his staunch unwavering loyalty to the Imperium.

“On this very constructing truly. Maxwell is presently awaiting for you within the Conflict Room.”

Erika returned her knife and material to the interior pockets of her coat earlier than she responded to the colonel.

“I see. Then I need to depart instantly.”

Quickly, Erika turned her consideration away from the colonel earlier than she proceeded to depart for the Conflict Room. Nonetheless, simply earlier than she did, Erika determined to depart the colonel a message first.

“If you are going to query why I killed that man do not hassle. He was a menace to the integrity and safety of the Imperial Drussian Armed Forces and thus made him a menace to the Imperium of Drussia as a complete.”

When Erika stated this, she made certain to face the colonel once more earlier than staring deep into his eyes.

“A person like that should be eradicated instantly.”

“Understood my girl.”

When Erika heard the person’s response, she as soon as once more turned away from the colonel.

“Then deal with the mess as you want.”

Nonetheless, like earlier than, simply earlier than Erika might depart, she remembered one other message that she ought to depart the colonel earlier than she made her means for the Conflict Room.

“Oh… another factor. Till informed in any other case, you aren’t permitted to talk a single phrase about this incident. Is that understood?”

“Understood.”

It was solely when Erika confirmed the colonel’s reply did she lastly determine to depart the colonel and his squaddies to scrub up the ‘mess.’

The ‘Conflict Room’ as its title would counsel was the room designated for surveying the present battle state of affairs of the Imperium in addition to planning future Drussian army actions. It was additionally on this room that crucial and labeled army paperwork have been held.

On account of its significance, it was positioned within the precise centre of the Imperial Army Ways and Administration Centre.

It was solely after strolling across the maze-like labyrinth of the I.M.T.A.C for ten complete minutes did Erika lastly attain the Conflict Room.

Because of the I.M.T.A.C truly being a renovated and repurposed citadel produced from what was left of the Citadel of Briegkhoven after it was besieged by the Paniards, the Conflict Room was truly a remodelled throne room.

As such, the Conflict Room was grandiose in scale because the ceiling appeared to succeed in into the skies. Tall marble pillars lined up the halls whereas sculptures of coiling snakes have been engraved into the pillars.

After all on account of being a remodelled throne room, the Conflict Room had a throne.

And naturally, the one sitting on that throne was none apart from the emperor; Maxwell Von Galnus Dunnwal.

In entrance of Maxwell was a protracted rectangular desk which contained a map of the Eurrelpeon continent. Aside from the throne, there have been additionally equally luxurious seats that solely fell barely wanting being as extravagant as Maxwell’s throne unfold out amongst the desk.

The others current throughout the battle room was the imperial prime minister; Cromwell Gorro Dunnwal, the imperial treasurer; Keizwell Garno Dunnwal, the imperial secretary of miscellaneous divisions; Sicilia Gella Dunnwal and the Marshal of the a hundred and first Alpha Corps; Zanack Dugall Xavos.

It will appear that the Marshal of the 363rd Gamma Corps; Wilhelm Erich Rommel was absent from this assembly. Nonetheless, when one considered it, Wilhelm’s absence from the convention made sense if one considered Wilhelm’s present circumstances.

Quickly, Cromwell confirmed Erika’s suspicions simply as she took her seat among the many desk.

“Now that the commander-in-chief has arrived, we will lastly begin with the Conflict Convention. Sadly, Marshal Wilhelm is presently unable to affix us do to his duties within the newly annexed western Porrand.”

“Sure sure, none of us listed here are idiots Cromwell we will skip the formalities.”

Erika caught a slight expression of irritation present on Cromwell’s face earlier than Maxwell continued talking is his regular, nonchalant tone.

“Earlier than we start on the principle matter, why do not we take care of the minor topics first? If there are any in fact.”

“Could I start?”

The primary one to reply was Erika.

“I see no purpose why not.”

Maxwell leaned again onto his throne as he permitted Erika to talk.

“Sadly, we’ve got skilled our first ‘state of affairs 7,’ though the perpetrator has already been eradicated and his physique needs to be disposed of, I nonetheless want to query if I ought to proceed with the usual process.”

That normal process being to not let the information of the individual’s loss of life grow to be public till a battle comes up. From there the plan was to divulge to the general public that stated individual has died ‘heroically’ through the battle.

This type of process could be what Maxwell calls ‘hitting two birds with one stone.’ Not solely does it conceal the true nature of that individual’s loss of life from the general public but it surely additionally helps to foster a way of nationality and pleasure throughout the residents of the Imperium.

Quickly sufficient, Maxwell gave Erika her reply.

“I do not see why not. Though I stated it earlier than, I actually haven’t any different reply to offer you.”

After chuckling to himself, Maxwell as soon as once more questioned these current throughout the battle convention.

“Does anybody else have one thing they really feel that they should convey up at this second?”

“I imagine it’s my flip.”

Everybody’s eyes turned to Sicilia the second she spoke up in response to Maxwell’s query.

“Everybody right here is conscious of the Wraith Initiative appropriate?”

Though everybody knew what the Wraith Initiative truly was, albeit of a really restricted capability, nobody determined to reply to Sicilia. As an alternative they allowed silence to be their reply. Even Maxwell laid again on his throne as he rested his cheek on his fist.

“I will take that as a sure.”

Sicilia spoke with a mixture of her regular snarky and mocking tone together with what appeared to be pleasure. It will appear that she was extraordinarily pleased with what she has finished.

“Permit me to introduce to you, the primary ‘product’ made by the mixed efforts of the Heisenberg institute and your’s actually.”

As Sicilia stated this, she moved to the facet to disclose a determine behind her.

The determine wore a very black hooded cloak which left no pores and skin uncovered. The determine wore the hood over its head with a clean masks to hide its face. The masks had no options and solely appeared as a clean curved slate with solely a set of eyeholes and an array of miniature holes the place the mouth needs to be.

Inside moments, the determine walked in entrance of Sicilia to be able to current itself to everybody. Nonetheless, Erika felt that there was one thing off about it.

Even with its weird look, probably the most unusual factor concerning the determine was its composure and the way in which it moved.

It seemed stiff and lifeless.

Its eyes appeared to be gazing at nothing.

As if it was nothing greater than an empty doll tied to a string.

However probably the most shocking factor concerning the determine was its measurement. Except it was a midget, then Erika was certain that the determine was nothing greater than a mere baby.

However even when it was a toddler, Erika knew that if Sicilia stated so then this determine ought to actually be a reliable and harmful individual. In spite of everything-

“How the hell did that get in right here?”

Cromwell’s confused voice displayed what everybody’s ideas have been upon seeing this mysterious masked determine. Everybody… besides Maxwell. When Erika glanced at Maxwell, he nonetheless stored that unperturbed informal manner. In actual fact, it seemed as if he was a bit underwhelmed.

Quickly, Sicilia answered Cromwell’s query in a mocking voice.

“You fool. She snuck in in fact.”

Inside moments, Sicilia began a presentation concerning the determine.

“Meet ‘Operative 0,’ the primary profitable wraith; magically gifted people who serve beneath the Imperium. Now I wish to make it clear that wraiths are distinctively completely different from these magically gifted knights who simply like to run facefirst into our bullets.”

The extra that Sicilia spoke, the extra that appears of understandings grew on the individuals current within the battle council. Everybody besides the one who was most probably liable for conceiving the thought of the wraith initiative; Maxwell.

“As you possibly can inform, wraiths excel in stealth and covert operations reasonably than battles on open fields, though they will nonetheless maintain their very own in a battle. Whether or not or not it’s espionage or assassinations, I can guarantee you that they may full their duties directly.”

“Woman Dunnwal. Do you thoughts if I ask you one thing?”

As Sicilia concluded her presentation, she was instantly questioned by Zanack.

“After all not.”

“I do not know why precisely, however I do not get the sense that your ‘Operative 0’ is alive. Simply what did you do to ‘it?'”

Sicilia answered Zanack’s query in a blunt, straight to the purpose voice, utterly in contrast to the mocking voice she had when talking to Cromwell.

“I am afraid that I can not reply that query. It is a commerce secret in any case. The wraith initiative operates on a ‘have to know foundation’ so until I or Maxwell deems it essential, you needn’t concern your self with the ‘uncooked supplies’ or the ‘manufacturing course of’ of wraiths.

“Understood.”

A brief second of silence handed after Zanack avoided pursuing the true nature of the wraiths. Erika herself did not care if she have been to by no means know the reality behind the wraiths. If it is Maxwell’s will that Erika could not know concerning the reality, then she would solely comply.

Quickly, the silence was damaged by Maxwell’s voice.

“Now that, that is settled is there anything that anybody wish to share?”

Seeing that there was no response, Maxwell smirked barely earlier than he continued.

“Then we will transfer on to the principle occasion; the information of a doable incursion into Drussia within the type of a Katholic Campaign. Though… I do doubt that there’s a lot to speak about.”

Though Maxwell spoke in an informal tone, this time Erika was additionally in a position to sense a condescending glint inside his voice.

“In spite of everything, It does not matter what number of zeros attempt to work collectively beneath the phantasm that they will obtain their shared objectives. In the long run, they may by no means quantity to greater than nothing.”