🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 55
As soon as the emergency meeting ended, an investigative team was assembled that afternoon.
The team immediately arrested Captain Eperena and placed him in the brig.
He, who had been shirking his duties in the office and passing them off to his subordinates, took a moment to grasp the sudden situation.
“What is the meaning of this!”
Captain Eperena protested vehemently.
“I didn’t do anything! It was just for disciplinary purposes!”
“Captain.”
One of the military police who had brought him here tilted his head slightly.
“I’m glad you seem to understand the situation.”
“Damn it! What are you saying?! Don’t you know who I am? I’m the heir of the Eperena noble family! I’m extremely…!”
“Exactly.”
The expression of the military policeman, stepping a foot away from the bars, was icy.
Yet the twisted corners of his mouth revealed pure contempt.
As if he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
“For that so-called disciplinary action, what exactly did you do?”
“…….”
“And the Navy doesn’t care about your social status at all.”
In the Navy, only time and experience build military rank.
“Your previous statement will be included in the investigation report.”
“You son of a…!”
Enraged, Captain Eperena shook the bars violently, pressing his head against them and unleashing a torrent of audible curses.
However, the observing military police did not move an inch.
“It’s by the order of the Admiral. Monitor him carefully.”
Having completed their task, the military police left the brig.
“…I think there’s a bit of personal grudge involved,” muttered the junior officer who had accompanied them.
The senior officer, who had just openly shown contempt toward Captain Eperena, gave a sheepish smile.
When he put on a proper expression, he looked remarkably kind.
“The truth is, that bastard caused my friend to retire.”
“Ah…”
The junior, unable to offer words of comfort, just stared at the ground with a look of sorrow.
The senior lightly patted his junior’s back.
“It’s okay. Fortunately, my friend got a better job and can rest on weekends like everyone else.”
“But it must still feel unfair to you.”
“Of course it does…”
Sometimes, when drinking, he vividly remembered his friend’s tearful expression.
That’s why he had high expectations for this investigation.
“Justice must be served.”
It was hard to expect a sincere apology from Captain Eperena. He would not show remorse until the end.
Thus, his crimes needed to be fully exposed so that the victims could finally get closure and proper compensation.
It should be obvious, yet sometimes what’s obvious is the hardest to achieve.
“Phew…”
Noah let out a sigh, not knowing how many he had already taken.
“This guy really is crazy,” muttered Ami beside him, flipping through documents.
“Did I really pay taxes for this bastard? Even Mom in heaven would spit and curse him!”
“Finally, you speak my mind…”
They were staying up all night, reviewing documents confiscated from the 7th Fleet.
As soon as Reto assembled the investigative team, their first action was to conduct a confiscation search of the 7th Fleet, obtaining all personnel and inspection records—including medical logs.
The 7th Fleet had been caught completely off guard.
According to testimony from the military police present, the expressions on the faces of the fleet officials were, in crude terms, priceless.
“Not even worth the X, really…”
Ami had silently joined the sudden late-night work out of a personal desire to hit back at Captain Eperena, who had caused much accumulated resentment.
But for now, that personal desire had to be put aside.
“There are at least five victims. Minimum, five.”
“If we include those already discharged?”
Noah asked, confirming the suspicious circumstances he had found. They had currently identified three.
“Two more here.”
“So roughly ten in total.”
Considering the systematic concealment of the incidents…
“Including the 7th Fleet commander…”
Reto, who had remained silent until now, let out a barely audible tremor in his voice.
“Just say it.”
With no particular expectations, Reto casually brushed back his bangs with his hand. He had washed up, planning to stay the night here.
Noah and Ami were in the same state.
Finally, Ami spoke.
“…It seems eight officers, including the 7th Fleet commander, are involved.”
The manipulated documents, intended to conceal the incidents, repeatedly listed the same individuals.
Those claiming nothing happened, and those who approved the corresponding reports.
“At first light tomorrow, confirm the movements of those eight and check for suspicious meetings or common contacts.”
“Yes, Admiral.”
“Captain Bello will contact the victims who have already been discharged.”
They would be informed that the investigative team could assist in filing complaints if they wished for punishment. Noah nodded firmly.
“I feel like it’s my fault…”
Ami muttered dejectedly.
“I should have just bet he’d get kicked out for perverted behavior in his swimsuit.”
She regretted jokingly assuming he’d go to the brig and causing it to become reality.
“….”
Noah was secretly relieved that Ami didn’t need comforting.
“Ah, really…”
Reto scratched the back of his neck irritably.
“I planned to leave early today to apologize and spend time with my sister-in-law.”
“Apologize…”
Ami snickered.
“Do you think those bastards even feel like apologizing?”
“Of course not,” Noah sneered openly.
“If they had any sense, they wouldn’t have let things escalate this far.”
“Why do they even do such things?”
Ami could not understand.
Even from just the documents seized that day, the cruelty was unimaginable—trivial if petty, cruel if severe.
‘If just these few documents reveal so much… imagine the victims’ experiences.’
Even playful pranks among friends have limits. But in the military, acts of cruelty like this equate to literally denying the existence of another person.
“Do you know why?”
Reto scoffed.
“If they don’t do it, they can’t establish their own existence.”
“I don’t understand.”
“No need to overcomplicate.”
Reto asked them:
“What makes you feel happy and fulfilled?”
“Reading a fun book or buying a favorite one?”
“Me too. Or sleeping in late and waking up while the Sacred Agency is screwed over…”
“….”
“….”
“Well, that’s normal, right?”
Ami replied confidently, citing personal freedom.
“…Exactly.”
Reto’s point was simple.
“We can find satisfaction and happiness on our own. But people like Captain Eperena cannot.”
“So he’s not just acting out because he thinks he’s noble?”
“By that logic, I’d have been the biggest jerk of all.”
“….”
Wasn’t that true during his dating days?
Ami recalled stories of Noah and Reto’s younger dating years but wisely kept silent.
In truth, Reto had been relatively mild-mannered for a grand noble.
“Such people only enjoy life by stepping on others.”
Looking down on, ignoring, harassing, or beating others was how they boosted their self-esteem. Even their inferiority complex was elevated.
“People like that usually…”
Reto’s hand touched the floor.
“Only operate from here.”
His hand shot up above his head.
“But they believe they’re standing there.”
Seeing his raised hand, Noah and Ami laughed simultaneously, as if by pact.
“Usually, people acknowledge their position or try to reduce the gap… but…”
“So Captain Eperena can’t do that?”
Reto lowered his hand and gestured toward the pile of documents on the desk, answering Noah’s earlier question.
“He has no skill or ability, yet wants to feel superior, so he degrades men who are better and more diligent than him.”
The next morning.
“Have you eaten? Sorry I couldn’t go. And your sister misses Clare so much too…”
Noah, having woken from a short sleep in the duty room, immediately called home.
[If you don’t bring a gift today, I’ll stay upset all day!]
The young sister’s complaint over the receiver was spirited even in the morning. Her chubby cheeks twitched as she grumbled, vividly in Noah’s mind.
“Okay, I’ll make sure to go tonight.”
Study well, love you.
Exchanging kiss sounds over the phone, Noah hung up.
“Did you hear that?”
Noah said to Reto, who had silently approached from behind.
“Today we must go home. Otherwise, the Admiral’s sister-in-law will sulk for a week and refuse to speak.”
“That’s not acceptable…”
Pouting, Reto hugged Noah from behind. Noah patted his arms wrapped around his waist.
“Why do I have to suffer because of those damn bastards…?”
“Don’t whine like Clare.”
“But I want to complain…”
Seeking comfort, Reto pressed his nose into Noah’s neck, inhaling deeply. His expanding chest pressed clearly through his back.
Blushing, Noah turned calmly.
“Today we’ll contact the victims.”
“We’ll bring in the 7th Fleet personnel as well. After questioning, they’ll be temporarily suspended and placed in the brig.”
“Will they admit their wrongdoing willingly?”
“They’ll likely try to scapegoat…”
But Reto had no intention of letting it end there.
“All festering wounds must be cut out to heal properly.”
“Absolutely,” Noah replied, kissing his superior with respect and affection.
“…You said to separate work and personal matters?”
Reto licked his lips, disappointed, and teased.
“If it’s regrettable, return it.”
“Can’t help it during duty.”
Reto smirked, kissing him again.
Returning to the command office, a visitor awaited them.
“Sergeant, Dalis Bernard. Temporarily assigned to the investigative team established under Admiral Oceanus’ order.”
“You’ve worked hard all night.”
“Not at all. It’s an honor to help rescue the victims even a little.”
Lieutenant Colonel Bernard was sincere.
“So, what’s the reason for coming?”
“We received a contact from the 7th Fleet,” Bernard reported.
And it wasn’t welcome news.
“They claim yesterday’s unannounced search was unfair, and that letting small misunderstandings escalate tarnishes the Navy’s honor.”
In other words, they refused to comply with today’s summons.
