Saga of Levi the Just

Chapter 13

Parasii, Republic Of Francois

Several defensive lines and positions had been set around the capital. The people were being evacuated to the shelters. Joan watched as the Imperial forces stood outside the city, waiting for the order to attack. Right now, negotiations were going on. With any luck, the terms would be reasonable and this war would be over. With Bientôt now dead, the Republican forces were in disarray, lost any hope of winning, and have absolutely nothing against the Empire to fight back with to counterattack with. As far as she was concerned, there was no hope in beating the Empire now that they have broken through the Rhine. The Empire made sure that none interfere with the conflict here. The negotiations were being held over by the consulate on the edge of town. She watched as the Flying Fortress of the Empire looked over by the edge. It was big, really big. She felt uneasy just by looking at the gigantic blimp armed with guns all over it. It was a literal flying death machine, a symbol of the Empire's superiority over those it considered its enemies.

The 203rd were put in charge of protecting the ship. Levi watched as the Imperial forces were going into formation.

'They're all fools.' Levi thought, 'They must join the Empire if they even have a chance at living.'

"I see you seem serious about all of this." Tanya said as she walked over.

"Well Major, look at it. A beaten dog that doesn't know when to quit. That's all I see over there." Levi said, "It's funny that they think they have a chance if they hold out. They're afraid, they just won't admit it. Their fear over our dominance has made them resilient to their fear of death. They rather die than be put under our foot."

"Yes... that seems right." Tanya said, "Do you think that the world will ever leave us alone? After this, will we ever get to live a peaceful life?"

"I don't know. I just don't know." Levi admitted, "All I can say is that I hope they make these negotiations quick. If the negotiations fail, we're just gonna have to tear the place down."

"Looks that way." Tanya said.


Imperial-Republic Negotiation Consulate

Negotiations were getting gritty. The treaty proposed by the Empire demanded that the Republic Of Francois was to disarm and cease hostilities while the Empire offered to help reconstruct the Republic while leaving the border being the newly conquered territory in the Rhine. Both sides had an issue about this treaty as Imperial generals didn't trust Republic with a military that would rebuild itself while the Empire had already streatched itself out from fighting with the Entente Alliance. The Republic on the other hand didn't trust the Empire after the list of atrocities they had done in Aren and the loss of life in the Rhine Front after what had happened.

The Republic proposed a treaty in which both sides would back off and that the Rhine be split in two and that the Empire would help in reconstruction and that both sides would lower the amount of military power they both had. Like the treaty before, it met opposition from both sides since one or the other could not trust each other with lower military power, especially the Empire. The chances of an invasion by the Allied Kingdom and the Unified States was likely after what had happened.

Negotiations were beginning to loosen up. Not only that, the pressure was just unbearable. Guards were surrounding the Consolate to keep trouble out, but at the way things are going, the consulate may be attacked by a Republican spy or that one of their own might get the first chance to gut the Republican Prime Minister in cold blood.

Zetour looked a bit nervous during the negotiations as did Pierre. Both of them eyed each other. The debates seemed silent to them as if they vanished along with the others in the consulate. They could both tell what was going to happen. At the rate things were going, peace was becoming less and less likely.


Outskirts of Parasii

Levi watched as things seemed like a stand-off. He felt nervous as well. He could tell that Being X is going to do something to even up what he and Tanya had done. He wants the cycle of conflict to go on. Levi watched as the artillery guns were being loaded.

"Well Major, I guess Being X won't give it a rest." Levi said, "I feel as if he's gonna do something in these negotiations and pull a fast one on us."

"Like what?" Tanya said.

"I don't know. I just know he's gonna do something to-"

Suddenly, an explosion occurred at the consulate.

"I knew it." Levi said.

"Well, Guess we'll have the others stay back while-"

Levi dove straight towards the consulate. Tanya looked at him with a grumpy look.

"I hate it when he does that." Tanya said.

Tanya followed close behind and tapped into her communicator.

"Viktoriya, have the battalion maintain formation, me and Levi will look for survivors." Tanya said.

"R-Right!" Viktoriya said.

"Who in the hell fired a shot?!" Joan asked.

"We don't know madam! We're trying to find the culprit!" A Republican Mage said.

'Damnit!' Joan thought.


Imperial-Republican Consulate

Levi got to the counsulate and quickly began looking for survivors. He looked through the wrecked halls for any sign of anyone who may have survived the blast. He went the room where the negotiations were going on and broke the door down. He saw that the diplomats from both the Empire and the Republic were dead. The explosion burnt their bodies and the shrapnel had gutted through their vital organs. He soon found Zetour, who was bleeding from the scalp and was bleeding on his left shoulder and abdomen. He rushed over to the General.

"Hey! Old man! Get up!" Levi said as he shook the General.

Zetour wasn't moving. Levi checked for a pulse. The General was barely holding on. He needs medical attention as soon as possible. Levi tapped his communicator.

"Der Kaiser! Get a medical team on standby, I'm getting General Zetour out of here!" Levi said, "Inform Steiner at once!"

"Vice Commander! Respond!" Tanya said.

"Commander! The diplomats are dead. I'm not sure about De Lugo." Levi said, "I don't know who did this, all that matters is that someone definitely targeted the consulate to try to gut the General and the diplomats."

"Damn! Go and get him out, I'll meet you outside." Tanya said.

Levi lifted the General on his back and began to fly out of the consulate. Outside the consulate was a dog. It watched as Levi flew out. Levi looked back to try to assess everything from where he was now and saw the dog looking at him.

'A dog? What's a dog- oh goddamnit!' Levi thought, 'You really want to do this don't you?'

"You challenged me, a God, What did you expect?" Being X spoke.

"That you'd lie down and stop wasting everyone's time." Levi said, "What is wrong about being an atheist?! I'm pretty sure anyone can choose their own religion and whether or not they want to believe that God ever existed. Why can't you accept that?!"

"Because I am the one who brought humanity enlightenment, peace and order, I rule the universe, if not the world. And you wish to make me bow before you, usurp my throne, and take the power god for yourself." Being X said.

"You can not be serious about this right now. You had multiple chances to intervene in the Holy Crusades. And you did nothing! You literally just sat there and did nothing!" Levi said, "If I ever wanted to believe in God, maybe you could have ended the war at any time you wished, but no! You want to let it drag on so that you'd break me, but guess what? I'm not gonna fall for whatever you tell me to do!"

"Insolent child." Being X said, "I only interfere when necessary, but you forced my hand now. If I were you, I'd focus more on putting an end to this war quickly or else the whole world will come crashing down."

Levi turned away and continued to fly away. Tanya flew towards him and stopped.

"Zettour is hurt, I couldn't find De Lugo anywhere." Levi said.

"You don't think he's dead, right?" Tanya asked.

"Why do you seem concerned for him?" Levi asked.

"Because if he's dead, good, maybe they'll surrender unconditionally and that's that." Tanya said, "That or we just got the world aiming every gun at us."

Levi flew up with Tanya following him.

Joan looked everywhere for Pierre. She just hoped he wasn't dead. The girl found his hand under the rubble and tried to lift the rubble off of Pierre, who could still be alive.

"Come on Damnit..." Joan swore as she tried to lift with her legs.

Frederick arrived and began helping her lift the debris off. They got the debris off Pierre and picked him up. They got him onto Frederick's mount.

"I'll take him to the hospital. You go search for clues milady." Frederick said as he flew up on his mount and got moving.

Joan decided to look for any clues on the culprit, or possibly what's left of the culprit, the ruined consulate. She looked through the debris, hoping to find some sort of clue. The girl noticed something was strange, it was as if something was watching her. She turned around and saw a dog glaring at her. It was white as snow.

'A dog?' Joan thought.

She thought of it as an ordinary dog and gathered any evidence. After gathering any possible evidence, she left to her stead and took off.


Der Kaiser, Medical Wing

"Will he be alright?" Levi asked.

"Yes, he'll make it. He hasn't woken up yet and I'm not sure if he ever will wake up. But at least he is alive and well." The doctor said.

"Good, at least Rudersdorf won't be breathing down our necks." Levi said.

"This is an unexpected and unfortunate turn of events, wouldn't you say?" A voice said.

Levi turned to see Steiner with a grim look.

"To think the Republicans would still hold onto their pride after all that had happened. I'm sure their government is in chaos." Steiner said, "We had evidence gathered from the scene of the crime and have deduced that someone intended on disrupting negotiations. I doubt the Republicans will let this go and pin the blame on us."

"And let's not forget that some of our men might pin the blame on them." Levi said, "The last thing we want is another fight. We already proved to them that we have surperior might over them. They fight us and we'll destroy the whole damn city."

"Sadly, you're right, we might end up fighting after all." Steiner said, "If anything, it could be a move by one of the world powers. The Allied Kingdom may have had a spy in the consulate and triggered a bomb in it, if the evidence supports the theory."

"Right." Levi said, "I'll tell the commander."

He left the medical wing and headed out to the hangar bay.


Hangar Bay

Levi found the Battalion checking their weapons. He found Tanya looking crossed. He went over to Tanya to see what had her angry.

"Those idiots..." Tanya said.

"What is it Commander?" Levi asked.

"Who do you think is going to take the blame for all of this?" Tanya asked.

"The blame? For this? I'm not sure. I'm sure the Republic will think we were the ones who did it." Levi said.

"Yeah... it might fall on us." Tanya said, "I don't even think the evidence will be relevant at this point."

"So it's possible someone did it to make it look like we did it." Levi said, "But who could they have they intentionally tried to assassinate the old man? I doubt the Republic has a reason to go on fighting anymore. If we were to continue fighting, the world itself could cave into a full scale world war."

"In that case, we'll have to further the investigation." Tanya said, "If the Republic finds evidence linking us to the crime, we'll end up having to fight a battle that's just meaningless."

"Then let's hope things don't escalate." Levi said, "And by the way, the old man is doing just fine. He'll live."

"That's a relief..." Tanya said, "We're heading out to investigate."

"Right." Levi said.

"Hold it." A voice said.

The two turned to see Steiner.

"I am in charge of the investigation. Operations has asked me to investigate more deeper into this incident. As commander of this operation, I am in charge of this investigation. You are to stay here and keep a lookout for enemy attack." Steiner said.

"What? You'd rather have your men investigate this incident? What if your men get nothing? We need proof that it wasn't us that did it." Levi said, "If the Republicans implicate the Empire with proof, it will no doubt trigger a chain of events that will lead to its downfall."

"My men will not fail. They are like hunting hounds. When I tell them to find evidence, they shall do so without failure." Steiner said, "I assure you, you don't need to be involved. My men will handle this investigation."

"You'd better be right. We are looking at World War here." Tanya said.

"Thank you two." The man said before leaving.

The two looked at each other.

"Well? Now what? We can't investigate since it'd go against orders." Levi said, "We'll just have to keep a look out. It's beyond our jurisdiction."

"That's not the only problem." Tanya said.

"Huh?" Levi asked.

"Remember the Manhattan Project?" Tanya asked.

"The US's development of nuclear weapons? Well yeah. But this is the 20s. We haven't even reached 1942 yet." Levi said.

"You're right. But what if there was an Einstein in this world?" Tanya asked.

"The Doc?" Levi asked.

"No, not the quack. An actual alternate Einstein in this world." Tanya said, "For all we know, he could possibly be aiding the Allied Kingdom or even the US in developing nuclear weapons."

"But what about the deterrence theory?" Levi asked, "As long as we don't attack them, they won't have to resort to nuclear weapons."

"But what about the loophole in the deterrence theory?" Tanya asked, "How do we know that they'll strike first?"

"Not unless the Doc quickly makes the V2 rockets. They are pretty much pseudo-ICBMs. They wouldn't attack us if we had those." Levi said, "All we have to do is make sure that they don't have any alternatives to the V2 Rockets."

"Oh you're right, but wrong all the same." Tanya said, looking away, "Even if we keep them from having alternatives, some could defect and leave the plans in the hands of the enemy."

Levi went silent. The possibility of nuclear weapons being developed in this world was something terrifying. He remembered back in his past life about playing games that either involved nuclear weapons, had symbolic messages about nuclear weapons and nuclear deterrence, and even weapons platforms that could utilize nuclear weapons to an extent. The danger such a thing is real. A horrible weapon like that would be developed at any moment in time, and should this war drag out, the horror that was as Tanya puts it would become a reality on its own.

"Go on without me, I'm going to make a call to Strategic Operations." Levi said.

"What for?" Tanya asked.

"I got a hunch that this was planned by Being X." Levi said, "He said to focus on ending the war before things get real nasty. I think the bastard might have a trick up his sleeve."


Strategic Operations HQ, Berun

"What the hell is going on over at the Western Front? I thought the negotiations were supposed to be over and done first thing after the Capital was besieged." Rudersdorf said in a fit of rage as he tried to light his cigar.

"Well the good news is that Zettour isn't dead." Erich said, "If he died, it would most certainly would have been a severe blow to morale considering his actions."

"I know I know. I heard it from Steiner." Rudersdorf said as he lit the lighter and hovered the flame to his cigar.

He put it in his mouth and breathed in. He puffed out smoke from his mouth before taking it out.

"Not only that, but the Allied Kingdom is about to get mixed up into this mess." Rudersdorf said, "They are demanding that they get involved in the negotiations. They are threatening to get involved in this war."

"But what about the Russy Federation? Don't you think that-"

"Who gives a damn about those Russy bastards? They're falling apart thanks to those damn communists." Rudersdorf said as he smoked his cigar, "If the Unified States has some backbone in wanting to protect 'democracy', why can't they help the Federation?!"

"You know as well as I do that the US wouldn't get involved." Erich said, tipping his glasses, "They wouldn't get involved in the war, they would only keep themselves from getting involved. They wouldn't risk economic collapse. Levi's report on the after effects of a dragged out war prove that if the economy is spent too much on war, the economy of country x will plummet and it would have to survive at least a decade or two before regaining full economic strength."

"In other words, they would rather keep their asses out of this." Rudersdorf said.

"Yes." Erich said, "There have been some people being opposed to the war as it was originally viewed as an act of self defense in response to the Norden Incident."

"But didn't the Entente claim that it was more of a hiking excercise?" Rudersdorf asked as he puffed out smoke.

"While yes that was true, the public thought it was just propaganda and thus they supported a retaliatory invasion." Erich said, "But now the people are wanting to end the war quickly as its original purpose was fulfilled and that the countries that disputed over the disputed areas have practically fallen."

Rudersdorf stopped. Erich did the same.

"Sir?" Erich asked.

"Do we have to let the Kingdom in?" Rudersdorf asked.

"Well I... We might as well get them involved and put this to an end." Erich said.

Rudersdorf smoked his cigar. He wondered just who the Kingdom would send to resolve the conflict. He wondered just what the terms would be. He kept wondering how long this war was going to last until it has been slammed and buried in a coffin.

"Rudersdorf! Brigadier General Rudersdorf!" A voice yelled.

Rudersdorf and Erich turned around to see a soldier running to them.

"It's Levi Blitzlowe on the western front!" The soldier said, "He's on the line from the Kaiser! He wishes to speak with you, it's urgent!"

"Erich, you go and get it, It's in my office. If it's important, then maybe he dug up something good from all of this. I have a meeting to attend to." Rudersdorf said.

"Me? But shouldn't-"

"Just do it." Rudersdorf said.

"R-Right..." Erich said as he began to walk with the soldier.


Der Kaiser

'Pick up goddamnit.' Levi thought as he crossed his fingers.

"Rerugen speaking." The phone said.

"Rerugen? Where is Rudersdorf?" Levi asked.

"He's at a meeting. He wanted me to answer it in his place. What is it that's important?" Erich asked.

"Well... has there been any sort of extremists within the Empire? Anyone against the war?" Levi asked.

"No. Only a few are against it. Other than that, there is no sign of any radicals if that's what you're talking about." Erich said, "Why are you-"

"Well I'm sorry General, but I have the feeling God just pulled the middle finger on us." Levi said, "Clearly he wants this war to go on."

"God? Surely you're jesting." Erich said with a serious tone.

"If that's the case, then explain why the Type 95 worked far beyond its original abilities?" Levi asked.

"Are you talking about how it gave your superior a boost?" Erich asked, "Didn't she-"

"Oh she did. But what I don't understand is why it worked as it did when all she did was offer a simple pray to God?" Levi asked.

"What?" Erich asked, "Are you saying God had done something to the 95?"

"Yes." Levi said, "That's how we managed to win against the Entente and Dacia, wasn't it?"

"Hold on, what are you-"

"And more importantly, she told me that she had a conversation with a nutcracker toy soldier that was also talking while she was there to test the 95. Don't you think that seems a little too strange if not delusional?" Levi asked, "More importantly, it kept exploding with every test up until after that night. And ever since then she prayed to God to get the most out of the 95. Hell I done it over at the Rhine and killed every enemy soldier while I was there."

"What the hell are you implying?" Erich asked.

"I'm saying that God clearly wants this war to go on. He's been back stabbing everyone in the back. He's just asking for people to worship him again just because he wants it. He doesn't give a damn if we end up dying." Levi said, "I'm not crazy, I'm just saying that if God wanted this war to go on, he needed to do the one thing he knows would spark conflict."

"And you're saying that this has something to do with all of this? What evidence do you have other than-"

"Trust me, God wants a World War. If we don't find a way to put this war 6ft under, we are all screwed." Levi said, "Just ask the Doc why it worked. I'm sure you'll be convinced."

There was silence on the phone. He knew Erich would either have to believe him or-

"Actually... you know what? You maybe right." Erich said, "Are you investigating or-"

"No, I was commanded by Steiner to remain on watch." Levi said, "Why are you-?"

Cli-Click

Levi went silent. Sweat ran slowly down from his head. His hands were shaking. His pupils shrunk. His breathing was slightly getting heavier.

"Blitzlowe? What's wrong? Blitzlowe?" Erich asked.

"Sorry sir, I think our times up. Sorry." Levi said.

"Wait! What's wrong? What's happening? Respond! What is-?!"

He put the phone on the down. And put his hands to the side.

"Let me guess, you planned this?" Levi asked.

"No. In fact I never planned any of this to begin with. God told you to leave the Republic in shambles, and in shambles you did." A familiar voice said, "Thanks to you, you and Degurechaff will be praised as heroes. It's a shame that those kids at the orphanage won't see you again."

"What? Those guys? Like I cared about them." Levi said, "What I want to know is why."

"Why what?" The voice asked.

"Why disrupt negotiations? The Republic will fall into economic collapse anyways. It doesn't matter what happens now. It is going to fall apart." Levi said, "If it's something you have against them, then just say it."

The voice didn't reply back. There was a silence.

"Let me guess, God put you up to this?" Levi asked, "Did God tell you to come and kill me for realizing his mistake? Or is it because he thought I met Satan?"

"That would be stupid." The voice said, "The truth is that there is no God. That's what you think, isn't it? You believe that God is just an illusion. A false memory implanted into our heads. Isn't that right?"

"So you're one of us then?" Levi asked.

The voice was silent.

"Have any memories about a life you once lived in? Memories of who you were once before?" Levi asked, "Come on, tell me why the hell are you here and get it over with."

The voice still refused to speak. The silence was slowly getting to Levi. His sweat kept running down from his head. He slowly began to close his eyes, knowing he was going to get shot. He felt what was the tip of a barrel of a gun pointing at the back of his hand.

The voice suddenly chuckled to Levi's surprise.

"You know, God really is sometimes the devil." The voice said, "But that doesn't matter anymore."

"Oh come on... I know it's you. Go on, pull the trigger, see what happens when someone finds my corpse down on the floor." Levi said.

"That's the idea." The voice said.

BANG!


Strategic Operations HQ, Berun

Rudersdorf and all the others of the General Staff stared in horror as Erich came in clutching his chest. Erich suddenly collapsed and the staff officers were quick to get to him and find out what was wrong with him. They moved his hand to see it was covered him blood and that he had a wound with blood seeping out. One of them quickly went to go and call a mage doctor while some of the others tended to Erich as to keep him alive. They applied pressure onto his wound and had brought a bottle of scotch and got a cloth. The cloth was wetted with scotch and was put on Erich's wound. Rudersdorf went outside to ask the staff about what happened.

One of them claimed to have heard a gunshot and rushed over to the source of the sound to see a suspicious person walking away with a gun. He was quickly knocked out before having the chance to recognize him. Another quickly said that he saw Erich come out coughing blood and wiping his mouth before everything went black. Rudersdorf wouldn't even smoke his cigar. It was as if he lost the will to do it.


Parasii, Republic Of Francois

Joan was surprised to see Frederick return as she was investigating the evidence the Empire handed over. She looked overjoyed to see him again.

"Frederick, what are you-?"

Frederick whipped out a pistol and pointed it at Joan.

"I'm sorry Commander, but Pierre De Lugo is dead. And you're to blame for it." Frederick said, "Him and the Prime Minister died in that explosion. High command is blaming you for this."

"Frederick... what are you saying? I would never-"

"DON'T MOVE!" Frederick said before firing his gun at the ground between her legs.

Joan froze up in terror. She couldn't believe this. She was framed. She had to be framed! She wouldn't kill the Prime Minister or De Lugo! She didn't do it! This was all madness! That bastard put a knife on her back.

"I thought you cared for this country, that you would risk every and anything to protect it, but I guess now I'm wrong, aren't I?" Frederick asked as tears were flowing from his eyes, "We had a chance at peace and you blew it!"

"I would never do no such a thing!" Joan exclaimed.

"LIAR! ADMIT IT! YOU KILLED THEM BOTH!" Frederick screamed.

"Frederick! Stop! Someone has been lying to you!" Joan said.

"Where's the proof?!" Frederick yelled.

Joan went silent. She didn't have a straight answer for it.

"If you know it wasn't you, then prove it." Frederick said, "Prove to me that you loved this country and its people."

"I would die for this country. Even the Devils of the Rhine knew it. They would have done just the same. They would have rather end this war then let it continue. Please Frederick, I am forever loyal to the country and people rather than myself and my own interests." Joan said.

"Then you killed them because you wanted our people to live in 'peace' under the boot of the enemy?" Frederick asked.

"No. Never would I allow my people to be used as tools." Joan said, "If you really think that I am guilty of murder, then shoot me in my heart."

She closed her eyes, waiting for a bullet to hit her heart. She was willing to die for her country and people. She would do anything for it, even if it meant throwing her pride away. If this were to be her end, she would face it head on. Frederick pointed the gun at her and closed his eyes.

BANG!