My Students Regret It After I Retired

37 – Leos’s Innocence Becomes Known to Former Disciples

After confirming that Beline’s video had revealed the existence of the Dark Shadow Order, Keltazar, upon realizing the situation on InterRunner, spoke to a member of the Empire’s public opinion manipulation unit.

“The existence of the Dark Shadow Order is spreading on InterRunner. Can you stop it?”

The head of the opinion manipulation unit, Lekerass, shook his head in response.

“It’s impossible. There’s just too much data and documentation spreading right now. After internal verification, it turns out it’s all actual documents with slight alterations. No matter how we try to explain, it’s impossible to quell the controversy.”

Lekerass paused for a moment, considering, then spoke to Keltazar.

“But, it’s not as if there isn’t a way. We’ve already ordered our public opinion manipulation agents to counter and incite, in real-time, against the posts LEO…or rather, Leos, is making. The angle is that he’s spreading false information. But this is just a matter of time…I believe that there is a better method.”

“What other method would that be?”

“We’re dumping Belin. Public opinion always needs a target for blame. To manipulate the masses, you need someone to absorb the rage. In the current situation, Belin’s the perfect scapegoat. She’s the ideal candidate.”

“We were going to kill that b*tch because of this mess, though.”

“If we just kill her, wouldn’t they think we’re trying to silence her? It’s better to pin everything on Belin, the fact Leos was ousted, everything that’s happened.”

“What if she spills all the information she knows? Wouldn’t it be less risky just to kill her?”

“…”

Lekeras pulled out his distance device and, accessing the InterRunner site, showed the live posts appearing.

“See? Even classified documents about the Shadow Unit, previously considered top secret, are spreading like wildfire within the Empire. A few more words from that b*tch Belin won’t change anything. The only saving grace is that the general public doesn’t know what’s true and what’s false. The enemy knows it too, that’s why they’re editing existing documents, making us look even more monstrous.”

“…”

“So, the solution is simple. We admit to some things but pin the biggest responsibilities entirely on Belin. That’s how we avoid the worst. What are people most furious about right now? They’re rioting because we couldn’t handle the Red Gate vortex incident and even tried to annihilate them, right? We just say Belin was the one leading the charge on this.”

“Is that even possible?”

“We handled Leos fine, didn’t we? Even the Empire’s greatest Gatekeeper was powerless, had to rot in prison for three years. What’s a single grunt going to do?”

Keltazar smirked and nodded.

“Good. Thinking about it, that’s more helpful to the Empire than killing her. Dump all the problems and grudges on Belin.”

“I believe it’s the right thing to do. Belin absolutely cannot die right now. We have to make the people even more furious, make them blame her more. That way, we have time to prepare. That way, public anger against us will cool down a bit. In the current situation, we can’t blind the eyes of the people, the only option is to divert their attention.”

“Alright, I’ll bring Belin. And… any idea who leaked the information?”

“I have a hunch. The Empire’s Executioner Commander. The only one who could have all the leaked documents is the Executioner Commander. There are even signs they’ve been manipulating the public opinion somewhat. The Executioner Commander is skilled. They could easily manipulate public opinion on our level, and it makes sense they were able to leak the information.”

“You suspect the Executioner Commander, Rakarth… But Pharon, the Empire’s loyal dog, is always by his side. I’ve been getting his updates in real-time.”

“That…is the question. I doubt Pharon would betray us but…I can’t think of any other possibility.”

“I haven’t ruled out the possibility either. I did order an investigation, so let’s wait for that.”

As Keltazar remained silent for a moment, an InterRunner message arrived from a Shadow Unit member.

[Paron’s reported location and a search of the surrounding 10KM revealed that they were not there. It seems they gave us a false location report. Moreover, when pressed about the location being untraceable, they cut off contact.]

-BANG!

Keltazar punched the wall hard, blood trickling from his fist.

“That goddamn son of a b*tch…Not only Rakart, but Paron betrayed us too. It was him…it was him after all.”

Keltazar turned and roared.

“Brace yourselves, things are about to get busy. All the insect-like b*stards who betray and deceive the Empire will pay the price.”

*

Keltazar stood before Bellin and spoke.

“That shit you pulled, spreading the existence of the Shadow Unit, is unforgivable, even in death. Things are about to get very interesting. You will be an enemy of the entire Empire, a person who cannot live anywhere. There is no place left for you in this Empire.”

“K…Keltazar-nim…I…I’m not a traitor…you know, if I was going to betray the Empire, I wouldn’t be here, nor would I risk uploading the video to Interrunner.”

“I know. And I’ve already found the culprit. The insect-like b*stards who leaked the internal data have been identified, so I also recognize your innocence. But your sin is too great. For needlessly flapping your hands and mouth and causing the Shadow Unit’s identity to be exposed.”

“Leos…Leos is the one who revealed it! A person named LEO mentioned the Shadow Unit, and that’s Leos! I…It was Leos who revealed the Shadow Unit’s existence. I don’t know how he found out, but we need to resist him!”

“I know that too.”

Keltazar, as if there was nothing more to say, grabbed Bellin by the collar and started dragging her away. Bellin tried to resist, but Keltazar whispered with a chilling voice.

“Don’t resist, Bellin. I’m holding back as much as I can because I can’t have you dying. But you know if you keep doing this, I’ll have no choice but to kill you, right? Or maybe I could just cut off a few of your limbs and take you instead.”

Bellin stopped squirming. Keltazar never spoke idly. He was a man who truly followed through. Therefore, she ceased resisting.

-BANG!

Not long after, Keltazar threw Bellin into an empty room and left.

And several hours later, Keltazar came back into the room with a script.

“This is a script I ordered the public opinion manipulation unit to write. Read it exactly as it is written.”

Bellen stared blankly at the document. It detailed the ugly process of her driving out Leos, and on top of that, words confessing to crimes she didn’t even commit were written as if they were her own.

“I… I only drove out Leos because of orders from above. They told me to act if I wanted the elixir! The higher-ups and you, Keltazar, were the ones who ordered it, using the elixir as leverage! And why is it written here that *I* led the Redgate Whirlpool massacre plan…? I… I only found out about that plan later. What authority did I have? How could a low-ranking officer like me be involved in such a large-scale plan…? No… If I say this… How am I supposed to live? People everywhere in the Empire will try to kill me.”

Keltazar drew his sword and pointed it at Bellen, saying,

“It’s just the sacrifice of a few for the greater good, Bellen.”

“…What kind of nonsense is that!”

Tears streaming, Bellen looked at Keltazar. She knew it too. If she said this, it would be as good as dying. If she were abandoned in this situation, unable to use the Empire’s Shadow Guard, power, or anything else, what would happen? Her face, voice, even her identity all laid bare.

It was clear as day that hatred, accusations, and violence would follow. So, with unwavering resolve, Bellen resisted Keltazar. But with a single sentence, he silenced her.

“Bellen, why do you feel so wronged? Just like how you drove out Leos for the elixir, it’s your turn now. The only difference is, unlike you who acted for your own selfish desires, I’m doing this for the Empire.”

Keltazar threw the script in front of Bellen and whispered again,

“Read it. And confess your sins to the world yourself.”

“I can’t…”

“You have family.”

Bellen’s eyes instantly shot toward Keltazar.

“…”

When she didn’t say anything, Keltazar smirked and whispered,

“Bellen, have you forgotten your only remaining sibling? What do you think will happen to him if you reject my offer?”

Bellen’s arms trembled as she picked up the script.

“I… I’ll read it. So, don’t touch him.”

“We’ll see.”

Bellen glared at Keltazar with a furious expression and added,

“Touch my sister, and you die.”

-THWACK!-

Keltazar, having kicked Belin squarely, watched her fly back before speaking.

“Arrogant b*tch. But I’ll make you one promise. If you just do your job right, things won’t be at their worst. From our perspective, we need you taking the brunt of public rage for a good long while.”

“Cough…”

Belin coughed up blood, agonizing for a long moment.

“One hour. You decide what to do with it.”

Keltazar was gone from the room.

Belin stayed there, dazed, for some time, before slowly picking up the script. Then, following its words, she recorded a video of herself reading it, and uploaded it.

Belin’s confession, spread by Interrunner, and the false charges she had willingly taken on, began to spread across the entire Empire.

“Enas…Enas…!”

Sirna, trembling, looked at Enas. Enas rushed to her, asking anxiously.

“What…what is it, Sirna?”

Tears streaming, Sirna pointed to the Interrunner.

“Leos…Lord Leos…”

She slowly watched the video that had been uploaded. Belin’s confession.

“Ah…”

Leos’s innocence began to reach even his former students.