Try Begging - Chapter 143.1
It was a night meant for singing songs to commemorate the last day of the year. However, in the Witheridge Detention Center, chilling screams echoed through the corridors until late at night.
“It’s tedious. I’m bored.”
One of the officers, who had been playing cards at a round table in the first-floor lounge, stood up and turned up the radio volume. The voice of a singer, as if tearing through the throat, finally drowned out the screams, and the expressions of the four officers relaxed a bit.
Due to an emergency declared during the holiday season, the officers, who could not return to their hometowns, were on duty. They were all from the Northern Command. Officers from the Western Command had taken over the lounge in the basement, where the interrogation rooms were located.
There was a subtle tension between the two commands lately, fueling an uneasy atmosphere among the officers. The Northern Command had been criticized for not properly monitoring its jurisdiction, allowing the rebels’ stronghold to remain hidden in the North for decades.
Meanwhile, the Western Command was wary of the North’s active involvement, fearing they might steal the glory.
It was all too familiar a story.
Soon, the radio transitioned from music to a discussion of current affairs.
[ To our listeners and surely to the Rochester royal family, there could be no more thrilling Christmas gift. ]
[ Indeed, it wouldn’t be. ]
Camden’s vampire had become the hero of Christmas. While it was supposed to be a week praising the Savior, it was all praise for Winston.
This was just as boring as the screams.
No one bothered to change the channel as the situation would likely be the same elsewhere, not just on the radio but in newspapers and magazines everywhere, which continued to prominently feature the suppression of the Blanchard rebels for over a week.
Today’s newspaper on the table featured ‘Little Jimmy’ in a prison uniform on the front page, with headlines proclaiming that the face of the devil had finally been revealed. In truth, that was his face right after the arrest, and he looked very different now—a fact unknown to the public.
Looking down at the glossy face of the captain beside it, an officer scoffed.
“Give it a few months, and there will be a movie about it.”
“I can already see the poster. The title will be something like ‘The Miracle of Christmas.'”
As the officers shuffled their cards and exchanged casual chatter, the conversation on the radio continued.
[ You might think the royal family is preparing a gift for Captain Winston, but what do you think, professor, who used to cover the royal family? ]
[ Actually, it’s an old story, but Major Richard Winston, oh, he was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, so it should be Lieutenant Colonel. There was public regret that the Lieutenant Colonel wasn’t granted a title when he died in action. ]
[ Everyone is paying close attention to see if the Winston family will finally reclaim a title this time. We’ve been flooded with postcards and calls to the station today. Naturally, everyone is mentioning a promotion or a title. ]
[ We’ve heard through royal sources that it’s pretty much a done deal. I’m thinking of keeping a secret, but I’m revealing this for the first time here today… ]
[ Oh, this is exciting. ]
[ There’s a rumor that the King’s New Year’s speech has been hastily revised to include this issue. Everyone is expecting a surprise announcement of a title award. ]
“Quicker than expected…”
“You can’t ignore public opinion.”
“New Year’s speech… a perfect stage for a grand show.”
Everyone smirked. It was evident that the king was coveting the attention focused on Captain Winston. While this week had been a festival of praise for Winston, the media’s adulation would be split between Winston and the king starting tomorrow.
The granting of a title wasn’t a foregone conclusion until just now, but a promotion had already been accepted as fact within the military.
“He’s too young for a captain, and now he’ll be wearing a Major’s insignia.”
There were still ongoing investigations, yet the Western Command had requested Captain Winston’s promotion, which was approved by Army Headquarters.
His achievements in wiping out the base and capturing its leader were sufficient grounds for promotion. Thus, there would have been no disagreement at headquarters.
“Initiating an operation during Christmas week…”
It was at a time when everyone else was taking leave and heading home. It was an enormous disruption.
“When I first heard, I thought they were out of their minds. To think that the higher-ups approved it, it was unbelievable.”
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