chapter_0010

9 – I Will Refuse Lee Ji-seon

9 – I Will Refuse Lee Ji-seon

Why would the Imperial Princess be volunteering as a war correspondent deep in the battlefield?

Daniel felt a strong sense of incongruity, but soon put on a nonchalant expression and extended his right hand.

“Nice to meet you. I am Lieutenant Daniel Steiner, acting operations staff officer of the General Staff.”

If the Princess was hiding her identity on the Northern Front, there must be a good reason.

Repeatedly blurting out, “Aren’t you Her Highness the Princess?!” here would not end well.

Selvia observed Daniel intently before extending her hand in return.

“I’m Ravi Emilia, a war correspondent. Please, feel free to call me Ravi.”

Daniel nodded, ended the handshake, and released her hand.

He thought that he only needed to show the kind of courtesy one would show a war correspondent to avoid unnecessary suspicion.

“Then, now…”

Daniel said, looking at Heinz.

“Could you explain the outline of the operation?”

He said it to change the subject because the Princess’s gaze was burdensome.

However, from Heinz’s perspective, Daniel, asking about the operation’s outline before even settling down, seemed like a real hard case.

‘He’s not someone to be trifled with after all.’

Thinking so, Heinz nodded and turned around.

“Follow me. I’ll explain the mission briefly.”

Following Heinz into the tent, the first thing that caught his eye was a table with an operational map laid out on it.

Soldiers were sitting in front of radios along the wall, waiting for communications.

Next to it, on a blackboard, was a picture of a high-ranking Allied Nations figure, with detailed personal information and recent movements written below the picture.

As Daniel looked at the blackboard, Heinz began to speak.

“He’s the adjutant to the Allied Nations Northern Front Corps Commander. His rank is Colonel, and his name is Jeremy Stringer. He’s the enemy we need to assassinate in this mission.”

Daniel turned his gaze, looking at Heinz with a questioning expression.

His face seemed to ask how they were going to assassinate such a high-profile figure who would be protected by numerous guards.

If Heinz were in his shoes, he would have had the same expression.

Heinz chuckled softly and said.

“As you know, the Northern Front was formed when the Eldresia Kingdom joined the Allied Nations. Those ignorant barbarians invaded the Empire’s territory with three divisions.”

“But the Imperial Army did not retreat.”

“Indeed. Gloriously, we overwhelmed the Allied Nations and recovered most of the lost territory. In the process, the enemy’s leaders retreated en masse, but some remained to fight.”

Heinz’s point was clear.

“A delaying tactic, I presume.”

Heinz nodded at Daniel’s words.

“I don’t want to praise the enemy, but it was a brilliant choice. Thanks to Colonel Jeremy’s stalling, the Allied Nations leadership on the Northern Front was able to retreat without significant losses. On the other hand, he became isolated.”

Heinz chuckled softly.

It was a laugh close to derision.

“Colonel Jeremy seems to be clever but not brave. After confirming that the leadership had escaped, he decided to retreat himself instead of fighting to the death.”

“A rat, through and through.”

“Indeed. As you said, recently, that rat sent out soldiers on the scale of two battalions for combat, then slipped away to the rear with a company-sized escort.”

The Central Intelligence Agency had detected this and issued orders to Heinz, who was operating on the front lines.

“To summarize the orders from above: Set a mousetrap on the rat’s escape route, wait, and then assassinate him. Do you understand?”

It was simple and clear, so even a fool could understand.

To get to the main point, Daniel opened his mouth.

“Then, what are the expected escape routes?”

As if he had been waiting for it, Heinz picked up a pointer and pointed to the operational map on the table.

The likely escape routes were marked in red pen.

“The first route is the Drockenberg Highlands. The high altitude and sparse population make it easy to avoid pursuit, and unless he can use the roads, moving through the highlands is the fastest way to return to the Allied Nations.”

Thump. Heinz pointed to another location.

“The second expected route is to cross the northwestern highlands and enter the snow-capped mountains. If he bypasses Lake Aldera and hides in the jungle, aerial reconnaissance will be impossible, making it ideal for moving in secret.”

Having finished his explanation, Heinz put away the pointer.

“Unfortunately, we have to choose one of the two likely routes to lie in wait. If we split our forces, the chances of missing Jeremy increase.”

Which route do you think Jeremy will take? Daniel stroked his chin and stared intently at the operational map at Heinz’s words and actions, which seemed to be testing him.

‘Wait a minute. This…’

Isn’t this an opportunity to be dishonorably discharged?

‘If I offer a completely different opinion and then ruin the operation for all to see, my performance review will definitely plummet. And if I prove my incompetence in front of the Princess…’

Dishonorable discharge confirmed! It felt like a fanfare was erupting in his head.

Daniel, secretly smiling, shook his head while feigning seriousness.

“In my opinion, Colonel Jeremy will not choose either route.”

Silence fell in the tent, thanks to Daniel denying his superior Heinz’s opinion head-on.

Selvia, who had been watching their conversation nearby, looked at Daniel with interest.

However, Heinz only frowned, feeling puzzled.

“Can you explain exactly what you mean?”

“Yes. In my opinion, Jeremy will escape through the Edelkrall Canyon.”

“…The Edelkrall Canyon? Don’t talk nonsense. That’s where mines were laid at the beginning of the war to stop the Allied Nations’ advance. Jeremy is aware of that.”

Daniel raised his head and looked at Heinz.

“Because it’s an absurd method, Jeremy will choose the Edelkrall Canyon. Do you think he doesn’t know that he can only survive by exploiting the Empire’s weaknesses?”

His confident demeanor made Heinz feel momentarily intimidated.

However, Heinz had no intention of indulging Daniel’s recklessness.

“Lieutenant. The Imperial Army values rationality. The Special Mission Unit is not so idle that it can indulge your gamble.”

“If that is the order of the commanding officer, Captain Heinz, I will accept it. However, you must be prepared.”

“…Prepared for what?”

At Heinz’s question, Daniel said without batting an eye.

“Even if I temporarily belong to the Special Mission Unit, I am, after all, operating a unit directly under headquarters. If Colonel Jeremy is missed due to Captain Heinz’s judgment, I will have no choice but to report this fact to the General Staff.”

Heinz could not help but feel intimidated by Daniel, who was saying that the General Staff was watching him.

Indeed, Daniel was someone who knew how to wield his background appropriately.

Heinz groaned softly and barely opened his mouth.

“Lieutenant. You shouldn’t speak so lightly. If he doesn’t come to the Edelkrall Canyon, how are you going to take responsibility?”

“I am willing to accept any punishment. Also…”

Daniel paused for a moment before speaking.

“Please allow me to lie in wait in the Edelkrall Canyon with only my squad.”

“…Are you saying that you will defeat Jeremy’s company with a single squad?”

“Yes. Due to the long battles on the Northern Front, Jeremy’s company is currently suffering from low morale and has reached its physical limits. If we add the terrain characteristics to that, my squad will be able to defeat them sufficiently.”

According to Daniel, it was possible to divide the unit into two and lie in wait in two places simultaneously.

Heinz, looking at Daniel’s confident eyes, turned to look at Selvia.

Selvia, who had been smiling with interest, nodded, and seeing this, Heinz frowned and permitted Daniel’s recklessness.

“Alright. If you say so much, I will grant you permission for the operation. When the time is right, take your squad and lie in wait in the Edelkrall Canyon.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Daniel saluted perfunctorily, turned, and left the tent.

Only then did he feel as if the air that had been constricting his breath had eased.

‘That snake-like bastard…’

As he stared at the entrance of the tent that Daniel had left, Selvia, who was nearby, began to speak.

“Captain Heinz. What kind of person do you think Daniel is?”

Heinz turned his gaze and bowed his head.

“Your Highness. In my opinion, he is an excellent soldier. He seems to have outstanding independent judgment, as well as decisiveness and courage. However, I cannot see him as an excellent human being.”

In Heinz’s view, Daniel had almost no respect for others.

To carry out an operation with only his squad? It seemed like he only wanted to monopolize the credit.

A devil who drives himself and his subordinates to ruin for the sake of promotion.

That was the extent of Heinz’s impression of him.

“Therefore, I ask that Your Highness reconsider trying to make Lieutenant Daniel Steiner an ally. That man is someone who does not know how to respect others. In my experience, such people do not have good endings.”

Heinz advised with all sincerity, but it only stimulated Selvia’s interest.

“Captain Heinz. There are no dogs or humans in this world that cannot be tamed.”

Selvia’s eyes narrowed softly as she looked at the spot where Daniel had left.

“Also, I will see and judge for myself whether he has no respect for others.”

*

The next day, Edelkrall Canyon.

‘It’s cold…’

I shivered on the cliff above the canyon.

Even though I was wearing an officer’s winter coat, I felt the chill penetrating my clothes.

‘I want to ruin the mission and go back to headquarters quickly…’

I secretly sniffled and turned to look at Frien, who was monitoring the canyon through binoculars, and Selvia, who was sitting on a fallen log.

The rest of the squad members were each concealing themselves using snow and dry branches.

‘…But why did Selvia follow me?’

She was holding a Leica camera in her hand, as if she was going to continue playing the war correspondent, which, frankly, was absurd.

What war correspondent in the world dresses so neatly and walks around like that? Not only was the blouse she was wearing expensive, but so were her coat and pants.

She probably wears only those kinds of things on a regular basis, so she probably doesn’t even know that they’re expensive.

As I was thinking about how clumsy she was and looking at her, Selvia’s eyes met mine.

I could see that Selvia was about to say something, so I quickly turned my head and cleared my throat.

“Any sign of enemy movement?”

At my words, Frien shook his head.

“I don’t see anything, Lieutenant Daniel Steiner.”

Yeah. It’s only natural that you don’t see anything.

This is an operation area that I insisted on taking in the first place.

That means I came here aiming for a dishonorable discharge.

‘Why would Colonel Jeremy come here? Unless he’s crazy…’

Although it is possible to move secretly using the shaded areas due to the canyon’s characteristics, if they are ambushed from both cliffs, they will have to fight in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation.

Moreover, Colonel Jeremy also knows that the Imperial Army has laid mines in the canyon, so the probability of him coming here is even lower.

So my plan is a complete failure.

Not just a failure. It’s an operation that I obtained by semi-threatening the commanding officer, Heinz, so it’s only natural that I will receive strong criticism.

‘The Princess will even be witnessing my incompetence from the side, so it will be a truly complete failure.’

They say that crisis is an opportunity. I never thought that I would seize the chance for a dishonorable discharge on the Northern Front, where I came for an unwanted special promotion.

It was a satisfying situation that made me smile involuntarily.

“L, Lieutenant Daniel Steiner!”

Wondering what the fuss was about, I turned to look and saw Frien taking his eyes off the binoculars and looking up at me.

“Indeed! What you said was right, Lieutenant! The company led by Colonel Jeremy is entering the canyon!”

…Wait a minute, what?