chapter_0052

51 – Count Khaled is on Guard

51 – Count Khaled is on Guard

After finishing breakfast and completing his tasks, Daniel Steiner returned to his hotel room, humming a tune.

The thought of being able to leave behind his perilous life in the Empire made him feel good in many ways.

‘Now I don’t have to see Lucy, who’s trying to kill me, and I don’t have to worry about being sentenced to death in a war crimes trial.’

In addition, the risk of dying from a stray bullet on the battlefield would also disappear, making it a triple win.

With a soft smile on his face, Daniel opened the refrigerator in the kitchen and took out Roquefort cheese and ice.

The distinctive, strong aroma emanated from the Roquefort, also known as blue cheese.

‘Good. It’s well-aged.’

This was a cheese that the citizens had collected money to buy and give to Daniel as a gift when he left Nordia.

Since it was an expensive cheese, he had been trying to save it, but since he was about to leave the Empire anyway, there was no need to hesitate any longer.

After placing the cheese on the table, Daniel took out a supply of whiskey and a glass from the shelf.

Likewise, Daniel placed the glass on the table, added a small amount of ice, and lightly poured the whiskey.

The sunset-like color of the whiskey filled about half of the glass.

It felt a little wasteful to have to eat this expensive cheese with supply whiskey, but in the battlefield, this was as good as a luxury, so he had no complaints.

Pushing the whiskey bottle aside, Daniel picked up the glass and walked towards the window.

He wanted to take a sip while looking at the scenery outside.

‘But what should I do if I succeed in defecting? Should I paint? I’ve always wanted to be a painter…’

After thinking for a while, Daniel shook his head.

‘Unless I become a first-rate painter, painting won’t make money. Then baking? I helped the headmaster make bread a few times in my hometown. I was praised quite a bit for having talent back then…’

As Daniel was planning his life, he walked to the window and looked down outside.

In the square below the hotel, many soldiers were coming and going as usual.

However, the difference from usual was that the soldiers moving under the light of the streetlights seemed more energetic today for some reason.

‘…Is something going on?’

Curious, he kept watching, and those who appeared to be low-ranking soldiers began running around and delivering messages.

The officers and senior soldiers who heard the soldiers’ words exchanged a few words and soon burst into cheers.

Then, some soldiers pointed to the 7th floor of the hotel where Daniel was staying and suddenly saluted.

The salute that one or two people gave began to spread like an epidemic.

They all smiled and saluted Daniel, and some lower-ranking officers also followed the soldiers’ actions.

Daniel, who was suddenly being saluted by hundreds of soldiers gathered in the square, was sweating.

‘What is it?’

He didn’t understand.

No, to be precise, he didn’t want to understand.

Daniel picked up the glass of whiskey and took a light sip to calm his unknown fear.

‘No way. It can’t be…’

Just as he was trying to calm himself down as much as possible and desperately denying reality.

Knock knock—

A polite knock was heard, and a voice came from outside.

“Major Daniel Steiner! Are you in there? I’m the commander’s aide!”

Why is it that ominous premonitions never fail?

Daniel raised his hand and wiped his face once, placed the glass of whiskey on the nearby table, and walked towards the door.

Taking a deep breath, he opened the door, and Lieutenant Colonel Kalpren was standing there.

“…Lieutenant Colonel Kalpren. What brings you here at this hour?”

Kalpren smiled kindly at Daniel’s question.

“I came to tell you good news. The Kingdom has accepted your proposal!”

“Excuse me? My proposal, you mean…”

“They have agreed to all of the Empire’s existing negotiation proposals, and have even offered to cede Wegenheim in addition to Nordia! It’s truly a tremendous achievement!”

Kalpren burst into hearty laughter, but Daniel was just confused.

‘…Why?’

Why are the guys who rejected all three negotiations in the game and went to the bitter end now raising the white flag like scared dogs?

‘Even though I told them all the second-class secrets to make it advantageous for them, they still raised the white flag?’

While racking his brain in an unknown situation, Daniel clenched his fist without realizing it.

‘…Could it be that there was a gap in information?’

If the Kingdom’s army did not properly understand the troop strength and combat power of the Empire’s corps, then telling them the secrets may have become a kind of threat.

However, in order for a gap in information to occur, it would be necessary not only to intentionally paralyze the Kingdom’s intelligence agency, but also to spread false information to create a smokescreen.

At least the Empire had never done such a thing.

They had succeeded in seizing the Kingdom’s communication network, but they had not spread false information.

In the first place, it was the Empire that wanted the Kingdom to be afraid and accept the armistice negotiations.

There was no need to deliberately spread false information and give the Kingdom a reason to reject the negotiations.

‘Then…’

It means that the Allied Nations were manipulating the Kingdom from behind.

Instead of simply wanting the Kingdom to lose, they took measures to endure the Empire’s attacks as much as possible, causing bleeding and death in any way possible.

‘Damn it.’

He never knew that the Allied Nations were so systematically manipulating the Kingdom.

Daniel’s eyes sank as he realized that the plan had been twisted.

Kalpren couldn’t help but be surprised at the sight.

‘Even though I told him that he had made a great contribution, he is surprisingly calm.’

Kalpren was ashamed of himself when he saw Daniel’s appearance.

‘Well, even if the Kingdom has been subjugated, the Empire is still at war with the Allied Nations. If an officer who has to lead the soldiers is foolishly happy, it will not be a model for the military…’

Indeed, it was Daniel Steiner, called the hero of the Empire.

Kalpren cleared his throat once and opened his mouth with a rather serious attitude.

“Excellent mission, Major Daniel Steiner. Now that the mission is complete, I will prepare for you to return to the Imperial City.”

“…Thank you.”

“We should be the ones thanking you. Oh, and one more thing, His Imperial Majesty wants to see you.”

Daniel looked at Kalpren in embarrassment.

“His Imperial Majesty, you say?”

“Yes. Thanks to you, the war with the Kingdom, which could have turned into a long-term war, was ended early. His Majesty must be very pleased.”

Kalpren said it to mean congratulations on opening the way to success, but Daniel was just troubled.

He was worried that if he caught the Emperor’s eye, he might get caught up in the upcoming succession battle.

However, since he was in a position where he couldn’t show it, Daniel gave an awkward smile.

“Then I would be very honored.”

“It’s good to see you smile. Yes. You must have had a hard time, so get some rest today.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Kalpren nodded once and slowly moved his feet.

Daniel watched Kalpren go down the hotel stairs and closed the door.

Daniel, who was holding the doorknob for a while, suddenly shouted.

“Why!”

Daniel turned around and shouted as he walked to the table.

“Why are you doing this to me!? Why can’t I be happy!”

Daniel, who was expressing his anger that had nowhere to go, grabbed the whiskey bottle.

Daniel, who was about to throw it away, regained his composure and put the bottle down.

‘I have to drink the alcohol.’

He couldn’t vent his anger on the precious alcohol.

Daniel sighed lowly, sat in a chair, and poured the remaining alcohol in the whiskey glass into his mouth.

The alcohol is bitter.

‘I was definitely happy just a moment ago…’

Daniel, who had forcibly buried his dreams of becoming a painter and baker in his heart, picked up the whiskey bottle and poured another glass of alcohol.

It seemed like he would have to drink a lot today.

*

At the same time, Edria, a permanent member of the International Allied Nations.

“Count Caledra! What are you doing!?”

Caledra stormed into the audience chamber of the palace with his private soldiers.

Caledra himself was also wearing a pistol on his waist.

It was a direct violation of the law that weapons should not be carried in the audience chamber.

However, Caledra walked towards the king sitting on the throne without blinking an eye.

A dull noise was heard each time Caledra tapped his cane on the floor as he walked.

Caledra bowed lightly to the king, who was groaning while holding tightly to the armrest of the throne.

“Your Majesty. Please forgive my rudeness. However, time was of the essence, so I had no choice but to ignore the basic procedures and come here.”

“Caledra! Is that what you should be saying in front of His Majesty!?”

One of the ministers in the audience chamber pointed at Caledra and raised his voice.

Caledra, as if annoyed, took a deep breath and turned to look at the minister.

Sharp eyes like a snake flashed with murderous intent.

“I clearly said that time was of the essence.”

Don’t interfere.

Because of Caledra’s words, the minister had no choice but to clench his hands and swallow hard.

Caledra, who had silenced the minister, looked up at the king again.

“Your Majesty. With the help of the Central Intelligence Agency, I have searched for and annihilated the shameless people who were trying to plot a rebellion. I think Your Majesty should also see their disgusting faces.”

At Caledra’s signal, a soldier next to him took a step closer to the king and opened the entrance to the box he was holding in his hand.

“……!”

At the same time, not only the king but also the ministers widened their eyes in surprise.

What was in the box was a human head.

It was also the head of the minister who had been criticizing Caledra all day long and arguing that the royal authority should be strengthened.

He was also a minister who was preparing to assassinate Caledra under the king’s secret orders.

Caledra turned his gaze to the head in the box and expressed his condolences by placing his hand on his chest.

“What a pitiful and foolish person. This man was plotting a rebellion. He was secretly raising soldiers without Your Majesty’s knowledge.”

Everyone here knew that Caledra’s words were a lie.

But no one pointed out Caledra’s words.

Caledra, who enjoyed the heavy silence for a while, turned to look at the king.

Caledra soon erased his smile and frowned fiercely.

“If there is anyone who commits such disgraceful acts in the future!”

Caledra shouted as if scolding and slammed his cane on the floor.

Just as everyone was trembling with fear, Caledra said in a chilling voice.

“…Everyone will follow the same path. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty.”

At Caledra’s words, the king sitting on the throne felt a chill and slowly nodded.

Caledra, who saw the sight, took one foot back and bowed his head.

The hand that was not holding the cane was elegantly extended to the side, which was the royal court etiquette.

However, only Caledra’s eyes were fiercely glaring at the king.

Caledra, who had finished his greetings, turned around and walked out without even receiving the king’s permission.

Each time he moved his feet, the mud on his shoes was imprinted inside the audience chamber.

Caledra, who left the audience chamber as it was, left the palace.

As many soldiers followed, the deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency, who was waiting at the entrance of the palace, approached Caledra.

When Caledra cast his gaze, the deputy director bowed his head and said.

“Your Excellency. According to intelligence, the Eldresia Kingdom has accepted the Empire’s negotiations.”

A crack appeared on Caledra’s face, which had been cold all along.

“……Why.”

The deputy director hesitated for a moment before answering.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Eldresia Kingdom changed his mind after having a meeting with Major Daniel Steiner. The details of what was discussed at the meeting are unknown. However…….”

The deputy director, who was watching Caledra’s reaction, continued.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs said that Major Daniel Steiner told him to ‘inform the Allied Nations that the Eldresia Kingdom has been subjugated’.”

The hand holding the handle of the cane tightened.

‘Arrogant…….’

But it was arrogance befitting the ability he possessed.

Caledra was somehow reminded of his younger days by Daniel.

‘Daniel Steiner was a bigger figure than I thought…….’

Caledra, who was thinking over and over about how to treat him, moved his feet.

“Tell Lucy to accelerate the operation. He is a quick-witted and meticulous person. If you don’t build trust, even Lucy will be in danger of being discovered.”

The deputy director, who answered by bowing his head, stepped back.

Afterwards, Caledra got into the back seat of the sedan that had been waiting in advance and took a breath.

Caledra, who took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blood on his cheek once, quietly muttered.

“Daniel Steiner…….”

Perhaps, he might become a more troublesome opponent than the Emperor of the Empire.

Author’s words (Author’s afterword)

Thank you to the anonymous sponsor for 20 coins! I’m glad you enjoyed it! I will do my best to write interesting stories in the future! Thank you!

There were many comments asking for consecutive chapters…

I can’t do consecutive chapters, but I’ve prepared a big bowl of rice!

I hope you enjoy it!

Oh, and you will be able to see Lucy’s illustration, which is not AI, in the near future!

Then have a nice day today and see you again tomorrow!