chapter_0064

63 – Acting to Survive

63 – Acting to Survive

Daniel Steiner left the General Staff Headquarters and headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

Having obtained prior permission from Princess Selvia, he was able to enter the Imperial Palace after a simple identity check.

With the help of a maid from the Inner Court, Daniel arrived in front of the Princess’s office and knocked on the door.

“Your Highness! This is Major Daniel Steiner!”

The door opened from the inside after he shouted loudly.

Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann, who was in charge of the chief security of the Royal Guards, stood holding the doorknob.

“Major Daniel. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Daniel nodded once and walked to the center of the office, offering a salute.

This brought a smile to Selvia’s face, who was sitting at her desk.

“Major Daniel! I was wondering when you would arrive…!”

Selvia, who had unknowingly raised her voice, paused and cleared her throat.

Even if she was happy to meet him, she thought she had to maintain her dignity as a princess.

“What brings you here?”

Her voice, now quite calm, settled gently inside the office.

Daniel lowered his hand and stood at ease.

“I have something urgent to tell you.”

As Daniel spoke, Hartmann closed the office door and stood next to Selvia.

Receiving their gazes, Daniel said.

“Before I explain the situation, I must say that I was not the one who attacked and neutralized His Highness the Prince’s private organization, Dawn’s Light. I wanted to correct this.”

At Daniel’s words, Selvia and Hartmann blinked quietly and nodded as if they understood.

“I understand. If any related questions come from outside, I will try to deflect them in that way.”

“I will also keep everyone quiet. I don’t want you to be in trouble.”

Judging from their reactions, it didn’t seem like they believed him at all.

Daniel wanted to plead that it really wasn’t him, but he didn’t think they would believe him even if he did, and he didn’t have time for that now.

So he decided to get straight to the point.

“Your Highness. Then I will tell you how I came to be here. First of all, are you aware that Security Agency police officers are roaming around the General Staff Headquarters?”

The atmosphere instantly turned heavy.

Selvia narrowed her eyes sharply and said.

“Duke Belvar’s doing, isn’t it? The old man maintains a good relationship with the Director of the Security Agency. But the fact that he’s unleashed Security Agency police officers in the General Staff Headquarters…”

It was good that she understood quickly.

Daniel nodded to indicate that her guess was correct.

“Duke Belvar is planning to accuse me of colluding with a spy.”

“…Why?”

“He’s trying to reverse public opinion. It was I, Daniel Steiner, who discovered the Prince’s private organization that was plotting a rebellion. But what would happen if it was revealed that Daniel Steiner was actually colluding with a spy?”

Hartmann, who had been listening to the story, groaned.

“They can claim that everything was a self-made drama by Daniel Steiner, who belongs to the Princess’s faction. They can condemn you, Major Daniel, as the rebel without any room for argument.”

Hartmann, inwardly admiring the old fox’s scheme, looked at Daniel.

“I understand your concerns. The Security Agency are the kind of guys who can create evidence out of nothing. If things go wrong, you, an innocent man, could be harmed.”

In fact, Daniel was aware that his adjutant was a spy due to complicated circumstances, but he couldn’t reveal the truth, so he simply nodded.

“It’s only a matter of time now. If the Security Agency issues an internal security surveillance warrant, I will be caught by them.”

At Daniel’s words, Selvia jumped up from her chair, flustered.

“That can’t happen! I will somehow stop such an outrage!”

Daniel gave a faint smile at Selvia’s reaction.

“I would be very grateful if you would do that. But a better way is to strike first before the worst situation occurs.”

“Strike first?”

Hartmann asked again with an interested expression.

“You seem to have a way to break through the situation?”

“That’s right. Currently, Duke Belvar is desperate to arrest me, even by borrowing the power of the Security Agency. What do you think this means?”

After a brief silence, Selvia answered.

“The old fox is afraid of you. If Daniel, you don’t find any evidence that you are colluding with a spy, you will face a backlash, but he still went ahead with it.”

“That’s correct. So I’m going to use the fear that Duke Belvar has of me. In addition, I will propose a kind of deal with information that only we know.”

“Major Daniel. I don’t quite understand, but what exactly do you mean by using Duke Belvar’s fear?”

The last question was from Hartmann.

Daniel paused for a moment before speaking.

“I’m going to act.”

Daniel’s eyes, looking at Hartmann, were filled with determination.

“The ‘worst Daniel Steiner’ that Duke Belvar is imagining.”

*

After explaining the outline of the operation, Daniel requested Selvia to arrange a meeting with Duke Belvar.

Selvia accepted Daniel’s request and immediately contacted Belvar, who accepted without much hesitation, and the meeting was arranged.

So now.

‘Damn it…’

Daniel was sitting on the sofa in the drawing room of Duke Belvar’s mansion.

Behind the sofa where Daniel was sitting, Hartmann was killing time with his arms crossed.

Selvia had asked Hartmann to protect Daniel, saying that an accident might occur.

Hartmann, having confirmed that there was still some time before Belvar arrived, whispered so that only Daniel could hear.

“…But Major Daniel. Do we really have to choose this method? They are the ones at a disadvantage, not us.”

He was asking why he was being so impatient when they could take their time and slowly attack.

Daniel also agreed with those words.

Even if the Security Agency was running rampant, if he didn’t give them any reason to catch him and just endured as much as possible, Belvar would likely self-destruct on his own.

But in the process, various bloodsheds were bound to occur.

‘Above all…’

Lucy is actually a spy.

If Cartman, who had received a warrant from the Security Agency, relentlessly investigated, and as a result, he caught decisive evidence that Lucy was a spy, Daniel would be dead.

If he was guilty of colluding with a spy, it wouldn’t end with simply taking off his uniform.

So Daniel had to get Belvar’s white flag today at this meeting, by any means possible.

Only then would the Security Agency’s investigation stop.

To Hartmann, this was just a simple negotiation, but to Daniel, it was like walking a tightrope with his life on the line.

Of course, he couldn’t explain all of this, so Daniel just gave an awkward smile.

“Wouldn’t it be good for everyone if everything is settled with today’s negotiation?”

“That’s true. More than that, is there anything I can help with?”

“No. Just silently match my rhythm from behind.”

Hartmann nodded, thinking that it wouldn’t be difficult.

Creak─

At that moment, the door to the drawing room opened and Duke Belvar entered with a servant.

Belvar, wearing an expensive suit, was wearing a monocle, and his thick eyebrows and tightly closed mouth showed his unique stubbornness.

Daniel stood up from his seat and bowed his head, but Belvar did not react.

He clicked his tongue openly, walked over, and simply sat on the opposite sofa.

Daniel also sat back on the sofa, and Belvar said.

“So. You wanted to see me?”

It was a condescending tone, but Daniel did not waver and wore a welcoming smile.

“That’s right. As you know, Duke, His Highness the Prince’s private organization, Dawn’s Light, has been completely apprehended. I came here to make a proposal regarding this.”

“A proposal? Ha! I don’t even need to hear what kind of proposal it is! It must be a proposal to betray His Highness the Prince!”

Belvar raised his hand and pointed at Daniel.

“Also, I know very well that you intimidate the other party at the negotiating table to achieve what you want! Don’t think that I will fall for your scheme like the other guys!”

Despite Belvar’s threat, Daniel did not lose his smile.

“Duke. You are mistaken. I am only here for negotiations. If you listen to my proposal-”

“I don’t want to hear it!”

Belvar interrupted Daniel and roared.

“Do you think I will be tempted by the dirty words coming out of your mouth!”

“So you’re saying you’re going to break off the negotiations without even listening to the story.”

“I only agreed to the negotiations because of Princess Selvia’s request. Also, no matter what happens, I will not betray His Highness the Prince. Even if I have to give my life!”

As expected, Belvar was coming on strong.

Daniel, thinking that it couldn’t be helped, decided to ‘act’ instead of making a proposal.

“I understand your feelings, Duke. But if you break off these negotiations now, the life you will lead to death will not be just one.”

Belvar’s eyebrow twitched.

“…What do you mean?”

“Just as I said. Think about it slowly.”

Daniel leaned back on the sofa, maintaining his smile.

On the other hand, Belvar trembled at his fingertips and swallowed hard.

Belvar, pondering Daniel’s ambiguous remarks, lowered his voice and said.

“My acquaintances and family are innocent. Even if I lose the succession battle, you have no authority to touch my people.”

Daniel’s lips twitched at Belvar’s words, and he soon burst into laughter as if he couldn’t hold back.

The low and subdued laughter echoed through the wide drawing room.

Belvar, who didn’t understand why he was laughing, frowned and sweated coldly.

Hartmann, who had said he would cooperate with the act, also felt somewhat eerie and was just looking down at Daniel.

After laughing for a while, Daniel lightly waved his hand.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve been rude. But…”

Suddenly erasing his smile, Daniel stared intently at Belvar.

His fierce yet still eyes gleamed like a predator with prey in front of him.

“Let me ask you one thing, Duke Belvar. Among the people I’ve led to ruin…”

A chilling voice held Belvar’s gaze.

In a brief silence, Daniel leaned forward and said without blinking.

“Wouldn’t there have been innocent people?”

At that moment, Belvar felt an extreme sense of fear engulfing his body.

Author’s words

Thank you to the anonymous sponsor for the 120 coins! Yes! I will work hard on writing this year as well! Thank you so much for your kind words! Thank you so much!

Dear readers, the new year of 2025 has dawned!

I, Pet Writer, am very honored to be able to serve you readers in 2025 as well!

I hope everything goes well for you this year!

Thank you always! Happy New Year!