chapter_0080

79 – Deception Tactics Don’t Work

79 – Deception Tactics Don’t Work

As I walked down the hallway after leaving the reception room, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement inside me.

“Yes!”

When Selvia called for me, I wondered what misfortune awaited this time, but it turned out to be a mere worry.

The proposal Selvia offered was closer to good fortune than bad luck.

“I was already feeling a bit uneasy being in the Imperial City…”

I couldn’t help but be thrilled at the opportunity to legally stay abroad.

Moreover, since Selvia, who was acting as regent, said she would consider it positively, my appointment as the ambassador to Bellanos was almost a certainty.

“Indeed. There’s no law that says I must die.”

It was a moment when the saying that there is always a way out, even when the sky is falling, resonated deeply within me.

“Moreover…”

If I were to go to Bellanos as an ambassador, I would surely be treated well.

After all, they wouldn’t want to create conflict with an empire that possesses one of the world’s top military powers, especially as a neutral nation.

So, being dispatched as the ambassador to Bellanos felt like a kind of vacation from my perspective.

I was grateful just to escape the threats lurking in the Imperial City, and the thought of being treated well while staying abroad made me smile involuntarily.

Not hiding my joyful mood, I returned to my personal office, but I paused when I opened the door.

Ernst, the chief of the operations staff, was waiting inside the office.

“…Chief? You haven’t left yet?”

When I asked, puzzled, Ernst, with his hands clasped behind his back, cleared his throat.

“I was curious about what you discussed with Her Highness the Princess. Could you perhaps give me a little hint?”

Thanks to his sly request, I understood why Ernst was waiting here.

Having a chief-level position in the operations headquarters meant he was someone who had made a name for himself not only in practical matters but also in politics.

So, it was natural for him to want to gain an informational advantage regarding the news that “the Princess had come to the operations headquarters in person.”

Since Ernst was fundamentally a trustworthy person, I didn’t want to refuse him, but this was not something to be shared openly.

“I would love to share, but since it’s not a finalized matter yet, I think it’s best to keep it confidential.”

“Confidential, huh… I see. But if it’s alright, could you give me an autograph? My daughter is a fan of yours.”

An autograph? I was taken aback and remained silent as Ernst extended his hands, which had been clasped behind his back.

He held out two sheets of paper and a fountain pen.

“I’ve bragged about Daniel Steiner being my subordinate, but if I can’t get an autograph, my face won’t be worth much. Just think of it as saving my pride and help me out.”

Could this really be his true intention?

I let out a chuckle without realizing it and accepted the paper and fountain pen from Ernst.

Since it was a request from my superior, I thought there was no harm in complying.

“…But why two sheets?”

Ernst, who had been glancing at Lucy, whispered just loud enough for me to hear.

“Actually, my wife is a fan too. At dinner yesterday, she nagged me to get your autograph if I had time to collect useless stamps… That damn woman.”

With a deep sigh, Ernst spoke with a serious look in his eyes.

“Never get married, you hear? The person who was like an angel during dating turned into a devil after marriage. Honestly, every day feels like a struggle. I only endure it because the kids are cute and lovely; otherwise, I might have run away by now.”

I felt a twinge of sympathy for him.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

I echoed Ernst’s words as I signed both sheets of paper and returned them to him.

Satisfied, Ernst smiled but suddenly raised his hand as if he remembered something.

“Oh. Let me not forget. I had a letter to pass on to you.”

Ernst rummaged through his pocket and pulled out an envelope.

“It’s a letter that came to the operations headquarters addressed to you. It seems to be from the military academy; do you have any idea who it might be from?”

“The military academy…?”

Could it be Frien?

I felt a strange sense of unease as I took the letter.

“I’ll read it for now.”

As I broke the seal at the entrance and unfolded the letter, neatly written sentences revealed themselves.

“To the esteemed Colonel Daniel,

I, who respect and admire you, Colonel Daniel.

I sincerely apologize for making you read this letter amidst your busy schedule.

However, I deemed it appropriate to write to you as I am on the verge of graduating early from the military academy.

Thanks to the dean recognizing my excellent academic performance and my achievements in the north.

Isn’t that wonderful?

Soon, I will be able to eliminate all the beasts that seek to join hands with the Allied Nations under your command, Colonel Daniel.

I believe you share my sentiments.

You showed your true feelings towards the beasts of the Allied Nations in your total war speech.

You probably don’t know how many tears I shed after being moved by your speech.

Thanks to you, my faith and loyalty to the Empire have grown even stronger.

Ah, I have so much more to say, but it seems I must stop writing as the lights will be turned off soon.

I want to express that I would gladly sacrifice my life for you, Colonel Daniel, and I will conclude this letter here.

Looking forward to the day we meet again, Frien Remiliart.”

After reading the letter, I turned to Ernst, feeling a sense of dread.

“…Chief. Is it possible that Frien is being assigned to the operations headquarters?”

Ernst nodded.

“Frien has applied to be assigned to the operations headquarters, and both the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff are considering it positively, so she will likely be part of the headquarters.”

A sigh escaped me, but today I could endure it.

“When good news comes, bad news is sure to follow.”

Considering the happiness I would enjoy being dispatched as the ambassador to Bellanos, the misfortune of Frien joining the operations headquarters was something I could sufficiently offset.

“So for now…”

Let’s not dwell on future misfortunes and instead savor the happiness of the present.

–

That evening, in the banquet hall of the Edria royal palace.

“Daniel Steiner is being dispatched as the ambassador to Bellanos?”

Count Caledra’s question was met with a nod from Beck, the deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

“Yes. According to intelligence, the regent princess Selvia has ordered the Foreign Ministry to appoint Daniel Steiner as the ambassador to Bellanos.”

The banquet hall, filled with dignitaries from other nations, buzzed with voices and music, but the area around Count Caledra was quiet.

He had intentionally distanced himself from others to receive the report.

“Sending the hero of the Empire and the one who successfully delivered the total war speech to a mere position as the ambassador to Bellanos…”

As Caledra fell into thought, Beck cautiously opened his mouth.

“It seems to me that there has been friction with the imperial family. The phenomenon of public support concentrating on an individual like Daniel Steiner must be seen as a decline in the authority of the imperial family.”

Historically, war heroes who accumulated too much merit often became thorns in the side of the imperial family.

Beck believed that Daniel would follow a similar path, but Caledra thought that was absurd.

“You are mistaken. He has led us to believe that ‘Daniel Steiner has fallen out with the imperial family.’ It is likely that his appointment as ambassador to Bellanos was also Daniel Steiner’s own will.”

While an ordinary war hero might be said to have fallen out with the imperial family, Daniel Steiner was a genius strategist who had been pressuring the Allied Nations in all sorts of extraordinary ways.

Thus, it was more reasonable to view this as a ruse to deceive the Allied Nations.

“They are using disgusting tricks to divert our attention. Deputy Director, have you found out how the Foreign Ministry plans to send Daniel Steiner to Bellanos?”

As Caledra cast his gaze, Beck hurriedly picked up a document to review.

“Yes. It is said that he will travel by diplomatic vessel over the course of two days. Since it is a short distance and to avoid diplomatic friction, I understand that no escort ships will accompany him.”

That was a welcome piece of news.

“Good. Then contact the commander of the 12th district of the Bellanos Maritime Defense Force. Tell him to open the territorial waters at the time the diplomatic vessel departs, as we will send a submarine from the Allied Nations.”

Upon hearing Caledra’s words, Beck blinked in shock.

The commander of the 12th district of the Bellanos Maritime Defense Force was someone who had been recruited as an ally over a long period by the Allied Nations.

Telling him to open the territorial waters was tantamount to saying that they intended to destroy the ship carrying Daniel Steiner using a submarine.

“…Count, if the plan succeeds, we may have to cut off the tail we have planted in Bellanos. Is Daniel Steiner worth that much?”

Caledra shot Beck a glance before answering directly.

“Yes.”

For some unknown reason, Lucy was not following the orders of the Allied Nations at the moment.

This meant that someone who should have been dead by now was still walking around.

That implied that Daniel had somehow thwarted Lucy’s assassination.

What would happen if someone like Daniel returned to the Empire after completing his mission in Bellanos?

“He would undoubtedly become a far more formidable opponent than he is now.”

Thus, we needed to take action before Daniel became an even more dangerous figure.

No matter what sacrifices it took.

“Daniel Steiner…”

It was laughable that he dared to try to deceive us.

Caledra tightened his grip on the head of his cane and narrowed his eyes sharply.

“Remember that your cunning will ultimately lead you to death.”

A word from the author (Author’s Note)

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