chapter_0158

157 – Patriot(?) Daniel Steiner

157 – Patriot(?) Daniel Steiner

Upon hearing Daniel Steiner’s command, Leckela reported to the higher-ups and opened the post’s door.

After that, Leckela offered to guide him to where the regiment commander was, and Daniel accepted.

As Daniel Steiner entered the armored regiment’s camp, the attention of the soldiers and officers naturally focused on him.

“…What’s going on?”

“Isn’t that Colonel Daniel Steiner?”

“That uniform has the Golden Cross Medal on it. It must be him.”

Everyone stopped what they were doing and simply stared blankly at Daniel Steiner as he walked by.

It was only natural for them to be bewildered.

The armored regiment had come here with the purpose of ‘capturing or killing the traitor Daniel Steiner,’ yet the very person they sought was strolling through their camp without a care.

However, Daniel Steiner’s mind was anything but at ease.

In fact, he was in a state of extreme tension.

‘If I fail, I die.’

When he received the decree from the messenger of the armored regiment yesterday, Daniel understood Belvar’s plan.

The 7th Armored Division was trying to provoke the Guards Division’s armored regiment into attacking or ignoring them to create a pretext that ‘Daniel Steiner did not heed the Emperor’s command.’

Thanks to this, Daniel realized he could not escape and proposed to the staff that he would go persuade the armored regiment alone.

The staff, of course, were horrified and urged him to form a negotiation team instead, but Daniel did not relent.

Sending a negotiation team would surely lead to a misunderstanding of intentions, and the longer they delayed, the more advantageous it would be for the traitors who had seized the Imperial City.

As Daniel stood firm, the staff had no choice but to nod in agreement.

For the reasons mentioned above, Daniel was now boldly walking through the armored regiment alone.

‘For now, let’s calm down. Even if I enter the tiger’s den, as long as I keep my wits about me, I can survive.’

After all, without this method, a frontal assault was impossible.

Moreover, Daniel was not recklessly declaring he would persuade the armored regiment.

‘Considering that they seized the Imperial City right after I was appointed as the chief of staff of the 7th Armored Division…’

It was highly likely that the noble alliance, including Belvar, had not had enough time to prepare.

In other words, even if they had succeeded in bribing the defense commander, they probably had not won over the hearts of the subordinate unit commanders.

If they were not loyal out of conviction but merely obeying orders for personal gain, then they could be persuaded.

‘So…’

It was time to do his best to play the ‘war hero.’

–

Meanwhile, in the command tent of the armored regiment under the Guards Division of the Defense Command.

“…Daniel Steiner has come?”

The regiment commander Telberet’s question was met with a nod from his aide.

“Yes. He has come unarmed and wishes to speak with the regiment commander.”

“Have you granted him permission?”

“Yes. He is currently approaching the command tent with the post commander.”

“Is he trying to surrender or something?”

“Not certain, but it doesn’t seem like he’s here to surrender.”

Hearing the aide’s words, Telberet stroked his chin.

‘What could his reason be? I don’t understand. However…’

He had to admit the courage it took to enter a place that was practically enemy territory alone.

Telberet, who did not dislike courageous young men, felt a spark of interest in the figure of Daniel Steiner.

Just as he thought he should at least hear what he had to say, a beep sounded from the radio.

─ Regiment commander. Daniel Steiner has arrived in front of the command tent.

Upon hearing the radio, Telberet, feeling a sense of uncertainty, grabbed his pistol and stepped out of the tent.

As he emerged, he saw Daniel Steiner standing quietly in a well-fitted black uniform, just as the radio had described.

Around Daniel Steiner, soldiers and officers were gathered in a circle.

They had all come out to watch after hearing that Daniel Steiner had arrived.

Telberet considered ordering everyone to return to their posts but decided against it.

He had heard that Daniel Steiner was a Neural Acceleration Ability User, so it was better to have a larger crowd just in case.

“Acting Division Commander of the 7th Armored Division, Colonel Daniel Steiner.”

Telberet called out to Daniel and slowly approached.

“I’ve always wanted to see the famous talent in person, but I never expected to meet you like this. I express my regrets.”

As Telberet drew closer to Daniel, he stopped.

“I hold no personal grudge against you. However, as a soldier, I must obey my superior’s orders, so please understand. By the command of His Majesty the Emperor, I will arrest you here today.”

Daniel nodded as if he understood.

However, it did not mean he was willing to be arrested quietly.

“I fully understand your position, regiment commander. But on what grounds do you intend to arrest me?”

“Your army is abandoning the front and heading toward the Imperial City. His Majesty the Emperor and the defense commander believe you are committing treason.”

“Treason? Me? Do you truly believe that, regiment commander?”

Telberet did not respond.

To be precise, he could not answer.

He had no knowledge of why Daniel, who had been hailed as a hero of the Empire, had suddenly decided to abandon the front.

As Telberet hesitated, Daniel turned to the soldiers around him and shouted.

“I ask you all! Do you see me as a traitor?”

The soldiers, like Telberet, were unable to respond.

After a brief silence, Daniel opened his mouth again.

“…My first battle was at Edelkrall Canyon. My mission was to assist the 307th Special Task Force in killing Colonel Jeremy during his retreat. As I waited for him in the canyon, the biting cold approached, but I didn’t care. I thought that such pain was nothing for the Empire.”

Daniel slowly approached the gathered soldiers.

“The mission was successfully completed, and thanks to that, the headquarters recognized my abilities and ordered my dispatch as an operational staff officer to the Nordia front. You all must know! Who was the one who planned and led the Nordia invasion operation to success!”

The soldiers who met Daniel’s gaze lowered their eyes.

Each of them wore faces filled with guilt.

“Who was it that successfully occupied Nordia and negotiated with the foreign minister of the Eldresia Kingdom, bringing immense benefits to the Empire? Answer me, soldiers! Who was that person!”

Daniel’s voice resonated powerfully in all directions.

As everyone struggled to lift their gazes, a few soldiers could no longer hold back and answered Daniel’s question.

“…It was Colonel Daniel Steiner.”

That small change was shaking the hearts of the soldiers.

Daniel continued to shout.

“Then, when I was dispatched as an ambassador to Bellanos! Who survived despite being exposed to an enemy torpedo attack and brought benefits to the Empire in negotiations with the Prime Minister!”

“It was Colonel Daniel Steiner.”

“Who, after using the enemy’s attack against them in the basin near the border of the Belmore Kingdom, captured the crown prince Bleff!”

The soldiers who raised their heads answered with conviction.

“It was Colonel Daniel Steiner!”

What had started as just a few voices had now merged into a chorus.

Daniel’s sharp gaze fell upon the soldiers.

“I have always dedicated myself to the Empire and have taken pride in it! You must know that when I was appointed as the chief of staff of the 7th Armored Division, I discerned the enemy’s operations and captured the Allied Nations brigade forces for the Empire!”

His high and resolute voice was capturing the soldiers’ attention.

“Then why did Daniel Steiner decide to retreat! You all may not know! The traitors in the Imperial City are thoroughly hiding this fact!”

Questions arose not only in the soldiers but also on Telberet’s face.

“They conspired with the Intelligence Agency to annihilate the 7th Armored Division! They sent false information to lead our forces into a trap! Can you all endure such tyranny? Will you just stand by and let the traitors run rampant!”

This was the first time they were hearing such facts.

However, distrust toward the higher-ups was quickly spreading among the soldiers and officers.

After the late Emperor’s death, amidst the chaos of the Imperial City, they found more trust in the words of the war hero standing before them than in the questionable orders that had come down.

“The reason I ordered the retreat is not to go against His Majesty the Emperor’s will! Rather, it is to eradicate the traitors lurking in the Imperial City for the sake of His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire!”

Daniel’s eyes, as he spoke passionately, seemed to flicker with flames.

“As you all know, I risked my life to save His Majesty during the banquet terror incident. I am the one who supported the current Emperor in various ways to ensure his existence!”

The National Virtue Medal he received after saving Selvia glinted faintly in the sunlight.

“Do I appear to be a man who covets power? Do I seem like a threat to His Majesty’s authority? You all know! That I have no such intentions! Then why did His Majesty order me to surrender?”

Daniel raised his hand and pointed toward the Imperial City.

“That is because the one who gave that order is not His Majesty the Emperor! The Imperial City is currently under the control of traitors! It is clear that they are mocking you while wearing the Emperor’s mask!”

The soldiers remained silent, but there was a rising heat in their resolute expressions.

“Soldiers! I ask you once more! Do you see me as a traitor!”

Before he finished speaking, the soldiers answered in unison.

─ No!

In an instant, Daniel had captivated the soldiers, and he exhaled deeply.

As he steadied his breath, which had become rough from raising his voice, he turned to Telberet.

Telberet, who had been listening to Daniel’s speech in a daze, let out a sigh.

Daniel approached Telberet and said.

“Regiment commander. Do you still see me as committing treason?”

Even if he had succeeded in winning over the soldiers’ hearts, if he could not persuade the commander, the situation would become complicated.

“If you still believe I am committing treason…”

Noticing Telberet’s inner conflict, Daniel quietly continued.

“Then you should end it yourself.”

His tone, filled with conviction, pressed down on Telberet.

Feeling as if he were facing a wolf in the snowy mountains, Telberet slowly raised his hand.

His hand, holding the pistol, rose slowly as if caught in a net.

However, the act of aiming the gun at Daniel did not occur.

Telberet, shaking his head, let out a low laugh.

“Don’t you already know what answer you’ll get?”

Telberet threw the pistol to the ground and said.

“I have no interest in shooting a patriot.”