chapter_0166

165 – It’s Really Not Easy to Transition Out

165 – It’s Really Not Easy to Transition Out

After freeing Emperor Selvia, who had been trapped in a golden slumber, Daniel had a rather busy week ahead of him.

There were matters that needed to be resolved before he could transfer all power to Selvia.

One of the main tasks was to detain the collaborators associated with Duke Belvar in a special detention area set up in the basement of the Central Security Agency.

After capturing all visible collaborators, he obtained discharge applications and retirement requests from the unit commanders of the Guards Division and delivered them to Selvia.

Given the circumstances, no one dared to excuse themselves by claiming they were simply following the orders of the Defense Commander.

They all knew that making excuses could lead to incurring the wrath of Daniel Steiner or the Emperor, and that would not end with merely losing their positions.

Of course, in this large-scale personnel purge, only Telberet, the commander of the Armored Regiment under the Guards Division, was able to maintain his position with dignity.

He followed the Defense Commander’s orders but recognized the severity of the situation, siding with Daniel Steiner to suppress those who had caused the chaos, thus earning his merit.

Having replaced all commanders except for Telberet, Daniel ordered the gradual withdrawal of the 7th Armored Division.

They could not leave the front lines empty for too long, and the 7th Armored Division symbolized not the Emperor but the war hero, Daniel Steiner.

The order was made considering that the longer the 7th Armored Division roamed the Imperial City, the more Selvia’s authority would diminish.

Of course, not all troops of the 7th Armored Division were sent back to the front lines.

Since there was a possibility that remnants of the noble alliance could regroup and cause chaos again, key forces were preserved to be able to suppress any uprising at any time.

After carrying out all these tasks for a week, Daniel smiled contentedly in the temporary office he had borrowed from the Central Security Agency to handle his work.

“Lieutenant. Let’s hear it again. What did His Majesty the Emperor say?”

In the current office, Lucy, Frien, and Pelf were present for the report, and they were all taken aback by Daniel’s sudden cheerful demeanor after his recent heavy workload.

With a hint of confusion, Lucy blinked her red eyes and replied.

“His Majesty the Emperor summoned you, Colonel. Due to various incidents, the current situation in the Imperial City has entered a transitional phase, and he said a decision must be made to establish order.”

“A decision!”

Daniel, convinced that Selvia’s decision would be to dismiss him, chuckled and rose from his seat.

“If His Majesty makes a decision, then as a soldier, I must naturally follow.”

He had been wondering when he would be dismissed, and it was just in time that Selvia called for him.

‘If the dismissal had been delayed even a moment longer, I would have had to work tirelessly to stabilize the Imperial City and deal with the collaborators and remnants. What a relief.’

Daniel lightly donned the officer’s coat he had draped over his chair.

‘I don’t know who will take my place, but they will have quite the struggle ahead. Poor thing.’

Sending a silent sympathy to whoever Selvia would choose as his successor, Daniel walked over to Lucy.

Thinking that today might be the last day, he felt the need to at least say goodbye.

To be honest, he hadn’t always had good feelings toward her, but after a year together, some affection had unknowingly built up.

With a smile, Daniel reached out his hand to Lucy.

“Lieutenant. Others may not know, but I do. You are, in fact, a good woman. So I hope you continue to act according to your beliefs. Life is too short to live only by listening to others, isn’t it?”

A question mark appeared over Lucy’s head.

She didn’t understand, but since Daniel was asking for a handshake, she complied without further comment.

“…I will keep that in mind.”

After receiving a somewhat reluctant response from Lucy, Daniel moved in front of Frien.

“Lieutenant Frien. The church views dark magic as ominous, but I see it as a blessing. Many lives have been saved because of your abilities. So do not blame yourself and try to look at yourself positively from now on.”

Frien, blinking in confusion, took Daniel’s hand.

“…Thank you?”

Nodding kindly, Daniel then stood before Pelf, the intelligence officer.

“Lieutenant Pelf. It is correct to say that we have been able to strive thus far because of talented individuals like you in the 7th Armored Division. There will soon be a personnel reorganization, and your position may change, but make sure to show your competence wherever you go.”

Though he wasn’t sure, Pelf was pleased by the compliment and tightly grasped Daniel’s hand.

“Yes! I will keep that in mind!”

After hearing the response, Daniel patted Pelf’s hand and walked toward the door.

Humming a tune, Daniel opened the door and stepped out with a light step.

Before long, a voice filled with joy echoed down the hallway, saying, “Great! There’s no law against dying after all!”

This was quite perplexing for Frien, who looked at Pelf and asked, “Intelligence Officer? Do you have any idea why Colonel Daniel is acting like that?”

“…I’m not sure. It’s clear that something good has happened to him, though.”

“I think so too, but why is he in such a good mood?”

Frien then turned to Lucy.

“Lieutenant Lucy, do you know?”

Lucy, having no idea, shook her head.

“No. I don’t know.”

Thanks to that, the trio gathered in the office was left bewildered, as if facing an unsolvable riddle.

–

A little later, in the grand hall of the Imperial Palace.

Having regained her imperial authority, Selvia sat on the throne, surveying everyone.

The ministers and numerous high-ranking officials, who had been released from confinement by Daniel Steiner, were voicing various opinions, but Selvia could not pay attention to them.

The most important figure had yet to arrive.

“Is Colonel Daniel still not here?”

Wearing a white uniform and a red cloak symbolizing her status as Emperor, Selvia quietly spoke to the head of the Inner Court.

The head of the Inner Court bowed his head, glancing at Selvia.

“He has arrived at the palace and will be here shortly.”

Nodding at the head of the Inner Court’s words, Selvia decided to wait a little longer for Daniel.

After a few minutes had passed, Daniel appeared through the opened door.

As Daniel, dressed in a well-fitted black uniform, entered the grand hall, the ministers and high-ranking officials, who had been conversing among themselves, fell silent.

Everyone was tense at the appearance of Daniel Steiner, who currently held the real power of the empire next to the Emperor.

Given that there were rumors circulating that Daniel Steiner might possess more power than the Emperor, they had no choice but to be cautious.

As Daniel walked across the red carpet, aware of their gazes, he knelt before Selvia and bowed his head.

“I greet the great Emperor.”

Looking at Daniel with affectionate eyes, Selvia spoke.

“Raise your head, Daniel Steiner.”

As Daniel lifted his head, Selvia continued.

“You have returned to the homeland after defeating the Magical Armor Division in the Battle of Skeolan. This is a tremendous loss for the empire and a historical blunder.”

A murmur arose among the ministers.

They were all shocked, wondering if Selvia was going to reprimand Daniel Steiner.

However, Selvia’s next words quelled the ministers’ unrest.

“However, considering that the Battle of Skeolan stemmed from a surprise attack by the enemy, that there was confusion in the order transmission process, and that although you were defeated, thanks to your efforts, the damage was minimized, I recognize the military merit of the commander.”

Daniel’s hand trembled slightly.

From Daniel’s perspective, who had been anticipating dismissal, he could not comprehend Selvia’s words and actions.

“In summary, I will award you the White Dragon Medal of Honor, the highest military honor of the empire.”

She was even offering him the White Dragon Medal of Honor, which was considered the most prestigious award in the empire.

Stunned, Daniel stared blankly at Selvia.

Selvia met Daniel’s gaze and spoke.

“Furthermore, everyone here knows that the reason Colonel Daniel Steiner returned was to thoroughly eliminate the collaborators lurking in the empire. Therefore, I command Colonel Daniel Steiner to take responsibility for and handle the current situation.”

A wave of anxiety washed over Daniel, and he desperately shook his head, but it did not reach Selvia.

“I will now elevate the Central Security Agency to a special command institution directly under the Emperor, and I intend to appoint Colonel Daniel Steiner as its temporary head. If anyone has an objection, please speak now.”

This was a position granted by the Emperor who had regained her authority to the person who had saved her.

The ministers and high-ranking officials, who dared not voice any objections, could only bow their heads.

“If there are no objections, we will proceed. Colonel Daniel Steiner.”

Daniel felt a chill run down his spine.

He wanted to scream for her to stop, but he could not do so in front of everyone.

“You will now assist me…”

Selvia’s eyes narrowed gently as she looked down at Daniel.

“…as the Emergency Security General to establish a new order in the empire.”

At the mention of the Emergency Security General, Daniel’s complexion turned pale.

On a bright spring day when flowers began to bloom,

‘…Your Majesty? Why are you doing this to me?’

Daniel Steiner had requested his dismissal, but the Emperor did not grant it.