chapter_0192

191 – The Most Hateful Yet Fearsome Opponent

191 – The Most Hateful Yet Fearsome Opponent

He was a Brigadier General.

Not just any rank, but a general-level rank.

While a field grade officer might be promoted without much fanfare, a general’s promotion required the approval of the Minister of National Defense and the Emperor.

As the complicated procedure suggested, the number of generals was extremely limited.

It meant that unless someone was truly indispensable, they wouldn’t be given a star.

‘Which means…’

It was the same as the entire Empire pushing Daniel Steiner forward.

The problem was that the Empire was pushing Daniel Steiner not into a safe, rear-echelon desk job, but as a field commander in a front-line unit.

From Daniel’s perspective, who avoided the battlefield, it felt like being pushed off a cliff.

In his heart, he wanted to confess that he had no desire to dedicate himself to the nation, but saying such a thing in front of the Chief of the General Staff might get him treated as less than human.

Still, he had no intention of accepting his fate without a struggle.

Daniel carefully chose his words and opened his mouth.

“Chief of the General Staff, I understand your words and intentions, but I am merely a greenhorn who has been commissioned as an officer for just over a year. For me to rise to the rank of Brigadier General is unprecedented.”

“Unprecedented, you say? Isn’t it also unprecedented for an officer to achieve so many significant accomplishments that one’s fingers aren’t enough to count them?”

Daniel, momentarily unable to retort, closed his mouth. Arman gave a faint smile and took out the insignia from the box.

“As you know, the Empire’s founding ideology is reward and punishment. A simple matter of rewarding those who perform meritorious service and punishing those who err. Since the late Emperor abolished discrimination based on status, this ideology has become even more firmly established.”

Arman held up the insignia under the study’s light, examining it from various angles.

“I believe that this principle must be strictly adhered to in the military, if nowhere else. Only then can capable individuals rise to the top. Anyone but a fool would know that this is directly linked to the Empire’s victory.”

Satisfied that there was nothing wrong with the insignia, Arman approached Daniel.

“In that respect, you are the embodiment of the Empire’s ideology itself. If someone with a background as a mere orphan rises to the rank of Brigadier General, who would think that the Empire practices discrimination based on status?”

The figure of Daniel Steiner himself guaranteed the Empire’s consistency and fairness.

Clear rewards and punishments meant no discrimination, and no discrimination meant that anyone could be promoted based on their ability.

Given the overwhelmingly large number of non-nobles in the military, the more widely this fact was known, the more morale would rise.

The number of people enlisting, seeing war as an opportunity to change their lives, would also increase, making it a win-win situation.

“I believe that someone as intelligent as you understands what I’m saying.”

Arman didn’t see Daniel Steiner as just a capable and hardworking soldier.

In Arman’s eyes, Daniel was a figure symbolizing the Empire’s ideology.

However, he didn’t want Daniel Steiner to refuse the promotion.

His refusal of a rightful promotion would be a loss for the Empire.

Arman, standing in front of Daniel, began to replace Daniel’s insignia with practiced ease.

“I hope you will continue to work hard for the Empire. Not only I, but also His Majesty the Emperor, have high expectations for you.”

Having been told this much, Daniel couldn’t bring himself to refuse and answered through gritted teeth.

“…Understood.”

“Good.”

Arman, having finished replacing the insignia, patted Daniel’s shoulder.

“Brigadier General Daniel Steiner. You will soon be stepping down from your position as Emergency Security General and will be assigned as a Brigade Commander. The National Propaganda Department wishes to see you regarding this.”

“The National Propaganda Department?”

“Yes. I hear they plan to have you as the main speaker and broadcast a nationwide radio program. I think it’s a good idea. It will allow everyone to know the situation in the Imperial City.”

Daniel groaned at the thought of receiving even more attention than he already did.

Arman chuckled softly at Daniel’s reaction.

“I understand. The responsibility will be immense. But remember that all of this is for the Empire. Just as you have always done.”

Arman, offering words of encouragement that meant to act as he always had, lightly adjusted his attire.

“Then I shall be on my way. As I said, I have a busy schedule. Oh, and by the way, your adjutant and Lieutenant Frien are also included in the special promotion list, so be sure to pass on the word.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Arman nodded once at Daniel’s reply and then began to walk away.

As soon as Arman passed Daniel and left the study with his aide, Daniel bit down hard.

‘Damn it…’

The promotion itself wasn’t bad.

Since he couldn’t escape the Empire anyway, what was wrong with rising in rank?

But the fact that he had to face the enemy on the front lines was more than just unpleasant; it was despairing.

‘Damn Empire…’

To be honest, although it wasn’t intentional, he thought he had done everything for the Empire so far.

But now, they were pushing him to the battlefield, telling him to do even more than he had done, to the point where even the patriotism he had was disappearing.

‘How did things get to this point…’

He had enlisted with the intention of raising a lump sum to open a bakery, but when he came to his senses, he had become a Brigadier General.

Moreover, he had been selected as a front-line commander who had to lead a brigade and attack enemy cities.

Daniel chuckled hollowly and raised his hand to wipe his face.

‘Still, one good thing is…’

The Allied Nations hadn’t expressed their intention to participate in the war, and Count Caledra seemed too busy with diplomatic affairs to pay attention to trivial matters.

‘With the international situation in turmoil, they’ll put aside their interest in me for a while.’

It had to be that way.

Daniel didn’t want his life to become any more difficult than it already was.

*

The next day, in Edria, a permanent member of the Allied Nations.

Count Caledra’s office.

Whittle

Caledra was carving a wooden doll with a carving knife.

Before Caledra, Beck, the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, stood with his hands behind his back like a criminal.

He hadn’t done anything wrong, but whenever he came before Count Caledra, he became nervous, and he felt like he was trembling for no reason.

“…The Republic is declaring war, you say?”

Caledra’s words as he carved the wooden doll sounded somewhat indifferent.

Beck, watching Caledra’s expression, quietly replied.

“Yes. We have received information that they will declare war at noon in two days.”

“Later than I expected. What about the Allied Nations?”

“That is…”

Beck swallowed hard before speaking.

“They are not responding. It feels like they are unilaterally avoiding dialogue with the Allied Nations. As of now, it is believed that they have no intention of participating in the war.”

Caledra bit down hard.

He was dumbfounded that they weren’t moving despite all the bribes he had given them.

However, he didn’t bother to get angry.

He was well aware that the Allied Nations were showing a tendency to be opportunistic and play tug-of-war.

Caledra, regaining his composure, repeated the action of carving the wooden doll.

“What about the Empire’s movements?”

This was another question that was not easy to answer.

Beck hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

“All the collaborators have been captured. Major nobles, including Duke Belvar, have been executed, and some nobles have also been executed by Daniel Steiner’s private organization.”

“Is that all?”

“No. I hear that Daniel Steiner has been recognized for his merit in executing the collaborators and has risen to the rank of Brigadier General. Rumor has it that he will soon be stepping down from his position as Emergency Security General and returning to the front lines.”

Snap

Caledra’s hand, which had been carving the wooden doll, stopped for the first time.

“Brigadier General, you say.”

The corners of Caledra’s mouth twitched convulsively.

“A mere lieutenant has risen to the rank of Brigadier General in just over a year.”

Caledra, chuckling softly, gripped the wooden doll tightly.

“That bastard is power-hungry. He has high ambitions, a good head on his shoulders, and is capable. He’s the kind of guy who would do anything to increase his own value.”

Beck thought that Daniel and Caledra were very similar in that respect, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.

“That terrible bastard is holding my daughter captive. I don’t know how he charmed Lucy, but he must have used his cunning tongue.”

Caledra, grinding his teeth as if he couldn’t bear it, slammed the wooden doll on the desk.

Beck flinched, but Caledra ignored him and continued.

“Deputy Director, tell the Central Intelligence Agency what I say. If there is a variable in this war, it is Daniel Steiner. So, from now on, investigate Daniel Steiner’s every move and report everything to me.”

Caledra, leaning on the desk, rose from his seat and glared at Beck.

Caledra’s eyes were filled with anger at Daniel Steiner, who had shattered all his plans one by one.

“Daniel Steiner is a symbol of the Empire. So, we must kill that bastard…”

Caledra, taking a deep breath, narrowed his eyes sharply.

“The Allied Nations will be able to win.”

Author’s Note

Thank you to all the readers who read today!

Are you having a good weekend? I hope my novel has helped you have a pleasant weekend!

Then, I’ll see you again tomorrow! Thank you always!