chapter_0095

94 – Choose the Lesser Evil Instead of the Worst

94 – Choose the Lesser Evil Instead of the Worst

The atmosphere freezes over, turning frigid.

Just as Lowell was hesitating, unable to retort, Daniel stepped back.

“Oh dear. I only intended to have a light conversation before getting into the formal talks, but it seems things have become a bit too heated. How about we sit down and proceed with the meeting?”

Lowell nodded, still tense.

He hadn’t come here to fight Daniel Steiner.

Lowell straightened his clothes once and then settled onto the sofa.

Seeing this, Daniel also took a seat, placing his briefcase on his lap.

With a leisurely gesture, Daniel unzipped the briefcase and rummaged inside.

“Now then, let me present the Empire’s proposal. Let’s see… Ah, here it is.”

Daniel took out a few sheets of paper and handed them to Lowell.

“Please read them carefully and make your decision. If you have any objections, please let me know immediately.”

Daniel’s smile as he handed over the documents felt sickeningly hypocritical.

Lowell, glaring at Daniel with displeasure, snatched the papers away.

Even so, Daniel simply waited with his hands clasped together, showing no sign of offense.

‘…I have no idea what he’s thinking.’

His attitude was polite, but Lowell couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being looked down upon.

Lowell, wary of Daniel, began to read through the documents.

The contents of the documents seemed simple at first glance.

They demanded that Bellanos take responsibility for failing to stop the terrorists and issue an official statement, requested a thorough investigation to uncover the truth, and discussed compensation.

Up to this point, Lowell could understand and accept the proposals.

However, the problem lay in the subsequent items.

‘Abolition of tariffs on imperial trade, permission for imperial troops to be stationed in the port city of Tentarbahem, cooperation in the construction of military bases, and constant opening of the border?’

Even this was absurd, but the biggest problem was the final item.

『We request that a Terrorist Prevention Act be enacted, requiring detailed information to be provided to the Empire when appointing certain high-ranking officials and military generals. The Empire will carefully assess this information and, if necessary, conduct inspections and oversight to prevent the recurrence of terrorist attacks.』

They were disguising it as a Terrorist Prevention Act, but it was clearly a demand for interference in internal affairs.

No matter how Lowell looked at it, this was more like a demand made to a defeated nation than to a neutral country.

Outraged, Lowell threw the documents onto the table.

“What the hell is this!? You dare bring me something like this as a proposal?”

“…Is something wrong?”

“What’s wrong? Are you out of your mind!? Bellanos is a neutral country! We have an agreement not to participate in international disputes or wars! How can Bellanos maintain its neutral status if it accepts the Empire’s troops and allows interference in its internal affairs!”

Lowell raised his hand and pointed at Daniel.

“Daniel Steiner! This is a blatant act of infringing on our sovereignty! The international community will never tolerate this! Furthermore, your presenting this proposal is an extremely rude act! I will formally protest to the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the name of the Prime Minister!”

Daniel, who had been listening to the story, suddenly sighed softly.

“Protest to the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? I clearly stated that, as far as this meeting is concerned, I am the Empire.”

Lowell’s eyes narrowed.

Just as he was wondering what that meant, Daniel shrugged.

“Very well. Since the Prime Minister is taking such a firm stance, I will also tell you the truth. You just said that the international community will not tolerate the infringement of Bellanos’s sovereignty? Well, in my opinion, it looks like they will tolerate it.”

“What do you mean…?”

“As everyone knows, it was none other than the Bellanos Navy that opened the way for the terrorists who sank the Empire’s diplomatic vessel. You wouldn’t deny that, would you? Then, who is behind it? Does the Prime Minister know who the culprit is?”

Lowell swallowed hard.

“Colonel Edball said he received bribes from the Allied Nations…”

“Yes, we are aware of that as well. The Bellanos government sent a telegram directly to the Imperial government about it. But do you have any evidence? Evidence that he received bribes from the Allied Nations, that is.”

Lowell opened his mouth to answer but had to close it again.

Because there was no evidence.

“Then the Empire might interpret it this way. Ah! Bellanos attacked the Empire’s diplomatic vessel and is trying to blame the Allied Nations. The culprit is Bellanos’s…”

Daniel leaned forward, staring intently at Lowell.

“Prime Minister.”

Lowell, sweating profusely, hurriedly shouted.

“That’s an absurd logical leap! Why would Bellanos attack the Empire’s diplomatic vessel! What benefit would we gain from it!”

Daniel gave a subtle smile.

“Then present the evidence. It’s a simple matter, isn’t it?”

Lowell felt wronged but remained silent.

He had a strong feeling that the more he answered Daniel’s questions, the deeper he would sink into the mire.

“In the absence of evidence, the Empire has no choice but to suspect Bellanos. Of course, I believe that Bellanos would never attack the Empire’s diplomatic vessel. However, if the Prime Minister rejects this proposal, the Empire will have no choice but to take action.”

Daniel leaned back, resting comfortably against the sofa.

“The Bellanos Navy killed imperial civilians. Isn’t that justification enough? The Empire will declare war, and the international community will remain silent. Because the reason for the declaration of war is so clear.”

Daniel’s low laughter settled like a fog in the silence.

“The Allied Nations will not help Bellanos either. They will express deep regret to the Empire for the loss of civilian lives and will not be able to stop the Empire from seeking revenge for its people. If they defend Bellanos at this point, they would be admitting to being accomplices. And…”

Daniel snapped his fingers and pointed to the glass with the remaining whiskey.

“If you’re not going to drink it, may I have some? I’m rather thirsty.”

Lowell only turned his eyes to look at the glass of whiskey.

Unable to refuse, Lowell picked up the glass and handed it to Daniel.

Daniel lightly took the glass, noticing Lowell’s slightly trembling hand.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Smiling, Daniel took the glass and took a sip of the whiskey.

Then he exclaimed in admiration.

“Indeed, high-quality products are different. They say that high-end whiskey is different from the distillation process, and the flavor is exceptionally good. Life would be truly miserable if I couldn’t drink something like this in the future.”

It was clear to anyone who wasn’t a fool who he was directing those words at.

Daniel, admiring the color of the liquor as he turned the whiskey glass, put it down.

“I digress for a moment. To continue, the Empire, having declared war, will be able to land troops in Bellanos without any damage.”

Currently, Tentarbahem, the port city of Bellanos, is virtually occupied by the Imperial Army.

As long as they are there, Bellanos cannot prevent the Empire’s landing.

It was like losing the most important strategic point at the start of the war.

“The troops that land in Bellanos will advance to the capital in an instant. As the Prime Minister knows well, the Empire conquered the Eldresia Kingdom in less than a season after declaring all-out war. So how long will it take for Bellanos, which is smaller than Eldresia?”

Daniel playfully raised his hand and spread two fingers.

“Two weeks. Two weeks will be enough.”

Lowell’s breathing began to sound wet.

But Daniel still maintained his smile.

“In less than a fortnight, the Imperial Army will be able to advance to the capital of Bellanos. In doing so, the people of Bellanos will be enraged by the Empire’s ruthlessness and hate the government’s incompetence at the same time.”

Daniel tapped the armrest of the sofa and said.

“The hatred for the government’s incompetence will soon be directed at the Prime Minister. Perhaps a popular uprising will occur. At that time, the Empire will stop its advance and recommend that the Bellanos government surrender. And then, they will subtly release information.”

The smile disappeared from Daniel’s lips.

“They say that the Prime Minister of Bellanos has an illegitimate child.”

Lowell’s pupils dilated greatly.

It was thanks to the terrible reality implied by those words being replayed in his mind.

In the end, Lowell couldn’t hold back and sobbed.

Daniel, feeling sorry for the sight, lowered his voice.

“I understand. Imagining losing everything can never be pleasant. So, I believe that the most desirable thing for the Prime Minister to do now is to act in a way that prevents that imagination from becoming reality.”

Daniel took out a fountain pen from his pocket and handed it to Lowell.

Lowell, raising his head, glared at Daniel hatefully through his sobs.

But the situation did not change.

Lowell himself knew better than anyone who was the master and who was the servant here.

Lowell, who had lived his whole life as a lion in a cage, did not have the confidence to defeat the wolf in front of him.

Daniel, witnessing the light of struggle disappear from Lowell’s eyes, lightly shook the fountain pen.

“Sign the proposal. Only then will everything…”

A low, eerie voice continued like a whisper.

“…be as if it never happened.”

A Word from the Author (Author’s Afterword)

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