chapter_0111

110 – Induced Delusion

110 – Induced Delusion

A heavy silence fell between Daniel and Magreff.

The ticking of the wall clock was clearly audible.

Within the artificially created stillness, the two men simply stared into each other’s eyes, silent.

Magreff appeared calm, but his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

‘Tell him the identity of the Imperial who is cooperating with me? Then that means the person who gave information to the Belmore Kingdom isn’t a double agent.’

Now that Daniel’s words had confirmed the man was an ally, he couldn’t easily hand him over.

He needed that man alive to continue obtaining useful information in the future.

‘But…’

If he didn’t tell the truth, there was no knowing what Daniel Steiner would do.

Daniel Steiner, holding the Crown Prince’s life in his hands, held the advantageous position in this negotiation.

‘Even so… Daniel Steiner wouldn’t kill the Crown Prince…’

From the Empire’s perspective, Crown Prince Bleff was a special human resource who could bring numerous advantages in negotiations with the Belmore Kingdom.

Magreff wanted to believe that Daniel Steiner wouldn’t kill such a Crown Prince, but looking into those black eyes, which revealed nothing of his thoughts, sent chills down his spine.

‘What should I do…’

Daniel, noticing Magreff’s hesitation, suddenly smiled.

Leaning back on the sofa, Daniel spoke as if chatting with a friend.

“Major Magreff, are you perhaps aware that I conducted armistice negotiations with the Foreign Minister of the Eldresia Kingdom?”

Magreff nodded.

It was a famous anecdote that every military personnel knew.

“I know. I know that you successfully concluded the armistice negotiations and even received Nordia and Wegenheim as concessions.”

“Since you know, it makes things easier. Then do you also remember what the Foreign Minister of the Eldresia Kingdom called me during those negotiations?”

Magreff hesitated to answer.

It didn’t seem like something that should be said in a negotiation setting.

However, Daniel simply waved his hand as if to say it didn’t matter.

“It’s alright. It’s already a famous saying, so everyone knows it.”

He couldn’t remain silent when Daniel had said so much.

Magreff swallowed nervously and, watching Daniel’s expression, opened his mouth.

“…He said you were a child of Satan in human skin.”

Daniel nodded in satisfaction upon hearing the answer.

“That’s right. A child of Satan. To be honest, as a devout believer who serves God, it’s not a pleasant thing to hear. But if you interpret it in another way, it’s not so bad. Why do you think that is?”

The repeated questions felt like a form of pressure.

Just as Magreff, unable to discern Daniel’s intentions, was hesitating, Daniel straightened his upper body, which had been leaning against the sofa.

“It’s because the Foreign Minister of the Eldresia Kingdom judged that my way of handling things was beyond the realm of human comprehension.”

Daniel leaned forward slightly and continued in a whisper.

“It’s the same as thinking that they couldn’t deal with me because I deviated from general expectations. Isn’t that the ultimate compliment for a strategist?”

Magreff was sweating profusely.

Daniel’s words seemed like self-praise at first glance, but the underlying meaning was, ‘Don’t expect me not to kill the Crown Prince.’

Magreff’s reason told him not to believe those words, but his emotions were already wavering.

Seeing Magreff’s breathing become labored, Daniel quietly asked a question.

“Alright. Then I’ll ask one last time. Who is the Imperial rat that cooperated with Major Magreff?”

Daniel asked again, but Magreff remained silent this time as well.

The wall of reason hadn’t yet crumbled under the surge of emotions.

Daniel, thinking that he shouldn’t give him time to think, picked up the radio and pressed the transmit button.

“Troops, move to firing positions. As I said before, this time it’s 100 rounds. Be ready to fire as soon as I signal-”

“Stop!”

Magreff’s shout echoed and disappeared within the reception room.

Magreff, as if unable to endure any longer, groaned and finally opened his mouth after much deliberation.

“I’ll talk. I’ll talk, so stop that heinous act.”

Daniel, watching Magreff silently, pressed the transmit button.

“All units, stand by at your firing positions. Cease fire unless I give further orders.”

Daniel, having canceled the firing order, placed the radio on the table.

Seeing this, Magreff took a deep breath and confessed the truth.

“…The one cooperating with the Belmore Kingdom is Kemble of the Empire.”

Daniel frowned upon hearing Magreff’s words.

‘Kemble, you say…’

The leader of the Liberty Socialist Party and a politician from a noble family.

He wasn’t particularly skilled politically, but there were rumors that he had risen to the position of party leader with the support of several high-ranking nobles.

‘Why would Kemble join hands with the Belmore Kingdom and attack me?’

Daniel shook his head, trying to figure out the reason.

It wasn’t too late to think about it after finishing this negotiation first.

“Thank you for telling me. Now that the story is over, let’s move on to the negotiation. Lucy?”

At Daniel’s call, Lucy, who had been waiting beside him, took out a document from her briefcase and handed it to him.

Daniel, having received the document, checked the contents once and then presented it to Magreff.

“This is the draft agreement. I believe it’s been written reasonably, but please feel free to point out any areas you wish to amend.”

Magreff glared at Daniel once before receiving the document.

The document stipulated the release of the Imperial engineer, Hans Zernmehart, and the provision of some strategic resources.

As Daniel had said, it was a reasonable draft agreement, so Magreff had no reason to refuse.

Having read the entire document, Magreff reached out to his aide, who took out a fountain pen from his pocket and handed it to Magreff.

Magreff, having received the fountain pen, signed both documents and handed one to Daniel.

Daniel, having confirmed the signature, handed the document to Lucy.

Lucy, having received the draft agreement, reconfirmed it and carefully placed it in her briefcase.

Daniel, thinking that the negotiation was now over, reached out and picked up his peaked cap from the table.

“Thank you for agreeing to the negotiation. We have prepared a separate place for you to rest, so please follow the guidance of our personnel after leaving the building.”

Daniel, having put on his peaked cap and picked up his radio, was about to get up when he raised his index finger.

“Ah. You’ll be staying at the Dellopolo Hotel for the next two days, and it’s rumored that their breakfast is delicious, so even if you’re tired, please don’t oversleep and be sure to try it.”

His expression was so nonchalant that it was hard to believe he had been threatening them just moments ago.

Magreff, displeased by this, clenched his fist and said.

“Daniel Steiner. I can’t understand what you’re thinking at all. Why are you digging your own grave?”

“Hmm? What do you mean by that?”

“It’s absurd. You not only threatened us with prisoners but also executed some of them by firing squad during the negotiation! Do you really not know that’s a clear violation of international law!”

Daniel blinked blankly as if he were puzzled.

“So… are you claiming that I threatened you with prisoners?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know now! Not only I but also my aide remember your words and actions exactly!”

The corners of Daniel’s mouth slowly rose as he looked at Magreff.

Then, as if unable to hold back any longer, he burst out laughing.

Thanks to Daniel’s sudden laughter, Magreff and his aide couldn’t help but be seized by a strange sense of fear.

Just as they were wondering what on earth was going on, Daniel raised his hand, wiped his eyes, and took out his radio.

“Ah, I’m sorry. It seems you’re greatly mistaken about something.”

Daniel, pressing the transmit button on the radio, said, unable to hide his laughter.

“Captain Burnard? Are you listening? If you are, please tell me the situation on your end. It seems Major Magreff is misunderstanding something.”

─ What misunderstanding are you talking about?

“It seems they think we’re conducting target practice on people. Is there any truth to that?”

After a moment, a dumbfounded voice came from the radio.

─ There’s no truth to that! We’re just hitting targets!

Daniel shrugged his shoulders upon hearing Burnard’s words.

“So it seems.”

Thanks to this, Magreff was frozen stiff.

‘Could it be…’

He now realized why the negotiation team, which had already been granted entry, had been stopped at the plaza under the pretext of a second inspection.

At the time, it seemed to have no connection, but judging from Daniel’s attitude now, it was to imprint the image of the execution of prisoners by firing squad in the plaza upon Magreff.

To overlay the image of ‘execution’ onto the ‘target practice’ mentioned in the reception room, the negotiation venue.

Daniel’s tardiness was also a kind of device to show that he was an unpredictable person whose inner thoughts could not be known, and at the same time, to make him appear to be an authoritative and arrogant person.

‘Looking back…’

Daniel Steiner had never once mentioned ‘execution’.

He had consistently referred to it as target practice, so it didn’t fall under the category of threats.

Only then did Magreff realize that he had been played by Daniel Steiner, and he was overcome with shock.

“Major Magreff.”

Daniel, who had been gazing intently at such Magreff, stood up from his seat.

“Considering the status of both countries, I will forgive the rudeness you have shown me.”

Daniel, having bid farewell by slightly lowering the brim of his peaked cap, turned to leave.

Magreff, staring blankly at Daniel’s back, raised his trembling hand and touched his forehead.

“Ah… Ah…”

Just as Magreff, blaming himself for having fallen for the devil’s trick, was feeling dizzy, Daniel left the reception room.

Immediately afterward, Magreff’s scream-filled shout was heard from behind, but Daniel did not turn around.

There was no need to pay attention to prey that had already been caught.

A word from the author (Author’s Afterword)

Thank you for the 40 coin donation, ins_575! Your precious coins…! I will use them in a useful way! Thank you!

Infinite thanks to all the readers who have read this!

Have a happy day today!

Then I’ll see you again tomorrow!