chapter_0113

112 – A Wolf Cornered

112 – A Wolf Cornered

About a fortnight after the negotiations were successfully concluded, the Belmore Kingdom sent engineers from the Empire, including Hans Zernmehart, to Barheim.

After confirming the identities of the engineers, Daniel sent a large contingent, including the Crown Prince, back to the Belmore Kingdom and requested to return to the headquarters.

The headquarters, unable to leave Daniel Steiner, who had successfully completed his mission, on the battlefield, accepted his request to return.

Thanks to this, Daniel escorted the engineers, including Hans Zernmehart, towards the Imperial City, and after safely arriving there, he requested an audience with Her Highness the Princess.

It was not the royal family that summoned him; it was Daniel Steiner who directly requested the audience.

Such an action was not something a mere operational staff officer and junior officer could take, but if that officer’s name was Daniel Steiner, the situation was different.

The royal family could not dare to ignore Daniel Steiner’s request, so they informed the princess, and Selvia accepted it despite her busy schedule.

“Colonel Daniel Steiner.”

Thus, Daniel was able to meet Selvia, who was seated on the imperial throne in the audience chamber.

Whether it was due to the atmosphere or not, Selvia seemed somehow more mature.

Having experienced more than expected during the month and a half he was on mission, Selvia’s appearance was now closer to that of a lady than a girl.

With her tired, blue eyes blinking, Selvia opened her delicate lips.

“Did you wish to see me?”

In the audience chamber adorned with a red carpet, Daniel knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

“Yes. I apologize for taking up the time of Your Highness, who is busy with affairs of state, but I deemed it necessary to speak directly to you regarding an urgent matter.”

“Whether it is an apology or not, I will decide after hearing what you have to say. Please proceed.”

“Understood. The truth is…”

Daniel recounted everything he had experienced to Selvia.

He explained that the sudden attack by Crown Prince Bleff of the Belmore Kingdom was suspicious, and upon investigating separately at the negotiation site, he discovered that Kemble, the leader of the Liberty Socialist Party, was leaking confidential information.

Selvia’s expression grew serious as she listened to the entire story.

Daniel had already informed her that he had turned Crown Prince Bleff’s surprise attack against him to secure victory.

However, hearing for the first time that Kemble, the leader of the Liberty Socialist Party, had leaked imperial secrets was shocking.

If all of this was true, it was undoubtedly an “urgent matter,” as Daniel had said.

“Is it really true? Is there truly not a single lie in this matter…?”

“Yes. If you wish for a witness, I can call my aide, who is waiting outside the audience chamber. My aide was also present at the negotiation site and can corroborate my account.”

One of Selvia’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

She was displeased that Daniel mentioned his aide.

“I am not asking for a witness; I am inquiring about your intentions, Daniel Steiner. If you are confident in your claims, then speak with your head held high.”

Daniel raised his head and replied with a serious expression.

“I am certain.”

Given such a declaration, it was not appropriate to continue pressing him.

‘If he wants to bring his aide as a witness, it seems he is not lying…’

Daniel Steiner was not someone who would report falsely in the first place.

Trusting Daniel, Selvia raised her hand and lightly nodded.

It was a gesture meaning she would believe him and for him to rise from his position, so Daniel nodded in response.

As Daniel stood up, Selvia placed her hands on the armrests of the imperial throne.

“Colonel Daniel. So what is it that you desire from me?”

With the conversation turning to the main point, Daniel opened his mouth after a brief moment of contemplation.

“I would like you to grant me temporary investigative authority to closely examine the incident.”

According to imperial law, if a politician posing a military threat was discovered, temporary investigative authority could be granted to military personnel under the Collaborators Eradication Act until the matter was resolved.

Daniel Steiner was requesting that this authority be granted to him based on that law.

It was a reasonable request, but it was somewhat delicate from Selvia’s perspective.

“…You must know that granting investigative authority to a colonel is not such a simple matter.”

The moment Selvia empowered Daniel, there was a possibility that nobles claiming the legitimacy of the royal family would rise in rebellion.

It was obvious they would oppose a mere orphan like Daniel Steiner investigating a politician of noble birth.

“Colonel Daniel? How about reconsidering? Wouldn’t it be better to leave the investigation to the Security Agency or the Military Police?”

“Your Highness, the leader of a political party is acting as a collaborator. What does this imply? It means there are likely corrupt individuals in both the Security Agency and the Military Police.”

Selvia fell silent.

Daniel’s words were not incorrect.

“Even if I ordered them to investigate, a proper investigation would not be conducted. Therefore, I intend to investigate the leader of the Liberty Socialist Party myself to determine how far its roots extend.”

“…I understand your intentions. However, if you do not secure proper evidence, even I will not be able to protect you, Colonel.”

The testimony of an enemy division commander alone could not prove that Kemble was a collaborator.

Thus, Daniel inevitably had to extract a confession from Kemble or gather evidence.

If he failed to secure evidence proving that Kemble was a traitor to the Empire during that process, Daniel would face attacks from the nobles and be brought to trial.

Nobles harboring animosity towards Daniel would do everything in their power to increase the severity of the charges, and in the worst-case scenario, he could even face the death penalty.

Selvia could not understand why he was willing to take such risks, but for Daniel, there were no options.

‘If I cannot strike a blow against them this time, it will only be a matter of whether I die quickly or slowly.’

He had to show how far a cornered wolf would bare its teeth, so that they would also think twice about their actions.

“I do not seek protection. I simply wish to dedicate myself to you, Your Highness, and to this Empire. Therefore, I sincerely ask that you grant me investigative authority. I will take full responsibility for everything.”

Hiding his true intentions of self-preservation, Daniel bowed as respectfully as he could.

Though Selvia did not want to accept it, she could not refuse Daniel’s first request.

Ultimately, Selvia, having decided to trust Daniel, nodded.

“Understood. I will write a letter of delegation, so please conduct a thorough investigation. However…”

Selvia continued, looking down at Daniel.

“The timeframe is until before the coronation. I detest any rumors circulating during the coronation ceremony. Do you understand my words?”

It was a command to handle matters as quickly as possible and report back.

Even if he failed to produce results, it meant that after the coronation, Selvia, having received full imperial authority, would retract the investigative authority to appease the nobles.

This was said solely for Daniel’s sake, and Daniel, knowing this, placed his hand on his chest with a faint smile.

“I will keep that in mind, Your Highness.”

“Very well. Now you may take your leave.”

With Selvia’s order to depart, Daniel saluted respectfully and turned to leave.

As Daniel was about to exit, the guards opened the door for him, revealing a long corridor.

There, Lucy was also waiting.

“Colonel Daniel.”

As Daniel stepped into the corridor, Lucy followed him.

“Did the conversation go well?”

Walking down the corridor, Daniel casually opened his mouth.

“Yes. Her Highness has agreed to write a letter of delegation, so I will head to Kemble’s residence as soon as dawn breaks tomorrow. Prepare soldiers for this, and bring me a bullet without gunpowder.”

What on earth does he need a bullet without gunpowder for? Lucy wondered, but since Daniel always exhibited unexpected behavior, she refrained from asking.

“Understood. I will prepare quickly.”

Nodding at Lucy’s words, Daniel moved forward with a troubled expression in his eyes.

As they walked side by side, Lucy gazed at Daniel, suddenly recalling the time in the Barheim Brigade headquarters office when he had been reminiscing about the woman he had lost.

For some reason, Daniel’s gaze now felt similar to how it had been back then.

“Colonel Daniel.”

Knowing it was not the right time to speak, but feeling the need to apologize, Lucy cautiously opened her mouth.

“I inadvertently overheard you muttering while looking at a photograph in the brigade headquarters the other day. Since I don’t think I will have time tomorrow, I wanted to apologize now.”

A photograph? Wondering what she meant, Daniel turned to look at Lucy and soon understood.

“It was merely a recollection of old memories, so there is no need to apologize. It is sad that the child has left me, but it is ultimately just the past.”

“…It seems you were quite close.”

“She was an irreplaceable friend. I even made her a birthday gift with my own hands for the first time in my life.”

“A gift, you say?”

“Oh. It was a dog collar made of fine leather. Kelly loved to wear it while going for walks.”

Lucy, who had been listening to the story, suddenly stopped in her tracks.

‘A dog collar as a birthday gift?’

In her surprise, Lucy’s eyes widened as she unconsciously hugged the documents in her arms.

‘…But that woman liked to wear a dog collar while going for walks?’

Lucy could not comprehend Daniel’s words at all.