chapter_0157

156 – It’s Not Easy to Refuse

156 – It’s Not Easy to Refuse

The news that Daniel Steiner was leading the division drained the color from the faces of the nobles, including Belvar.

Just moments ago, the nobles, who had been asserting their interests, were now looking at each other in disbelief, their faces reflecting a near-paralyzing fear.

A young nobleman mustered the courage to speak up.

“…Is this even possible? Daniel Steiner is leading the 7th Armored Division here? What gives him the authority to command a division?”

Upon hearing the young noble’s words, Pelliston replied.

“It is said that the commander of the 7th Armored Division was killed in action due to enemy bombardment. As a result, the current chief of staff, Daniel Steiner, is acting as the deputy commander.”

Pelliston’s words stirred a murmur within the assembly hall.

“The commander died in a bombing? Just as we were seizing the Imperial City?”

“I can’t make sense of it either! The timing is too coincidental! Could it be that Daniel Steiner…?”

“It’s a wild speculation, but there’s a possibility he killed the commander to take control of the army and disguised it as a death from bombardment.”

That last remark came from Belvar.

Though Belvar prefaced it with ‘wild speculation,’ few nobles took it lightly.

Considering Daniel Steiner’s notorious reputation, such a scenario was entirely plausible.

“…So what should we do now?”

“Your Excellency! We cannot allow Daniel Steiner to enter the Imperial City!”

“Indeed! We must do everything we can to stop him!”

The voices of the nobles echoed loudly in the assembly hall, but they were not wrong.

Daniel Steiner was a war hero and a figure who enjoyed overwhelming support from the populace.

The moment he entered the Imperial City and raised his voice, claiming, ‘The noble alliance has betrayed us and oppresses His Majesty the Emperor!’ a civil war would be inevitable.

‘The side that loses in that civil war will…’

Most likely be the noble alliance.

The strength would undoubtedly lie with Daniel Steiner, backed by the people.

‘Then we must settle this before Daniel Steiner arrives at the Imperial City…’

This side faced difficulties as well.

To organize a suppression force to stop Daniel Steiner, they would need to contact the stationed troops in each city.

To tell them to block the traitor Daniel Steiner, who was retreating from the front lines.

The stationed troops, upon receiving the message, would naturally want to understand why Daniel Steiner was retreating.

In that process, they would discover that the Imperial Intelligence Agency had intentionally transmitted false information to the 7th Armored Division, and in the worst-case scenario, they would realize that the Imperial City had been occupied by the noble alliance.

If that happened, the stationed troops would be more likely to support Daniel Steiner rather than try to stop him.

‘Creating a suppression force is a card that cannot be played without personnel reorganization.’

In that case, they had to use the Guards Division of the Defense Command, which was currently available, to block the 7th Armored Division, but that was nearly impossible.

Due to the nature of the Guards Division, they could not completely vacate the Imperial City, and even if they mobilized all their forces to confront the 7th Armored Division, victory could not be guaranteed.

Consider this.

It would be a clash between the veteran 7th Armored Division, which had experienced numerous battles on the front lines, and the Guards Division, which had been handling administrative tasks safely in the Imperial City.

Moreover, the one leading the 7th Armored Division now was Daniel Steiner, known as a genius staff officer.

In a typical contest, the probability of defeat was already high, and in a fight against the armored division led by Daniel Steiner, defeat was assured.

‘What should I do…?’

Belvar raised his hand to his forehead and let out a low sigh.

Then suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.

‘…The reason we cannot establish a suppression force right now is due to a lack of justification. If we can succeed in creating justification on our side, Daniel Steiner will be unable to exert his power and will surrender.’

If they could brand Daniel Steiner as a ‘true traitor,’ they could justify everything the noble alliance had done until now.

“Good.”

Belvar, who had thought of a clever move, lifted his head.

“Deputy Director! Go to the Defense Commander immediately and tell him! To use the armored regiment of the Guards Division to deliver the Emperor’s decree!”

“…The decree, you say?”

“Yes. The content of the decree should be something like ‘Traitor Daniel Steiner, halt your advance and surrender.’ Deputy Director, how do you think Daniel Steiner will react upon hearing this order?”

After a moment of thought, the Deputy Director had a slight realization.

“He will likely ignore the order and attack the armored regiment. After all, Daniel Steiner is also in a position where he cannot turn back now that he has retreated.”

“And what do you think will happen then?”

“The commanders of the stationed troops in each city will think that Daniel Steiner is truly committing treason. Moreover, the noble alliance will appear to be the force trying to stop him.”

The noble alliance would step forward to protect the Imperial City and the Emperor from Daniel Steiner.

Realizing this, Daniel Steiner would be furious that the situation in the Imperial City was not going his way, and after eliminating the commander of the unit he belonged to, he would take that position and advance toward the Imperial City.

‘Perfect.’

Though it was built on lies, if Daniel Steiner were to attack the armored regiment that had come to deliver the Emperor’s command, it would truly be a case of incitement disguised as truth.

If the story progressed to that point, the populace would turn against him, and the suppression force could be easily established.

For Belvar, it was the best possible move.

“If you understand, convey my opinion to the Defense Commander.”

With the attention of the nobles focused on him, Belvar quietly continued.

“Prepare a massive trap for the wolf.”

–

Upon hearing Belvar’s opinion, the Defense Commander judged that there was no other option and sent out the armored regiment.

Under the pretext of delivering the Emperor’s decree, the armored regiment left the Imperial City and, after several days of movement, set up camp in the plains that the 7th Armored Division had to pass through.

The 7th Armored Division, advancing rapidly toward the Imperial City with dust swirling around, briefly halted upon spotting the armored regiment under the Guards Division of the Defense Command in the plains.

Seeing this, the armored regiment sent a messenger to the 7th Armored Division, claiming it was the Emperor’s command, urging that ‘Daniel Steiner must immediately halt his advance and surrender.’

Upon hearing the claim of the Emperor’s command, the 7th Armored Division responded to the messenger, asking for ‘a moment to consider,’ before sending the messenger back.

And the next day.

‘There are an absurd number of them. Is that a division that has fought in two major battles?’

Lieutenant Reckela, on guard duty at the forward observation post, lowered his binoculars and let out a sigh.

‘About 140 tanks, along with armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery, and towed artillery all appear to be intact. They’ve fought in two battles and yet suffered almost no losses.’

Reckela, genuinely impressed, chuckled softly when a soldier approached him.

“…Sir, how do you think the 7th Armored Division will respond?”

At the soldier’s question, Reckela shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t know? I heard from higher-ups that the 7th Armored Division has been ordered to prepare for a retreat in case of an attack. They say they haven’t offloaded much supplies either.”

“Then did Colonel Daniel Steiner really commit treason?”

“If I knew that, would I be here doing this?”

Indeed, it was unlikely that a mere lieutenant at the bottom of the military hierarchy would know the details of the incident.

The soldier, having shrugged his shoulders, inadvertently glanced toward the 7th Armored Division and froze.

A military vehicle was approaching, kicking up dust from a distance.

“L-Lieutenant! Look! Something is coming!”

At the soldier’s excitement, Reckela turned his gaze and raised his binoculars to confirm.

Just as the soldier said, a vehicle was approaching at high speed.

“…What is it? A messenger?”

Since they had advised surrender, it was now time to hear a response from the other side.

“Everyone, raise your rifles. Just in case.”

As Reckela warned, the soldiers tightened their grips on their rifles, tense.

After waiting for a while, the military vehicle from the 7th Armored Division entered within range.

As the unaware soldiers readied their rifles, the vehicle gradually slowed down and came to a stop in front of the observation post.

Seeing this, Reckela walked toward the vehicle.

“Stop! Stop! Turn off the engine and disembark!”

Following Reckela’s command, the driver turned off the engine and opened the door.

As the driver stepped out, Reckela froze on the spot.

“…Huh?”

The one who got out was not a messenger.

The man was wearing a black uniform, and the Grand Cross and National Virtue Medal gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.

‘Daniel Steiner?’

The traitor the Defense Commander had ordered to be captured.

Caught off guard by the unexpected appearance, Reckela was at a loss for words when Daniel turned his head and locked eyes with him.

An inexplicable sense of pressure emanated from his abyss-like black eyes.

“State your name and rank.”

There was no need to state his name and rank to Daniel Steiner, who was treated as a traitor.

However, contrary to his thoughts, Reckela’s mouth opened automatically.

“I am Lieutenant Reckela, the squad leader on duty at the forward observation post!”

As the squad leader stated his name and rank, the soldiers also lowered their rifles aimed at Daniel.

They could not bring themselves to point their rifles at Daniel Steiner, the hero of the Empire.

After glancing around at them, Daniel spoke in a low voice.

“Open the gate of the post. I have something to discuss with the unit commander.”

That couldn’t be allowed.

According to orders, they were supposed to bind Daniel here and take him to the regiment commander.

Yet Reckela’s body did not move.

Knowing something didn’t mean he could act on it.

Daniel shot him a sidelong glance.

“Lieutenant. Don’t make me say it twice.”

His voice was chillingly cold, laced with refined anger.

Exposed to that gaze, Reckela unconsciously bowed his head.

“Y-Yes, understood!”

Only after hastily responding did Reckela realize that he could not refuse the orders of the hero standing before him.