chapter_0172

171 – Is Daniel a God?

171 – Is Daniel a God?

Could there be a new turn of events? I had hoped for it, but it was a futile wish.

Manrad, realizing he was in a perfect position of subservience, spoke in a crawling voice.

“What do you intend to do with me…?”

There was no trace of hope on his face, which was soaked in despair.

Even if Daniel Steiner were to announce a firing squad, Manrad would have no power to resist.

Justifying his actions? The moment Daniel, now the Emergency Security General, reported to His Majesty the Emperor that “this man has assisted Duke Belvar, the leader of the collaborators, in biased reporting,” it would be over.

“His Majesty, who has endured the turmoil, would surely be furious with the nobility…”

There was no chance that Daniel Steiner’s words would be dismissed.

The articles he had published, favoring the nobility in exchange for sponsorship, had become his own trap.

As Manrad exhaled softly, thinking there was no way out, Daniel spoke again.

“Editor-in-Chief. If you simply follow my instructions, I will spare your life.”

Daniel Steiner’s voice was a soft temptation that echoed in his ears.

But to Manrad, it felt like another form of terror.

‘Just until a moment ago…’

Daniel had seemed ready to kill him, but now he was different.

As his opponent acknowledged defeat, devoid of any will to resist, he wore a smile that suggested pleasure.

As Manrad remained silent, unable to fathom Daniel Steiner’s true intentions, Daniel continued.

“Admit that you have reported biased articles and express your sense of responsibility for your mistakes by resigning. Isn’t that a very cheap price for your life?”

“…You mean resign?”

“Exactly. Furthermore, I would like you to appoint an outsider as your successor based on the fact that there is a biased atmosphere within the Imperial Daily.”

“Who should I…?”

“Appoint Wölm, the editor of the Melbarotten newspaper.”

Manrad’s eyes trembled.

‘The Melbarotten newspaper…’

He couldn’t help but know.

When he heard the news of Daniel Steiner’s return, various newspapers, including the Imperial Daily, criticized the incident, but only the Melbarotten newspaper did not.

They defended Daniel Steiner, suggesting it was too early to criticize without knowing the reasons for his return.

At that time, he couldn’t understand that behavior, but now, with Daniel mentioning the Melbarotten newspaper, everything became clear.

‘The Melbarotten newspaper was Daniel Steiner’s mouthpiece.’

Manrad bit his lip.

To place the editor of the Melbarotten newspaper in the position of editor-in-chief of the Imperial Daily meant that the largest daily newspaper in the empire would belong to Daniel Steiner.

It was as if he was handing over everything he had achieved to Daniel Steiner, but Manrad could not refuse.

Because it was Daniel Steiner who held his life in his hands.

“…I will inform the publisher.”

“Good thinking. And just in case, let me say this…”

Daniel, who had grabbed Manrad’s shoulder, whispered quietly.

“A long tongue gets cut off.”

It was a warning not to disclose this matter externally and that any actions beyond his orders would not be tolerated.

As Manrad, frozen in place, nodded, Daniel smiled and left the office.

Then, the employees who had been hiding under desks or standing in a daze turned to look at Daniel.

Daniel glanced at the Imperial Daily staff and casually spoke.

“It seems there are many political reporters here. Some faces look familiar. They were the ones who persistently tried to secure an interview with me in the past, weren’t they? Am I right?”

Daniel pointed at a reporter and laughed playfully, but the atmosphere only grew heavier.

“I haven’t seen the others before, but they are probably from the editing or proofreading teams. I believe there are also people working in publishing, printing, advertising, and sales.”

The only sound that faintly reached his ears was the swallowing of saliva by the employees.

“I believe you have done nothing wrong. You were merely carrying out orders from above. Therefore, I will not hold you accountable.”

No one felt relieved.

Because Daniel Steiner’s words were not yet finished.

“However, I am not saying I will grant you a pardon.”

Daniel Steiner continued to speak with a smile, but the implication was a threat directed at the employees.

“If any of you decide to continue writing biased articles out of rebelliousness after today…”

After a brief silence, Daniel opened his mouth.

“Things will not end peacefully as they did today.”

The reporters’ faces turned pale.

Some of the editorial staff, who had been hiding under desks, were so startled they began to gasp.

Thinking he had given enough of a warning, Daniel turned to a nearby soldier and said.

“Withdraw.”

The soldier nodded and relayed the command to the surroundings.

As the atmosphere grew chaotic, Daniel quietly walked out of the building.

Upon exiting, he saw Pelf waiting in front of a military jeep with the driver.

As Pelf saluted, Daniel waved it off casually.

“Colonel Daniel. Did everything go well?”

“It was almost too easy.”

As Daniel approached, the driver opened the back door for him.

After Daniel got in, Pelf opened the door to the passenger seat and entered.

Then, as the soldier took the driver’s seat and started the engine, Pelf turned to Daniel.

“Colonel, if it’s not too much trouble, may I ask what the next plan is?”

“The next plan? Are you asking if we will root out the remnants of the noble alliance?”

“Yes. Even if they are remnants, they are nobles holding the empire’s interests. If we do not eradicate them, there is a possibility they will incite turmoil again.”

While the exaggeration was excessive, it was not entirely without merit.

However, the moment they entered the den to catch their prey, they would only hide deeper.

Knowing this, Daniel replied nonchalantly.

“For the time being, we will do nothing.”

As the engine roared to life, the vehicle headed toward the Central Security Agency.

Pelf, taken aback by Daniel’s words of doing nothing, hesitated before speaking.

“May I ask what your intention is?”

“Major Pelf. The news of my visit to the Imperial Daily will soon spread like wildfire. Is that not so? The remnants of the noble alliance will also hear that I did not imprison the editor-in-chief but merely relieved him of his position.”

“Oh. You don’t mean…”

Daniel nodded.

“Then the head of the Security Agency will support the establishment of the security monitoring bureau proposed by Daniel Steiner to His Majesty the Emperor. What do you think the remnants of the nobility will think upon seeing this?”

“…They will likely think that if they make a deal with Colonel Daniel, they can preserve their lives without punishment. This will cause internal fractures. After all, no one knows who might betray them.”

There would surely be nobles who would choose to betray rather than be betrayed.

Was it not called using another’s knife to kill?

Daniel had set the stage for the nobles to stab and kill each other.

Pelf, feeling a chill run down his spine, quietly observed Daniel’s profile.

That iron-blooded man seemed willing to do anything for the empire.

Yet Daniel’s true feelings were far from Pelf’s imagination.

‘Because of you, my retirement has turned to dust. Now, even the slightest chance of retiring has vanished. Do you dare to bind me to the empire for life?’

As Daniel gazed out at the scenery, he clenched his teeth.

‘I will make you feel my pain too.’

He thought of the remnants of the nobility hiding somewhere.

He would make them pay dearly for this.

–

A few days later, at 11 Melbarotten Newspaper.

“Yes. This is Wölm, editor of the Melbarotten newspaper. How can I help you?”

As usual, Wölm answered the phone, but he was taken aback by the words coming from the other end.

“You say you’re the publisher of the Imperial Daily?”

It was only natural to be surprised when the CEO of the Imperial Daily suddenly called.

Tom, who had been talking with Wölm in the office, was equally astonished.

“Wölm? The Imperial Daily? What’s going on?”

Wölm raised a finger to signal for silence and continued the call.

“Yes. That is correct. However… Yes!? Me? You say I can bring all the staff from the Melbarotten newspaper? Is that really true? No, of course, I’m not saying I don’t want to.”

Wölm, who was continuing the call with an excited demeanor, bowed his head to the unseen caller.

“Oh my. I thank you even more. Yes, I will keep that in mind. I will prepare as quickly as possible. Yes! Thank you!”

After ending the call, Wölm set down the receiver.

Then, with a somewhat dazed expression, he looked at Tom.

“Tom, I just got a call from the Imperial Daily…”

“You did?”

“They offered me the position of editor-in-chief of the Imperial Daily.”

Tom’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“The editor-in-chief of the Imperial Daily? You’re not joking, are you?”

“No. At first, I thought it was a joke, but after hearing the voice, it was indeed the CEO of the Imperial Daily. How could I forget that distinctive voice? And what about that unique way of speaking?”

“Even so, does it make sense? Why would they suddenly contact you…?”

“It’s not sudden.”

Wölm had a hunch.

“You know that Colonel Daniel visited the Imperial Daily recently.”

“Then you mean Colonel Daniel…”

“Yes. If it weren’t for him, it wouldn’t make sense for them to contact us out of all the newspapers.”

As Tom stood there with his mouth agape, Wölm let out a laugh.

“He’s really giving us an unbelievable gift. Something we can’t even handle. I knew from the start that Colonel Daniel would become a great figure.”

Tom frowned at Wölm’s lightheartedness.

‘What nonsense is this?’

Tom vividly remembered Wölm crying and wailing when he first teamed up with Daniel, claiming he had made a pact with the devil.

But for Wölm, such trivial pasts no longer mattered.

Jumping up from his seat, Wölm declared.

“Tom! I think we need to prepare for a move, so let’s start packing. And while we’re at it, bring along a picture of His Majesty the Emperor and Colonel Daniel Steiner. I plan to frame them and hang them in the editor-in-chief’s office.”

Nodding, Tom stood up and left the office.

Left alone, Wölm calmed his racing heart with joy and thought of Daniel.

‘They say the line between god and devil is thin.’

The figure he had once feared now felt like an omnipotent god.

Not only had he saved the Melbarotten newspaper from bankruptcy, but he had also secured the position of editor-in-chief of the largest daily newspaper in the empire, the Imperial Daily.

‘I think I understand why people believe in religion.’

Having a guiding presence was a better thing than he had imagined.

Wölm resolved to run the Imperial Daily for Daniel Steiner.

‘To repay this grace…’

He would willingly offer to be his loyal subordinate.