chapter_0224

223 – The Chief of Staff? I Understand the Intent

223 – The Chief of Staff? I Understand the Intent

Colonel Sampe, who was leading the temporary division of the Allied Forces, raised the white flag after much deliberation.

It was an unavoidable choice.

With communication with headquarters cut off and unable to push back Daniel Steiner’s brigade, there was no chance of victory with the Magic Mobile Corps from the Imperial Army closing in.

Moreover, Daniel Steiner had threatened to kill all the commanders if they did not surrender, leaving Sampe in a dire situation.

Once the ceasefire was confirmed, Daniel moved his troops in, confiscated all the weapons of the Allied soldiers, and gathered them in one place.

In accordance with the agreement, Daniel granted the surrendered Allied Forces the rights of war prisoners and designated a few more temporary detention facilities in Penbarch.

Only after ordering the transport of the Allied prisoners to those facilities could Daniel finally take a break.

Though that break merely consisted of sipping the coffee Lucy had made for him while watching the Allied soldiers board military transport trucks.

“Congratulations on your victory, Brigade Commander. I suppose we can say that Penbarch has been completely captured now,” Lucy said.

Daniel nodded at her words.

“It was a tough journey. Just when I thought it would end easily, things got tangled up,” he replied.

“I think it’s impressive. You managed to untangle it well, Brigade Commander.”

“I was just lucky.”

At Daniel’s jest, Lucy smiled faintly.

She knew that it was not something that could simply be attributed to luck.

Still, she decided not to mention that fact.

She knew Daniel did not want that.

As Daniel quietly enjoyed the moment in silence, he raised his cup.

The warm aroma of coffee tickled his nose.

Looking down at the coffee, Daniel suddenly spoke.

“By the way, where did Frien go? I heard she was quite active on the battlefield.”

“I believe Lieutenant Frien is currently focused on treating the wounded,” Lucy replied.

“Is that so? Well, there must be many injured besides the third company. If I run into her later, please tell her I’m very grateful.”

After saying this, Daniel took a sip of his coffee.

As he did, Lucy discreetly observed his profile.

The dark circles under his eyes seemed to have deepened due to lack of sleep, causing her concern.

Just as she thought he should rest a little, Daniel spoke again.

“Speaking of which.”

Daniel suddenly chuckled.

“I just remembered, did you make that doll yourself? It doesn’t seem like the servants of the mansion would have made it.”

Doll? What doll? Lucy tilted her head in confusion, and Daniel grinned mischievously.

“I saw our young lady hugging a doll that looked just like me on the last day in your world.”

Oh. Only then did Lucy realize what Daniel was talking about, her eyes widening.

She had hidden it right when Daniel barged in, but it seemed she had been found out.

As Lucy, flustered, struggled to find words, Daniel continued, trying to suppress his laughter.

“To think our young lady cared for me that much is truly touching. But if it was such a well-made doll, wouldn’t it have been fine to show it off to me?”

It would not have been fine at all.

If he found out that she had been cuddling a ‘Daniel Steiner doll’ every night before bed, she would never be able to show her face again.

“Childish…”

With her face flushed and fidgeting, Lucy spoke in a barely audible voice.

“It was just a childish whim from my youth.”

“Is that so?”

Daniel nodded as if he understood, which only intensified her embarrassment.

As Lucy glared at him, Daniel could not hold back his laughter.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know my adjutant would be so embarrassed. Everyone has one or two embarrassing secrets from that age, so don’t worry about it. I’m not much different.”

“…Are you saying you also have an embarrassing past, Brigade Commander?”

“Of course.”

As Daniel finished his coffee, he recalled his past.

“When I was a child, I thought that if I ate fruit seeds, they would grow inside me. So, on the day I accidentally ate a grape seed, I cried all day. Do you know what I told the head of the monastery at that time?”

As Lucy blinked, not knowing, Daniel pretended to look around before whispering quietly.

“I said, ‘Headmaster! I’m going to turn into a grape tomorrow! Please save me!’”

Hearing that, Lucy couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Even though it was when he was young, it was so unlike Daniel’s usual image.

Once she composed herself, Lucy looked at Daniel in surprise.

“You had a time when you thought so innocently, Brigade Commander.”

“Childhood is the only time when innocent thoughts aren’t scolded. But now that we know each other’s childhood secrets, how about we keep it strictly between us? It would be troublesome if others found out.”

At his playful tone, Lucy nodded.

“Alright. I will keep it to myself.”

Satisfied with her answer, Daniel chuckled softly and looked ahead.

He could see the soldiers loading the prisoners onto trucks.

As Lucy quietly watched, her eyes widened slightly.

“War will end someday, won’t it?”

“Of course.”

It was an immediate response.

“When that day comes…”

After a brief pause, Daniel murmured softly.

“I should put your doll-making skills on the front page of the newspaper.”

Lucy’s face flushed bright red, caught off guard.

“…Brigade Commander! Didn’t you just say it was a secret!”

As Lucy flared up, telling him to stop, Daniel burst into laughter.

Truly, he found great amusement in teasing his adjutant.

–

Meanwhile, in the grand conference hall of the Imperial Palace.

In a place where the key figures of the Empire had gathered, the ministers took turns reporting to Selvia, who sat in the seat of honor.

After various discussions, the last to report was the Chief of Staff, Arman.

At first, Arman elaborated on the situation at the front lines, but in the end, he conveyed that Daniel Steiner had completely captured Penbarch.

Naturally, he explained the process in detail, and various emotions surfaced on the faces of the ministers who were quietly listening.

The first to raise a question was Schiller, the Minister of the National Propaganda Department.

“Wait a minute. So, to summarize the Chief of Staff’s words, the enemy division-level troops attacked Penbarch using Etherium for a raid? At that time, Brigadier General Daniel Steiner was isolated? And he managed to escape alone through the enemy’s encirclement?”

After organizing his thoughts, Schiller continued in disbelief.

“Then Brigadier General Daniel joined the retreating Allied brigade and lured the enemy across the bridge to the west while moving his troops north?”

“That is correct. The General Staff assisted Brigadier General Daniel Steiner with his plan.”

“Right. According to the Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Daniel successfully deceived the enemy and exploded the dam at the right moment, submerging the enemy armored battalion and completely blocking their retreat route.”

Swallowing hard, Schiller looked at the Chief of Staff.

“Brigadier General Daniel, who isolated the majority of the enemy forces, advanced to Penbarch and recaptured the city. In the process, he achieved the remarkable feat of forcing the enemy command to retreat. Naturally, the temporary division of the Allied Forces lost communication with their command.”

“You understand correctly.”

“And… during the period of recapturing the city, you found evidence that the Allied Forces were conducting biological experiments? Are you talking about the Allied Forces’ disgrace that our National Propaganda Department and Intelligence Agency have been searching for?”

Once again, Arman nodded as if it were true.

“That is correct. Subsequently, Brigadier General Daniel Steiner succeeded in completely capturing Penbarch by subduing the enemy’s temporary division.”

“No. This is truly…”

Glancing at Emperor Selvia, Schiller lowered his voice.

“Is this really true? I want to believe it, but I can’t quite wrap my head around it. How can one person achieve such a feat?”

As if agreeing with Schiller, the ministers began to murmur among themselves.

Watching this scene quietly, Selvia let out a low sigh.

“Are you saying that the Chief of Staff is lying to me?”

As Selvia spoke, the ministers lowered their heads in silence.

As Selvia surveyed the ministers, she narrowed her eyes.

“The Empire needs to be more united than ever. But should we undermine the achievements of a general active on the front lines just because we find it hard to believe? Since this matter has been confirmed, I hope you will put aside your doubts.”

With that, Selvia raised her hand lightly.

“Let’s conclude here for today. You may all leave.”

At Selvia’s dismissal, the ministers deeply bowed their heads and began to rise one by one.

As everyone started to leave the conference hall, Chief of Staff Arman began to organize the documents he had brought.

Just as he was about to stand up, Selvia spoke.

“Chief of Staff.”

Wondering what it was, Arman sat back down.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Only after confirming that all the ministers had left did Selvia open her mouth.

“I understand.”

“…What do you mean?”

“The current Empire needs someone who has the support of both the people and the military. To unite the Empire, the chances of victory in the war must be increased even slightly. Originally, that role should be mine, but due to Duke Belvar’s treason, I have lost credibility.”

With a tone of resignation, Selvia continued.

“Therefore, I believe it is right for me to lend my support to Brigadier General Daniel Steiner. I will cooperate moving forward, so there is no need for you to worry.”

It was a statement that even if she exaggerated Daniel Steiner’s achievements, she would pretend to believe it in front of the ministers.

Understanding the implication, Arman chuckled softly.

“Your Majesty, while it is my mission to lead the Empire to victory, I have no intention of lying to you.”

“Huh? Then, could it be…?”

“Yes. Everything Brigadier General Daniel Steiner has done is entirely true.”

Selvia blinked in disbelief.

“…Really?”

Though she did not show it in front of the ministers, Selvia also found it hard to believe.