chapter_0230

229 – There is an Easy Way

229 – There is an Easy Way

Ellekar, caught in Daniel’s gaze, swallowed hard.

The sharp glint of conviction in Daniel’s eyes sent a chill down Ellekar’s spine.

When Ellekar failed to respond, Daniel leaned forward.

“Listen carefully. Right now, I want the Empire to win more than anyone else.”

As long as he was trapped in the military, he had to bet everything on the Empire’s victory for his own survival.

The moment they lost, he would become a war criminal and lose his head.

There was nowhere left to retreat.

“Yet, most politicians try to interfere with the military at every turn. And they do so with bias. When the military wins, it’s taken for granted, and when the military loses, they are criticized for incompetence, aren’t they?”

“That’s…”

“Instead of encouraging the soldiers, they continue to criticize them as if they had made a pact. Once, they called a general who lost a battle a coward. Do you remember who that was?”

Ellekar, who had been listening to the story, nodded.

“General Degleo Lebletu. Four years ago, he was ambushed by the enemy on the Eastern Front and was defeated. I know that the Liberty Socialist Party and the Labor Union Party heavily criticized him for this.”

“It was to cover up their own flaws. They were in the midst of a scandal for receiving illegal political funds. As a result, General Degleo resigned, feeling responsible.”

A general who had stayed on the battlefield to command and protect even one more soldier, even losing an arm in the process, was branded ‘incompetent’ and forced to resign.

“The price of losing a capable general is never small. By losing General Degleo, the military would have shed a little more blood. But have the politicians in the Imperial City ever seen blood?”

Ellekar bit his lip and lowered his gaze, feeling guilty.

“…No.”

Daniel, who had been watching him silently, leaned back.

“You must know it too. Most politicians are not working for the country and its people right now. They are only raising their voices for personal gain and honor.”

A low sigh escaped from Daniel’s lips.

“Ellekar. Soon summer will pass and autumn will come. When the harvest season ends, the winter offensive will begin. At that time, the Empire, as well as the Allied Nations and the Republic, will do their best. Perhaps a battle that will determine the fate of the Empire will break out.”

Daniel paused briefly before continuing.

“I want to win that battle. That’s all I wish for.”

It was a declaration that he would eliminate all those who caused internal division for the sake of the Empire’s victory.

Ellekar, understanding his meaning, raised his gaze.

Looking at Daniel, Ellekar somehow felt that his words were not a lie.

His weary face lacked the ambition characteristic of those who craved power.

Still, not being entirely sure, Ellekar probed Daniel’s intentions.

“You said that this single-party proposal is solely for the Empire’s victory. Then, the moment the Empire wins…”

“If possible, I will give up everything I have.”

It was an immediate answer.

Ellekar was inwardly surprised and looked at Daniel.

Before him was not a general trying to completely seize the Empire by gaining political power, but a general struggling solely for the Empire’s victory.

“I don’t think His Majesty the Emperor would let go of someone like Brigadier General Daniel Steiner…”

Ellekar, regaining his smile, continued.

“Your last statement has given me faith. And it seems I have no other choice anyway.”

“Does that mean…”

“I will cooperate. I agree with eradicating corrupt politicians.”

Hearing Ellekar’s confirmation, Daniel inwardly sighed in relief.

If Ellekar had refused, things would have become complicated.

Thinking that he had persuaded him well, Daniel picked up his service cap and stood up.

Daniel bowed to Ellekar once in gratitude before turning and leaving the office.

As soon as he came out of the office, Lucy greeted him.

“Brigadier General. Did the conversation go well?”

Daniel, putting on his service cap, nodded.

“He said he would cooperate. Although it is somewhat radical, it would be foolish to refuse the opportunity to become a single party, so it is a natural result. Now, all that remains is…”

Daniel straightened the brim of his service cap and looked ahead.

“To persuade His Majesty the Emperor.”

Denying the system established by the late Emperor would certainly not be easy.

*

“I completely agree with what Brigadier General Daniel said.”

It was easier than he thought.

“Actually, I saw it too. The independent newspaper Belbelbel published an aggressive article against Brigadier General Daniel. What do you think I was thinking when I saw that?”

In the garden of the Imperial Palace, Selvia casually lifted a cup of tea.

“There are still people who ignore Brigadier General Daniel Steiner. But, wait? Ignoring Brigadier General Daniel Steiner is an act of ignoring me, who protects him?”

Selvia, savoring the aroma of the tea, half-closed her eyes.

“They must know that, so how dare they publish such an article? They are still not afraid of me, the Emperor. Really. Aren’t they afraid for their lives? How presumptuous.”

Even while uttering somewhat chilling words, Selvia calmly tilted her cup.

Selvia took a sip of tea and placed the cup on the saucer.

The clinking sound echoed quietly.

“In the past, when I saw people like that, I blamed myself. It’s because I’m not good enough. It’s because I’m not yet qualified as an Emperor. I just need to try harder.”

However, after Duke Belvar’s rebellion, her thinking changed.

“Now I know. An Emperor is someone who cannot have such weak thoughts.”

It was not a golden crown obtained through longing.

She had only ascended to the throne herself to prevent the worst.

However, if she had ascended to the throne, she had to bear the weight of the golden crown.

Even if blood flowed from that golden crown.

“Therefore, I will allow Brigadier General Daniel Steiner’s plan to seize the parliament by promoting the Central National Party.”

The decision was quick.

From Daniel’s point of view, who thought Selvia would take time to consider, he could not help but be a little surprised.

Still, it was not a bad thing, so Daniel placed his hand on his chest and bowed his head.

“Thank you for understanding. Since it is only a plan at this stage, the road ahead may be somewhat difficult, but I will do my best…”

“Is there a need to go through a difficult path?”

A question mark appeared above Daniel’s head, not knowing what she meant.

“Your Majesty? If we propose a single-party bill, it must go through a vote in the plenary session. The Central National Party has the most seats because it is the first party, but it does not hold an absolute majority. If the Liberty Socialist Party and the Labor Union Party join hands, the bill will be rejected.”

“Do you think I don’t know such simple things?”

“Then why…”

Selvia snapped her fingers.

Then, the head of the Inner Court, who had been waiting nearby, approached.

She was holding documents in her hand.

Selvia nodded, and the head of the Inner Court handed the documents to Daniel.

Daniel, receiving the documents, checked the contents and could not help but be surprised.

“This is…”

It was a photograph of the leader of the Labor Union Party handing something to a suspicious-looking man.

“It’s a photograph that proves that the former leader of the Labor Union Party leaked state secrets to the ambassador of the Republic. After that, it’s evidence that the members of the Labor Union Party received bribes or committed murder.”

As he looked through the documents, it was as Selvia had said.

There were documents detailing not only photographs but also secured evidence.

“In addition, there are records of them being involved with military suppliers, the military, criminal organizations, and conglomerates, and guaranteeing their retirement or taking a position in return for representing their interests.”

“Really. How did you get so much evidence…”

Selvia, receiving Daniel’s gaze, gave a faint smile.

“It’s not like I was just playing around while Brigadier General Daniel was suffering in Penbarch.”

Selvia, too, was prepared to get her hands dirty for the sake of the Empire.

“Daniel? Tell the Central National Party to propose the bill. I will have it pass the committee review, so the date of the plenary session vote will be set quickly. Then, the Labor Union Party will make arrangements to join hands with the Liberty Socialist Party.”

Selvia’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“At that time, I will mobilize the Security Agency and the National Security Surveillance Agency to arrest all the members of the Labor Union Party. Naturally, they will not be able to attend the parliament on the day of the plenary session vote.”

If all the members of the Labor Union Party could not attend the parliament on the day of the plenary session vote, it would be an easy victory.

Thanks to this, Daniel could not help but admire her inwardly.

The reason why she had not come forward first despite collecting so much evidence was here.

Selvia had been enduring and enduring until now in order to uproot the corrupt politicians who not only ignored the imperial authority at once.

Then, when Daniel came to her, saying that he would become her sword, she made a decision.

‘I had forgotten because this world did not flow according to the original story…’

Selvia was a person who knelt her own brother with her own power and ascended to the throne despite the unfavorable situation.

“I will let everyone know through this incident. The Emperor of the Empire…”

The girl, who would later be called the Iron-Blooded Empress, declared in front of Daniel.

“How great a sin it is to disregard my people.”

Author’s Note

I’m sorry for being late… I think I got heatstroke, so I couldn’t write well… ㅠㅠ

Thank you to all the readers who watched today…!

I hope you don’t get heatstroke and have a cool day…

Then I’ll see you again tomorrow…!