I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander - Chapter 113

The next morning.

Emperor Bertram's bedroom.

"Your Majesty! Please reconsider!"

Duke Belvar cried out, prostrating himself before Bertram, who was sitting on the bed.

"You must not give inspection authority to Daniel Steiner! His threatening of Imperial nobles under the pretext of inspection shakes the foundation of the Empire and directly challenges the power of the Imperial family!"

Belvar's cry felt like it was piercing Bertram's head.

Feeling a headache, Bertram sighed softly while holding his forehead.

"...Have you disturbed my rest just for such a reason?"

"Your Majesty! How can you say it's just such a reason! How can you say it's not a serious matter for Daniel Steiner, who is merely an orphan, to inspect nobles!"

"So, you want me to revoke my daughter's decision?"

Belvar remained silent.

Reading affirmation in that silence, Bertram blinked his eyes, tinged with fatigue.

"Raise your head and look at my condition."

Slowly raising his head, Belvar could see Bertram's face.

Under the disheveled hair, his face, covered with dark spots, no longer showed any sign of vitality.

His lips were dry, and one eye couldn't even open properly.

Even without being a doctor, one could tell what state Bertram was in.

Death was looming over his future.

"I will die soon. Perhaps today might be the last day I can have a conversation with you in a sound mind. Moreover, my daughter's coronation will take place soon. And in this situation, do you want me to step forward to revoke my daughter's decision?"

He was asking if Belvar wanted to inform the people of internal strife by directly opposing Selvia's order at a time when they should be supporting Selvia.

Finally realizing he had committed a faux pas, Belvar quietly lowered his gaze.

Bertram, looking down at Belvar intently, continued.

"Also, I heard from my daughter that Campbell, the leader of the Liberal Social Party, has been acting as a collaborator. If that's true, hasn't my daughter given the right order?"

"Your Majesty. I believe the legitimacy of the procedure is more important than the result. I think it would be right to investigate through the Security Bureau rather than entrusting it to Daniel Steiner."

"Legitimacy, you say. According to Imperial law, it's not illegal to grant temporary inspection authority to military personnel who have discovered clues about collaborators."

Although it's an exceptional case that doesn't happen often, it doesn't violate legitimacy.

As Belvar couldn't refute this, Bertram added:

"I don't understand why you're being so aggressive. If Daniel Steiner obtained inspection authority to oppress the nobles as you claim, wouldn't that be a good thing? The moment he fails to produce proper inspection results, we'll have grounds to punish him."

He was saying let's wait and see whether your words or Daniel Steiner's words are true.

Belvar didn't like Bertram's neutral attitude, but he couldn't show it outwardly.

Although he was a toothless, sick lion, Bertram was still the Emperor of the Empire.

"...Truly a wise judgment, Your Imperial Majesty."

So for now, he had no choice but to prostrate himself.

• 
  

Meanwhile, at the residence of Campbell, leader of the Liberal Social Party.

"Pack the cash and jewelry first! We can have someone bring the rest later!"

"...Honey? Why are you doing this?"

"I've told you several times there's no time to explain! Just do as I say!"

Campbell, who had snapped at his wife irritably, entered his room with a travel bag in hand and opened a drawer.

He grabbed expensive wristwatches and tie pins indiscriminately and put them in the bag he had brought.

'Damn it! Damn...'

He had just received a call from the informant Platt.

He said that Daniel Steiner had requested inspection authority from Imperial Princess Selvia and it had been granted.

The granting of inspection authority meant that Daniel Steiner had found out who was behind Crown Prince Bleff's surprise attack.

If so, Daniel Steiner's target was none other than Campbell.

'I need to pack quickly! Quickly!'

That's why Campbell is now hurriedly preparing to leave the capital.

If he could escape before Daniel Steiner barges in, he might be able to buy some time somehow.

After packing a few more valuables from the room, Campbell came out to the living room with the travel bag.

"Damian! Have you packed your things? We need to leave right now... Damian! Where are you!?"

At Campbell's voice calling for his son, his wife raised her head from packing clothes.

"If you're looking for Damian, he's in the yard. He went out saying we need to bring the puppy..."

"What the hell with the puppy! I'll bring him, so just keep packing!"

Campbell, who had shouted at his wife in anger, tried to suppress his anger as he walked to the front door.

As he was walking to the front door, he could hear Damian's laughter coming from the yard.

Thinking he must be playing with a neighbor, Campbell flung open the front door but stopped in his tracks.

"Tell me another story besides protecting the Imperial Princess!"

"Of course. What kind of story would you like to hear?"

"Umm. Ah! Nordia! I want to hear about the invasion of Nordia!"

Daniel Steiner was in the yard.

Behind Daniel, who was kneeling on one knee and playing with Damian, Campbell could see elite soldiers from the General Staff Headquarters and an officer standing.

They were standing at attention without moving, like a wall of humans surrounding the residence.

Campbell froze at the sight of them surrounding his house like a wall made of humans.

"The invasion of Nordia! I'd like to tell you in detail, but I'm afraid that won't do."

"Huh? Why not?"

"To tell you about my exploits during the Nordia invasion, I'd have to describe what happened to my enemies. That might be a bit too horrific for a child like you to hear. Because..."

Daniel slowly raised his head and looked directly at Campbell.

"All my enemies met a miserable end."

Thanks to this, Campbell's hand holding the doorknob started trembling.

Damian, blinking his eyes as he didn't understand Daniel's words, turned around and soon broke into a bright smile.

"Dad! Lieutenant Colonel Daniel says he has something to discuss with you!"

Damian, who was simply happy about the fact that the hero of the Empire knew his father, ran to Campbell and hugged him.

"How did you two meet? I didn't know Dad knew Lieutenant Colonel Daniel!"

"I, I..."

Campbell tried to answer calmly, but his voice wouldn't stop trembling.

Meanwhile, Campbell's wife, sensing something was amiss, came out to the front door and covered her mouth in surprise.

Daniel Steiner coming here with troops certainly didn't look good.

Facing Campbell's family, Daniel stood up, took off his uniform cap, and placed it on his chest.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner, Operations Staff from the General Staff Headquarters."

"What brings the Lieutenant Colonel here..."

Daniel smiled kindly at Campbell's wife's words.

"I have an urgent matter to discuss with Mr. Campbell of the Liberal Social Party. If it's alright, could you prepare a place for us?"

The wife looked at Campbell and reluctantly nodded.

Seeing this, Daniel raised his hand and flicked his fingers, and two armed soldiers came forward.

"I'd like your wife and our cute Damian to spend some time at a bakery in town. My soldiers will escort them there."

Although it was incomprehensible why soldier escorts were needed to go to a bakery, there was a prevailing thought that Daniel Steiner's words shouldn't be refused.

"...Alright."

Campbell's wife, answering in a subdued voice, slowly walked away with Damian.

The two soldiers walked alongside Campbell's wife and Damian, as if guarding them.

Campbell frowned at their behavior, which seemed like they were monitoring to prevent escape.

Although Daniel Steiner felt frightening, he couldn't tolerate this current outrage.

"What do you think you're doing!"

Campbell approached Daniel and bravely said,

"You're pressuring the leader of a political party with force! The leader of a party that represents the voice of the people! Do you think this makes any sense!?"

Daniel just stared intently at Campbell, who was shouting and pointing his finger.

As if saying, go ahead and say more if you have anything to say.

Although Campbell hesitated at Daniel's attitude, thinking he shouldn't lose in momentum, he shouted,

"I don't know by what authority you're doing this, but dismiss your troops immediately! Otherwise, I won't comply with your demands!"

Daniel, who had been quietly observing Campbell, let out a low laugh.

The sticky and eerie laughter was approaching as a kind of fear.

After a long while, Daniel, composing his laughter, stared at Campbell.

"You won't comply with the demands, you say."

His black eyes, like graphite, resembled an abyss.

Campbell's reflection in those eyes was clearly terrified.

"Do you think..."

Daniel, trapping Campbell in his sight, quietly moved his lips.

"You have a choice right now?"