I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander - Chapter 130

Sometimes in life, we encounter unexpected situations.

For instance, you might visit a store you thought was doing well business, only to find it closed down.

Or a celebrity at the height of their popularity suddenly announces their retirement.

For Daniel, an equivalent situation was 'coming to work and not seeing Lucie'.

Entering his personal office in the General Staff Headquarters, Daniel felt puzzled but soon shrugged.

'Something must have come up.'

Even for someone who religiously adheres to their arrival time, accidents can happen.

'Still, Lucie being late...'

Thinking it was unusual, Daniel was putting down his briefcase and hanging his coat on the chair when it happened.

Click-clack-click-clack─

Hurried footsteps could be heard from the corridor.

'Sounds like someone's running.'

Just as he was wondering who it might be, the door to his personal office swung open.

There stood Lucie, clutching the doorknob and panting.

She was holding what looked like a thermos in her hand.

"I'm... sorry. I didn't sleep well last night..."

It was rare for Lucie to apologize without being asked.

Her breathlessness, making it difficult to speak properly, was even rarer.

Daniel was tempted to tease her but decided against it, thinking it might unnecessarily provoke her anger.

"There's nothing to be sorry about. You're cutting it close, but you're not late. More importantly, I'm surprised you had trouble sleeping. Did something happen yesterday?"

He probed subtly, but Lucie just shook her head instead of answering.

Her face was flushed, perhaps from running to avoid being late.

Watching Lucie closely, Daniel pointed at the thermos.

"What's that? Did you bring some tea?"

"Ah."

Catching her breath, Lucie approached Daniel and held out the thermos.

"I made some beet soup and brought a little. It should help with your hangover."

"...You made it for me?"

"You once made me chamomile tea and chicken broth soup at my quarters, didn't you? Consider this a return of that favor."

Despite her words, Lucie's ears were subtly red.

Wondering if this was also due to her breathlessness, Daniel accepted the thermos.

"I'll enjoy it. But how did you know I drank yesterday?"

Lucie's shoulders twitched, but it wasn't an unexpected question as she quickly regained her composure.

"I thought you would naturally enjoy yourself at the banquet after the coronation, given your fondness for alcohol."

"I see."

Thinking she might get angry if he probed further, Daniel decided to restrain himself.

"It seems my adjutant is the only one who thinks of me. I'll enjoy it. By the way..."

After a moment's consideration, Daniel said,

"You might already know, but in two weeks, I'm scheduled to be appointed as the chief of staff of the 7th Division on the Eastern Front. It's a direct order from His Majesty the Emperor, so I can't refuse."

"Yes, I've heard."

"Since you've heard, it makes it easier to talk about. If you want, you don't have to follow me to the Eastern Front. As you know, it's a dangerous place."

Although they would mainly work at the division headquarters behind the front lines, it wasn't safe from enemy attacks.

On the contrary, it might be paradoxically more dangerous as the enemy would be devising ways to strike the headquarters.

It's literally a dangerous battlefield where one might lose their life.

Nevertheless, far from refusing, Lucie answered promptly.

"I'll go."

Her red eyes were filled with determination.

Finding this troublesome, Daniel cleared his throat.

"You might die."

"I'm aware."

"Do you know that even though you'll be working at headquarters, it might be even more dangerous than being on the front lines?"

"I'm not unaware."

"If the situation deteriorates, you might not even get proper food, let alone desserts."

"I'm used to it."

He didn't bother asking why she was used to it.

He knew Lucie was originally a test subject.

'But why does she want to follow me? To monitor me?'

Although Daniel was displeased, he couldn't outright refuse her, so he nodded.

"Alright. If you insist that much, I won't stop you."

Pleased to have received permission, Lucie's eyes brightened.

Just as Lucie was about to open her mouth to express her gratitude, familiar footsteps were heard from the corridor.

Wondering who it might be, they looked towards the door, and soon a portly middle-aged man appeared.

Unable to overcome his hangover, he was holding his forehead with his hand.

"...Department Head?"

Daniel called out worriedly, and Ernst raised his head.

He didn't look well.

"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel... no, Colonel. Are you alright? I feel like death."

"My head hurts a bit, but it's not too bad."

"Is that so? It's good to be young indeed."

"It's not so much about being young as it is about drinking in moderation... By the way, what brings you here?"

"Hm? Ah. I just came by to have a cup of coffee."

Coffee. Seeing no reason to refuse, Daniel nodded.

"Let's go down to the lounge for a cup."

"That sounds good. I'll specially brew it for you today. I should start treating our empire's hero, Colonel Daniel Steiner, well from now on, shouldn't I?"

"That's very thoughtful of you."

Daniel responded to Ernst's joke with a jest of his own and was about to move when he hesitated.

Lucie was subtly giving him a look.

Noticing this, Daniel picked up the thermos.

"Ah. I'm going to have some beet soup instead of coffee."

Only then did Lucie's expression soften, allowing Daniel to feel relieved.

'What on earth is she thinking...'

It was hard to understand.

• 
  

While Daniel was engaging in trivial small talk over coffee with Ernst in the lounge.

"We need to take immediate action! We can't just sit here and take it!"

The Palentia branch, located in the heart of the empire, was facing an unprecedented emergency.

Having halted their information gathering and espionage activities, they had gathered in the conference room, led by Branch Head Theobalt, and were engaged in heated debate.

"We must request support from the Allied Nations immediately! If we contact Count Caledra directly, he'll surely come up with a solution!"

"What nonsense! Are you suggesting we inform our homeland of our incompetence? Even if we alert them of the danger we're in, Daniel Steiner will move before we receive any help!"

"Then are you saying we should do nothing and just take it? We don't even know what he's demanding from us right now!"

Shortly after Hamtal's visit, the Palentia branch members had concluded that Daniel Steiner was the one who had given orders to Hamtal.

The prevailing opinion was that either the defector Lucie had passed information to Daniel Steiner, or an internal traitor had colluded with him.

The fact that the branch's location had been exposed meant that enemies could raid this place at any time, so the spies were on edge and racing against time.

"First, we need to find out what Daniel Steiner wants from us! There must be a reason why he spared our lives instead of killing us when he sent his private organization!"

"Are you saying we should listen to Daniel Steiner now? What do you think he'll demand from us?"

"Are you saying we should sit here and die like dogs? If you want to be so foolishly stubborn, do it alone! Being so stupid won't make the Allied Nations appreciate-"

Bang! A man who had slammed his fist on the table and stood up drew his gun and aimed it at the other person.

"You bastard! You're the informant! You've been in cahoots with Daniel Steiner!"

At the man's accusation, the person on the opposite side raised his hands, breaking out in a cold sweat.

"...Please calm down. This isn't something that can be resolved by forcing the issue."

"Forcing the issue? You're the only one here suggesting we should listen to Daniel Steiner! Does this still seem forced to you!? Branch Head! Don't just sit there, say something!"

Theobalt, sitting at the head of the conference table, sighed deeply.

He thought the atmosphere in the conference room was too heated due to the crisis.

"Enough. Leven's words have some merit. We need to know what Daniel Steiner wants from us if we're to negotiate anything."

"But..."

"Shut up and put down your gun. Otherwise, I'll make another breathing hole in your head."

At Theobalt's threat, the man stepped back and lowered his gun.

Seeing this, Theobalt frowned, nursing a headache, when suddenly:

─ Branch Head! This is Blue Wall! He's here!

The news, like rain in a drought, made Theobalt's eyes widen.

Right now, the only person who knew Daniel Steiner's intentions was Platt, who had failed in the assassination attempt.

Amidst the commotion in the conference room, Theobalt picked up the radio and pressed the transmit button.

"Tell him to come in immediately."

Thinking that they would finally get some answers, Theobalt put the radio on the table.

Soon after, Platt opened the door of the conference room and entered.

It wasn't clear what had happened to him, but his clothes were torn and covered in filth, looking like a complete mess.

As everyone remained silent, Platt looked around, breathing heavily, and spotted Theobalt.

Platt slowly walked towards Theobalt and then fell to his knees with a thud.

"...I'm sorry, Branch Head. I failed the mission."

They already knew he had failed.

Thinking it was more important to get information than to scold him, Theobalt grabbed Platt's shoulders.

"What did Daniel Steiner tell you?"

After catching his breath, Platt said,

"He told me not to try any petty tricks on him. Also, that the whiskey laced with poison would be more suitable for you, Branch Head..."

At Daniel Steiner's message urging suicide, the conference room fell into silence.

As Theobalt swallowed dryly, Platt continued, sobbing softly.

"Branch Head. He's not looking for negotiation. Daniel Steiner is just toying with us. If the branch doesn't submit to him..."

Platt raised his head and looked at Theobalt with a dazed expression.

"...He will kill us all."