I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander - Chapter 133

Late at night, three police cars roughly entered the textile factory premises.

Police officers on patrol in the city center had received a report of gunshots and rushed to the scene for an emergency response.

As soon as the vehicles stopped, the disembarking police officers hesitantly stared at the entrance of the textile factory.

Inspector Coparo, who got out last, shouted loudly for everyone to hear.

"It's here! Everyone draw your guns! We might need to subdue them if they're still inside!"

Hearing Coparo's words, the police officers, though tense, all drew their guns.

Perhaps due to the tension, their mouths felt dry.

One of the rookies among them glanced at Coparo and said,

"Inspector, are we really going in by ourselves? Shouldn't we request backup from the riot police..."

Annoyed by the rookie's question, Coparo looked back irritably.

"You idiot. If we request backup from the riot police, do you think only they will come? Those gossip-loving journalist bastards will swarm in thinking it's a big scoop. Can you handle that? If they report on a shootout in the city center that spirals out of control, do you think we'll be able to take responsibility for all that?"

It was clear that the Imperial family would not be pleased if incidents occurred right after the coronation.

Moreover, a shootout in the city center? It was highly likely to cause public safety concerns.

Knowing that their police station would surely be thoroughly scrutinized at that moment, Coparo was trying to resolve the incident with just the patrol personnel as much as possible.

"If you want to keep working as a police officer for a long time, shut your mouth and do as you're told. Got it?"

The rookie, who had hesitated for a moment, nodded.

Satisfied with the rookie's attitude, Coparo gave the signal to enter.

Those with relatively less experience in responding to incidents stuck to the outer walls of the factory, keeping watch on the surroundings, while veterans including Coparo moved into the textile factory with lowered bodies.

The police officers, holding their guns and making heavy footsteps, held their breath in tension.

A pungent smell of blood was wafting from the far end of the factory.

Coparo, approaching while hiding his body between the looms, soon witnessed a body lying on the floor.

A pool of blood could be seen under the body, which had been shot once in the head.

Thinking the murderer might be nearby, he looked around carefully, but no one was in sight.

Only then realizing that the killer had fled, Coparo stood up.

'Was it an impulsive crime? For what purpose? Was it for money?'

As Coparo stepped towards the body, he could see that the nearby floor was scorched by fire.

Pieces of half-burnt banknotes decorated the spot.

'They burned money? Does that mean the motive wasn't money?'

As he was scratching his head at the incomprehensible murder scene, police officers started gathering one by one.

"Inspector, it seems the culprit has already fled and is gone."

Coparo nodded.

"It seems so. For now, secure the scene and focus on preserving evidence. I'll report to the Superintendent... What's that?"

Coparo's eyes fell on a fabric dyeing machine that had been pushed aside.

Approaching with curiosity, he found underground stairs leading downwards.

Swallowing hard, Coparo exchanged glances with a nearby police officer before looking down again.

"...This is really messed up. Why the hell is something like this in a textile factory?"

"I know. It's not like they made a secret space to play cards or something."

"Sigh. I knew today's luck was bad. Hey! We're going in, so everyone follow me!"

Coparo, shouting loudly, descended the stairs with his gun at the ready.

As it started to get dark, a police officer behind Coparo took out a flashlight and pressed the power button.

Click─

The fan-shaped light revealed an iron door in front.

In a strange tension, Coparo reached out and grasped the handle, gently pushing it.

'It opens.'

Realizing it wasn't locked, Coparo took a deep breath and kicked the door.

Bang! As soon as the door opened, Coparo raised his gun and aimed.

"Police! If you don't want to die, everyone..."

He shouted forcefully, but the rest of his words didn't follow.

In the huge bunker-like underground, numerous people were already lying motionless.

Most seemed to have fainted, but some were bleeding as if they had been shot.

Coparo, who had been staring at them in bewilderment, slowly raised his head.

"What is this..."

What he saw in front was a huge map of the Empire.

On either side, he could see radar screens and surveillance equipment lined up.

Unfamiliar electronic equipment was also densely packed in place.

Coparo, breaking out in a cold sweat, opened his mouth after a brief silence.

"Contact the riot police, no, the Security Bureau. It seems we've stumbled upon an enemy spy hideout..."

"Huh? Is that okay?"

To his subordinate's question, Coparo replied with a mix of frustration and anger.

"Then do you fucking think this is something we can handle on our own?"

Just looking at the scale alone, this was definitely not something a single police station could handle.

• 
  

Two days later at the General Staff Headquarters.

Daniel Steiner's personal office.

"Here's today's Imperial Daily."

As soon as he sat down, Lucie approached and handed him the newspaper.

Daniel, receiving the newspaper, responded with a smile.

"Thank you."

Lucie bowed her head slightly and returned to her original position.

After confirming that Lucie had returned to her seat, Daniel unfolded the newspaper.

He needed to keep an eye on public opinion within the Empire, so he was checking what articles had been published.

'Let's see. Today is...'

Daniel, checking the front page of the newspaper, showed interest.

【Security Bureau Does It! Enemy Spy Hideout Completely Wiped Out!】

Below the article was a photo showing Security Bureau police investigating what appeared to be a textile factory.

'So the Security Bureau has scored a hit...'

From Daniel's perspective, who had previously quarreled with the Security Bureau police, it wasn't exactly welcome news.

'Moreover...'

Thinking that Lucie would have also seen this article made him feel strangely uncomfortable in his seat.

Lucie must have had some connection with these people too.

He wanted to read her thoughts, to know what she was thinking now, but judging by that calm expression, she would never reveal her true feelings.

So as he was unnecessarily observing Lucie's mood, suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

As Daniel gave permission, the door opened and Ernst appeared.

He thought Ernst might be inviting him for a cup of coffee in the lounge again, but Ernst seemed somewhat flustered.

Ernst, choosing his words, opened his mouth somewhat cautiously.

"You. I'm asking just in case, but have you been up to something again lately?"

"Pardon? What are you suddenly talking about?"

"Someone from the Security Bureau has come. And it's none other than the Director of the Security Bureau himself. He says he wants to see you, but I have no idea why."

The Director of the Security Bureau? Why? Though Daniel was surprised, he quickly stood up.

"Where is the Director now?"

"He's waiting for you in the reception room."

"I'll go right away."

Thinking he shouldn't delay, Daniel immediately went out into the corridor.

Daniel thought seriously as he walked.

The Director of the Security Bureau is essentially a person at the top of the Empire's power structure.

Using the authority he held, it would be child's play to ruin a person's life.

Of course, that range wouldn't extend to Daniel Steiner, but it was still threatening nonetheless.

'Why would such a person want to see me? Did he find out that Lucie is a spy?'

If not that, he might have discovered all the tricks Daniel had been using to try to escape the Empire.

Although the probability was very low, if the Security Bureau had conducted a thorough investigation, it wasn't entirely impossible.

'Considering that the Security Bureau police were suspicious of Lucie before, he might have come to sound me out...'

Thinking this way, a sigh naturally escaped.

Assuming the worst-case scenario, Daniel continued walking and arrived at the reception room located on the first floor.

Opening the door and entering, he saw the Director of the Security Bureau sitting alone, having dismissed his subordinates.

It was Otto Whitmore, the overall head of the National Security Bureau and currently in charge of wartime counterintelligence operations.

'I heard he's from a powerful noble family...'

If the Security Bureau Director was part of the noble alliance that was at odds with the Emperor, and if he had come here to help that alliance, it would be an extremely troublesome matter for Daniel.

There was nothing good about turning the Security Bureau Director into an enemy.

"Oh."

While Daniel was turning things over in his mind, Director Otto lightly raised his hand.

"You've come! I was wondering when you'd arrive."

From his relaxed smile, an inexplicable sense of pressure could be felt.

"I came as soon as I received the message. If I was delayed, I apologize."

As Daniel approached, Otto let out a hearty laugh and shook his head.

"It seems my words have unnecessarily burdened you. I was merely expressing my desire to see Colonel Daniel Steiner as soon as possible."

Otto gestured to the sofa on the opposite side of the table.

"Why don't we sit down and talk?"

"That would be good."

Daniel smiled and sat on the sofa, and Otto smiled.

Though he had a middle-aged face, his characteristically sharp features concealed the fact that he had aged.

"There are many things I want to ask, but first, I want to express my gratitude. On behalf of the Security Bureau, that is."

Gratitude? What gratitude? From Daniel's perspective, who had only hindered investigations and never helped, it was somewhat bewildering.

So as he remained silent and just stared, Otto spoke in a serious tone.

"I mean about wiping out the armed enemy spies at the textile factory. I hear you subdued the enemies in a very clean and definitive manner, to the extent that no evidence was left behind. Others might not know, but I do. Because I've received various reports related to it."

Otto looked around once, then put his hand to his mouth and whispered quietly.

"I mean that this was accomplished by Colonel Daniel Steiner."

At the Security Bureau Director's words, Daniel fell into even deeper confusion.

'...Me?'

It was something he was hearing for the first time in his life.