I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander - Chapter 139

After the Palentia Branch was arrested, the Imperial Security Bureau was achieving unprecedented results in capturing enemy agents.

There were several reasons for this, but the most significant factor was that they had secured the encrypted communication system used by Allied Nations agents while arresting the Palentia Branch.

Having understood the communication system, the Security Bureau naturally began tracing backwards, and Allied Nations agents whose trails were discovered were either arrested or shot by Security Bureau police who showed up unexpectedly.

Some of the captured agents revealed other information to survive, allowing the Imperial Security Bureau to achieve the feat of dismantling and searching out the Allied Nations' extensive intelligence network.

From the perspective of Allied Nations agents, this was nothing short of a nightmare.

"Damn it!"

In the basement of a tavern in the small city of Erestium, a man wearing a woolen beret shouted, unable to contain his anger.

"Headquarters has cut off contact! How is that any different from abandoning us!"

At the man's words, around thirty agents sighed or made self-deprecating remarks.

As everyone was unable to refute the man's words, a man wearing a fedora interrupted.

"It's only natural for headquarters to cut off contact. With the Palentia Branch being raided, not only the frequencies we primarily use but also all our code ciphers have been exposed. They're surely monitoring communications. In this state, trying to contact headquarters would be no different than advertising to the Imperial bastards to come arrest us."

The man wearing the beret looked down at the man sitting on a chair in front of the table.

He was about to snap at him, annoyed by his relaxed tone, but seeing the scar carved across one of his eyes, he had to close his mouth.

This was because he was Templet, known by the code name "Red Baron."

The man with the beret was well aware of Templet's reputation for leaving nothing but bloodstains in his wake.

Templet picked up a glass filled with distilled liquor and swirled it lightly.

"So about thirty comrades were able to make it here, evading the Security Bureau. Well, I'm sure everyone is aware of how utterly fucked our situation is, so I won't explain it again."

Templet, who had tilted his wrist and emptied the distilled liquor into his mouth, put down the glass.

"Tch. Unfortunately, we're talents who will soon be captured by the Security Bureau, tortured, or shot. Of course, if we run away, we could live like cockroaches. But if we were the type who wanted to live like that in the first place, we wouldn't have gathered here, would we?"

Templet, who let out a low laugh, leaned back in his chair and placed both feet on the table.

It was an arrogant attitude, but no one here dared to point it out.

"Then there's only one conclusion. Let's fight until we die. And while we're at it, why not kill at least one more enemy of our great Allied Nations? That way, maybe the Allied Nations will treat us as martyrs later on?"

At Templet's jest, a gentle laughter flowed among the agents.

The man wearing the beret didn't like this atmosphere, but he couldn't bring himself to object.

The man, who pulled out a chair and sat down with a sigh, looked at Templet with displeasure.

"So? Do you have a plan to convince all of us?"

Looking at the man who had suddenly started using formal speech as if finding it amusing, Templet gave a slight smile.

"Why do you think I called you lost puppies here? To give you the opportunity to become hunting dogs that will tear apart a beast."

"When you say beast, you mean...?"

"Daniel Steiner. In a few days, that ferocious wolf..."

Having revealed the name of the beast, Templet smiled brightly enough to show his teeth.

"I've received information that he will be passing through this city, Erestium."

• 
  

The day of appointment as Chief of Staff of the 7th Division on the Eastern Front.

"Taking the train with you, Colonel. It feels like I'm on a trip, so I'm excited."

Prien was showing off her characteristically bright smile in the military train compartment.

Lucie, sitting beside her, was consistently expressionless, creating a noticeable contrast.

Daniel, sitting across from Prien, spoke with an air of incredulity.

"You speak well of it being like a trip. We're heading to the front lines, you know."

"Of course I know that. I haven't neglected my training, so don't worry."

"...Training? What training are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on. Are you pretending not to know? You told me to hone my healing magic."

"I remember that, but in what way..."

Daniel started to speak but then stopped.

He saw a subtle darkness appearing on Prien's smiling face.

"Do you really want to know?"

The subdued tone, as if hiding a secret, was the finishing touch.

Daniel, not confident in facing Prien's darkness, shook his head.

Seeing this, Prien gave a playful smile and stood up from her seat.

"I'll visit the restroom and be right back."

As Prien left the compartment, Daniel, feeling somewhat relieved, looked at Lucie.

The sunlight passing through the window naturally settled on Lucie's silver hair, and her red eyes blinked quietly, full of vitality within boredom.

She looked quite peaceful, sitting by the window and admiring the scenery outside.

Although Daniel didn't want to disturb Lucie, who was enjoying her leisure, he thought now was the opportune moment with Prien gone, and quietly spoke to her.

"Adjutant. I'd like to have a brief conversation."

Lucie, called unexpectedly, turned to look at Daniel.

"...What kind of conversation do you mean?"

"You must know that I had time to talk with His Majesty the Emperor a few days ago. At that time, His Majesty pointed you out, saying you were a suspicious woman and that I shouldn't trust you."

This was what Celvia had told Daniel before he left the office.

At the time, Daniel felt a chill down his spine at Celvia's words, which suggested he had noticed something.

If Celvia completely discovered Lucie's identity, Daniel would not be safe either.

So he was saying this as a warning to be careful in the future, but Lucie felt a strange jealousy rather than gratitude.

"His Majesty seems to be suffering from paranoia. Besides, he could have spoken to me directly, but he chose to give a warning to you, which is confusing. I'm concerned that he might be trying to sow discord unnecessarily."

"Paranoia..."

Daniel was smiling, but he found it absurd.

'Aren't you actually an Allied Nations spy?'

It was natural to be flustered when she was denying it in such a strange way.

To begin with, referring to the Emperor's words as "sowing discord" itself constituted a crime of disrespect.

'Did something happen between them? Come to think of it, at the Christmas banquet dinner...'

Just as he recalled that the atmosphere between Lucie and Celvia had been unusual, it happened.

Screeeeeech—

The sound of wheels scraping against rails echoed loudly as bodies were thrown forward.

The seats and windows also rattled violently, creating noise.

"Damn it!"

Daniel, who had quickly balanced his body by grabbing the table, moved his hand toward the revolver at his waist. Lucie did the same.

Without needing to be told, both of them drew their revolvers and steadied their breathing.

"...Colonel. Could it be a train attack?"

"That possibility is low. If it were a simple attack, our compartment would have been riddled with bullets by now."

However, they couldn't completely rule out the possibility.

Soon after, as the sound of someone running approached, Daniel aimed his revolver at the door.

"Colonel! You need to come out right now—"

The captain who appeared in front of Daniel couldn't continue his words and gasped.

He was the company commander in charge of Daniel's escort.

Having confirmed that the other person was an ally, Daniel exhaled in relief and lowered his revolver.

"Company Commander. What happened?"

"...Pardon? Ah. According to the engineer, the tracks are blocked."

"I see. Let's go out and check."

Daniel nodded and stepped into the corridor beyond the compartment, along with Lucie.

"Colonel!"

Then Prien, who had returned from the restroom, looked at Daniel with concerned eyes.

"Are you alright? You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"

"Yes."

After answering briefly, Daniel exited through the carriage entrance to the outside.

There, he could see mounds of soil fallen across the tracks in the distance.

'A landslide?'

As Daniel approached the problematic section, the engineer and conductor, who had been standing with their hands behind their backs, turned around and were startled.

"Colonel Daniel!"

"You've come!"

Looking at the two people who bowed their heads respectfully, Daniel let out a low sigh.

"Engineer, Conductor. What exactly happened here?"

"Well..."

The engineer spoke as if somewhat apologetic.

"It seems there was a recent landslide. Judging by how it's covering the tracks, we could clear it with a few days of work. However, with just our manpower..."

"I'll lend you my troops. I have quite a few who came as escort. Would that be sufficient?"

"Oh my! If you'd do that, we'd be grateful. We should be able to handle it quickly."

"Very well. However, my troops, as well as you, Engineer, and the workers on the train, will need a place to rest for the time being. Is there a suitable village nearby?"

The engineer, stroking his chin, nodded as if there was just the right place.

"Not far from here, there's a city called Erestium. It's a small city, but it has everything you need, so I think it would be good to make contact from there and rest."

"It's fortunate that there's a city nearby. Then, for now..."

While Daniel was conversing with the engineer, Lucie was carefully examining the site of the landslide.

The misaligned placement of soil and rocks, the abnormal state of vegetation, traces of fractures—Lucie's eyes narrowed sharply as she detected the origin point of the landslide.

'This is...'

Because it was absolutely not a natural phenomenon.