LIGHT NOVEL Chapter 79
As I walked down the corridor after leaving the reception room, I couldn’t help but cheer inwardly.
‘This is good!’
When Selvia called, I wondered what bad luck awaited me this time, but it turned out to be a mere worry.
The proposal Selvia had for me was closer to good fortune than misfortune.
‘I was feeling quite uneasy about being in a system like this…’
Now I had the chance to legally stay abroad, which was more than I could ask for.
Furthermore, with Selvia positively considering the appointment while acting as regent, being appointed as Ambassador to Belanos was almost a done deal.
‘It seems that there is no law against living.’
It was a moment where the saying about finding a hole to crawl out of when the sky is falling resonated deeply with me.
‘And furthermore…’
If I were to go as the Ambassador to Belanos, I could expect a warm welcome.
After all, being a neutral nation, they wouldn’t want to clash with an empire that possesses one of the strongest military forces in the world.
So being dispatched as Ambassador to Belanos felt like a sort of vacation from my perspective.
Even just escaping the threats lurking in the system was a blessing, and the thought of receiving good treatment while staying in a foreign land made me smile involuntarily.
Unable to hide my delightful mood, I returned to my personal office, only to pause as I opened the door.
Colonel Ernst, the Head of the Operations Staff, was waiting inside my office.
“…Director? You haven’t left yet?”
When I asked, curious, Ernst, who had his hands behind his back, cleared his throat.
“I was just curious about what you discussed with Her Highness the Princess. Perhaps you could give me a little hint?”
Thanks to his mischievous request, I could understand why Ernst was waiting here.
Holding a senior position in the General Staff Headquarters meant that he was someone who had made a mark both in practice and politics.
So it was only natural for him to want the informational edge about the news of ‘the Princess visiting the General Staff Headquarters’.
Ernst was generally someone trustworthy, so I didn’t want to refuse, but this was not the type of story to be shared freely.
“As much as I would love to tell you, it’s best to keep it confidential since it hasn’t been decided yet.”
“Confidential, huh… understood. But if you don’t mind, could you give me an autograph? My daughter is a fan of yours.”
An autograph? Stunned by his request, I watched as Ernst brought his hands from behind his back.
He held out two sheets of paper and a fountain pen.
“I’ve bragged about having Captain Daniel Steiner as my subordinate, but if I can’t even bring back an autograph, I’ll lose face. Think of it as saving my dignity and help me out.”
Could this really be his true aim?
Without realizing it, I let out a small chuckle and accepted the paper and the pen from Ernst.
It was a request from a superior, and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to comply.
“…But why two sheets?”
As I started glancing around to avoid Lucy’s eyes, Ernst whispered for only me to hear.
“Well, my wife is also a fan. She keeps nagging me during meals to get your autograph instead of wasting time collecting useless stamps… that damn woman.”
With a deep sigh, Ernst spoke with a serious look in his eyes.
“You should never get married. The person who seemed like an angel during dating turned into a devil after marriage. Honestly, every day feels exhausting. I only stick around because the kids are so cute; otherwise, I might have fled by now.”
I felt a bit of pity towards him.
“You must have it tough.”
I agreed with his words, and Daniel signed both sheets before handing them back.
After receiving his signature, Ernst smiled in satisfaction but suddenly remembered something and raised his hand.
“Oh. Just my luck. I had a letter I wanted to pass on to you.”
Ernst rummaged through his pocket and pulled out an envelope.
“It’s a letter that came to the Office of Operations Staff, and the recipient is you. It’s from the Military Academy, but do you have any guesses on who it might be?”
“The Military Academy…?”
Could it be Prien?
I felt an odd sense of unease as I received the letter.
“I’ll read it for now.”
As I broke the seal at the entrance and unfolded the letter, a neatly written sentence emerged.
『To the esteemed Colonel Daniel. I hold you in great respect, Colonel Daniel.
I apologize sincerely for interrupting your busy schedule with this letter.
However, I felt it was right to inform you that I am on the verge of early graduation from the Military Academy.
Thanks to the Dean recognizing my outstanding academic performance and my achievements in the North.
Isn’t it a great thing?
In just a little while, I’ll be able to exterminate all the beasts that wish to shake hands with the Allied Nations under your command.
I’m sure you feel the same as I do.
You surely displayed your genuine feelings towards the beasts of the Allied Nations during your Total War Speech.
You may not know how many tears I shed after being moved by that speech.
Thanks to you, my faith and loyalty to the Empire have grown even more.
Ah, I have so much more I want to share, but since it’s time to turn off the lights, I think I must stop here.
I wanted to let you know that I’d gladly sacrifice my life for you, and I will conclude this letter here.
Looking forward to our next meeting, Prien Remiliat.』
After finishing the letter, I turned to Ernst, feeling a strange sense of dread.
“…Director, please tell me Prien isn’t being assigned to the General Staff Headquarters.”
Ernst nodded his head.
“Prien applied to be assigned to the General Staff Headquarters, and both the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff are positively reviewing the request, so she will likely become affiliated with the Headquarters.”
This insight earned me a sigh, but today I could bear it.
‘Whenever there’s good news, there’s bound to be bad news too.’
Thinking about the joy of being dispatched as Ambassador to Belanos, the misfortune of Prien joining the General Staff Headquarters was something I could bear just fine.
‘So for now…’
I decided to enjoy the present joy without dwelling on future misfortunes.
That evening, in the banquet hall of Edrian Palace.
“So Captain Daniel Steiner is being dispatched as the Ambassador to Belanos?”
In response to Count Kaledra’s question, Deputy Director Beck of the Central Intelligence Agency nodded.
“Indeed. According to the intel, Regent Princess Selvia has instructed the Foreign Ministry to appoint Daniel Steiner as the Ambassador to Belanos.”
The banquet, filled with prominent figures from foreign nations, buzzed with voices and music, but around Count Kaledra, it was still.
He had deliberately distanced himself from people to receive the report.
“Sending the Empire’s hero and the one who succeeded in the Total War Speech as a mere ambassador to Belanos….”
As Kaledra fell deep in thought, Beck carefully opened his mouth.
“It seems to me there has been some friction with the Imperial Family. They likely view the support Daniel Steiner receives from the people as a threat to the authority of the Imperial Family.”
Historically, war heroes who accumulated too many merits tended to become thorns in the side of the royal family.
Beck, thinking Daniel was treading the same path, expressed it, but Kaledra found it nonsensical.
“You’re wrong. He’s lured us into thinking ‘Daniel Steiner has fallen out with the Imperial Family’. I suspect the appointment as Ambassador to Belanos was driven by his own will.”
If he were an ordinary war hero, it could be said he had fallen out with the Imperial Family, but Daniel Steiner was a genius staff officer who had been pressuring the Allied Nations in countless bizarre ways.
Therefore, it made more sense to view this as a ruse to deceive the Allied Nations.
“He’s using disgusting tricks to divert our attention. Deputy Director, have you found out how the Foreign Ministry will send Daniel Steiner to Belanos?”
As Kaledra cast a glance, Beck hurriedly looked over the document.
“Yes. It appears he will be traveling by diplomatic vessel over two days. It’s a short distance, and it seems they’re not planning to send escort ships due to concerns over diplomatic friction.”
That was a pleasant noise to hear.
“Good. Then contact the commander of the 12th District of the Belanos Maritime Defense Force. Tell him to open the territorial waters when the Empire’s diplomatic vessel set sail, as the Allied Nations will be sending a submarine.”
After hearing Kaledra’s words, Beck blinked in confusion.
The commander of the 12th District of the Belanos Maritime Defense Force was someone the Allied Nations had long managed to recruit as an ally.
Asking him to open the territorial waters meant they were essentially planning to destroy the ship carrying Daniel Steiner using a submarine.
“…Count, even if the plan succeeds, we might need to cut off the tail we’ve planted in Belanos. Is Daniel Steiner worth that?”
Kaledra shot him a glance before responding without hesitation.
“He is.”
For reasons unknown, Lucy was currently not following the orders of the Allied Nations.
It meant that the one who should have been dead by now was still walking around.
Which implied that Daniel had somehow thwarted Lucy’s assassination.
If that Daniel returns from his mission in Belanos to the Empire, then what will happen?
‘He will surely become a far more formidable opponent than he is now.’
Thus, I need to take action before Daniel becomes a more dangerous figure than he already is.
At any cost.
‘Daniel Steiner…’
The audacity he had to try and deceive us was laughable.
Kaledra tightened his grip on the head of his cane, narrowing his eyes sharply.
‘Keep in mind that your cunning will ultimately lead you to your demise.’