At the same time, Headquarters of the Free Socialist Party.
The leader’s private office.
“Captain Daniel Steiner used the Belmoore Kingdom’s surprise attack to his advantage and emerged victorious? Not only that, but he also captured the Crown Prince of the Belmoore Kingdom as a prisoner?”
In response to Kemball’s question, Plath, Baron Hendleymein’s informant who had come disguised as a civilian, nodded his head.
“It seems that negotiations for a prisoner exchange with the Belmoore Kingdom using the captured Crown Prince are currently underway.”
Kemball slammed his hand on the desk in disbelief at the absurd news.
“What a bunch of fools! They failed the surprise attack despite having information on Daniel Steiner’s location, and now they’ve been taken prisoner!”
While Kemball was venting his anger, the informant Plath remained calm and spoke without batting an eye.
“This cannot simply be seen as a mistake by the Belmoore Kingdom. There are indications that Daniel Steiner had anticipated their surprise attack beforehand.”
“What? How could Daniel Steiner have possibly known about it?”
“That is what we are currently investigating. The most likely assumption is that there is a traitor among us who has aligned with Daniel Steiner…”.
Plath’s hollow gaze met Kemball’s eyes.
Realizing that he was being suspected, Kemball quickly interjected.
“If you’re suspecting me, stop it right now! I have sworn loyalty to Lord Hendleymein my entire life. Do you really think someone like me would side with an orphan like Daniel Steiner? Does that make any sense?”
Seeing the sweat breaking out on Kemball’s face, Plath couldn’t help but ease his suspicion.
Kemball’s defense hadn’t convinced Plath, but rather because he thought someone who gets scared so easily over such simple suspicions couldn’t possibly be a traitor.
“I apologize for doubting you. Now, let me explain the purpose of my visit here.”
“Purpose?”
“Lord Hendleymein has instructed that ‘Kemball, the leader of the Free Socialist Party, should refrain from public activities and halt all political and military actions for the time being.'”
In short, he was being told to lay low like a dead rat.
Not understanding why this was necessary, Kemball cautiously asked a question.
“Is all this really necessary? No matter how much Daniel Steiner may have achieved military success, he’s still just an officer, isn’t he?”
“You can’t call someone who has the trust of Her Highness the Princess and is hailed as a hero of the Empire just an officer. It’s better to be cautious, just in case.”
After hearing this, Kemball silently agreed within himself.
Kemball, who had been silent for a while, swallowed hard and looked at Plath.
“But will it really be alright? If Daniel Steiner were to find out who leaked information to the kingdom…”
“There’s no need to worry.”
Plath’s answer was firm.
“No matter how skilled a negotiator Daniel Steiner might be, Colonel Magreph won’t reveal Leader Kemball’s name. There’s absolutely no reason for Colonel Magreph to divulge your name to Daniel Steiner.”
It usually takes a long time and astronomical amounts of money to bribe someone from an enemy country or train a spy to infiltrate them.
But Kemball had handed over internal secrets of the Empire without any conditions.
So, it would be normal to keep him hidden and use him further.
Therefore, it was widely accepted that Colonel Magreph wouldn’t sell out Kemball to Daniel Steiner.
Kemball also found himself reassured since he couldn’t refute Plath’s opinion.
“In that case, it’s fortunate. For now, I’ll play sick and stay out of things, right?”
“That’s correct. Even if Daniel Steiner suspects you, don’t worry. He doesn’t have the authority to investigate you.”
Kemball nodded after taking a deep breath.
“I understand. All of this is…”
As Kemball was about to say goodbye, Plath placed his clenched fist over his chest.
Two pairs of serious eyes narrowed almost simultaneously as they spoke in unison.
“For the greater good.”
Eliminating Daniel Steiner, who sought to disrupt the legitimacy of the Royal Family and swallow up the Empire, was the greater good they pursued.
*
“What the hell is wrong with you people?! What did I do to deserve this, you bastards!”
Alone in the Brigade Building’s office drinking whiskey, Daniel suddenly shouted.
He was beyond being astonished at the situation; now he was getting angry.
The hand gripping the whiskey glass trembled slightly as Daniel recalled the past.
‘Because of that Crown Prince…’
His plan to live peacefully at the remote outpost had gone down the drain.
It was already ridiculous that he had voluntarily surrounded himself during training and got ambushed, but when the prince pulled out a hidden pistol after saying he’d surrender, Daniel nearly felt his heart drop.
Thankfully, his bluff of pretending to be relaxed and challenging the prince to shoot worked, otherwise, he might have ended up riddled with bullets.
‘Of course, in that case, I would have accelerated my reflexes…’
If he had dodged the bullet by stepping aside, the soldiers behind him would have been attacked instead, which would have given him restless dreams.
‘What a lunatic…’
Had it not been for the Crown Prince, Daniel might have run up and slapped some sense into him.
Struggling to suppress his anger, Daniel took a sip of whiskey.
Watching the nightfall through the window, Daniel sighed softly.
‘The problem isn’t the Crown Prince right now.’
The name “Kemball,” heard during negotiations, made his nerves tingle.
He couldn’t overlook the fact that the leader of the Free Socialist Party might have betrayed him.
Daniel walked toward his desk, vaguely guessing that Kemball might be involved with the nobles.
His headache was so bad that he wanted to sit down and rest for a moment.
Setting the whiskey glass on the desk, Daniel pulled a photo from the inside pocket of his coat.
The faded black-and-white photograph showed a Golden Retriever smiling happily.
‘Those were the good days…’
He remembered his carefree childhood where running around with the puppy was pure joy.
Just as Daniel was lost in memories, Lucy arrived at his office with dessert.
She knocked lightly, but Daniel, half-drunk and lost in reminiscence, didn’t hear it.
“Colonel Daniel?”
There was no reply again.
Lucy, puzzled, blinked her red eyes several times before gently opening the door.
There she saw Daniel sitting at his desk, gazing quietly at a photograph.
With a troubled look in his eyes, Daniel murmured softly.
“Kelly. I miss you…”
To Lucy’s surprise, Daniel’s expression revealed longing for a woman named Kelly.
It was strange to see Daniel expressing such personal feelings.
Watching carefully, Lucy noticed Daniel’s wistful eyes soften into a faint smile.
“When I was with you, everything was happy. Are you doing well in heaven?”
Hearing Daniel’s quiet words, Lucy instinctively covered her mouth with her hand.
This was clearly a man grieving for his late wife.
Unintentionally learning about Daniel’s past, Lucy felt a mixture of shock and empathy.
She too had lost friends she cherished.
Thinking that Daniel must have experienced similar pain, pure sympathy welled up in her heart.
‘Even more…’
Judging by his expression and tone, Daniel must have lost his beloved wife in some accident.
She couldn’t even imagine the depth of sorrow one feels losing a loved one.
Looking at Daniel with pity, Lucy bit her lower lip.
Deciding not to disturb Daniel who was lost in memories, Lucy quietly closed the door and retraced her steps.
She thought comforting him could wait until Daniel had regained his composure.
Meanwhile, Daniel remained unaware of Lucy’s visit, recalling his friendship with the puppy.
“Because I insisted on raising you, how many scoldings did I get from the Monastery Head…”
Smiling faintly, Daniel put the photo back in his coat pocket.
Then he picked up his whiskey glass slowly.
Shaking the glass gently, the whiskey swirled, reflecting in Daniel’s dark eyes.
‘I thought my safety would be guaranteed once the coronation was over…’
It seemed he had been under a major misconception judging by the attacks from politicians.
‘The problem wasn’t the Emperor. It appears the nobles and politicians of the Empire are acting on their own accord.’
Showing disinterest in politics, he had assumed they would leave him alone in political struggles, which turned out to be a miscalculation.
‘So, they’ve dragged me into this mud-slinging fight.’
He stopped shaking the glass.
His calmed mind was showing him the path forward.
‘You started it first. Therefore…’
Gripping the glass so tightly his fingers turned yellow, Daniel narrowed his eyes sharply.
‘I will crush all of you thoroughly using every means at my disposal.’
