Chapter 114

Kemball could only stand there silent, as Daniel growled.

The fear that he might lose his life by crossing Daniel Steiner, who had arrived with troops, gripped him.

As Daniel quietly observed Kemball turning pale, he suddenly smirked.

“It’s a joke. After all, you, My Lord, have the right to refuse my requests.”

Daniel placed the uniform cap he’d been holding onto his head.

“Of course, in that case…”

Having adjusted his cap, Daniel slid his hands into his coat pockets.

From his pocket, Daniel pulled out a piece of paper which he lightly unfolded and showed to Kemball.

“If you’re denying the fact that I, acting on behalf of Her Highness the Princess, have been temporarily granted inspection authority, then you’ll have to deal with the consequences yourself.”

Kemball swallowed dryly as he looked at the contents of the paper.

──────────

The Royal Family hereby temporarily grants Daniel Steiner the authority to inspect suspected traitors believed to have colluded with the enemy, to maintain military order and establish justice.

The inspection authority given to Daniel Steiner is limited to those suspected of treason, with permission granted to deploy troops when necessary.

Anyone who does not cooperate with Daniel Steiner’s investigation will be considered as showing contempt for the dignity of the Royal Family and will be punished accordingly.

The term of the given inspection authority will end before the coronation, and Daniel Steiner is hereby ordered to diligently perform this task for the honor of the Royal Family and the stability of the Empire.

──────────

At the bottom of the paper was Princess Selvia’s elegant signature.

Realizing that it was a formally issued warrant, Kemball had no choice but to surrender.

“…It seems I was a bit excited. I will cooperate with the investigation.”

Upon hearing the expected response, Daniel nodded and turned around.

“Conduct a search.”

Upon hearing the order, the troops gave a quick salute and entered Kemball’s residence in an orderly line.

Some carried wooden crates and metallic boxes.

Once all the troops had entered, Daniel followed.

Inside, Daniel observed the soldiers dispersing throughout the house and packing suspicious items into the crates.

With his hands behind his back, Daniel watched the scene unfold leisurely, until Kemball walked in accompanied by military officers.

Daniel’s gaze didn’t meet Kemball’s; instead, he surveyed the interior decoration.

Daniel let out an exclamation of admiration.

“There are quite a few pieces of furniture made from cherry and mahogany! Each one of these must easily surpass the yearly income of an average citizen. And that sculpture… isn’t it made of ebony?”

This was an indirect question whether Kemball, as the leader of a political party, was indulging in too much luxury.

“That plus, most of them are expensive Art Nouveau style. Even in the Imperial Palace, such furniture isn’t easily found. Isn’t it quite a feast for the eyes?”

Kemball couldn’t answer.

This was essentially an implied threat, asking, “Who funds you?”

Since Daniel wasn’t actually fishing for a response, he strolled comfortably into the living room.

As he moved, a faint sigh escaped Kemball’s lips—unnerved by the noise of soldiers packing up various items in crates.

In the middle of this, Daniel sat down in a chair he’d taken from the dining table.

Having removed his cap and placed it on the table, Daniel nodded with apparent satisfaction.

“It seems like it would be best to talk things through here.”

Kemball interpreted this as an invitation to sit and moved to the opposite side of the table.

When Kemball seated himself, Daniel smiled slightly and spoke.

“Let me extend my apologies for the inconvenience of my sudden visit and the search. Of course, once the investigation is done, all the items will be returned to you, so there is no need to worry.”

Kemball nodded uncomfortably and Daniel, acting playfully, tapped the table.

“To be honest, I’d like to return things as quickly as possible. There’s no good for either of us if this stretches out, is there?”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I say. Wouldn’t the investigation go faster if the Lord provides sincere answers to my questions? Then the items we’ve taken could be returned relatively quickly.”

Saying this confidently, Daniel raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

An officer waiting in the background promptly came forward, placed a small tape recorder on the table, and then retreated.

“Alright. Now I’m going to interrogate you. If the Lord only speaks the truth, we can amicably part ways. Do you understand?”

Kemball silently stared at Daniel for some time.

It was impossible to discern what scheme lay hidden behind his smiling face.

Still, Kemball had no choice but to nod hesitantly under the growing tension.

“Understood. Let’s begin recording now.”

Having said this, Daniel pressed the record button on the tape recorder.

Watching the tape rotate at a steady speed, Daniel turned his eyes to Kemball.

“The person I am speaking to now is Kemball, the leader of the Freedom Social Party, correct?”

“…Yes.”

“In that case, I will begin questioning the Lord, who is suspected of collaboration. Have you ever leaked the Empire’s secrets to aid the Belmoore Kingdom?”

Kemball gasped.

Of course, the first question implied acknowledgment of guilt.

‘Isn’t this supposed to be a negotiation?’

Kemball’s forehead started sweating with nervousness as he had believed he could find a compromise and escape.

Within the silence, Kemball clenched his teeth.

Realizing that this was not negotiation but intimidation meant he didn’t need to comply.

“What nonsense! Do you think I would leak secrets to support the Belmoore Kingdom? Stop your insulting remarks.”

Predictably so. Daniel, who hadn’t found anything unusual, hit the pause button on the recorder and turned back, saying:

“It seems the search is over. Let the troops return outside. Prien? You stay here and close the curtains.”

After officers nodded, they swiftly acted.

Once the commanders gave the command to regroup, the soldiers, fully loaded with items in crates, exited the house one by one.

Only after the troops and commanders departed through the front door did Prien begin pulling the curtains closed.

As darkness enveloped the living room, Daniel began.

“I clearly asked for the truth, yet the Lord insists on falsehoods.”

Clucking his tongue in seeming regret, Daniel drew out a revolver from his waistband.

Daniel removed the chamber, pulled a bullet from his coat, and loaded it.

After inserting the bullet, he closed the chamber with a turn, and his gaze now fell on Kemball, the smile vanished.

“I presume you’ve judged lying advantageous. But, I am proposing a game to you.”

“…A game, you say?”

Is this man crazy? Though Kemball was perplexed, Daniel’s face remained calm.

“Simple. Whenever there’s a gap between what I know and your answer—whenever you lie—I will pull the trigger.”

Does this man actually plan to shoot? Kemball was bewildered, but Daniel maintained his composure.

“Don’t you think the fear of dying from lying would make you tell the truth? I would therefore earnestly ask you to cooperate while risking your life.”

Prien, having closed the curtains, now hovered beside Daniel.

Kemball’s gaze alternated between the two figures shrouded in shadow before clenching his fists.

‘What nonsense. There’s no way he’d shoot me…’

Daniel Steiner couldn’t act freely without consequence if there were only allegations against the accused.

Thus, Daniel’s present actions appeared more of an act of bravado.

Assessing Daniel’s behavior as bravado, Kemball frowned.

“Ha! You can suspect me, but you can’t silence me. As I already said, I have never leaked secrets to the Belmoore Kingdom!”

Thinking this would suffice, Daniel nodded, took out his revolver.

“For lying, you must receive a punishment.”

Kemball looked at the barrel aimed at him and gulped.

Though the sight of the gun in front of him was unsettling, he managed to remain composed, knowing Daniel would not pull the trigger.

‘This is merely intimidation.’

So there was little reason to comply with Daniel Steiner’s antics.

“Daniel Steiner! The childish game of threats should…”

At that precise moment, a metallic click echoed through the room.

The chamber rotated as Daniel pulled the trigger.

Kemball’s eyes widened.

‘He… he pulled the trigger?’

Kemball had clearly seen Daniel load a live round into the revolver’s chamber.

Yet Daniel had pulled the trigger without hesitation.

The implication was clear.

‘He intends to kill me. This man truly means to kill me…!’

Beads of cold sweat started streaming down Kemball’s forehead.

As the fear of death crept along his back, his breathing became ragged.

His mind went blank, and his body began trembling intermittently.

Heaving like someone in the throes of a respiratory crisis, Kemball was carefully observed by Daniel, who placed the revolver back on the table.

Daniel pressed the record button on the tape recorder again and leaned back in his chair.

“I shall ask once more. Is Kemball, the leader of the Freedom Social Party, truly a traitor who conspired with the enemy?”

Addressing Kemball, now in the grip of mortal terror, Daniel whispered softly, as though granting him a final chance.

“Are you, in fact, the rat who betrayed the Empire?”