I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

Chapter 75

Permanent Member State of the United Nations, Edrea.
Office of Count Kalendra.

“Hmm…”

Seated at his desk, Count Kalendra furrowed his brows as he read through the report in front of him.

Before him stood Beck, the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Bureau, holding a rigid posture in a tense atmosphere.

The uncertainty of how Kalendra would react to the report kept Beck on edge.

The ticking of the wall clock echoed unusually loudly in the silence.

After meticulously reviewing the report, Kalendra closed his eyes and spoke.

“Deputy Director, is everything written in this report true?”

The icy tone of his voice sent a shiver down Beck’s spine.

Taking a deep breath, Beck responded in the calmest tone he could muster.

“The document has been verified. I believe there is no falsehood in it.”

Kalendra clenched his teeth at Beck’s reply, suppressing his frustration.

The situation was heading in a troubling direction.

The report detailed the changes within the Empire following Daniel Steiner’s "Total War" speech.

Unsurprisingly, all metrics within the Empire, including the military industry, were showing positive growth.

Kalendra had anticipated such developments upon first hearing about Daniel’s speech, but seeing the quantified data made his head throb.

“I underestimated him…”

When he first heard of Daniel Steiner’s flawless invasion of Nordia and his ability to subdue the Foreign Minister of Eldresia at the negotiation table, Kalendra had simply thought of him as a remarkable tactician serving the Empire.

But now, seeing Daniel put an end to the imperial succession conflict and successfully deliver the Total War speech, Kalendra felt a growing sense of dread.

“Daniel Steiner intends to dominate the Empire.”

To Kalendra, it seemed that Daniel was laying the groundwork to place the Empire firmly under his control, molding it to his will.

The thought evoked an odd sense of kinship.

After all, Kalendra’s own methods of seizing control over Edrea were not so different.

“But…”

Unlike Kalendra, Daniel had no wealth or backing. He had risen to his current prominence through sheer determination and exceptional insight alone.

It was an achievement that seemed almost inhuman.

“He’s dangerous.”

Allowing Daniel to grow any larger could not be permitted.

“The moment he becomes an unparalleled force in the Empire…”

He would undoubtedly become a more formidable adversary than even the Emperor.

Having reached his conclusion, Kalendra slowly opened his eyes.

“Deputy Director, effective immediately, elevate Daniel Steiner’s threat level one step higher among the core leadership personnel.”

“Elevate him from the core leadership personnel… Are you designating him as a head-of-state-level threat?”

“Do you object?”

Beck hesitated briefly before responding.

“Although Daniel has accomplished numerous feats and created significant political waves with his Total War speech, he’s merely a lieutenant colonel. To regard him as such a high-level threat seems…”

Beck trailed off mid-sentence and closed his mouth.

Kalendra’s cold gaze was fixed on him, a silent warning against further dissent.

Realizing he had overstepped, Beck quickly lowered his head.

“I will convey your instructions to the Central Intelligence Bureau and all government departments, Count.”

Kalendra, narrowing his eyes at Beck, suppressed his anger and spoke quietly.

“...And pass a message to Lucy, who is embedded as Daniel Steiner’s adjutant.”

Sweating profusely, Beck cautiously raised his gaze.

“What should I tell her?”

Kalendra, pausing deliberately, placed his forearms on the desk.

Moving slowly, as if ensnared in a web, he interlocked his fingers and opened his mouth.

“Tell her… the time has come to make a decision.”

*

Late Evening.

As the workday came to an end, Daniel stepped out of the General Staff Headquarters and savored the crisp evening breeze.

Having spent the entire day in his office to avoid unnecessary encounters, stepping outside gave him a liberating sense of relief.

“So refreshing,” he said with a satisfied smile.

Beside him, Lucy exhaled softly, her breath forming faint, icy wisps that quickly dissolved into the cold air.

“...Refreshing? It feels a bit chilly, doesn’t it?”

“Now that you mention it, it does feel cold. Well, winter is on its way.”

“Winter…”

Lucy glanced at the trees surrounding the General Staff Headquarters with her crimson eyes and nodded slightly.

The branches, now bare and stripped of leaves, revealed the season’s advance.

“As you said, winter is coming, Lieutenant Colonel.”

It felt like only yesterday that she had joined Daniel Steiner as his adjutant, sometime before spring had passed.

Before she realized it, two seasons had already gone by.

As Lucy pondered how quickly time was flying, Daniel spoke casually.

“Winter also comes with desserts you can only enjoy during the season. Speaking of which, I heard the Golden Rose Bakery is selling stollen as a Christmas special.”

“...Stollen?”

Lucy blinked, intrigued by the unfamiliar dessert.

Seeing her curiosity, Daniel decided it was the perfect opportunity to expand her culinary knowledge. With a hint of pride, he began his explanation.

“It’s a sweet and delicious bread coated in sugar. The sugar-covered exterior resembles a snowy field, enhancing its flavor and…”

Daniel’s fluent description suddenly faltered.

He noticed the curiosity and faint excitement in Lucy’s eyes as she listened attentively.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Daniel cleared his throat and said, “If you’re free on Christmas, we could go together. That is, if you want to.”

“If the Lieutenant Colonel suggests it, I won’t refuse,” Lucy replied in her usual neutral tone.

Daniel paused, momentarily speechless.

“She was staring at me like she really wanted to try it…”

Despite her calm demeanor, Daniel felt an urge to tease her. However, he decided against it.

“Considering she might still be annoyed about her recent special promotion, I should let it go this time.”

Previously, Daniel had advocated for Lucy’s exceptional competence to Cedric, the Deputy Chief of Operations, successfully prompting a special promotion review for her.

While Lucy had likely been frustrated by the event, Daniel decided that provoking her further might only escalate her hypothetical “assassination counter.”

Glancing at his watch, Daniel turned to Lucy.

“It’s getting late. You should head home.”

“...What about you, Lieutenant Colonel?”

“As you know, I’m quite the public figure.”

Daniel gestured toward the entrance of the headquarters, where a small group of people lingered despite the late hour, holding placards that read, “War Hero Daniel Steiner!”

Not wanting Lucy to get caught up with his admirers, Daniel offered her a chance to leave unnoticed.

Understanding his intent, Lucy hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“Understood. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

After bidding him farewell, Lucy adjusted her grip on her briefcase and walked away.

As she passed the entrance, the gathered admirers glanced at her but didn’t approach.

Though she wasn’t as famous as Daniel, her naturally cold demeanor made people reluctant to engage with her.

Thanks to this, Lucy left the headquarters without incident and headed toward a nearby bakery.

She planned to pick up a croissant or baguette before returning to her quarters.

“Or maybe…”

Perhaps she would try something new today.

Lost in thought, Lucy turned onto the main street and noticed a clown performing for a crowd.

“Ladies and gentlemen! At ten o’clock tonight at the Barrenfalt Theater, prepare to witness a whole new world! Are you seeking inner reflection? Or perhaps a fantasy unlike anything you’ve ever seen? Whatever you imagine, we can surpass it!”

The man in clown makeup handed out flyers with a wide smile, his voice booming to draw attention.

Watching a few curious passersby gather around, Lucy shook her head.

She disliked such loud, attention-grabbing tactics.

As she prepared to walk past, the clown approached her, holding out a flyer.

“Hey there! Beautiful officer! Why not grace our theater with your presence tonight? We’re offering military discounts, so you can come at a great price!”

“Thank you, but I’ll have to decline. I’m…”

Lucy’s polite refusal trailed off as her eyes caught a faint bump on the upper right corner of the flyer.

“...Encrypted braille?”

It was one of the methods used by the Allied Nations to deliver orders to spies operating within enemy territories.

“Come on, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!” the clown whispered, lowering his voice as he pressed the flyer closer to her.

After a brief pause, Lucy nodded and accepted the flyer. The clown laughed and moved on to the next passerby.

Once the clown had drawn attention elsewhere, Lucy ran her fingers over the braille.

Slowly, she began to read the encoded message.

“Daniel Steiner’s threat level has been elevated to that of a head-of-state-level risk. Therefore, before he causes further harm to the Allied Nations…”

Lucy’s crimson eyes quivered as she read the directive.

Swallowing hard, she ran her fingers over the braille again to confirm its contents.

The message remained the same.

Standing frozen, Lucy read the final line of the directive.

“...Eliminate Daniel Steiner immediately.”

No matter how many times she checked, the order was unmistakable.