Let's Have a Quick Chat Before Negotiations
Let's Have a Quick Chat Before Negotiations
The day of the negotiations.
The Belmore Kingdom's negotiation delegation was crossing the Empire's border and entering Barheim.
As black vehicles snaked along in a procession, Magref, riding in a passenger car at the center of the column, spoke without hiding his discomfort.
"I hadn't expected a warm reception, but this atmosphere is excessively cold. Not a single person coming out to greet the negotiation delegation...."
From Barheim's entrance to the city center, the person in charge of the city had not shown his face.
It was an icy reception, as if they were being told to negotiate and then leave immediately.
'But I can't exactly show my dissatisfaction.'
The surprise attack had been initiated by the Kingdom of Belmore, after all.
And in the process, the Crown Prince had been taken prisoner.
Even if the Empire committed a diplomatic discourtesy, it was a situation where the Kingdom of Belmore had no choice but to take a low posture.
Just as Magref, thinking it couldn't be helped, regained his composure, it happened.
"Halt! Everyone stop your vehicles!"
Men who appeared to be Barheim's guards stopped the delegation's column.
Just as he wondered what was going on, a man who looked like a cadre approached Magref's vehicle.
"There will be a brief inspection. We wish to conduct a final identity verification before you proceed to the negotiation site, so please cooperate. Submit your passports, diplomatic identification cards, orders, or letters of appointment."
At those words, the adjutant sitting beside him bristled and spoke.
"What on earth is the meaning of this! We already had our identities verified at the city entrance, and we received permission from your superiors as well! And now you're saying you'll inspect us again? Do you wish to humiliate us!?"
When his adjutant got angry, the Imperial cadre broke out in a cold sweat but did not back down.
Magref, who had been watching, let out a low sigh and took out his passport and identification card.
"That's enough. Our two nations are at war. They are likely being thorough with identity verification to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, so there's no need to get heated."
Magref even took out the order from his pocket and handed it over to the Imperial cadre.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
The cadre, having received the identity verification documents, bowed his head deeply and began the confirmation procedure.
Just as Magref, thinking it would take some time, leaned back in his seat—
Taaang─
His shoulders flinched at the overlapping sound of gunfire.
When he turned his gaze toward the source of the gunshots, he saw figures crumpled to the ground, bullets lodged in their heads.
Imperial soldiers were carrying out a firing-squad execution against a wall of the square.
'Are they processing death row inmates....'
It wasn't that he couldn't understand, since war meant having to conserve even the food that should be given to prisoners.
Not particularly wanting to watch people die, Magref clicked his tongue and averted his gaze.
While Magref was adjusting his attire, concerned about the upcoming negotiations, the cadre who had finished the identity verification returned his documents.
"The confirmation is complete. I sincerely apologize for any unintended disrespect."
Magref nodded and accepted the documents.
The Imperial cadre, having confirmed this, walked to the front of the column and shouted permission to proceed.
The soldiers, hearing the cadre's words, cleared the way to either side, and the negotiation delegation's column advanced once more.
After traveling for a few more minutes, the delegation's column slowed down in front of the brigade headquarters building.
This was because the negotiations were scheduled to take place in the brigade headquarters building.
When the vehicle came to a complete stop, the driver got out and opened the door of the seat where Magref was sitting.
Magref, taking in a breath of Barheim's air, stepped out of the vehicle and looked up at the headquarters building.
'Is this the place. The place where Daniel Steiner is....'
What kind of bastard could he be to have such a notorious reputation?
Harboring a strange mix of curiosity and tension, he heard the clicking of shoes as a young woman approached him.
"Are you Major General Magref, who has come as the negotiation officer?"
When Magref turned his head, he could see a beautiful woman with short silver hair and red eyes.
"Who are you?"
"I am Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner's adjutant, Lucy Emilia. If it's acceptable, I will guide you to Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner."
"Daniel Steiner's adjutant...."
Magref, who had been quietly observing Lucy, nodded his head.
"I would appreciate your guidance."
"Understood. I would ask you to follow me, then."
Lucy, having shown her courtesy, turned on her heel.
Magref and his adjutant followed behind Lucy.
After entering the building and walking down the corridors of the headquarters for some time, Magref arrived at a reception room prepared within the building.
The problem was that Daniel Steiner was nowhere to be seen in the reception room.
Magref, who had entered the reception room and glanced around, looked back at Lucy.
"Has Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner not come?"
"He will be here shortly. Would you please sit and wait?"
At Lucy's indifferent attitude, Magref furrowed his brow.
'They're openly looking down on us.'
He was angry, but as he was not in a position to protest, Magref let out a sigh and sat down on the sofa prepared in the reception room.
However, even after another five minutes passed, Daniel Steiner did not appear.
The adjutant, who couldn't understand this, leaned close to Magref and bowed his head.
"...Your Excellency. Do you intend to continue overlooking Daniel Steiner's rudeness?"
At his adjutant's whisper, Magref let out a low sigh.
"Adjutant. Don't get caught up in that bastard's strategy."
"You're saying it's a strategy?"
"Yes. That bastard is deliberately stalling for time to make himself... and the Empire... realize they hold a superior position over us. Getting worked up over this will only disadvantage us, not the enemy, in the negotiations."
The adjutant, nodding at Magref's cool-headedness, stepped back.
Just when another five minutes had passed, the door to the reception room opened.
Beyond the opened door stood Daniel Steiner, well-dressed in the Imperial officer's uniform.
He was a tall man.
Though he had dark circles under his eyes, his natural smile exuded composure.
From his behavior, which showed no trace of nervousness despite his tardiness, Magref could tell.
That this opponent would not be easy.
"You've finally arrived."
As Magref rose from his seat, Daniel Steiner approached him.
"I apologize for being late. I had some matters to direct regarding work."
Daniel Steiner extended his hand as he spoke.
"I am Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner, operations staff officer attached to the Imperial General Staff Headquarters. As I am currently dispatched for operational support, I am serving as the battalion commander of a Headquarters Direct Command Unit."
Magref grasped Daniel Steiner's hand.
"I am Magref Terofonmarne, commander of the 2nd Armored Division of the Belmore Kingdom and also a count. Since you said you were busy with work, let us overlook the matter of your tardiness."
"Ah. A noble is a noble indeed, just as I've heard. I cannot help but be impressed by your dignified speech and this profound consideration."
Daniel, who had let out a playful laugh, pointed to the sofa.
"Then, shall we sit and talk?"
Magref nodded and sat on the sofa, and Daniel also took his seat.
It was Magref who spoke first.
"First, let us go over the main points of contention in the negotiations. It would be mutually...."
Magref stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth.
It was because Daniel had raised his hand to halt his words.
"I suggested we have a chat. Let's postpone the negotiations until after that."
One of Magref's eyebrows twitched.
"A chat? What on earth are you talking about?"
"You know very well what I am talking about, Count."
"...Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner. Does this place look to you like somewhere one can joke around?"
Daniel, maintaining his smile, stared quietly at Magref.
After a long silence, Daniel let out a low chuckle and took out a portable radio.
"Are the firing preparations complete?"
While Magref was bewildered by this, a reply came through the radio.
─ Yes. As you instructed, 267 bullets have been prepared.
267 bullets? As far as Magref knew, the number 267 matched the number of personnel Daniel Steiner had taken prisoner.
Given that Magref had just witnessed the firing squad scene in the square, he could not possibly think of it as a simple shooting drill.
"Let's start with twenty rounds first. Tell the prepared marksmen to fire."
Not only the adjutant but also Magref was flustered and at a loss for words.
Just as he couldn't grasp what on earth was happening—
Taaang─
The overlapping sound of gunfire coming from nearby made his hands flinch and tremble.
Magref's eyes, which had been dazed for a moment, now trembled slightly.
"What on earth...."
After taking a deep breath, Magref shouted loudly.
"What on earth are you doing!? I came here to negotiate! Yet are you trying to threaten me right now!?"
Magref yelled in fury, but Daniel shrugged his shoulders as if he couldn't understand.
"A threat? I merely ordered my men to conduct shooting practice to improve their marksmanship."
At Daniel's words, Magref drew a sharp breath.
'Shooting practice? Is he saying that killing people right now is shooting practice?'
The trembling in his hands grew worse.
'Does this man have no heart at all?'
Daniel, seeing that Magref was overcome with fear, continued speaking as if nothing had happened.
"Then let's return to our chat. Specifically, about how the Crown Prince of the Belmore Kingdom was able to pinpoint my location exactly."
Magref swallowed hard and spoke.
"...I cannot understand why you are asking me that."
Daniel, nodding at Magref's answer, spoke into the radio.
"Fire."
It wasn't long before the sound of gunfire rang out once again.
That horrific sound made Magref want to cover his own ears.
Daniel, who had been calmly staring at Magref, pressed the transmit button on the radio.
"Report the firing results."
─ All shots hit their marks.
"Good. This time, prepare to fire 100 rounds."
At the mention of 100 rounds, Magref broke out in a cold sweat, his mouth falling slightly open.
Daniel's behavior was so shocking that he could no longer control his expression.
However, Daniel, still maintaining a smile, calmly took off his service cap.
"Now then. I'll ask you once more."
Daniel, having placed his service cap on the table in front of the sofa, lightly dusted off his hands.
Then, looking at Magref, Daniel wiped the smile off his lips.
"Who is it."
As if watching cornered prey, Daniel narrowed his eyes sharply and continued quietly.
"The Imperial rat that's been cooperating with you."