The Empire Wants Daniel Steiner
The Empire Wants Daniel Steiner
A few days later, General Headquarters.
Daniel Steiner's private office.
"......."
Lucy, who had been sorting documents on Daniel's behalf as usual, pricked up her ears.
It was because a familiar set of footsteps was approaching down the hallway.
Realizing the owner of those footsteps was Daniel Steiner, Lucy kicked her chair back and sprang to her feet.
She was so delighted by Daniel's return that her body reacted before her mind could catch up.
She was about to open the door and go out to greet him, but a sudden thought made her stop short.
'At this rate, it's just like.......'
She was no different from a puppy waiting for its master.
Around the time Lucy was sighing quietly at her own pathetic state—
Kiiiik—
The office door opened and Daniel walked in.
She'd been worried because he'd been hit in the forehead with a brick, but his outward appearance was the same as always.
In fact, for some reason, he seemed to be in an even better mood than usual.
"Oh. If it isn't my lovely adjutant. Did you guard the office well in my absence?"
Lucy felt an inexplicable chill run down her spine at Daniel's smiling words.
'......My lovely adjutant?'
Not only was it an expression he never normally used, but his intonation also carried a hint of joy.
'Did he hit his head?'
She'd heard about it before.
That while not common, there were cases where a person's personality changed after receiving a major shock to the brain.
Because of this, Lucy was staring at him suspiciously, but Daniel merely hummed a little tune.
And he had good reason to, because things were going better than expected.
'There's practically no one who doesn't know I got hit by a brick thrown by the anti-war protesters.'
He wasn't sure if it was because the Melbaroten Newspaper Company had done its job better than he'd thought, or if the article's content was simply so sensational, but the news had spread vigorously through the Imperial Capital.
And the Imperial Ilbo had also started covering the story, which said it all.
'Which means.......'
It was as good as the Imperial Ilbo having waved the white flag.
'The Imperial Ilbo waving the white flag means the nobles have entered a lull.'
To put it jokingly, there was a high probability things had turned into a 'this bastard's game is fucked up' state.
'So it's clear they won't be able to attack me for the time being.'
In short, a state of temporary ceasefire had been reached, which was a welcome development from the perspective of Daniel, whose highest priority in life was self-preservation.
'And besides.......'
A promotion was scheduled after the coronation.
Of course, the promotion itself wasn't a good thing.
What Daniel had his eye on was the change in posting that would follow the promotion.
Because a man who'd made colonel couldn't be allowed to continue working as a mere operations staff officer.
'The higher-ups will probably appoint me as the Deputy Chief of the Operations Staff.'
With the achievements he'd accumulated so far, he would have no trouble taking Ernst's position.
If that happened, Ernst would be moved off to some idle post, and given the man's history of constantly grumbling about the excessive workload, there was a chance he would accept it without much ill will.
'In fact, the Deputy Chief has submitted transfer requests to higher command several times.'
Thanks to that, he would be able to receive the baton without any mutual ill will.
'If I become Deputy Chief of the Operations Staff.......'
His classified access authority would rise, allowing him to emerge as a core figure of the Empire.
If that happened, not even the noble coalition could easily stretch out their claws to get at him.
That meant he would be one step closer to the idyllic peace that Daniel so desired.
Moreover, the position of Deputy Chief of the Operations Staff was a rear-area desk job.
It was a safe posting, far removed from the frontlines where the flames of war raged.
'Until now I've gone out to provide operational support because I needed to, but.......'
Now that he had solidified a certain foundation within the Empire, there wasn't the slightest reason to risk danger by setting foot onto the battlefield.
To use an analogy, he had painstakingly built the tower and now all he had to do was move in.
Of course, there would still be various problems to solve and the unwelcome guests known as the nobles would obstruct him at every turn, but they weren't issues he needed to greatly worry about right this moment.
Because Daniel had just won a major victory in the public opinion war against the nobles.
In this pleasant mood for the above reasons, Daniel set down his briefcase and sat in his office chair.
Feeling the warmth of the sunlight pouring in from behind him, Daniel put on a fresh smile.
"Adjutant. You've worked hard all this time. Once I become Deputy Chief of the Operations Staff, the work you've had to handle alone will be distributed among the staff officers, so there won't be many late nights."
"......You mean Deputy Chief of the Operations Staff, sir?"
"Yes. Her Highness the Crown Princess told me she'd promote me on the day of the coronation, so that posting is as good as mine. If you'd like, feel free to call me 'Deputy Chief.' No need to stand on ceremony."
One of Lucy's eyebrows twitched as she looked at Daniel, who was wearing a benevolent smile.
'He's obnoxious.......'
Daniel's triumphant attitude was somehow rubbing Lucy the wrong way.
*
Meanwhile, the Chief of the General Staff's Office.
Senior Command Personnel Conference.
"Now that everyone appears to be present, let us begin."
The Chief of the General Staff, Arman Veteriom, who wore an eyepatch over one eye, swept his gaze across the personnel seated at the conference table.
All the key staff officers of the General Headquarters were present, along with the Personnel Director.
Among them, Cedric, the Deputy Chief of Staff, exuded a subtle presence.
After glancing at Cedric one last time, Arman picked up the documents on the table and spoke.
"As you know, Her Highness the Crown Princess intends to promote Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner to Colonel on the day of the coronation. In that regard, are there any disqualifying factors regarding Daniel Steiner's special promotion?"
The Personnel Director answered the formal question.
"There are none. Every time he has deployed to provide operational support, he has successfully carried out his missions, and this time, he captured the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Belmore, achieving an outstanding result. Not only that, his arrest of the collaborators lurking within the Empire makes him truly an exemplary officer."
The Vice Chief of Staff of the General Headquarters, who had been listening to the Personnel Director, added his voice.
"While Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner's recent political activities are somewhat concerning, considering that his intention was for the good of the Empire, I believe they are well within acceptable bounds."
Arman gave a solemn nod and set down the documents.
"In that case, we must now discuss his posting. Because Daniel Steiner, having gained the rank of Colonel, cannot be left to remain active as an operations staff officer. In my opinion......."
Tapping the table, Arman continued.
"I believe it best to elevate Daniel Steiner to Deputy Chief of the Operations Staff. The current Deputy Chief of the Operations Staff, Ernst, has also expressed a desire for a change in posting, after all. Have you reviewed this matter?"
The remark was directed at the Personnel Director.
The Personnel Director's expression became somewhat troubled, and he carefully began to speak.
"Your Excellency the Chief of the General Staff. Colonel Ernst is a talent essential to the General Headquarters. Furthermore, while Daniel Steiner is certainly an outstanding talent, opinions are divided as to whether he is suited for the position of Deputy Chief of the Operations Staff given his lack of lengthy experience working in the staff offices."
An operations staff officer existed to carry out practical duties supporting the establishment and execution of operational plans.
In contrast, a Deputy Chief of the Operations Staff had to direct the department's overall operational planning and organically judge the right and wrong of said operations.
This meant it was a posting that inevitably required long experience.
The Personnel Director could not help but worry whether seating Daniel Steiner in that position was truly advisable.
Understanding the Personnel Director's stance, Cedric spoke up.
"Your Excellency. I concur with the Personnel Director's statement. I believe it is right for Colonel Ernst to continue his service as Deputy Chief of the Operations Staff for the sake of the Empire. Moreover......."
After a brief pause, Cedric added.
"Daniel Steiner will not want the position of Deputy Chief of the Operations Staff."
He wouldn't want it? Arman, his curiosity piqued, looked at Cedric.
"Explain further."
"Yes. Some time ago, Daniel Steiner told me, 'One cannot live a life of ease in the Imperial Capital simply for the reason of being a war hero.' He also added, 'If one truly wishes to serve the Empire, one must be active on the battlefield while still young.'"
This was a lie Daniel had fabricated on the spot at the Christmas Banquet in order to avoid the Emperor's scrutiny and create an excuse to leave the Imperial Capital.
The one problem was that neither Cedric nor even the Chief of the General Staff Arman thought of it as a lie.
"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner is an officer of unparalleled patriotism. There is no way he would wish to comfortably handle paperwork in the capital. Moreover, the staff officers gathered here will know what kind of feats Daniel Steiner has displayed on the battlefield."
Daniel Steiner had successfully executed operations that everyone believed no one could accomplish.
And since he had succeeded not once but multiple times, it was safe to say there was no one who doubted his abilities.
In relation to this, a joke had even arisen among the staff that 'if there's an operation that seems impossible, just leave it to Daniel Steiner.'
"Therefore, I believe it would be right to change his posting in the direction Daniel Steiner desires, if possible. The Empire needs even one more competent frontline commander right now, after all."
Since it was not an incorrect statement, Arman nodded his head.
"If so, have you considered where it would be best to place Daniel Steiner?"
"I have. After much deliberation, I believe placing him as the Chief of Staff of the 7th Division, which is operated as a unit directly under the General Headquarters, would be suitable."
"Division Chief of Staff. What does the Personnel Director think about this?"
The Personnel Director seemed lost in thought for a moment before giving a positive answer.
"Since the current Chief of Staff of the 7th Division is due for discharge, a handover would be possible immediately."
"Then it's decided."
If there was a competent officer who wished to be active on the battlefield, it was only right to grant him that wish.
"As of this hour, I, Arman Veteriom, the Chief of the General Staff, will approve Daniel Steiner's special promotion, and the posting to be changed in accordance with the promotion is that of Chief of Staff of the 7th Division, a unit directly subordinate to the General Headquarters."
Confirming that no one had any objections, Arman turned to the Vice Chief of Staff.
"Vice Chief of Staff, prepare an abbreviated report of this conference and submit it to Her Highness the Crown Princess."
"Yes, understood."
When the Vice Chief of Staff answered, Arman raised a hand and waved it.
It was a signal that the conference was hereby concluded and that everyone should return to their duties.
With that, the sounds of chairs scraping back filled the room as the staff officers rose from their seats.
It was at the moment Cedric, too, was rising to leave the office of the Chief of the General Staff—
"Deputy Chief of Staff."
Cedric turned his gaze to Arman, who had stopped him.
The reason Arman called him over was that he had a question for Cedric, a man renowned for his sharp eye for people.
Arman spoke quietly enough not to be heard by the others.
"It seems you saw potential in Daniel Steiner. What was it that you saw?"
"Decisive victory."
"Can you be certain?"
"I cannot be certain. He may become the greatest soldier in history, but......."
After a brief silence, Cedric appended his words.
"Or he might become the most dangerous politician in history."