A Meal with the Branch Head
A Meal with the Branch Head
Theobald broke into a cold sweat at the warning that if he did not submit, everyone would die.
He wanted to believe it was a lie, but considering Daniel Steiner's notoriety, it was highly likely to be true.
In the quiet conference room, Theobald took several deep breaths before finally speaking.
"......What are your grounds for this?"
Platt, having lost his usual composure, answered.
"Not long after I left the grand banquet hall, a pursuer latched onto me. I tried my best to shake them off, but they clung to me tenaciously, as if mocking me. In the end, they seized me in a back alley."
Recalling the situation, Platt wore a terrified expression.
"The masked men approached me as I lay on the ground and said, 'Since that person would not want any disturbance on the day of the coronation, they would spare me just this once. But there would be no next time, so I should slowly think over how I ought to behave.'"
The conference room stirred at Platt's story.
It was because his words echoed what Hamtal had said after barging in.
Believing himself cornered, Theobald gritted his teeth.
'So they know our location, meaning they can strike us at any time. They're toying with us like playthings. What an arrogant son of a bitch.......'
Though the situation had turned unfavorable, he had not the slightest intention of dancing to Daniel Steiner's tune.
Having steeled his resolve, Theobald spoke after a long silence.
"Did everyone hear that? Daniel Steiner is treating us like some neighborhood mutts. He seems to think he can kill us whenever he feels like it."
A low chuckle escaped through Theobald's teeth.
"To be honest, he's not wrong. The Palentia branch is situated in the heart of the Empire. The bastard can surround us, mobilizing not only private organizations but the military police as well, if necessary. If it comes to that, we won't be able to avoid dying like dogs."
Having got his laughter under control, Theobald looked around at the intelligence agents in the conference room.
"But the same applies to Daniel Steiner. We can attack him, too. He shouldn't have given us time. He shouldn't have acted so arrogant! Submit? Ha! Such nauseating drivel he spouts!"
Kwang! Theobald slammed his fist onto the table and rose from his seat.
"We have sworn our loyalty to the Allied Nations! Rather than bow under some filthy Imperial officer, we will fight to the death! Is that not so!?"
At Theobald's voice echoing through the conference room, the eyes of the intelligence agents changed.
Just moments ago they had been consumed by an unknown fear, but now a resolve grounded in patriotism was visible in them.
"Comrades! The time for decision has come! The time has come for us to eliminate Daniel Steiner, who threatens the Allied Nations, with our own hands! Who will join this great cause!"
No sooner had Theobald finished speaking than two intelligence agents raised their hands without hesitation.
It was, so to speak, an outpouring of the patriotism they held in their hearts.
Theobald pointed at those two and raised his voice.
"Good! Denders! Contim! You two will disguise yourselves and prepare pistols along with me!"
While Denders and Contim nodded, Reven raised his hand in a worried tone.
He was the man who had argued with Denders, insisting they should listen to Daniel Steiner.
"Wait. Branch Chief. Even if we disguise ourselves, the moment we step out of the textile factory, we'll be caught in their surveillance net. Wouldn't it all be for nothing?"
"This bastard, again......!"
Denders glared at Reven as if he would eat him alive, but Theobald raised his hand to stop him.
Reven's words also had a point.
"Those bastards only know that the textile factory is our base, not how its underground was designed. So if we slip out through a secret passage, we can escape their surveillance net."
"Even so, getting caught is only a matter of time."
"Then all we have to do is attempt the assassination before we're caught."
At Theobald's confident words, Reven fell silent.
Seeing that, Theobald averted his gaze from Reven and looked at the intelligence agents.
"All personnel except Denders and Contim, who will be embarking on the assassination operation with me, are to dispose of the branch's materials and prepare to flee. If you're lucky, you might survive by evading their surveillance net."
One of the intelligence agents listening to Theobald spoke up.
"Branch Chief. We may survive, but you will certainly die."
He was not wrong.
Regardless of whether the assassination succeeded or failed, Theobald, who had orchestrated everything, was fated to die.
But for Theobald, who had chosen to fight rather than submit, death was but a trivial matter.
"If I can put an end to Daniel Steiner......."
Thinking of his homeland, Theobald narrowed his eyes sharply.
"I would gladly lay down my life a thousand times."
*
When evening came, Daniel, having left work as usual, headed to a restaurant.
The restaurant was a humble establishment located near General Staff Headquarters, bearing a sign that read 'Beer Heaven.'
Usually, he ate at the headquarters mess hall, but there were times when a man wanted to spend money at a restaurant and treat himself.
Right now, Daniel was seated at the restaurant's outdoor table, having ordered steamed cabbage with sausages and enjoying a glass of beer.
"Ahh!"
Setting down his beer glass, Daniel smiled in good spirits.
'The draft beer here is truly excellent. I'll have to come often.'
Having mentally awarded it full marks, Daniel felt the breeze and took a look around.
He saw passersby strolling leisurely around the splashing fountain, and merchants hawking their wares in front of stalls.
It was a truly peaceful, idyllic scene that warmed the heart.
'I made a good choice sitting at an outdoor table.'
Had he ordered his food indoors, he would not have been able to see such a tranquil view.
With his chin propped on the table, Daniel idly passed the time without a single worry for the first time in a long while.
It was just as he was savoring the pleasures of daily life, sipping his beer whenever he grew thirsty and taking a bite of sausage, that it happened.
"Oh? Isn't that Colonel Daniel?"
An unfamiliar voice yanked Daniel's mind, lost in pleasant reverie, back to reality.
Turning his head toward the source of the voice, Daniel found himself facing an elderly man with an impressive mustache beneath his glasses.
He was Theobald, disguised as an old man.
Of course, Daniel could not know that.
"Ooh. Judging by your uniform, it really is Colonel Daniel! To think I'd be able to see someone I've only ever read about in the newspapers up close like this! What an immense honor!"
Daniel had wanted to spend his time alone, but unable to dismiss the attentive old man, he answered with a faint smile.
"To call it an honor is too much. I am merely a single officer."
"Nonsense! Who would consider a hero of the Empire a mere officer! More than that, since meeting like this must be fate, would you mind if I joined you?"
"Ah. Of course."
When Daniel raised his hand to indicate the seat opposite him, Theobald pulled out a chair and sat down.
Theobald seemed to mumble to himself like an old man, then soon opened up casually.
"Had I known this would happen, I should have brought my son along."
"It seems your son is quite fond of me."
"Yes, sir. To the point that he's always passionately declaring at home how amazing Colonel Daniel Steiner is."
While chatting amicably, Theobald closely scrutinized Daniel.
He observed him for subtle changes in expression and whether his intonation was consistent.
After that brief observation, Theobald came to a conclusion.
'He doesn't know.'
As far as Theobald could see, Daniel Steiner was unaware of his true identity.
'Well, he wouldn't imagine that the chief of the branch he's cornered would bare his claws in return. What a son of a bitch. Know that your carelessness will cost you your life.'
Just as he had steeled himself to kill Daniel Steiner and die in return, a server approached.
"Would you like to order?"
At the server's words, Theobald gave a vague nod.
"A glass of beer and a mixed sausage platter, please."
"Understood. Sir Theobald, your order is a glass of beer and a mixed sausage platter, correct?"
At the server's question, Theobald felt his body freeze.
He had never mentioned his name, yet the server knew it.
And not an alias, but his real name.
Enveloped in unknown terror, Theobald turned his head and saw, tattooed near the server's wrist, a black bird clutching a laurel wreath.
'That's.......'
It matched the tattoo on the neck of the person Hamtal had brought with him.
Thus, the server was issuing a warning right now.
Not to try anything foolish.
His pupils trembling, Theobald soon regained his senses.
Even if the server was watching, there was no great difficulty in killing Daniel Steiner.
'I just need to pull out my pistol and shoot.'
Even if he were captured afterward and subjected to brutal torture, he would endure it.
'All for the sake of the Allied Nations.'
It was the moment Theobald, having composed himself, reached into his coat to draw his pistol.
Silence fell.
A hush descended over the entire area.
A man reading a newspaper raised his head to glare at Theobald; a couple who had been casually chatting turned to look at him.
The passersby strolling around the fountain also stopped stock-still and cast their gazes upon Theobald, while several people drinking beer at the table behind Daniel had already drawn their pistols.
If things continued this way, they would attack Theobald before he could even pull out his gun.
"......."
Transfixed by the surreal situation, Theobald slowly sensed a creeping dread.
Realizing that this entire area was Daniel Steiner's domain, Theobald slowly withdrew his hand from his coat.
Only then did the silence vanish, and the restaurant regained its liveliness.
The newspaper reader lowered his gaze, the couple chatted casually once more, the passersby resumed their stroll, and the man drinking beer holstered his pistol.
Letting out a strained breath, Theobald slowly lowered his head.
It was because he utterly lacked the courage to face Daniel Steiner directly.
Looking at Theobald with curiosity, Daniel picked up his knife and cut his sausage.
"What's the matter?"
Having skewered the cut sausage with his fork, Daniel casually continued.
"Could it be that this seat makes you uncomfortable?"
At that composed voice, Theobald slowly raised his head and saw Daniel putting the sausage into his mouth as if it were nothing at all.
On the surface he seemed full of openings, yet he was utterly impossible to breach.
Moisture began to well in Theobald's eyes as he watched Daniel.
Having come this far, everything became clear. Overwhelmed by a sense of despair, Theobald silently sobbed.
In his sobs, Theobald finally understood.
'Daniel Steiner wasn't careless.......'
He had, quite literally, simply possessed the caliber of skill to toy with his opponent like a plaything.