Daniel Steiner Might Be the Mastermind
Daniel Steiner Might Be the Mastermind
Having confirmed that Daniel had entered the command tent, Intelligence Staff Officer Pelf headed to the temporary field interrogation center.
'Was it Lieutenant Frien? She said she was confident in her ability to interrogate, but...'
Extracting desired information through torture was no easy task.
If one asked whether torture itself was difficult, the answer was no.
Anyone who knew the methods could inflict pain on another.
The hardest part of conducting torture was maintaining a sound mind.
'Once torture begins, the subject writhes in agony and screams. They shout in panic, then beg, and sometimes they call out their family's names and plead for forgiveness.'
Witnessing such scenes naturally stirred psychological turmoil, even for the most cold-blooded individuals.
Even if one conceptually understood that extracting information from the person before them was necessary to prevent harm to countless allies, psychologically accepting it was another matter.
Once that happened, one became shaken by the subject's pain and pleas, and ultimately gave up on the torture.
In the worst case, they would feel pity for the subject and betray their allies to help them.
Pelf figured that Frien would likely follow a similar path.
'A woman who became an officer at a young age. Admirable, but she is clearly not accustomed to torture.'
It was common for overzealous newcomers to attempt torture, only to vomit or panic when the subject bled and screamed.
'I myself suffered trauma for some time after the torture I carried out during my first interrogation...'
That was why Pelf was heading to the interrogation center, to prepare for when Frien gave up.
'Even if Lieutenant Frien cries and says she can't do it...'
Pelf had no intention of scolding Frien.
Because he knew well that torture inflicted mental trauma not only on the one receiving it, but also on the one inflicting it.
Having resolved to be an ideal superior and encourage her, Pelf arrived at the temporary field interrogation center. The soldiers guarding the entrance turned to look at him.
Being in the field, they did not salute.
"Chief of Intelligence."
"What business brings you here?"
At the soldier's question, Pelf answered flatly.
"I came to confirm whether the interrogation is proceeding properly."
At Pelf's words, the soldiers glanced at each other and answered uneasily.
"...I think it would be better for you to see for yourself."
"I was going to do that anyway. Will you let me through?"
The soldiers nodded and stepped aside, and Pelf walked into the interrogation center.
"Lieutenant Frien. Is the interrogation going well..."
Pelf entered, pushing aside the cloth door, and froze on the spot.
Because the hands of Dahamen, the Allied platoon leader tied to a chair, were smeared with blood.
Beneath him lay more than twenty torn-out fingernails.
'What on earth...'
As he stood dumbfounded, not knowing what had happened, Frien tapped the pliers in her hand and spoke.
"Now then. Let's ask the final question. What should we call Colonel Daniel Steiner from now on?"
At Frien's question, Dahamen muttered dejectedly, his expression vacant.
"...Saint. Colonel Daniel Steiner is a great soldier and also a saint."
Thanks to that, Pelf could not hold back his astonishment.
'Good heavens.'
Those were not words that could ever come from the mouth of an Allied platoon leader.
In other words, it was clear that Frien had trampled the Allied platoon leader's spirit to that extent.
As the bewildered Pelf watched blankly, Frien smiled faintly.
"Good. Then, what kind of beings are you and the Allied Nations, who not only insulted our Colonel Daniel Steiner but even planned to kill him?"
This time, Dahamen did not answer and gritted his teeth tightly.
Seeing that, Frien tilted her head.
"Oh my. Are you still not fully rehabilitated? In that case, this time..."
Frien used the pliers to lift Dahamen's chin.
With their gazes forced to meet, Frien erased her smile and said.
"Shall we pull out a tooth?"
Dahamen's breathing began to quicken.
Terrified, Dahamen desperately shook his head, and Frien offered a gentle smile as if giving him one more chance.
"Now then. If you don't want to suffer, you must prove you've been rehabilitated, yes? Will you answer my question?"
Dahamen nodded vigorously and shouted, desperate to survive.
"Th-the one who insulted Colonel Daniel Steiner is a beast! And trying to attack Colonel Daniel Steiner, who is practically a saint, is worse than a beast! So please forgive me!"
Pleased with Dahamen's answer, Frien withdrew the pliers.
"You are now fully rehabilitated. I am very pleased. Then, from now on..."
Frien, who had been speaking kindly, sensed a presence and turned to the side.
Having spotted Pelf, Frien blinked her black eyes a few times and soon smiled.
"Ah. Chief of Intelligence! You've come at a good time."
Frien speaking calmly with a blood-spattered face was the very picture of horror.
Not particularly wanting to point that out, Pelf cleared his throat and approached.
"...So it was Lieutenant Frien. It seems the interrogation was a success."
"Yes. I was able to find out not only the operational frequency but also the Morse code encryption. Though I will have to interrogate the other prisoners for cross-verification."
"Do you intend to turn the other prisoners into this state as well?"
Frien tilted her head as if asking what kind of question that was.
"Wouldn't I have to, if necessary? Because no mercy should be shown to traitors of the Empire and beasts of the Allied Nations."
Unexpectedly, it was a sound argument, so Pelf could not bring himself to refute it.
Feeling strangely fearful of Frien, Pelf cleared his throat to change the subject.
"Excellent. You extracted a confession from the enemy in less than half a day. Did you learn interrogation techniques from someone?"
"I never learned them formally. It's just that Colonel Daniel recognized my abilities and advised me to train without rest, so I merely followed his words."
Frien, who had mentioned Daniel, smiled shyly like a girl in love.
While holding the bloodied pliers.
It was genuinely terrifying.
"Right. The Chief of Staff guided you..."
Pelf, who had answered uneasily, looked down at the Allied platoon leader tied to the chair.
Watching Dahamen, who had cast aside his pride and humanity and was sobbing, Pelf made a resolution.
'Even if it costs me my life...'
He must never betray Daniel Steiner.
*
Late evening, the office of the Security Bureau Chief.
"There is word that His Late Majesty will not survive the day. If so, a state funeral will be held simultaneously with his passing."
At his aide's words, Security Bureau Chief Otto smiled and nodded.
"What will happen once the state funeral begins? The Noble Unions will suggest His Majesty the Emperor declare martial law, claiming they must crack down on internal division. Since the Defense Commander has decided to side with Belvar, it's a necessary step even for taking control of the capital."
"But even if the capital falls into their hands, the command authority over the military remains with His Majesty the Emperor, does it not? Unless they seize the Imperial Palace quickly, His Majesty will surely summon the outside forces to the capital."
"That is why, if it were me, I would persuade the Imperial Guard Captain, Johannes. It won't be easy, but he values the legitimacy of the Imperial Household as much as Belvar does, so surely..."
Otto stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth.
Because the door of the office burst open and the Deputy Chief entered.
The Deputy Chief bowed his head deeply to Otto, who was seated at his desk, and then approached.
"Chief. New information regarding Colonel Daniel Steiner has come in."
"Information?"
"It is said that Colonel Daniel Steiner captured an Allied platoon that was transporting Etherium ore and took them prisoner. He blocked a trump card the Allied Nations had been preparing."
Otto's eyes widened.
He could not believe it, but the Deputy Chief had no reason to lie to him.
"Evidence?"
The Deputy Chief pulled out the documents tucked into his belt and handed them to Otto.
"These are the materials reported by the 7th Division. It would be faster for you to see for yourself."
Otto, who received the documents and opened them, could not help but be astonished.
Because the documents stated that Chief of Staff Daniel Steiner had persuaded the division commander to launch a search operation, and that the operation had succeeded in encircling and capturing an enemy platoon transporting Etherium ore.
'How on earth did he know? Calling him a genius isn't enough...'
Otto, who had been marveling, paused as he turned the page.
Because a photograph was attached.
'This is...'
It was a picture of the Allied platoon leader, his fingernails torn off and covered in blood, begging for his life, tears streaming down his face.
The Deputy Chief, knowing which photograph Otto was looking at, explained.
"...It is said to be the work of a subordinate of Colonel Daniel Steiner. Nothing is certain, but according to the rumors, they delivered a warning that those who betray the Empire would suffer the same fate."
Upon hearing the Deputy Chief's explanation, an intrigued smile crept onto Otto's lips.
'This seems like Daniel is warning Belvar about something.'
Otto, who stroked his chin once, quietly narrowed his eyes.
'No way...'
Otto, who had been contemplating various possibilities, felt a chill run down his spine.
'Is it possible that Daniel Steiner... is deliberately ignoring the nobles' revolution...'
...in order to seize the Empire for himself?
From the military's perspective, the nobles' revolution was tantamount to civil war.
Therefore, if the nobles succeeded in their attack before securing legitimacy, Daniel Steiner could subdue the nobles in one fell swoop.
That meant he could be reborn as the de facto supreme ruler of the Empire.
'I know it's a ridiculous speculation. But...'
If it was Daniel Steiner, who constantly schemed, he was more than capable of that.
He was a sociopath who hid even his own emotions, so hiding his objectives would be nothing at all.
'Well, this is getting interesting. I wonder who will ultimately seize the Empire.'
From Otto's perspective, it could not help but be a fascinating affair.