Living a Long and Modest Life
Living a Long and Modest Life
Otto, having heard Daniel's words, closed his eyes as he took a deep breath.
He briefly recalled the past.
Otto's motto was 'Live thinly and longly.'
The reason such a motto came to be was simple.
It was because, born into a noble family, he had seen and heard a great deal from his childhood.
'Unfortunately, most of it was unhappy things...'
Usually, the moment one gave in to greed for power or chose the wrong side in the power struggles of those above, one met a gruesome end.
A prime example of that was Otto's own father.
Back when the late emperor was still alive, there was a time when Duke Belvar had used his son to explosively expand his business in order to dominate the Empire's domestic economy.
Basing it on Duke Belvar's funds and abundant personnel, the 'Ridesharp Company' instantly made a name for itself across the Empire.
But as is always the case with business, it was not just a continuous winning streak.
It was a daily occurrence for those who entered the field first to keep in check those rising up from below.
At that time, Count Porion, who had been accelerating his push into the automobile industry, strongly opposed Duke Belvar's behavior upon seeing it.
Count Porion, displeased with the explosively rising Ridesharp Company, seized an opportunity and filed a patent lawsuit.
He also personally investigated the numerous supply chains that had contracted with Ridesharp Company, and in the process, discovered that some products were of low quality, which he widely publicized.
He did so as if to say there was a reason why Ridesharp Company's vehicles were cheap.
Naturally, the sales of Ridesharp Company, whose image had worsened, plummeted, and Otto's father, who also believed there was a problem with vehicle production using low-quality parts, sided with Count Porion.
And then it began.
The power that Duke Belvar wielded.
First, Duke Belvar used his connections to the state bank to downgrade the credit rating of Count Porion's company, and then immediately recalled its loans.
For business expansion, transactions were naturally made with loaned money, but when the bank suddenly demanded repayment of the loans, Count Porion's cash flow was completely blocked.
With cash flow blocked, vehicle production inevitably fell, and the investors who had been watching began pulling out one after another, citing a lack of results.
Going further, Duke Belvar lobbied high-ranking public officials, subtly suggesting that Count Porion's company was not cooperative with the government.
In that era, where productivity was seen as synonymous with loyalty to the state, Count Porion's company, which was already struggling with vehicle production due to blocked funds, was easy prey for high-ranking officials to pick apart.
With government pressure added on top of the already faltering enterprise, Count Porion had no choice but to wave the white flag.
Though it was not certain, according to circulating rumors at the time, Count Porion had visited Duke Belvar's estate, knelt down, and begged.
To spare his life.
But Duke Belvar did not forgive Count Porion for having rebelled against him.
He harassed and tormented him until the company was completely bankrupt.
After that, Otto's father, who had taken Count Porion's side, was also forced to resign from his post as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and retreat from the front lines.
He made excuses saying he was retiring due to his age, but Otto knew the truth.
That his father had simply been cast aside because he had chosen the wrong side.
Having experienced that series of events, Otto resolved himself.
To live thinly and longly.
Not to take risks.
And thus, never to take anyone's side.
Rather than be a shrimp caught in a whale's fight, it was more beneficial to be the shrimp that goes to the victorious whale after the fight and swears loyalty.
Most whales, drunk on victory, readily accepted Otto's 'false loyalty.'
Because Otto, though an opportunist, was not incompetent.
They all thought there would surely be some way to make use of him if they kept him close.
Thus, living thinly and longly, Otto had been able to rise to the position of Security Bureau Chief.
'Perhaps I let my guard down.'
He had been conceited, thinking that while he was not yet on the level to oppose a whale, he had at least become a shark.
The arrogance that no matter how victorious the whale, a shark like himself could not be easily harmed had created the current situation.
'To think there is someone who can remain cold-headed without being drunk on victory.'
Otto had confirmed that Daniel had risen to the post of Emergency Security Chief after receiving the White Dragon Medal of Military Merit, and had promptly come here.
Because a person in high spirits tended to easily overlook the trivial mistakes of others.
'However...'
Daniel, far from looking pleased, appeared to be angry instead.
The fact that he showed not the slightest joy, despite having reached the pinnacle of power a mere officer could attain, gave off a sense of dissonance.
'Does that mean seizing power was never his objective? If so...'
Daniel might be a person who, in the purest sense, truly wanted to make the Empire greater.
He was a truly iron-willed figure.
When Otto slowly opened his eyes, he saw Daniel Steiner staring at him.
'I've dealt with countless people who have seized power large and small, but this type is a first.'
He had no clue how to handle him at all.
Otto, breaking into a cold sweat, thought he had to make as many excuses as possible and opened his mouth.
"...Colonel Daniel, sir. There is a misunderstanding. It was not after I had collected proper data that I told you to beware of Duke Belvar. It was nothing more than advice given based on my strong suspicion."
He was saying that since there was no proof Duke Belvar would cause a rebellion, the Security Bureau had been unable to do anything either.
Daniel, thinking he had a point, tapped his desk with his index finger and then spoke.
"Still, there is one thing I do not understand. If you had a strong suspicion, why did you not investigate—"
"Because to investigate, I would have had to stake my life."
Otto, who had interrupted Daniel, put on the most aggrieved expression he could muster.
"As you are well aware, Colonel Daniel, Duke Belvar has scattered his people across the entire Empire like a spider's web. In a situation where you cannot know who Duke Belvar's underlings are, acting rashly is more than likely to end in bloodshed."
Having finished his explanation, Otto waited for Daniel's next words.
No matter what Daniel said, he had decided to package it plausibly and make excuses.
But Daniel did not speak.
He simply smiled a faint smile and silently watched Otto.
Thanks to that, a heavy silence settled between Otto and Daniel.
Tick─
The sound of the second hand ticking on the wall clock was clearly audible.
In a situation that made the fine hairs stand on end, Otto strained to maintain his composure.
Daniel, who had been observing the unusually tense Otto, let out a low laugh.
"Security Bureau Chief. I will say this only once."
Daniel placed both hands on the desk and laced his fingers together.
In that leisurely motion, Daniel slowly withdrew his smile.
"From now on, do not interrupt me."
The words he uttered with a straight face cut through the air like a blade.
Otto, unable to meet Daniel's eyes, slowly averted his gaze and nodded.
Daniel, satisfied with that, regained his smile and spoke.
"Setting aside your interruption, I have listened well to your excuses, Security Bureau Chief. However, it is sophistry. Is it not that you invited danger to the state for your own personal safety? From my position, having received a special command from His Majesty the Emperor, I could not help but think this."
Daniel leaned forward, propping himself up on the desk, and whispered into Otto's ear.
"Is this son of a bitch playing games with me right now?"
At the chilling sound of his voice, Otto's mouth silently fell open.
Daniel, having seen that, patted Otto on the shoulder and rose from his seat.
"Neither I nor His Majesty the Emperor is particularly fond of people who play games. However, I do not dislike so much those who are clearly aware of the position they currently find themselves in."
Otto did not answer.
No. He could not answer.
Because his heart was beating so fast that he was devoting all his focus to calming himself.
"I will see to it that you retain your position as Security Bureau Chief. I will handle matters so it ends with a pay cut and a written warning. However, there is one thing you, Security Bureau Chief, must promise me."
"...What promise would that be?"
"As a result of my discussion with His Majesty the Emperor today, I intend to establish the National Security Surveillance Bureau. Henceforth, a dual surveillance system will be introduced, and agents of the National Security Surveillance Bureau will be dispatched to every government department."
The official justification was to preemptively block treason, but Otto had an inexplicable feeling that the National Security Surveillance Bureau would become Daniel Steiner's own limbs.
"There will be some minor noise, but since another figure like Belvar must not be allowed to emerge, everyone will accept it. Is that not so, Security Bureau Chief?"
Those words meant: 'You will convince the other departments by taking the lead in supporting the creation of the National Security Surveillance Bureau.'
This was not something that ended simply with helping establish the National Security Surveillance Bureau.
Once the Security Bureau Chief supported the creation of the National Security Surveillance Bureau in front of every government department, it would appear to others as if the Security Bureau Chief had sworn loyalty to Daniel Steiner.
It was no different from being forced into the same boat so there could be no betrayal.
He wanted to refuse, but Otto could not do so.
Because he vividly felt that Daniel Steiner held his leash.
'The moment I refuse here...'
He would not only be removed from the position of Security Bureau Chief, but in the worst case, he could not avoid a jail sentence.
No matter how he racked his brain to find another way, he was blocked at every turn by the figure of Daniel Steiner.
Every single word and action Daniel had shown so far had sealed off any possible exit.
He had no choice but to acknowledge it now.
Daniel Steiner was someone who knew how to imbue his words with power.
'How, in just a single day since sitting in the position of Chief of Public Security...'
Otto, shocked beyond words, stood up and faced Daniel.
The will contained in those dark eyes shone as if it represented the collective will of the entire Empire.
Realizing he dared not oppose him, Otto knelt on one knee and bowed his head.
"I shall carry out what the Chief of Public Security has spoken."
Though he had sworn obedience, Otto's motto had not changed.
'It is just...'
He simply thought that, in order to live thinly and longly, becoming Daniel Steiner's trusted confidant was the right choice.