Daniel's Normalization of the Empire
Daniel's Normalization of the Empire
Late evening.
Count Ophilo's estate.
"Dear? What in the world is going on?"
The countess, standing by the window, looked at Ophilo, who stood before the telephone in agitation.
Near him, the luggage Ophilo had haphazardly packed lay scattered about.
"Dear? Please, answer me!"
The countess pleaded, but Ophilo merely held the receiver and dialed the telephone.
It was already his third attempt, but only an ominous dial tone droned on; no one on the other end picked up.
Letting out a groan, Ophilo muttered something to himself and dialed again.
"Dear! I have a right to know what's going on too! Why on earth are you doing this?"
The dial tone dragged on, but once again, no one answered the call.
"Damn it!"
Clenching his teeth, Ophilo irritably slammed the receiver down.
As the countess flinched at the violent action, Ophilo steadied his breathing and furrowed his brow.
"There's a man in the Capital Guard I've been paying off. I called him, but he won't answer! Thinking he might be off duty, I tried his home phone too — same thing! That son of a bitch is deliberately avoiding me!"
Raising a trembling hand, Ophilo pressed it to his forehead.
"That goddamn bastard. Worse than a beast...."
Watching him from the side, the countess spoke in a voice that had grown timid.
"......Why do you need the Guard's help?"
"Because Daniel Steiner will be blockading the capital! He's hell-bent on rounding up everyone connected to Duke Belvar! What do you think will happen if we try to leave the capital in this situation? It's only a matter of time before we're arrested!"
"You said Duke Belvar wouldn't talk. So why......"
Lowering the hand that had been pressed to his forehead, Ophilo ground his teeth.
"Daniel Steiner has seized Duke Belvar's family. Considering that Duke Belvar hasn't divulged any secrets until now because of his family, it's only a matter of time before a list is drawn up. That's why I tried to get out of the capital, but......"
The misfortune of the Guard not answering his calls had now come to pass.
He had expected as much, but now that reality had come crashing down, it felt as though his only escape route had been blocked.
Ophilo, who had been grinding his teeth in irritation, pulled himself together with a low exhalation.
The situation was turning unfavorable, but with his survival at stake, he couldn't give up easily.
"Remira. Pack your things."
"Pardon? But you just said the Guard is deliberately ignoring our calls......"
"We still have to try, don't we! If we go to the Guard in person and show our faces, they might let a family like ours through. They've taken money from us too, so they won't be able to refuse easily."
So saying, Ophilo began gathering his luggage one piece at a time.
With both hands full of luggage, Ophilo hurried to leave the room but stopped short.
'I clearly told her to pack....'
Seeing his wife Remira staring blankly out the window, he couldn't help feeling a surge of anger.
She occasionally showed a lack of common sense in her words and actions, but it was frustrating to see her standing there dazed even in such an urgent situation.
"Remira! Did I not tell you to pack! Go get the children too......"
As he approached the window, Ophilo's voice trailed off.
Because the faint sound of vehicle exhaust drifted in through the window.
"No way...."
Seized by a sense of foreboding, Ophilo dropped the luggage he was holding in both hands.
Remira turned to look at Ophilo and opened her mouth, letting out a faint sob.
"I think it has begun."
Strength drained from his body, and a wave of dizziness washed over him.
Steadying his breathing with effort, Ophilo walked to the window and looked outside.
Soldiers were disembarking in an orderly fashion from the military vehicles that had entered the estate's courtyard.
Among them, a figure who appeared to be an officer was raising his voice.
─ Hurry! We must arrest the collaborator Count Ophilo before he leaves the estate! If he ignores orders and tries to flee, you are authorized to shoot! This is an order from above! I repeat! Before the collaborator Count Ophilo leaves the estate......
Ophilo's body swayed.
"Dear!"
Remira supported Ophilo.
Propped up by Remira, Ophilo stood shakily for a moment, then opened his mouth vacantly.
"This isn't the beginning. It's merely the punctuation mark on the current situation. In the end, Daniel Steiner has......"
His pale, listless eyes lost their vitality, as if gazing upon the near future that was about to befall them.
"......swallowed the Empire whole."
*
At the same time, the main chamber of the National Assembly building.
"We must prevent the establishment of the National Security Surveillance Bureau!"
Kadem, the new leader of the Liberal Society Party, spoke passionately from the podium.
"All the assembly members gathered here know this! That the creation of the National Security Surveillance Bureau will infringe upon the freedom and rights of the people, while simultaneously concentrating power in a single individual — an undeniable evil!"
Under the gaze of the Speaker from the high seat, Kadem raised his voice.
"I understand the purpose and principle behind creating the National Security Surveillance Bureau! There are no assembly members who disagree with the intent that a collaborator like Duke Belvar must never appear again! But is this the right method? Do you truly believe there is no other way than this!"
At Kadem's appeal, the vast majority of the assembly members remained silent.
For in the eyes of the other members as well, the creation of the National Security Surveillance Bureau was far too radical.
The majority believed it was only proper that it be organized under sufficient review and with legal rationality.
Noticing that the members were growing agitated, Kadem shouted after a brief silence.
"Respected Mr. Speaker. And fellow assembly members gathered here. If an agency called the Surveillance Bureau is established, can you be confident that its scope will be limited to collaborators or terrorists? I believe it will not. I am convinced that whoever is seated as the Director of the Surveillance Bureau could very well arrest innocent people!"
Kadem turned to look at the assembly members.
"The National Security Surveillance Bureau is demanding that amount of overwhelming authority from His Majesty the Emperor. And it is also coercing this National Assembly into consenting to its creation! Is this for the sake of the Empire? Or is it for the sake of Colonel Daniel Steiner!"
A stir arose among the assembly members.
They had not expected Kadem to mention the name Daniel Steiner so directly.
On such a sensitive topic, defending Kadem was politically dangerous.
While everyone else was keeping it hushed, Kadem paid no mind.
For he was convinced that only by preventing the creation of the National Security Surveillance Bureau could he survive.
"We are gathered here to represent the opinions of the people. The people do not wish to be monitored and controlled. If surveillance and control are to be carried out, then at least a minimum of freedom and the right to resist must also be granted. Yet the National Security Surveillance Bureau that Daniel Steiner is currently attempting to establish......"
Kadem stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth.
Because the outside of the main chamber was suspiciously noisy.
At first, he thought he had misheard, but the sound of military boots was drawing closer.
Other assembly members, also flustered by the sound, turned to stare at the main entrance of the chamber.
"What on earth is that sound?"
"Could it be personnel from the Central Security Office?"
"......No matter what, the National Assembly?"
While everyone was at a loss, the main doors burst open and Grenadiers poured in.
As the assembly members gasped in shock, the soldiers occupied the main chamber in an instant.
The Speaker, who had been seated at the high seat watching dazedly as the soldiers surrounded the assembly members, soon caught sight of the person who had given the order.
'Daniel Steiner......!'
From beyond the wide-open main doors, Daniel, impeccably dressed in a black uniform, strode in.
Under the intense stares, Daniel entered the main chamber and slowly came to a halt.
Clasping his hands behind his back, Daniel surveyed the assembly members, smiled, and gave a light bow of his head.
"Respected assembly members. And Mr. Speaker. I am deeply sorry to interrupt the main session you are holding at this late hour of the night."
As the assembly members swallowed dryly, Daniel continued.
"I can see many of you are flustered, but I hope there are no misunderstandings. I did not come here to persecute any of you assembly members. I came merely to arrest the collaborators hiding in this place like parasites."
Standing in front of the podium, Kadem broke out in a cold sweat.
For he knew perfectly well who the collaborators Daniel was speaking of were.
He, along with a few other assembly members from the Liberal Society Party, had been collaborating with Duke Belvar.
Daniel had found that out and had suddenly occupied the National Assembly.
"I will finish this quickly, so I ask for your cooperation. As I do not wish to cause confusion, it would be appreciated if everyone remained in their seats--"
"What do you think you are doing!"
The Speaker, cutting off Daniel's words, shot to his feet from his seat.
Descending from the speaker's chair, the Speaker strode directly toward Daniel.
"Colonel Daniel Steiner! Are you saying you intend to arrest assembly members in the sacred parliament building? Do you intend to deny the fact that assembly members possess immunity from arrest!"
Blocking Daniel's path, the Speaker glared with wide eyes.
"No matter how much you are carrying out a special command from His Majesty the Emperor, I cannot tolerate such overreach! If you arrest assembly members here, know that I, in my name as Speaker of the National Assembly, will report your act of overreach to His Majesty the Emperor!"
Though the Speaker barked with intimidation, Daniel did not bat an eye.
"Is there anything else you wish to say? If so, may I now speak my piece."
One of the Speaker's eyebrows furrowed.
"What?"
"Respected Mr. Speaker. I did not come here to arrest assembly members, but to detain collaborators. Surely collaborators cannot possess immunity from arrest, can they?"
"Colonel Daniel Steiner! Not only do you mock the National Assembly, but you treat me like a fool......!"
Daniel raised a hand, silencing the Speaker.
"If what I am doing appears illegal to you, then report it to His Majesty the Emperor. I will not stop you. However, I will not sit idly by either."
"And what do you intend to do if you do not sit idly by?"
"Naturally, I will have no choice but to make it known that the Speaker attempted to shield the collaborators. I am genuinely curious whose word His Majesty the Emperor would take."
At Daniel's words, the Speaker hesitated.
As the anger that had momentarily surged cooled down, the dangers that lay ahead sent a chill down his spine.
As the Speaker was unable to form a reply, Daniel smiled and continued.
"As you yourself mentioned, Mr. Speaker, I am currently carrying out a special command from His Majesty the Emperor. So do not stand in my way. And for your reference......"
Lowering his hand, Daniel dropped his voice.
"This is the first and last warning I am giving you."
It was a tone bordering on an order, but the Speaker could no longer protest.
As the Speaker lowered his gaze and stepped aside, Daniel raised his head and spoke.
"Well then. I will now carry out the mission. Grenadier Battalion?"
The smile that had been lingering at the corner of Daniel's lips suddenly vanished.
"Those collaborators who wear human masks and hide in this place......"
Gazing at Kadem standing upon the podium, Daniel narrowed his eyes sharply.
"Arrest every last one of them."