The Night of Hamtal
The Night of Hamtal
The soldiers who received Daniel's orders moved in perfect unison.
A bizarre scene unfolded as soldiers strode through the National Assembly with binding ropes in hand, but none of the councilors could object to Daniel Steiner.
Because in this place, at this moment, Daniel Steiner was effectively the Emperor himself.
"Oh, damn it!"
Amid the oppressive atmosphere, one of the councilors on the list bolted up from his seat.
"Kadem! Our only crime was following you! We didn't even know exactly what we were doing! If it had been participation in a military rebellion, we would never have cooperated!"
As one councilor shouted, others who had been watching the soldiers and Daniel also rose one by one.
"That's right! The one who deceived us was none other than that pale-faced bastard! It's true that we, blinded by self-interest and without proper investigation, agreed to his plan, but we had no idea it was connected to a rebellion!"
"Correct! Colonel Daniel Steiner! I won't deny that I am guilty! However, I merely received a small sum of money in exchange for helping with a bill vote! I knew absolutely nothing of his schemes!"
"Kadem, you son of a bitch! You're determined to drag us all down to hell!"
So this was what it meant to be a politician.
Even in a cornered situation, they continued to play politics.
All to have their crimes reduced by making Kadem, the leader of the Liberal Society Party, the origin of all evil.
It was a pathetic ploy, but it was the only thing they could do while surrounded by soldiers.
However, Kadem, who was being attacked by the councilors who had been his allies just yesterday, was left flustered.
His fluster soon turned to rage.
Kadem, who had been watching the soldiers bind the councilors on Duke Belvar's list one by one, bit his lip and then shouted.
"You say you cooperated with me knowing nothing? Is there anyone here who did not know that cooperating with me meant antagonizing Colonel Daniel Steiner! There isn't!"
When Kadem openly admitted they had conspired, a stir ran through the other councilors.
Political maneuvering was always present and nothing new, but the sight of them splintering and tearing at one another while being arrested was shocking in many ways.
"You all knew and agreed to cooperate! Because the creation of the National Security Surveillance Bureau would be troublesome for you! You disgusting old men...!"
"What? Do you know who put you in the position of Liberal Society Party leader, talking like that!?"
"Yes! It was you councilors! At first, I wondered why, but now I see! You set me up as a scarecrow so you could cut and run the moment everything fell apart! Now I understand!"
As a verbal bloodbath ensued, the soldiers approached Kadem.
Kadem, who had been anxiously watching the soldiers approach with binding ropes, suddenly kicked the floor.
Pushing away the soldier trying to grab him, Kadem frantically ran toward Daniel and hurriedly spoke.
"Colonel Daniel Steiner! I can tell you everything! Those wicked old men are the true source of this evil! I was merely blinded by a desire for advancement!"
In front of everyone, Kadem knelt before Daniel.
"I won't ask for much! Just my life...! Just spare my life and I will tell you everything I know! I'll reveal how treacherous those old men truly are!"
Daniel, who had been silently watching Kadem pathetically beg for his life, opened his mouth.
"Do you know what the most repulsive trait of wretches like you is? Your shamelessness."
A cold voice rang through the interior of the National Assembly building.
In the silence, Daniel quietly continued.
"Scum who would have continued to gnaw away at the Empire if not caught always wail and beg for their lives only when a knife is at their throat, claiming that was never their intention."
Daniel, who had been kneeling on one knee, stared intently at Kadem.
Both were of similar age and had fairly handsome features, but the difference in power was stark.
Because Daniel was the Emergency Security Chief who held the real power of the Empire, while Kadem was nothing more than a collaborator who had worked with Duke Belvar, the instigator of the rebellion.
"They say even a cornered rat will bite a cat. It seems you don't even have the pride of a rat."
Kadem's eyes trembled once.
Because not a shred of mercy could be felt in Daniel's voice.
Daniel, who had been watching Kadem's complexion darken with despair, smiled and rose from his seat.
"Soldier. Dispose of this wretch before me."
Several grenadiers nodded and quickly approached, forcibly pulling Kadem up and dragging him away.
Only then did Kadem regain his senses and scream with desperation, but Daniel paid him no mind.
Having confirmed that things had been somewhat sorted out, Daniel ordered the battalion's officers to finish the job and walked out of the National Assembly.
"Emergency Security Chief."
"Welcome back."
Outside the National Assembly, Lucy and Pelf greeted Daniel.
They had surrounded the Assembly with soldiers to prepare for any unforeseen incidents.
"Did everything go well?"
Daniel answered Lucy's question with a nod, then raised his head and looked out at the Imperial Capital.
Under the night sky where a full moon hung, military and police vehicles could be seen moving about with sirens wailing.
Pelf, who had been silently watching the scene with Daniel, opened his mouth.
"It seems all the collaborators lurking in the Empire will be rounded up today. However, I am a little concerned by reports that a few quick-witted individuals have disappeared from their homes. Though they wouldn't be able to escape the Capital now that the list has been handed over to the Guard."
Daniel remained silent and did not answer.
'There were some I couldn't apprehend today?'
He had sprung this operation without warning to catch those on Duke Belvar's list, so the fact that some had fled made him feel vaguely uneasy.
"...Colonel?"
As the silence grew long, Pelf turned to look at Daniel.
And he was startled in spite of himself.
Because Daniel was staring at the Capital with eyes that held not the slightest hint of wavering.
Despite his young age, his spirit was so formidable that the title 'Iron Blood' suited him perfectly.
'As expected. It seems there is another plan I am unaware of.'
A conviction grew that if it was Daniel Steiner, he would even catch the collaborators who had evaded the military police and gone into hiding.
There was no specific basis for this.
But the numerous achievements racked up by the man named Daniel Steiner were enough to convince Pelf.
'If it's the Colonel Daniel Steiner I know...'
After all, he was a great commander who tolerated not even a single gap in his operations.
*
Meanwhile, at the signal control room of the abandoned station.
"Damn it! Daniel Steiner has finally gone and done it!"
In the signal control room of a station abandoned due to railway consolidation, nobles seated around a command table were conversing by the dim glow of a single incandescent lightbulb.
One peculiar detail was that they were all wearing masks to conceal their faces.
This was a kind of rule put in place thanks to a promise that 'even if one of us is caught, we will not reveal the identities of the others.'
Because everyone strictly observed that rule, those gathered here all voiced their opinions while wearing their respective masks.
"Even if we managed to flee here safely, what of the others? We agreed to gather here should a major crisis occur, but now that I look, it seems our numbers are somewhat short."
"They may be on their way."
"What if they were followed? Should we not move to another location?"
"Move where? Daniel Steiner has the Capital in a tight grip!"
"This is the only safe place in the Capital. Surely, the military police won't raid an abandoned station in such a secluded spot."
Everyone nodded in agreement, yet each breath they let out was filled with anxiety and nervousness.
The decision to gather at the abandoned station in an emergency was good in itself, but no clear solution to counter Daniel Steiner came to mind.
So, while everyone was racking their brains, a young man wearing a ballroom mask spoke up.
"Does no one have any private soldiers they can mobilize? Even if our strength is lacking, shouldn't we somehow stop Daniel Steiner?"
"Each of us brought a few private soldiers under the pretext of bodyguards, but what do you mean by using them to strike Daniel Steiner?"
"Of course, we cannot compete on equal footing! But once today's situation ends and the Capital quiets down a little, Daniel Steiner will certainly let his guard down. We must aim for that moment."
"Aim for that moment?"
When a few showed interest, the masked man spoke emphatically.
"We select those skilled in covert operations and order them to assassinate Daniel Steiner. If they succeed, good; even if they fail, they'll cause chaos, and we can use that opening to slip out of the Capital."
"It's a gambit, but..."
"Is there any other way! If this continues, we'll simply die like dogs!"
At any other time, they would have opposed it as a preposterous idea, but due to their cornered situation, the masked man's words were gaining traction.
"The issue is whether our private soldiers will follow our orders..."
"We have those who swore loyalty to our families. Didn't we selectively bring only those deeply loyal here in the first place?"
"That makes sense. It is somewhat distasteful to sacrifice them, but we have no other choice. If by any chance the assassination of Daniel Steiner succeeds, it will provide a foothold for a reversal, making it a gamble worth attempting."
It was while the nobles were locked in a heated debate over the assassination of Daniel Steiner.
"Well now."
A man let out a low sneer.
"I think that plan will fail."
Silence fell over the room as if cold water had been poured on a blazing fire.
Those who turned their gazes toward the owner of the voice discovered a man wearing a bear mask.
A bear mask? The nobles, puzzled by a mask they had never seen before, looked at one another.
This was because no one had ever attended this gathering wearing a bear mask before.
Just as everyone was wondering who the bear mask was, the man slowly raised his hand.
"To be more precise, it will inevitably fail. Because..."
The man took off his mask.
What the mask revealed was dark skin, a sight unfamiliar to the nobles.
At that, a deep silence settled over them.
"This place..."
While the incandescent bulb flickered, the man drew a faint smile.
"...is your grave."