You Shouldn't Laugh
You Shouldn't Laugh
Daniel, having occupied the mansion and delivered his warning to Count Kaledra, used the Allied Nations' radio operator to alert the defense forces skirmishing within the city.
The message was that Count Kaledra had abandoned them and fled; if they valued their lives, they should surrender immediately.
He added that if they continued to resist, they would be hunted down to the last man and executed.
He didn't merely urge surrender by radio; he also broadcast the warning through a radio station inside the city, doubling the pressure.
As the Penbark defense forces realized their communications had been hijacked and began raising white flags and emerging one by one, the city's occupation proceeded smoothly.
After herding all the captured prisoners into a church designated as a temporary POW camp, Daniel set about establishing a command post and securing communications.
A day later.
Daniel, having linked up with the General Headquarters' communications network, submitted his report and immediately shifted to a defensive posture.
He redeployed the troops that had entered to occupy the city and organized a reserve force.
Though Penbark had been taken, a force of two regiments still lurked beyond the bridge, making it only natural to prepare to engage them.
Thus, Daniel ordered anti-tank weapons and artillery placed on the city outskirts and approach routes, and armored units to stand by along the enemy's anticipated path of entry.
After instructing his intelligence staff officer, Pelf, to convey his intention to visit City Hall, he went out to the city's outskirts with Lucy.
He had come out to conduct a field inspection to ensure his orders were being carried out properly.
Looking around, he saw that field artillery positions and mortar emplacements had been properly established near the hills.
Not far away, the tanks—the core of the unit—had their guns aimed toward the forest.
"If they dare come, we'll smash them to pieces. Shouldn't we avenge our comrades who fell because of those bastards?"
"I agree. This time, it's not us getting pummeled, but those sons of bitches getting pummeled, so we'll have to punish them thoroughly."
"The firing angles are perfect, and we can spot them first from here, so it'll be an easy fight."
Perhaps because morale was sky-high, laughter laced the voices of both soldiers and officers.
An officer among them who spotted Daniel flinched in surprise and snapped a salute.
"B-Brigade Commander! My apologies! I had no idea you were coming out for an inspection!"
Even though he was saluting a general younger than himself, the officer's salute was filled with tension and respect.
Daniel returned the officer's salute and continued walking with Lucy.
"The positions are perfectly constructed—so much so that I have nothing to point out."
Lucy agreed with Daniel's words but harbored a question.
"Brigade Commander, being on the defending side gives us an advantage in battle, but the enemy outnumbers us. If we're pushed back here, we'll have to fight in the streets—wouldn't it be better to secure key points in the urban area?"
It was a reasonable point, but there was one thing Lucy didn't know.
"There's no need to worry about that. Headquarters is sending reinforcements."
"......You mean reinforcements?"
"Yes. This time, they're not fake but real. The moment the sluice gates were blown, a Magitek Armored Army brigade under Brigadier General Heinrich was ordered to advance toward this location."
Only then did Lucy understand why Daniel was acting so relaxed.
The enemy provisional division had been isolated when Count Kaledra abandoned the command post and fled.
Now unable to obtain information, they were like a person who had lost their eyes and ears.
Yet they couldn't surrender, so they would try to retake Penbark, trusting in their numerical superiority.
Battle would surely break out here.
If the Magitek Armored Army brigade, known as the Empire's elite, attacked them from the rear at that moment, the enemy provisional division would be caught in a pincer attack.
In the ensuing chaos, the enemy's morale would plummet, making for an easy victory.
"If there's one thing that concerns me about this battle, it's only the prospect of meeting Brigadier General Heinrich."
Heinrich was the general who, during the old Nordia invasion operation, had told Daniel about his epithet 'Bloodthirsty Wolf' and burst into hearty laughter.
On top of that, he was the man who had saddled Daniel Steiner with the unwanted post of garrison commander and left.
From Daniel's perspective, it was safe to say he had not a single fond memory.
Daniel, recalling old times, shook his head as if shaking off a feeling of unease.
"Anyway, I think this is enough for a field inspection, so I'll head back now. Adjutant, remain here and continue the field inspection on my behalf, then submit a report."
"Sir? Ah. Understood. Are you going to City Hall?"
At Lucy's question, Daniel nodded.
"Yes. I have urgent business to discuss with this city's mayor."
*
Meanwhile, in the reception room of City Hall.
"......Look here. I would appreciate it if you told me what you want."
A faint tremor was seeping into the voice of Mayor Kaimboreht.
And no wonder—for along the walls of the reception room stood the grenadiers whom Daniel Steiner favored, spaced at regular intervals.
All of them were fully armed, and their presence was palpably intimidating.
By contrast, Intelligence Staff Officer Pelf, seated before Kaimboreht, wore a calm expression, as if to reassure him.
"I don't understand why you are acting this way. Did I not tell you just a moment ago? The Brigade Commander is coming in person to have a talk with you."
"Well, that may be so, but I can't just sit here without knowing what he wants. If you give me even a hint, I could prepare something. Isn't that so?"
Kaimboreht, who had been gauging the mood around him, leaned forward and whispered so that only Pelf could hear.
"So Brigadier General Daniel wants money after all? If that's the case, tell him I can prepare it quickly, so he needn't worry. Instead of cash, I could even arrange it in gold bars......."
Kaimboreht stopped mid-sentence and shut his mouth.
It was because Pelf's eyes had turned chillingly cold.
To Pelf, who respected Daniel, the very question—'Is he doing this for money?'—felt offensive.
Sensing the atmosphere, Kaimboreht swallowed dryly and leaned back.
Pelf, who had been silently glaring at Kaimboreht, quietly opened his mouth.
"You should watch your words. The master of Penbark right now is none other than the Brigade Commander."
At the threat edged with ice, Kaimboreht nodded dazedly.
Just as Pelf's expression returned to one of calm and he smiled subtly.
Kkiik─
The wooden door of the reception room opened, and a tall officer entered.
The officer, bearing the White Dragon Medal of Military Merit on his uniform, was Daniel Steiner, whom Kaimboreht also knew well.
Daniel, whose eyes met Kaimboreht's, gave him a brief smile and approached.
As Kaimboreht hurriedly rose from his seat, Daniel extended his hand.
"I am Brigadier General Daniel Steiner. I am currently commanding a unit directly under the General Headquarters."
"I am Kaimboreht, Mayor of Penbark."
After a light handshake, Daniel withdrew his hand and gestured toward the sofa.
"Shall we not sit and talk?"
"Ah. That would be better, yes."
Kaimboreht obediently heeded Daniel's words and sat on the sofa.
Daniel also sat across from him, then removed his uniform cap and placed it on the table.
After exchanging a few brief words with Pelf, Daniel looked at Kaimboreht.
"If it were possible, I'd like to share a meal and talk at our leisure, but as I'm currently busy in many ways, I'll have to settle matters here in the reception room. I hope you will be generous enough to understand."
"Not at all. I consider it an honor that the Brigade Commander wishes to see me in person. But why exactly did you wish to see me?"
"Ah. Regarding that."
Daniel, stroking his chin, spoke as if it were nothing.
"I would like you to testify that Count Kaledra carried out human experimentation in Penbark."
At the same time, Kaimboreht's mouth fell open vacantly.
Unable to grasp how the situation was unfolding, Kaimboreht couldn't understand how Daniel Steiner knew about that.
Moreover, the notion of betraying Count Kaledra pressed down on Kaimboreht's shoulders as a crushing pressure.
"Human experimentation, you say. That's......."
Kaimboreht, gauging Daniel's reaction, forced an awkward smile.
"I simply cannot understand what you mean. Are you telling me that human experimentation has been carried out in my city?"
He was denying it.
Since it was an anticipated outcome, it was hardly surprising.
"Mayor Kaimboreht. From what I've gathered, I heard you have continuously held the mayoralty in this city before and after the war. You must certainly have been sitting in this city's hall when the research institute was built as well."
"That is......."
"Construction within a city fundamentally requires the mayor's permission. Of course, there are cases where the military directly orders construction, but even then, a report is submitted to the mayor."
A thin smile appeared on Daniel's lips.
"So there's no way you wouldn't know."
As if he had been backed into a corner, Kaimboreht's eyes trembled violently.
But he could not betray Count Kaledra.
This was not simply a matter of loyalty.
Kaimboreht, too, had received large sums of money in exchange for turning a blind eye to the human experiments occurring in Penbark.
He had even directly helped on several occasions.
So he had no choice.
Kaimboreht decided to take a firm stance.
"No matter that one is mayor, one cannot know all the military's plans."
Daniel, who had been staring intently at Kaimboreht, shrugged his shoulders.
"Very well. In that case, to find out whether the Mayor is lying or not, I intend to use a lie detector. Would that be all right?"
"......A lie detector?"
"Our Imperial Army has given birth to a cutting-edge lie detector just recently. As you seem curious, allow me to show you."
Birth? Not development? As Kaimboreht felt puzzled, Daniel clapped twice.
At that, the door of the reception room opened and a female officer in a neat military uniform walked in.
With a benevolent smile beneath her classic eyelashes, her appearance seemed almost saintly at a glance.
Kaimboreht, who had been watching Frien approach blankly, turned back to Daniel as if unable to comprehend.
"Surely you don't mean that this delicate woman is the lie detector?"
Kaimboreht wore a dumbfounded expression, as if he had heard a particularly bad joke.
Then, he soon burst into laughter.
"Are you thinking of making me confess? I haven't lied, but I simply cannot understand how this woman is supposed to see through my lies."
From Kaimboreht's perspective, unaware of Frien's notoriety, it was a natural reaction.
Experiencing it once would be faster to understand than explaining it a hundred times.
"Well......."
While Pelf looked at Kaimboreht with pity, Daniel smiled quietly.
"You will find out soon."