There's an Easy Way
There's an Easy Way
Elerkar, caught in Daniel's gaze, swallowed dryly.
The piercing eyes full of certainty sent a chill through Elerkar's entire body.
When he failed to reply, Daniel leaned forward.
"Listen carefully. Right now, more than anyone else, I desire the Empire's victory."
Since he was stuck in a body that couldn't escape the military, he had to stake everything on the Empire's victory just to survive.
Because the moment it was defeated, he would become a general of a war-crimes state and lose his head.
There was no place left to retreat.
"Yet the vast majority of politicians try to meddle in military affairs at every turn. And in a biased manner, no less. If the military wins, it's treated as expected; if the military loses, they denounce it as incompetent. Isn't that so?"
"That..."
"When they should be encouraging soldiers, they continue their criticism as if they had made a pact. There was a time they branded a defeated general a coward. Do you remember who it was?"
Elerkar, who had been listening, nodded.
"General Degleo Lebultu. Four years ago, he was ambushed by the enemy on the eastern front and forced to retreat. I understand the Liberal Socialist Party and the Labor Union Party fiercely condemned him for it."
"To cover their own shame. They were embroiled in a scandal over receiving illegal political funds at the time. As a result, General Degleo resigned, saying he took full responsibility."
A general who had remained on the battlefield to save even one more soldier, losing an arm in the process, was denounced as 'incompetent' and forced to resign.
"The price of losing a competent general is never small. By losing General Degleo, the military must have shed a little more blood. But have politicians in the capital ever shed any?"
Elerkar, biting his lip tightly, lowered his gaze with a sense of guilt.
"...No."
Daniel, who had been quietly watching his expression, leaned back.
"You know it too. The majority of politicians right now are not working for the state or the people. They are only raising their voices for personal interests and honor."
A low breath escaped Daniel's lips.
"Elerkar. Soon summer will pass, and autumn will arrive. Once the harvest season ends, the winter offensive will begin. At that time, not only the Empire but the Allied Nations and the Republic will also commit everything. A battle that will decide the Empire's fate will likely break out."
After a brief pause, Daniel continued.
"I want to win that battle. That is my sole desire."
It was a statement that, for the sake of the Empire's victory, he would eliminate all those who caused internal division.
Grasping that intent, Elerkar raised his gaze.
Looking at Daniel, Elerkar felt that somehow those words did not sound like a lie.
Because he could detect none of the particular ambition of a man craving power in that fatigue-ridden countenance.
Still, since nothing was certain yet, Elerkar probed Daniel's intentions.
"General, you said this single-party proposal was solely for the Empire's victory. If that's the case, then the moment the day of the Empire's victory arrives..."
"If possible, I will lay down everything I have."
It was an immediate answer.
That immediate answer inwardly surprised Elerkar as he looked at Daniel.
Before him stood a general who was not trying to seize the Empire entirely through political power, but fighting solely for the Empire's victory.
"Though it doesn't seem like His Majesty the Emperor would let someone like Brigadier General Daniel Steiner go..."
Elerkar, having regained his humor, continued speaking.
"Your words just now inspire faith. Besides, it seems I don't have many other options anyway."
"That means..."
"I'm saying I'll cooperate. Because I agree with rooting out the corrupt politicians."
Having heard Elerkar's confirmation, Daniel inwardly let out a sigh of relief.
For if Elerkar had refused, things would have become complicated.
Thinking the persuasion had gone well, Daniel picked up his uniform cap and rose from his seat.
Daniel gave Elerkar a brief nod of thanks, turned, and left the office.
The first person to greet him when he came out was Lucy.
"Brigadier General, did your discussion go well?"
Daniel, who had put his cap back on, nodded.
"He agreed to cooperate. It's a radical move, but refusing a chance to become the sole party is foolish, so it's a natural outcome. Now what remains is..."
Daniel adjusted the brim of his uniform cap and looked straight ahead.
"Persuading His Majesty the Emperor."
Since it amounted to denying the system established by the late emperor, it would certainly not be an easy task.
*
"I fully agree with Brigadier General Daniel's words."
It was easier than expected.
"To be honest, I saw it too—the article that independent newspaper Belbelbel published, attacking Brigadier General Daniel. What do you think I thought when I saw that?"
In the garden of the Imperial Palace, Selvia lifted a teacup filled with black tea with a graceful gesture.
"So there are still wretches who dare disrespect Brigadier General Daniel Steiner. But, oh? Disrespecting him is the same as disrespecting me, who protects him, is it not?"
Selvia, savoring the aroma of the black tea, half-opened her eyes.
"They cannot possibly be unaware of that, yet they brazenly publish such articles. They still do not fear me, the Emperor. Truly. Do they not value their lives? How insolent."
Even as she spoke these rather gruesome words, Selvia calmly tilted her cup.
Having taken a sip of the black tea, Selvia set the cup down on its saucer.
A soft clink sounded.
"In the past, when I saw people like this, I would blame myself: 'It must be because I'm lacking. It must be because I'm not yet qualified to be Emperor. I just need to try harder.'"
However, her thoughts had changed after Duke Belvar launched a rebellion.
"Now I know. An Emperor is an existence that must not harbor such soft thoughts."
The golden crown was not something she had obtained out of desire.
She had ascended the throne solely to prevent the worst outcome.
But having ascended to the throne, she had to bear the weight of the golden crown as was its due.
Even if blood flowed from that golden crown.
"Therefore, I will approve Brigadier General Daniel Steiner's plan to seize the parliament using the Central Nationalist Party."
The decision was swift.
From Daniel's perspective, as he had expected Selvia to deliberate for some time, he could not help but be a little surprised.
But as it was not a bad thing, Daniel placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head.
"Thank you for your understanding. Since it is still only in the planning stage, the road ahead may be somewhat arduous, but I will do my utmost..."
"Why go the arduous way?"
A question mark floated above Daniel's head as he did not understand what she meant.
"Your Majesty? If we propose the single-party bill, it must go through a plenary session vote. Although the Central Nationalist Party is the largest party and thus holds many seats, it does not hold an absolute majority. If the Liberal Socialist Party and the Labor Union Party join hands, the bill will be rejected."
"Do you think I wouldn't know such a simple thing?"
"Then why..."
Selvia snapped her fingers.
At that, the Chief of the Inner Court Office, who had been waiting nearby, approached.
He held documents in his hands.
When Selvia nodded, the Chief of the Inner Court Office handed the documents to Daniel.
Daniel took the documents, checked their contents, and was astonished in spite of himself.
"This is..."
It was a photograph of the Labor Union Party leader handing something to a suspicious-looking man.
"It's photographic proof that the former Labor Union Party leader leaked state secrets to a Republic ambassador. Furthermore, there is evidence of Labor Union Party assembly members taking bribes or committing contract murders."
As he flipped through the documents, it was exactly as Selvia had described: documents detailing the secured evidence along with the photographs.
"Additionally, there are records of them colluding with military contractors, the military, criminal organizations, and conglomerates, securing their retirement or obtaining positions in exchange for representing their interests."
"Truly, how did you secure so much evidence..."
Meeting Daniel's gaze, Selvia gave a faint smile.
"It's not as if I have been idle while Brigadier General Daniel was toiling away in Penbark."
Selvia, too, had been prepared to get blood on her hands for the sake of the Empire.
"Daniel. Instruct the Central Nationalist Party to propose the bill. I will see it through the committee review, so the date for the plenary session vote will be set quickly. Then, the Labor Union Party will arrange a meeting to join hands with the Liberal Socialist Party."
Selvia's eyes narrowed sharply.
"At that moment, I will mobilize the Security Bureau and the National Security Surveillance Bureau to arrest all members of the Labor Union Party. Naturally, they will be unable to attend the plenary session vote at the parliament."
If the entire Labor Union Party could not attend the plenary session vote, it would be a landslide victory.
Because of this, Daniel could not help but admire her inwardly.
The reason she had not acted before, despite having collected so much evidence all this time, lay here.
Selvia had endured and endured until now, all to uproot in a single stroke the corrupt politicians who had gone beyond merely disrespecting imperial authority.
Then, when Daniel came forward declaring he would be the sword, she had made her decision.
'I had forgotten until now because this world didn't flow according to the proper history...'
Selvia was a person who, even in a disadvantageous situation, had made her brother kneel by her own power and ascended to the imperial throne.
"I will use this incident to let everyone know just how grave a sin it is..."
The girl who would later be called the Iron-blooded Empress declared before Daniel.
"...to slight one of my people."