The Deputy Director Is Simply Astounding
The Deputy Director Is Simply Astounding
Daniel Steiner had no private organization.
However, there were certainly people who acted as though he did.
Because from time to time, Daniel had often received their help, unintentionally resolving incidents.
Then who were they?
Who on earth was acting like a private organization and funneling achievements to him, and for what purpose?
Amidst all his wondering, Hamtal had once revealed himself.
That was when Daniel held the position of Emergency Security Chief, commanding the Central Security Office.
'He definitely stepped forward offering to donate to the establishment of the National Security Surveillance Bureau.......'
He hadn't paid much attention back then because he was busy, but now that he thought about it, there had been one strange thing.
'He said it was something he had unintentionally collected while expanding his business, and he handed over documents regarding the Lucy Project. Specifically, documents that stated the location of the research institute that carried out the Lucy Project.'
How on earth could an ordinary businessman have obtained documents corresponding to top-secret level 1?
Continuing his train of thought, Daniel recalled the Palentia Branch, located beneath the textile factory.
According to the testimony of Otto, the Security Bureau chief, the Palentia Branch, an Allied Nations intelligence safe house, had been destroyed overnight.
'If Hamtal, right in front of me, was the one who eliminated the Palentia Branch.......'
The probability that he had confirmed the full details of the 'Lucy Project' at the Palentia Branch was high.
If he had then identified the research institute's location based on that obtained information and handed over the documents, everything made sense.
'And besides.......'
Currently, Hamtal was amassing money to the point where it was no exaggeration to call him one of the Empire's wealthiest men.
It was thanks to him taking risks and boldly investing to generate profits in the Imperial Capital, which had been extremely chaotic over the past few years.
Perhaps because of that, Hamtal was respected among businessmen, being called the Great Merchant, but Daniel saw it a little differently.
'What if he knew all the information in advance?'
If he commanded subordinates who systematically acquired information and sometimes directly intervened in the market, Hamtal's streak of success could be more easily understood.
Putting all the information together, Hamtal was practically a hidden mastermind operating in the shadows of the Imperial Capital.
Furthermore, he was a figure who styled himself as Daniel Steiner's private organization.
"......A private organization, you say. That sounds like a tall tale to me. Surely it is nothing more than a lie fabricated by forces who fear Major General Daniel Steiner and seek to slander him."
However, Hamtal did not admit it.
He was concerned that the moment he admitted it and formed a connection, Daniel could be put in danger.
Hamtal remembered that a reporter from Record Fear had once been researching, trying to find Daniel's private organization.
If Hamtal had been in a position to receive orders from Daniel, and if they had exchanged even a brief phone call back then, the possibility that the reporter would have discovered his identity was not nonexistent.
Therefore, it must not become a 'fact' that Daniel Steiner had a private organization.
Because Black Bird must remain nothing more than Daniel Steiner's shadow.
"Do not be too mindful of the rumors circulating in public. Most gossip, after all, is little more than false rumor."
"......Is that so."
In his heart, Daniel wanted to press him further, but he did not put it into action.
Because at a point where there was no clear evidence, if he raised a question and the other person said no, that was the end of it.
As Daniel clicked his tongue, a waiter approached and spoke politely.
"Major General Daniel Steiner. May I prepare your meal?"
"Ah. Of course."
Daniel nodded to the waiter, ordered a simple meal, and turned back to Hamtal.
Hamtal was cutting his steak with refined gestures and putting it into his mouth.
'How nonchalant. As if he's claiming that he has absolutely nothing to do with the people maneuvering in secret behind me.'
To put it nicely, he had excellent emotional restraint, and to put it badly, he was brazen-faced.
It was just as Daniel concluded there was nothing more to dig into and resigned himself.
"......If Major General Daniel Steiner did have a private organization."
Hamtal, having swallowed the meat, picked up his glass of wine and spoke.
"Are those fellows possibly causing you any discomfort?"
It was a subtly probing remark.
Daniel thought for a moment, then let out a laugh and shook his head.
"To be honest, I didn't like it much at first. But the situation has changed now. I've become one of the most famous people in the Empire, so there's no turning back."
"Which means?"
"While I don't really know the reason, they seem to be protecting me, so I'm saying I shouldn't complain that it's uncomfortable. Of course, that doesn't mean......."
Daniel continued in a slightly more serious tone.
"That I'm saying I do have a private organization."
Pleased with the answer, Hamtal smiled.
"You are quite right."
Taking it as Daniel's intention to maintain their current distance, Hamtal raised his glass and drank his wine.
Placing the glass down, Hamtal wiped his mouth with a napkin and then spoke.
"Then I shall take my leave now. I have business to attend to."
"Ah. Please do."
Having heard Daniel's permission, Hamtal bowed his head slightly and rose from his seat.
Leaving the restaurant compartment, Hamtal confirmed that no one was around and then pulled out a radio from his coat.
Pressing the transmit button, Hamtal murmured quietly.
"It seems Daniel Steiner has noticed our identity. Although for now, it's merely speculation."
A moment later, a voice came from the other side.
─ Should we cease the escort then? If Major General Daniel sets his mind to it, tracking us is only a matter of time, isn't it?
An unnecessary worry.
"There's no need to worry about that. It appears Daniel Steiner is aware of our necessity. So we will act as usual."
─ By as usual, do you mean...?
"Yes. Though we cannot follow him onto the battlefield, we must assist him to the best of our ability when Daniel Steiner is in the Empire. Keep that in mind."
Having said that, Hamtal ended the transmission, his eyes half-closing.
'It is not far off. The moment the war ends, Daniel Steiner will be positioned at the pinnacle of the Empire.......'
and will fulfill our long-cherished wish.
*
At the same time, St. Michael's Monastery.
"Children! There's plenty of meat, so eat slowly!"
The abbot, Hieronim, shouted out of concern, but unfortunately, none of the children were listening.
"Hey! That's mine!"
"No, it's mine? I stabbed it with my fork first."
"Seriously! Just try and eat it! You eat it, you won't get away with it!"
They were all just scrambling with their utensils to snag even one more piece of meat.
"Oh dear. Is it really that good?"
He understood their excitement—having meat as a main dish for a change from their usual bread and porridge—but he wondered if they weren't being too overexcited.
Still, the sight of the children eating plenty of meat was pleasant to behold in itself.
'Originally, we had this kind of time once a month.......'
When Daniel had visited some time ago, he must have spoken well to the city council members, as the subsidies had increased significantly, and now they could feed the children meat once every ten days.
'This is all the grace of God, I suppose.'
As he was offering a prayer of thanks for allowing Daniel to grow into a fine adult, the vice-head monk approached.
"Abbot."
Having finished his prayer, Hieronim turned to the vice-head monk.
"Vice-Head Monk. What is the matter?"
"Ah. Was it not said that Daniel will be arriving here tomorrow?"
"That is correct. According to the letter Daniel sent, he said he would likely stop by the monastery around tomorrow."
"Hmm. If the Abbot permits, might I be able to know the contents of the letter?"
"The contents of the letter? There was nothing particularly special. He said that since he will soon be busy with work and may not be able to visit for a while, he wanted to come and see us now while he had free time."
Thinking of Daniel, Hieronim smiled leisurely.
"I imagine he must be visiting because he has good news. Actually, I have one thing I recently overheard, unintentionally, from city council members who visited the monastery talking among themselves."
"What kind of talk?"
"They said our Daniel received a special promotion in recognition from His Majesty the Emperor. Isn't it truly a cause for celebration?"
At the word 'special promotion,' the vice-head monk was greatly surprised.
"......Is that true?"
The news was greatly delayed, but it was unavoidable.
The monastery was fundamentally highly reclusive, and even the abbot would not go outside unless it was for a special matter.
After all, a monastery was, in the first place, a place that severed ties with the secular world.
They were sustained entirely by deliveries of food and daily necessities, so it was practically a place isolated from the world.
Even the city council members who visited the monastery occasionally deliberately avoided speaking of the outside world, so hearing news of Daniel was rare.
If they hadn't accidentally overheard the council members talking among themselves, they wouldn't have known about the special promotion either.
"Wait a moment. Then......."
The bewildered vice-head monk could not hide his astonishment as he organized his thoughts.
"Are you saying that child Daniel is already a Lieutenant Colonel?"
Although a certain information gap had occurred.