Negotiations Break Down
Negotiations Break Down
At Kaledra's aggressive statement, the Empire's negotiation team couldn't help but stir restlessly.
After all, an insult hurled at Daniel Steiner, the head of the negotiation team, was never a good sign.
Daniel was equally taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure.
"...It seems you still harbor a grudge from Penbark."
"Penbark, you say...."
Kaledra let out a low laugh.
"Yes. I was certainly furious back then. Because you took my cherished adopted daughter from me. And that's not all. How could I not be angry when you plundered a city symbolic to the Allied Nations?"
"Dragging past grudges into a negotiation is not a good approach."
"I agree. I did not come here to talk about the past. Like you, I came here to discuss the future."
Kaledra's gaze shifted from Daniel to the rest of the negotiation team.
"However, there are far too many people here who will eavesdrop on our conversation. It would be preferable if we spoke one-on-one."
The Political Bureau Chief, who had flinched, protested.
"Count Kaledra! This is a place that determines the future of both nations! Such reckless behavior can never be tolerated...!"
The Political Bureau Chief fell silent mid-sentence.
Kaledra's snake-like eyes were staring directly at him.
"It is precisely because this is a place that determines the future of both nations that I wish to speak alone with Daniel Steiner. Or would you rather I storm out of this conference room right now?"
The Political Bureau Chief was at a loss for words.
If he misspoke here and Kaledra really did walk out, the Political Bureau Chief would end up taking all the blame.
As the Political Bureau Chief hesitated, Daniel answered in his stead.
"I will accept your request."
At that, the Political Bureau Chief looked back at Daniel in surprise.
"Lieutenant General...! Is that truly acceptable?"
Daniel whispered in a low voice while staring at Kaledra.
"Judging by his attitude, Count Kaledra came here to have a private audience with me from the very beginning."
To begin with, the condition Count Kaledra had set for attending the negotiations was that 'Daniel Steiner be present at the negotiations.'
It was safe to assume he had been aiming for this all along, so Daniel decided to play along for now.
The Political Bureau Chief, having grasped Daniel's intent, nodded in agreement.
"Understood. Then I shall entrust the negotiations to you, Lieutenant General."
Having said that, the Political Bureau Chief exchanged glances with the negotiation team members and stepped back.
Seeing this, Count Kaledra gestured, and the Allied entourage came forward and began meticulously inspecting under the chairs and beneath the table.
They were checking in advance for any listening devices.
After about five minutes had passed, one of the attendants who had finished the inspection approached Count Kaledra and bowed his head.
"Your Excellency. We have confirmed there are no listening devices within the conference room."
As Kaledra gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, the attendants exited the conference room as if on cue.
Seeing that, the Empire's negotiation team also opened the opposite door and filed out of the conference room in a rush.
Thus, with only the two of them remaining, Kaledra leaned on his cane and walked toward the table.
"...It seems to be true that you have developed a nuclear weapon. You must have prepared various materials to prove it, but there is no need to show them to me. I've already heard about it through the intelligence department."
Kaledra, who had been walking slowly, pulled out a chair and sat down.
Seeing that, Daniel also took a seat and spoke.
"The conversation will be easier if you know the nuclear weapon has been developed. Count Kaledra. I'll be direct. Cease all military actions immediately and cooperate with the future the Empire envisions."
He had taken a hard line from the start, but Kaledra didn't even blink.
"You're merely dressing up the word 'surrender' in grand language. I'm sorry, but I did not come here to surrender."
"That sounds like you intend to oppose an Empire that possesses nuclear weapons. Do you know what that entails?"
"I know. If the Empire drops a nuclear bomb on an Allied city, tens of thousands of people will lose their lives. The Allied Nations would be helpless, with no means to counter it."
One of Daniel's eyebrows furrowed.
"And knowing that, you still won't surrender to the Empire?"
"Yes. Because I'm not the only one who knows."
Just as Daniel wondered what that meant, Kaledra continued speaking.
"The Empire abides by international law. Of course, I cannot say you abide by international law in all situations, but I've heard you make no exceptions, at least regarding civilians. Even across the entire Imperial Army, the instances of intentionally killing civilians can be counted on one hand. Am I wrong?"
Daniel remained silent.
"And such an Empire would drop a nuclear bomb on a city? Even if you win the war, you'll be plagued by countless controversies. It's more than enough to give the Empire the stigma that its victory was built on civilian blood. Am I wrong."
"...Are you saying you intend to hold civilians hostage right now?"
"War is about using any means necessary."
That was a statement only someone who viewed lives as mere numbers could make.
Disgust welled up inside Daniel, and he clenched his fist tightly.
"Count Kaledra. Have you given up on being human?"
"If you're about to give an ethical sermon, cut it out. I merely desire the continued existence of the Allied Nations."
"How does holding your own citizens hostage lead to the continued existence of the Allied Nations? What do you intend to do if the Empire, contrary to your expectations, decides to end the war in a radical manner?"
He was asking what he planned to do if the Empire ended up firing a nuke at a city.
It was a menacing threat, but Kaledra's eyes were calmer than ever.
"If the Empire acts that way, regrettably, there's nothing I can do. Tremendous damage will certainly occur, and that resentment will be directed at me. Yes. That would be your victory."
"Then why on earth...!"
"Instead, we would secure moral justification. We would be able to raise objections against the Empire for using nuclear weapons despite knowing the civilian casualties."
Maintaining composure while discussing the sacrifice of his own citizens was something close to madness.
"Furthermore, you in the Empire will no longer be able to denounce us as a war criminal state, for we will be both the perpetrator and the victim. We would also be able to receive international support after the war, as the international community will judge the Empire's use of nuclear weapons as excessive."
Kaledra's madness-tinged predictions continued.
"The Empire cannot annex or turn a nation you've scorched with nuclear weapons into a puppet state. The backlash would be immense. Consequently, my homeland Edria may be defeated, but it will not be destroyed. It means we can move forward toward the future."
A faint smile crossed Kaledra's lips.
"Then, in a hundred years. Or two hundred years, Edria might become a powerful nation capable of opposing the Empire once more. On the other hand, if we surrender to the Empire here and now, Edria has no future. I have seen countless gloomy futures of nations that have submitted to foreign powers."
Having finished speaking, Kaledra steadied his breathing and closed his eyes before opening them again.
"...Daniel Steiner. I heard your speech the other day. Did you say a nation is built upon families? You were wrong. A nation is built upon sacrifice."
Kaledra's eyes narrowed.
"Parents lay down their lives for their children, soldiers die for their people, and further, the people sacrifice themselves for the future—these are what form the foundation of a nation."
Leaning on his cane, Kaledra rose from his seat.
"Therefore, I have absolutely no intention of joining hands with you. Do you want the Allied Nations? Then take them with your own hands."
After saying that, Kaledra looked down at Daniel for a moment before turning away.
It was the moment Kaledra was about to leave the conference room.
"Count Kaledra. Your words are no different from the excuses of a loser."
Kaledra, who had been about to open the door, paused.
Daniel watched Kaledra's retreating figure and continued speaking.
"It was you who forced sacrifice upon the nation. It was you who drove all your citizens to their deaths. And yet, to see you still stubbornly clinging to your ways, claiming it is for the nation's future, is utterly absurd."
Daniel stood up from his seat.
His expression, showing not even a trace of mercy, held only contempt for Kaledra.
"Count Kaledra. I will make you regret not accepting this negotiation today. Go back to your homeland and tremble in fear."
Kaledra viewed life as mere numbers, considering the sacrifice of his citizens only natural.
He couldn't help but feel fury toward Kaledra, who was no different from the worst kind of dictator.
"I will lead a corps and go there...."
A beast-like ferocity swirled in Daniel's eyes.
"And kill you personally, you bastard."