Something Someone Has to Do
Something Someone Has to Do
Meanwhile, Daniel stood in the conference room, silently staring at the door Count Kaledra had just walked out of.
His mind was in turmoil.
Letting out a low breath, Daniel's eyes narrowed halfway.
'The negotiations have broken down.'
This meant the war would not end.
Because if Count Kaledra, the head of the Allied Nations, was determined to continue the war, there was no way to stop him.
Daniel was dumbfounded by that fact.
He could not comprehend that this world had to shed so much blood because of a leader's madness-driven deviation.
The very thought of Count Kaledra, who had brazenly declared he would sacrifice his own people for the nation's survival, made Daniel's blood boil.
While he was still gritting his teeth over this, the conference room door opened and the Imperial negotiation delegation entered.
The political bureau director, having confirmed that Count Kaledra had left, approached Daniel with a startled expression.
"Lieutenant General? What happened? Count Kaledra...."
Daniel parted his dry lips slightly.
"The negotiations have broken down. The war will continue."
Bewilderment spread across the faces of not just the political bureau director, but the entire delegation.
After standing there blankly for a moment, at a loss for words, the political bureau director spoke.
"...You mean Count Kaledra said he would continue the war? Even knowing that we have developed nuclear weapons?"
"Yes. Count Kaledra had no intention of negotiating with the Empire from the start."
"Then why on earth...."
Daniel, having considered Kaledra's position, clenched his fist tightly.
"He intended to provoke me. And he probably came here to use it as a pretext for false propaganda after returning to his homeland."
"False propaganda, you say?"
"He will deceive his people, claiming that he tried to discuss negotiations seriously but the Empire's demands were outrageous. Upon hearing that, the people of Edria will nurture their hatred for the Empire."
The political bureau director's expression grew grave.
"...I can completely see Count Kaledra doing that. He is notorious for using any means and methods to achieve his goals."
If that was the case, then all that remained was the logic of force.
Since the political bureau director also knew this, there was no need to argue back and forth.
"First, I shall inform His Majesty the Emperor of this matter. As for you, Lieutenant General Daniel...."
"I, too, must prepare in my own way."
Understanding what he meant, the political bureau director nodded and stepped back.
"Hey! Call the clerk! Draft a document based on Lieutenant General Daniel's testimony! Hurry, as I must report to His Majesty the Emperor by the end of the day!"
While the political bureau director was gathering the Foreign Ministry personnel, Daniel also started walking.
It was to inform his adjutant, Lucy, that the negotiations had collapsed.
Thus, Daniel, walking down the hallway after leaving the conference room, soon came to an abrupt halt.
Because he had run into Lucy in the hallway.
Naturally, Daniel's gaze met Lucy's, but he could not easily speak to her.
Because he could see that a shadow had fallen over Lucy's face.
After a moment of silence, Daniel, understanding the entire situation, opened his mouth.
"It turned out that way."
There was no need to explain what he meant.
Because Lucy's expression already said she understood everything.
Unsure what expression to wear, Lucy stood there awkwardly, then soon lowered her gaze.
"...I'm sorry. I should have at least tried to persuade him."
"Don't say that. You know he's not someone who can be reasoned with."
"Even so...."
Being the foster daughter of the dictator who was driving his own people to their deaths weighed on her with guilt.
Even though there was nothing she could have done, she regarded Kaledra's wrongdoing as if it were her own.
Unable to stand by and watch Lucy like that, Daniel slowly started walking.
"Adjutant. It's not your fault. You are merely one of the countless victims created by Count Kaledra. So there is no need to be disheartened."
Daniel's footsteps halted right near Lucy.
"Still, if you are feeling an unfounded sense of guilt, I shall relieve you of it."
Daniel lightly raised his hand.
"There will be no civilian casualties. Because I will make it that way. So, please, let me fight for you once again."
He was saying he would break the entire chain of hatred rooted in both nations by killing Kaledra.
Since it was what she had wanted, Lucy held onto Daniel's hand.
"Yes. But this time...."
Taking a deep breath, Lucy looked up at Daniel.
"I, too, shall join you."
In her resolute eyes, no hesitation remained.
*
Three days later, the Grand Conference Hall of the Imperial Palace.
"It appears the Republic has accepted His Majesty the Emperor's proposal and has effectively declared surrender."
Even upon hearing the good news delivered by Chief of the General Staff Arman, Selvia, seated on the throne, did not brighten in the slightest.
Because she knew that Count Kaledra, the head of the Allied Nations, had resolved to continue the war.
Having been blindsided just when she was certain the war could be ended peacefully, she could not possibly feel good.
And so, while everyone was watching Selvia's mood, Daniel, who was among the ministers, opened his mouth.
"Your Majesty. The Republic has surrendered, so now the Empire's enemy is none other than the Allied Nations."
"The problem is that this single entity is insisting on a desperate resistance. It will clearly not be an easy fight."
"Isn't there also a way to resolve it easily?"
Those were the words of Schiller, the Minister of Propaganda.
As the attention of the entire assembly, including Selvia, focused on him, Schiller continued speaking.
"We possess nuclear weapons. If we bomb Edria's capital with these nuclear weapons, wouldn't even Count Kaledra have no choice but to raise the white flag?"
In the silence that followed, approving looks were exchanged, but Selvia could not nod.
"If that is what Count Kaledra wants?"
"Your Majesty? What on earth do you mean, saying Count Kaledra wants nuclear weapons dropped on the capital?"
"According to what I heard from Lieutenant General Daniel, Count Kaledra did not seem to care how many of his own people died. On the contrary, he apparently concluded that if the Empire massacred civilians on a large scale with nuclear weapons, he could use that as a pretext to secure an advantageous position in the postwar international community."
At such an absurd statement, Schiller could only blink blankly.
"What on earth... is that something that can come out of a person's head?"
"Count Kaledra is not in his right mind. It would be safe to say he is stained with madness. Of course, regardless of Kaledra's state, I have no intention of dropping nuclear weapons on cities."
She could not commit mass slaughter of civilians to end the war.
If the war deteriorated to the point where she had no choice but to use nuclear weapons on an enemy city, she couldn't say what she would do—but that was not the case now.
"Then what should we...."
While Schiller was at a loss for words, Daniel interjected.
"Your Majesty. We must use the nuclear weapons."
"...Daniel? I thought you shared my opinion?"
"I agree that nuclear weapons should not be used on enemy cities. Because that would cause mass civilian casualties. However, striking military facilities or military bases is a different matter."
Chief of the General Staff Arman turned to look at Daniel.
"Military facilities or military bases?"
"Yes. A representative example is the Mansirita Naval Port. This place serves as a large-scale logistics hub for the Allied Nations and is also a location where civilian access is strictly prohibited. Not only can we deal a massive blow to the Allied Nations, but civilian casualties can also be minimized."
It was not an incorrect statement.
As Arman looked at him as if telling him to continue, Daniel went on.
"If the Mansirita Naval Port is completely wiped out by a nuclear weapon, that news will spread throughout the Allied Nations. Will the Allied Nations still stand together once they learn the power of a nuclear weapon?"
The Allied Nations was merely a collective of nations that had gathered under Count Kaledra's leadership, judging that they had a 'chance of victory.'
However, if a naval port was instantly devastated by a nuclear weapon, how many nations would step forward to continue fighting?
The alliance would collapse, and Count Kaledra would be isolated.
"When the Allied Nations are gripped by shock, the Empire must lead all its forces in a general offensive. If that happens, Count Kaledra will concentrate all his troops on the Eastern Front to block the Empire's general offensive. He will assume it is safe for the time being, since we used a nuclear weapon on the naval port."
Currently, Count Kaledra knew of only one Imperial nuclear weapon.
Because Imperial Intelligence had deliberately leaked that only one nuclear weapon had been deployed in actual combat.
But in reality, the Empire had two usable nuclear weapons.
"We will drop a nuclear weapon on the concentrated forces... the field army. If this operation is successfully completed, the Allied Nations will have to endure not only the loss of the naval port and logistics hub but also the panic of tens of thousands of troops vanishing in an instant."
Daniel looked down at the world map spread over the command table.
"The fear of not knowing when you might die will lurk among the Allied Nations' troops. Naturally, morale will plummet, deserters will increase, and extreme chaos will erupt in the military command system. We need an army that can exploit this chaos and advance to Edria's capital."
Arman's expression became somewhat serious.
"An army that advances on Edria's capital... you mean to wage a lightning war and subdue Count Kaledra, the instigator of this war?"
Daniel nodded.
"If even the leader is captured in a military situation on the verge of collapse, we can easily obtain their surrender. This is the best course of action I have conceived."
Because of this, a stir arose among the assembly.
Daniel's plan sounded reasonable, yet it also carried immense risk.
Amid the stir, Arman, having organized his thoughts, spoke.
"That's not incorrect, but the moment a single unit advances to the enemy capital, the formation will protrude like an awl. Not only will the supply line be cut, but the likelihood of being exposed to enemy encirclement is high. If we fail to capture the enemy capital in a short period, the end will be disastrous."
One of Arman's eyebrows furrowed.
"Do you think there is a general who would take on this dangerous mission?"
He was saying that even if you explained the operation to the generals, none would volunteer.
Because it was literally no different from gambling.
Daniel also knew it was extremely dangerous, but he did not withdraw his statement.
Because if they could not force a decisive battle quickly now that the Allied Nations were committed to a desperate resistance, the worst possible future awaited.
Having made his judgment, Daniel took a deep breath and spoke.
"I will do it."
At Daniel's words, Selvia's eyes widened roundly.
The ministers also expressed surprise, but Arman was smiling as if he had expected it.
In the Grand Conference Hall, reverberating with a spectrum of emotions, Daniel slowly raised his head.
"I...."
Daniel's eyes narrowed fiercely as he recalled Kaledra, who had discussed sacrificing his own people.
"...will end this war."