A Difficult Decision
A Difficult Decision
Edria, a Permanent Member State of the International Union.
The office of Count Kaledra.
"Hmm......."
Count Kaledra, seated at his desk, frowned as he read through the contents of the report.
Before him, Deputy Director Bek of the Central Intelligence Department stood at attention, tense.
He had no way of knowing how Count Kaledra would react after reading the report.
The ticking of the wall clock felt especially loud in the silence.
Having examined the report meticulously, Count Kaledra closed his eyes and spoke.
"Deputy Director. Is everything written in this report true?"
The chilling voice made one's knees go weak.
Having taken a deep breath, Bek answered in as neutral a tone as he could manage.
"The document has been verified. I judge that it contains no falsehoods."
At Bek's words, Count Kaledra gritted his teeth and let out a groan.
The situation was worsening.
The report described 'the changes within the Empire since Daniel Steiner's Total War Speech.'
Naturally, all of the Empire's indicators, including the munitions industry, were on the rise.
He had expected this would happen when he first heard of Daniel's Total War Speech, but seeing the quantified data was making his head throb.
'I was underestimating the bastard.......'
When he'd heard that Daniel had perfectly succeeded in the Nordia Invasion and forced the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Eldreshia to submit at the negotiating table, he'd dismissed it as no more than a brilliant staff officer emerging in the Empire.
But after witnessing Daniel end the hidden war of imperial succession and now deliver the Total War Speech successfully, Count Kaledra felt something akin to fear.
'......Daniel Steiner intends to control the Empire.'
From Count Kaledra's perspective, Daniel seemed to be laying the groundwork to take the Empire into his grasp and manipulate it as he pleased.
Thinking that way, he even felt a sense of kinship.
Because it was similar to Count Kaledra's own efforts to seize control of Edria.
'However.......'
Unlike Count Kaledra, Daniel had no funds or background; he was rising to his current prominence purely on his own.
That was nearly impossible unless he possessed a will and insight beyond human limits.
'He is dangerous.'
He could not silently condone Daniel growing any larger than he already had.
'The moment that bastard becomes an irreplaceable existence in the Empire.......'
It was clear he would become an adversary more troublesome than the Emperor.
Having finished all his conclusions, Count Kaledra slowly opened his eyes.
"Deputy Director. From now on, raise Daniel Steiner's danger level one step above leadership core personnel."
"Raising him above leadership core personnel...... you mean categorize him as a head-of-state-level threat?"
"Do you have any objections?"
Bek hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Although Daniel has accumulated numerous achievements and caused political ripples in the Empire with this Total War Speech, in my view, being overly wary of a mere Lieutenant Colonel is......."
Bek stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth.
Because Count Kaledra was staring at him with a cold gaze.
It was like an unspoken pressure not to raise any objections.
Realizing then that he had overstepped his bounds, Bek hastily bowed his head.
"I will convey the Count's words to the Central Intelligence Department, as well as to all government ministries."
Count Kaledra, who had been watching Bek with narrowed eyes, suppressed his anger and spoke quietly.
"......Also, inform Lucy, the infiltrator serving as Daniel Steiner's adjutant."
Bek, who had been breaking into a cold sweat, warily raised his head.
"What shall I tell her?"
Count Kaledra paused, then placed both arms on the desk.
Raising his hands slowly as if caught in a net, he laced his fingers together and spoke.
"That the time has come to make a decision."
*
Late evening.
As quitting time arrived, Daniel stepped outside the General Headquarters and enjoyed the cool breeze.
He had stayed inside the office all day to avoid running into people, so coming outside gave him an inexplicable sense of liberation.
"It's cool."
As Daniel spoke with a satisfied smile, Lucy, who had been following beside him, let out a soft breath.
The breath leaving her lips turned into a faint chill, wavering like a heat haze before disappearing.
"......Isn't it a bit cold rather than cool?"
"Hearing you say that, I suppose it is cold. Well, winter is coming after all."
"Winter......."
Rolling her red eyes, Lucy surveyed the trees of the General Headquarters and could only nod.
Nearly all the leaves that had clung to the branches had fallen, leaving the trees with bare branches.
"As you say, Lieutenant Colonel, winter is coming."
She was certain she'd been assigned as Daniel Steiner's adjutant before spring had ended.
But when she took stock, she had already spent two seasons with him.
Just as she thought time was passing faster than expected, Daniel spoke offhandedly.
"There are always desserts you can only eat in winter. Come to think of it, the Golden Rose Confectionery sells Stollen as a Christmas exclusive."
"......Stollen?"
Curious about what kind of dessert it was, Lucy blinked quietly.
Seeing that, Daniel decided he should broaden Lucy's dessert horizons and spoke with a pompous air.
"It's a sweet, delicious bread covered in sugar on the outside. The sugar-coated bread looks like a snowfield, which adds to its flavor in many ways......."
Daniel, who had been speaking fluently, suddenly trailed off.
Lucy's eyes were filled with curiosity and anticipation after hearing about the dessert.
After a brief moment of thought, Daniel let out a dry cough and said.
"If we have time on Christmas, we can go together. That is, if you want."
"If you recommend it, Lieutenant Colonel, I won't decline."
Daniel was dumbfounded by Lucy's indifferent answer.
'She was staring intently because she wanted to eat the Stollen.......'
Since she was feigning indifference, he felt a desire to tease her but decided to hold back.
'Because I poked her pride with that special promotion recently.'
Daniel had once persuaded Deputy Chief of Staff Cedric of Lucy's competence to push for a special promotion review for her.
She must have been angry then, and he judged that teasing her again this time might stack up assassination stacks.
Daniel, who had been needlessly gauging her reactions, checked his watch once and turned to Lucy.
"More importantly, it's late, so you should go ahead first."
"......Aren't you going, Lieutenant Colonel?"
"I am, as you know, a celebrity."
Daniel pointed to the entrance of the General Headquarters.
Even though quite some time had passed, several people holding picket signs that read 'War Hero Daniel Steiner!' were still lingering in their spots.
Daniel was being considerate, worried that Lucy might get caught up with them.
Aware of that, Lucy nodded after a moment of hesitation.
"Understood. Then I will see you again tomorrow."
After bidding Daniel farewell, Lucy walked away, briefcase in hand.
She passed through the General Headquarters entrance with little trouble; people merely glanced at her without starting a conversation.
It was partly because she was not as famous compared to Daniel, but also because her unique, cold aura made people hesitate to approach.
Thanks to that, after smoothly exiting the General Headquarters, Lucy headed to a nearby bakery.
She intended to buy a croissant or baguette before returning to her quarters.
'Or.......'
Maybe she would try something new today.
Thinking such thoughts, Lucy, who had stepped onto the main street, spotted a clown soliciting customers.
"Ladies and gentlemen who wish to experience a new world at the Baranpalt Theater tonight at ten o'clock! Are you seeking inner reflection? Or a fantasy you've never seen anywhere else? We can show you beyond whatever you imagine!"
The man dressed as a clown was raising his voice with a smile while handing out flyers.
Seeing a few interested people flocking towards him, Lucy shook her head.
She personally disliked such flashy solicitation.
Just as she was about to ignore him and pass by, the clown approached Lucy and handed her a flyer.
"Hey there! Pretty officer lady! Wouldn't you come to our theater and brighten up the audience seats? There's a military discount so you can come cheap!"
"Thank you for the kindness, but it's fine. I......."
As Lucy was about to refuse the clown's offer, she unconsciously looked down at the flyer and flinched.
She noticed a subtle raised area on the upper right corner of the flyer.
'Encrypted braille.......'
This was one of the ways the Allied Nations transmitted orders to spies infiltrating enemy nations.
"Hey. You'll definitely be satisfied if you come, I'm telling you?"
Lowering his voice, the clown held the flyer even closer.
After Lucy nodded and took the flyer, the clown laughed 'Ahaha' and headed elsewhere.
Confirming that the clown was drawing the attention of the surroundings, Lucy traced her fingers over the braille on the flyer.
As she did, she slowly read the Allied Nations' orders.
'Raise Daniel Steiner's grade to a head-of-state-level threat. Therefore, before he inflicts any more harm on the Allied Nations beyond what he already has.......'
After reading all the orders, Lucy's eyes trembled.
She swallowed hard and examined the orders again with trembling fingertips.
But nothing changed.
Standing frozen in place, Lucy, after a brief silence, read the final phrase of the orders.
'......Eliminate Daniel Steiner immediately.'
No matter how many times she looked again, that was clearly written in the orders.