In Most Cases, Giving Up Is Easier
In Most Cases, Giving Up Is Easier
The Grand Conference Hall of the Imperial Palace had been bustling with activity since early morning.
It was because Princess Selvia had summoned key Foreign Ministry officials and core members of the Imperial General Staff Headquarters to receive a report on the search operation.
Since Selvia had not yet entered the Grand Conference Hall, they were conversing in a rather casual atmosphere.
"Did you hear? There was a protest yesterday at the Plaza of Dawn."
"You mean the protest demanding strong condemnation of the Allied Nations for attacking a diplomatic vessel carrying the Empire's hero? I heard it was a large-scale demonstration."
"Though the perspective is biased, it is true that the Allied Nations are suspicious..."
The Foreign Ministry officials stopped mid-conversation and fell silent.
It was because the doors to the Grand Conference Hall were opening on both sides.
"Her Highness the Princess is entering!"
Right after the Imperial Guard soldier's cry was heard, Selvia stepped into the Grand Conference Hall.
The crimson cape, symbolizing her status as heir to the throne, fluttered in rhythm with Selvia's steps.
Selvia walked straight to the head seat, sat down, and then parted her elegant lips.
"We will begin the meeting. Everyone, please be seated."
Having received permission, the Foreign Ministry officials and Imperial General Staff Headquarters personnel began to take their seats one by one.
Once Selvia confirmed everyone was seated, she turned her gaze to the Foreign Minister, Yovenf.
"Let the Foreign Ministry report first."
Yovenf nodded.
"Your Highness. To start with the most recent news, the Belanos government has sent a telegram stating they have found the culprit who opened their territorial waters to the terrorists."
"They found them?"
"Yes. The culprit is reportedly Colonel Edvol, the commander of the Belanos Navy's 12th District Defense Command. They claim he received bribes from the Allied Nations, but there is one problematic aspect..."
Yovenf paused for a moment before continuing.
"They say there is no evidence left proving he took bribes from the Allied Nations. Not only are there no communication records, but the account records are also clean, leaving us no choice but to conclude that tracing it is currently impossible."
"It was a premeditated crime. What has the Allied Nations' response been?"
"After maintaining silence, the King of Edria, a Permanent Member State, recently expressed regret at an official function. He stated that terrorist acts attacking civilian ships are rightfully condemned."
Upon hearing the report, Selvia's eyes narrowed.
'The King of Edria is nothing more than Count Kaledra's puppet.'
Therefore, it should be seen that Kaledra merely used the King's mouth to say what he wanted.
'Expressing regret?'
It looked like nothing more than cutting off their tail and then denying responsibility.
Selvia ground her teeth at the Allied Nations' disgusting behavior, but since they lacked proper evidence, she could not officially condemn them.
"The submarine? Have you located the submarine?"
She asked with a sliver of hope, but Yovenf only shook his head.
"The Intelligence Department has been devoting itself fully to the matter, but the submarine's whereabouts are said to be unknown. Firstly, it's difficult to track because it likely wasn't a submarine dispatched from the Allied Nations, and it appears they moved with communications cut off to avoid interception."
Their meticulousness was enough to make her head throb.
Having let out a short sigh, Selvia accepted that there was no clear-cut solution.
"Order them to continue the investigation until a clue surfaces. Now then..."
Selvia turned to look at Brigadier General Cedric, the Deputy Chief of Staff who was attending in place of the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, and continued.
"I wish to hear the Imperial General Staff Headquarters' report."
She was asking if they had found Daniel.
Cedric first offered a bow as courtesy, then spoke.
"According to the report, they have found a male with an appearance strikingly similar to Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner."
"Is that true?"
"It is. However, the male denied being Daniel Steiner. Opinions are divided on the reason..."
His sunken eyes flickered.
"Assuming the male is indeed Daniel Steiner, it seems to stem from a lack of trust in low-ranking officers. He likely calculated the probability of a junior officer being a spy, or an enemy disguised as an Imperial soldier."
"I see..."
Isolated and alone in a foreign land, he would have no choice but to fall into the demon of doubt.
Selvia, pitying Daniel, let out a sigh of sympathy.
Watching Selvia's reaction, Cedric spoke.
"If it is a matter of not trusting junior officers, then it would be correct to send someone with a certain identity to confirm. Coincidentally, Brigadier General Heinrich Schmidt, who commands the 1st Mage Mechanized Army, is also carrying out a search operation in Belanos, so you could send him. They know each other, so they will recognize one another."
It was not a bad suggestion, so Selvia nodded.
"See that it is done. But what did you mean earlier when you said opinions within the Imperial General Staff Headquarters were divided regarding Daniel Steiner concealing his identity?"
"Ah. Though it is a low-probability scenario, an opinion was briefly raised within the Imperial General Staff Headquarters that Daniel Steiner might be suffering from amnesia as an aftereffect of the accident."
"Amnesia?"
Selvia stared blankly with blinking eyes before letting out a hollow laugh.
'If it were amnesia, he wouldn't have changed his clothes and hidden his uniform immediately after being shipwrecked.'
That was not an action a person who didn't know who they were would take.
'But if, by any remote chance, it really is amnesia...'
Contemplating the worst-case scenario, Selvia bit her lip softly.
'It can't be helped. I'll just have to look after him for the rest of my life...'
It wasn't impossible, given the justification of treating a war hero with due respect.
Letting out a dry cough, Selvia looked at Cedric and wore a somewhat playful smile.
"Just in case, relay what I am about to say to Daniel Steiner."
*
Meanwhile, Daniel was preparing to meet his end inside an inn room.
He had accepted that he couldn't escape from the fleet-led search force.
'By now, every entrance will be blockaded while they verify identities...'
The option of running away had effectively disappeared.
'Still, wouldn't it be better to at least make an attempt?'
An optimistic hope raised its head, but Daniel's reason quickly suppressed it.
The moment he was caught fleeing, he would become a traitor to the Empire without any chance to explain himself.
The fate of a traitor was execution.
If the encirclement was so lax that the odds of escaping were high, that would be one thing, but he couldn't bet the farm on the insane idea of breaking through a fleet-sized cordon.
Just as he was sighing, despairing over his own life, someone knocked on the door.
"...Who is it?"
The door swung wide open even though he hadn't given permission.
Because of that, Daniel flinched in surprise.
The person standing beyond the door was Brigadier General Heinrich Schmidt, who commanded the 1st Mage Mechanized Army.
He was one of the individuals who had performed tremendous feats during the Nordia Invasion Operation.
While Daniel had proposed the operations, Heinrich was the one who had put them into action.
'But they even sent the 1st Mage Mechanized Army, the Empire's elite, on the search operation?'
It was so absurd that even laughter wouldn't come out.
As the dumbfounded Daniel stood frozen, Heinrich entered the room.
"Daniel Steiner. Looking at your face, I can see it really is you. But why did you lie to the officer who came yesterday, telling him you weren't?"
Daniel didn't answer.
To be precise, he was racking his brains to find an excuse.
Finding this odd, Heinrich furrowed one eyebrow.
"Could it really be amnesia? There was actually an opinion raised internally that you might have contracted amnesia. Though I don't believe it..."
At the word 'amnesia', Daniel's hope once again raised its head.
'This might be an opportunity.'
The operations staff officer position at the Imperial General Staff Headquarters was a post one could only hold by possessing a high level of professional competence.
If so, there was no way the Imperial General Staff Headquarters would keep an officer with amnesia around.
'They'll definitely dismiss me from my post.'
And it likely wouldn't end with just being removed from the Imperial General Staff Headquarters.
Given the Empire's characteristic of not employing the incompetent, he might even be judged unfit for duty and discharged.
'Good.'
It was the moment Daniel decided to pretend he had amnesia.
"Daniel Steiner. Even if you have lost your memory, do not worry. Her Highness the Princess has firmly stated that a war hero should be treated accordingly. Her Highness said that if you truly have amnesia, you are to be personally brought to the Imperial Palace."
What did that mean? As Daniel looked on with bewilderment, Heinrich smiled.
"Her Highness said she intends to keep you by her side for 'the rest of her life.' Isn't it a tremendous honor?"
Startled, Daniel's eyes went wide, and he screamed internally.
'No...!'
Deciding he had to prevent that, whatever it took, Daniel feigned composure and let out a low chuckle.
Though his insides were burning up, he rose from his seat as naturally as possible.
"It seems the time has come to reveal my identity."
Taking a deep breath in secret, Daniel looked at Heinrich and spoke clearly.
"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner, Operations Staff Officer assigned to the Imperial General Staff Headquarters, currently carrying out a diplomatic envoy mission in Belanos under Her Highness the Princess's orders, greets Your Excellency."
Gazing at Heinrich with sharp eyes, Daniel offered a crisp salute.
Seeing this, Heinrich felt inward admiration and returned the salute.
"As expected. It was true that you were operating undercover in this place, concealing your identity. Could you tell only me what kind of plan you were plotting for the sake of the Empire?"
There was no such plan for the Empire.
Rather, it was the opposite.
He was simply saving money to escape the Empire.
But if he told the truth, he could be executed.
After racking his brain for a short moment, Daniel slowly began to pace.
"Though my heart burns with the desire to tell you..."
Stepping toward the window, Daniel gazed out at the distant sea.
"The information I have uncovered here is not of a kind I can easily disclose."
This meant it was information classified as at least confidential.
In other words, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner had gathered such information while stranded.
'An ordinary person would have been preoccupied just with securing their own safety...'
Watching Daniel's back, Heinrich felt an awe he hadn't noticed building within himself.
'One must not underestimate him simply because he is young. So this is what they call a genius staff officer.'
To be honest, he felt something close to respect.