I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

A heavy silence fell between Daniel and Magref.

The sound of the wall clock’s hands turning could be heard clearly.

In this artificially created stillness, the two simply remained silent, their eyes locked on each other.

Although Magref appeared motionless, various thoughts were whirling in his mind.

‘He’s asking me to reveal the identity of the Imperial person cooperating with me? Does that mean the person who gave information to the Kingdom of Velmore wasn’t a double agent?’

As Daniel’s words confirmed that the person was definitely on their side, he couldn’t easily give them up.

After all, they needed that person alive to obtain useful information in the future.

‘But…’

If he didn’t tell the truth, there was no knowing what Daniel Steiner might do.

In this negotiation, the one in the advantageous position was Daniel Steiner, who held the Crown Prince’s life in his hands.

‘Even so, surely Daniel Steiner wouldn’t kill His Highness the Crown Prince…’

From the Empire’s perspective, Crown Prince Bleff was a special human resource that could provide numerous advantages in negotiations with the Kingdom of Velmore.

Magref wanted to believe that Daniel Steiner wouldn’t kill such a Crown Prince, but looking at those black eyes whose thoughts were unfathomable sent chills down his spine.

‘What should I do…’

Noticing that Magref was struggling, Daniel suddenly smiled.

Leaning back on the sofa, Daniel spoke as if chatting with a friend.

“Major General Magref. Do you happen to know that I conducted peace negotiations with the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Eldresia?”

Magref nodded.

It was such a famous anecdote that there was hardly anyone in military circles who didn’t know about it.

“I know. Not only did you successfully conclude the peace negotiations, but you also got them to cede Nordia and even Vegenheim.”
“Since you know, this conversation will be easier. Then do you remember what the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Eldresia called me during those negotiations?”

Magref hesitated to answer.

He didn’t think it was something that should be said in a negotiation setting.

However, Daniel just waved his hand as if to say it didn’t matter.

“It’s alright. It’s become so famous that almost everyone knows it.”

He couldn’t maintain silence after being told that.

Magref swallowed secretly and opened his mouth while watching Daniel’s reaction.

“…They said you were the child of Satan wearing a human disguise.”

Hearing the answer, Daniel nodded with satisfaction.

“That’s right. The child of Satan. To be honest, as a devout believer serving God, it’s not a pleasant thing to hear. But when interpreted differently, it’s not so bad. Why do you think that is?”

The repeated questions felt like a kind of pressure.

As Magref hesitated, unable to understand the intention, Daniel raised his upper body that had been leaning on the sofa.

“It’s because the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Eldresia judged that my way of handling matters was beyond the human category.”

Daniel leaned his body slightly forward and continued as if whispering.

“It’s the same as thinking they couldn’t deal with me, who was beyond ordinary expectations. Isn’t that the ultimate compliment for a staff officer?”

Magref broke out in a cold sweat.

Daniel’s words seemed like self-praise at first glance, but looking at the underlying meaning, it was saying ‘Don’t expect that I won’t kill the Crown Prince.’

Magref’s reason was telling him not to believe those words, but his emotions were already wavering.

Confirming that Magref’s breathing had become rough, Daniel quietly asked a question.

“Very well. Then I’ll ask for the last time. Who is the Imperial rat that cooperated with you, Major General Magref?”

Although Daniel asked again, Magref still didn’t open his mouth this time.

The wall of reason had not yet crumbled under the surge of emotional turmoil.

Thinking that he shouldn’t give time to think, Daniel picked up the radio and pressed the transmit button.

“Troops, move to firing positions. As I said earlier, this time it’s 100 shots. Be ready to fire as soon as I give the signal-”
“Stop!”

Magref’s shout echoed through the reception room and then disappeared.

Letting out a sigh as if he couldn’t bear it anymore, Magref opened his mouth after much deliberation.

“I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you, so stop such an atrocious act.”

Daniel, who had been quietly observing Magref, pressed the transmit button.

“Everyone, stand by at your firing positions. Cease fire unless I give additional orders.”

After canceling the firing order, Daniel put the radio down on the table.

Seeing this, Magref took a deep breath and confessed the truth.

“…The one cooperating with the Kingdom of Velmore is the Empire’s Campbell.”

Daniel’s brow furrowed upon hearing Magref’s words.

‘Campbell…’

He was the leader of the Liberal Social Party and a politician from a noble family.

Although not particularly skilled in politics, there were rumors that he had risen to the position of party leader with the support of some high-ranking nobles.

‘Why did Campbell join hands with the Kingdom of Velmore to attack me?’

As Daniel was racking his brain to find the reason, he soon shook his head.

For now, it wasn’t too late to think about it after finishing this negotiation.

“Thank you for telling me. Now that our conversation is over, let’s move on to the negotiations. Adjutant?”

At Daniel’s call, Lucie, who had been waiting beside him, took out a document from her chest and handed it over.

Daniel, receiving the document, checked its contents once and then held it out to Magref.

“This is the draft agreement. I think it’s been written reasonably, but if you see any parts that need modification, please feel free to say so.”

Magref, glaring at Daniel once, received the document.

The document specified the demand for the release of Hans Gernmehrt, an Imperial engineering technician, and the provision of some strategic resources.

As it was a reasonable draft agreement as Daniel had said, Magref saw no need to refuse.

After reading the entire document, Magref reached out towards his aide, and the aide took out a fountain pen from his chest and handed it to Magref.

Receiving the fountain pen, Magref signed both copies of the document and passed one to Daniel.

After confirming the signature, Daniel handed the document to Lucie.

Lucie, receiving the draft agreement, checked it again and carefully put it into the document bag.

Thinking that the negotiations were now over, Daniel reached out to pick up his uniform cap from the table.

“Thank you for agreeing to the negotiations. We have prepared a separate place for you to rest, so please follow the guidance of our personnel after leaving the building.”

Daniel, putting on his uniform cap and picking up the radio, was about to stand up when he raised his index finger.

“Ah. You’ll be staying at the Delopolo Hotel for the next two days, and I’ve heard that their breakfast is famously delicious, so even if you’re tired, please don’t oversleep and make sure to try it.”

His expression was so nonchalant that it was hard to believe this was the same person who had been making threats just moments ago.

Disliking this, Magref clenched his fists and said,

“Daniel Steiner. I really can’t understand your thinking. Why are you digging your own grave?”
“Hmm? In what sense do you mean?”
“This is absurd. Not only did you threaten with prisoners, but you also executed some prisoners right here at the negotiation site! Don’t you realize this is a clear violation of international law!”

Daniel blinked blankly as if puzzled.

“So… are you claiming that I threatened you with prisoners?”
“Don’t play dumb now! Not only I, but my aide also remembers your words and actions exactly.”

Daniel’s lips slowly curled up as he looked at Magref.

Then, as if he couldn’t hold it in anymore, he burst into laughter.

Due to Daniel’s sudden outburst of laughter, Magref and his aide couldn’t help but be gripped by a strange fear.

Just as they were wondering what on earth was going on, Daniel raised his hand to wipe his eyes and then took out his radio.

“Ah. I’m sorry. It seems you’re greatly misunderstanding something.”

Daniel, pressing the transmit button on the radio, spoke without hiding his amusement.

“Captain Bernhard? Are you listening? If so, please tell me about the situation on your end. It seems Major General Magref is misunderstanding something.”

What misunderstanding are you talking about?
“It seems he thinks we’re conducting firing practice on people. Is there any truth to that?”

After a moment, a voice of disbelief came through the radio.

There’s no such thing! We’re just hitting targets right now!

Daniel shrugged his shoulders after hearing Bernhard’s words.

“That’s what he says.”

Thanks to this, Magref could only freeze.

‘Could it be…’

He now understood why they had stopped the negotiation team, which had already received entry permission, at the square under the pretext of a secondary inspection.

At the time, it seemed unrelated, but judging from Daniel’s attitude now, it was to imprint the image of executing death row inmates in the square on Magref.

It was to overlay the image of ‘execution’ onto the ‘firing practice’ mentioned in the reception room, the negotiation site.

Even Daniel’s tardiness was a kind of device to make him appear as a person with an authoritative and arrogant personality while simultaneously showing that he was an unpredictable person whose true intentions were unknowable.

‘Looking back…’

Daniel Steiner had never once mentioned ‘execution’.

He had consistently mentioned firing practice, so it didn’t even fall into the category of threats.

Only now realizing that he had been played by Daniel Steiner, Magref was overwhelmed with shock.

“Major General Magref.”

Daniel, who had been staring intently at Magref, stood up.

“Considering the status of our two countries, I will forgive the disrespect you’ve shown me.”

Daniel, who bid farewell by slightly lowering the brim of his uniform cap, turned around.

Magref, blankly staring at Daniel’s back, raised his trembling hand to his forehead.

“Ah. Aah…”

As Magref, reproaching himself for falling for the devil’s trick, was feeling dizzy, Daniel left the reception room.

Immediately after, a scream-like shout was heard from behind, but Daniel didn’t look back.

There was no need to pay attention to prey that had already been caught.