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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: A Deliberate Misunderstanding
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A heavy silence hung between Daniel and Margrave.
The clear ticking of the wall clock's hour hand was audible.
Within the artificially created stillness, the two men merely held each other's gaze in silence.
Margrave appeared still, but a storm of thoughts raged in his mind.
'Tell him the identity of the Imperial citizen cooperating with me? Does that mean the person who gave information to the Kingdom of Belmore isn't a double agent?'
Daniel's words had confirmed that individual was an ally, so he couldn't easily hand them over.
That person needed to stay alive if he wanted to continue getting useful information in the future.
'But...'
If he didn't tell the truth, there was no telling what Daniel Steiner might do.
After all, it was Daniel Steiner, holding the Crown Prince's life in his hands, who held the advantageous position in this negotiation.
'No matter what, Daniel Steiner couldn't possibly kill His Royal Highness the Crown Prince...'
From the Empire's perspective, Crown Prince Blef was a special human resource, capable of yielding numerous advantages in negotiations with the Kingdom of Belmore.
Margrave wanted to believe Daniel Steiner wouldn't kill such a Crown Prince, yet looking into those inscrutable black eyes sent shivers down his spine.
'What should I do...?'
Daniel, realizing Margrave was agonizing, suddenly smiled.
Leaning back against the sofa, Daniel spoke as if addressing a friend.
"Major General Margrave. Are you perhaps aware that I conducted peace negotiations with the Eldresia Kingdom's Foreign Minister?"
Margrave nodded.
It was a well-known anecdote among military personnel.
"I am. Not only did you successfully conclude the peace talks, but you also secured the cession of Nordia, in addition to Bergenheim."
"Since you're aware, that makes things easier. Do you also recall what the Eldresia Kingdom's Foreign Minister called me during that negotiation?"
Margrave hesitated to answer.
He didn't think it was something appropriate to say in a negotiation setting.
However, Daniel merely waved his hand dismissively, as if to say it didn't matter.
"It's fine. It's already so well-known that everyone knows it."
With him speaking like that, Margrave couldn't continue to remain silent.
Margrave secretly swallowed, then opened his mouth, watching Daniel's expression.
"...They said you were a child of Satan in human form."
Upon hearing the answer, Daniel nodded with satisfaction.
"That's right. A child of Satan. Frankly, as a faithful believer who serves God, it's not a pleasant thing to hear. But interpreted in another way, it's not so bad. Why do you think that is?"
The repeated questions felt like a form of pressure.
Just as Margrave, unable to discern Daniel's intention, hesitated, Daniel lifted his upper body from where he was leaning against the sofa.
"Because the Eldresia Kingdom's Foreign Minister judged my way of handling things to be beyond the scope of human actions."
Daniel leaned slightly forward and continued, as if whispering.
"It's like they thought they couldn't deal with me, someone who deviates from normal expectations. Isn't that the highest praise for a staff officer?"
Margrave broke out in a cold sweat.
Daniel's words, while seemingly self-flattery, implied, 'Don't expect me not to kill the Crown Prince.'
Margrave's reason told him not to believe those words, but his emotions were already wavering.
Daniel, seeing Margrave's breathing grow ragged, quietly posed a question.
"Very well. Then, I'll ask one last time. Who is the Imperial rat cooperating with Major General Margrave?"
Daniel asked again, but Margrave still didn't open his mouth.
The wall of his reason hadn't yet crumbled under the surge of emotional turmoil.
Daniel, thinking he shouldn't give him time to think, picked up the radio and pressed the transmit button.
"Troops, move to firing positions. As I said before, this time it's 100 rounds. Be ready to fire the moment I give the signal—"
"Stop!"
Margrave's shout echoed through the reception room before fading away.
Margrave, letting out a groan as if he couldn't bear it any longer, finally spoke after a moment of deliberation.
"I'll tell you. I'll tell you, so stop this heinous act."
Daniel, who had been quietly observing Margrave, pressed the transmit button.
"Everyone, stand by at your firing positions. Firing is suspended until I issue further orders."
Daniel, having canceled the firing order, placed the radio on the table.
Seeing that, Margrave took a deep breath and then revealed the truth.
"...The one cooperating with the Kingdom of Belmore is Campbell of the Empire."
Daniel's brow furrowed upon hearing Margrave's words.
'Campbell, you say...'
He was the leader of the Liberal Society Party and a politician from a noble family.
Though not particularly skilled politically, he was widely rumored to have ascended to the party leadership with the support of several high-ranking nobles.
'Why would Campbell join forces with the Kingdom of Belmore to attack me?'
Daniel, racking his brain to find a reason, soon shook his head.
It wasn't too late to think about it after finishing this negotiation first.
"Thank you for sharing that information. Now that we're done here, let's proceed with the negotiation. Adjutant?"
At Daniel's call, Lucy, who had been waiting nearby, took out documents from her satchel and handed them over.
Daniel took the documents, quickly checked their contents, and then offered them to Margrave.
"This is the draft agreement. I believe it's been reasonably drafted, but if you see any areas that need revision, please don't hesitate to point them out."
Margrave glared at Daniel once, then accepted the documents.
The documents stipulated the release of Hans Zernmehart, the Empire's engineering technician, and the partial provision of several strategic resources.
As Daniel had said, it was a reasonable draft agreement, so Margrave had no reason to refuse.
After reading through the documents, Margrave extended his hand towards his aide, who then took a fountain pen from his pocket and handed it to Margrave.
Margrave, taking the fountain pen, signed both copies of the document and then handed one to Daniel.
Daniel, confirming the signature, extended the document to Lucy.
Lucy, receiving the draft agreement, double-checked it before carefully placing it inside her briefbag.
Daniel, thinking the negotiation was concluded, reached out and picked up his service cap from the table.
"Thank you for agreeing to the negotiation. We have arranged a separate place for you to rest, so please follow the escort of our personnel after you leave the building."
Daniel, putting on his service cap and picking up his radio, was about to stand when he paused and raised an index finger.
"Oh. You'll be staying at the Delopolo Hotel for the next two days, and their breakfast is quite famous, so even if you're tired, please don't oversleep and make sure to try it."
His expression was so nonchalant, it was hard to believe he was the same person who had just been threatening him.
Margrave, displeased by this, clenched his fist and spoke.
"Daniel Steiner. I can't for the life of me understand what you're thinking. Why are you digging your own grave?"
"Hmm? In what regard, Major General?"
"This is absurd. Not only did you threaten me with prisoners, but you also executed some of them by firing squad during the negotiation! Do you truly not realize that's a clear violation of international law?!"
Daniel blinked blankly, as if bewildered.
"So... you're claiming that I threatened you with prisoners?"
"Don't play innocent now! My aide and I both remember your words and actions perfectly."
As Daniel looked at Margrave, the corners of his lips slowly turned up.
Then, as if he couldn't hold it in any longer, he burst out laughing.
Daniel's sudden burst of laughter inevitably seized Margrave and his aide with a strange sense of dread.
Just as they wondered what on earth he was doing, Daniel raised a hand to wipe his eyes, then pulled out his radio.
"Ah, I apologize. It seems you're under a considerable misconception."
Daniel pressed the radio's transmit button, not bothering to hide his amusement as he spoke.
"Captain Burnrad? Are you listening? If you are, tell me the situation on your end right now. It seems Major General Margrave is under a bit of a misunderstanding."
"—What misunderstanding are you referring to?"
"It seems he thinks we're conducting shooting practice on people. Is that the case?"
A moment later, an incredulous voice came through the radio.
"—That's not true! We're merely shooting at targets right now!"
Daniel shrugged after hearing Burnrad's words.
"There you have it."
Margrave, as a result, could only freeze.
'No way...'
He finally understood why the negotiation team, who had already been granted entry, had been stopped in the plaza under the pretext of a second inspection.
At the time, it seemed unrelated, but given Daniel's current demeanor, it was clearly intended to imprint the image of an execution by firing squad in the plaza onto Margrave's mind.
To overlay the image of 'execution' onto the 'shooting practice' mentioned in the reception room, the negotiation venue.
Daniel's tardiness was also a deliberate tactic, both to signal that he was an unpredictable individual whose true intentions were unknown, and to make himself appear authoritative and arrogant.
'Looking back...'
Daniel Steiner had never once mentioned 'execution.'
He had consistently referred to it as 'shooting practice,' meaning it didn't even fall within the category of a threat.
Only then did Margrave realize he had been played by Daniel Steiner, and he was engulfed in shock.
"Major General Margrave."
Daniel, who had been steadily observing Margrave, rose from his seat.
"Considering the standing of both our nations, I shall forgive the disrespect you've shown me."
Daniel, bidding farewell by lightly tipping the brim of his service cap, turned and walked away.
Margrave, who had been staring blankly at Daniel's retreating back, raised a trembling hand to his forehead.
"Ah. Ahh..."
Just as Margrave, blaming himself for falling for the devil's trick, felt dizzy, Daniel exited the reception room.
Immediately afterward, Margrave's scream-like shout was heard from behind, but Daniel did not look back.
There was no need to pay attention to prey already caught.