I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 162

Meanwhile, in the western reaches of the Empire—

The port city of Lost Bellemont.

“This way! We don’t have time to waste, so move quickly even if it’s hard!”

Feremilla, Duke Belvar’s eldest son, turned his head and called out in a hushed tone.

He was leading not only his own family but also the families of his younger siblings—an enormous burden of responsibility weighing on his shoulders.

But the Duke’s third son couldn’t understand why Feremilla was in such a rush.

“Brother, aren’t you being a bit too hasty? We could take our time...”

“The broker sensed something was off and moved the schedule up. Said it felt like someone was watching him.”

“What? Even so, why should we scramble to match that lowly man’s plans? And even if he’s not involved, couldn’t we just take a passenger liner or a regular transport ship to Bellanos?”

The second son, who had always looked down on the naïve, sheltered third son, opened his mouth with a scoff.

“You idiot. We’re fugitives now. Use a regular ship or transport, and every record gets logged. You want to send Daniel Steiner a personal invitation to come arrest us?”

“But brother...”

“Shut up. There’s a limit to how stupid one can be. I don’t even understand why Father left you the oil company. But more importantly—Brother. Did you know Father was going to start the uprising?”

Still striding forward at a brisk pace, Feremilla responded to the second son’s question.

“I didn’t. If I had, do you think I would’ve taken part in any of it?”

Before the insurrection, Duke Belvar had requested funding from Feremilla in the name of their house.

Feremilla, aware that his father’s political power had been a major pillar behind his business success, had handed over a vast sum—seeing it as repaying a debt.

With that money, Belvar had rallied the nobles and bribed the Defense Commander.

“So in the end...”

The second son’s face went pale as he continued.

“You still funded the very rebellion Father led. You aided him.”

Feremilla clenched his jaw tight.

“I didn’t know! I told you—I don’t care about anything other than my family and my company! Are you really trying to say I backed Father for the sake of gaining power?!”

Feremilla denied it fiercely, but the second son remained unconvinced.

“Even if you’re telling the truth, brother... Do you think Daniel Steiner is going to believe it? Whether innocent or not, you left behind clear evidence that you aided the rebellion.”

As the second son spoke calmly, a thick vein pulsed across Feremilla’s forehead.

“You bastard... So what? Are you saying we should go back and confess? You think Daniel Steiner’s going to forgive our entire family out of the kindness of his heart?”

“That’s not what I meant...”

“Then shut up! We don’t have time to waste yelling about pointless things!”

His words weren’t entirely wrong, so the second son gave a silent nod.

Feremilla shot one last glare at his now-silent brother, then sighed and resumed guiding the group.

With only a flashlight to guide them, they weaved through alley after alley until they finally reached the dock.

As soon as the family stepped out into the open, a sea breeze swept over them, bringing the sharp scent of saltwater.

“This is it.”

Relieved they’d arrived on time, Feremilla let out a breath of relief—only to freeze.

Under the dim glow of a streetlamp on the pier, a man sat on a folding chair, fishing, his fedora casting a shadow over his face.

Only his back was visible, but there was an unmistakable, oppressive aura surrounding him.

...The broker?

No—his demeanor was far too relaxed.

The broker was the one who had said he felt like he was being watched, prompting them to leave early. Yet the man before them was sitting plainly beneath the lamp, entirely unconcerned.

“You there. Are you the one sent to help us?”

Feremilla called out, and the man staring at the ocean slowly raised his head.

“No,” he said. “I’m just enjoying a bit of night fishing.”

The deep baritone in his voice sent an involuntary chill down Feremilla’s spine.

The broker—who had warned of being watched—hadn’t shown. And now, in his place, a mysterious Black man sat calmly in his stead.

Feremilla swallowed dryly and tried to soothe his trembling family as he spoke again.

“I see. It seems we’ve come to the wrong place. We should probably turn back and—”

“Fishing is fascinating, isn’t it?” the man interrupted. “Why is it that fish can’t seem to tell bait from food? Most anglers assume fish are just stupid, but I like to think a little differently.”

Right then, the bobber on his line began to twitch—something had taken the bait.

But the man didn’t reel it in.

“Maybe the fish do know the bait is suspicious. Maybe they bite it anyway because they’re desperate. Desperate enough to risk it. Just like you all.”

“...What are you...”

As Feremilla backed away, cold sweat soaking his shirt, shadows emerged from the alleyways—members of the man’s organization, who had hidden themselves in silence.

Each held a rifle of unclear origin.

“Best not to run. The guns my men are holding aren’t fakes,” the man said, casually gripping his fishing rod and giving it a light pull.

Splash—

The fish, now hooked, broke the surface of the water with its tail, flailing.

“Hmm. Looks like a fine catch to me,” he murmured.

Then he turned his head.

“And what do the sons of Duke Belvar think?”

The words, spoken by someone who clearly knew everything, caused Feremilla’s legs to give out beneath him.

He collapsed where he stood and, swallowed by overwhelming despair, thought:

We’ll never escape...

We’ll never escape Daniel Steiner.

****

At the same time, in the upper levels of the Imperial Palace—

At the entrance to the Celestial Hall.

...What is this?

Having led the grenadiers up to the Celestial Hall, Daniel felt a pang of unease.

Before storming the palace, I distinctly ordered Lucy to take a full company and secure every path leading to the top floor— the Golden Sanctum.

And yet, not only was the gate to the Celestial Hall—an essential passage—shut tight, but the soldiers of the company were still standing idle in front of it.

“Ah! Colonel Daniel Steiner, sir!”

One of the soldiers standing guard raised his hand in salute.

Daniel returned the salute with little ceremony and stepped closer.

“Why are you all waiting here? Where is my adjutant?”

“Ah... that is...”

The soldier hesitated briefly before responding.

“To explain the situation, reaching this point wasn’t difficult. Perhaps sensing the gravity of the crisis, the Royal Guards surrendered their weapons when we told them we came to rescue Her Majesty. The only problem... is the Commander of the Royal Guard.”

“You mean Johannes?”

“Yes, sir. Even after all his men stood down, the Commander refuses to yield and is still guarding the Celestial Hall. Second Lieutenant Lucy Emilia went in alone, stating she would persuade him. That is why we remain stationed here.”

Persuasion.

Daniel doubted it was mere words.

After hearing the report, he gave a silent nod.

“I’ll ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) go in and assess the situation myself. You are to remain on standby here.”

It was a strategic decision—if the soldiers stormed in en masse, it could hinder Lucy’s efforts to sway Johannes.

It’s better to keep him alive—for interrogation.

With that, Daniel pushed open the doors to the Celestial Hall and stepped inside.

There, Lucy and Johannes stood face to face, locked in a silent standoff.

Relieved that things hadn’t escalated to violence, Daniel quietly closed the door behind him.

Seeing this, Johannes scowled.

“Colonel Daniel Steiner. So you’ve finally shown your true colors.”

Daniel approached and took his place beside Lucy.

“I’m not sure what you mean by ‘true colors,’ Commander.”

“You marched your troops into the Capital, seized control—and now even the palace is in your grasp! Damn you! The late Emperor was right! You are a wolf meant to devour the Empire!”

As Johannes hurled accusations, Daniel’s expression remained calm.

“I brought the army here to purge traitors within the Empire. And even if power consolidates in my hands for a time, once this crisis is over, I will return it—all of it—to Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Every traitor says the same thing. Just like you.”

“You wish to label me a traitor? If that brings you peace of mind, so be it. But if you ask me... the real traitor—”

Daniel’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“—is you, Commander of the Royal Guard. Acting on your own authority without even seeking Her Majesty’s will.”

Johannes’s eyes went wide.

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

Jaw clenched and hands trembling, he forced himself to speak with composure.

“...I was ordered by the late Emperor to stop you. As his appointed Royal Guard Commander, it is my duty to carry out that command.”

Schiiing—!

Johannes unsheathed his sword.

Its razor-honed blade gleamed with a deadly blue sheen.

“And so, here and now—I will kill you and fulfill my mission.”

Wrong.

The look in his eyes made it clear—he was beyond reason.

But Daniel neither panicked nor rushed.

Lucy stood at his side, glaring at Johannes with the intent to kill.

What kind of conversation did they have before I arrived...?

He didn’t know—but Lucy’s current expression made it clear she was furious.

Lucy, who always dealt with others in a cold, expressionless manner, was visibly enraged. That alone was rare.

Glancing at Lucy, Daniel turned to face Johannes again.

“Commander of the Royal Guard—Johannes Kunz. I won’t say it a second time.”

After a brief pause, Daniel continued in a quiet voice.

“If you value your life, drop your weapon and surrender. Now.”

Johannes believed Daniel was underestimating him—but this wasn’t a threat.

If you don’t... you will die. For real.

It was a heartfelt warning—born not out of arrogance, but out of the grim truth that Daniel would not hesitate.