I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 182

Daniel, narrowing his eyes sharply, resembled a predator stalking its prey.

Keltrack’s breathing grew rough in response.

It felt as if an invisible hand was crawling up his body, squeezing his throat.

Keltrack rolled his eyes in search of help, but the senior officials gathered at the Assembly table were either looking away or maintaining their silence.

They had decided it was better to side with Daniel Steiner than to defend Keltrack, who had failed to manage his subordinates and lost the Intelligence Bureau to Duke Belvar.

Watching the two exchange words, Chief of Staff Arman let out a low chuckle.

“A complete defeat for Keltrack.”

Politics is a game of numbers—whoever holds more cards wins.

And in that regard, Keltrack had too few, while Daniel had far more.

“Too hasty. Far too hasty.”

Keltrack had likely underestimated Daniel, who had seized power in such a short time.

He must have assumed Daniel lacked political finesse.

“He probably thought if he pushed with momentum, Daniel Steiner would retreat a step.”

But judging by Daniel’s current composure, he was fully aware of the cards in his hand.

He instinctively understood there was no need to back down.

To Arman, this was a remarkable talent.

“If Daniel Steiner had been flustered or offered some awkward excuse when asked about the abandoned station incident, Keltrack might have been able to seize on it...”

Instead, the moment the abandoned station was mentioned, Daniel Steiner had laughed, changing the atmosphere in the room.

Immediately afterward, the Intelligence Director flatly stated, as if joking, that he had nothing to do with the incident.

“Yet when the Intelligence Director didn’t yield...”

Daniel turned the tables by accusing Keltrack of inciting rebellion and aiding traitors by slandering an innocent man.

It was the same as drawing a line in the sand: if you intend to attack me, be prepared to be attacked in turn.

And once that line was crossed, it would lead to an irreversible catastrophe.

“Impressive. Truly impressive rhetoric.”

Daniel Steiner’s way with words was like a dish crafted by a chef who knows their ingredients well.

Because he knew he wasn’t in a disadvantageous position, he didn’t step back—and because he didn’t step back, he could press his opponent aggressively.

“And on top of that...”

Whether it was natural talent or not, Daniel acted as if the incident at the abandoned station had absolutely nothing to do with him.

To someone unaware of the truth, it would have genuinely looked as if Keltrack was slandering him.

“So this is why Daniel Steiner always manages to seize victory in negotiations.”

While Arman silently marveled, Keltrack clenched his teeth.

“I...”

Would he cross the line and engage in a bloody confrontation?

Or would he retreat and ensure his safety?

Standing at that crossroads, Keltrack chose not to cross the line.

He knew that opposing Daniel any further would only work against him.

“It seems I took my joke a little too far. If I caused offense, I ask your forgiveness.”

Having admitted defeat, Keltrack bowed his head in humiliation.

Though he had not cooperated with Duke Belvar, Keltrack was still of noble blood.

And now, he was bowing to Daniel Steiner—a military officer born of common blood.

Thinking it better not to raise his voice here, Daniel accepted the apology.

“It’s fine. People make mistakes in life. However...”

With a faint smile returning to his lips, Daniel continued quietly.

“I hope you won’t make the same mistake again.”

Though his lips were smiling, his eyes were not.

Keltrack, raising his head, sensed Daniel’s intent and, after a brief hesitation, opened his mouth.

“...I’ll keep that in mind.”

And so the quarrel between the two came to a close—just in time.

“Her Majesty the Empress is entering!”

As the voice of the Inner Palace Chief rang out, all the officials at the Assembly rose from their seats.

And then, dressed in a pure white uniform symbolizing the imperial bloodline, with a crimson cloak proving her status as Empress, Selvia entered the Grand Assembly Hall.

With everyone expressing their respect in silence, Selvia walked to the imperial throne and sat down.

“Everyone ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) may be seated.”

Only after Selvia’s command did the officials return to their seats.

“Very well. Then let’s begin the reports in order—”

Scanning the faces of the officials, Selvia tilted her head in confusion.

“How strange. All the collaborators have been arrested, so today should be a day of great celebration. Why do your expressions look so grim?”

Despite her question, no one answered readily.

Watching them, Chief of Staff Arman let out a sigh and gave Selvia a small bow.

“There was a slight quarrel, Your Majesty. Nothing for Your Majesty to be overly concerned about.”

“That may be so. It’s not the first time you’ve disguised an argument as a discussion. Anyway, was it resolved properly?”

“It was, indeed.”

Glancing sideways at Keltrack, who gave a nervous cough out of embarrassment, Arman smiled faintly.

“Because the parties involved reached an understanding.”

****

The meeting that began at 10 a.m. did not conclude until around noon.

When it ended, Selvia ordered the officials to withdraw—but commanded Daniel Steiner to remain, stating that she had additional matters to discuss with him.

“...So, what is it that you wished to say?”

Daniel quietly opened his mouth in the now-empty Grand Assembly Hall.

Selvia, having confirmed that the sound of the officials’ footsteps receding down the corridor had faded, stood up from the imperial throne.

Though it looked impressive, the material of the throne was quite stiff, making it uncomfortable to sit on for long periods.

“It’s about what I mentioned previously—regarding the classified matter.”

By classified, she meant the Varghof Project.

As Daniel’s expression shifted slightly, Selvia stretched lightly and spoke.

“Vellanos has agreed to send us a diplomatic envoy. I assume they intend to ask for something in exchange for transferring personnel related to the project to our side.”

“It’s only natural. Vellanos wouldn't want to make a losing deal.”

“Indeed. That’s not incorrect. However, this time, Vellanos sent an official dispatch requesting that Colonel Daniel Steiner be present at the negotiation site.”

Daniel blinked blankly.

“...Me, you say?”

“I’m not joking. The document from Vellanos’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it clearly. Do you have any idea why?”

“Any idea, well...”

Was it for threatening the Prime Minister of Vellanos? Or the incident with the rigged gambling within Vellanos? Or perhaps that... delightful time he had with the Prime Minister’s daughter, purely by accident?

There were too many possibilities—so many, in fact, that he couldn’t give a definite answer.

As Daniel’s silence dragged on, Selvia let out a low sigh.

“Forget it. If it’s hard to talk about, I won’t press. But more importantly...”

Trailing off, Selvia looked at Daniel with a complicated expression—a mix of guilt and gratitude.

“I heard you did something at the abandoned station.”

The ones who had died at the abandoned station were nobles who had regularly voiced complaints to Selvia.

She remembered them clearly.

They were the ones who had constantly meddled with and obstructed her policies at every turn.

While Duke Belvar—the ringleader of the uprising—could be executed, those nobles who held power across various corners of the capital would have most likely received light sentences and walked free.

It had been a source of constant, subtle distress for her... but Daniel had personally stepped forward and removed them all.

From Selvia’s perspective, it could only mean Daniel had acted for her sake.

“It couldn’t have been an easy decision. But once again, you acted on my behalf.”

But to Daniel—who had only just now learned that the nobles at the abandoned station had been slaughtered—it was an absurd misunderstanding.

Determined to correct this ridiculous misconception at all costs, Daniel quickly rose from his seat.

“Your Majesty! That is slander! I don’t know why such a rumor is spreading, but I had nothing to do with that incident!”

Daniel was desperate, but Selvia didn’t believe him.

To be honest, if not Daniel Steiner, who else in the capital could possibly have carried out something like that?

“Very well. I will believe that Colonel Steiner had no involvement. Officially, that is.”

Seeing the faint smile on Selvia’s lips, Daniel thought:

She’s wrong.

Looking into those affectionate eyes, he realized that no amount of denial would convince her otherwise.

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Before he knew it, he had become some madman who would commit any atrocity for the Empress.

As he let out a hollow, resigned laugh, Selvia approached him.

“Colonel Steiner? At this point, even for your own sake...”

Selvia raised both arms.

Before he could react, she gently embraced him.

He heard an unintelligible murmur in between.

“...So that we can...”

“Your Majesty?”

Just as he was starting to feel confused by the sudden embrace, footsteps echoed from the corridor.

Daniel was startled, but Selvia only hugged him tighter.

The footsteps drew closer—and then came to a halt just inside the Grand Assembly Hall.

“...Colonel Steiner?”

It was Lucy’s voice.

When Daniel had not come out of the meeting room, she had grown concerned and come looking for him.

But what she saw was Selvia and Daniel embracing each other.

Daniel, turning only his head, opened his mouth in an attempt to explain, clearly flustered—but whatever he meant to say didn’t get across.

As Lucy’s eyes faded to gray, Selvia parted her lips.

“You’ve arrived.”

Only then did she release her arms from around Daniel and step back.

Selvia looked directly at Lucy.

“The red-eyed killer.”

As if she knew something.