I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 191

A brigadier general. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Not just any rank — it was a star rank, a general officer rank.

If it were a field-grade officer rank, that would be one thing. But a general’s promotion required # Nоvеlight # the approval of the Minister of Defense and the Empress herself.

The process was notoriously stringent, which meant that the number of generals was extremely limited.

In other words...

It meant that the entire Empire was rallying behind Daniel Steiner, pushing him forward.

The only problem was that the Empire was not pushing Daniel Steiner toward a safe, rear-echelon desk job but rather straight into the frontlines as a field commander.

From Daniel’s perspective, who desperately wanted to avoid the battlefield, it felt as if he was being shoved off a cliff.

What he truly wanted to say was that he had no desire whatsoever to dedicate himself to the nation, but if he said that in front of the Chief of Staff, he might be treated as less than human.

Still, he had no intention of accepting his fate without putting up a fight.

Choosing his words carefully, Daniel finally spoke.

“Your Excellency, I understand your words and intentions, but I am merely a rookie who has only served as an officer for a little over a year. For someone like me to be promoted to brigadier general is unprecedented.”

“Unprecedented, you say. Isn’t it also unprecedented for a single officer to accomplish so many significant feats that you’d run out of fingers to count them on?”

Daniel couldn’t refute that and fell silent. Arman’s thin smile widened slightly as he reached into the box and took out the insignia.

“As you know, the founding principle of the Empire is to reward merit and punish wrongdoing. Those who perform outstandingly are awarded, and those who err are punished. Since the late Emperor abolished discrimination based on social status, this principle has only been further reinforced.”

Arman held the insignia up to the light, examining it under the study’s illumination.

“In other fields, it may be different, but in the military, that principle must be strictly upheld. That’s how capable individuals can rise to the top. And any fool can see that this is directly tied to the Empire’s victory.”

Once satisfied that the insignia was flawless, Arman approached Daniel.

“In that sense, you embody the Empire’s very ideology. If someone like you, who rose from being an orphan, can rise to the rank of brigadier general, who would dare say that the Empire still discriminates based on birth?”

Daniel Steiner himself became a living testament to the Empire’s consistency and fairness.

Rewarding achievements without discrimination signified that anyone could advance based on merit alone.

Since the majority of the military personnel were commoners, the more widely this fact was known, the more morale would rise.

More would enlist, seeing the war as a potential opportunity to change their lives — a win-win for the Empire.

“I’m sure a smart man like you understands exactly what I’m saying,” Arman said smoothly.

Arman didn’t just see Daniel Steiner as a competent and efficient soldier.

In Arman’s eyes, Daniel was a symbol of the Empire’s ideological integrity.

But what Arman didn’t want was for Daniel Steiner to refuse the promotion.

For Daniel to refuse a well-deserved promotion would be a loss for the Empire itself.

Standing right in front of Daniel, Arman calmly and skillfully began to affix the new insignia onto Daniel’s uniform.

“I expect you to continue serving the Empire to the best of your ability. Not just me, but Her Majesty the Empress herself has high hopes for you.”

With Arman putting it so bluntly, Daniel had no choice but to force himself to answer.

“...Understood.”

“Good.”

After finishing the insignia change, Arman patted Daniel’s shoulders lightly.

“Brigadier General Daniel Steiner. Soon, you will be relieved of your duties as Emergency High Commissioner of Public Security and reassigned as a brigade commander. In connection with this, the National Propaganda Bureau has expressed interest in you.”

“The National Propaganda Bureau, sir?”

“Yes. From what I hear, they plan to broadcast a nationwide radio program with you as the central figure. Personally, I think it’s a good idea. It’s a chance to inform everyone about the situation in the capital.”

Daniel swallowed nervously at the thought of receiving even more attention.

Arman chuckled quietly at the sight of Daniel’s expression.

“I understand. The responsibility must feel heavy. But remember, all of this is for the Empire. Just as you have done until now.”

Arman straightened his own uniform, as if to signal the end of their conversation.

“Well, I’ll be taking my leave now. As I said earlier, my schedule is packed. Oh, and by the way — your adjutant and Lieutenant Frien are also on the promotion list. Make sure to let them know.”

“Yes, sir. Understood.”

Arman nodded once in acknowledgment before turning to leave with his aide.

As soon as Arman and his aide exited the study, Daniel clenched his teeth.

“Damn it...”

The promotion itself wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

If he couldn’t escape the Empire anyway, being promoted was better than nothing.

But the fact that he would now be facing the enemy head-on on the frontlines filled him not just with discomfort, but with a sinking sense of despair.

“Damn this Empire...”

To be honest, it wasn’t as though he had intended to do so, but he had essentially done everything for the Empire thus far.

Yet, instead of being rewarded with a quiet life, they were now shoving him right back into the battlefield, demanding even more from him. Whatever patriotism he had left was quickly evaporating.

“How did things end up like this...”

Daniel had originally enlisted just to save up enough money to open a bakery. But before he knew it, he had become a brigadier general.

A brigadier general tasked with leading a brigade to attack an enemy city.

Daniel let out a hollow laugh and ran a hand over his face.

“At least there’s one good thing...”

The Allied Nations had yet to announce their intention to join the war, and Count Khaledra was too preoccupied with diplomatic affairs to focus on minor matters.

“With the international situation so unstable, they’ll probably leave me alone for a while.”

They had to.

Daniel couldn’t afford for his life to get any more complicated than it already was.

****

The next day, Edria, a permanent member of the Allied Nations.

Count Khaledra’s office.

Scrape—

Khaledra was carving a wooden figurine with a chisel.

Standing before Khaledra with his hands clasped behind his back like a condemned man was Beck, the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Bureau.

Beck hadn’t done anything wrong per se, but whenever he stood in front of Count Khaledra, he felt a tension that made his flesh crawl.

“...You said the Republic plans to declare war?”

Khaledra’s voice, as he continued to carve the figurine, was strangely indifferent.

Beck, carefully observing Khaledra’s expression, responded quietly.

“Yes, sir. We’ve received information that the declaration will take place at noon, two days from now.”

“They’re later than expected. And the Federation?”

“Well...”

Beck swallowed dryly before speaking.

“They haven’t responded. It feels as if they are deliberately avoiding communication with the Allied Nations. For now, it appears they have no intention of participating in the war.”

Khaledra clenched his jaw.

Despite the bribes he had funneled to them, the Federation was still refusing to act. It was infuriating.

However, he didn’t lash out.

He already knew that the Federation was a pack of opportunists, always playing the waiting game.

Taking a deep breath, Khaledra resumed carving the wooden figurine.

“And the Empire’s movements?”

This was another difficult question to answer.

Beck hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

“All collaborators have reportedly been apprehended. Major nobles, including Duke Belvar, have been executed, and several others were purged by Daniel Steiner’s private force.”

“Is that all?”

“No, sir. According to our sources, Daniel Steiner has been promoted to brigadier general in recognition of his actions against the collaborators. Rumor has it that he will soon step down from his position as Emergency High Commissioner of Public Security and return to the frontlines.”

Crack—

For the first time, Khaledra’s hand stopped carving.

“A brigadier general...”

A tremor ran through the corner of Khaledra’s lips.

“A man who was nothing but a mere lieutenant not long ago is now a brigadier general in just over a year.”

Khaledra let out a low, bitter laugh and clenched the wooden figurine tightly.

“That bastard is a power-hungry lunatic. Ambitious, sharp-minded, and extremely capable. The kind of bastard who will do anything to elevate his own value.”

Beck thought to himself that in that regard, Khaledra and Daniel were strikingly similar, but he dared not say it aloud.

“That monstrous bastard is holding my daughter captive. I don’t know how he managed to deceive Lucy, but it’s clear he must have been running his slippery tongue.”

Grinding his teeth as though he couldn’t bear it, Khaledra slammed the wooden figurine onto the desk.

Beck flinched, but Khaledra paid no mind and continued.

“Deputy Director. Pass on my orders to the Central Intelligence Bureau. If there is a wild card in this war, it is Daniel Steiner. From now on, I want every single move Daniel Steiner makes to be reported directly to me.”

Khaledra pressed his hands against the desk and rose from his seat, glaring down at Beck.

His eyes were filled with a murderous rage toward the man who had systematically dismantled every single one of his plans — Daniel Steiner.

“Daniel Steiner is the Empire’s symbol. And that means... he must die...”

Khaledra took a deep, steadying breath, his eyes narrowing to razor-sharp slits.

“If we want the Allied Nations to win this war.”