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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Operation Change
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My heart began to pound wildly, and my breathing grew erratic.
I tried to maintain a calm expression, but the corners of my lips trembled slightly.
'Calm down! Think of an excuse!'
If I couldn't answer now, Daniel's suspicion might turn into certainty.
After running countless simulations in her mind during the briefest of moments, Alistair barely managed to speak.
"...Ah. So something like that happened? When I went, they were selling it just fine, so I had no idea about such an incident."
This was the answer Alistair had arrived at after much deliberation.
Considering Daniel had started working at headquarters immediately after graduating from the academy, it was safe to assume he hadn't visited Jack's restaurant last year.
It was, in essence, a deception that exploited a loophole in information.
"Hmm. You didn't know about such an incident, you say..."
Daniel leisurely tapped the banquet table.
That small gesture and faint sound instilled a sense of unease in the highly tense Alistair.
Alistair could feel Daniel's suspicion directed at her.
Daniel, on the other hand, had no particular thoughts.
'...Did they start selling it again last year?'
It was a delicious dessert, so the owner might not have given up on it.
Besides, it wasn't the restaurant's fault if a customer with an allergy accidentally ordered it.
Daniel, thinking that was probably the case, nodded once and looked at Alistair.
"It seems they've started selling apple strudel again. Of course, we'd have to ask Jack's restaurant to know for sure. Oh, and if I could ask one more thing..."
Just as Daniel was about to ask his question, classical music played by the orchestra filled the banquet hall.
At the same time, everyone in the hall began to applaud, naturally drawing both their gazes.
From the third floor of the banquet hall, the imperial family members were slowly descending, holding onto the staircase railing.
That meant the main event Philip had mentioned was about to begin.
As an officer of the Empire, Daniel also had a duty to show respect to the imperial family, so he could no longer continue their conversation.
"Oh dear. Time's up. It seems we'll have to end our conversation here."
Daniel smiled, picked up his uniform cap from the table, and stood.
"I hope you have a good time."
Daniel nodded once, tucked his uniform cap under his arm, and walked towards the crowd.
Thanks to this, Alistair felt like she could finally breathe.
'Thank goodness. If he had interrogated me a little longer, I might have been exposed...'
Alistair, relieved by that fact, turned to look at Daniel and paused.
This was because she saw Daniel talking to someone who appeared to be the Chief of Staff for Operations, occasionally glancing back at her.
'Damn it...!'
As expected, Daniel still hadn't dropped his suspicion.
He was clearly telling the Chief of Staff, 'That person is suspicious.'
Alistair let out a frustrated sound, quickly rose from her seat, and walked towards the restroom.
Entering the restroom, Alistair confirmed no one else was around, then raised her wrist and pressed the transmit button on the miniature radio disguised as a watch.
"Speaker, respond! This is Photo Studio!"
After a brief wait, a response came through the radio.
─ What is it? Is it time to report the list?
Alistair shook her head.
"No! I'm currently under suspicion! There's a high probability they've increased security. So, immediately cancel the Mad Dog operation! Disperse the agents to the old city! We need to go with Plan B!"
─ Under suspicion? The identity forgery was perfect. Your disguise should also be undetectable by the Imperial Army.
"The situation is bad. The one suspecting me right now is none other than Daniel Steiner."
Daniel Steiner. The weight of that name was considerable.
The radio transmission came a moment later.
─ Understood. We will withdraw the previous operation and switch to Plan B. I will disseminate this to all agents. Good luck.
The transmission abruptly cut off.
Alistair, who had been staring at her watch, pressed a hand to her forehead.
'Damn it. We have no choice but to go with Plan B...'
Unlike the original operation, Plan B's probability of failure increases exponentially.
Even if the operation succeeded, not only would the agents be annihilated, but it would also be tantamount to giving the Empire justification to launch an expansionist war.
But there was no other way.
As long as Daniel Steiner was suspicious, the original plan wouldn't work.
Alistair, sweeping a hand across her face, clasped her hands together and murmured reverently.
"Oh, God..."
Please protect us.
*
"He's going to the restroom. Your new friend, that is."
"Hmm. He seemed to be in a hurry."
Watching Alistair enter the restroom, I shrugged once.
Ernst, seeing me, let out a chuckle.
"Let's put aside talk of your compatriot for now and focus on the ball."
"...The ball, you say?"
"Ah. Now that I think about it, this is your first imperial banquet, isn't it? Usually, once the banquet begins to ripen, the imperial family members come out and enjoy a dance. It's a way to uphold the legitimacy passed down from the past."
I wondered what dancing had to do with legitimacy, but I didn't particularly want to argue about imperial culture.
After a perfunctory nod, I turned my gaze to the central hall where the imperial family was preparing for the dance, and the first thing I saw was Sylvia in a violet evening gown.
It was a dress with a daringly low back, but the blue-tinted necklace and earrings diverted attention, making it feel more elegant than provocative.
To be honest, her aura was vastly different from the Sylvia I had met in the North.
Perhaps it was her light makeup. As I observed her closely, I quickly understood why Sylvia's demeanor was different from usual.
'She seems to dislike this place.'
Sylvia wasn't smiling.
Her playful or triumphant smiles, which she had shown in the North, were gone.
Well, thinking about it from her perspective, it made sense.
If I had to dress up elaborately for imperial legitimacy and then dance while people I didn't want watched, I'd dislike it too.
However, regardless of Sylvia's feelings, the banquet hall's lighting dimmed further, and a tune announcing the dance began to play.
As the music started, the imperial family members, each with a smile, began to dance with their partners.
Sylvia was no exception, but one difference was that, unlike the other royals, she maintained a constant blank expression.
Of course, even that blank expression was quite captivating to me.
I tend to consider myself a rather rational person, but it seems my rationality wasn't strong enough to overcome looks-based discrimination.
If someone else had made such a sullen face, I probably would have told them to cheer up, but with the beautiful Sylvia doing it, even that looked like a painting.
Indeed, this is why lookism was so terrifying. It was something to be wary of.
So, I watched as indifferently as possible, arms crossed, until the dance ended and the lights brightened again.
Immediately after, everyone, as if on cue, gave a round of applause to the imperial family.
Sylvia, receiving applause from the 'pseudo-gallery,' shifted her gaze around as if annoyed, until her eyes met mine.
Sylvia's eyes widened slightly. It was the moment I, realizing my mistake, was about to applaud.
─ Don't clap.
Sylvia's mouth shape made me halt my applause.
As a result, I remained frozen in an awkward posture, watching as high-ranking officials of the banquet hall approached the imperial family, each engaging them in conversation.
Sylvia was no exception.
I stared blankly at Sylvia, who was laughing and talking with the high-ranking officials, and tilted my head.
'Did I do something wrong?'
Was clapping when our eyes met a violation of imperial etiquette?
Amidst my growing curiosity and bewilderment, Sylvia politely excused herself from the high-ranking officials and made her way through the crowd.
As Sylvia was coming towards me, I stepped aside to make way.
But Sylvia continued to approach me.
Arriving within close proximity, Sylvia looked up at me and offered a faint smile.
"It's been a while, Daniel... Should I call you Captain?"
So she was indeed coming to me. I, momentarily bewildered, nodded.
"Yes. I've been promoted to Captain."
"I see. Well, you've certainly achieved a lot, so it's only natural. More importantly, you've changed your hairstyle?"
"That's right. I didn't want to, but my superior is quite insistent, so..."
Sylvia let out a small chuckle.
"We should give that insistent superior of yours an award, then. It suits you well. It makes you look even more mature."
"I am an adult, actually..."
"Just because you're old doesn't mean you're an adult, does it? Especially when you look at those people."
Sylvia glanced back at the men who had approached her earlier.
"They all believe the Empire should wage expansionist wars. Without even considering what kind of repercussions that would have on the international community."
Hmm. In truth, such thinking was commonplace in this era.
The modern era was filled with people who viewed colonizing civilizations less developed than their own as a form of business or even salvation, wasn't it?
It wasn't that they were ignorant; it was that Sylvia was enlightened.
"It's unavoidable. As long as the Empire holds the advantage, advocating for war is a natural progression. Not everyone can act as wisely as Her Imperial Highness..."
I stopped mid-sentence.
Because the compatriot who had gone to the restroom was running towards us.
And with a remarkably grim expression.
Just as I wondered what was happening, he reached into his pocket.
Instantly judging it dangerous, I opened my holster and drew my revolver.
The moment he tried to throw something, I pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The bullet flew and burst his head.
However, the unidentified object that had left the man's hand was still flying towards us.
"Your Imperial Highness!"
Feeling a sense of urgency, I grabbed Sylvia's wrist and pulled her.
After pulling Sylvia into my arms, I instinctively turned my body and closed my eyes.
And then.
Flash—
A blinding light enveloped everything.
*
...I slowly opened my eyes, steadying my breathing.
My vision was dark. First of all, this wasn't the banquet hall I had just been in.
Amidst the complete silence, I waited for my eyes to adjust to the darkness.
It would be troublesome if I moved rashly and made a sound.
"Daniel..."
"Quiet."
After silencing the squirming Sylvia, I waited for a moment, and the interior of my location became visible.
'A hotel?'
I was in a spacious living room adorned with luxurious interior design.
Glancing behind me, the cityscape unfolded below a glass wall.
Only then did I understand the nature of the object the man had thrown.
'Aetherium Conversion Grenade.'
It was a diversionary grenade that literally shifted the location of anyone directly hit by it.
It was an item with low demand, both because it was expensive and because the exact destination of the conversion couldn't be specified.
I had heard it was sometimes used for special purposes, but I never expected to be on the receiving end.
"Um..."
"I told you to be quiet."
"That's not it..."
Squirm. Sylvia's hand moved as if trying to push me away.
Only then did I realize I was still holding Sylvia tightly and hadn't let go.
In my tension, I had belatedly realized the impropriety of my actions.
"Ah."
As I released my embrace, Sylvia stepped back.
Sylvia, looking at me displeased, had ears that were inexplicably flushed.
Her breathing also seemed a little ragged.
"I apologize."
As I apologized, Sylvia swept the hair that had fallen forward behind her ear and spoke.
"I understand your intention was to protect me. But please be more careful next time. And..."
Sylvia, her gaze now different, hid herself behind a nearby sofa.
"They're coming up. I hear footsteps. Seven, no. Eight, perhaps."
Footsteps? After hiding beside Sylvia and listening intently, I indeed heard footsteps nearby.
It seemed they didn't know the exact location of this place, but they were searching, believing it to be in the vicinity.
A sigh escaped me.
"...Things have gotten much more difficult, but for now, I will do my best to protect you."
"No need."
Sylvia lifted the hem of her evening gown.
A pistol strapped to her thigh became visible.
Seeing that, I let out a hollow breath.
"Do you always carry a pistol like that?"
"You never know what might happen."
"Well, it seems it's Her Imperial Highness who's truly the adult here, not me."
Sylvia, taking the pistol from her thigh, offered a faint smile.
"Let's just say it's both of us."
"Alright. Then..."
The footsteps grew closer.
I looked towards the door and spoke.
"Let's act like adults and protect ourselves."
Click—
Sylvia, having cocked her pistol, replied triumphantly.
"Exactly what I wanted."
So this is what they mean by 'Iron-Blooded,' indeed.
Honestly, I couldn't have felt more reassured.