-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: A Difficult Decision
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Adria, a permanent member state of the United Nations.
Count Kaledra's office.
"Hmm..."
Sitting at his desk, Kaledra read through the report, his brow furrowed.
Beck, the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, stood rigidly before Kaledra, a palpable tension in the air.
It was because he couldn't predict Kaledra's reaction to the report.
The ticking of the wall clock echoed unusually loudly in the silence.
Kaledra, who had been meticulously reviewing the report, closed his eyes and began to speak.
"Deputy Director. Is everything written in this report true?"
His chilling voice sent shivers down Beck's spine.
Beck took a deep breath and replied in as neutral a tone as possible.
"It is a document whose facts have been confirmed. I believe it contains no falsehoods."
At Beck's words, Kaledra clenched his teeth and let out a low groan.
The situation was taking a turn for the worse.
The report detailed 'The Empire's Changes Following Daniel Steiner's Total War Speech'.
Naturally, all of the Empire's metrics, including the armaments industry, were showing positive growth.
He had anticipated this outcome when he first heard about Daniel's total war speech, but seeing the quantified data made his head throb.
'I had underestimated him...'
When he heard that Daniel had perfectly succeeded in the invasion of Nordia and forced the Eldresia Kingdom's foreign minister to yield during negotiations, he had merely dismissed it as the emergence of an exceptional strategist in the Empire.
However, seeing Daniel put an end to the hidden struggle for the imperial succession and then successfully deliver the total war speech, Kaledra felt a certain dread.
'...Daniel Steiner intends to control the Empire.'
From Kaledra's perspective, Daniel seemed to be laying the groundwork to seize the Empire and mold it to his will.
Thinking so, he even felt a sense of kinship.
Because Daniel's actions echoed the path Kaledra had undertaken to seize Adria.
'However...'
Unlike Kaledra, Daniel had achieved his current prominence without financial backing or connections, rising through the ranks solely by his own efforts.
It was an accomplishment nearly impossible without a will and foresight that transcended human limits.
'Dangerous.'
He could not stand by and allow Daniel to grow any more powerful.
'The moment he becomes a singular entity in the Empire...'
It was clear he would become a more formidable adversary than the Emperor himself.
Having made all his decisions, Kaledra slowly opened his eyes.
"Deputy Director. From this moment, elevate Daniel Steiner's threat level by one degree within the core leadership personnel."
"Elevating him from core leadership personnel... do you mean to designate him as a head-of-government level threat?"
"Do you object?"
Beck hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"While Daniel has accumulated numerous merits and caused political ripples in the Empire with his total war speech, for me, to be wary of a mere lieutenant colonel more than necessary is..."
Beck stopped mid-sentence and fell silent.
It was because Kaledra was staring at him with chilling eyes.
That was like an unspoken pressure to not object.
Realizing he had overstepped, Beck quickly bowed his head.
"I will convey your words to the Central Intelligence Agency, as well as to all government ministries."
Kaledra, who had been watching Beck with narrowed eyes, suppressed his anger and quietly spoke.
"...And convey this to Lucy, who is infiltrated as Daniel Steiner's adjutant."
Beck, a cold sweat breaking out, looked up cautiously.
"What should I convey?"
Kaledra, who had been deliberately pausing, placed both arms on his desk.
As if being pulled up by a net, Kaledra slowly raised his hands, clasped them together, and began to speak.
"Tell her that the time has come to make a decision."
*
Late evening.
As quitting time arrived, Daniel stepped out of the General Staff Headquarters and savored the cool breeze.
Having stayed in his office all day to avoid meeting people, stepping outside now gave him an inexplicable sense of liberation.
"It's cool."
Daniel said with a satisfied smile, and Lucy, who was walking beside him, exhaled.
The breath that escaped her lips turned into a faint wisp of cold air, spreading like a faint vapor before disappearing.
"...Isn't it a bit cold rather than refreshing?"
"Now that my adjutant mentions it, it does feel a bit cold. I suppose winter is approaching."
"Winter..."
Lucy, rolling her red eyes to examine the trees around the General Staff Headquarters, couldn't help but nod.
Almost all the leaves had fallen from the branches, leaving the trees bare.
"As Lieutenant Colonel said, winter is indeed coming."
She was sure she had joined Daniel Steiner as his adjutant before spring was over.
Before she knew it, they had spent two seasons together.
Just as she was thinking that time was passing faster than expected, Daniel casually remarked.
"Winter also has its own unique desserts, you know. Speaking of which, I heard the Golden Rose Patisserie is selling Stollen as a Christmas special."
"...Stollen?"
Curious about what kind of dessert it was, Lucy blinked quietly.
Seeing that, Daniel assumed an air of importance, thinking he needed to broaden Lucy's dessert horizons.
"It's a sweet and delicious bread covered in sugar. The sugar-dusted appearance of the bread evokes a snowfield, enhancing its appeal in many ways..."
Daniel, who had been speaking fluently, suddenly trailed off.
It was because Lucy's eyes, upon hearing about the dessert, were filled with curiosity and anticipation.
Daniel, after a moment of consideration, cleared his throat and said.
"If you have time on Christmas, we could go together. If you wish, that is."
"If the Lieutenant Colonel recommends it, I won't refuse."
Daniel was dumbfounded by Lucy's nonchalant reply.
'She stared so intently because she wanted Stollen, and yet...'
Her feigned ignorance made him want to tease her, but he decided against it.
'Because I upset her recently with that special promotion.'
Daniel had a history of persuading Cedric, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, of Lucy's competence, thereby orchestrating her special promotion review.
She must have been angry then, and he figured that if he teased her again, he might accumulate another assassination 'stack'.
Daniel, feeling a bit awkward, raised his wrist to check the time, then turned to Lucy.
"Anyway, it's getting late, you should go ahead."
"...Aren't you leaving, Lieutenant Colonel?"
"As you know, I'm quite popular."
Daniel pointed towards the entrance of the General Staff Headquarters.
Even though quite some time had passed, several people holding signs that read 'War Hero Daniel Steiner!' were still visible, refusing to leave.
Daniel had given Lucy this convenience, not wanting her to get caught up with them.
Lucy, who wasn't unaware of his intention, nodded after a moment of hesitation.
"Understood. Then I'll see you again tomorrow."
After bidding Daniel farewell, Lucy walked away, holding her briefcase.
She passed through the entrance of the General Staff Headquarters, but people only glanced at Lucy and didn't approach her.
While she wasn't as famous as Daniel, her uniquely cold demeanor also made people hesitate to approach her.
Thanks to that, Lucy easily exited the General Staff Headquarters and headed towards a nearby bakery.
She intended to buy a croissant or a baguette before returning to her quarters.
'Or perhaps...'
Should I try something new today?
Lost in thought, Lucy stepped onto the main street and saw a clown hawking something.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we invite you to experience a new world at the Baranfalt Theater at ten o'clock this evening! Do you seek inner reflection? Or perhaps a fantasy unlike anything you've ever seen? We can show you more than you could ever imagine!"
The man in clown makeup smiled, raising his voice as he handed out flyers.
Seeing a few interested people gather, Lucy shook her head.
She personally disliked such boisterous hawking.
Just as she was about to ignore him and walk past, the clown approached Lucy and handed her a flyer.
"Hey there! Pretty officer lady! Won't you come to our theater and grace our audience with your presence? We even have a military discount, so you can come for a low price!"
"I appreciate the offer, but no, thank you. I..."
As Lucy was about to decline the clown's invitation, she unconsciously glanced down at the flyer and paused.
A subtly raised portion was visible on the upper right corner of the flyer.
'Encrypted Braille...'
This was one of the ways the Allied Nations transmitted orders to spies infiltrated in enemy territory.
"Aw. You'll definitely be satisfied if you come, I promise!"
The clown lowered his voice and pushed the flyer closer.
Lucy nodded and took the flyer, and the clown laughed, 'Ahaha,' before moving on to another spot.
Once Lucy confirmed the clown was drawing attention elsewhere, she placed her hand on the Braille dots on the flyer.
And then, she slowly read the Allied Nations' orders.
'Daniel Steiner's classification is hereby elevated to a head-of-government level threat. Therefore, before he can inflict further harm upon the Allied Nations...'
After reading the entire order, Lucy's eyes trembled unsteadily.
Lucy swallowed hard, then used her trembling fingertips to re-examine the order.
But nothing had changed.
Frozen in place, Lucy read the final clause of the order after a brief silence.
'...Eliminate Daniel Steiner immediately.'
No matter how many times she reread it, the order clearly stated just that.