Three days later.
Morning in the Imperial Capital.
Vroooom─
The deep, low hum of a limousine's exhaust lightly resonated through the streets of the capital.
Amidst the escort vehicles, the limousine proceeded with dignified grace, a small flag representing Vellanos fluttering from a pole on its side.
It was a ceremonial limousine carrying the diplomatic envoy of Vellanos.
Nevertheless, there was hardly any crowd to welco them.
The deploynt of a diplomatic envoy from Vellanos was strictly confidential, so the general public was unaware.
Even if they knew, there wouldn't have been many greeters.
Today was the day Duke Belvar, the leader of the collaborators, was to be executed, so all attention was directed toward that event.
Inside the limousine, a young girl watching the pedestrians through the window rested her chin on her hand and muttered.
"...When are we going to get there? Are we still far off?"
At the girl's words, the envoy, Worline, seated beside her, offered a subtle smile.
"We'll arrive shortly. We were scheduled to et at the plaza, so it should take about ten more minutes."
Despite the girl being much younger than him, Worline responded with a courteous tone for one reason only.
The girl before him was Lef, the daughter of the Pri Minister of Vellanos.
"Really? But this hat is so damn uncomfortable. It's annoying."
Lef, her long, beautiful black hair cascading down, wore a wide-brimd hat adorned with a long sh veil.
Her facial contours were faintly visible, but unless one scrutinized her closely, her features remained obscured.
It was a hat given to her by the Pri Minister of Vellanos out of concern for her safety.
"Miss Lef. Though the hat may be slightly uncomfortable, it was specially prepared by the Pri Minister. I ask that you bear with the minor discomfort."
"I know. I know that old man ans well. But isn't this overprotectiveness too much? If that's the case, I might as well..."
Lef sighed quietly, her half-lidded eyes lowering.
"Forget it. Today, this outfit isn't too bad. If I keep my head down, then Rivelard... No, that bastard Daniel won't recognize , right?"
"Unless you reveal yourself first, that will likely be the case. But do you really need to hide your identity from Colonel Daniel Steiner?"
"Yeah. That guy once hid his identity from , so I'm just paying him back in kind. Though, of course, that's not the only childish reason I'm hiding it."
Lef released her hand from her chin and turned to face Worline.
"Hey. Who do you think will hold the real power in the Empire in the future?"
"...That is a highly sensitive topic for a diplomatic envoy like myself to definitively address."
"Boring. Then let share the thoughts of a nobody. I think the Empire is already in the hands of Daniel Steiner to so extent."
"Interesting. That is indeed one way to interpret it."
"Don't play dumb. You think so too, don't you? If Daniel Steiner is indeed holding the reins of °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° power, we need to confirm it."
Lef's eyes narrowed sharply.
"To see if that bastard can truly lead this war to victory."
Worline nodded in agreent, as he shared a similar sentint to Lef’s.
"The Republic has completed its war preparations. They will soon declare war and invade the Empire. If that happens, the entire region will be destabilized, not just the Empire."
"Exactly. Thanks to that bastard Daniel, we are effectively in a position of alliance with the Empire. Such is the fate of a powerless nation. But this could also be an opportunity."
"You an, if the Empire is not a sinking ship?"
If the Republic joined the war, the Empire would undoubtedly find itself in a disadvantaged position.
However, the Emperor refused to accept such disadvantage and fought back.
He persuaded the Pri Minister of Vellanos, claiming that the situation would drastically change the mont the Empire successfully developed nuclear bombs.
During the ongoing secret negotiations on technological cooperation, a military revolt erupted within the Empire.
The Emperor's inability to suppress the revolt eroded public trust in him, and Vellanos planned to terminate the agreent and reconsider its relationship with the Empire.
At that mont, Daniel Steiner erged like a cot.
Like a predator lying in wait, he swiftly mobilized the 7th Armored Division, seized control of the capital, eliminated the collaborators, and stabilized the Empire.
Thanks to him, Vellanos lost the justification to withdraw from the agreent and proceeded as planned by sending a diplomatic envoy to the Empire.
Lef, who had observed everything, thought to herself.
As long as Daniel Steiner remained in the Empire, the Empire might not fall.
"Honestly, the Emperor is too soft. If it were , I wouldn't have even considered reconciling with the nobles. I'd have fabricated evidence against anyone who raised a hand against and crushed them."
"Miss Lef."
Worline displayed a troubled expression, but Lef continued speaking.
Since no one was listening besides Worline, she felt no need to hold back.
"What? It's fine to talk about lofty ideals, but if you don't have the ability to execute them, you're not fit to be a ruler. If not for Daniel Steiner, what do you think would have happened? Duke Belvar would have personally handed the Empire over to the Allied Nations."
Worline, at a loss, let out a low sigh, as if admitting he couldn't win against her.
"So, what are you trying to say?"
"We need to place our bets not on the Emperor but on Daniel Steiner. Let's see if that bastard is holding a winning hand or not."
"On a broader scale, you are not wrong. However, I ask that you refrain from such extre remarks. They could tarnish your reputation."
As Worline spoke, the limousine slowly ca to a halt.
"It seems we've arrived at the plaza."
Lef nodded.
Worline adjusted his attire while the chauffeur, who had already exited, opened the back door.
Worline thanked him, stepped out of the limousine, and found himself facing a vast crowd gathered in the plaza.
Imperial soldiers stood guard, preventing the crowd from surging past a designated line. Without them, the mass of people would likely have overrun the area.
"Ah! Ambassador Worline! You have arrived!"
As he was scanning the crowd, a deep, resonant voice called out not far away.
Turning his head, he spotted a man in a pristine military uniform adorned with nurous dals.
It was Daniel Steiner.
Accompanied by a few soldiers, Daniel Steiner approached and extended his hand for a handshake.
With a cordial smile, Worline accepted the gesture.
"The hero of the Empire, Colonel Daniel Steiner. Thank you for taking the ti to greet us despite your busy schedule."
"Please, there is no need for such words. I am not in a position to receive thanks. We should have t in a proper reception room, but..."
"Think nothing of it. We were the ones who requested to confirm the capital’s stability firsthand."
The decision to et at the execution ground was mutually agreed upon, so there was no need to quibble over it.
"However, the crowd is quite large. I did not expect so many people to gather."
"The fall of a powerful figure is more entertaining than any other spectacle. Especially when it is the man who incited a military revolt and was caught for it. By the way, the person next to you is...?"
When Daniel cautiously pointed to Lef, Worline shrugged as if it was nothing.
"My attendant. She is quite shy, so please forgive her lack of words."
"Ah. I see. My apologies."
The mont Daniel shifted his gaze away from Lef with a courteous smile—
WAAAAAH─
A thunderous roar erupted from the crowd, piercing their eardrums.
Curious, Worline followed the crowd’s line of sight and soon understood the reason.
Duke Belvar, the leader of the collaborators, was being dragged out by soldiers.
Climbing the hastily assembled wooden execution platform, Duke Belvar looked nothing like the imposing figure he once was.
Haggard and defeated, he staggered forward, a placard around his neck reading "Traitor."
─ Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!
Amidst the cries of the crowd, Daniel opened his mouth.
"Would you like to get a closer look? Though it won’t be a pleasant sight..."
"I must, of course. I need to witness Duke Belvar’s death with my own eyes to report it to the Pri Minister," Worline responded with a faint smile.
"In that case, let’s proceed. Please follow ," Daniel said, leading the way.
Lef and Worline followed behind Daniel as he ascended the execution platform.
The mont Daniel stepped onto the platform, the voices of the crowd gradually died down.
Standing atop the platform and looking down at the crowd, Daniel waited for the silence to settle before he began to speak.
"Citizens of the Empire! The man you see before you is Duke Belvar! He is the head of a noble family once held in high regard and served under three emperors! Everyone here knows how honorable he once was!"
A long silence fell as Daniel suddenly appeared to defend Duke Belvar.
"But!"
As confusion flickered in the eyes of the onlookers, Daniel shouted.
"The honor that Duke Belvar built was nothing more than a stepping stone for a military revolt! Despite enjoying the Empire’s grace, he acted solely for personal greed! He imprisoned His Majesty the Emperor and drove soldiers who fought for the people to their deaths!"
Flashes from the caras went off in all directions.
As the atmosphere among the crowd grew increasingly frenzied, Daniel continued.
"The only honor left to this man is worth less than the lies spun by a beggar on the street! Thus, I—no, we, the people of the Empire, demand of Duke Belvar! The only way to atone for your sins is through death!"
As Daniel’s speech concluded, a wave of cheers surged through the crowd like a tidal wave.
─ Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!
Daniel turned to face Belvar.
"...Do you have any last words?"
Belvar, who was kneeling, let out a low, hollow laugh.
"What good are last words when one has already lost everything?"
Daniel, sowhat understanding Belvar’s sentint, looked toward the soldier.
"Carry out the sentence."
The soldier nodded, pulling a pistol from his coat.
Just as the soldier aid the pistol, Belvar suddenly looked up at Daniel.
"...Colonel Daniel. Even though I am nothing but a defeated man now, I kept my promise, didn’t I? Are my family mbers safe?"
"Your family?"
Before answering, Daniel glanced at the diplomat beside him.
He figured this was an opportunity to earn so goodwill by displaying a more compassionate side.
After a brief mont of thought, Daniel offered a thin smile.
"By now, they should be in a good place. Don’t worry."
He was referring to the house in the suburbs that had been arranged for Duke Belvar’s family.
However, to Duke Belvar, those words sounded like, "Your family mbers are all dead."
Especially with that sinister smile—it felt like a chilling deception.
Belvar’s eyes widened as he froze in place, and finally, he scread.
"Daniel Steiner! You devilish son of a─!"
But the rest of his words never ca.
Bang!
A single bullet lodged itself in Duke Belvar’s head.
His eyes still open, he crumpled to the ground, the unfinished words still lingering on his lips as he breathed his last.
Watching the scene unfold, Worline couldn’t help but feel a surge of terror.
‘Did he promise to spare his family only to kill them all?’
Despite himself, his hands began to tremble.
Utterly horrified by Daniel’s brutality, Worline swallowed dryly.
‘Now I fully understand why the Pri Minister referred to Daniel Steiner as a demon.’
As Worline broke into a cold sweat, Daniel took out a handkerchief and wiped his face.
Turning to the side, Daniel suddenly halted.
Both the diplomat and his attendant were staring at him in utter shock, their bodies stiff and rigid.
‘Why are they looking at like that? I’m sure I just displayed a humane side...’
From Daniel’s perspective, he was utterly bewildered.
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