Daniel initially denied Dorbaf’s declaration of surrender.
He insisted it could be a deception tactic by the enemy defense force and must not be accepted at face value.
Maintaining that Dorbaf should be suspected until the end, Daniel summoned the reconnaissance company and ordered them to secure the city’s primary entry points and establish security.
The reconnaissance company executed the order and reported back to Daniel that there were no traps within the city.
So it was.
It wasn’t a trick—Dorbaf had genuinely raised the white flag to Daniel Steiner’s brigade.
Once Daniel confird the sincerity of Dorbaf’s surrender, he led the brigade into the city, heading toward the enemy command center while receiving cold, hostile stares from the citizens.
With the brigade vehicles forming an escort fore and aft, Daniel’s armored car ca to a stop in front of the command headquarters.
Stepping out of the vehicle, Daniel adjusted his uniform and entered the command building, leading a platoon composed of Lucy and elite soldiers.
Inside the building were senior officers of the defense force clad in Allied Nations uniforms, but none of them dared to stop Daniel Steiner—they simply lowered their heads.
Casting a sidelong glance at the group consud by defeat, Daniel walked straight to the command and control room.
“Open the door.”
At his command, soldiers kicked the door open with their military boots.
Bang!
Beyond the wide-open door were staff officers with bowed heads—and Dorbaf, clenching his jaw tightly.
Before Daniel could even issue an order, his soldiers entered the command room in an orderly fashion and aid their rifles at the staff officers.
It was a warning—to ensure they couldn’t pull any stunts.
Daniel scanned the control room with a brief glance and then began walking forward slowly.
Tap—
With each echoing step of his boots, the shoulders of the defense staff flinched.
Among them, none dared raise their heads out of fear—only Dorbaf t Daniel’s gaze with a hardened expression.
Standing before the command desk, Daniel opened his mouth under Dorbaf’s fixed stare.
“Colonel Dorbaf.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed coldly.
“Surprising. I expected you to demand a fight to the bitter end.”
Truthfully, he wanted to ask outright why Dorbaf had chosen to surrender—but he carefully phrased his words, mindful of the ears around him.
To Dorbaf, of course, it sounded like mockery.
“You speak as if I had a choice. If I had called for a last stand, wouldn’t you have turned this city into a sea of fire? You damnable devil...!”
Daniel remained silent.
He had no idea how to respond.
It was a blatant misunderstanding, but he couldn’t correct it with the truth.
Imperial soldiers with open ears were all around.
And even if he did speak the truth, Dorbaf wouldn’t believe it anyway.
As the silence dragged on, sweat broke across Dorbaf’s face.
He was feeling the oppressive weight behind Daniel’s chilling gaze.
Sensing Daniel’s intent from that cold stare, Dorbaf felt a deep, instinctive fear rise within him and spoke.
“...You look displeased that we surrendered. Were you truly planning to set the city ablaze? Daniel Steiner—are you really the sa ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) kind of human as I am?”
The way he continued to misinterpret things so wildly was absurd.
Deciding he couldn’t let that mouth keep flapping unchecked, Daniel looked at Dorbaf with thinly veiled contempt.
“Is that the end of the defeated man’s excuse?”
Dorbaf’s eyes widened.
Glaring at Daniel with bloodshot rage, he fought the growing urge to strike down the devil standing before him.
But he restrained himself—realizing that the one in control here was Daniel Steiner.
Once Dorbaf went quiet, Daniel turned to Lucy.
“Captain. Inform them that we’ve secured the enemy commander. Proceed to seal off the city and secure the infrastructure. Also, conduct a full sweep of the city—there may be groups still resisting independently of the commander’s surrender.”
Lucy nodded.
“Understood. Do you have a plan in mind for the treatnt of the commander and his staff?”
“First, they’ll be detained here. Formalizing the terms and scope of the surrender in writing takes priority.”
“Then I will convey your intentions accordingly.”
With a crisp reply, Lucy exited the command room.
While the soldiers still had their rifles trained on the enemy, Daniel looked at Dorbaf.
“Colonel Dorbaf. Our side will soon bring the surrender docunts. I suggest you cooperate without resistance.”
With that, Daniel turned and left the control room.
As the sound of his footsteps faded, soone in the room quietly muttered.
“Pitiful.”
It was Dorbaf.
“...Daniel Steiner. I truly pity you. I know your kind—the ones who can only find purpose and joy in war.”
Dorbaf’s quiet murmur, now free from rage, echoed softly throughout the room.
“I want to ask. What made you co to hate peace so much? What happened in your past that turned you into soone who lives for war?”
If Daniel had heard him, the injustice of it would’ve made his blood boil—but everyone present nodded along to Dorbaf’s words.
‘Brigadier does seem to have a thing for war.’
‘Just look at that all-out war speech...’
‘He’s an orphan, right? Did the Allied Forces kill his parents or sothing?’
Even the soldiers were thinking it.
****
At the sa ti — General Staff Headquarters.
Operational Conference Room, chaired by the Chief of the General Staff.
“...As you ntioned, the Republic’s offensive is fierce, but not beyond what we can withstand. The 12th Infantry Division executed a strategic withdrawal of six kiloters from the first defensive line, but after reorganization, launched a counteroffensive and by 0900 hours this morning, reclaid the first line of defense.”
Chief of the General Staff Arman fell into thought after hearing the report.
Glancing down at the docunts laid out on the table, Arman turned to the intelligence staff officer.
“They say the Republic is using new-model artillery. Has its firepower been assessed?”
“Yes, sir. It’s confird to be dium-caliber towed artillery. However, it is not particularly dangerous. Compared to the standard artillery used by our forces, it’s inferior in performance. That said, the Republic seems to be focusing on quantity and continuous salvos, so caution is still advised.”
Hearing that, Arman nodded inwardly with a sense of relief.
‘The situation may be sowhat disadvantageous, but we’re absorbing the enemy’s attacks without major losses. Considering that most wars begin with an intense bombardnt, we may be able to hold out against the Republic’s invasion after all.’
Thanks to anticipating the Republic’s intervention and redistributing forces along the front, they had managed to hold the line.
‘Now the problem is the Allied Nations.’
For now, the Federation was watching from the sidelines. But if they changed their mind and declared their intent to enter the war, the Empire would be no more than a candle flickering in the wind.
‘Which ans... we must do as Daniel Steiner suggested.’
They had to make the Empire’s strength known to the world in order to prevent the war from escalating.
‘The mont the other nations realize the Empire is struggling, they’ll pounce without hesitation.’
At present, the best course of action was to demonstrate the Empire’s military might, in any way possible.
‘If Daniel Steiner succeeds in occupying Fenbark...’
It would undoubtedly serve as the cornerstone for halting the spread of war.
Arman felt a pang of guilt at placing such a heavy burden on a young officer’s shoulders—but the urgency of the situation left him no choice.
Talented officers had to be pushed hard on the frontlines. That was the most efficient use of their capabilities.
Knock knock—
Just as Arman was deep in thought over the Fenbark operation, a knock ca at the door.
“Chief of the General Staff! Liaison officer from the Intelligence Staff Office. I have an urgent report!”
A bulletin? Arman turned his eyes toward the door.
“Co in.”
With permission granted, the door opened, and the liaison entered.
Feeling the weight of the Chief of Staff and senior officers’ eyes on him, the liaison montarily stiffened—but quickly regained composure and saluted.
Arman returned the salute, prompting the liaison to speak with a trembling voice.
“Forgive the interruption, sir! I’m here regarding Brigadier General Daniel Steiner.”
There was no need for apology.
After all, Arman himself had given instructions to prioritize reports related to the Fenbark operation.
“If it concerns the Brigadier General, is it a request for reinforcents?”
If the enemy had deliberately engaged in a delaying tactic to await reinforcents, then even soone like Daniel Steiner would have faced significant difficulty.
But the liaison delivered an entirely unexpected answer.
“No, sir! According to a report just received, Brigadier General Daniel Steiner has successfully occupied Fenbark! I’ve co to relay this news to you imdiately!”
It left him speechless.
‘He... occupied Fenbark?’
The staff officers in the room also stared at the liaison in disbelief.
Everyone had assud it would take at least a month to occupy Fenbark. And yet Daniel Steiner had sent word of its fall in less than two weeks—of course they were stunned.
After a brief silence, Arman finally spoke.
“That is welco news indeed. What are the casualty numbers from the engagent?”
“According to the materials sent by the brigade, two enemy battalions suffered near-total destruction. anwhile, estimated losses on our side...”
The liaison seed as if he could barely believe it himself.
“...are limited to four killed in action and nine wounded.”
The conference room erupted with murmurs.
“Those numbers are absurd. Is this so kind of inflated after-action report?”
“Even for Brigadier General Daniel Steiner...”
“He engaged enemy forces at regintal strength, didn’t he? And he was on the offensive, not defending. How in the world...?”
The staff officers reacted as if they’d heard sothing utterly impossible, denying the reality before them.
Under normal circumstances, Arman would have scolded them and praised Daniel Steiner’s accomplishnt—but in this mont, he couldn’t help sharing in their disbelief.
“Liaison. Just to be sure...”
Arman wore an uncharacteristically baffled expression.
“...you’re not playing so kind of joke on , are you?”
That was how shocking Daniel Steiner’s achievent truly was.
Reviews
All reviews (0)