I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander Chapter 95

The mont Lowell took that fountain pen, there would be no turning back.

Vellanos, the nation his ancestors had fought so hard to protect, would in all but na beco a vassal state of the Empire.

'But…'

The horrors that would unfold if he refused haunted his mind.

Just as Daniel had said, the Empire had a perfectly justifiable casus belli.

If the Empire declared war, Vellanos would descend into hell in an instant.

Countless citizens would scream, soldiers would die in droves, the cabinet would fracture, and politicians would scramble to save their own skins.

And in the chaos, all that rage and resentnt would inevitably turn toward the head of the governnt—Lowell himself.

The people would demand that the Pri Minister be overthrown.

And if, at that mont, news of his illegitimate child spread, the situation would spiral into pure disaster.

"……."

A heavy breath slipped between his clenched teeth.

If he refused to submit, the Empire would destroy Vellanos.

'The one who orchestrated all of this…'

It was none other than the man sitting before him—Daniel Steiner.

Despite surviving the attack on the diplomatic vessel, Daniel had deliberately kept his survival a secret from the Empire.

Because if his survival had been confird, the Empire would have had no excuse to send a fleet in search of its missing war hero.

'So instead…'

Daniel had faked his own death, waiting for the Empire to dispatch its search fleet.

'And in the anti, he found my daughter.'

He had then approached Lef intentionally, building a connection.

He had confird her identity as the Pri Minister’s illegitimate child while also securing the location of her residence.

Lef, oblivious to it all, had acted exactly as Daniel wanted, even making the mistake of inviting him to her ho.

anwhile, Daniel’s hidden forces had uncovered the real culprit behind the terrorists’ passage through Vellanos’ waters.

By coercing Colonel Edboll into confessing, Daniel had ensured that Vellanos itself would have to take responsibility.

Once all the pieces were in place, the Empire’s fleet arrived in Tentarbachem.

Under the pretense of conducting a search operation, Imperial forces naturally occupied the city.

And at that mont, Daniel Steiner—who had been watching everything unfold—no longer needed to hide.

He revealed himself and resud his duties as a diplomatic envoy.

All to finalize the final step—turning Vellanos into a vassal state.

From start to finish, they had danced in the palm of Daniel Steiner’s hand.

'Daniel Steiner… Do you even have a human heart?'

What kind of mind could be so calculating?

To execute a sche this intricate, this cruel… Could a single man truly conceive of such a plan?

Lost between rage, despair, and a reluctant sense of awe, Lowell slowly reached forward.

There was no reversing ti—he had to choose the lesser evil.

His trembling fingers closed around the fountain pen as he lowered his gaze to the diplomatic proposal.

Just before signing, he looked up at Daniel one last ti.

"Let ask one thing."

"Of course. Whatever you wish."

"…I will sign. But in return, you must guarantee my daughter’s safety."

Daniel gave a small nod.

"Naturally. As long as the Pri Minister upholds the terms of this agreent, peace between our nations will never be broken."

The underlying ssage was clear—if you fail to comply, I cannot guarantee her safety.

A devil.

Lowell clenched his teeth so hard he thought they might shatter.

With half his soul already crushed, he scrawled his signature onto the docunt.

He signed again in the designated spaces before picking up the docunt and handing it over.

Daniel accepted it, carefully placing it into his briefcase.

"Excellent. If we had done this from the beginning, we could have avoided all this unpleasantness. What a sha."

After closing the briefcase, Daniel rose to his feet and gave Lowell a courteous bow.

"Now that our eting has concluded, I will take my leave. May great glory shine upon Vellanos."

Lowell did not respond.

Nor did Daniel expect him to.

Straightening his uniform, Daniel turned and walked to the door.

As he stepped outside, his gaze locked onto the Director of Intelligence, who stood waiting with Lowell’s aides.

Daniel’s stare was cold.

Even though they were supposed to be equals, the Intelligence Director felt a strange sense of intimidation.

After a brief pause, he forced himself to speak.

"…Is the eting over?"

"It is. I must return to the embassy, so kindly do not obstruct my way."

Only then did the Director realize that he and the aides had been unintentionally blocking the corridor.

Noting the tension in the air, he quickly stepped aside, allowing Daniel to pass.

The crisp sound of Daniel’s footsteps echoed as he walked away, growing fainter with each step.

The Intelligence Director stood there, staring at his retreating figure, before finally turning back toward the reception room.

Inside, Lowell sat slumped on the sofa, his head bowed.

The Director hesitated before cautiously approaching.

"Your Excellency… How did the eting—"

He stopped mid-sentence.

Lowell’s eyes, gazing downward, were empty.

"…Your Excellency?"

His voice held no strength, no life.

"Perhaps I…"

A faint quiver lined his words.

After a long pause, he finally forced out a whisper.

"…Perhaps I have made a deal with the devil."

Hearing those words, the Intelligence Director involuntarily broke into a cold sweat.

He could not even begin to fathom what exactly Daniel Steiner had said in that room.

****

After concluding the eting, Daniel returned to the embassy in his official vehicle.

Naturally, the deputy ambassador and the diplomats imdiately asked about the outco of the negotiations. Daniel simply told them, “The eting was a success.”

Their expressions were skeptical—until he presented them with the diplomatic proposal, signed by the Pri Minister of Vellanos himself.

At that mont, disbelief turned to astonishnt.

The deputy ambassador, visibly excited, declared that this was beyond a successful negotiation—Vellanos had practically sworn allegiance to the Empire.

The other diplomats were equally overwheld.

As a result, within re hours, news of Daniel Steiner’s triumph over the Vellanos Pri Minister spread like wildfire throughout Tentarbachem’s port.

It was a shocking piece of news.

And, of course, it reached the ears of Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann, Chief of the Imperial Guard.

"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel! It’s !"

That was why Hartmann had co to the embassy’s office today.

After knocking a few tis, Daniel’s voice ca from inside.

"Co in."

With permission granted, Hartmann opened the door and stepped inside.

There, seated at his desk, was Daniel Steiner—buried in work.

Hartmann smiled.

Holding a stack of newspapers and a box of desserts, he approached the desk.

Daniel lifted his head.

"…Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann? What is all that?"

"I heard you like sweets, so I brought so. And these newspapers… They’re all the Imperial Daily issues that piled up over the past few days. I figured you’d want to catch up. But…"

Hartmann frowned slightly as he took a closer look.

Daniel was still buried in docunts.

Setting down the newspapers and desserts, Hartmann asked,

"The eting is over—so why are you still working?"

"Just because the treaty has been signed on paper doesn’t an it’s finalized. It still needs to be ratified by the Imperial Parliant. I’m drafting the necessary docunts. After that, it has to receive final approval from His Majesty."

"Hmm. I don’t really get all that political talk, but it sounds like you’re busy."

Hartmann had initially planned to drink with Daniel, celebrating the Empire’s overwhelming victory.

Feeling slightly disappointed, he clicked his tongue.

anwhile, Daniel finished his paperwork and turned toward the newspapers.

After all, while he had been in Vellanos, the Empire had moved forward without him.

And most importantly…

Before eting Emperor Bertham for final approval, it was crucial to understand the current state of the Empire.

Daniel picked up the oldest newspaper and skimd the headlines.

『Diplomatic Vessel En Route to Vellanos Sunk!』

『Her Highness the Princess Declares a State of Ergency Following Terrorist Attack!』

『Imperial Ministry of Defense Demands Vellanos Open Its Borders!』

He turned to the next issue.

『The Death of a Hero Shakes the Empire!』

『Mourning Processions Held Across the Capital in Honor of the Fallen Hero!』

『Her Highness the Princess Declares: “This Is a Great Loss, and the Truth Must Be Uncovered.”』

A strange dizziness crept in.

Daniel flipped to the next paper.

『Enraged Citizens Bla the Allied Nations for the Death of the Empire’s Hero—Ongoing Protests!』

『Are Pacifists the Enemy of the Empire? Controversial Remarks from a Parliantary Representative Stir Debate!』

『Furious Youth Take to the Streets, Demanding Justice for Daniel Steiner’s Death!』

Taking a deep breath, Daniel reached for the most recent issue.

『DANIEL STEINER RETURNS FROM THE DEAD! THE EMPIRE ERUPTS INTO CELEBRATION!』

『Having Survived a Terrorist Attack, So Now Call Daniel Steiner’s Return a Miracle of the Gods!』

『Her Highness the Princess Declares: “Not Only the People, but I Myself Have Been Awaiting His Return.”』

After finishing the headlines, Daniel folded the newspaper.

He rubbed his temples as a headache settled in.

Then, lifting his gaze, he looked at Hartmann.

"Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann. I have a request."

"Hm? What is it?"

"I’d like to remain in Vellanos for now—to oversee the implentation of the treaty and handle external affairs. I wish to delay my return to the Empire for at least a few months. Could you relay this request to Her Highness—"

Mid-sentence, Daniel stopped.

Hartmann’s face had twisted into a frown.

"Do you really think that’s possible? Her Highness has been waiting to see you as soon as possible."

Daniel felt an uneasy shiver.

'If I return to the Empire now…'

There was no telling what would happen to him.