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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: An Act for Survival
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Leaving the General Staff Headquarters, Daniel headed straight for the Imperial Palace.
Having already secured prior permission from Princess Selvia, he was able to enter the palace after a simple identity check.
With the help of a lady-in-waiting from the Imperial Household, Daniel arrived at the Princess's office and knocked on the door.
"Your Highness! Major Daniel Steiner reporting!"
He called out loudly, and the door opened from within.
Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann, chief of the Royal Guard, stood holding the doorknob.
"Major Daniel. I've been expecting you."
Daniel nodded once, then walked to the center of the office and saluted.
At this, a look of delight spread across Selvia's face as she sat at her desk.
"Major Daniel! I was wondering when you'd—"
Selvia, who had inadvertently raised her voice, paused and cleared her throat.
Even if she was happy about the meeting, she felt it was important to maintain her dignity as a princess.
"What brings you here?"
Her voice, now considerably more composed, settled gently throughout the office.
Daniel lowered his hand and stood at ease.
"I came to see you because there's something urgent I need to discuss."
As Daniel spoke, Hartmann closed the office door and stood beside Selvia.
Under the gaze of both, Daniel continued.
"Before I explain the situation, I must state that I was not the one who attacked and neutralized the Imperial Prince's private organization, the Dawn of Daybreak. I felt it was important to clarify this right away."
Selvia and Hartmann blinked quietly, then nodded as if they understood.
"I understand. If any questions come from outside, I'll deflect them that way for now."
"I, too, will keep quiet. I wouldn't want you to be in trouble."
Judging by their reactions, it seemed his sincerity hadn't been conveyed in the slightest.
Daniel, for his part, wished he could plead his innocence more vehemently, but he doubted they would believe him anyway, and there was no time for it now.
So, he decided to get straight to the point.
"Your Highness. Then I will explain the circumstances that brought me here. First, are you aware that Security Bureau officers are currently operating freely within the General Staff Headquarters?"
The atmosphere instantly grew heavy.
Selvia's eyes narrowed sharply as she spoke.
"That's Duke Belvar's doing. That old man maintains a good relationship with the Director of the Security Bureau. But for him to unleash Security Bureau officers in the General Staff Headquarters means..."
She was quick to grasp the situation, which was good.
Daniel nodded, indicating her assumption was correct.
"Duke Belvar intends to frame me for colluding with a spy."
"...Why?"
"He's trying to turn public opinion. It was I, Daniel Steiner, who discovered the Imperial Prince's private organization plotting rebellion. But what would happen if it were revealed that Daniel Steiner was, in fact, colluding with a spy?"
Hartmann, who had been listening, let out a low groan.
"They could pin everything on Daniel Steiner, claiming it was a self-orchestrated plot by someone aligned with the Princess's faction. If they denounce Major Daniel as the instigator of the rebellion, he'd have nothing to say."
Hartmann, secretly admiring the old fox's scheme, looked at Daniel.
"I understand your concerns well. The Security Bureau is known for fabricating evidence. If anything goes wrong, an innocent man like you could suffer."
In truth, Daniel knew his aide was a spy due to complex circumstances but had kept silent, yet this was a truth he couldn't utter aloud, so he simply nodded.
"It's only a matter of time now. The moment the Security Bureau issues a warrant for an internal security inspection, I'll be apprehended by them."
At Daniel's words, Selvia bristled and pushed her chair back, standing up.
"That won't do! I will stop such an outrage, no matter what!"
Daniel offered a faint smile at Selvia's reaction.
"I would be truly grateful if you did. But a better approach would be to make the first move before the worst-case scenario occurs."
"Make the first move?"
Hartmann asked again, his face intrigued.
"It seems you have a way to resolve the situation?"
"Indeed. Currently, Duke Belvar is desperate to apprehend me, even if it means resorting to the Security Bureau's power. What do you think this signifies?"
After a brief silence, Selvia replied.
"That old fox fears you. He's pushing this even though he'd face backlash if he couldn't find evidence of you colluding with a spy."
"Correct. Therefore, I intend to use the fear Duke Belvar harbors towards me. Furthermore, I will propose a kind of deal using information only we currently possess."
"Major Daniel. I don't quite understand. What exactly do you mean by 'using Duke Belvar's fear'?"
The last question came from Hartmann.
Daniel paused for a moment, then spoke.
"I will put on an act."
A determined look settled in Daniel's eyes as he met Hartmann's gaze.
"The 'worst Daniel Steiner' that Duke Belvar could possibly imagine."
*
After explaining the gist of his plan, Daniel requested Selvia to arrange a meeting with Duke Belvar.
Selvia accepted Daniel's request and immediately contacted Belvar, who agreed without much hesitation, thus arranging the meeting.
And so, now.
'Damn it...'
Daniel was seated on a sofa in the reception room of Duke Belvar's mansion.
Behind the sofa where Daniel sat, Hartmann stood with his arms crossed, biding his time.
This was thanks to Selvia, who had asked Hartmann to escort Daniel in case of any unforeseen incidents.
Hartmann, confirming that Belvar was still a little while away, whispered just loud enough for Daniel to hear.
"...But Major Daniel. Do we really need to choose this method? We're not the ones at a disadvantage here."
He was asking why Daniel was acting so impatiently when they could simply take their time and tackle the issue slowly.
Daniel, too, agreed with that sentiment.
Even if the Security Bureau ran rampant, if he simply held out as much as possible without giving them any leverage, Belvar would likely self-destruct on his own.
However, it was clear that various bloody incidents would occur in that process.
'More importantly...'
Lucy is, in fact, a spy.
If Katman, armed with a warrant from the Security Bureau, relentlessly pursued the investigation, and if he were to unearth decisive evidence that Lucy was a spy, Daniel would be a dead man.
Because if he were charged with colluding with a spy, it wouldn't end with merely being discharged.
Therefore, Daniel had to force Belvar to wave the white flag today, by any means necessary.
Only then would the Security Bureau's investigation cease.
To Hartmann, this was merely a negotiation, but to Daniel, it was nothing short of walking a tightrope with his life on the line.
Of course, he couldn't explain all of this, so Daniel merely offered an awkward smile.
"Wouldn't it be better for both of us if everything could be settled with today's negotiation?"
"That's true. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Nothing. Just silently play along with my tune from behind."
Hartmann nodded, thinking that wouldn't be difficult.
Creak—
Just then, the reception room door opened, and Duke Belvar entered with a servant.
Belvar, dressed in an expensive suit, wore a monocle, and his thick eyebrows and tightly pressed lips revealed his characteristic stubbornness.
Daniel rose from his seat and bowed his head, but Belvar didn't react.
He clicked his tongue audibly as he walked over, then simply sat on the opposite sofa.
Once Daniel also sat back down on the sofa, Belvar spoke.
"So. You're the one who wanted to see me?"
It was a condescending tone, but Daniel remained unperturbed, maintaining a polite smile.
"That's right. As you know, Your Grace, the Imperial Prince's private organization, the Dawn of Daybreak, has all been apprehended. I came to propose something related to that."
"A proposal? Hah! No need to hear what kind of proposal it is! You'll be telling me to betray His Imperial Highness!"
Belvar raised his hand and pointed a finger at Daniel.
"Furthermore, I'm well aware that you've used intimidation in negotiations to get what you want! Don't think I'll fall for your schemes like those other fools!"
Despite Belvar's threats, Daniel did not lose his smile.
"Your Grace. There's a misunderstanding. I am merely here to negotiate. If you listen to my proposal—"
"I don't want to hear it!"
Belvar cut Daniel off, roaring with rage.
"Do you think I'd be swayed by the filthy words that come out of your mouth?!"
"Then are you saying you'll break off the negotiation without even listening to what I have to say?"
"The only reason I agreed to this negotiation was because of Princess Selvia's request. And I will never betray His Imperial Highness, no matter what. Even if it costs me my life!"
As expected, Belvar was taking a hard line.
Daniel, thinking there was no other choice, decided to perform his 'act' instead of making a proposal.
"I don't entirely fail to understand Your Grace's feelings. However, if you break off this negotiation now, the lives you condemn to death won't be just one."
One of Belvar's eyebrows twitched.
"...What do you mean?"
"Exactly as I said. Think about it slowly."
Daniel maintained his smile and leaned back against the sofa.
Belvar, on the other hand, merely trembled at his fingertips and swallowed dryly.
Belvar, chewing over Daniel's ambiguous remark, said in a hushed voice.
"My acquaintances and family are innocent. Even if I lose in the succession struggle, you have no authority to touch my people."
Upon hearing Belvar's words, Daniel's lips twitched, and then he let out a laugh as if he couldn't hold it in.
A low, subdued laugh echoed through the spacious reception room.
Belvar, who couldn't understand why he was laughing, frowned and broke out in a cold sweat.
Even Hartmann, who had agreed to play along with the act, felt a somewhat chilling sensation as he looked down at Daniel.
After laughing for a while, Daniel waved his hand lightly.
"Oh. My apologies. I've been rude. But..."
Suddenly, Daniel's smile vanished, and he stared intently at Belvar.
His fierce yet still eyes gleamed like a predator staring down its prey.
"Let me ask you something, Duke Belvar. Among the people I've brought down to ruin..."
A chilling voice held Belvar's gaze.
After a brief silence, Daniel leaned forward, eyes unblinking, and spoke.
"Do you truly think there were no innocent people among them?"
At that moment, Belvar felt an extreme sense of terror wash over him.