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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Choose the Lesser Evil, Not the Worst
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The atmosphere turned chillingly cold.
Just as Rowell hesitated, unable to retort, Daniel took a step back.
"My, my. I had merely intended to have a light discussion before delving into the main conference, but it seems things have grown a bit too heated. How about we take a seat and proceed with the meeting?"
Rowell nodded, still tense.
He hadn't come here to fight Daniel Steiner, after all.
Adjusting his attire, Rowell took a seat on the sofa.
Seeing this, Daniel also sat down and placed his briefcase on his lap.
With a casual gesture, Daniel unzipped his briefcase and rummaged inside.
"Then, I shall now present the Empire's proposals. Let's see… Ah, here they are."
Daniel pulled out a few documents and handed them to Rowell.
"Please take your time to read them and make your decision. If you have any objections, feel free to speak up immediately."
Daniel, smiling as he handed over the documents, felt utterly repugnant.
Rowell, glaring at Daniel with displeased eyes, snatched the documents.
Even so, Daniel merely waited, hands clasped, without a hint of annoyance.
'…I have no idea what he's thinking.'
His demeanor was polite, yet Rowell couldn't shake the feeling that Daniel was looking down on him.
Rowell, wary of Daniel, read through the documents.
The contents of the documents seemed simple at first glance.
They demanded accountability for failing to stop the terrorists, requested an official statement, called for a more detailed investigation to uncover the truth, and discussed reparations.
Up to this point, these were proposals Rowell could understand and accept.
However, the problem lay in the subsequent items.
'Abolition of tariffs on Imperial trade, permission for Imperial troops to be stationed in the port city of Tentarbaham, cooperation in the construction of military bases, and permanent opening of the border?'
This alone was absurd, but the bigger problem was the last item.
『We demand the enactment of a terrorist prevention law, requiring the detailed disclosure of information to the Empire when appointing certain high-ranking officials and military generals. The Empire shall meticulously assess this information and, if necessary, conduct inspections and oversight to prevent the recurrence of terrorism.』
Though it was phrased as a terrorist prevention law, it was ultimately a demand for interference in internal affairs.
This was clearly less a demand for a neutral nation and more a demand for a defeated one.
Rowell, utterly dumbfounded, flung the documents onto the table.
"What in the world are you trying to do!? Did you really bring this garbage as a proposal?"
"…Is something wrong?"
"Something wrong? Are you out of your mind!? Bellanos is a neutral nation! We made a promise not to participate in international disputes or wars! Do you truly believe Bellanos can maintain its status as a neutral nation if it accepts the Empire's military and submits to interference in its internal affairs?!"
Rowell raised a hand and pointed an accusing finger at Daniel.
"Daniel Steiner! This is a clear act of infringing on our sovereignty! The international community will never tolerate this! And your presenting this proposal is an extremely disrespectful act! I will formally protest to the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the name of the Prime Minister!"
Daniel, who had been listening, suddenly let out a low sigh.
"Protest to the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Did you not hear me just now? I distinctly said that in this place, I *am* the Empire."
Rowell's eyes narrowed.
Just as he wondered what that meant, Daniel shrugged his shoulders.
"Very well. Since the Prime Minister is taking such a firm stance, I shall also speak the truth. Did you just say the international community wouldn't tolerate Bellanos's sovereignty being infringed upon? Well, it seems to me they *will* tolerate it."
"What do you mean…"
"As everyone knows, it was none other than the Bellanos Navy that cleared the way for the terrorists who sank the Imperial diplomatic vessel. You wouldn't deny that, would you? If so, who was behind it? Prime Minister, do you know who the culprit is?"
Rowell swallowed dry.
"Colonel Edvol said they received bribes from the Allied Nations…"
"Yes. We know that too. After all, the Bellanos government sent a telegram directly to the Imperial government. But do you have proof? Proof that they received bribes from the Allied Nations, that is."
Rowell opened his mouth to answer, but had no choice but to close it again.
Because there was no proof.
"In that case, the Empire could interpret it this way: 'Ah! Bellanos attacked the Imperial diplomatic vessel and is now pinning the blame on the Allied Nations. The culprit is Bellanos's…'"
Daniel leaned forward and stared intently at Rowell.
"…Prime Minister."
Rowell, sweating profusely, hastily shouted,
"That's an absurd logical leap! Why would Bellanos ever attack the Imperial diplomatic vessel! What possible gain would there be?!"
Daniel smiled subtly.
"Then present your evidence. It's a simple matter, isn't it?"
Rowell felt wronged, but remained silent.
The more he tried to answer Daniel's questions, the stronger the feeling that he was sinking into a quagmire.
"Without evidence, the Empire has no choice but to suspect Bellanos. Of course, I believe Bellanos would never have attacked the Imperial diplomatic vessel. However, if the Prime Minister rejects this current proposal, the Empire will have no choice but to take action."
Daniel leaned back, resting comfortably against the sofa.
"The Bellanos Navy killed Imperial civilians. Isn't that enough justification? The Empire will declare war, and the international community will remain silent. Because the reason for the declaration of war will be crystal clear."
Daniel's low laughter spread through the silence like a mist.
"The Allied Nations won't help Bellanos either. After expressing deep regret to the Empire for the civilian casualties, they won't be able to stop the Empire from rising up to avenge its citizens. If they were to defend Bellanos at that point, they would be admitting complicity. And…"
Daniel snapped his fingers and pointed at the glass with remaining whiskey.
"If you're not going to drink it, could you give it to me? I'm quite thirsty."
Rowell merely shifted his gaze to the glass of whiskey.
Unable to refuse, Rowell picked up the glass and handed it to Daniel.
Daniel, seeing Rowell's subtly trembling hand, lightly took the glass.
"Thank you for your consideration."
Daniel, smiling as he received the glass, took a sip of whiskey.
Then he let out an exclamation of admiration.
"Indeed, quality goods are different. They say fine whiskey shows its difference from the distillation process itself; the flavor is truly excellent. It would be quite a hardship if I couldn't drink something like this in the future."
Anyone who wasn't an idiot could tell who he was talking about.
Daniel swirled the whiskey glass, admiring its color, then set it down.
"We've strayed a bit. To continue, the Empire, having declared war, would be able to land troops in Bellanos without any losses."
It was no exaggeration to say that the Imperial army currently occupied the port city of Tentarbaham in Bellanos.
As long as they were there, Bellanos could not prevent the Empire's landing.
It would be like losing the most crucial strategic stronghold the moment the war began.
"The troops landed in Bellanos would swiftly advance to the capital. As the Prime Minister must know, the Empire, after declaring total war, subjugated the Eldresia Kingdom in less than a season. How long, then, would it take for Bellanos, which is smaller than Eldresia?"
Daniel playfully raised his hand and spread two fingers.
"Two weeks. Two weeks would be enough."
Rowell's breathing began to grow ragged.
But Daniel still maintained his smile.
"In less than half a month, the Imperial army could advance to Bellanos's capital. When that happens, the people of Bellanos will be enraged by the Empire's ruthlessness and, at the same time, despise their government's incompetence."
Daniel tapped the armrest of the sofa and said,
"The hatred for the government's incompetence will soon be directed at the Prime Minister. Perhaps a popular uprising might even occur. At that point, the Empire will halt its advance and advise the Bellanos government to surrender. And then, subtly, information will be leaked."
The smile vanished from Daniel's lips.
"That the Prime Minister of Bellanos has an illegitimate child."
Rowell's pupils greatly dilated.
This was because the horrific scene implied by those words replayed in his mind.
Finally, Rowell could not hold back and began to sob.
Daniel, pitying his appearance, lowered his voice.
"I understand. Imagining losing everything is never pleasant. Therefore, I believe it would be most advisable for the Prime Minister to conduct himself in a way that prevents imagination from becoming reality."
Daniel took a fountain pen from his pocket and offered it to Rowell.
Rowell raised his head, glaring at Daniel with hatred amidst his sobs.
However, the situation did not change.
Rowell himself knew better who held the power here.
Rowell, who had lived his life as a caged lion, had no confidence in defeating the wolf before him.
Witnessing the light of struggle fade from Rowell's eyes, Daniel lightly shook the fountain pen.
"Sign the proposal. Only then will everything…"
A low, eerie voice continued like a whisper.
"…become as if it never happened."