-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Returning from Vacation(?) is Always Frightening
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The moment he accepted that fountain pen, there would be no turning back.
Bellanos, which their ancestors had guarded with all their might, would effectively become a vassal state of the Empire.
'But...'
The horrors that would unfold the moment he refused the fountain pen kept flashing through his mind.
Just as Daniel had said, the Empire possessed undeniable grounds to declare war.
If the Empire declared war, Bellanos would instantly transform into a living hell.
Countless citizens would scream, soldiers would perish, the cabinet would fracture, and politicians would scramble to find a way to save themselves.
The hatred stemming from that terrible chaos would inevitably turn toward Bellanos's head of government.
The enraged populace would demand the Prime Minister be overthrown.
If, at that moment, word spread that the Prime Minister had a hidden illegitimate child, the situation would spiral out of control.
"..."
A groan escaped his clenched teeth.
It was clear that the moment he refused to become a vassal state, the Empire would annihilate Bellanos.
'All of this was orchestrated by...'
...none other than Daniel Steiner, standing right before him.
Despite surviving the sinking of the diplomatic vessel, Daniel had not informed the Empire of his survival.
Because if his survival were confirmed, the Empire would lose its pretext to send a fleet to search for its war hero.
'Therefore...'
Daniel Steiner must have feigned his death, simply waiting for the Empire to dispatch a search fleet.
'During that time, he didn't waste a moment and found my daughter.'
Afterward, Daniel deliberately approached Lef and cultivated a friendship.
This was likely to confirm she was the Prime Minister's illegitimate child and simultaneously ascertain her residence.
Lef had acted exactly as Daniel had anticipated, even making the mistake of inviting him to the mansion.
Meanwhile, a private organization acting on Daniel's orders had located the culprit who opened territorial waters to the terrorists.
This was likely to make it easier to implicate the Bellanos government by forcing Navy Captain Edvol to confess.
When Daniel had completed all his preparations, the Imperial fleet arrived in Tentarbarem.
The Imperial forces naturally occupied Tentarbarem for their search operation, and Daniel Steiner, observing them, decided there was no longer any need to hide and revealed his true identity.
And he resumed his duties as a diplomatic envoy.
All to turn Bellanos into a vassal state of the Empire, using the very elements he had prepared in advance.
From beginning to end, they had been perfectly played right into Daniel Steiner's hands.
'Daniel Steiner. Do you truly possess a human heart?'
What kind of mindset must one have to act like this?
It was a scheme so meticulous and calculated, it was hard to believe it originated from a single person's mind.
Feeling a touch of awe amidst his rage and sorrow, Lowell slowly extended his hand.
There was no turning back time, so he had to choose the lesser of two evils rather than the worst.
Lowell, having received the fountain pen, looked down at the diplomatic proposal.
As Lowell lowered his hand to sign, he turned to Daniel one last time.
"May I ask for one thing?"
"Yes, anything."
"...I will sign, but guarantee my daughter's safety."
Daniel nodded lightly.
"Of course. If Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, upholds the terms of the proposal, the peace between our two nations will never be broken."
That statement was tantamount to saying that if the terms of the proposal were not fulfilled, her safety could not be guaranteed.
Devil. Lowell clenched his teeth and, half resigned, signed the proposal.
Lowell signed a few more places on the document, then lifted it and handed it to Daniel.
Daniel took the document and carefully placed it into his briefcase.
"Excellent. If it had been like this from the beginning, we wouldn't have had to come to blows. It's a pity, really."
After closing his briefcase, Daniel rose and bowed slightly to Lowell.
"It seems our meeting has concluded, so I shall take my leave. I wish eternal glory upon the great Bellanos."
Lowell did not reply.
As he hadn't expected a reply in the first place, Daniel adjusted his attire and turned to leave.
Daniel opened the reception room door and found himself meeting the gaze of the Director of Intelligence, who was with his retinue.
Daniel's gaze was cold.
Though they were supposedly of equal rank, the Director of Intelligence felt inexplicably intimidated.
After a moment's hesitation, the Director of Intelligence spoke.
"...Has the meeting concluded?"
"It has. I must return to the embassy, so please do not obstruct my path."
Only then did the Director of Intelligence realize that he and his retinue were blocking the way.
As the Director of Intelligence, taking the hint, cleared the path, Daniel walked through the opening.
The click of his shoes echoed as Daniel moved further and further away.
The Director of Intelligence, staring blankly at Daniel's retreating back, turned his gaze into the reception room to assist the Prime Minister.
He saw Lowell, seated on the sofa, his head bowed.
After a brief hesitation, the Director of Intelligence approached Lowell.
"Your Excellency. How did the meeting..."
The Director of Intelligence's steps slowly halted.
Because Lowell's eyes, as he sat with his head bowed, were hollow and sunken.
"Director of Intelligence."
Lowell's voice was devoid of its usual strength.
"I may have..."
His voice was laced with moisture.
After a long moment, Lowell squeezed out the words.
"...I might have made a deal with the devil."
At Lowell's self-deprecating words, the Director of Intelligence involuntarily broke out in a cold sweat.
He couldn't even begin to guess what Daniel Steiner had said in that room.
***
After concluding the meeting, Daniel arrived at the embassy via his official vehicle.
The Deputy Ambassador and the diplomats naturally inquired about the meeting's outcome, and Daniel informed them that it had been successful.
Upon hearing this, the Deputy Ambassador and the diplomats exchanged disbelieving glances, but they had no choice but to believe when Daniel showed them the diplomatic proposal bearing the Bellanos Prime Minister's signature.
The Deputy Ambassador was greatly excited, exclaiming, "It's not just a successful meeting; it's practically an oath of fealty from the Bellanos government!" The other diplomats were hardly less enthusiastic.
Thanks to this, the rumor that 'Daniel Steiner had subjugated Bellanos's Prime Minister' spread like wildfire, to the point where no one in Tentarbarem Port was unaware of it.
Such truly shocking good news naturally reached the ears of Chief of Imperial Guard Hartmann.
"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel! It's me!"
That was one of the reasons Hartmann had come to the embassy office now.
After a few knocks on the door, Daniel's voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Granted permission, Hartmann opened the door and entered.
Hartmann smiled, seeing Daniel seated at the diplomatic envoy's desk, attending to his work.
As he approached, holding newspapers and desserts in his arms, Daniel looked up.
"...Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann? What's all that?"
"I heard you like desserts, so I bought some. And these newspapers are the Imperial Daily from the past few days. I thought you'd be curious, so I brought them. But..."
Hartmann felt puzzled, seeing Daniel buried in documents.
Hartmann set the newspapers and desserts on the desk and asked,
"The meeting's over, so why are you still working?"
"Even though the treaty has been signed on paper, it still needs to be sent to the Parliament for ratification. I'm currently drafting the related documents. After that, we need to secure final approval from His Imperial Majesty."
"Hmm. I don't quite understand what all that means, but I get that you're busy."
Hartmann, who had intended to share a drink with Daniel and celebrate the Empire's decisive victory, clicked his tongue in disappointment.
Meanwhile, Daniel finished drafting the documents and turned to the newspapers.
He was curious about the situation in the Empire while he had been staying in Bellanos.
'Especially...'
To receive the treaty's final approval, he would likely need a private audience with Emperor Berthram, and it would be best to be aware of the Empire's situation beforehand.
Daniel picked up the oldest newspaper first, deciding to read only the headlines.
『Diplomatic Vessel Bound for Bellanos Sunk!』
『Her Imperial Highness the Princess Issues Emergency Mobilization Order Following Terrorist Attack!』
『Imperial Ministry of Defense Notifies Bellanos to Open Borders.』
He unfolded the next newspaper.
『Citizens Stirred by Hero's Death.』
『Waves of Mourning for Hero's Death Erupt Across the Capital.』
『Her Imperial Highness the Princess Declares 'This is a Great Loss and the Truth Will Be Uncovered.'』
Feeling a sense of dizziness, he unfolded the next newspaper.
『Enraged Citizens Conclude Allied Nations Responsible for Imperial Hero's Death, Daily Protests Ensue.』
『Anti-War Advocates: Enemies of the Empire? Controversial Extreme Remarks by Parliament Member.』
『Youth Enraged by Terrorist Atrocities Take to Streets, Demanding Investigation into Daniel Steiner's Death.』
Daniel took a deep breath and unfolded the most recent newspaper.
『Daniel Steiner! Returned from Death! Empire Engulfed in Festive Atmosphere!』
『Daniel Steiner, Survivor of Terrorist Attack, Hailed by Some as a Divine Miracle.』
『Her Imperial Highness the Princess Expresses Joy, Stating Daniel Steiner's Return Was Awaited by All Citizens, Including Herself.』
Having read all the headlines, Daniel folded the newspaper.
Daniel, who had been racking his brain, looked up at Hartmann.
"Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann. I have a request."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"I wish to remain here in Bellanos to monitor the local implementation of the treaty and conduct public relations activities. I want to postpone my return to the Empire for at least a few months, so please convey this to Her Imperial Highness the Princess..."
Daniel stopped mid-sentence, closing his mouth.
Because Hartmann was frowning.
"Do you think that's possible? Her Imperial Highness wishes to see you as soon as possible."
This filled Daniel with an inexplicable dread.
'If I return to the Empire like this...'
He had no idea what might happen to him.