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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Fish Caught in a Trap
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Fish Caught in a Trap
When Prince Bleph's forces realized they were surrounded and panicked, Daniel, who had inadvertently surrounded the enemy, was equally flustered.
"No. Why here, of all places…?"
Daniel couldn't fathom what strategic value this outpost, located in a basin, could possibly have to warrant a surprise attack.
'Could it be to capture me? If the enemy forces knew my location…'
That would explain the reason for the surprise attack.
Daniel Steiner held symbolic significance as the 'Hero of the Empire.'
Capturing such a symbol as a prisoner would not only severely demoralize the Empire but also give them an advantage in negotiations.
'But…'
Information regarding Daniel Steiner's mission and operational support was top secret.
The fact that the enemy knew this top-secret information meant only one thing.
'So, there's someone colluding with the enemy within the Empire.'
It wasn't unusual.
Anyone in the upper echelons who had received intelligence about the Republic and Federation's military buildup would know that the current Empire was in a precarious state.
It was a natural progression of the times for some to seek self-preservation by handing over secrets to the enemy.
However, the thought of someone with access to top-secret information colluding with the enemy was unsettling.
'And their objective is to hand me over to the Allied Nations…'
He would need to investigate this thoroughly once the situation was resolved.
"Battalion Commander! The retreat route has been completely cut off! Please issue the next order!"
Daniel turned his head.
Company Commander Burnrad's loyal gaze felt quite burdensome.
'It seems he thinks I predicted everything and ordered this operation under the guise of training…'
He had merely conducted a forced drill to pass the time, and they had just stumbled upon this situation.
Since he couldn't tell the truth, Daniel took a deep breath and began to speak.
"We will wait here until the enemy makes a move. Radio operator."
The radio operator, who had been following Daniel, responded with vigor.
"Yes, Battalion Commander!"
"They must know by now that they are surrounded. They'll be looking for a way to contact us from their communications center to negotiate, so switch to a common frequency and send a message."
"Understood. What should I say?"
There was only one thing to say in this situation.
"Advise them to surrender immediately. Add that if their reply is delayed or if any suspicious movements are observed, they will experience hell."
"Understood!"
The radio operator, who had responded instantly, knelt and placed his military radio down, then began to transmit.
Daniel watched him for a moment before letting out a low sigh.
'This is insane…'
Daniel had intended to just waste time doing nothing here, but suddenly, enemy forces had wandered in on their own and were now surrounded.
It was like watching fish enter a trap, so much so that a hollow laugh escaped him.
Burnrad, who was observing Daniel from the side, swallowed hard.
'Things are going according to plan, so he's finally smiling. This must be the genius strategist at work.'
If Daniel Steiner had been the enemy, it wouldn't be Bleph's forces surrounded right now, but Burnrad himself.
Thinking that, Daniel's chilling laugh suddenly seemed intimidating to Burnrad.
As other soldiers also looked at Daniel with awe, the radio operator, having finished his transmission, looked up at Daniel.
"Battalion Commander! The connection has been established, and a recipient has been confirmed, but they are intentionally not responding to the surrender recommendation."
Are they deliberating?
Indeed, even though they were surrounded, the enemy forces had a slight numerical advantage.
Their superiors would undoubtedly gamble on escaping, even if it meant heavy casualties.
'In that case, I'll have to crush their hope.'
Only by demonstrating that there was no hope could he secure the enemy's surrender.
"They intend to buy time by delaying their response. The more time the enemy has, the more disadvantageous it becomes for us, so we cannot remain idle."
"Then…"
"Switch to the operational frequency and order the snipers to open fire. The targets are the officers, excluding the Prince. If the officers are killed and the chain of command collapses, immense chaos will surely spread among them."
A unit with a confused chain of command was nothing more than a disorganized rabble.
"As soon as the officer eliminations are complete, order the support company to begin high-angle artillery bombardment. The target is the outpost occupied by the enemy."
Deprived of their command structure and their surroundings turned into pandemonium by artillery fire, the enemy would no longer be able to hold out and would have no choice but to raise the white flag.
"They wanted it, so I'll have to show them."
Daniel narrowed his eyes sharply, looking towards the outpost.
"The hell they'll never want to experience again."
*
At the same time, confusion was escalating within Prince Bleph's forces.
"Your Highness! You must surrender! Victory against the enemy is almost impossible in the current battle situation!"
"Are you telling me to not only accept defeat but also be captured as an enemy prisoner?! Speak sense! Who would support me if I, who led the kingdom's elite troops, were to be captured as a prisoner?!"
Colonel Galewald tried desperately to persuade Bleph, but it was difficult.
Even knowing they were surrounded, Bleph was only considering his political standing and ordering an escape instead of a surrender.
Because Bleph was so adamant, the battalion commander of the unit had ordered one company to secure a retreat route and sent them out, but in Galewald's view, it was a pointless endeavor.
This was a basin surrounded by mountains, with only one escape route.
If the enemy decided to block the retreat route, they would be utterly helpless.
That was why he was recommending surrender, but Bleph wouldn't listen.
"Your Highness! Now is not the time to think about the future, but to look at the present—"
Mid-sentence, a "thump" sound was heard, as if something had burst.
Simultaneously, blood and flesh flew before his eyes.
Galewald quickly turned towards the sound and saw that the battalion commander, who had just been issuing orders to his subordinates, had his head exploded.
The silence was brief, and actions were swift.
"Damn it! Snipers! The enemy has begun their attack! Everyone, protect His Highness!"
Immediately after issuing the order, Galewald grabbed Bleph's hand and ran.
"Inside the building! Everyone inside the building!"
Galewald shouted at the top of his lungs, creating a magical barrier in front of them.
The escort soldiers also ran, following the Prince, holding their ballistic shields high.
"Chief of Staff? What's happening…?"
It was the moment Bleph, who was unfamiliar with the brutality of war, spoke in a daze.
KWAANG—
A high-explosive shell landed not far away, and a pillar of fire shot up.
The ground shook and his vision flickered.
As he struggled to steady his body, which felt like it would collapse at any moment, Galewald shouted,
"We must go! Quickly!"
Only then did Bleph regain his senses, forcing his steps to move into a nearby building.
After all the escort soldiers had entered, Galewald quickly shut the steel door.
KWOONG! KWOONG—
Outside the steel door, the sound of high-explosive shells hitting the ground and exploding continued to reverberate.
That terrible sound caused a ringing in his ears.
"…Your Highness! Prince Bleph!"
Thanks to Galewald grabbing his shoulder and shaking him, Bleph barely regained consciousness.
"Chief of Staff? What on earth is…?"
"It's not too late! If we continue like this, it'll be a pointless death!"
"Pointless death? When the company sent to secure the retreat route returns…"
Galewald gritted his teeth and frowned.
It was a look Bleph had never seen on Galewald before.
"How can a single company secure a retreat route?! If the enemy is fully prepared to block the route, it would be difficult to secure it even if the entire battalion moved!"
If they continued like this, they would all die.
Galewald kept repeating those words.
Sweating profusely, Bleph finally had no choice but to nod.
"Su-surrender, tell them to surrender. And tell them to stop the bombardment! Please…!"
If shells fell directly on them, Bleph would also not escape death.
As Bleph, consumed by the fear of death, declared surrender, Galewald nodded.
He approached the soldier carrying the Imperial Army radio and picked up the transceiver.
Pressing the transmit button, Galewald took a deep breath and spoke.
"I am Colonel Galewald, Chief of Staff to His Highness Prince Bleph of the Kingdom of Bellmore. I speak on behalf of His Highness's intentions."
After a brief silence, Galewald spoke with difficulty.
"…We surrender."
*
As soon as Galewald conveyed the intention to surrender, the bombardment ceased.
Daniel commanded disarmament via radio, and Bleph's forces complied, throwing all their weapons into a warehouse and raising white flags.
After cross-verifying that the enemy had indeed surrendered, Daniel finally revealed himself.
Bleph, standing blankly in his uniform covered in dust, could see them.
Over there, Imperial soldiers in black uniforms were walking towards them.
Leading them was none other than Daniel Steiner.
His teeth gnashed at the thought of being played by this man.
While Bleph suppressed his rage, the sound of many military boots grew closer.
Daniel, leading his troops, stopped about ten paces from Bleph.
To Bleph, who was glaring at him, Daniel placed a hand on his chest and offered a polite bow.
"Your Highness. As you know, I am Daniel Steiner. I truly regret that things have come to this."
"Regret? You dare attack royalty and then say you regret it?"
Daniel let out a low laugh and shook his head.
"There seems to be a slight misstatement in that. I respected Your Highness and initially advised you to surrender."
That calm face was repulsive.
Bleph clenched his fist, but Daniel continued in an even tone.
"It was entirely Your Highness who refused a peaceful resolution. Therefore—"
"Silence!"
Bleph, in a fit of rage, pulled a pistol from his coat.
Simultaneously, the Imperial soldiers raised their rifles in unison.
A heavy silence fell in the volatile situation.
Everyone was flustered, but Daniel alone stood with his hands clasped behind his back, calmly staring at Bleph.
After a long silence, Daniel raised a hand.
It was a signal to lower their rifles, and the Imperial soldiers obeyed without a word.
However, Bleph still aimed his pistol at Daniel.
"Surrendering and then attacking, I see."
Daniel blinked a few times in the stillness, then suddenly chuckled.
"That single shot would be remembered throughout history. As it would be a direct violation of international laws of war. Wouldn't you agree?"
Bleph did not reply.
However, his hand could be seen trembling.
"Ah. Of course, this would only remain in the Empire's history."
Daniel, his smile gone, narrowed his eyes at Bleph.
"Because in the future I envision, the Kingdom of Bellmore will not exist."
Did he think the Allied Nations would stand by a small nation that violated international law?
Moreover, if the perpetrator was the Prince, the nation would inevitably face an existential crisis.
Daniel's words seemed reasonable at first glance, and Bleph took his hand off the trigger.
As he relaxed his grip, the pistol fell and hit the ground.
"Damn it. Damn it all…"
Bleph, thinking everything was over, hung his head and sobbed softly.
Daniel approached the sobbing Bleph, gripped his shoulder, and spoke benevolently.
"You've made the right choice."
Bleph shivered at his cunning words.
'This man…'
Because he felt it deeply, to his bones, that this man was someone who would even use his own life for the Empire's gain.