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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Let's Have a Brief Chat Before the Negotiation
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The day of the negotiation.
The Bellmore Kingdom's negotiation team was crossing the Empire's border and entering Barheim.
Black vehicles followed in a long procession, and in the sedan at the center of the convoy, Magref spoke, not bothering to hide his discomfort.
"I wasn't expecting a warm welcome, but this atmosphere is excessively cold. To think no one came out to greet the negotiation team..."
From the entrance of Barheim to their current location in the city center, the city's负责人 had not shown himself.
It felt like a cynical reception, as if they were saying, "If you came to negotiate, then negotiate and leave."
'Still, I can't express my displeasure.'
After all, it was the Bellmore Kingdom that had launched the surprise attack.
And in the process, the Crown Prince had been taken prisoner.
Even if the Empire committed diplomatic discourtesy, the Bellmore Kingdom had no choice but to adopt a submissive stance.
Magref, having resigned himself to the situation, was just regaining his composure when.
"Stop! Everyone, halt your vehicles!"
Individuals who appeared to be Barheim's guards stopped the negotiation convoy.
Just as he wondered what was happening, an individual who appeared to be an officer approached Magref's sedan.
"We'll be conducting a brief inspection. Before you proceed to the negotiation venue, we need to perform a final identity verification. Please cooperate. Please present your passports, diplomatic identification, and orders or letters of appointment."
At his words, the aide sitting next to him bristled.
"What is the meaning of this!? We've already been identified at the city's entrance, and we even received permission from your superiors! Are you trying to humiliate us by conducting another inspection!?"
As the aide fumed, the Imperial officer broke into a cold sweat but did not back down.
Watching this, Magref let out a low sigh and pulled out his passport and identification.
"That's enough. Both nations are at war. They're likely being cautious with identity checks in case of unforeseen circumstances, so there's no need to get agitated."
Magref pulled out his orders as well and handed them to the Imperial officer.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
The officer, having received the identification documents, bowed his head slightly and began the verification process.
Just as Magref, expecting it to take some time, leaned back in his seat.
Bang—
His shoulders flinched at the synchronized gunshots.
He turned his gaze towards the sound of the gunfire and saw people collapsed, bullets lodged in their heads.
Imperial soldiers were conducting public executions by firing squad against a wall in the square.
'Are they executing prisoners...?'
War was a time when even food for prisoners had to be conserved, so it wasn't entirely incomprehensible.
Magref, not wishing to watch people die, clicked his tongue in disapproval and averted his gaze.
As Magref adjusted his attire, focusing on the upcoming negotiation, the officer who had finished the identity check returned the documents.
"Verification is complete. I apologize for any unintentional rudeness."
Magref nodded and took the documents.
Seeing this, the Imperial officer walked to the front of the convoy and shouted for them to be allowed through.
The soldiers, hearing the officer's command, cleared a path, and the negotiation convoy was able to proceed.
After a few more minutes of travel, the negotiation convoy slowed down in front of the brigade headquarters.
The negotiations were scheduled to take place inside the headquarters building.
Once the vehicle came to a complete stop, the driver exited the vehicle and opened the door for Magref.
Magref took a breath of Barheim's air, stepped out of the sedan, and looked up at the headquarters building.
'So this is it. The place where Daniel Steiner is...'
What kind of man was he to be so infamous?
A strange mix of curiosity and tension filled him as a young woman approached, her heels clicking against the ground.
"Are you Major General Magref, the head of the negotiation team?"
Magref turned his head and saw a beautiful woman with silver-white bobbed hair and red eyes.
"Who are you?"
"I am Lucy Emilia, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner's adjutant. If you're ready, I will guide you to Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner."
"Daniel Steiner's adjutant..."
Magref stared at Lucy for a moment, then nodded.
"Please lead the way."
"Understood. Please follow me now."
Lucy, maintaining her polite demeanor, turned and started walking.
Magref and his aide followed Lucy.
After entering the building and walking down the headquarters corridor for some time, Magref arrived at a reception room within the headquarters.
The problem was that Daniel Steiner was not in the reception room.
Magref entered the reception room, surveyed his surroundings, then turned to Lucy.
"Has Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner not arrived?"
"He will be here shortly. Would you please have a seat and wait?"
Lucy's calm demeanor made Magref frown.
'He's openly looking down on us.'
Though he was angry, he wasn't in a position to protest, so Magref sighed and sat down on a sofa in the reception room.
However, more than five minutes passed, and Daniel Steiner still did not appear.
The aide, unable to understand this, approached Magref and bowed his head.
"...Your Excellency. Will you continue to tolerate Daniel Steiner's disrespect?"
At the aide's whisper, Magref let out a low sigh.
"Aide. Don't fall for his strategy."
"Strategy, sir?"
"Yes. He's deliberately stalling to make himself... to make the Empire realize they hold the upper hand over us. Even if we get agitated over this, it's us, not the enemy, who will be at a disadvantage in negotiations."
The aide nodded at Magref's冷静 and stepped back.
Just as another five minutes passed, the reception room door opened.
Beyond the open door stood Daniel Steiner, impeccably dressed in an Imperial officer's uniform.
He was tall.
Though he had dark circles under his eyes, his natural smile exuded an air of relaxation.
Despite his tardiness, his demeanor showed no sign of tension, and Magref knew.
That he was not an easy opponent.
"You've finally arrived."
Magref rose from his seat as Daniel Steiner approached.
"My apologies for the delay. I had some urgent matters to attend to."
Daniel Steiner extended his hand and spoke.
"I am Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner, a staff officer from the Imperial General Staff Headquarters. Currently, I am commanding a battalion directly under headquarters, having been dispatched for operational support."
Magref grasped Daniel Steiner's hand.
"I am Magref Terophonmarn, commander of the Bellmore Kingdom's 2nd Armored Division and also hold the title of Count. Since you were busy with work, I will overlook your tardiness."
"Ah. You truly are a noble, just as I've heard. Your refined manner of speech and profound consideration are truly admirable."
Daniel chuckled playfully, then gestured to the sofa.
"Shall we have a seat and talk?"
Magref nodded and sat on the sofa, and Daniel took his own seat.
Magref was the first to speak.
"First, let's address the main points of negotiation for both our sakes..."
Magref stopped mid-sentence.
Daniel had raised a hand to stop him.
"I suggested we talk. Let's postpone the negotiations for now."
One of Magref's eyebrows twitched.
"Talk? What are you talking about?"
"I believe the Count knows perfectly well what I'm talking about."
"...Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner. Does this place look like somewhere to play games?"
Daniel maintained his smile, silently observing Magref.
After a long silence, Daniel let out a low chuckle and pulled out a handheld radio.
"Are preparations for firing complete?"
Preparations for firing? As Magref wondered, an answer came through the radio.
—Yes. As instructed, 267 rounds have been prepared.
267 rounds? As far as Magref knew, the number 267 matched the number of prisoners Daniel Steiner had captured.
From Magref's perspective, having just witnessed a public execution in the square, he couldn't believe this was mere firing practice.
"Let's start with twenty rounds. Instruct the ready marksmen to fire."
Both the aide and Magref were so flustered they were speechless.
They couldn't comprehend what was happening.
Bang—
The synchronized gunshots from nearby made his hands tremble.
Magref's eyes, momentarily glazed over, began to tremble.
"What in the...!"
After a deep breath, Magref shouted loudly.
"What in the world are you doing!? I came here to negotiate! Are you trying to threaten me!?"
Magref roared, but Daniel merely shrugged, as if he didn't understand.
"Threatening? I merely ordered my battalion members to conduct firing practice to improve their skills."
Magref gasped.
'Firing practice? Is he calling killing people 'firing practice'?'
The trembling in his hands grew more intense.
'Does this man truly have no heart?'
Seeing Magref slowly succumb to fear, Daniel continued nonchalantly.
"Now, let's get back to our conversation. Specifically, how did the Bellmore Kingdom's Crown Prince manage to pinpoint my exact location?"
Magref swallowed hard and spoke.
"...I don't understand why you're asking me that."
Daniel nodded at Magref's reply, then spoke into the radio.
"Fire."
Before long, gunshots rang out again.
The horrific sound made Magref want to cover his ears.
Daniel, who had been steadily observing Magref, pressed the transmit button on his radio.
"Report the firing results."
—All targets hit.
"Good. Prepare to fire one hundred rounds this time."
At the mention of one hundred rounds, Magref's mouth slightly agape, he broke into a cold sweat.
Daniel's actions were so appalling that Magref could no longer maintain his composure.
However, Daniel, still with a hint of a smile, nonchalantly removed his uniform cap.
"Alright. I'll ask again."
Daniel placed his uniform cap on the coffee table in front of the sofa, then lightly dusted his hands.
Immediately after, Daniel looked at Magref, wiping the smile from his lips.
"Who is it?"
As if looking at cornered prey, Daniel narrowed his eyes sharply and continued quietly.
"The Imperial rat who collaborated with you."