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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Unexpected Assignment
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It was an order, so he had to obey.
In no position to defy, Daniel immediately selected the necessary personnel from his company according to the order.
Afterward, bidding farewell to the garrison citizens, Daniel departed Nordia and headed for Marobark, where the 3rd Legion Headquarters was located.
The inclement weather he had worried about before departure didn't materialize, allowing Daniel to arrive in Marobark a day earlier than the time specified in the order.
Marobark, occupied by the Imperial Army, was a larger city than Nordia. The citizens, however, seemed less than welcoming to the troops entering their city, casting indifferent glances.
'This is how it should be...'
Daniel couldn't fathom why the Nordia citizens had been so fervent about the Imperial Army.
As he stared blankly at the sight of Imperial soldiers mingling among the kingdom's citizens, strolling through the streets, his driver carefully applied the brakes.
Once the car came to a complete stop, Daniel opened the door and stepped out.
The first thing he saw was the headquarters building, draped with the Imperial flag like a grand banner.
Watching the flag majestically unfurl against the backdrop of the night sky, it was enough to stir patriotism in even the most jaded heart.
'To hang such a massive flag, the soldiers must have had quite a time.'
Daniel let out a dry chuckle and lowered his gaze, spotting a Lieutenant Colonel emerging from the headquarters' main gate with a group of soldiers.
As Daniel reflexively saluted, the Lieutenant Colonel chuckled good-naturedly and returned the salute.
"Well, if it isn't Daniel Steiner, the Empire's hero! We've been expecting you. I'm Kalfren, the Legion Commander's aide."
"Hero? That's far too generous, sir. But for the aide to come out to greet me…"
"Ah. The Legion Commander is waiting for you."
"…The Commander is waiting for *me*?"
"Yes. I know it's not proper to summon you immediately upon arrival, but as you know, time is of the essence for us. Please follow me."
Why would a Legion Commander wait for a mere Major? Daniel felt a pang of bewilderment, but with no option to refuse, he followed Aide Kalfren.
Entering the headquarters, Daniel ascended several flights of stairs and stopped before the Legion Commander's office on the fifth floor.
"The Commander dislikes those who hesitate to speak their mind, so if you have an opinion, express it clearly."
After offering Daniel a piece of advice, Kalfren rapped twice on the office door.
"Your Excellency, Legion Commander. I've brought Major Daniel Steiner."
The reply came a moment later.
"Send him in."
It was a deep, powerful voice.
As Daniel tensed, Kalfren opened the door.
Beyond the door, Legion Commander Karlpeter could be seen attending to his duties at his desk.
Behind him, a flag bearing the Imperial eagle emblem, symbolizing the royal family, and the Imperial flag were crossed and displayed as desk banners.
Additionally, the walls were densely covered with various strategic maps and operational boards.
It truly felt like the office of a Lieutenant General commanding a legion.
Lieutenant General Karlpeter Krau.
He was the highest-ranking person Daniel had ever met, save for the Imperial Princess.
Daniel took a discreet deep breath, walked into the office, and saluted.
"Your Excellency, Legion Commander. I understand you summoned me."
Only then did Karlpeter set down his pen and slowly raise his head.
Beneath thick brows, a pair of blue eyes glinted sharply.
He was a man with fine scars on his face and a striking, angular jaw.
He returned Daniel's salute, then leaned back into his chair.
"Daniel Steiner. According to Staff Headquarters' records, you have a knack for interrogation. Considering how you broke Major Reginald of the Royal Army and pressured the spy at the Imperial banquet."
To dive straight into business without any pleasantries felt stifling.
In the heavy atmosphere, Daniel managed an awkward smile.
"Your Excellency, that was merely good fortune."
"You are overly modest. Even if what you say is true, I believe luck is also a skill. Especially on a battlefield where one cannot predict what lies ahead."
Karlpeter let out a low breath, his eyes half-lidded.
"Therefore, I wish to borrow your luck and your eloquence. To be direct, I intend to send you as the chief negotiator and special envoy for the peace talks four days from now."
Daniel's fingertips, held at parade rest, trembled slightly.
Karlpeter was making an outrageous demand.
'…Chief negotiator? Me?'
Utterly dumbfounded, Daniel spoke after a brief silence.
"Your Excellency? I don't believe a mere Major like myself is suited for the chief negotiator position. Aren't there many other capable individuals in the headquarters?"
"There are. And I sent those capable men, but what was the result? A breakdown in negotiations."
"But…"
Karlpeter raised a hand, cutting Daniel off.
"Lest you feel unduly burdened by responsibility, let me tell you that neither I nor the headquarters are placing great expectations on you. The headquarters is currently still considering total war."
It was a way of telling him to calm down, that he wouldn't be held responsible even if the negotiations failed again.
"So, are you going to do it or not?"
Karlpeter raised an eyebrow, probing Daniel.
"I…"
Just as Daniel was about to refuse, a brilliant idea flashed in his mind.
He realized that this might actually be his chance to escape the Empire.
Daniel clenched his fist and met Karlpeter's gaze.
"I'll do it."
Karlpeter's eyes, having perceived Daniel's sudden change in demeanor, glinted with interest.
"However, I have a condition. If you appoint me as the chief negotiator, I request that you grant me appropriate authority."
"Authority, you say?"
"I require access to all operational and troop status reports of the 3rd Legion. Furthermore, I would like to be entrusted with the personnel deployment for the third round of negotiations, four days from now."
Karlpeter was speechless for a moment.
The Legion's operational and troop status reports were classified as Field Grade 2 secrets.
Even as a member of Staff Headquarters, it was not something a mere Major could demand.
Of course, Daniel had encountered Field Grade 2 secrets a few times while working as an operations staff officer, but those were, in the grand scheme of the entire Legion, only a minuscule fraction.
'But to access *all* of the Legion's Field Grade 2 secrets?'
It was beyond audacious; it was utterly preposterous.
'I think I understand why Cedric favors this fellow.'
Cedric placed high value on 'justifiable unexpectedness' when devising strategies.
For it was often unconventional tactics and strategies that bogged down the enemy.
In that regard, Daniel Steiner, standing before him, was certainly an outlier.
Who else would dare ask a Legion Commander for full access to all of the Legion's troop strength and operations?
His spirit and audacity were truly beyond imagination.
"Very well."
Karlpeter let out a low chuckle, looking at Daniel as he spoke.
"I shall grant it."
Once you bet your chips on a wildcard, you had to see it through to the end.
*
Meanwhile, Lucy was drying herself off after a bath at a hotel near the headquarters.
Originally, due to the Marobark garrison being at full capacity, she, like other lower-ranking officers, would have had to make do with lodging in dilapidated commercial buildings or schools.
However, thanks to being a 'Headquarters-Directly-Controlled Unit' and basking in the glory of 'Daniel's Company,' the Empire's hero, the headquarters had ordered that the company's officers be accommodated in a hotel.
Frankly, Lucy wouldn't have minded lodging elsewhere, but she couldn't deny feeling grateful for being able to bathe in a hotel with warm water.
'This is heaven…'
Dragging her weary body into the hallway, Lucy paused mid-toweling her hair.
A flyer had been slipped under the entrance door.
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It appeared to be an ordinary advertisement flyer, but Lucy's eyes caught the small, raised braille dots on the upper right corner of the flyer.
An intelligence agent operating nearby had slipped in the flyer, bearing an encoded message to deliver an order.
Lucy approached, knelt, and picked up the flyer.
Placing her hand directly on the braille dots, Lucy closed her eyes and began deciphering the code.
As she deciphered, various letters appeared in her mind, but their order was incorrect.
It was a form of polyalphabetic cipher.
A codebook would normally be required to arrange the cipher in the correct sequence, but Lucy had memorized its entire contents, making it unnecessary.
Rearranging the letters, Lucy mentally read through the command.
'Warning: Daniel Steiner's actions may pose a future threat to the Allied Nations. Recommend devising a strategy now to paralyze his rational thought and exploit him…'
Lucy, who had continued deciphering the code, slowly opened her eyes.
'Primary order: Seduce Daniel Steiner to gain emotional control over him…?'
Her shoulders involuntarily trembled.
Her red eyes, clearly agitated, quivered faintly.
For Lucy, who had absolutely no experience with men, this order was simply too cruel.