NOVEL WEB Chapter 50
As soon as the negotiation concluded, Daniel rushed back to the headquarters and reported to the Army Commander as per protocol.
During this process, the Army Commander inquired whether the negotiations had gone well, and Daniel replied that he had done his best, but it was too early to predict the results.
After spending a day at the hotel provided by the army, Daniel woke up early the next morning and headed to the hotel’s dining hall.
He had gone there for breakfast, and it seemed the quality of the hotel food wasn’t bad, as the place was bustling with people despite the early hour.
Looking around at those eating and chatting, he noticed that most of them were senior officers.
There were a few non-commissioned officers and junior officers, but they were relatively few in number.
Only important figures from the army were allowed to stay at the hotel.
Among them, he occasionally heard praises about the food being quite delicious.
“Still, compared to field rations, even the lowest-quality hotel food must taste like heaven…”
It was a bit surprising, but being able to eat hotel food in a war zone was a rather luxurious affair.
Sending a silent condolence to the soldiers struggling outside, Daniel filled his buffet plate with food and walked towards an empty table.
At that moment, Corporal Glendi and Lieutenant McCall, who had already started eating, turned their heads towards the noise.
Upon spotting Daniel, both quickly stood up.
“Captain Daniel, you’re here!”
“Good morning!”
Daniel jumped slightly at their enthusiastic exclamation and turned around.
Both were gazing at him with admiration, which was quite burdensome for him.
Feeling a bit uncomfortable, Daniel deliberately placed his plate a little away from them.
“…Good morning. By the way, why do you two look so excited?”
As Daniel took off his coat and asked, Corporal Glendi was the first to speak.
“Well, it’s because we, originally assigned to the lower ranks of the army, are getting to eat hotel meals at the front line! All thanks to you, Captain!”
“I agree with the Corporal. Thanks to you, we’ve been able to accumulate accomplishments, and above all, it’s an honor to serve the Empire.”
The cheerful chatter from the two made Daniel feel a bit guilty.
“It wouldn’t be so honorable? You all will probably face a military trial…”
Daniel was consumed with thoughts of escaping the Empire with the help of the Kingdom.
If Daniel, as the commander of the company, were to defect to the enemy nation, his subordinates would end up facing a trial after experiencing all sorts of investigation and suspicion.
He could almost see the joyful expressions of the two turn into despair, but not being able to reveal his true feelings, Daniel casually nodded and took a seat.
Once Daniel sat down, Corporal Glendi and Lieutenant McCall also returned to their seats and continued eating.
Daniel too began eating while planning his escape from the Empire in his mind.
“Soon enough, the Kingdom will try to contact me in some way.”
The easiest method would be to use their spy network, but thinking that the commander’s vigilance might be tight, it could be difficult for them to act easily.
“Then I’ll have to wait until the timing of the 3rd Army’s full-frontal assault.”
Once the army launched its full-frontal attack, the frontline’s defenses would be somewhat weakened.
All available personnel within the headquarters would be deployed to the full-frontal assault.
Moreover, it would be safe to say that very few could maintain their sanity amid flying shells and tanks grinding against the ground.
In such turmoil, sneaking one person out would be as easy as pie.
“When that time comes…”
Daniel would pretend to be a part of the war effort, advance to the front, and meet the Kingdom’s agents for defection.
If he managed to enter the Kingdom, everything from there would be straightforward.
“The Kingdom will serve as a bridge for the final defection.”
Using the leverage of classified information that had yet to be revealed, he planned to strike a deal with the Allied nations’ representatives inside the Kingdom and slip away secretly.
“If I make it safely through to the Allied nations, I’ll meet with their high-ranking officials…”
Based on the information he had about the Empire, he intended to propose a trade.
For sharing information, what Daniel desired in return was just a residency permit, a new identity, personal protection, and a bit of money—there was no worry of the deal falling through.
“Now let’s see, should I choose Edria for my residency?”
Edria was a leading nation in the Allies and a permanent member with substantial power.
Currently, it could be seen as the safest nation from the war’s devastation.
“Count Kaledra, who’s actually running things in Edria, is a quick-witted and calculative person.”
However, one concern popped up: Lucy was also from Edria.
Daniel couldn’t predict how Lucy, who despised betrayers, would react if she discovered his defection.
“Then perhaps another country might be better…”
Daniel, deep in his thoughts, shrugged his shoulders a little.
For now, escaping the Empire was the priority, and he figured he could sort out these trivial concerns later.
Of course, in the worst-case scenario, the Kingdom may take the information and pretend nothing happened, but that thought didn’t trouble him.
“From the Kingdom’s perspective, I’m like a distinguished guest who has generously provided them many secrets. They’d probably consider me quite valuable in the future.”
With a peeled shrimp in his mouth, Daniel smirked.
“Perhaps that foreign minister, Ivan, is treating me like an angel by now.”
Setting aside the image, it was only natural that they would want to take in a staff officer from an enemy nation who was favorable to their own.
“Now it’s just a matter of time.”
As Daniel felt everything unfolding according to his plan, he continued to enjoy his meal with a satisfied smile.
*
Meanwhile, Army Commander Karl-Peter Kraus was attending to his duties, having skipped breakfast.
If negotiations fell through, he knew he’d have to initiate a full-frontal assault, so he was reviewing the numerous operations he had planned from start to finish.
Although it was a tiring and painful task, it was the best course of action to minimize the soldiers’ losses.
“Of course, achieving an armistice would be the best outcome, but…”
Karl-Peter had little faith that the negotiations would succeed.
While it wasn’t that he didn’t want to trust Daniel, the person recommended by his chief of staff, Cedric, he believed the Empire’s demands were outrageous.
Moreover, wasn’t it true that even with elite military advisors present, the negotiations had been unsuccessful?
The odds of pinning his hopes on Daniel were too slim.
“With the Kingdom’s determination for stubborn resistance, we’ll eventually have to resort to force.”
Thinking of the countless sacrifices that would follow filled him with sorrow, but there was no other way.
As Karl-Peter leaned back in his chair, immersed in complicated emotions, a knock resonated.
Startled by the sound, he opened his mouth.
“Come in.”
The door opened to reveal Colonel Kalfren, one of his aides.
He wondered if Kalfren was bringing him some food, but Kalfren entered empty-handed.
“What is it? If you’re busy, just get to the point…”
Karl-Peter spoke with an irritated frown, but he suddenly fell silent.
Kalfren’s expression looked strangely shocked for some reason.
“…Aide?”
When he asked what was wrong, Kalfren remained silent.
Only then did Karl-Peter realize what was happening and let out a low sigh.
“It seems the Kingdom sent a telegram saying they would not respond to the negotiations. It cannot be helped—the Emperor commanded that if we do not hear three warnings, we must initiate a full-frontal attack—”
“That’s not it.”
Karl-Peter’s eyebrow twitched.
He found it strange that Kalfren interrupted him.
“That’s not it? Could it be…?”
As his mind raced with possibilities, Karl-Peter’s expression changed to one of rare surprise.
“Is it true that Daniel succeeded in the negotiations?”
Kalfren, gulping, nodded in response to Karl-Peter’s question.
“Yes. According to the telegram received from the Kingdom this morning, they’ve agreed to all of the Empire’s demands. They even stated they would cede not just Nordia, but also Beggenheim.”
“What?” Karl-Peter’s mouth hung open in disbelief.
They would accept the existing conditions and throw in Beggenheim, a city adjacent to the Empire?
“The Kingdom that was advocating for stubborn resistance?”
Seeing the Kingdom that had once bared its teeth now acted like a docile dog wagging its tail defied all logic for Karl-Peter.
“This is completely submissive behavior born out of fear.”
Lost in surprise, Karl-Peter shook himself back to focus and looked at Kalfren.
“What on earth happened at the negotiating table? Do you know anything?”
“The content of the conversation was not heard by anyone, so I can’t say for sure. However, the Kingdom’s Foreign Minister Ivan recalled the discussions afterward and said…”
Kalfren looked around cautiously before continuing in a small voice.
“…It felt as if he were conversing with a child of Satan disguised as a human.”
A heavy silence filled the space between them.
Upon hearing Kalfren’s words, cold sweat trickled down Karl-Peter’s back.
“Captain Daniel… what on earth did he do over there?”
It was the first time he had ever felt such fear over the accomplishments of his own side.