章 10: Chapter 10

Why was the princess of the empire posing as a war correspondent deep within the battlefield?

Daniel felt a strong sense of unease but soon composed himself, adopting a calm demeanor as he extended his right hand.

"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Second Lieutenant Daniel Steiner, acting operations officer for the General Staff."

If the princess was concealing her identity and present on the northern front, there must be a significant reason. Blurting out something like, "Your Highness, Princess Selvia!?" would only end poorly.

Selvia carefully observed Daniel before extending her hand to shake his.

"I'm Lavie Emilia, a war correspondent. Please feel free to call me Lavie."

Daniel nodded, ending the handshake and withdrawing his hand. He decided that, to avoid drawing unnecessary suspicion, he would show only the appropriate level of courtesy expected towards a war correspondent.

"Then, let's…"

Daniel shifted his focus to Heinz.

"Could you explain the operation details?"

The intense gaze of the princess made him uncomfortable, prompting him to steer the conversation elsewhere.

To Heinz, however, Daniel's insistence on hearing the operational overview even before settling in came across as relentless.

'This guy's no pushover.'

Thinking this, Heinz nodded and turned to lead the way.

"Follow me. I'll give you a brief explanation of the mission."

Inside the command tent, the first thing that caught Daniel's eye was a strategy table with a large operational map laid out on it.

Against the walls, soldiers sat in front of radios, waiting for communications. Nearby, a blackboard displayed photographs of high-ranking allied officers with detailed personal information and recent activities listed beneath each.

As Daniel looked over the blackboard, Heinz began to speak.

"That's the adjutant to the commander of the Allied Forces' Northern Front. His rank is Colonel, and his name is Jeremy Stringer. He's the target we've been assigned to eliminate."

Daniel turned his gaze toward Heinz, his expression questioning. His look seemed to ask how they planned to assassinate such a well-guarded figure.

Had their roles been reversed, Heinz would have likely made the same expression.

Chuckling quietly, Heinz continued.

"As you know, the northern front was established when the Kingdom of Eldresia joined the Allied Nations. Those barbarian bastards dared to invade imperial territory with three divisions."

"However, the imperial forces didn't yield."

"Correct. In a glorious turn of events, not only did we overwhelm the Allied forces, but we also reclaimed most of the territory that had been seized. During this counteroffensive, their leadership largely withdrew, but some remained behind to resist."

The point Heinz wanted to make was clear.

"Delaying tactics."

At Daniel's observation, Heinz nodded.

"I don't want to praise the enemy, but it was a shrewd decision. Thanks to Colonel Jeremy's delaying actions, the Allied leadership managed to retreat without suffering significant losses. However, Jeremy himself was left isolated."

Heinz let out a low laugh—a derisive chuckle.

"While he may be clever, it seems Jeremy lacks courage. Once he confirmed the leadership's retreat, he opted to withdraw himself rather than stand and fight."

"A rat, plain and simple."

"Exactly. Just as you said, that rat has recently sent two battalions into battle while retreating with a company-sized escort."

This had been discovered by Imperial Intelligence, leading to orders being sent to Heinz on the front lines.

"In short, the directive from above is to set a trap along the rat's escape route and eliminate him. Do you understand?"

It was straightforward enough that even a fool could grasp it. Daniel got straight to the point.

"What are the predicted escape routes?"

As if waiting for the question, Heinz picked up a pointer and gestured toward the operational map on the table. Daniel noticed two potential routes marked in red pen.

"The first potential route is through the Drockenberg Plateau. Its high altitude and sparse population make it ideal for evading pursuit. Without the use of roads, traveling through the plateau is the fastest way back to Allied territory."

Thwack. Heinz pointed to another location.

"The second potential route is northwest, through the mountain ranges and into the snowy peaks. Skirting around Lake Aldera and hiding in the jungle region would render aerial reconnaissance ineffective, making it perfect for covert movement."

After finishing his explanation, Heinz put the pointer down.

"Unfortunately, we can only choose one of these two likely routes to stake out. Dividing our forces would increase the risk of losing Jeremy."

"Which route do you think he'll take?"

It was clear Heinz was testing Daniel with this question. Daniel rubbed his chin as he stared intently at the map.

'Wait a moment. Could this…?'

This might be his chance to secure a dishonorable discharge.

'If I propose an alternative route and deliberately sabotage the operation, my evaluation will plummet. If I can demonstrate my incompetence, especially with the princess watching…'

A dishonorable discharge was practically guaranteed. The idea of it filled him with glee, as if fanfare were playing in his head.

Suppressing his grin, Daniel feigned a serious demeanor and shook his head.

"I believe Colonel Jeremy will choose neither of those routes."

Daniel's outright rejection of Heinz's assessment brought an awkward silence to the room. Watching their exchange with interest, Selvia's gaze fixed on Daniel.

Heinz, on the other hand, furrowed his brow in confusion.

"Care to elaborate?"

"Yes, sir. I believe Colonel Jeremy will attempt to escape through the Edelkrall Gorge."

"…The Edelkrall Gorge? That's nonsense. The area was mined at the start of the war to halt the Allied advance. Jeremy is surely aware of this."

Daniel looked directly at Heinz.

"It's precisely because it's a reckless option that Jeremy will choose it. He'll exploit the Empire's blind spot, knowing it's his only chance for survival. Do you think he's unaware of this?"

His confidence was overwhelming, and Heinz momentarily felt cowed. But he wasn't about to indulge Daniel's recklessness.

"Lieutenant, the Imperial Army values rationality above all. The Special Operations Unit isn't idle enough to entertain your gamble."

"If that's your command, Captain Heinz, I'll obey. However, you must be prepared."

"Prepared? For what?"

Heinz's voice wavered slightly as Daniel met his gaze without flinching.

"I may be temporarily attached to the Special Operations Unit, but my primary duty is with the General Staff. If we lose Colonel Jeremy due to your decision, I will have no choice but to report the failure to Command."

The subtext was clear: Command is watching you. Heinz couldn't help but feel the pressure from Daniel's veiled threat.

Heinz ground his teeth and finally responded.

"Lieutenant, you shouldn't speak lightly. What will you do if Jeremy doesn't appear at Edelkrall Gorge?"

"I'll accept any punishment without complaint. Additionally…"

Daniel paused momentarily before continuing.

"Grant me permission to take only my platoon and lie in ambush at Edelkrall Gorge."

"…Are you seriously suggesting that a single platoon can defeat Jeremy's company?"

"Yes, sir. After prolonged fighting on the northern front, Jeremy's company must be suffering from low morale and exhaustion. Combined with the terrain, my platoon should be enough to eliminate them."

If Daniel's reasoning was sound, splitting forces to stake out both routes would become feasible.

After observing Daniel's resolute gaze, Heinz turned toward Selvia. She was smiling with evident interest and nodded slightly when their eyes met.

Seeing her reaction, Heinz frowned but ultimately relented.

"Fine. If you're that confident, I'll authorize your operation. When the time comes, take your platoon and set up an ambush at Edelkrall Gorge."

"Understood. Thank you."

Daniel saluted crisply and left the tent. Only after he had gone did the stifling tension in the room ease slightly.

'What a slippery snake…'

Staring at the tent's entrance, Heinz let out a sigh. Selvia, standing nearby, finally broke the silence.

"Captain Heinz, what's your assessment of Daniel Steiner?"

Heinz turned to her and bowed slightly.

"Your Highness, he seems to be an excellent soldier. He has independent judgment, decisiveness, and courage. However, I can't say he's an admirable person."

From Heinz's perspective, Daniel seemed utterly devoid of respect for others.

A man who would risk his own platoon for the sake of personal glory. A devil willing to drag his subordinates into disaster for a promotion.

That was Heinz's blunt impression.

"Therefore, I urge Your Highness to reconsider aligning with Lieutenant Steiner. Such a man's path rarely ends well."

Though Heinz spoke with genuine concern, his words only seemed to pique Selvia's interest further.

"Captain Heinz, there's no dog or person in this world that can't be tamed."

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced at the spot where Daniel had stood moments before.

"Moreover, I'll determine for myself whether he truly lacks respect for others."

The next day, Edelkrall Gorge.

'It's freezing…'

I shivered on the cliff's edge despite wearing a coat designed for officers. The cold seemed to penetrate right through the fabric.

'I just want to fail this mission quickly and head back to Command…'

Sniffling quietly, I glanced to my side, where Frien was scanning the gorge with binoculars, and Selvia was perched on a fallen log.

The rest of the platoon was camouflaged, hidden among the snow and branches.

'…Why is Selvia even here?'

She still carried her Leica camera, as if she intended to continue her act as a war correspondent. The sheer absurdity of it all made me want to bury my face in my hands.

But my expression shifted immediately when Frien stiffened.

"Sir, enemy forces approaching!"