I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

Although he didn’t show it outwardly, Velbar’s breathing began to grow unsteady.

Moreover, his pupils seemed to tremble ever so slightly as their gazes met.

This allowed Daniel to confirm it.

‘He’s shaken.’

The expression Velbar was currently wearing was that of someone struggling to conceal their fear.

‘Thank goodness.’

If Velbar had scoffed and brushed it off here, the one in trouble would have been none other than Daniel himself.

‘If Velbar had merely viewed me as an ordinary staff officer, he would have undoubtedly reacted that way.’

However, Velbar was genuinely wary of Daniel.

Daniel’s conjecture that Velbar overestimated him had proven accurate.

‘In that case…’

For Daniel, the best course of action was to continue acting as the ‘worst Daniel Steiner’ that Velbar could imagine and achieve a successful negotiation.

‘If the negotiation fails, I’ll be the one to die instead.’

Regaining his composure, Daniel nonchalantly took out a document from his pocket.

Seeing this, Velbar gulped hard.

“That’s…”

Daniel nodded and spoke.

“A copy of the documents collected after apprehending Dawn’s Radiance, the Crown Prince’s secret organization. I’m sure you understand the implications of this document, Baron.”

Implying for him to check it, Daniel handed the document over.

Accepting the document, Velbar examined its contents.

Judging by the meticulously detailed operation date and overview, it wasn’t a fabricated piece of evidence.

As a result, Velbar’s hands began to tremble slightly.

“Baron.”

Addressing the shaken Velbar, Daniel spoke slowly.

“If this document were to be made public, what do you think would happen? The Crown Prince’s path to becoming the Crown Prince would become distant, and the Empire’s citizens would raise their voices, demanding the execution of the insurrectionists.”

Velbar clenched his teeth tightly.

For he knew what Daniel would say next.

“At that time, we’ll inform the citizens of the Empire. During the investigation to punish the insurrectionists, we discovered a certain noble family associated with them. That noble family is none other than…”

Daniel grasped the upper portion of the document Velbar was holding.

Gently pressing it down, Daniel spoke in a low voice audible only to Velbar.

“The Bahartranté family led by you, Baron.”

With raised eyes, Velbar glared at Daniel across the document between them.

It infuriated him that a mere vagrant orphan dared to threaten an esteemed noble family of the Empire.

Outraged, Velbar flung the document he had been holding onto the table.

“You wretched scum…! The rumors about you seem to contain not a shred of falsehood. I cannot understand how someone as base and wicked as you can serve by Her Highness the Princess’s side!”

Although Velbar raised his voice, Daniel merely looked perplexed.

“I will humbly accept whatever evaluation you have of me, Baron. However, you should understand that this is a place to make a choice, not to condemn me.”
“A choice? What choice are you telling me to make now!”
“I believe a wise man like Baron Velbar would have already figured it out, but…”

Velbar opened his mouth to retort but closed it again.

Based on Daniel’s statement, he seemed to have grasped the conditions of the negotiation.

“Don’t tell me…”
“Yes, that ‘don’t tell me.’ If you withdraw from the succession struggle, Baron, we will guarantee complete secrecy. That way, the Bahartranté family will have no association with this matter.”

Velbar let out a low, disdainful laugh.

For although Daniel was putting it indirectly, it was essentially telling him to betray the Crown Prince.

However, it was an excruciatingly tempting offer that he couldn’t easily refuse.

“Baron. It’s not difficult. Just nod once here, and you and the Bahartranté family can continue to reign honorably in the Empire as you have. Why would you refuse?”

From Velbar’s disadvantageous position, Daniel’s words – “We won’t hold you accountable for your crimes if we take power” – were enough to make his heart waver.

All he had to do was nod once, as Daniel said, and his family could continue unscathed.

‘However, having pledged my loyalty to the Crown Prince…’

He couldn’t fall for such a wicked tongue.

“Do not test my sincerity. There will be no joining hands with you.”

Although Velbar spoke with resolution, Daniel merely blinked impassively.

Then, letting out a scornful chuckle, he rose from his seat.

“No joining hands, you say. I respect that, but I fail to understand. Have you forgotten what I said earlier?”

Taking strange steps, Daniel passed by Velbar.

“I told you that refusal would certainly lead to more than just your own death. Oh, you’ve set up a whiskey display in the receiving room, I see.”

In the tense atmosphere, Daniel exclaimed in admiration as he opened the whiskey display’s door.

Taking out a bottle of Johnny Walker, Daniel looked down at it and continued speaking.

“In case my explanation was insufficient, allow me to reiterate. This time, it’s about… the future you’ll experience, Baron.”

It was unclear what he intended to say.

As Velbar broke out in a cold sweat, Daniel naturally called over one of the attendants nearby.

When the attendant approached, Daniel asked him to prepare some ice.

The attendant, who had been frozen in place, nodded and hurriedly left the receiving room.

Confirming the attendant’s departure, Daniel took a glass from a nearby shelf.

“Let’s see. I’ve heard your eldest son runs the Raidshaft Company. A reputable firm leading our Empire’s automobile industry. It’s also famous for being the first to introduce automated assembly lines.”

Having taken the glass, Daniel pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket.

“Thanks to that, mass production became possible, allowing countless Imperial citizens to purchase cars at affordable prices. Truly admirable.”

Holding the handkerchief comfortably, Daniel lightly wiped the glass.

“Perhaps the equivalent of a thumb, I’d say. People always use their thumbs when expressing the best, don’t they? Isn’t that right?”

Velbar didn’t respond, merely staring straight ahead.

He lacked the courage to turn around.

“I, too, have no objection to your eldest son being the best in the automobile industry. However, I wonder if Her Highness the Princess would agree.”

Having finished wiping the glass, Daniel spoke with a concerned tone.

“If Her Highness becomes the Empress, I would have no choice but to advise her to conduct a thorough investigation of the Raidshaft Company. For he is a member of the Bahartranté family, the family of the insurrectionist Velbar, is he not?”

Velbar’s breathing grew heavier.

Noticing this, Daniel continued in a hushed voice.

“If during the thorough investigation, circumstances arise suggesting your eldest son provided funds to the insurrectionists, the situation would become complicated. Just imagining it is truly dreadful.”

As Daniel clicked his tongue, the attendant who had gone to the kitchen to fetch ice returned.

Beckoning the attendant closer with a gesture, Daniel had him add ice to the glass.

After thanking the attendant, Daniel opened the Johnny Walker bottle and poured the whiskey into the glass.

As Daniel raised the filled glass, Velbar opened his mouth with great difficulty.

“…My eldest son has no involvement in this matter. I swear it.”

After taking a sip of the whiskey, Daniel shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, from what I can see, he seems to be involved.”
“Do not slander him! Daniel Steiner…!”
“Ah. My mistake. Not ‘seems to be involved,’ but rather…”

Moving behind Velbar, Daniel lightly grasped his shoulder.

“I’ll make him involved.”

At those chilling words, Velbar’s eyes widened.

Looking down at Velbar’s pallid complexion, Daniel headed back towards his original seat.

“But just in case, don’t expect help from the Security Police. By then, the Security Police will faithfully follow the new Emperor’s orders.”

Sitting on the sofa, Daniel placed the glass on the table.

“And it won’t end with just your eldest son. I’ll implicate your second son working in the electricity industry and your third son running an oil company as well.”
“That, that kind of…”

Velbar’s breathing grew increasingly ragged, as if he were hyperventilating.

Observing the trembling old fox gripped by terror, Daniel gave a friendly smile.

“My, my. It seems three of your fingers will be cut off instantly, Baron. Can you still join hands with others while missing three fingers? In my view, everyone will avoid you.”

Panting heavily, Velbar suddenly shut his eyes tightly and let out a groan akin to a scream.

“Ba, Baron!”

Seeing this, the attendant hurried over and provided medicine and water.

The Baron hastily put the medicine in his mouth and washed it down with water.

Only then did Velbar’s hyperventilation gradually subside.

However, his eyes remained closed.

Silently observing Velbar, Daniel leaned forward and snapped his fingers.

Snap—

Startled by the dull sound, Velbar opened his eyes to find Daniel offering a handshake.

To Velbar, the smile on Daniel’s face lacked even a shred of humanity.

“What are you doing?”

Daniel lightly shook the hand extended for a handshake.

“Now that you’ve returned to your senses, you must make the right choice this time.”

Daniel was clearly telling him to take his hand before it was too late.