I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

Having no choice but to comply, Daniel immediately detached a company-sized force in accordance with the orders.

After receiving farewells from the citizens of Nordia, Daniel departed for Marobarck, where the 3rd Corps Headquarters was located.

The feared inclement weather did not materialize, allowing Daniel to arrive in Marobarck a day earlier than the deadline specified in the orders.

Marobarck, occupied by the Imperial forces, was a larger city than Nordia. However, the citizens did not seem welcoming of the military presence, casting cold glances.

‘This is normal, though…’

Daniel could not comprehend why the citizens of Nordia had been so enthusiastic about the Imperial troops.

As he gazed bewilderedly at the sight of Imperial soldiers mingling amongst the Kingdom’s citizens on the streets, the driver gently applied the brakes.

When the vehicle came to a complete stop, Daniel exited.

The first thing that caught his eye was the headquarters building, with the Imperial flag hanging majestically like a banner.

Billowing grandly against the backdrop of the night sky, the sight of the flag nearly stirred a sense of patriotism within him.

‘They must have struggled to hoist such a massive flag.’

Letting out a wry chuckle, Daniel lowered his gaze to see a colonel emerging from the headquarters’ main gate, accompanied by soldiers.

As Daniel reflexively saluted, the colonel responded with a chuckle and returned the salute.

“If it isn’t the Imperial hero, Daniel Steiner! We’ve been expecting you. I am Calphren, the Corps Commander’s aide.”
“I’m hardly a hero. But for the aide to greet me personally…”
“Ah, the Corps Commander has been awaiting your arrival.”
“…The Corps Commander is awaiting me?”
“Yes. I know it’s unusual to summon you immediately upon arrival, but as you’re aware, we’re pressed for time. Follow me.”

Though perplexed as to why a corps commander would await a mere major, Daniel had no choice but to follow Aide Calphren.

Entering the headquarters and ascending several flights of stairs, Daniel halted before the Corps Commander’s office on the fifth floor.

“He dislikes those who hesitate and beat around the bush. If you have any opinions, voice them clearly.”

After offering this advice, Calphren knocked on the office door.

“Your Excellency, the Corps Commander. I have brought Major Daniel Steiner.”

The response came shortly after.

“Show him in.”

A deep, powerful voice.

As Daniel tensed, Calphren opened the door.

Beyond the doorway, Corps Commander Karl Peter could be seen working at his desk.

Behind him, the Imperial flag and a banner emblazoned with the Imperial eagle crest were mounted in a stand formation.

Furthermore, the walls were lined with various strategic maps and operations boards.

It truly felt like the office of a lieutenant general commanding a corps.

Lieutenant General Karl Peter Krau.

Excluding Princess Hildegard, he was the highest-ranking individual Daniel had ever encountered.

Taking a discreet deep breath, Daniel entered the office and saluted.

“Your Excellency, the Corps Commander. I was informed you summoned me.”

Only then did Karl Peter set down his pen and slowly raise his head.

Beneath his thick brows, blue eyes flickered.

A man with distinctive features, including minor scars on his face and a chiseled jawline.

After returning Daniel’s salute, he leaned back in his chair.

“Daniel Steiner. According to General Staff Headquarters’ records, you have a knack for interrogation. Your subjugation of the Kingdom’s Major Reginald and the pressuring of a spy during the Imperial Court’s banquet attest to this.”

Cutting straight to the chase without formalities left Daniel slightly breathless.

Amidst the heavy atmosphere, Daniel flashed an awkward smile.

“Your Excellency. Those were merely strokes of luck.”
“Excessive modesty. Even if your words were true, I believe luck is also a form of skill, especially on the unpredictable battlefields.”

Letting out a low sigh, Karl Peter narrowed his eyes.

“Thus, I wish to borrow your luck and eloquence. Let me be direct. I intend to send you as the lead negotiator and special envoy for the armistice talks in four days.”

Daniel’s fingertips twitched as he maintained a composed posture.

Karl Peter was making an outrageous demand.

‘…The lead negotiator? Me?’

Dumbfounded, Daniel spoke after a brief silence.

“Your Excellency? I do not believe a mere major like myself is suited for the lead negotiator role. Are there not other capable individuals at the headquarters?”
“There are. And we dispatched those capable ones, only for the negotiations to collapse.”
“But…”

Karl Peter raised his hand, halting Daniel’s words.

“Let me assure you, neither I nor headquarters have high expectations of you. Headquarters is currently considering a full-scale offensive.”

In other words, even if the negotiations collapsed again, Daniel would not be held accountable.

“So, will you accept or decline?”

Arching an eyebrow, Karl Peter studied Daniel intently.

“I…”

Though Daniel had intended to refuse, a daring thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

He realized this could be a genuine opportunity to escape the Empire.

Clenching his fist tightly, Daniel met Karl Peter’s gaze.

“I accept.”

Sensing the shift in Daniel’s demeanor, a glimmer of interest flickered in Karl Peter’s eyes.

“However, I have a condition. If you appoint me as the lead negotiator, grant me the appropriate authority.”
“Authority, you say?”
“I require access to review the 3rd Corps’ operational and troop deployment details. Additionally, I request to be entrusted with the personnel arrangements for the third round of negotiations in four days.”

Karl Peter was momentarily rendered speechless.

The Corps’ operational and troop deployment details were classified as Level 2 military secrets.

No matter his affiliation with General Staff Headquarters, such a request from a mere major was unprecedented.

Of course, Daniel had likely encountered Level 2 secrets during his time as an operations staff officer, but those would only be a fraction of the Corps’ overall classified information.

‘Yet he wants to review all of the Corps’ Level 2 secrets?’

It was beyond audacious; it was downright absurd.

‘Now I understand why Cedric favors this fellow.’

When devising operations, Cedric placed great value on ‘reasonable unexpectedness.’

Unconventional tactics and strategies tended to lure enemies into traps.

In that regard, the Daniel Steiner before him was certainly an outlier.

Who else would demand to review a Corps’ entire troop deployments and operations before a corps commander?

His audacity and boldness were beyond comprehension.

“Very well.”

Letting out a low chuckle, Karl Peter spoke as he regarded Daniel.

“I shall grant your request.”

If one was willing to gamble on a wildcard, they had to see it through to the end.

Meanwhile, Lucie had been drying herself after a bath at a hotel near the headquarters.

Originally, due to the overcrowded garrison troops in Marobarck, she would have had to secure lodging like the other junior officers, requisitioning deteriorating commercial buildings or schools.

However, thanks to their status as the ‘Headquarters Direct Command Unit’ and the aura of ‘Daniel’s Company of Heroes,’ the headquarters had ordered the company officers to be accommodated at a hotel.

While Lucie would have been content with lodgings elsewhere, she could not deny her gratitude for the hotel’s running hot water.

‘What bliss…’

Weary, Lucie emerged into the corridor, using a towel to dry her damp hair when she suddenly paused.

A flyer had been slipped under her door.

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While it appeared to be a typical advertisement flyer, Lucie noticed small embossed braille dots in the upper right corner.

It was a coded flyer planted by an intelligence operative active in the area, conveying orders.

Approaching and kneeling down, Lucie retrieved the flyer.

Placing her fingers on the braille dots, she closed her eyes and deciphered the code.

As she deciphered the code, various letters emerged, but they were out of order.

It was a form of polyalphabetic substitution cipher.

To arrange the letters in the correct sequence, a codebook would typically be required, but Lucie had memorized its contents, rendering it unnecessary.

Rearranging the letters, Lucie mentally read the message’s contents.

‘Notification that Daniel Steiner’s exploits may potentially endanger the Union in the future. Recommended to devise countermeasures from now on, if only to impair his rational thinking and exploit him…’

As Lucie continued deciphering the code, her eyes gradually widened.

‘Primary order to seduce Daniel Steiner and gain emotional control over him…’

Her shoulders involuntarily twitched, and her crimson eyes wavered, betraying her agitation.

For Lucie, who had no experience with men, this order was overwhelmingly harsh.