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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Faith
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As soon as Daniel's operational orders were given, the brigade moved swiftly.
After contacting General Staff Headquarters to explain the operation and secure approval for support, they executed a night movement based on intelligence (reconnaissance routes, guard posts, observation networks, etc.) extracted from captured defense force prisoners.
Knowing the enemy's aerial reconnaissance times and routes, Daniel's brigade was able to move safely, concealed within the forest for approximately ten days.
As morning broke, Daniel, as on previous days, halted the unit's movement and ordered camouflage nets to be set up over vehicles and tanks.
Though cumbersome, this method was the most effective way to prevent their location from being discovered by the enemy.
"Hold the left! Grab the left side!"
"Bring brush or branches to cover the netting! Quickly!"
"Set up a triple perimeter! This time, the 3rd Company will take the outer guard!"
Everyone was shouting, but their voices weren't loud.
They were exercising maximum restraint, wary of their voices carrying beyond the unit.
Hearing their voices, Daniel opened the armored vehicle's door and stepped out.
Watching the bustling soldiers, Daniel heard footsteps approaching from behind.
He turned to see Phelps, the intelligence officer, and Frien, the medical officer.
Seeing Phelps and Frien bow their heads, Daniel spoke.
"What is it?"
Both raised their heads, and Phelps spoke first.
"Brigade Commander. According to radio reports, Allied forces are massing at the enemy's bridge position. It appears Count Kaleldra intends to attack the fake Allied unit beyond the bridge, just as you predicted."
This was the report Phelps, the intelligence officer, had received amidst the communication restrictions (10 minutes per day) imposed due to concerns about enemy interception.
Hearing this, Daniel nodded but didn't show much elation.
'A predictable move. Count Kaleldra would want to eliminate me by any means necessary.'
Currently, Count Kaleldra wasn't trying to eliminate Daniel Steiner simply because he had inflicted immense damage on their forces.
He wanted to erase him from this world as quickly as possible because Daniel knew the 'secret' of the research facility.
If Daniel Steiner were to return to the capital and publicize what he had witnessed at the Penbark research facility, it would be the Allied Nations that would find themselves in a difficult position.
'So, upon hearing that I was preparing a counterattack, he must have thought it was a godsend.'
Impatience often clouds judgment.
Kaleldra, not wanting his dirty laundry aired, became so fixated on 'eliminating Daniel Steiner' that he even massed troops at the bridge that should have been used for city defense.
This was because Count Kaleldra believed the communication from the fake unit, which stated, 'We will launch a full-scale offensive once reinforcements from headquarters arrive.'
Furthermore, a few days ago, General Staff Headquarters reportedly went a step further, scattering newspapers across the capital with the headline: 'Daniel Steiner Has Not Given Up on Penbark!'
'That must be the Chief of General Staff's orders. He must be helping to deceive Count Kaleldra. I'd only resented him for sending me to Penbark, but...'
Considering the immediate approval of the support request and the multifaceted assistance he was providing, Daniel found himself feeling, perhaps unconsciously, grateful.
'Of course...'
If one were to trace the causality, the Chief of General Staff was indeed the root cause of all these events.
Daniel, who had been contemplating the Chief of General Staff with an uneasy feeling, set aside his thoughts and spoke.
"Naturally, their attention would have shifted away from the sluice gate. Now is the opportune moment. Send the infiltration unit to the sluice gate and have them await orders."
"Understood. I will select our fastest operatives and order them to execute the mission."
Phelps gave a curt bow, turned, and walked away.
As Daniel watched him go, Frien approached a little closer.
"Brigadier General."
Frien, her voice clear and bright, was holding a thermos bottle.
When Daniel looked at her, Frien smiled sweetly, opened the thermos, and poured out coffee.
"Here you go."
After pouring the coffee, Frien handed Daniel the lid.
"Have a sip."
Daniel, taking the lid, seemed a little surprised.
"This isn't… chicory coffee. And it doesn't feel like instant. Did you carry coffee beans and make it yourself?"
"Yes. I heard the Brigadier General likes coffee."
In the midst of war, such high-quality coffee was a rare treat.
Daniel savored the aroma, took a sip of the coffee, and let out a soft sigh.
"It tastes even better after so long. Thank you."
"If you're grateful, then perhaps you could treat me to a meal sometime. Not at the General Staff mess hall, but somewhere nice, like a fancy restaurant."
"Alright. No reason not to. I'll even buy you your favorite mint ice cream, specially."
"That sounds great! With Captain Lucy…"
Frien's voice trailed off as she mentioned Lucy's name.
In the awkward silence, Frien unnecessarily averted her gaze and spoke.
"She's doing well in Penbark, isn't she? Nothing bad should happen to her…"
"As you said, nothing bad will happen."
Daniel looked in the direction of Penbark.
"Because Lucy is a strong woman."
*
It was raining in Penbark.
Lucy Emilia was the first to notice.
Ever since she had been confined to the mansion, she had remained cooped up in her room, always gazing out the window.
"..."
Raindrops, driven by the wind, slanted and hit the windowpane.
The raindrops that hit the window began to merge one by one, then streamed down.
Lucy, who had been staring blankly at the sight for an hour, suddenly felt her hand twitch.
This was because she heard the soldiers' conversation from beyond the door.
─ Is it already shift change? I thought I'd die of boredom.
─ Good work. Go have a smoke.
─ I will. Hey, have you guys heard the news?
─ What news?
─ They say the Count has even massed the city defense forces at the bridge.
Lucy's half-closed eyes slowly opened.
─ Ah, yeah. I heard. That's why the army is leaving the city right now, isn't it?
─ It's fortunate we were assigned to mansion guard duty, then.
─ Right. If we hadn't been lucky enough to be stationed here, we'd probably be heading to the bridge ourselves right about now.
─ But why are they suddenly massing troops at the bridge?
─ I don't know. Sounds like he intends to deal with Daniel Steiner this time, though.
A startled Lucy gasped.
The soldiers, thinking Lucy was asleep, continued to chatter.
─ Daniel Steiner? How?
─ I don't know the details, but I heard the intelligence department intercepted communications from Daniel Steiner's unit.
─ So they pinpointed his location?
─ Why else would they be massing the army now?
─ That's good news to hear. So, Daniel Steiner, of all people, is finally going to die by the Count's hand?
At the news of Daniel Steiner's supposed death, Lucy bit her lip hard.
However, her agitation didn't last long.
As Lucy took a deep breath, Namelias, her maid, spoke from nearby.
"Milady."
Namelias's face, reflected in the window, showed concern.
"Are you alright? I mean…"
According to rumors circulating, Lucy Emilia had saved Daniel Steiner.
Though not many knew, Namelias, who picked up various stories while working in the mansion, had a general understanding of the situation.
Even concerning who had gifted Lucy the necklace she wore around her neck.
That was why she was wary of the voices coming from outside the door.
She feared Lucy might hear those words and have negative thoughts.
However, contrary to Namelias's expectation, Lucy had regained her composure.
"I'm fine."
The falling rain intensified slightly.
Namelias looked at the window and could see troops moving in the distance.
As quiet silence settled amidst the sound of rain, Lucy's eyes half-opened.
'It would be a lie to say I'm not anxious, but…'
It wasn't enough to make her outwardly express her emotions.
Namelias, the maid, approached Lucy's side.
She then followed Lucy's gaze.
She wondered what Lucy was looking at so intently, but it didn't seem as though she was actually seeing anything specific.
She was merely gazing dispassionately at the streaks of rain flowing down the window, not the scenery outside.
'It's already been over ten days since I began attending to Milady Lucy, but…'
Lucy had never ordered or demanded anything from Namelias.
On the contrary, she would offer conveniences, yield food, or quietly listen to Namelias's one-sided conversations.
To Namelias, Lucy was a good person.
So much so that she saw no reason for Lucy to be treated as if she were imprisoned in the mansion.
Namelias, silently rooting for Lucy, cautiously spoke.
"...I hope she's alright. Nothing bad will happen to her, will it?"
The subject was omitted, but Lucy knew perfectly well who Namelias was referring to.
After a moment of silence, Lucy touched the amber necklace around her neck and replied.
"Yes."
A faint smile bloomed on Lucy's lips as she thought of Daniel.
"Because he's a strong man."
Just as Daniel trusted Lucy, Lucy also trusted Daniel.