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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: An Unwanted Discovery
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How did it come to this?
I stopped drinking and stared intently at the soldier's face before me.
His face was flushed with excitement, and a strong sense of respect for me was clearly welling up, which made me feel uneasy.
At first, I was angry at the soldier for disturbing me while I was relaxing at the officers' club after work, but now I was gripped by an entirely different emotion.
It was because of the news the soldier delivered to me—that the logistics base construction site was actually an oil deposit.
Had I heard him wrong? I desperately hoped I had. Sweating, I set my drink down on the bar table and spoke.
"Soldier. Could you repeat that, if you don't mind?"
"Of course, sir! A large amount of oil has been discovered at the logistics base construction site, as ordered by Lieutenant Daniel! Captain Arnop, the Quartermaster Staff, radioed for me to inform you of this fact, so I rushed here, begging your pardon for the intrusion!"
This soldier, his voice is far too loud.
He's practically shouting it from the rooftops, as if desperate to boast about my achievements.
Thanks to him, not only the bartender but also people from other departments who were relaxing at the officers' club were now staring at me.
"…Oil discovered at the logistics base?"
"Who discovered it? Don't tell me that rookie?"
"No, if you look closely, that's Lieutenant Daniel."
"Who's Lieutenant Daniel?"
"You don't know the guy who got a special promotion for catching a spy recently? The Central Intelligence Agency probably took some heat because of him, didn't they? And that hill incident..."
The gazes fixed on me and the scattered whispers were a burden.
'I won't be able to come to the officers' club for a while…'
Staying here any longer would feel like sitting on a bed of thorns, so I stood up.
"If what the Quartermaster Staff told me is true, I can't avoid an inspection."
I straightened my uniform and put on my service cap, which I'd left on the bar table.
"I'll get permission for the inspection from the Chief of Operations Staff. Thank you for bringing the news, Soldier."
As I tipped the black brim of my service cap slightly and offered my thanks, the soldier saluted sharply.
He seemed touched somehow. Though I had no idea at what point he'd been moved.
"It's an honor to be of assistance to Lieutenant Daniel!"
I gave a perfunctory salute in return, then left the officers' club, secretly frowning.
'The worst construction site I selected turns out to be an oil deposit? What nonsense… Surely the quartermaster officer made a mistake.'
Yes. It must be a mistake.
Oil was one of the most strategically important resources in war.
Not only vehicles but tanks could run and fighter jets could fly only with oil, so it was fair to say that the presence or absence of oil extraction sites dictated the course of a war.
That meant my position within the Imperial Army, as the one who discovered the oil, would be solidified.
In short, it meant my dream of a dishonorable discharge was now one step further away.
So please. The soldier's report *must* be a mistake.
*
Unfortunately, it was not a mistake.
After ten days of complex procedures, I finally came for the inspection, only to find oil gushing forth in the middle of the Bardenplatz Plains.
The oil drills were operating with a deafening roar, making me frown.
"Do you see it? That's the oil Lieutenant Daniel discovered!"
Hahaha! Sergeant Winter Enfelt burst into boisterous laughter, raising his fist.
He was so enthusiastic, it was as if he'd throw an arm around me if I were a fellow non-commissioned officer instead of an officer.
He'd clearly glared at me like I was some kind of human trash when I ordered the logistics base built here, but now the situation had changed, hadn't it?
As I looked at Sergeant Winter with displeasure, Quartermaster Staff Arnop, who was standing beside me, spoke.
"Lieutenant Daniel. On behalf of the Quartermaster Corps, I express my gratitude to you. According to reports, enough oil to last the Empire for the next 27 years is buried underground. This will be a powerful weapon for the Empire."
"Is that so."
"Indeed. We've also contacted the railway department regarding this. We plan to connect a railway to this logistics base to transport the oil more quickly. That way, we won't have to rely on imports due to oil shortages."
Wasn't Arnop originally a nervous and negative person in every regard?
His impression during the first inspection was definitely closer to that of a pessimist, but now his eyes were full of hope. He even seemed to be experiencing some kind of euphoria.
On the other hand, I could only sigh deeply. What was the point of accumulating merits in an Empire destined to lose anyway?
Arnop, perhaps mistaking it for a sigh of relief (regarding the Empire no longer relying on foreign powers), turned to me and spoke with an air of pride.
"By the way, you're only four months into your commission, and you've already achieved three distinguished merits. I wonder if you'll be promoted again soon."
Sergeant Winter interjected, raising his voice.
"Haha! It's true! At this rate, Lieutenant Daniel might outrank you, Captain! That would certainly be something to see, wouldn't it?"
Watching the two of them fussing over my promotion, it was… well…
While I appreciated their celebratory sentiments, from my perspective, it was nothing but uncomfortable.
"You flatter me. I don't desire any further special promotions."
No sooner had I finished speaking than the two of them held their breath and stared at me intently.
Just as I wondered if I'd made some kind of slip of the tongue, Arnop cleared his throat and spoke in a rather serious tone.
"…I still have much to learn. Hearing you say you don't desire promotion makes me feel rather small, as I believed dedication to the Empire should always be rewarded."
"Lieutenant Daniel Steiner is truly a model soldier. How can he possess such noble thoughts…?"
Wait, didn't you two treat me like a mere rookie during the first inspection?
It was absurd, but not incomprehensible.
Compared to me, both of them likely had some degree of loyalty to the Empire.
From Arnop and Winter's perspective, it was natural that my words—that I didn't desire promotion despite achieving significant merits—would appear noble.
The truth was I didn't want promotion because I wanted to escape the Empire, but there seemed no need to inform them of that.
I saluted Arnop.
"Having completed the inspection, I will return to Staff Headquarters to submit my report. I ask that both of you continue to work hard on the logistics base construction."
"Of course. Leave it to us."
As Arnop returned the salute, I lowered my hand and turned to walk away.
I got into a military jeep nearby, and the driver started the engine.
I adjusted my collar, then subtly glanced out the window to see Arnop and Winter looking at me with eyes full of admiration.
Feeling extremely burdened, I quickly turned my head forward and said.
"Let's go."
"Yes, Lieutenant."
The driver pressed the accelerator, and the jeep lurched forward.
The road was still unpaved, so this jolting was something I had to endure.
Holding onto the ceiling handle while driving, I inadvertently glanced at the rearview mirror and broke out in a cold sweat.
It was because Arnop and Winter were still staring in this direction.
It felt like being observed by civil servants showing deference to a minister.
Hmm. I guess I really shouldn't come to the logistics base again in the future.
*
News of oil gushing forth in the Empire's Bardenplatz Plains quickly spread throughout the entire Empire.
To announce this joyous news, newspaper companies ran their factories day and night, and boys on the streets shouted 'Extra!' selling the papers in their hands like hotcakes.
Naturally, the Imperial Family of the Empire was also well aware of this fact.
"Is it true that a large oil deposit has been discovered in the Bardenplatz Plains? Who exactly discovered it?"
In response to the question from Princess Selvia von Amberg, a girl with sapphire-like blue eyes and golden hair like the rays of a spring sun, Quartermaster General Kaspar Benedict set down his cutlery.
Kaspar Benedict, who had four stars on his shoulder epaulets, was the general in charge of logistics, but before the Princess, he was merely a subordinate.
"That is correct, Your Highness. God has indeed bestowed a gracious treasure upon the Empire."
"I don't think it was God."
Kaspar's shoulders twitched. He wondered if the Princess intended blasphemy. But the Princess had no such intention.
"The discovery of oil in the Bardenplatz Plains was, after all, made by a human. I am asking who that human is."
"Your Imperial Highness. He is an orphan of unknown lineage, whom Your Highness has no need to know. Therefore…"
Selvia's eyes narrowed.
"Quartermaster General. Since when did the Empire value birth status in its evaluations? Have you forgotten that the Empire is currently at war?"
Selvia was indirectly telling him to simply answer her question.
Kaspar, not unaware of her meaning, bowed his head and delivered the information.
"To my knowledge, the one who found the oil deposit is Lieutenant Daniel Steiner. I understand he is currently serving as acting Chief of Operations Staff at Staff Headquarters."
A lieutenant? A mere lieutenant found an oil deposit?
For Selvia, who had naturally expected a high-ranking official to have poured money and manpower into finding the oil deposit, this was quite a fresh shock.
'…Interesting. In many ways.'
If he was merely a lieutenant, there was a high probability that he was politically a clean slate.
This meant there was no better time to recruit him to their side.
If he was a capable talent, she should keep as many such people by her side as possible.
Only then would her chances of succeeding to the throne increase.
"Lieutenant Daniel Steiner, you say…"
Selvia, tapping the dining table, gave a subtle smile.
'I'll have to go meet him soon.'