Chapter 29

After dinner, Kartman didn't go home. Instead, he made his way to the Imperial Security Bureau.

Once inside, he headed straight for Division 5—the department in charge of intelligence and espionage.

Hearing footsteps, an analyst looked up—and flinched when he saw who it was. He quickly rose from his seat.

"Inspector Kartman! Didn't you say you were heading home?"

"Ah, well... about that—here, take this first."

Kartman handed him a cup of coffee.

The analyst blinked. Coffee?

"I was on my way home when I got curious about something. You know me—I can't sleep unless I get answers."

The analyst nodded hesitantly. Kartman had a reputation for getting results.

"So, could you run a check for me?"

"What kind of check?"

"I need a list of military doctors who served on the Eastern Front and suffered eye injuries that resulted in aphasia. Focus on brown-haired individuals."

The analyst took a sip and frowned.

"That's it? You do realize the Eastern Front has, like, seventeen corps under multiple field armies, right? You want me to comb through all of them?"

"I know it's a hassle. That's why I brought a bribe."

"Inspector, are you trying to trade a single cup of coffee for torture?"

Kartman broke into a nervous sweat.

"Not just one cup—a hundred. And for the record, I wouldn't be asking if the situation weren't complicated."

The analyst sighed.

"There's probably a reason behind this. But it's going to take time. I'll need help from Central Intelligence."

"No problem. It's not urgent."

The analyst groaned but sat back down and got to work.

As he watched, Kartman stroked his chin and thought back to last night's dinner.

I don't want to suspect Captain Daniel Steiner... but still.

It couldn't hurt to be sure.

The next day.

Before heading to the staff room, Daniel stopped by his private office to prepare—and, as expected, Lucy was already there.

She had, of course, taken off her wig and sunglasses.

"You're here, Captain."

Her tone was as flat and lifeless as ever.

It was hard to believe this was the same woman who'd vaulted over walls and set off explosions the day before.

Feeling slightly annoyed, Daniel walked to his desk and sat down.

"...Nothing unusual happened last night?"

He tried to sound casual as he opened a drawer. Lucy didn't even glance at him, absorbed in the documents she was reviewing.

"I returned to my quarters after work and rested."

"Is that so? Meanwhile, I ran into a strange woman on my way to get dessert and ended up having a pretty rough night."

"Interesting."

Her utter lack of interest was infuriating.

He'd been dragged all over the city, missed out on dessert, and now she was pretending like it had nothing to do with her.

Still glaring at her, Daniel pulled out the day's reports and began organizing them.

As he slipped the papers into his bag, Lucy finally glanced over and spoke.

"...How strange was this woman?"

Was she testing him?

After a short pause, Daniel stood and replied.

"She wore sunglasses indoors."

"And?"

"She had trouble speaking—probably aphasia. Way too proud for her own good, too. Even when I tried to help, she refused over and over. Honestly, I don't know how someone like that even survives in society. What a tragic woman."

Silence.

Lucy stared. Or rather, glared.

"..."

"..."

The tension thickened.

Daniel cleared his throat and turned away, pretending to be absorbed in his paperwork.

He could feel Lucy's gaze boring into the back of his skull.

The room felt like it had dropped below freezing.

My chances of being assassinated just went up, didn't they?

Sensing the danger, he coughed again and quickly walked toward the door.

"Enough small talk. Let's head to the staff office—we can't be late."

"...Understood."

He and Lucy entered the staff room.

Daniel was about to go straight to his desk when he stopped.

Everyone was gathered around the conference table, murmuring excitedly.

"This is impressive."

"Right? It's surprisingly well-made for a rush job."

"And Personnel worked fast—the article only came out yesterday…"

Curious, Daniel stepped closer.

"What's going on?"

Captain Dengel, the operations support officer, turned around.

"Oh! Captain Daniel! The star of the poster is here!"

"Poster? What poster—"

Daniel froze.

There it was: a recruitment poster featuring him.

He was frowning and pointing directly at the viewer.

Bold text underneath read: 'Your Country Needs You!'

What the hell? Am I Uncle Sam now?

He stared, dumbfounded.

"Who made this? And why?! That pose—I was trying to stop the reporters from snapping pictures! How the hell did they turn that into propaganda?! This is insane—"

"Captain, this came straight from the Personnel Chief."

"...My apologies. It's brilliant. Absolutely perfect."

He instantly changed his tune, nodding along like a loyal soldier.

Dengel laughed.

"Captain Daniel, I heard you're already on the early promotion list. Are you sure you're not working too hard? You're racking up accomplishments even after hours."

Another staff member joined in.

"Captain Dengel, I don't think he's doing it for promotion. Captain Daniel is the embodiment of Imperial ideals—of course he's working tirelessly for the good of the Empire."

"You're right. I misspoke. Compared to him, I'm just a humble salaryman…"

Daniel wanted to scream: This is all because of a sunglasses-wearing maniac who blew up a mafia gang!

But Lucy was standing right there.

Even if he explained, no one would believe him.

"You flatter me," he said instead, forcing a smile, and slipped away to his desk.

He pulled out his chair and turned to Lucy.

"Lieutenant, do you have today's paper?"

"Yes. Here you go."

He skimmed the front page.

Sure enough, his face dominated the headlines.

'Captain Daniel Steiner Strikes Again! Mafia Organization Destroyed!'

His head throbbed.

Suppressing a groan, he read further.

'Following his heroic act of saving Her Highness from a terrorist attack, Captain Daniel Steiner has once again made headlines. According to sources, he single-handedly executed a secret operation that destroyed a mafia ring operating in the capital.'

He clenched his jaw and kept reading.

'Afterward, Captain Daniel humbly addressed the crowd, saying, "This wasn't my doing alone. It was the result of everyone working together for the Empire." His words stirred patriotic fervor throughout the city.'

He could feel a vein pulsing in his forehead.

They'd twisted his words, exaggerated everything, and painted him as some kind of selfless national hero.

He folded the paper and tossed it on his desk.

Lucy, watching him closely, finally spoke.

"Thanks to you, Captain, several corrupt officials linked to the mafia have also been arrested. Most of them were taking bribes to allow opium smuggling."

"...That was in the paper too?"

Lucy nodded. Daniel felt a chill.

This is bad. If the higher-ups start getting ideas...

Right on cue, the door burst open.

Ernst rushed in.

"Daniel! Captain Daniel! Are you here?!"

He looked so excited that Daniel considered pretending not to hear him.

But that would only make things worse.

He stood and saluted.

"Ah! There you are!"

Ernst returned the salute and marched over.

"Captain Daniel! Congratulations! I just came from a meeting—the Deputy Chief of Operations wants to speak with you!"

Daniel froze.

The Deputy Chief of Operations?

The second-most powerful man in the entire General Staff?

Why would someone like that want to see him?

His stomach twisted.

"Captain Daniel."

Lucy's voice was unusually soft.

She was smiling.

"It seems you're climbing the ranks faster than expected. Congratulations."

It was probably just her 'dutiful adjutant' act, but to Daniel, it felt like she was mocking him.

"...Thanks," he muttered, filled with dread.

He turned toward the window to escape the pressure.

The sunlight streaming in was warm and golden.

It was shaping up to be a hellish summer.