NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 46 - You Want Me to Do What?
Chapter 46
You Want Me to Do What?
『 Translator – Divinity 』
Hearing Daniel’s answer, Erwin couldn’t help but gasp.
‘He doesn’t know? After establishing such a perfect occupation?’
Wasn’t this excessive modesty?
Frankly, this place felt more like Imperial territory than Kingdom territory, with how favorably disposed the people were towards the garrison.
Seeing Daniel not boasting about his achievements made Erwin admire him even more.
However, Daniel, unaware of Erwin’s inner thoughts, simply smiled awkwardly.
“Colonel, it’s cold out here. Shall we go inside and talk?”
“Ah, yes, let’s.”
Nodding, Erwin followed Daniel into the headquarters building.
Daniel led Erwin to the reception room inside the building and explained the city plans he had implemented to hand over the position of garrison commander.
Lucy handed Erwin the relevant documents to aid his understanding, and Frienne served him coffee made with high-quality beans.
After reviewing the documents and drinking his coffee for a while, Erwin chuckled.
Daniel had fulfilled the role of garrison commander so perfectly that there was nothing to criticize.
“This is excellent. If I could give you a score, I’d give you full marks. My only complaint is that there’s nothing left for me to do. All I need to do is maintain the status quo.”
“You’re too kind.”
“I’m not. Major Daniel Steiner! You’ve done an amazing job. I’ll be sure to report this to the General Staff Headquarters.”
Daniel, who didn’t want his evaluation to rise any higher, couldn’t tell his superior not to.
With a resigned look, he nodded and said,
“Thank you for your kind words, Colonel. But since the handover seems to be complete, I should prepare to return to the capital.”
“To the capital?”
“Yes. I’ve been on operational support for a long time. As you know, the north is cold, and the food doesn’t suit my taste, so it’s been quite difficult.”
Erwin chuckled in understanding at Daniel’s playful complaint.
“It’s not easy for someone born and raised in the Empire to adapt to foreign food. I also struggled with the food when I was on the Eastern Front.”
“…I apologize for bringing it up. Compared to the food you ate on the war-torn front lines, Colonel, my meals here seem quite luxurious.”
“It’s alright, it’s alright. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. It was just a story from my experience. But I have some unfortunate news for you, who wants to return to the capital.”
Unfortunate news? As Daniel looked at him questioningly, Erwin took out a scroll from his pocket and handed it to him.
“This is an operation order from the General Staff Headquarters for you.”
Daniel couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.
A new operation order after he thought his mission was over and he could return?
‘What are they trying to do?’
He wanted to get angry, but it was an order, so he had to obey.
With trembling hands, Daniel received the scroll, untied the red string, and unfolded the paper.
───────────
《Imperial General Staff Headquarters》
Order No. D-513
Date: August 14, 1944
Subject: Deployment of General Staff Headquarters Direct Unit to the Front Lines
• Orders
1. Major Daniel Steiner, commanding the General Staff Headquarters Direct Unit, is to select a company-sized force from the Nordia garrison suitable for vehicle transport.
2. With the selected company, board vehicles and arrive at the headquarters of the 3rd Corps, currently stationed on the northern front lines, by 16:00 hours on August 21, 1944.
3. Upon arrival at the Corps headquarters, await further orders. It is recommended to act in accordance with the Corps Commander’s orders.
You are ordered to carry out this mission swiftly and accurately.
Imperial General Staff Headquarters.
Deputy Chief of Operations, Brigadier General Cedric Wendel.
───────────
After reading the order, Daniel ran a hand over his face.
‘Deputy Chief, why are you doing this to me…?’
His small wish to return to the capital and live a comfortable and peaceful life was shattered.
He wished it was just a bad joke by Erwin, but the order had the Deputy Chief’s seal on it.
Therefore, there was no way this order was forged.
‘Since the order has been issued, it seems I have to go.’
This time, even the arrival time was clearly stated, so he couldn’t delay.
‘The only good thing is…’
Judging from the order alone, it seemed like a simple troop deployment.
This meant that all he had to do was join the Corps and bide his time.
‘They wouldn’t deploy a General Staff Headquarters Direct Unit to the front lines unless it was for a special operation.’
If it were a special operation, he would be in for a tough time, but that wouldn’t happen.
Currently, the Imperial Army’s northward advance had come to a standstill.
Conducting a special operation against the Kingdom, who was insisting on fighting to the death, in this situation? It would be suicidal.
Logically, it seemed obvious that after staying with the Corps in a ‘standby’ state until the war with the Kingdom ended, he would return to the capital.
It was just that his return to the capital would be delayed by a few weeks.
‘But for some reason…’
Daniel felt uneasy.
***
3rd Corps Headquarters.
Corps Commander’s office.
“Hmm…”
Lieutenant General Karlpeter Krau narrowed his eyes as he looked at the strategic map and operation plans hanging on the wall.
‘Withdrawing their forces and concentrating all their troops on defending the capital…’
At first glance, it seemed like the Kingdom Army was scared and retreating, but Karlpeter saw it as a strategic move.
Just because the Kingdom Army had withdrawn its forces didn’t mean the Imperial Army could advance recklessly.
‘Supplies and logistics can’t keep up.’
The amount of supplies the Corps consumed daily was beyond imagination.
If those supplies couldn’t be delivered on time, not only would the Corps’ morale plummet, but it would also disrupt operational command.
Therefore, the Imperial Army couldn’t advance until the supply lines were properly established.
Even now, having occupied more than half of the Kingdom’s territory, the supply lines were tangled, and if they simply followed the retreating enemy, there was a high chance that their supplies would be cut off.
That’s why the Imperial Army was currently in a semi-forced lull.
‘The Kingdom Army will use this time to reorganize their troops.’
Perhaps they were even asking their ally, the Allied Nations, for help.
If the Allied Nations intervened, it would be a headache.
Even if they were lucky and the Allied Nations didn’t intervene, it would still be a headache.
By the time the Imperial Army secured its supply lines and launched its attack, the Kingdom Army would have already reorganized its troops.
‘They’ll surely put up fierce resistance.’
The Imperial Army wouldn’t lose, but they would have to suffer heavy casualties.
At least thousands, possibly tens of thousands of soldiers would die needlessly.
This would weaken the Empire’s national power, so the General Staff Headquarters and Karlpeter were trying to reach a peace agreement.
The Kingdom had also agreed and sent their Foreign Minister, but the negotiations had already broken down twice.
The reason was that the Empire’s demands were too unreasonable.
Therefore, Corps Commander Karlpeter had asked His Majesty to ease the negotiation conditions, but his request was denied.
The reason was that there was no need for mercy towards the despicable Kingdom that had tried to exploit the Empire like hyenas.
Then the only option left was an all-out war to capture the capital.
But with national power already being wasted on holding back the Eastern Front, was it truly wise to declare an all-out war against the Kingdom?
As Karlpeter’s worries deepened, the General Staff Headquarters recommended someone.
‘…Major Daniel Steiner.’
They had sent a message saying they would send the talented officer who had achieved great military success in Nordia to the Corps.
‘That means…’
It was the same as urging him to use Daniel Steiner as the negotiator for the peace talks.
Understanding the intentions of the General Staff Headquarters, Karlpeter frowned in disbelief.
The negotiations had already failed twice, despite having the help of numerous military advisors.
No matter how many merits he had accumulated, what difference would it make to appoint a mere Major as the chief negotiator?
‘But…’
If it was someone recommended by the General Staff Headquarters, especially by the Deputy Chief of Operations, Brigadier General Cedric Wendel, there had to be a reason.
Since this wasn’t a normal situation, perhaps a new approach was needed to find a breakthrough.
‘This will likely be the last negotiation.’
Could he really entrust their fate to Daniel Steiner?
Kralpeter closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly opened them.
He had decided to make an unconventional decision.
Not because he trusted Daniel Steiner, but because he trusted the wisdom of Cedric Wendel, who had devised countless operations and led the Imperial Army to victory.
‘Cedric, I’ll trust the joker card you’ve dealt.’
The die was cast.
Now, the lives of countless people were practically in the hands of Daniel Steiner.