I Was Mistaken for a Great General of War

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After having a meal with Daniel, Katman didn’t head home but instead made his way to the Imperial Security Agency.

Upon entering the building, Katman walked into the Fifth Department, which was responsible for intelligence gathering and espionage activities within the Security Agency.

The intelligence analyst, sensing someone’s presence, turned his head and was startled to see Katman, quickly getting up from his seat.

“Lieutenant Katman! Didn’t you say you were off work?”

“Ah, well… let’s just say I want you to take this first.”

Katman extended a cup of coffee towards the analyst.

“Coffee? What is this about?” the analyst asked, still somewhat confused, but accepted the coffee as Katman continued.

“I suddenly got curious on my way home, so I turned back. You know me; when I get curious about something, I lose sleep until I find out.”

The analyst nodded, still dazed, as it was well-known that Katman was achieving great results within the Security Agency.

“So, would it be possible for you to look into something for me?”

“What kind of investigation are you talking about?”

“I’m curious about how many military doctors on the Eastern Front have eye injuries and are suffering from aphasia. I would appreciate it if you could narrow it down to those with brown hair.”

Taking a sip of the coffee in his hand, the analyst asked with a puzzled look, “Is that all? As you know, there are numerous field armies operating on the Eastern Front. There are 17 corps alone under the field army. You want me to investigate all of that?”

“I know it’s a tough ask; that’s why I brought a little bribe.”

“Are you saying that since I’ll get a coffee, I should be tortured?”

Katman started to sweat profusely.

“I’ll buy you not just one cup but a hundred. Let’s say it was unavoidable to ask for anything else in this inconvenient place.”

With a sigh, the analyst nodded, feeling there was no choice.

“If it’s information you want, there must be a reason. However, a thorough investigation will take time. We’ll need the cooperation of the Central Intelligence Agency too.”

“No problem; it’s not urgent.”

The analyst shot Katman a glare as if saying “I really don’t want to do this” but sat down to begin working.

Watching him, Katman recalled the dinner scene and rubbed his chin.

‘I don’t want to suspect Captain Daniel Steiner, but…’

It certainly wouldn’t hurt to confirm.

*

The next day.

Before heading to the Operations Staff, I entered my office to prepare personally, and as expected, Lucy was already sitting there.

Of course, she had removed her wig and wasn’t wearing sunglasses.

“Welcome, Captain.”

As always, her greeting was dry and devoid of warmth.

It barely seemed possible that she was the person who had set off the bomb and fled over the wall yesterday.

I sat at the desk, looking at her with a frown.

“…Didn’t anything weird happen yesterday?”

As I opened the drawer, I casually asked, but Lucy didn’t even glance at me, just reviewing paperwork.

“I returned to my lodging right after work and took a rest.”

“Is that so? I had a bit of trouble after meeting a strange woman on my way to a dessert shop.”

“Really?”

His emotionless response was quite frustrating.

I returned empty-handed after spending a day entangled with her, and she was indifferent.

Glancing at Lucy, I pulled out today’s documents from the drawer and started sorting them.

As I sorted the documents by importance and placed them in my bag, Lucy peeked over and said,

“…Just how odd was this woman?”

Was she trying to gauge my reaction? I hesitated for a moment, then stood up and said,

“She was wearing sunglasses indoors.”

“Anything else?”

“She seemed unable to speak properly—probably aphasia—and she was supremely proud. Even when I offered help, she turned it down several times. I wonder how she plans to navigate social life. She’s quite a pitiful woman.”

Lucy fell silent and fixed her gaze on me. No, ‘glaring’ would be the right term.

“…”

“…”

The atmosphere chilled. The chances of getting assassinated were escalating in real-time.

Feeling a sense of crisis, I cleared my throat and headed towards the door.

“Let’s wrap up chit-chat here and get to work at the Operations Staff. Can’t be late.”

“…Understood.”

Leaving my office behind, I entered the Operations Staff with Lucy.

I was about to walk straight to my seat when I paused abruptly.

The personnel in the Operations Staff were gathered around the central conference table, murmuring excitedly.

“This is a masterpiece.”

“Indeed. For something hastily put together, it’s quite well-made.”

“By the way, the Personnel Department is incredibly swift. It hasn’t even been a day since the article came out…”

What were they talking about? I approached them, puzzled.

“What are you all looking at?”

At my words, the operations support officer, Captain Dengel, turned around first.

“Oh! Captain Daniel! The star of the poster is right here!”

“A poster? What are you talking about…?”

As I glanced at the table, I froze in place.

There I was, scowling and pointing as if accusing someone, with my image plastered on a poster.

Underneath my photo was a large propaganda slogan saying, “The Fatherland Wants You!”

‘Wait, what? Am I Uncle Sam now?’

I couldn’t help but click my tongue at the absurdity.

“Who on earth made this? Originally, that pose was meant to tell the reporters not to take my photo. Why would someone create a recruitment propaganda poster without considering my intentions… such rudeness…”

“Captain Daniel, this is a matter commanded directly by the Personnel Director.”

“…The rude one was indeed me. On second glance, it’s perfect.”

Quickly switching gears, I nodded in agreement.

Dengel, who was watching me, smiled and spoke up.

“Captain Daniel, you’re already on the list for early promotion, aren’t you? Won’t you be piling up achievements too quickly? I had no idea you’d still be active after work.”

One of the staff members beside them chimed in.

“Captain Dengel, surely Captain Daniel isn’t doing this for promotion. He’s one to set an example for the military, striving to make the Empire greater.”

“Aah, I misspoke. From my salaryman mindset, I tend to think of people like Captain Daniel as being on a whole different level.”

If I could, I would have preferred to confess that a crazy woman wearing sunglasses set off the bomb, but I couldn’t say that with Lucy nearby, feeling her eyes on me.

There was also the question of whether they’d even believe me if I told the truth.

“Too flattering.”

Thus, I had no choice but to leave modestly.

Stepping over to the operations officer’s seat, I pulled out a chair and said,

“Aide-de-Camp, do we have today’s newspaper?”

“Yes, I’ll get you a copy.”

Sitting down, I took the newspaper Lucy handed me.

I wanted to know what in the world they wrote to have the Personnel Director select me as a propaganda soldier.

As I unfolded the newspaper, my hunch was confirmed—the front page prominently displayed my photo from earlier.

【Captain Daniel Steiner! He does it again! Mafia Organization Taken Down!】

The title was dizzying right from the start.

I let out a low sigh as I skimmed through the contents.

“Having saved Her Highness the Princess from terrorism, Captain Daniel Steiner has become a hot topic with yet another significant achievement. According to reliable sources, Captain Daniel single-handedly undertook a covert operation to eliminate the mafia organization that was parasiting the system.”

As expected, it was full of fabrications.

I gritted my teeth and kept reading.

“…After such efforts, Captain Daniel stated to the gathered citizens, ‘This isn’t just me; it’s the result of everyone’s efforts for the Empire in their own places.’ Given Captain Daniel’s words, the citizens had no choice but to be ecstatic.”

My head started to throb.

Didn’t they add other words to what I said to make it sound believable?

I felt I couldn’t read on any further, so I folded the newspaper and tossed it onto the edge of my desk.

Seeing this, Lucy spoke up.

“Thanks to you, Captain Daniel, corrupt officials connected to that mafia organization have also been captured. Most were found guilty of accepting bribes and assisting the mafia’s opium smuggling.”

“…Was that also in the newspaper?”

Lucy nodded.

I was feeling uneasy as a result.

‘If they see this and get a strange idea up top, it’ll be troublesome…’

Before I could think too deeply, the door to the Operations Staff crashed open and Ernst barged in.

“Daniel! Captain Daniel! Are you here!?”

Looking at my face, filled with excitement, made me want to avoid answering.

Yet I couldn’t actually avoid answering, so I stood up and saluted.

“Oh, there you are!”

Ernst returned my salute and came closer.

“Captain Daniel! You should be pleased. I just came from a meeting, and the Deputy of Operations Staff said he wants to see you when he has the time. You know what that means, right?”

The Deputy of Operations Staff was the second most powerful person in the General Staff Headquarters after the Chief of Staff himself.

Why on earth does he want to see me? A sense of unease crept up my spine.

“Captain Daniel.”

At that moment, Lucy spoke up, unusually smiling as she approached.

“You’re about to enter the Deputy’s circle. Congratulations.”

I knew Lucy was smiling just to perform her role as a ‘faithful aide,’ but her smile made me feel as if she was somehow mocking me.

“…Thanks.”

I replied reluctantly, turning my gaze toward the window.

Despite my gloomy heart, the bright sunlight shone beautifully, illuminating everything.

It was a sweltering summer.