I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 168

Otto took a deep breath and closed his eyes at Daniel’s words.

And for a brief moment, he recalled the past.

Otto’s personal creed had always been: “Live quietly and for a long time.”

The reason that creed was born was simple.

He had seen and heard too much from an early age—thanks to being born into a noble family.

“Unfortunately, most of it was misfortune...”

Typically, those who sought power through greed or took the wrong side in the power struggles of the elite met a miserable end.

Otto’s own father was a prime example of that.

When the late Emperor was still alive, Duke Belvar once used his son to explosively expand his business in an attempt to dominate the Empire’s domestic economy.

Backed by Duke Belvar’s wealth and extensive network, the “Ridesharp Company” quickly made a name for itself across the Empire.

But business, as always, was not a smooth ride.

Those who stepped in first would constantly try to suppress those climbing up from below.

At the time, Count Porion, who was spurring on the automotive industry, strongly objected to Duke Belvar’s methods.

Displeased by the meteoric rise of Ridesharp Company, Count Porion found an opportunity to launch a patent lawsuit.

He also personally investigated several of Ridesharp’s contracted supply chains and discovered that some of their products were of low quality, which he then widely exposed.

He claimed there was a reason Ridesharp’s vehicles were so cheap.

Naturally, Ridesharp’s image tanked, and their sales plummeted. Otto’s father, believing that the company’s low-grade components were indeed a problem, sided with Count Porion.

And then it began.

Duke Belvar’s retaliatory power play.

First, he leveraged his ties to national banks to downgrade the credit rating of Count Porion’s company and called in their loans immediately.

Of course, business expansion had relied heavily on loan-based transactions, and with the banks suddenly demanding repayment, Count Porion’s cash flow was instantly paralyzed.

With no cash flow, vehicle production inevitably dropped. Investors watching from the sidelines began to pull out one by one, citing lack of performance.

Duke Belvar went even further, lobbying high-ranking officials and spreading rumors that Count Porion’s company was uncooperative with the government.

In an era where productivity was equated with loyalty to the state, a company like Count Porion’s—already crippled by financial blockades—was an easy target for political scavengers.

Government pressure piled onto an already-staggering business. In the end, Count Porion had no choice but to raise the white flag.

It was only a rumor, but Otto had heard that Count Porion knelt before Duke Belvar at his mansion, begging him—

Begging to be spared.

But Duke Belvar showed no mercy to those who defied him.

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He tormented and crushed him until the company was utterly bankrupt.

After that, Otto’s father—who had sided with Count Porion—was forced to step down from his position as Deputy Foreign Minister.

They made it sound like it was due to age and retirement, but Otto knew better.

He was discarded for choosing the wrong side.

After witnessing that chain of events, Otto made a decision.

Live quietly and for a long time.

Don’t take risks.

Don’t take anyone’s side.

Rather than be a shrimp crushed between battling whales, it was better to be the shrimp who swore loyalty to the whale after the fight was over.

Most whales, drunk on victory, were all too happy to accept Otto’s “false loyalty.”

Opportunist he may be, but Otto was never incompetent.

Everyone believed that having him close would prove useful in some way.

That’s how Otto managed to live long enough to rise to the position of Security Bureau Director.

“Maybe I got complacent.”

He had come to see himself not as a whale’s equal, but perhaps as a shark.

The arrogance that even a victorious whale wouldn’t easily harm a shark like him had led to this moment.

“To think there’d be someone who could hold onto their composure even in victory...”

The moment Otto confirmed that Daniel Steiner had received the White Dragon Medal of Valor and been appointed Emergency High Commissioner of Public Security—he came here.

Because humans riding a high often overlooked others’ small transgressions.

“But...”

Daniel didn’t seem pleased in the slightest. In fact, he seemed angry.

He stood at the pinnacle of power that a mere officer could hope to attain, yet he didn’t look the least bit happy about it. That created a strong sense of unease.

“So holding power wasn’t his goal... If that’s the case...”

Daniel might actually be someone who genuinely wants to make the Empire greater.

A true embodiment of iron-blooded ideology.

When Otto slowly opened his eyes, Daniel Steiner was staring straight at him.

“I’ve dealt with all kinds of people who’ve tasted power, big and small... but this kind of man is a first.”

He had no clue how to handle someone like this.

Cold sweat forming, Otto decided to try and talk his way out—at least as best he could.

“...Colonel Daniel. You’re misunderstanding something. I didn’t come to you with solid evidence on Duke Belvar. I simply offered my personal suspicion as advice, nothing more.”

In other words, the Security Bureau had done nothing because there was no hard proof that Belvar was planning a rebellion.

Daniel, seemingly finding that at least plausible, tapped his index finger on the desk a few times before speaking.

“Even so, there’s still something I don’t quite understand. If you had suspicions, why didn’t you investigate—”

“I would’ve had to risk my life to do that.”

Otto interrupted, putting on his most aggrieved expression.

“As you well know, Colonel Daniel, Duke Belvar has his web of people scattered all across the Empire. You never know who’s one of his pawns. In a situation like that, making a reckless move would almost certainly end in blood.”

Having finished his explanation, Otto waited for Daniel’s response.

No matter what Daniel said, Otto had resolved to dress it up and justify himself.

But Daniel said nothing.

He just kept looking at Otto with a faint smile.

And with that, a heavy silence descended between them.

Tick—

The sound of the second hand from the wall clock was all too clear.

Goosebumps rose on Otto’s skin, but he forced himself to stay calm.

Watching Otto, who was clearly more tense than usual, Daniel let out a quiet chuckle.

“Director Otto. I’ll only say this once.”

Placing both hands on the desk, Daniel laced his fingers together.

In that slow and deliberate motion, his smile gradually faded.

“Do not interrupt me again.”

His voice, now cold and serious, cut through the air like a blade.

Otto couldn’t meet Daniel’s gaze. He slowly lowered his eyes and gave a small nod.

Satisfied with that, Daniel’s smile returned.

“I appreciate your explanation, Director Otto, regardless of your interruption. But it was nonsense. What you’ve essentially said is that you endangered the nation for the sake of your own safety. As someone acting under the direct orders of Her Majesty the Empress, I can’t help but see it that way.”

Leaning forward across the desk, Daniel whispered into Otto’s ear.

“Is this son of a bitch seriously playing games with me right now?”

The icy words left Otto’s mouth slightly agape.

Seeing this, Daniel gave a couple of light taps on Otto’s shoulder and rose from his seat.

“Neither I nor Her Majesty are fond of people who play games. But we don’t particularly dislike those who are fully aware of the position they’re in.”

Otto didn’t respond.

No—he couldn’t respond.

His heart was pounding so violently that every ounce of his focus was spent trying to calm it.

“I’ll let you keep your post as Director of the Security Bureau. A pay cut and «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» a formal written warning—that’s the extent of the discipline I’ll impose. However, I do expect one promise from you, Director.”

“...A promise, you say?”

“After speaking with Her Majesty today, we’ve decided to establish a new agency: the National Security Oversight Bureau. A dual surveillance system will be implemented, and its agents will be dispatched across all branches of government.”

Though it was framed as a measure to preempt rebellion, Otto couldn’t shake the feeling that this new bureau would effectively be an extension of Daniel Steiner’s will.

“There will be some noise, of course. But no one wants another Belvar. So they’ll accept it—wouldn’t you agree, Director Otto?”

That wasn’t a suggestion. It was an order: Convince the rest of the government to approve the creation of the National Security Oversight Bureau—by publicly supporting it yourself.

And it wouldn’t stop there.

If the Director of the Security Bureau openly endorsed the new agency in front of all ministries, it would appear to everyone else as though he had sworn loyalty to Daniel Steiner.

It was a way of forcing Otto into the same boat—leaving no room for betrayal.

Otto wanted to refuse. Desperately.

But he couldn’t.

He could feel Daniel Steiner holding the leash around his neck.

If I refuse here...

He’d be stripped of his post at best, and at worst, end up in prison.

He searched his mind for another path, any other path—but every single option was blocked by the man standing before him.

Everything Daniel had said and done so far had sealed every possible exit.

Otto had no choice but to accept it now.

Daniel Steiner was a man who knew how to wield power through words.

To think he’s only been in the Commissioner’s seat for a single day...

Otto clicked his tongue silently and stood up to face Daniel.

The conviction burning in those black eyes looked as though it embodied the very will of the Empire.

Realizing he couldn’t possibly stand against that, Otto knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

“I will carry out your will, Commissioner.”

He pledged obedience. But his personal creed remained unchanged.

And yet...

If living quietly and for a long time meant becoming one of Daniel Steiner’s loyalists—

Then so be it.