-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Timeless Journalistic Spirit
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After dining with Daniel, Kartman didn't head home but instead made his way to the Imperial Security Bureau.
Entering the building, Kartman proceeded to the Fifth Department, which was responsible for intelligence gathering and espionage within the Security Bureau.
Sensing a presence, the intelligence analyst turned his head, spotted Kartman, and startled, rose from his seat.
"Inspector Kartman! Didn't you say you were leaving for the day?"
"Ah, well... just take this first."
Kartman extended a cup of coffee towards the analyst.
*Coffee?* The analyst took it, puzzled, as Kartman spoke.
"On my way home, something suddenly piqued my curiosity, so I turned back. You know how I am, don't you? I can't sleep a wink until I get to the bottom of something that's bothering me."
The analyst nodded, looking bewildered.
After all, it was common knowledge that Kartman was highly productive within the Security Bureau.
"So, I was wondering if you could look into something for me?"
"What kind of investigation, sir?"
"I'm curious about how many military doctors who served on the Eastern Front suffered eye injuries and developed aphasia. I'd appreciate it if you could narrow the search to those with brown hair."
The analyst took a sip of the coffee in his hand and asked, puzzled,
"Is that all? As you know, Inspector, the units operating on the Eastern Front currently consist of numerous field armies. There are seventeen corps under those field armies alone. Are you asking me to investigate all of them?"
"I'm well aware it'll be difficult. That's why I brought a bribe, didn't I?"
"Inspector, if someone offered you a single cup of coffee and asked you to endure torture, would you do it?"
Kartman broke out in a cold sweat.
"Not one cup, but a hundred, I'd buy you. To be fair, it was an awkward place to get other information, so I had no choice."
The analyst sighed and nodded, as if resigned.
"If it's information you want, Inspector, there must be a good reason. But it'll take a long time since I'll have to conduct a full survey. And I'll need cooperation from the Central Intelligence Agency too."
"No problem. It's not urgent."
The analyst shot Kartman a glare, as if genuinely annoyed, then sat down and began his work.
Watching him, Kartman stroked his chin, recalling the dinner.
'I don't want to suspect Captain Daniel Steiner, but...'
It wouldn't hurt to be sure about this.
*
The next day.
Before heading to the staff office, I entered my own office to prepare, and sure enough, Lucy was already there, seated.
Naturally, she wasn't wearing her wig or sunglasses.
"You're here, Captain."
Her greeting was as dry as ever.
So much so that one wouldn't think she was the one who'd set off a bomb and scaled a wall to escape yesterday.
I gave Lucy a wry look, then walked to my desk and sat down.
"...Was there anything unusual yesterday?"
I subtly asked as I opened my desk drawer, but Lucy merely reviewed documents without even glancing at me.
"After work, I returned straight to my quarters and rested."
"Is that so? I, on the other hand, had quite a bit of trouble on my way to the dessert shop, meeting a strange woman."
"I see."
Her indifferent dismissal was absurd.
Someone, *me*, got tangled up with you all day and ended up returning without even tasting dessert.
I glared at Lucy, displeased, then pulled out the documents for today's review from the drawer and began sorting them.
As I placed the sorted documents into my bag, Lucy glanced my way and spoke.
"...Just how strange was this woman?"
Was she trying to gauge my reaction? I hesitated for a moment, then stood up and replied,
"She wore sunglasses indoors."
"Anything else?"
"She couldn't speak properly, as if she had aphasia. And her pride was ridiculously strong; she refused help multiple times even when offered. How does she plan to function in society? A truly pitiable woman."
Lucy closed her mouth and stared at me. No, 'glared' would be more accurate.
"..."
"..."
The atmosphere grew chilling. The probability of being assassinated was rising in real-time.
Feeling a sense of dread, I cleared my throat once and walked towards the door.
"That's enough chitchat. Let's head to the staff office. We shouldn't be late."
"...Understood."
Leaving the office, I entered the staff room with Lucy.
I was about to walk straight to my desk but paused.
The staff members were gathered around the central conference table, murmuring amongst themselves.
"This is a masterpiece."
"Indeed. For something hastily put together, it seems well-made."
"But the HR department works incredibly fast. It hasn't even been a full day since the article came out..."
*What are they talking about?* Puzzled, I approached.
"What are you all looking at?"
At my words, Captain Dengel, the Operations Support Officer, was the first to turn around.
"Oh! Captain Daniel! The subject of the poster is right here!"
"Poster? What are you talking about..."
My gaze fell upon the table, and I froze.
A photo of me, scowling and pointing my finger directly forward, had been made into a poster.
Below my picture, the propaganda slogan "Your Homeland Wants You!" was boldly written.
'No, seriously, am I Uncle Sam now?'
I shook my head in disbelief.
"Who on earth made this? This pose was originally me telling the reporters *not* to take pictures yesterday. To create a conscription poster completely against my intentions, what an insolent—"
"Captain Daniel. This was personally ordered by the Head of HR."
"...It seems *I* was the insolent one. Looking at it again, it's perfect."
Having quickly shifted my stance, I nodded in agreement.
Dengel, watching me, chuckled and spoke.
"Captain Daniel. I hear you're already on the list for early promotion, but aren't you accumulating too many achievements? I never dreamed you'd be active even after work."
One of the staff members who had been listening chimed in.
"Captain Dengel, surely Captain Daniel isn't doing this just for promotion. He's practically a role model for the military; he must be working hard to make the Empire even greater."
"Ah, my apologies. You're right. For someone like me, with a salaryman's mindset, Captain Daniel is on a whole different level."
If I had my way, I would have confessed that the crazy woman in sunglasses set off the bomb, but with Lucy nearby, I couldn't possibly tell the truth.
Besides, it was doubtful they'd even believe me if I did tell the truth.
"You flatter me."
So, I could only feign humility and leave the spot.
I moved to the Operations Officer's desk, pulled out a chair, and said,
"Aide, do you happen to have today's newspaper?"
"Yes, sir. I'll get you a copy."
I sat down and took the newspaper Lucy handed me.
I wanted to know what the article had said that made the Head of HR choose me as a propaganda soldier.
As I unfolded the newspaper, just as I expected, my photo from earlier was splashed across the front page.
[Captain Daniel Steiner! He's Done It Again! Mafia Organization Busted!]
The headline alone made my head spin.
I let out a low groan and scanned the contents.
『Captain Daniel Steiner, who previously saved Her Royal Highness from a terrorist attack, has once again become the talk of the town for his significant achievements. According to reliable sources, Captain Daniel single-handedly carried out a secret operation to dismantle a mafia organization plaguing the capital.』
As expected, it was full of fabrications.
I forced myself to endure and read on.
『...Following these heroic deeds, Captain Daniel Steiner addressed the assembled citizens, stating: "This was not my doing. It is the result of all of us working hard in our respective places for the Empire." The citizens couldn't help but cheer enthusiastically at Captain Daniel's words.』
My head throbbed.
Hadn't they cleverly added words to what I actually said, making it seem like the truth?
Feeling I couldn't read any more, I folded the newspaper and tossed it onto the corner of my desk.
Seeing me, Lucy spoke up.
"Thanks to you, Captain Daniel, corrupt officials connected to that mafia organization were also apprehended, I hear. Most of them allegedly accepted bribes and aided the mafia's opium smuggling."
"...Was that also written in the newspaper?"
Lucy nodded.
That didn't bode well.
'It'd be problematic if the higher-ups got the wrong idea from this...'
As if on cue, the staff office door burst open, and Ernst entered.
"Daniel! Captain Daniel! Are you here!?"
Seeing him search for me with such an agitated expression, I didn't want to answer.
Still, I couldn't truly ignore him, so I rose from my seat and saluted.
"Ah, there you are!"
Ernst returned my salute and approached me.
"Captain Daniel! Be pleased! I just came from a meeting, and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations said he'd like to see you when he has time. You understand what that means, don't you?"
The Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations was the second most powerful person in the General Staff Headquarters, after the Chief of Staff.
Why on earth would someone like that want to see me? A wave of unease washed over me.
"Captain Daniel."
At that moment, Lucy, with a rare smile, spoke.
"You'll be able to join the Deputy Chief's line now. Congratulations."
Lucy might have merely smiled to play the part of a "loyal aide," but to me, that smile felt subtly mocking.
"...Thanks."
I replied wryly and turned my gaze towards the window.
Contrary to my gloomy mood, the bright sunlight beautifully illuminated everything.
It was a brutal summer.