I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 156

The news that Daniel Steiner was leading the Division toward the Capital drained the color not only from the nobles’ faces — but from Belvar’s as well.

Just moments earlier, those very nobles had been arguing over their own interests. Now, they turned to each other in stunned silence, their expressions painted with disbelief and fear.

One of the younger nobles mustered the courage to speak.

“...How is this even possible? Daniel Steiner is marching on the Capital with the 7th Magitek Armored Division? Who gave him the authority to command an entire Division?”

Pelliston answered in his stead.

“The Division Commander of the 7th Magitek Armored Division was killed in action by enemy bombardment. As a result, Daniel Steiner, the current Chief of Staff, is now serving as Acting Division Commander.”

A ripple of unrest swept through the Grand Assembly Hall at Pelliston’s words.

“The Division Commander was killed by a bombing? And it just so happens to be now, right when we’ve seized the Capital?”

“I don’t understand it either! The timing is too convenient! Could it be that Daniel Steiner—”

“It's speculation, but it’s not impossible that he killed the Division Commander to seize power over the unit and then disguised it as a bombing-related death.”

That last comment came from Belvar.

Although he prefaced it as “speculation,” there were few nobles present who didn’t take it seriously.

Considering Daniel Steiner’s infamous reputation, it wasn’t a stretch to believe.

“...So what do we do now?”

“Your Grace! We must not allow Daniel Steiner to enter the Capital!”

“He must be stopped at all costs!”

The nobles’ outcries echoed through the Assembly Hall. Loud as they were, they weren’t wrong.

Daniel Steiner was not only a war hero — he was also a figure who enjoyed overwhelming support from the people.

If he entered the Capital and so much as uttered the words, “The Noble Coalition has betrayed us and oppressed Her Majesty the Empress!” — civil war would be inevitable.

And in that civil war...

There was a very high chance that the Noble Coalition would be the ones to lose.

Daniel Steiner, backed by the public, would naturally have the upper hand.

That means we have to end this before Daniel Steiner reaches the Capital...

But that was easier said than done.

To form a suppression force to stop him, they would need to contact the garrison forces stationed in each city.

To tell them: Stop Daniel Steiner, the traitor, who has abandoned the front and is marching home.

Naturally, those garrisons would want to know why Daniel Steiner was retreating.

And in that process, they might uncover the fact that the Imperial Intelligence Bureau had deliberately transmitted false information to the 7th Division — and in the worst-case scenario, realize that the Capital had already been seized by the Noble Coalition.

If that happened, the garrisons wouldn’t try to stop Daniel Steiner. If anything, they’d rally to his side.

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Forming a suppression force is a move we can’t play unless we overhaul the entire command structure.

That left them with one option — to use the Imperial Guard Division under the Defense Command, the only force immediately available.

But even that was close to impossible.

The Imperial Guard, by its very nature, couldn’t fully abandon the Capital — and even if they stretched their forces and mobilized everything they had to stop the 7th Division, victory was far from guaranteed.

Think about it.

It would be a clash between the battle-hardened 7th Magitek Armored Division, which had fought countless engagements at the front, and the Guard Division — a unit that had only ever carried out bureaucratic duties in the safety of the Capital.

And to top it off, the 7th Division was now being led by the so-called tactical genius, Daniel Steiner.

Even in an ordinary contest, the odds of victory were slim. Against a mechanized unit led by Daniel Steiner, defeat was all but certain.

What do we do...

Belvar raised his hand to his forehead and exhaled in a low groan.

Then, a thought flashed through his mind.

...The reason we can’t form a suppression force right now is because we lack the justification. But if we can create that justification ourselves, Daniel Steiner will lose his footing and be forced to surrender.

If they could turn Daniel Steiner into a true traitor, then everything the Noble Coalition had done so far could be reframed as necessary and justified.

“Good...”

Belvar, struck by inspiration, lifted his head.

“Deputy Director! Go to the Defense Commander at once and deliver this message: Use the Armored Regiment of the Imperial Guard to deliver an Imperial Decree!”

“...An Imperial Decree, sir?”

“Yes. The decree will read: ‘Traitor Daniel Steiner is ordered to halt his advance and surrender.’ Tell me, Deputy Director — what do you think Daniel Steiner will do when he hears this?”

The Deputy Director paused for a moment, then came to a quiet realization.

“He’ll ignore the order... and attack the Armored Regiment. After all, now that he’s begun his retreat, Daniel Steiner can’t turn back either.”

“And then what happens?”

“The commanders of each city’s garrisons will hear that Daniel Steiner has truly committed treason. And the Noble Coalition will appear as the force standing against him.”

The Noble Coalition, standing to protect the Capital and the Empress from Daniel Steiner.

Daniel Steiner, furious that the situation in the Capital is not going his way, murders his own Division Commander, takes his place, and marches to the Capital in defiance.

Perfect.

It was all fiction — but if Daniel Steiner attacked the Armored Regiment delivering the Emperor’s order, the narrative would transform into truth.

Once it reached that point, the public would abandon him, and a suppression force could be raised without resistance.

To Belvar, it was the best possible move.

“If you understand, deliver my orders to the Defense Commander.”

With every noble’s eyes fixed on him, Belvar spoke quietly but firmly.

“Tell him... to prepare a massive trap for the wolf.”

****

After hearing Belvar’s proposal, the Defense Commander concluded there was no other option and agreed to deploy the Armored Regiment.

Under the pretext of delivering an Imperial Decree, the regiment left the Capital and, after several days of travel, set up camp on the plains — a chokepoint the 7th Magitek Armored Division would inevitably pass through.

The 7th Division, charging toward the Capital in a cloud of dust, came to a temporary halt when they spotted the Armored Regiment of the Imperial Guard, deployed under the Capital Defense Command, positioned across the plain.

The Armored Regiment, upon seeing them stop, dispatched a messenger to the 7th Division with the words: “By order of His Majesty the Emperor, Daniel Steiner is to halt his advance and surrender immediately.”

Upon hearing the phrase “by order of the Emperor,” the 7th Division responded by asking the messenger to “give us time to consider,” then sent him back.

And then, the next day—

That’s... way too many. Are we sure this Division went through two major battles?

Second Lieutenant Reckela, on sentry duty at the forward observation post, lowered his binoculars and let out a breath.

I’m counting around 140 tanks, plus armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery, and even towed guns — all seemingly intact. You're telling me they went through two full engagements and barely took any losses?

Reckela let out a faint chuckle, impressed in spite of himself, when a soldier approached him.

“...Platoon Leader. What do you think the 7th Division will do?”

At the soldier’s question, Reckela shrugged once.

“Beats me. But command issued an order to prepare for retreat, just in case the 7th Division decides to attack. Apparently, they didn’t even bother unloading most of the supplies.”

“Then... does that mean Colonel Daniel Steiner really committed treason?”

“If I knew that, would I be stuck standing here?”

Fair point — a mere platoon leader like him wouldn’t know the truth of what was going on behind the scenes.

The soldier gave a shrug of his own and glanced back toward the 7th Division — then suddenly stiffened.

A military vehicle was approaching from the distance, kicking up clouds of dust.

“P-Platoon Leader! Over there, look! Something’s coming!”

Reckela turned toward the soldier’s alarmed voice and raised his binoculars to confirm.

Sure enough, a single vehicle ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ was speeding toward them.

“...What is this? A messenger?”

It made sense — they’d already delivered a surrender demand. Now it was time for the other side to respond.

“Everyone, ready your weapons. Just in case.”

At Reckela’s warning, the soldiers tightened their grips on their rifles, nerves taut.

After a short wait, the vehicle from the 7th Division entered effective range.

As the soldiers raised their rifles to aim — unsure of what was coming — the vehicle gradually slowed and came to a stop just outside the post.

Reckela walked toward it.

“Halt! Stop right there! Engine off, and step out of the vehicle!”

Following his order, the driver shut off the engine and opened the door.

As the driver stepped out, Reckela froze in place.

“...What?”

It wasn’t a messenger.

The man climbing out of the vehicle wore a black uniform adorned with the Imperial Cross of Distinction and the National Command Medal, both gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.

Daniel Steiner?

The very man the Defense Commander had ordered captured and brought in as a traitor.

Shocked by the completely unexpected appearance, Reckela couldn’t say a word.

Daniel turned his head and locked eyes with him.

From those abyss-black pupils emanated an oppressive force, the source of which couldn’t be identified.

“State your name and rank.”

There was no need to give name and rank to someone officially labeled a traitor like Daniel Steiner.

But contrary to that thought, Reckela’s mouth opened on its own.

“This is Second Lieutenant Reckela, commanding the forward observation post!”

As the platoon leader stated his rank, the soldiers — still aiming their rifles at Daniel — slowly lowered their weapons.

They couldn’t bring themselves to point their barrels at the Empire’s war hero.

Daniel glanced around at them, then spoke in a low voice.

“Open the gate. I have something to discuss with your commanding officer.”

That wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

According to orders, they were to detain Daniel here and bring him to the regimental commander.

But Reckela’s body wouldn’t move.

Just knowing what should be done didn’t mean it could be carried out.

Daniel cast a sharp look his way.

“Lieutenant. Don’t make me say it twice.”

His voice was icy, laced with a restrained fury.

Exposed to that gaze, Reckela reflexively bowed his head.

“U-Understood!”

Only after blurting out a response did Reckela realize the truth.

He couldn’t defy the command of the hero standing before him.