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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Isolating the Baron
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Unable to understand Lucy's reaction, Daniel left work and headed towards the imperial palace's indoor garden.
Following the chamberlain's guidance, he entered the garden and saw Selvia, seated, stroking a Doberman.
The Doberman, purring contentedly under Selvia's touch, soon sensed a presence and lifted its head.
Its ears perked up, and the Doberman soon bared its teeth and growled.
Seeing this, Selvia rose from her seat and looked towards where the Doberman was being wary.
There stood Daniel, impeccably dressed in his military uniform.
As their eyes met, Daniel placed a hand on his chest and bowed respectfully.
"Your Imperial Highness. I have come at your request."
At Daniel's greeting, Selvia offered a faint smile.
Perhaps exhausted by recent events, her complexion was tinged with weariness.
"I've been waiting for you. Please, have a seat and let's talk—"
Selvia paused mid-sentence and tilted her head.
Daniel was staring intently at the Doberman, which was still growling at him.
"…Lieutenant Colonel Daniel? Do you like dogs?"
Only then did Daniel realize his gaze had been fixed on the dog, and he cleared his throat.
"I don't dislike them. I used to raise a retriever myself."
"Is that so?"
Selvia pondered for a moment, then spoke with a playful glint in her eyes.
"Then, would you like to pet him?"
No one would readily step forward to pet a dog that was growling at them.
Selvia had intended to tease Daniel if he refused, but…
"I will."
Daniel accepted without hesitation and approached the Doberman.
The growling Doberman, perhaps flustered as Daniel drew closer, retracted its bared teeth.
Kneeling on one knee before the Doberman, Daniel gently stroked its head.
The Doberman blinked blankly but did not resist Daniel's touch.
"He's a good dog. He doesn't seem inclined to bite people."
Selvia, watching Daniel stroke the Doberman, tilted her head in confusion.
'I don't recall him being this docile…'
It was baffling to see the dog, which usually bared its teeth and barked at everyone except its owner, Selvia, now lowering its tail like a gentle lamb before Daniel.
"It reminds me of old times. My Kelly was just as well-behaved."
"Kelly… is that the name of the retriever you mentioned?"
"That's right. He was a charming friend, especially when he smiled."
Having said that, Daniel gave the Doberman one last stroke before rising.
"More importantly…"
Daniel lightly brushed his hands together, then turned back to Selvia.
"Don't you have something to tell me?"
At the implicit suggestion to get to the point, Selvia gestured towards the nearby table.
On the table were refreshments served in elegant cups and dishes.
"Shall we sit and talk?"
Daniel nodded at Selvia's suggestion.
Naturally, the two walked over to the table and took their seats.
Selvia then lightly held a steaming teacup, her delicate lips parting.
"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel. What exactly is your intention?"
Her very first question held an edge.
Daniel paused for a moment, then offered an awkward smile.
"I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you mean."
"Don't play innocent. You're deliberately slowing down the investigation, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel. Now that Campbell has been exposed as a collaborator, what exactly are you hesitating for?"
As expected, Selvia had already listened to Campbell's recorded confession, which Daniel had brought.
With sufficient evidence already secured, the next step was to move against Baron Hendliem.
'But…'
Daniel had merely held a press conference, vaguely stating that "nothing has been definitively confirmed yet."
He had even appealed for an end to the malicious reports about Baron Hendliem.
'The coronation is approaching. That means Daniel's investigative authority will soon expire.'
At a time when he should be acting most decisively, Daniel was dragging his feet, as if he had no intention of concluding the investigation.
His actions were inexplicable, causing Selvia to frown in displeasure.
"Surely you're not trying to make peace with the nobles, are you? Now, of all times?"
She was asking if he intended to cower and bow his head like a coward, especially now that it was clear they had been attacked by them.
Daniel hesitated for a moment before answering Selvia's question.
He needed time to consider whether he could trust Selvia.
'The possibility of Selvia participating in the nobles' plan to hand me over to an enemy nation is…'
…likely nonexistent.
Selvia was not a figure who strongly aligned with the legitimacy of the imperial family.
Indeed, when internal strife arose over the succession to the throne, the majority of nobles had tried to lend their support to the Prince, not Selvia.
At that time, Selvia and the nobles had developed mutual animosity, and they had been covertly at odds ever since, so they could not be considered allies.
'It wasn't intentional, but…'
In being hated by the nobles, Selvia and Daniel were in the same boat.
Deciding there was no need to hide it, Daniel spoke.
"I am not trying to make peace. Rather, you could say it's the opposite."
"…The opposite?"
"Your Imperial Highness. As you said, we now have justification to investigate Baron Hendliem based on Campbell's testimony. But would there be any evidence left in the Baron's mansion?"
Selvia didn't answer, biting her lower lip tightly.
It was clear that if he had any sense, he would have disposed of all evidence the moment Campbell was apprehended.
"Without evidence, even if I, as an inspector, were to lead troops and search the Baron's mansion, it would be a fruitless endeavor. I would only earn the ridicule of the nobles."
"Ridicule? From my perspective, it would put pressure on them. At the very least, it would instill a sense of awe for the imperial family."
"You're not wrong. However, pressure without substance would only strengthen their cohesion. It would also instill a certain conviction in them."
Daniel raised his hand and took hold of the teacup.
"If the Princess and Daniel are rushing things, it must mean there are no traitors within our ranks. Let's continue as we are…"
Daniel took a sip of tea, then gently set the cup down.
"Ultimately, we would have to be content with apprehending only Campbell, who is nothing more than their pawn. Meanwhile, they would neatly resolve their internal distrust and continue their attacks on me and Your Imperial Highness."
Daniel, letting go of the cup, continued speaking.
"Whose victory would that truly be?"
Proceeding by the book would only play into the nobles' hands.
Selvia's expression grew serious, finding Daniel's words to be logical.
"So, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel, your goal is to dismantle them?"
"That's right. They must be wondering how Daniel Steiner knew about the Crown Prince of Belmore Kingdom's surprise attack in advance."
Who would consider that incident mere luck?
Perhaps finding it absurd himself, Daniel let out a low chuckle.
"How did Daniel Steiner know about the Crown Prince's attack beforehand? As they continue to speculate, they will soon fall into the delusion that 'there's a traitor among us.'"
Knowing only fragmented information, they would inevitably conclude that an internal traitor had cooperated with Daniel Steiner.
If the investigation were to be pushed aggressively now, they would realize their speculation was wrong and rally together. But Daniel deliberately delayed the investigation to allow their delusion to spread widely.
"Unable to figure out who exactly cooperated with Daniel Steiner, they will start to suspect each other. And just then, a news story will conveniently emerge."
"You mean the report that Baron Hendliem might be connected to Campbell?"
"That's right. The public will be puzzled, but the nobles will know that Baron Hendliem is also involved. Yet, I denied it, stating there was insufficient evidence."
Daniel Steiner, who had clearly heard Campbell's testimony, would then appear to be protecting Baron Hendliem.
Seeing this, the nobles would inevitably grow suspicious of Baron Hendliem.
They would wonder if Baron Hendliem had made some sort of deal with Daniel Steiner.
"Suspicion will slowly turn into conviction. Whether it's the truth or a lie, it won't matter much to them. What matters is a living sacrifice that can drown in all their distrust."
To increase the cohesion of an organization, eliminating the suspected traitor was the quickest method.
While it wasn't yet clear who the leader of these nobles was, Campbell's testimony suggested it was someone who wouldn't hesitate to eliminate people for their own plans.
"So, Baron Hendliem will have to make a choice."
Daniel leaned back in his chair, shrugging his shoulders as if in regret.
"Either remain isolated and die. Or truly betray his organization to survive."
It was uncertain which option Baron Hendliem would choose, but either outcome was not bad for Daniel or Selvia.
Even if Baron Hendliem died, the seeds of discord sown within their ranks would hardly disappear.
Having heard all of Daniel's explanation, Selvia swallowed dryly.
One piece of the puzzle still remained unplaced.
"Surely the person who leaked the article suggesting Baron Hendliem might be a collaborator…"
The catalyst for the plan could only occur if there was an article suggesting Baron Hendliem might be a collaborator.
Only then would Daniel Steiner deny the article, causing the nobles to begin suspecting Baron Hendliem.
Hearing Selvia's conjecture, Daniel calmly nodded.
"Yes."
Daniel narrowed his eyes gently and continued in a dry, matter-of-fact tone.
"I instructed it."