Was Mistaken For A War Hero

After dinner with Daniel, Katman didn't go home, but instead headed to the Imperial Security Service.

Once inside the building, he entered the Fifth Department, which is responsible for intelligence gathering and espionage within the Security Service.

The intelligence analyst, who had turned his head to see if he was being recognized, jumped to his feet in surprise.

"Inspector Cartman, I thought you said you were off duty?"

"Oh. That's right... first get this."

Cartman held out the coffee to the analyst.

"What coffee?" The analyst was puzzled, but took it anyway.

"I was on my way home from work and I stopped by because I had a question, something. You know how it is, when I have a question, it keeps me up at night until I figure it out."

The analyst nodded uneasily.

It was no secret that Cartman was a prolific performer within the Bureau.

"Speaking of which, I was wondering if you could do some research for me?"

"What kind of research?"

"I'm wondering how many of the medics who served on the Eastern Front have eye wounds and aphasia, and I'd like you to limit your search to brunettes."

The analyst sips the coffee in his hand, puzzled.

"Is that all, sir? As you know, the forces operating on the Eastern Front right now consist of a number of field armies. There are seventeen field army corps alone, and you expect me to investigate them all?"

"I realize it will be difficult. That's why I brought a bribe."

"Would you do it if I offered you a cup of coffee and told you to torture me?"

Cartman broke out in a cold sweat.

"I'll buy you a hundred cups, not one. In my defense, I was in an uncomfortable position to get any other information."

The analyst sighed and nodded as if he had no choice.

"If that's what you're looking for, I'm sure there's a reason, but it's going to take a long time, and I'll need to get the cooperation of Central Intelligence."

"No problem. It's not urgent."

The analyst glared at Cartman in disbelief, then sat down and got to work.

As he watched, Cartman stroked his chin once, remembering the dinner table.

"I don't want to doubt Captain Daniel Steiner, but....

It couldn't hurt to be sure.

The next day.

I walked into the Oval Office to get ready privately before going to the Chief of Staff's office, and to my surprise, Lucy came in first and sat down.

Unsurprisingly, her wig was off and she didn't have her sunglasses on.

"Good morning, Captain."

As usual, it's the same bland greeting.

You wouldn't think it was the same man who detonated the bomb yesterday and escaped over the wall.

I glance nervously at Lucy, then walk over to her desk and sit down.

"...How was your day yesterday?"

I asked coyly as I opened a drawer in her desk, but she didn't even look at me as she went through her papers.

"I went straight back to my quarters after work and relaxed."

"I see. I had a little trouble with a strange woman on my way to the dessert shop."

"I see."

It was ridiculous to see him put up an iron wall like he wasn't interested.

I've spent all day with you, and I didn't even get to taste the dessert.

Glaring at Lucy, I pulled the papers for today's review out of my drawer and sorted them.

As I put the papers in my bag, sorted by importance, Lucy glanced in my direction and said.

"...What a weird girl was she, by the way?"

She was looking at me. After a moment's hesitation, I stood up and said.

"She wore sunglasses indoors."

"Other than that?"

"She had aphasia and couldn't speak properly. And she's got such a big ego that she's turned me down several times when I offered to help her. I don't know how she's going to have a social life. I feel sorry for her."

Lucy closes her mouth and stares at me. No, glaring would be more accurate.

"...."

"...."

The mood turns sour. My chances of being assassinated were increasing in real time.

I let out a hollow cough and walked toward the door.

"Enough chit-chat, let's get to work, I don't want to be late."

"...Yes, sir."

Leaving the Oval Office, I joined Lucy in the staff room.

I started to walk to my seat, but stopped.

The entire staff was huddled around the center conference table.

"This is a masterpiece."

"Yeah, it looks pretty good for something that was rushed."

"But you've got a very fast turnaround in Human Resources. It's not even been a day since the article came out...."

Puzzled, I leaned in closer.

"What are you looking at?"

Lt. Dengel, the Operations Support Officer, turned around at my words.

"Oh, Captain Daniel, the owner of the poster is here!"

"What do you mean, a poster...."

My gaze flicks over the table and I'm frozen in place.

I glanced over the table and froze in my tracks as I realized that the poster was a picture of me, facing straight ahead, frowning, with my hand raised.

Underneath my picture was a large propaganda slogan that read, "Your country wants you!

"No, what Uncle Sam?

I said, dumbfounded.

"Who the hell made this? In the first place, this is just a pose I did yesterday to tell reporters not to take pictures of me. How rude of you to make a poster for a recruiting bell, regardless of my intentions...."

"Captain Daniel. This is a direct order from the Chief of Personnel."

"It was me who was ...rude. On second look, it's perfect."

I nodded in acceptance as I quickly shifted my stance.

Dengel looked at me and smiled.

"Captain Daniel. I know you're already on the early promotion list, but aren't you working too hard to earn it? I had no idea you were still active after work."

A member of the General Staff, who had been listening from the side, interrupted.

"Captain Dengel. Captain Daniel is not doing this for a promotion. He is a paragon of military honor, and I'm sure he's working hard to make the Empire greater."

"Alas, my mistake. Captain Daniel is way up there in the ranks, as far as my salaryman mind is concerned."

In my heart of hearts, I wanted to tell him that a crazy woman in sunglasses had set off the bomb, but Lucy was nearby and I couldn't bring myself to tell her the truth.

I doubt she'd believe me if I told her the truth in the first place.

"You're too kind."

So, humbled, I walked away.

I walked over to the operations officer's desk, pulled out a chair, and said.

"Adjutant, do you happen to have today's newspaper?"

"Yes, sir. I'll get you a copy."

I sat down in the chair and took the paper from Lucy's hand.

I wanted to know what the alternative story was, and whether or not the head of human resources had selected me as a Propaganda soldier.

I opened the paper, and as expected, there on the front page was the picture I had just seen.

Captain Daniel Steiner, you do it again! Busted a Mafia Organization!

The headline made me dizzy.

I swallowed hard and took a look at the contents.

"Captain Daniel Steiner, the man who saved the Empress from terrorism, is in the news again. According to reliable sources, he has been conducting covert operations undercover to eliminate a mafia organization that is parasitizing the system."

Predictably, it's full of rumors.

I sucked it up and read on.

『...After these exploits, Captain Daniel Steiner turned to the assembled citizens and said, "I didn't do this. We all did our part for the Empire, and the people were thrilled to hear him say it."

My head is spinning.

He'd added another word to what I'd said and written it down as if it were true.

When I couldn't read anymore, I folded the paper and threw it over the corner of the desk.

Lucy looked at me and spoke up.

"I heard that thanks to you, Captain Daniel, they also caught a bunch of corrupt officials who were connected to that mafia organization, most of them taking bribes and helping the mafia smuggle opium."

"... Was that in the paper, too?"

Lucy nods.

This gave me a bad feeling.

"I don't want the higher-ups to see this and get the wrong idea....

As if on cue, the door to the Chief of Staff's office swings open and Ernst walks in.

"Daniel! Captain Daniel, you're at work!"

I didn't want to answer when I saw him looking for me with that familiar face.

But I couldn't really say no, so I stood up and saluted.

"Ah. There you are!"

Ernst returned the salute and walked over to me.

"Captain Daniel, rejoice. I just got back from a meeting, and the Deputy Chief of Staff said he'd like to see you later if you're free, if you know what I mean."

The Deputy Chief of Staff is the second most powerful person in the Joint Chiefs of Staff after the Chief of Staff.

Why on earth would someone like that want to see me? An uneasy feeling runs down my spine.

"Captain Daniel."

Lucy smiles at me, one of her rare smiles.

"Congratulations, I see you're now in the line for the deputy chief."

Lucy was probably only smiling to play the "faithful lieutenant," but to me, it felt like she was teasing me.

"...Thank you."

I replied shakily, turning my gaze toward the window.

Contrary to my gloomy thoughts, the sun was shining beautifully on everything.

It was a brutal summer.