I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

The day of negotiations.

The negotiation team from the Kingdom of Velmore was entering Barheim after crossing the Empire’s border.

As black vehicles followed one after another, Magref, seated in the car at the center of the procession, spoke without hiding his discomfort.

“I wasn’t expecting a warm welcome, but the atmosphere is excessively cold. Not a single person coming out to greet the negotiation team…”

From the entrance of Barheim to the city center where they were now, the city’s leaders had not shown themselves.

It was such a cynical response that it felt as if they were saying, “If you’ve come to negotiate, just negotiate and leave.”

‘But we can’t express our dissatisfaction.’

After all, it was the Kingdom of Velmore that had launched the surprise attack.

And in the process, the Crown Prince had been taken prisoner.

Even if the Empire committed diplomatic discourtesies, the Kingdom of Velmore was in a situation where they had to take a submissive stance.

Just as Magref regained his composure, thinking it couldn’t be helped:

“Stop! Everyone halt!”

People who appeared to be Barheim’s guards stopped the negotiation team’s procession.

Just as Magref wondered what was happening, someone who looked like an officer approached his car.

“There will be a brief inspection. We want to conduct a final identity check before you move to the negotiation site, so please cooperate. Please submit your passport, diplomatic ID, orders, or appointment letter.”

At these words, the aide sitting next to Magref bristled and said,

“What is the meaning of this! We’ve already completed identity verification at the city entrance and received permission from your superiors! Are you trying to insult us by conducting another inspection!?”

As the aide became angry, the Imperial officer sweated but didn’t back down.

Watching this, Magref sighed softly and took out his passport and ID.

“That’s enough. Our countries are at war. They’re being cautious with identity checks to prepare for any possible situations, so there’s no need to get heated.”

Magref took out his order papers as well and handed them to the Imperial officer.

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

The officer who received the identification documents bowed his head slightly and began the verification process.

Just as Magref leaned back in his seat, thinking it would take some time:

Bang─

The combined sound of gunfire made his shoulders flinch.

Turning his gaze towards the source of the gunfire, he saw people fallen with bullets in their heads.

Imperial soldiers were carrying out a public execution on one side of the square.

‘Are they dealing with death row inmates…’

This wasn’t incomprehensible, as war meant having to save even the food that should be given to prisoners.

Magref, not particularly wanting to watch people die, clicked his tongue and turned his gaze away.

As Magref adjusted his clothes, mindful of the upcoming negotiations, the officer who had finished the identity check returned the documents.

“The verification is complete. We apologize for any unintended disrespect.”

Magref nodded and received the documents.

Seeing this, the Imperial officer walked to the front of the procession and shouted to allow passage.

The soldiers made way on both sides, and the negotiation team’s procession could move forward again.

After moving for a few more minutes, the negotiation team’s procession slowed down in front of the brigade headquarters.

The negotiations were scheduled to take place in the brigade headquarters building.

As the vehicle came to a complete stop, the driver got out and opened the door for Magref’s seat.

Magref, taking a breath of Barheim’s air, got out of the car and looked up at the headquarters building.

‘Is this the place? Where Daniel Steiner is…’

What kind of person could he be to have such a notorious reputation?

As he was filled with a strange curiosity and tension, a young woman approached with the clicking sound of her heels.

“Are you Major General Magref, who has come as the negotiation representative?”

Turning his head, Magref could see a beautiful woman with short silver hair and red eyes.

“Who are you?”
“I am Lucie Emilia, the adjutant assisting Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner. If you don’t mind, I will guide you to Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner.”
“Daniel Steiner’s adjutant…”

Magref, quietly observing Lucie, nodded.

“I’ll leave the guidance to you.”
“Understood. Then please follow me from now on.”

Lucie, who had been polite, turned around.

Magref and his aide followed Lucie’s footsteps.

After entering the building and walking through the headquarters’ corridors for a while, Magref arrived at a reception room prepared in the headquarters.

The problem was that Daniel Steiner was not visible in that reception room.

Magref, who had entered the reception room and looked around once, turned to Lucie.

“Hasn’t Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner arrived?”
“He will be here soon. Would you please sit and wait?”

Magref frowned at Lucie’s nonchalant attitude.

‘They’re openly looking down on us.’

Although he was angry, he was in no position to protest, so Magref sighed and sat on the sofa prepared in the reception room.

However, even after five more minutes had passed, Daniel Steiner did not appear.

Not understanding this, the aide approached Magref closely and bowed his head.

“…Your Excellency. Do you intend to continue overlooking Daniel Steiner’s rudeness?”

At the aide’s whisper, Magref let out a low sigh.

“Aide. Don’t get caught up in his strategy.”
“Strategy, you say?”
“Yes. He… the Empire is deliberately dragging out time to make us realize that they are in a superior position to us. Getting excited about this fact will only disadvantage us, not the enemy, in the negotiations.”

The aide, nodding at Magref’s cool-headedness, stepped back.

After another five minutes had passed, the door of the reception room opened.

Beyond the open door was Daniel Steiner, well-dressed in an Imperial officer’s uniform.

He was tall.

Although there were dark circles under his eyes, his natural smile exuded composure.

Despite being late, there was no sign of tension, and Magref could tell.

That this would not be an easy opponent.

“You’ve finally arrived.”

As Magref stood up, Daniel Steiner approached.

“I apologize for being late. I had some work-related matters to instruct.”

Daniel Steiner extended his hand and said,

“I am Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner, Operations Staff of the Imperial General Staff Headquarters. Currently, I’m serving as the battalion commander of the headquarters’ direct unit on operational support.”

Magref grasped Daniel Steiner’s hand.

“I am Magref Terophonmarn, commander of the 2nd Armored Division of the Kingdom of Velmore and also holding the title of Count. Since you say you were busy with work, let’s overlook the issue of tardiness.”
“Ah. As I heard, you are indeed a nobleman. I can’t help but be impressed by your polite speech and this deep consideration.”

Daniel, laughing playfully, pointed to the sofa.

“Then shall we sit down and have a conversation?”

Magref nodded and sat on the sofa, and Daniel also took a seat.

The first to open the conversation was Magref.

“First, it would be beneficial for both of us to go over the main points of contention in the negotiations…”

Magref stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth.

This was because Daniel raised his hand to stop Magref’s words.

“I said let’s have a conversation. Let’s postpone the negotiations until after that.”

One of Magref’s eyebrows twitched.

“A conversation? What are you talking about now?”
“You should know well what I’m talking about, Count.”
“…Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner. Does this place look like somewhere you can joke around?”

Daniel quietly looked at Magref while maintaining his smile.

After a long silence, Daniel, letting out a low laugh, took out a portable radio.

“Is the firing preparation complete?”

Firing preparation? While Magref was puzzled, an answer came from the radio.

Yes. As you said, we’ve prepared 267 bullets.

267 bullets? As far as Magref knew, the number 267 matched the number of prisoners Daniel Steiner had captured.

From Magref’s perspective, having witnessed the execution scene in the square earlier, he couldn’t think of this as just a firing practice.

“Let’s start with twenty shots first. Tell the prepared shooters to fire.”

Not only the aide but also Magref was at a loss for words, flustered.

Just as he couldn’t understand how the situation was unfolding:

Bang─

The combined gunfire heard nearby made his hands tremble slightly.

Magref’s eyes, which had been blank for a moment, trembled.

“What on earth…”

After taking a deep breath, Magref shouted loudly.

“What on earth are you doing!? I came here to negotiate! Are you trying to threaten me now!?”

Although Magref roared, Daniel shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t understand.

“Threaten? I simply ordered firing practice to improve the skills of my battalion members.”

At Daniel’s words, Magref drew in a sharp breath.

‘Firing practice? Did he just say firing practice while killing people?’

The trembling in his hands was getting worse.

‘Does this person truly not have a thing called a heart?’

Seeing Magref being consumed by fear, Daniel calmly continued speaking.

“Then let’s return to our conversation. About how exactly the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Velmore was able to accurately determine my location.”

Swallowing dryly, Magref said,

“…I don’t understand why you’re asking me about that.”

Nodding at Magref’s answer, Daniel opened his mouth to the radio.

“Fire.”

Soon after, gunfire rang out again.

At that horrible sound, Magref wanted to cover his ears.

Daniel, who had been staring intently at Magref, pressed the transmit button on the radio.

“Report the firing results.”

All hit the target.
“Good. Now prepare to fire 100 shots.”

At the mention of 100 shots, Magref’s mouth opened slightly as he broke out in a cold sweat.

Daniel’s behavior was so appalling that he could no longer maintain his composure.

However, Daniel, still with a smile on his face, calmly took off his uniform cap.

“Now. I’ll ask once more.”

Daniel placed his cap on the table in front of the sofa and lightly dusted off his hands.

Then, looking at Magref, Daniel wiped the smile from his face.

“Who is it?”

As if looking at cornered prey, Daniel narrowed his eyes sharply and continued quietly.

“The Imperial rat that cooperated with you.”