“This is Kingfisher. Target eliminated. Returning to the temporary forward base.”

    It was a transmission received by Heinz, who had been waiting at the Drokenberg Highlands.

    This meant Heinz’s rational prediction had been wrong, and Daniel’s intuition had been right.

    Heinz wanted to believe it was a lie, but he knew there was no way Daniel, obsessed with earning accolades, would file a false report.

    Responding with an acknowledgment, Heinz withdrew from the highlands and returned to the forward base, where he witnessed Daniel’s results firsthand.

    “...Unbelievable.”

    In the clearing, prisoners wearing Allied uniforms were kneeling in rows.

    Even at a glance, there were over 80 of them—guarded by no more than 20 Imperial soldiers.

    It was such an unrealistic sight that Heinz felt like he was looking at something out of a dream.

    Heinz’s aide was just as stunned by Daniel’s achievement.

    “...Lieutenant Daniel actually took down a company with a single platoon. How is that even possible?”

    It wasn’t entirely impossible.

    Rare, but not unheard of. There were historical examples of Davids defeating Goliaths.

    ‘But still...’

    Had any David ever taken Goliath alive as prisoners?

    Heinz couldn’t comprehend how a platoon of 20 had not only defeated but also forced a company to surrender.

    Moreover, the captured Allied company included five officers and seven non-commissioned officers.

    One of the officers was even field-grade.

    The intelligence they could extract from these prisoners alone made this a monumental achievement.

    As Heinz gazed at the prisoners groaning in the snow, he sensed someone approaching and looked up.

    Daniel stood there, saluting.

    “You’ve returned, Captain Heinz.”

    Heinz returned the salute, speaking with disbelief still lingering in his voice.

    “Incredible. How did you capture them all?”

    “Oh. I’d say it was just luck.”

    Though Daniel meant it sincerely, Heinz only saw it as false modesty.

    ‘They say modesty is a virtue in the Empire. If I didn’t know his true nature, I might have been fooled too.’

    Growing more wary of Daniel, Heinz cleared his throat.

    “Enough with the ‘luck’ nonsense. What kind of platoon defeats a company purely by chance? This is your achievement.”

    “...I disagree.”

    Daniel spoke with a serious expression.

    “I merely reached my conclusion based on Captain Heinz’s assessment and the Central Intelligence Bureau’s data. The credit should go to you and the Intelligence Bureau.”

    Daniel was practically begging Heinz not to report his success to headquarters.

    But to Heinz, it came across as a calculated move to flatter superiors and secure promotions.

    ‘Lowering himself while praising his superiors—he’s disarming even the most rigid officers. Not only is he brilliant at commanding troops, but he also knows how to maneuver politically...’

    Heinz felt a chill run down his spine.

    This man was a monster obsessed with promotion.

    Suppressing his unease, Heinz replied in a low voice.

    “That won’t happen. I don’t submit false reports. Your success will be reported as it is, so enjoy your victory.”

    Daniel’s eyebrow twitched.

    ‘Damn it! Can’t you take the damn credit, you dense bastard!?’

    Any other officer would’ve gladly accepted the accolades, but this inflexible fool refused to steal his subordinate’s achievements.

    It was suddenly clear why Heinz, despite his competence, held such a low rank.

    Daniel sighed inwardly but kept his face neutral.

    The sudden question caught me off guard.

    But it was the kind of question an imperial princess might naturally ask.

    Surrounded by generals and officers constantly shouting, ‘The Empire will win!’ this must have been her chance, disguised as a war correspondent, to hear an honest opinion from a lower-ranking officer.

    “It won’t be easy.”

    I figured I could at least give her some advice.

    Selvia looked at me like she didn’t understand.

    “What do you mean it won’t be easy? The Empire has practically won on the Northern Front. We’re hearing victory reports from the Eastern Front as well. At this rate, the Empire will win the war against the Allies.”

    “Yes. Assuming no third-party nations intervene.”

    Selvia didn’t understand the horrors of a world war.

    That’s why she could speak so casually.

    “If the Empire defeats the Allies and claims their resources, what do you think will happen?”

    Selvia’s expression turned serious.

    “Obviously, we’ll become the dominant power—a hegemon above all nations...”

    “Yes. If everything goes well, the Empire might even lay the groundwork for unifying the world. But the problem is that other major powers know this too.”

    The great powers feared the Empire’s growing strength.

    They also saw the Allies’ downfall as a potential preview of their own futures.

    Fear and paranoia would ignite the flames of war against the Empire.

    Nations that saw conflict as inevitable would rush to declare war—and their target would be none other than...

    “The Empire will become the enemy of the world.”

    This, ultimately, was why the Empire would lose to the Allied forces.

    “...”

    Selvia’s expression darkened.

    She seemed to be processing my words, weighing their rationality.

    It must have been a shock to hear something so drastically different from the generals’ unwavering optimism.

    For all I knew, she might decide I was paranoid and lash out.

    But instead, she considered my opinion.

    “I see. That’s certainly one possibility. But Lieutenant Daniel Steiner, how exactly did you arrive at that conclusion—”

    I didn’t get the chance to answer.

    Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted something glinting in the sunlight ahead—sharpened spikes scattered across the road.

    ‘Spike strips...!’

    Snapping to attention, I urgently turned the wheel, veering off onto a side path.

    Clunk!

    The sudden maneuver threw Selvia off balance, and she fell against my thigh.

    “Ugh!”

    Grabbing my leg for support, Selvia tried to push herself upright—only for me to shove her head down.

    “Ugh!? Lieutenant Daniel! What the hell—”

    Tat-tat-tat-tat!

    Gunfire erupted from all directions, bullets whizzing past and slamming into the jeep.

    One round hit the passenger window with a sharp crack.

    If it weren’t for the reinforced glass, it would’ve shattered instantly.

    Finally understanding the situation, Selvia stopped trying to raise her head and ducked lower.

    “No way...!”

    Unfortunately, it was exactly what she thought.

    Spike traps and gunfire meant only one thing—

    An ambush.