Although he didn’t show it outwardly, Belvar’s breathing had begun to grow unsteady.

    Moreover, Daniel noticed the slight trembling in Belvar’s eyes as their gazes met.

    Thanks to that, Daniel was certain.

    ‘He’s wavering.’

    The expression Belvar wore now belonged to someone desperately trying to conceal their fear.@@@@

    ‘Good.’

    Had Belvar sneered and brushed it off at this point, it would have put Daniel in a difficult position.

    ‘If Belvar thought of me as just another ordinary strategist, that’s exactly what would have happened.’

    But Belvar was genuinely wary of Daniel.

    Daniel’s assumption—that Belvar held him in high regard—had been proven correct.

    ‘In that case....’

    The best move for Daniel was to continue acting as the ‘worst-case scenario Daniel Steiner’ that Belvar imagined, in order to make this negotiation succeed.

    ‘If this negotiation fails, I’ll die instead.’

    Steadying his resolve, Daniel feigned composure as he pulled out a document from his coat.

    Belvar swallowed hard at the sight.

    “That is....”

    Daniel nodded.

    “It’s a copy of the documents we collected after apprehending Dawn’s Light, His Highness’s secret organization. I’m sure a man of your caliber can easily understand what these documents imply.”

    Daniel handed the document to him as if inviting him to confirm it himself.

    Belvar took the document and carefully examined its contents.

    It wasn’t a fabricated piece of evidence; the operation’s date and details were meticulously recorded.

    Belvar’s hands began to tremble slightly.

    “Duke Belvar.”

    Daniel addressed him slowly, letting his words seep in.

    “What do you think will happen if this document is made public? His Highness’s path to becoming Crown Prince will vanish, and the Empire’s citizens will cry out for the blood of a traitor.”

    Belvar clenched his teeth.

    He already knew what Daniel’s next words would be.

    “At that time, we’ll inform the citizens of the capital. Before punishing the traitors, we conducted an investigation and discovered a certain family was connected to them. And that family is....”

    Daniel reached out and pressed down lightly on the top of the document Belvar was holding.

    Lowering his voice so only Belvar could hear, Daniel whispered.

    “The Bahatrante family, led by you, Duke Belvar.”

    Belvar’s eyes widened as he glared at Daniel over the document.

    The nerve of a mere orphan—a vagrant—to dare threaten one of the Empire’s most noble families filled him with rage.

    With anger written all over his face, Belvar slammed the document onto the table.

    “You filthy scum...! It seems the rumors about you weren’t exaggerated in the slightest. I can’t fathom how someone as low and despicable as you managed to stand by Her Highness’s side!”

    Belvar raised his voice, but Daniel only responded with a look of mild discomfort.

    “I’ll humbly accept whatever judgment you have of me, Duke. However, I’d like to remind you that this is a place for making decisions, not for denouncing me.”

    Belvar’s breathing grew rough.

    Noticing this, Daniel continued in a calm, measured tone.

    “And if, during that investigation, evidence surfaces that your son funded the traitors, things will take a complicated turn. Just imagine how terrible that would be.”

    Daniel clicked his tongue as if lamenting the situation.

    At that moment, the servant returned with the ice.

    Daniel gestured for him to come closer, and the servant carefully placed ice cubes into the glass.

    After thanking the servant, Daniel opened the bottle of Johnnie Walker and poured the liquor into the glass.

    When Daniel lifted the glass, Belvar finally spoke with difficulty.

    “...My son has nothing to do with this. I swear it.”

    Daniel took a sip of the whiskey, shrugged, and replied.

    “Well, from my perspective, it seems he does.”

    “Don’t slander him! Daniel Steiner...!”

    “Ah, I misspoke. It’s not that it seems like he’s involved....”

    Walking behind Belvar, Daniel lightly placed a hand on his shoulder.

    “...I’ll make sure he is involved.”

    Belvar’s eyes widened at the chilling statement.

    As his complexion paled, Daniel leisurely walked back to his seat.

    “Just in case you’re wondering, don’t count on the Security Bureau’s help. By then, they’ll be obeying the new Emperor’s orders.”

    Daniel sat back down on the sofa and placed the glass on the table.

    “And it won’t stop with your eldest son. I’ll rope in your second son, who works in the electrical industry, and your third son, who runs the oil company, as well.”

    “T-That’s....”

    Belvar’s breathing became more labored, almost as if he were hyperventilating.

    Watching the trembling old fox, Daniel flashed a pleasant smile.

    “Oh dear. It looks like you’re about to lose three fingers at once. Tell me, Duke—can you join hands with anyone after losing three fingers? From what I see, everyone will avoid you.”

    Belvar, gasping for breath, suddenly shut his eyes tight and let out a groan that bordered on a scream.

    “M-My lord!”

    The servant rushed over with medicine and water.

    Belvar quickly poured the pills into his mouth and washed them down.

    Only then did his breathing start to calm, though his eyes remained shut.

    Watching him quietly, Daniel leaned forward and snapped his fingers.

    Snap—

    Startled by the sharp sound, Belvar opened his eyes to find Daniel extending his hand for a handshake.

    To Belvar, the smile on Daniel’s face was devoid of even the slightest trace of humanity.

    “What are you doing?”

    Daniel lightly shook his extended hand.

    “Now that you’ve come back to your senses, it’s time to make the right decision.”

    Take my hand before it’s too late.

    Daniel’s words couldn’t have been clearer.