I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 150

Three hours since the battle began.

Command Tent of the Allied Nations’ 12th Armored Division.

“What the hell is the infantry brigade doing?! Why haven’t we heard a single report of an attack?!”

The Division Commander shouted in frustration, but no one could offer a clear answer.

The staff officers, gathered around the central table where the operation map lay spread out, simply exchanged vague glances.

Every one of their eyes was steeped in distrust and despair.

No one said it aloud, but everyone sensed that something was going very wrong.

And rightly so—if the operation had gone according to plan, they should’ve received word by now that the infantry brigade had struck the enemy command center.

But no such report had come.

Instead, the Imperial forces were fending off the Allied assault with flawless order and coordination.

In the distance, the continuous sound of artillery fire rang out like a somber background score, condemning everyone inside the command tent.

While everyone stole nervous glances at the Division Commander, the Intelligence Officer finally opened his mouth with great difficulty.

“Your Excellency... three hours have passed, and there are no signs of collapse within the enemy command structure. I suspect there may have been a problem with the Etherlium-based strike operation...”

He couldn’t finish his sentence.

The look in the Division Commander’s eyes radiated fury—just on the brink of erupting.

Sensing the mood, the Intelligence Officer quickly lowered his head, and the Division Commander gritted his teeth.

“...This was the first time we ever attempted a strike operation using Etherlium. Do you hear me? Even for us, it was the first time executing such an operation!”

The Division Commander slammed the central table with a loud bang.

The staff flinched but kept their composure, staring straight ahead.

“And yet—are you telling me someone anticipated our plan and prepared for it in advance?! Who the hell could do that?! Who could possibly manage that?!”

As the Division Commander’s interrogation intensified, the Intelligence Officer’s breath became visibly uneven.

He wanted to survive the moment through silence, but the Division Commander wouldn’t allow it.

Feeling the weight of the persistent glare, the Intelligence Officer finally spoke in a trembling voice.

“...As Your Excellency is aware, Colonel Daniel Steiner was recently assigned as Chief of Staff of the Imperial 7th Division. Considering he was previously exposed to an Etherlium-based projectile attack, it is likely that he has always been wary of our teleportation technology.”

In other words, if there was anyone who could have predicted a large-scale Etherlium teleportation operation, it would be Colonel Daniel Steiner.

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The rest of the staff silently nodded in agreement, and the Division Commander clenched his fists.

“Are you saying that we’ve been toyed with... by just one man—Daniel Steiner?!”

The refusal to accept reality often manifests as rage.

Just as the Division Commander was about to lash out again, «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» the communications officer who had been waiting outside entered the tent.

He saluted with a simple nod and began to speak.

“Your Excellency, I have an urgent report.”

“A report?”

“The situation is unfavorable, sir. The 4th Armored Battalion has been wiped out near the enemy trenches. It appears they were exposed to concentrated enemy fire. As a result, our left flank is on the verge of collapse.”

As the Division Commander gripped his command baton tightly, the officer continued his report.

“The 3rd Armored Battalion has also suffered major losses and is in retreat. Subordinate forces have lost command and are withdrawing in disarray. The situation is completely out of control.”

The air in the command tent grew heavier with silence, but the communications officer didn’t stop.

“Under current circumstances, maintaining battle formation is impossible. Furthermore, the Imperial armored battalion has launched a counteroffensive, exploiting our exposed left flank. Your Excellency—at this rate, we have no chance of victory!”

Hearing this, the Division Commander grabbed the central table and exhaled through clenched teeth.

It was obvious—painfully obvious.

As much as he didn’t want to admit it, Imperial tanks outperformed their Allied counterparts in both mobility and firepower.

With their thick armor plating, a frontal engagement meant certain defeat.

To make matters worse, the Imperial infantry constantly carried anti-tank weapons, making it nearly impossible to breach their defenses through conventional means.

“That’s why we had pinned all our hopes on the infantry brigade...”

The brigade that was supposed to teleport into the enemy rear using Etherlium and strike their command center—hadn’t sent any word at all.

It was as if they had been attacked and captured the moment they teleported.

“Have we truly been played... by Daniel Steiner?”

A wave of dizziness surged over him, and his vision began to flicker.

The overwhelming stress was starting to take its toll on the Division Commander’s mind.

“Your Excellency! You must make a decision!”

“At this rate, we won’t be able to recover from our troop losses!”

“Sir! It’s not too late—we still have time!”

The panicked voices of his staff hammered at his already aching head.

The Division Commander let out a low groan and opened his mouth with a face stained in the colors of defeat.

“...The reserve troops... if we commit the rear reserves...”

Not a single staff officer voiced agreement with that suggestion.

They all knew that deploying the reserves wouldn’t change the outcome of the battlefield.

“...Damn it.”

In the end, the Division Commander—his face utterly defeated—shouted:

“Order a full retreat! Immediately!”

****

Meanwhile, at the estate of Count Kaledra.

“P-Please, spare me. I only acquired a few luxury goods that weren’t on the manifest. I swear, I never intended to harm the military—not in the slightest!”

In the front courtyard of the mansion, a man covered in wounds was kneeling, begging for his life.

His name was Grion.

He was a Colonel who had served as deputy logistics officer for a regiment, a man known for his popularity and wide connections among political and financial circles.

Among those close to Grion were several high-ranking military officials as well, making him a rising star whose path to success seemed guaranteed.

That is, until he got caught skimming off military supplies.

Count Kaledra, standing among his bodyguards and leaning on a cane, looked down at Grion and spoke.

“Even if they weren’t on the manifest, luxury goods are still classified as military supplies—and thus, property of the state. And yet you claim you didn’t mean to harm the military by embezzling them?”

“Your Excellency, I...”

“I hate liars. But what I hate more are liars who beg for their lives.”

Grion’s face turned deathly pale.

Realizing there was no chance he’d make it out alive, Grion trembled in terror—when Kaledra suddenly continued.

“However, considering the damage you caused the military wasn’t significant, I’ll let you live. Instead, you’ll pay a fine several hundred times the amount you embezzled. You have no objections, I assume?”

Upon hearing Kaledra’s words, Grion flattened himself to the ground.

“Yes! Of course! If I can be forgiven for my crimes, I’ll cooperate however you wish!”

Kaledra gave a nod and was just about to order Grion released when—

“Your Excellency.”

Deputy Director Beck of the Central Intelligence Bureau approached.

Beck wore a grave expression as he leaned in to whisper into Kaledra’s ear.

“The 12th Armored Division on the Western Front has suffered a defeat and begun retreating. It’s not yet fully confirmed, but it appears the Imperial Army preemptively countered the Allied Nations’ Etherlium-based technology after learning of its development.”

One of Kaledra’s eyebrows twitched.

He gave Beck a look that seemed to ask if it was true, and Beck—breaking into a cold sweat—finally spoke.

“It’s confirmed. After the infantry brigade deployed using Etherlium teleportation, all communication abruptly ceased—as if by some absurd coincidence. They were either captured or killed.”

After hearing everything, Kaledra’s eyes began to tremble.

In a flash of rage, he pulled a pistol from his coat and advanced on Grion.

Hearing footsteps, Grion looked up—and saw Kaledra swinging the pistol toward him.

“Guh-!”

With a dull thud, Grion collapsed onto the ground.

Shocked and gasping, Grion rolled his eyes upward and looked at Kaledra.

Seeing the barrel of a gun aimed at him, he started panting and quickly shouted:

“I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything! It wasn’t just me—there are other logistics officers too—”

Kaledra pulled the trigger.

Bang—

The gunshot rang out, and the bullet slammed into Grion’s skull.

Even after confirming that Grion was dead, Kaledra didn’t stop pulling the trigger.

Bang! Crack! Bang—

Gunshots echoed in rapid succession, and even the bodyguards couldn’t bear the gruesome sight—they shut their eyes tight.

Despite the blood and gore splattering everywhere, Kaledra kept pulling the trigger until the magazine was empty.

Only then did he stop.

He hurled the pistol at the corpse in a fit of disgust and exhaled raggedly.

In his overheated mind, there was only one face floating to the surface.

“It’s you again... Daniel Steiner. You’re disrupting me to a revolting degree.”

The hatred was palpable.

And yet—Daniel Steiner was also the one man Kaledra respected more than anyone else.

Daniel’s achievements always defied Kaledra’s expectations.

If they hadn’t met as enemies, he would’ve wanted Steiner closest to him.

Running a hand through his disheveled hair, Kaledra quietly opened his mouth.

“Deputy Director.”

Beck approached and bowed his head.

“Relay this to Duke Belvar.”

If they missed this chance, they would never be able to catch Daniel Steiner again.

Catching his breath, Kaledra narrowed his eyes sharply.

“Tell him there’s no other way now—we must seize the Capital without delay.”