I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 170

Just a few days ago, Manlard had met with him in person and asked him to persuade Daniel Steiner—to secure the paper’s survival.

It was an open secret that a generous amount of gold had accompanied that request.

But Otto Whitmore hadn’t kept his word.

If he’d succeeded in persuading Daniel Steiner, he would have contacted them by now.

And the fact that he’s now avoiding contact entirely...

It was clear: the persuasion had failed.

No—maybe it wasn’t just failure...

Maybe Otto had gone straight to Daniel Steiner and told him everything:

“The editor-in-chief of the Imperial Daily tried to bribe me into swaying you, Commissioner.”

Most people might not, but Otto Whitmore—who had always wagged his tail for whoever held power—was more than capable of such a thing.

And if that were true, then the Imperial Daily was already in a situation it couldn’t crawl back from.

Manlard instinctively rubbed his neck, swallowed hard, and said:

“...Deputy Editor. Go to the Bureau of Public Security. Right now.”

“Excuse me? You want me to go to the Bureau?”

“Yes! If he won’t take our calls, then we’ll go there in person and make him give us an answer!”

“But... will they even let us in—?”

“So what are we supposed to do then?! Just sit here waiting for the axe to fall!? Like frogs in a pot, blinking away until we’re boiled alive!?”

Redenz flinched under the sudden outburst and bowed his head.

“No, sir! I’ll go immediately and find out what’s going on!”

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He turned without another word, flung open the office door, and rushed out.

The journalists at their desks looked up anxiously as Redenz passed, wiping sweat from his forehead.

They’d all heard Manlard shouting just moments ago.

“What happened?”

“No idea. But it doesn’t sound good...”

“Then what happens to us now...?”

As the newsroom filled with murmurs, Redenz grabbed his briefcase, hurried past several departments, and made his way to the exit.

He stepped outside after coming down the stairs—but stopped dead in his tracks.

A long line of military vehicles was headed straight for the Imperial Daily building.

No... no way...

A chill crept up his spine as the jeeps began to park—one by one—right in front of the building.

As soon as they stopped, doors flew open in perfect unison, and burly soldiers poured out.

They wore uniforms with a grenade insignia stitched into their shoulders—and they were already locking eyes on Redenz with cutting intensity.

His breath caught in his throat.

Grenadiers.

The elite infantry.

And their presence here meant only one thing:

Colonel Daniel Steiner, Emergency High Commissioner of Public Security, had decided to raid the Imperial Daily.

Screeeeech—

A jeep rolled to a stop a beat later than the rest, and the driver’s door opened. A soldier stepped out.

He quickly jogged around and opened the rear passenger door.

And there he was—seated in the back seat—Daniel Steiner.

Adjusting his sleeve, he calmly reached up and straightened his tie before stepping out of the vehicle.

After nodding in thanks to the soldier, Daniel looked around—and locked eyes with Redenz.

A faint smile crossed his lips as he walked toward him.

“Good afternoon. I’m Colonel Daniel Steiner, newly appointed Emergency High Commissioner of Public Security. And you are?”

“Ah... I...”

Redenz swallowed his trembling voice and forced out a reply.

“I’m Redenz. Deputy Editor at the Imperial Daily.”

“Aha! The Deputy Editor, of course. Perfect timing. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to meet the Editor-in-Chief. Would you kindly show me the way?”

He needed to answer. But the words wouldn’t come out.

Redenz was gasping like someone who’d just finished sprinting. Daniel gave a casual shrug.

“Oh dear. You don’t look well. If it’s because of me, I apologize. I suppose the idea of escorting me to the Editor-in-Chief feels a little too much like betrayal... must be weighing on your conscience. In that case, allow me to relieve you of the burden.”

Daniel’s smile disappeared as he stared straight at Redenz.

“Take me to the Editor-in-Chief. Right now.”

****

Third floor of the Imperial Daily headquarters.

Editor-in-Chief Manlard’s office.

Looking out through the large glass window of his office, Manlard saw Redenz returning.

The moment Redenz, his face full of fear, stepped onto the third floor, Manlard rose from his seat, unable to suppress his anger.

He was about to yell at him for not being able to handle a simple task—

But the shouting never happened.

Because armed soldiers began flooding in behind Redenz.

“Kyaaah!”

“What’s going on?! Why are soldiers here...?!”

“I’m sorry! I didn’t do anything!”

While the flustered staff shouted in confusion, the soldiers easily took control of the third floor of the Imperial Daily.

As they pressured the employees with cold stares, the sound of boots echoed from the staircase.

Turning their heads toward the source, the staff—and Manlard—saw Daniel Steiner entering through the open door.

The Golden Cross, the National Star, and the White Dragon Medal of Valor were tightly packed across his chest.

Click.

His steps were unhurried, as if claiming himself to be the true power of the Empire.

Crossing the silent room, Daniel walked up to the Editor-in-Chief’s office and knocked lightly on the door.

“This is Colonel Daniel Steiner, acting under a special order from Her Majesty the Empress. I have urgent matters to discuss. Would you please open the door?”

Manlard, who had no room to refuse, opened the door.

Daniel nodded once in thanks and stepped inside.

Once Daniel had entered, Manlard closed the door behind him.

In the awkward silence, Daniel walked over to the display shelf set up in the Editor-in-Chief’s office.

“My, you’ve won quite a few awards. Journalist of the Year, the Investigative Reporting Award... You were even selected as an Outstanding Wartime Media Organization. That’s the Imperial Daily for you.”

Daniel picked up a plaque from the display and examined it, letting out a low chuckle.

“Though now, I wonder what any of this even means...”

Daniel’s words and actions pressed in with subtle intimidation.

Manlard, trying to maintain his composure, finally spoke.

“Colonel Daniel Steiner. Do you realize what you’ve done? You’ve attacked the press. And not just any press—the Empire’s largest newspaper.”

“I see.”

Daniel, looking unconcerned, calmly placed the plaque back where it belonged.

“Try looking at it the other way. At some point, you started spending quite a bit of time publishing negative articles about me. About a war hero of the Empire, no less.”

He gently brushed the surface of the plaque he’d returned.

“That war hero came back, led the military, arrested collaborators, and became the Emergency High Commissioner of Public Security under the Empress’s order. So I find it difficult to understand.”

Daniel removed his hand and clasped them behind his back.

“Why is it that this fool still doesn’t understand his place.”

The situation had flipped. It was absurd that someone in Manlard’s position was still acting proud instead of crawling.

But Manlard knew.

Bowing wouldn’t make the situation any better.

If he wanted to buy time, resisting was the right move.

“Even if you say that...”

Clenching his fist for courage, Manlard continued.

“You won’t find anything here. And yes, it’s true the Imperial Daily has received donations from ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) nobles for a long time. But everything has been done through legal procedures.”

He took a deep breath, asserting that none of it violated the law.

“So I earnestly ask you, Colonel Daniel Steiner. Please stop this act of suppressing the press by force. The Imperial Daily has never acted outside—”

“Who decides that.”

Daniel’s words shut his mouth.

When Manlard remained silent, Daniel asked again.

“I asked who decides whether your actions violated the law.”

Manlard still didn’t answer.

More accurately—he couldn’t.

Because he sensed that something in Daniel’s presence had shifted.

“Why won’t you answer? Does my question sound like a joke to you?”

Daniel slowly turned and looked at Manlard.

The oppressive force in his unblinking eyes made it hard to breathe.

“Or...”

Daniel stepped closer to Manlard and continued coldly.

“Have you finally figured out your place.”

His shoulder flinched.

Knowing there was nothing more he could say, Manlard quietly lowered his head.

Shaking under the weight of fear, Manlard understood.

Daniel Steiner...

...was far more of a monster than the world believed.