-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Confession
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Faced with Daniel's intimidating presence, Campbell could only keep his mouth shut, as if struck dumb.
The fear that he might lose his life the moment he upset Daniel Steiner, who had arrived leading troops, swept over him.
Daniel, who had been quietly watching the dumbfounded Campbell, suddenly let out a laugh.
"It's a joke. You, Chairman, have every right not to comply with my request."
Daniel put the uniform cap he was holding onto his head.
"Of course, in that case..."
Daniel, who had straightened his uniform cap, reached into his coat.
Daniel pulled out a sheet of paper from within and lightly unfolded it towards Campbell.
"Because it would be denying that I have been granted provisional investigative powers by Her Imperial Highness, the Princess Regent, you will have to bear the consequences yourself."
Campbell swallowed dryly and looked at the contents written on the paper.
──────────
The Imperial Household hereby provisionally grants Daniel Steiner the authority to investigate collaborators suspected of aiding enemy nations, for the purpose of maintaining order and establishing justice within the military.
The investigative powers granted to Daniel Steiner are limited to those suspected of being collaborators and permit the deployment of troops as necessary.
Should anyone fail to cooperate with Daniel Steiner's investigation, it shall be considered an act of desecrating the dignity of the Imperial Household and will be punished accordingly.
The term of the granted investigative powers is until the coronation, and Daniel Steiner is commanded to faithfully carry out this duty for the honor of the Imperial Household and the stability of the Empire.
──────────
At the bottom of the paper was the elegant signature of Princess Selvia.
Campbell, who knew it was a formally issued letter of appointment, ultimately had no choice but to surrender.
"...It seems I was agitated. I will cooperate with the investigation."
Hearing the expected answer, Daniel nodded and turned around.
"Conduct the search."
Upon hearing the command, the troops snapped salutes and filed into Campbell's residence.
Some carried wooden and metal boxes.
Once they had all entered Campbell's residence, Daniel also moved.
Upon entering the house, Daniel saw soldiers scattered throughout, busily piling suspicious items into boxes.
As he leisurely watched the scene with his hands clasped behind his back, Campbell entered with the military officers.
Daniel didn't cast a glance at Campbell, instead examining the surrounding interior.
Seeing the luxurious interior, Daniel exclaimed in admiration.
"So much furniture made of cherry and mahogany! Just one such piece would easily exceed a common citizen's annual income. And that sculpture... it looks like ebony to me, am I right?"
He was implicitly asking if, despite being the head of a political party, Campbell wasn't indulging in too much luxury for a politician.
"What's more, most of it is expensive Art Nouveau style. With so much furniture here that's rarely seen even in the Imperial Palace, my eyes are certainly being treated to a feast. Don't you agree?"
Campbell couldn't answer.
Because it was tantamount to implicitly threatening him to reveal who was providing his funding.
Daniel wasn't particularly expecting an answer anyway, so he calmly walked into the living room.
As Campbell walked, following Daniel, a groan escaped through his clenched teeth.
This was because the noise of the soldiers sweeping all sorts of items into boxes was fraying his nerves.
Amidst the commotion, Daniel pulled out a chair from the dining table and sat down.
Daniel took off his uniform cap, placed it on the dining table, and nodded with satisfaction.
"I think it would be best if we spoke here."
Campbell, taking it as an invitation to sit, walked to the opposite side of the table.
As Campbell pulled out a chair and sat down, Daniel spoke with a hint of a smile.
"I apologize in advance for turning up so suddenly and for the need to conduct a search and seizure, which must have caught you off guard. Of course, there's no need to worry; all items will be returned once the investigation is complete."
As Campbell nodded grudgingly, Daniel playfully tapped the dining table.
"To be frank, I wish to return your belongings relatively quickly. There's nothing to gain for either you or me by dragging this out, wouldn't you agree?"
"...What does that mean?"
"It means exactly what it sounds like. If you give truthful answers to my questions, won't the investigation conclude quickly? Then I can return the confiscated items relatively soon."
Daniel, who had spoken calmly, raised a hand and beckoned with a finger.
At this, one of the officers who had been waiting in the back approached, placed a small tape recorder on the dining table, and then stepped back.
"Alright. From this moment, I intend to conduct a form of interrogation. If you tell only the truth, we can part amicably. Do you understand?"
Campbell stared silently at Daniel for a moment.
He couldn't discern what scheme lay hidden behind that smiling face.
Still, Campbell, unable to refuse, nodded amidst the tension.
"Good. Then I will begin recording now."
Saying so, Daniel pressed the record button on the tape recorder.
After confirming the tape rotating at a steady speed by the motor, Daniel cast his gaze upon Campbell.
"The person currently speaking with me is Campbell, the leader of the Liberal Social Party. Is that correct?"
"...That is correct."
"Then I will now begin questioning you, Chairman, who is suspected of being a collaborator. Have you ever leaked imperial secrets to aid the Kingdom of Belmore?"
Campbell gasped.
It was natural to be flustered, as the very first question demanded an admission of guilt.
'Wasn't he here to negotiate?'
Cold sweat began to form on Campbell's forehead, who had thought he could escape by finding a suitable compromise.
Racking his brain in silence, Campbell clenched his teeth.
He judged that if Daniel was here not to negotiate but to threaten, there was no need to comply.
"What preposterous nonsense! Me, leaking secrets to aid the Kingdom of Belmore? You'd do well to cease such insulting remarks."
Just as he suspected.
Daniel, thinking it was nothing out of the ordinary, pressed the pause button on the tape recorder, then turned around and spoke.
"It seems the search is almost over. Have the soldiers wait outside. Prien? You stay here and draw the curtains."
The officers, upon hearing the command, nodded and immediately sprang into action.
As the officers returned to the soldiers and issued the assembly order, the soldiers, laden with boxes full of items, exited the residence one by one.
Only after the officers had also exited through the front door did Prien begin to draw the curtains in the living room.
As darkness began to fall in the living room, Daniel broke the silence.
"I clearly asked you to tell the truth, yet you persist in telling lies, Chairman."
Daniel clicked his tongue as if in regret, then drew the revolver he wore at his waist.
Daniel opened the cylinder, took out a single bullet from his coat, and loaded it.
Immediately after, Daniel closed the cylinder, spun it around, and looked at Campbell, his smile now gone.
"I suspect you've judged that lying is to your advantage. Therefore, I propose a game to you, Chairman."
"...A game?"
"It's simple. Whenever there's a discrepancy between the information I possess and your answer—that is, whenever you lie—I will pull the trigger."
Is this man insane? Campbell was filled with dismay, but Daniel's expression remained perfectly calm throughout.
"One only speaks the truth when they realize that lying might cost them their life, wouldn't you agree? So, I ask that you cooperate, with your life on the line."
Prien, having drawn all the curtains, approached Daniel's side and stopped.
Campbell, who alternately looked at the two figures shrouded in shadow, clenched his fists tightly.
'This is an absurd threat. He wouldn't shoot me...!'
If he were to arbitrarily kill someone based only on suspicion, Daniel Steiner himself would not escape unscathed.
Therefore, Daniel's current behavior was closer to an empty show of force.
Campbell, judging that Daniel was bluffing, furrowed his brow.
"Ha! You're welcome to suspect me, but you won't be able to shut me up. As I just said, I have never leaked secrets to the Kingdom of Belmore!"
Daniel, who had expected as much, nodded once and raised the revolver.
"You've lied, so you must receive your penalty."
Campbell swallowed hard, staring at the muzzle pointed at him.
Though he trembled with the gun barrel before his eyes, he managed to maintain his composure, knowing Daniel couldn't possibly pull the trigger.
'This is just a simple threat.'
Therefore, there was no reason whatsoever to be played by Daniel Steiner.
"Daniel Steiner! You'd do well to stop this trivial game of threats..."
It was the moment Campbell was about to raise his voice.
*Click—*
As Daniel pulled the trigger, the cylinder rotated.
Campbell's eyes widened at the sight.
'He... pulled the trigger?'
Campbell had clearly seen Daniel put a live round into the revolver's cylinder.
Yet Daniel pulled the trigger without hesitation.
What it meant was singular.
'He intends to kill me. This man is truly trying to kill me...!'
Cold sweat began to stream down Campbell's forehead.
The fear of death coursed down his spine, and his breathing became ragged.
Furthermore, his mind went blank, and his body trembled intermittently.
Daniel, who had been steadily gazing at Campbell as he gasped for breath as if suffering a respiratory attack, placed the revolver on the dining table.
Daniel pressed the record button on the tape recorder again and leaned back in his chair.
"I will ask again. Campbell, the leader of the Liberal Social Party, by colluding with the enemy..."
Towards Campbell, who was gripped by the fear of death, Daniel whispered gently, as if offering a final chance.
"Are you truly a rat who betrayed the Empire?"