I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander - Chapter 6

I put down my drink and stared intently at the soldier’s face before me.

His excessively excited expression, brimming with respect towards me, somehow felt unsettling.

Initially, I was annoyed at the soldier for disturbing my post-work relaxation at the officers’ club. But now, an entirely different emotion had taken hold of me.

It was because of the news the soldier had delivered – that the construction site for the logistical base was an oil field.

Maybe I had misheard. I desperately hoped I had misheard. Breaking into a cold sweat, I set my glass down on the bar table and spoke.

“Soldier. Could you repeat that again, if you don’t mind?”
“Of course! They discovered a massive oil deposit at the site where First Lieutenant Daniel ordered the logistical base to be constructed! Chief of Logistics Captain Arnop instructed me to relay this information to you, First Lieutenant, which is why I rushed here, pardon my intrusion!”

This soldier’s voice was far too loud.

He was practically shouting the news of my achievement for all to hear, as if he couldn’t contain his excitement.

As a result, not only the bartender but other officers from different departments enjoying their leisure time were now turning their gazes towards me.

“…Oil was discovered at the logistical base site?”
“Who found it? Surely not that greenhorn?”
“No, look closely, that’s First Lieutenant Daniel.”
“First Lieutenant Daniel? Who’s that?”
“The one who caught the spy and received a one-rank meritorious promotion, remember? He’s the reason the Central Intelligence Bureau took some flak, with that foothills incident and all…”

The stares directed at me and the snippets of conversation were weighing heavily upon me.

‘Looks like I won’t be able to visit the officers’ club for a while…’

Remaining here any longer would only make me a target, so I stood up.

“If the Chief of Logistics is telling the truth, I have no choice but to conduct an inspection.”

Straightening my uniform, I donned my peaked cap.

“I’ll request permission for an inspection from the Chief of Operational Planning. Thank you for delivering the news, soldier.”

As I lowered the black visor of my cap while expressing my gratitude, the soldier snapped a vigorous salute.

He seemed deeply moved, though I couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason.

“It’s an honor to be of assistance to First Lieutenant Daniel!”

After returning his salute casually, I left the officers’ club, frowning inwardly.

‘The worst possible construction site I selected turned out to be an oil field? This makes no sense… The logistics officer must be mistaken.’

Yes, it had to be a mistake.

Oil was one of the most strategically vital resources in warfare.

Not only was it necessary for vehicles, but oil was also required to operate tanks and deploy aircraft, making its presence or absence a decisive factor in the tide of war.

This meant that my standing within the Imperial military would solidify if oil was truly discovered.

In other words, the dream of a dishonorable discharge had become even more distant.

So please, let the soldier’s report be a mistake.

Unfortunately, it was not a mistake.

After a complex procedure spanning ten days, I finally conducted the inspection – only to find oil gushing forth from the very heart of the Bardenplatz Plains.

Oil drilling rigs were operating with thunderous noise, causing me to furrow my brow.

“Do you see it? That’s the oil you discovered, First Lieutenant Daniel!”

Sergeant Vinter Enpelt burst into a hearty laugh, punching the air enthusiastically.

His fervor was so intense, one might have thought he would clap me on the shoulder if I were a fellow non-commissioned officer instead of an officer.

Clearly, his attitude had changed since the time when he had glared at me with disdain for ordering the construction of a logistical base here.

As I regarded Sergeant Vinter with displeasure, the Chief of Logistics, Captain Arnop, spoke up from beside me.

“First Lieutenant Daniel. On behalf of the Logistics Department, I express my gratitude. According to reports, the underground reserves contain enough oil to last the Empire for 27 years. This will serve as a powerful weapon for the Empire.”
“I see.”
“Yes. In relation to this, I’ve also contacted the Railway Department. We plan to connect this logistical base to the railway network for faster oil transportation. That way, we won’t have to rely on imports due to oil shortages.”

Wasn’t this Arnop typically irritable and negative about everything?

During my initial inspection, he had come across as a pessimist, but now his eyes were brimming with hope. He even seemed to radiate a strange sense of elation.

In contrast, all I could muster were heavy sighs. What meaning would accruing merits hold for an Empire destined for defeat?

Arnop must have mistaken my sighs for relief (that the Empire would no longer rely on foreign powers), as he turned to me with an admiring tone.

“By the way, you’ve only been commissioned for about four months, yet you’ve already accumulated three major merits. It wouldn’t be surprising if you get promoted again soon.”

Sergeant Vinter chimed in, raising his voice.
“Haha! That’s right! At this rate, First Lieutenant Daniel might outrank you, Captain! Now that would be quite a sight, wouldn’t it?”

Observing the two of them fussing over my potential promotion, I felt… well…

While I appreciated their congratulatory sentiments, as the recipient, it was nothing short of discomforting.

“You’re too kind. I have no desire for further accelerated promotions.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than the two of them fell silent, staring at me intently.

Just as I wondered if I had misspoken, Arnop cleared his throat and addressed me in a rather serious tone.

“…I still have a long way to go. Hearing you say you don’t seek promotion makes me feel insignificant for thinking the Empire’s service should be duly rewarded.”
“First Lieutenant Daniel Steiner is truly an exemplar of a soldier. How can you have such noble thoughts…”

Hold on, weren’t you two treating me like a greenhorn during the initial inspection?

While perplexing, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.

Compared to me, they likely possessed some degree of loyalty to the Empire.

From Arnop and Vinter’s perspectives, my statement of not desiring promotion despite accumulating great merits must have seemed noble indeed.

In reality, I didn’t want a promotion because I wished to desert the Empire, but there was no need to enlighten them.

I offered Arnop a salute.

“Since the inspection is complete, I shall return to the General Staff Headquarters to submit my report. I ask that you both do your utmost in the construction of this logistical base.”
“Of course. Leave it to us.”

After Arnop returned my salute, I turned and walked away.

Boarding a nearby military jeep, the driver started the engine.

After adjusting my collar, I glanced out the window to find Arnop and Vinter regarding me with admiring looks.

Feeling deeply burdened, I hurriedly turned my head forward and spoke.

“Let’s go.”
“Yes, First Lieutenant.”

As the driver stepped on the accelerator, the jeep lurched forward on the unpaved road.

Such jolts were unavoidable on the unfinished roads.

Gripping the ceiling handle as we drove, I inadvertently glanced in the rearview mirror and broke into a cold sweat.

Arnop and Vinter were still staring in our direction.

It felt like they were viewing some esteemed public official.

Hmm. It seemed I should avoid the logistical base area from now on.

The news of an oil strike in the Bardenplatz Plains of the Empire spread like wildfire across the nation.

Newspaper companies operated their printing presses day and night to announce the joyous tidings, while street urchins hawked the special editions, selling the papers like hot cakes.

Naturally, the Imperial Royal Family was also aware of this development.

“Is it true that a major oil field has been discovered in the Bardenplatz Plains? And who, exactly, found this oil field?”

Upon the inquiry from the azure-eyed, golden-haired Princess Celvia von Amberg, the Chief of Logistics, Kaspar Benedikt, set down his utensils.

With four stars on his epaulet, Kaspar Benedikt was the general overseeing logistics, but before the Princess, he was merely a subordinate.

“Yes, Your Highness. The Lord has bestowed a truly gracious treasure upon the Empire.”
“It wasn’t the Lord, though.”

Kaspar’s shoulders flinched, thinking the Princess was committing blasphemy. But Celvia had no such intention.

“An oil field in the Bardenplatz Plains was discovered by a human, not the Lord. I’m asking who that person is.”
“Your Highness. There is no need for you to know the name of that lowborn orphan. So…”

Celvia’s eyes narrowed.

“Chief of Logistics. Since when has the Empire based evaluations on one’s origins? Have you forgotten that we are currently at war?”

Celvia was insisting that he answer her question.

Recognizing this, Kaspar lowered his head and spoke.

“From what I know, the one who found the oil field is First Lieutenant Daniel Steiner. He is currently serving as the acting Operational Planning officer at the General Staff Headquarters.”

A first lieutenant? Someone of such a low rank had discovered the oil field?

Celvia, who had expected a high-ranking official to have located the oil field by pouring money and manpower into the search, found this quite a surprising revelation.

‘…Interesting. In more ways than one.’

If the discoverer was a mere first lieutenant, the chances of him being politically innocuous were high.

There would be no better time than now to assimilate him as an ally.

One should have as many capable talents by one’s side as possible.

That way, the odds of ascending to the throne would increase.

“First Lieutenant Daniel Steiner…”

Drumming her fingers on the dining table, Celvia gave a faint smile.

‘I should pay him a visit soon.’