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Chapter 6

I stared intently at the soldier standing in front of me, halting mid-drink.

His face was brimming with excitement, and I could feel an unsettling sense of admiration directed at me.

At first, I had been annoyed—someone had dared to disturb my hard-earned rest at the officers’ club after a long day of work. But now, I was gripped by entirely different emotions.

Because what I overheard… was absurd.

The soldier had reported that the logistics department’s construction site had uncovered an oil deposit.

Had I misheard? God, I hoped I had.

With cold sweat beading on my brow, I set my glass down on the bar table.

“Soldier, if you don’t mind… could you repeat what you just said?”

“Yes, sir! They’ve discovered a massive oil reserve at the logistics department construction site under your direction, Lieutenant Daniel! Logistics Officer Captain Arnop instructed me to report it to you via radio, but I rushed here personally!”

His voice was loud—far too loud.

It was as if he wanted the entire room to know. As if he were eager to brag about my accomplishments for me.

Because of that, not only the bartender, but several other officers relaxing nearby turned to look in our direction.

“…They found oil at the logistics department?”

“Who found it? That newbie?”

“No, look closely—that’s Lieutenant Daniel.”

“Daniel?”

“You don’t know him? He’s the guy who caught a spy and got promoted. I heard he gave the central intelligence guys a headache back in the hilly region…”

The curious stares and murmurs that followed were suffocating.

‘I won’t be able to show my face in here for a while…’

Feeling like I was sitting on a bed of thorns, I quietly stood from my seat.

“If what the logistics officer said is true, I have no choice but to conduct an inspection.”

I adjusted my uniform and picked up the officer’s cap I had set on the table.

“I’ll seek approval for the inspection from the Head of Operations. Thank you for the report, soldier.”

As I tilted the black brim of my cap downward and gave him a nod of appreciation, the soldier straightened with a crisp salute.

He looked almost emotional. At what point had he become so moved, I wondered?

“It is an honor to assist you, Lieutenant Daniel!”

Returning the salute with a quick nod, I left the officers’ club, brows furrowed.

‘The worst construction site I chose… turned out to be an oil field? Ridiculous. This has to be a mistake.’

Yes. It had to be a mistake.

Oil is one of the most vital strategic resources in warfare.

Without oil, vehicles don’t move. Tanks won’t roll. Planes won’t fly. The presence—or absence—of oil can tip the balance of an entire war.

And if an oil reserve had been discovered under my jurisdiction…

That would mean my standing within the Imperial Army would be solidified. Permanently.

In other words, the dream of a peaceful, honorable discharge would drift even further out of reach.

So please… let the soldier’s report be a misunderstanding.

*

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a misunderstanding.

After ten days of tedious procedures, when I finally went for the inspection, oil was gushing from the middle of the Bardenplatz Plain.

The sight of the drilling rig roaring as it operated was more than a little disconcerting.

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

“Hahaha!” Sergeant Winter burst into hearty laughter, raising his fist high into the air.

He was so enthusiastic that if I weren’t an officer—but rather a fellow non-commissioned officer—I might’ve slung my arm around his shoulder in camaraderie.

Surely, when I first ordered the logistics department to be built here, he must have looked at me like I was some kind of lunatic. Human trash, even. But now? The situation had changed, hadn’t it?

As I looked at Sergeant Winter with a disconsolate expression, Logistics Officer Arnop, who was standing beside me, spoke up.

“Lieutenant Daniel, on behalf of the logistics department, I thank you. According to the report, there’s enough oil buried here to supply the Empire for the next 27 years. This will be a powerful asset for the Empire.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I’ve already contacted the railway department. We’re planning to extend the line directly to this logistics site to ensure faster transportation. That way, we won’t have to rely on imports anymore.”

Wait, wasn’t Arnop usually the anxious, pessimistic type?

Back during the first inspection, he certainly seemed on edge, a textbook pessimist. But now, his eyes gleamed with hope—as if he were basking in some kind of euphoria.

Meanwhile, all I could do was sigh heavily.

What meaning is there in earning merits… in a dying Empire?

Perhaps Arnop mistook my long sigh as a gesture of relief—relief that the Empire no longer had to rely on foreign oil—because he turned to me with a tone of admiration.

“By the way, you’ve achieved remarkable merit in just four months since your commissioning. I wonder if a promotion is already on the horizon.”

Sergeant Winter chimed in, raising his voice.

“Haha! That’s right! At this rate, Lieutenant Daniel might outrank you, Captain! Now that would be something to see!”

As the two of them made a fuss over my promotion, I honestly didn’t know how to feel.

While I appreciated their sentiment, the praise made me deeply uncomfortable.

“You flatter me,” I said quietly. “I have no desire for further promotion.”

The moment the words left my mouth, both men froze—holding their breath, eyes locked onto me.

Had I just said something wrong?

Arnop cleared his throat, then spoke with uncharacteristic solemnity.

“…I still have much to learn. To hear you say you don’t wish for promotion makes me feel small for believing that dedication to the Empire should always be rewarded.”

“Lieutenant Daniel Steiner is truly a model soldier. To have such noble ideals… I wonder how you came to think that way.”

Wait—weren’t you treating me like a clueless rookie not too long ago?

It was absurd… but I couldn’t say it was unexpected.

Compared to me, both of them probably still held some genuine loyalty to the Empire.

So to their eyes, my rejection of promotion—even after achieving a major success—must have seemed noble.

In truth, I refused promotion because I wanted to leave the Empire. But there was no need to tell them that.

Instead, I simply saluted Arnop.

“Now that the inspection is over, I will return to the Staff Headquarters to make my report. Please continue to work hard on the construction of the logistics department.”

“Of course. Just leave it to us.”

As Arnop returned the salute, I lowered my hand and turned to leave.

As I got into the military jeep nearby, the driver started the engine.

After adjusting my collar, I glanced outside the window and saw Arnop and Winter looking at me with envious eyes.

It felt very burdensome, so I quickly turned my head forward and said, “Let’s go.”

“Yes, Lieutenant.”

As the driver pressed the accelerator, the jeep jolted and moved forward.

Since the road was still unpaved, I had to endure the bumps.

While holding onto the overhead handle, I inadvertently looked into the rear-view mirror and broke into a cold sweat.

Arnop and Winter were still watching us.

It felt like I was being seen by a public servant being honored like a minister.

Hmm. I really shouldn’t come near the logistics department anymore.

*

The news that oil had erupted in the Empire’s Bardenplatz Plain quickly spread throughout the Empire.

To announce this joyful news, the newspapers worked tirelessly, and boys on the streets shouted out extras as they eagerly sold newspapers.

Naturally, the Imperial Family was also aware of this fact.

“Is it true that a large-scale oil deposit has been discovered in the Bardenplatz Plain? Who exactly discovered it?”

At the question of Princess Selvia von Amberg, a girl with blue eyes resembling lapis lazuli and golden hair resembling rays of spring sunshine, Logistics Chief Kaspar Benedict put down his utensils.

Kaspar Benedict, who had four stars on his shoulder epaulettes, was the head of logistics but was merely a subordinate in front of the princess.

“Indeed. God has graciously bestowed a treasure upon the Empire.”

“It must not be God.”

Kaspar’s shoulders flinched. He thought the princess was attempting to commit blasphemy. However, the princess had no such intention.

“The discovery that oil is buried in the Bardenplatz Plain was made by a human, after all. I’m asking who that human is.”

“Your Royal Highness, there’s no need for you to know about this orphan. So…”

Selvia narrowed her eyes.

“Logistics Chief, since when did this Empire discriminate based on origins? Have you forgotten that our Empire is currently at war?”

At this moment, Selvia was indirectly implying that he should answer her question.

Kaspar, fully aware of this fact, bowed his head and spoke.

“As far as I know, the one who discovered the oil deposit is Lieutenant Daniel Steiner. I understand he is currently serving as the deputy operations officer at the Staff Headquarters.”

Lieutenant? This person, who is merely a lieutenant, discovered an oil deposit?

For Selvia, who had expected that a high-ranking official would pour money and resources into discovering oil deposits, this was quite a refreshing shock.

‘…interesting, in many ways.’

If he is only just a lieutenant, the chances are high that politically he is a clean slate.

This means it is an excellent opportunity to recruit him as an ally.

One must keep as many competent individuals close as possible.

That increases the chances of inheriting the throne.

“Lieutenant Daniel Steiner, huh…”

As Selvia drummed her fingers on the dining table, a gentle smile graced her face.

‘I should visit him soon.’

I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

MFWH, Mistaken for a War Hero, 전쟁 명장으로 착각당했다
Score 8
Status: Ongoing Type: Author: Released: 2024 Native Language: Korean
I became a staff officer of an empire whose defeat was certain. The only way to escape from the empire with an 8-year mandatory service was through dishonorable discharge. But then… “You can be glad, Lieutenant. Thanks to your accurate instinct, our military could prevent damage in advance.” The more I struggled to be discharged, the higher my performance evaluation became.

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