Chapter 7

I stopped drinking and stared intently at the soldier standing in front of me.

His face, brimming with excitement and radiating admiration toward me, made me feel uneasy.

Initially, I was annoyed with the soldier for interrupting my relaxation at the officers' club after work, but now, a completely different emotion had taken over.

This was because the news the soldier had brought me—that the location for the supply depot construction was actually an oil field—had left me stunned.

Could I have misheard? Oh, I really hope I misheard. I wiped the cold sweat from my brow, set my glass down on the bar table, and spoke.

"Soldier, could you repeat that for me?"

"Of course, sir! A massive oil deposit has been discovered at the supply depot construction site you designated, Lieutenant Daniel! Captain Arnov from the logistics staff sent a radio message to relay this to you, so I ran here despite the risk of disrupting you!"

This soldier's voice was excessively loud.

It was as if he couldn't wait to brag about my supposed achievement, broadcasting it for everyone to hear.

Because of him, the bartender, as well as officers from other departments spending their leisure time at the club, turned their gazes toward me.

"…They found oil at the logistics base?"

"Who found it? Was it that rookie?"

"No, wait, that's Lieutenant Daniel."

"Who's Lieutenant Daniel?"

"He's the one who got promoted for capturing a spy recently. Don't you remember? The one who caused some trouble for central intelligence? And then there's that hills issue…"

The stares directed at me, combined with the occasional snippets of conversation I caught, were overwhelming.

'Looks like I won't be coming back to this officers' club for a while…'

Deciding I couldn't bear to stay any longer, I stood up.

"If Captain Arnov's report is true, I have no choice but to inspect the site."

I adjusted my uniform and placed my service cap on the bar table.

"Let me get permission from the operations staff officer to conduct the inspection. Thank you for delivering the message, soldier."

Tipping the brim of my black cap slightly, I offered a word of thanks, to which the soldier enthusiastically saluted, looking genuinely moved. Though I couldn't fathom what part of my demeanor was so inspiring.

"It is an honor to be of assistance to you, Lieutenant Daniel!"

Acknowledging his salute halfheartedly, I left the officers' club, furrowing my brow in private.

'The worst construction site I selected turns out to be an oil field? This doesn't make any sense… The logistics officer must be mistaken.'

Yes, it must be a mistake.

Oil is one of the most strategically crucial resources in war.

Without it, vehicles can't run, tanks can't move, and fighter jets can't take off. In short, oil deposits could determine the course of the war.

And this meant my standing within the Empire's military would strengthen considerably if I was credited with discovering the oil.

In summary, my dreams of a dishonorable discharge would be pushed further away.

So, please, let this report from the soldier be a mistake.

Unfortunately, it was no mistake.

Ten days of complex procedures later, when I finally arrived to inspect the site, oil was gushing from the ground in the middle of the Barddenplatz Plain.

The sight of oil rigs roaring as they worked made me frown.

"Do you see that? That's the oil Lieutenant Daniel discovered!"

"Haha!" Sergeant Winter Enfeld roared with laughter, raising a fist triumphantly.

If I were a fellow non-commissioned officer instead of a commissioned one, I had no doubt he would have slung his arm around my shoulders, he seemed so energized.

Back when I ordered the logistics base to be built here, he'd looked at me like I was some sort of human garbage. Now, everything had changed.

As I gave Sergeant Winter a disapproving look, Logistics Officer Arnov, standing beside me, spoke.

"Lieutenant Daniel, on behalf of the logistics department, I thank you. According to the report, there's enough oil here to last the Empire for 27 years. This will be a formidable weapon for the Empire."

"Is that so?"

"Indeed. I've already contacted the railway department. We plan to connect this logistics base to the rail network to expedite oil transport. This will eliminate the need for the Empire to rely on imports due to oil shortages."

Wasn't Arnov known for being irritable and pessimistic?

My first impression of him during the initial inspection was that of a cynic, but now his eyes shone with hope. He seemed almost euphoric.

Meanwhile, all I could do was sigh deeply.

What was the point of accumulating military merit in an Empire doomed to lose? It felt utterly meaningless.

Yet Arnov mistook my sigh for one of relief—relief that the Empire wouldn't have to depend on foreign resources anymore—and said, looking at me with pride:

"Four months since your commission, and you've already achieved three significant feats. Perhaps another promotion is on the horizon?"

Sergeant Winter chimed in, his voice booming.

"Haha! Absolutely! At this rate, Lieutenant Daniel will outrank Captain Arnov soon! Wouldn't that be a sight to see?"

The two continued to make a fuss over my potential promotion, but frankly, their celebratory tone made me incredibly uncomfortable.

"I'm flattered, but I have no desire for further promotions."

As soon as I finished speaking, the two men froze, staring at me in stunned silence.

Had I said something wrong?

Just as I began to wonder, Arnov cleared his throat and, with a solemn expression, replied:

"…It seems I still have a long way to go. Hearing you say you don't desire promotion makes me feel ashamed of myself for believing service to the Empire must always come with a reward."

"Lieutenant Daniel Steiner truly embodies the ideal soldier. How can one possess such noble thoughts…?"

Wait, weren't these the same people who treated me like a rookie during the first inspection?

I found this absurd but could understand their perspective.

Unlike me, both of them likely harbored some level of loyalty to the Empire.

From their standpoint, my refusal to seek a promotion after achieving such significant accomplishments must have seemed aristocratic.

In reality, my aversion to promotion stemmed from my desire to flee the Empire. But there was no need to share that detail with them.

I saluted Arnov.

"Now that the inspection is complete, I'll return to headquarters to file my report. Please continue your efforts with the logistics base construction."

"Of course, leave it to us."

When Arnov returned my salute, I lowered my hand and turned to leave.

As I boarded the nearby military jeep, the driver started the engine.

Adjusting my collar and glancing out the window, I noticed Arnov and Winter still staring at me with looks of admiration.

It was unnerving, to say the least, so I turned my gaze forward and spoke hastily.

"Let's go."

"Yes, Lieutenant."

As the driver pressed the accelerator, the jeep jolted forward along the unpaved road.

Gripping the ceiling handle to steady myself, I glanced at the rearview mirror, only to break out in a cold sweat.

Arnov and Winter were still watching.

They looked as though they were bidding farewell to some high-ranking dignitary.

Yeah, I'd better avoid the logistics department in the future.

News of the massive oil discovery in the Barddenplatz Plain spread like wildfire across the Empire.

Newspapers worked overtime to announce the joyous news, and young boys on the streets sold extra editions like hotcakes, shouting the headlines aloud.

Of course, the Imperial Royal Family was no exception to hearing this news.

"Is it true that a large oil deposit was discovered in the Barddenplatz Plain? Who exactly found it?"

The speaker was Princess Selvia von Amberg, with her sapphire-like blue eyes and golden hair reminiscent of spring sunlight.

At her question, Chief Quartermaster Kaspar Benedict set down his utensils.

Despite being a general overseeing logistics and wearing four stars on his epaulettes, Kaspar was nothing more than a subordinate before the Princess.

"Yes, Your Highness. Truly, it is a divine blessing bestowed upon the Empire."

"It's not God."

Kaspar flinched. Was the Princess about to commit blasphemy?

But Selvia had no such intention.

"It was a human who discovered the oil deposit in the Barddenplatz Plain. I'm asking who that human is."

"Your Highness, there's no need for you to know. He's merely an orphan of no significance…"

Selvia's eyes narrowed.

"Quartermaster, since when does the Empire evaluate people based on their origins? Have you forgotten that the Empire is currently at war?"

This was Selvia's roundabout way of telling him to answer the question.

Kaspar understood and lowered his head, responding.

"To my knowledge, the person who discovered the oil deposit is Lieutenant Daniel Steiner. He's currently serving as an acting operations officer at headquarters."

A lieutenant? Just a lieutenant?

Princess Selvia, who had assumed that a high-ranking official with considerable funding and manpower would have made the discovery, found herself genuinely intrigued.

'…Interesting. In many ways.'

If he was only a lieutenant, he was likely politically untainted—a blank slate.

If she wanted to recruit him as an ally, now would be the perfect opportunity.

Talented individuals were assets to be kept close.

After all, having more capable allies would only increase her chances of ascending to the throne.

"Lieutenant Daniel Steiner…"

Tapping the dining table lightly, Selvia's lips curled into a soft smile.

'It seems I'll have to meet him soon.'