Chapter 6

I secretly shed a sigh of relief, quickly adjusting my posture as I glanced around nervously.

I wasn't entirely sure how things had turned out this way, but for now, I was considered the "rising star of the Operations Planning Office," so acting suspiciously wasn't an option.

For the time being, all I could do was perform my duties calmly and plan my next move.

'For now...'

Handling the documents piled up on my desk would be the priority.

Exhaling lightly, I reached for the stack of documents placed next to the phone and began reviewing them.

Rustle—

The papers were filled with routine content.

Requests for operation approvals, requests for construction permits for military facilities—standard bureaucratic fare.

The process was straightforward: I would conduct an initial review and, if no logical issues were found, approve the documents before passing them up the chain.

[Operations Planner → Operations Planning Division Chief → Deputy Operations Chief → Headquarters Chief of Staff]

That's roughly how the approval process worked.

Since there wasn't anything too challenging about it, I proceeded to approve the documents, leaving aside a few that required resource and manpower adjustments.

When I reached the final document, however, I couldn't help but feel flustered.

"Logistics Department Construction Approval Request"

Recipient: Operations Planning Division Chief (Colonel Ernst Bark)

Sender: Logistics Staff Officer (Captain Arnop Haubut)

Date: March 16, 1944

Subject: Request for Approval and Site Selection for the Construction of a Logistics Department on the Eastern Front

In-Charge: Operations Planner (First Lieutenant Daniel Steiner)

At first glance, it appeared to be a typical request for the construction of a logistics department.

The issue was that I was named as the one in charge.

'…Why?'

I couldn't understand it.

A logistics department was a small supply depot designed to receive and efficiently redistribute supplies from rear logistics bases to the front lines.

In essence, it was a vital hub for securing supply routes and ensuring that supplies weren't left idle—a crucial facility.

Logistics was often referred to as the "mother of war," underscoring its importance. But entrusting such a critical task to an operations planner?

And not just any operations planner—a newly-promoted first lieutenant who barely qualified for the role?

'There must've been a mix-up in the reporting process.'

This seemed like something I needed to report to the Division Chief immediately.

Having made up my mind, I grabbed the documents and headed to the Division Chief's office within the Operations Planning Office.

Colonel Ernst Bark, buried under a mountain of reports and paperwork, looked up as he heard my footsteps.

"Ah, if it isn't our hero, Daniel!"

With a hearty laugh, he stretched his back, radiating the vibe of a kind, neighborly uncle.

But one should never judge someone based solely on appearances.

To hold the rank of colonel in the Empire, one must have been through countless battles and trials.

"I only did what was expected of me, sir. The title of 'hero' is far too burdensome for me."

Humility is a virtue in any country, and my modesty seemed to please Ernst, who smiled as he spoke.

"So, Lieutenant, what brings you here?"

"I've completed the initial review of the documents submitted to the Operations Planning Office and came to report."

"Oh, already? As they say, your efficiency is outstanding. Let's have a look."

Nodding, I placed the documents on Ernst's desk—except for the logistics department request, which I held onto. Ernst noticed and tilted his head.

"And that one?"

"It's marked as my responsibility. Strangely, the approval fields for the higher-ups were left blank. I suspect the logistics staff officer made a mistake."

Ernst blinked a few times, then burst out laughing. Why was he laughing?

"Oh, it's understandable to find it odd, but that's not a mistake on the logistics staff officer's part."

"If it's not a mistake, sir?"

"It's a deliberate task assigned to you by the higher-ups. As you can see, I've been quite busy lately, so part of the reason is to distribute the workload. The other reason—well, I think you can guess."

My brows furrowed slightly.

This was clearly a test from the higher-ups.

They were essentially telling me to prove that catching spies and detecting enemy forces hiding in the hills wasn't just a stroke of luck.

The importance of logistics was common knowledge among military personnel, but determining the optimal site for constructing a logistics department was no easy feat.

It needed to be in a location that was safe from enemy attacks, accessible, and spacious enough to accommodate vast amounts of supplies.

In other words, the task was perfectly suited for evaluating my capabilities as an operations planner.

'Could it be the Chief of Staff testing me?'

I wasn't sure, but this was undeniably an opportunity.

A chance to spectacularly highlight my incompetence!

If I built the logistics department in the worst possible location, my performance review would plummet, paving the way for my graceful exit from the military.

Excited by the thought of discharge, I saluted Ernst sharply.

"Thank you for trusting me, sir! I'll do my utmost to oversee the construction of the logistics department!"

My confident response seemed to please Ernst, who nodded with a smile.

"Good. The budget will be sufficiently allocated, so proceed without worry."

"Understood!"

I responded energetically, all the while grinning slyly inside.

'Sorry, but you'll regret this decision soon enough.'

Because I planned to build the logistics department in the theoretically worst location.

Two weeks later, at the rear line of the Eastern Front.

Bardenplatz Plains.

Vrooooom—

Heavy equipment rumbled across the plains, transporting construction materials and shaking the ground.

Captain Arnop Haubut, a logistics staff officer watching from a distance, couldn't hide his dissatisfaction.

'What is the higher command thinking? Handing the construction of the logistics department to a newly-minted lieutenant…'

Because of that damn order to build on the Bardenplatz Plains, resources and manpower were being squandered at an alarming rate.

'Why here of all places?'

The Bardenplatz Plains were a barren expanse—a sitting duck for enemy bombardments.

Building protective barriers was necessary, wasting vast amounts of materials.

And the problems didn't end there. If they were going to build a logistics department in the plains, they should've chosen a site near existing roads.

But the Bardenplatz Plains lacked any usable roads nearby.

This meant they had to construct new roads leading to and from the site, doubling the budget.

It was sheer madness.

'Daniel Steiner, was it? That damned rookie is...'

Arnop, who had never considered himself particularly patriotic, found himself filled with a strange sense of nationalism as he witnessed the Empire's resources being squandered before his eyes.

But what could a mere logistics staff officer do?

Despite his lower rank, Daniel Steiner wielded significant authority, leaving Arnop powerless to object openly.

Even a week ago, when Daniel visited for an inspection and ordered construction to proceed, Arnop couldn't muster a word of protest.

Despite his inner complaints, Arnop, too, was just another cog in the Empire's bureaucratic machinery.

'When orders come from above, you follow. What else can you do…'

Sighing deeply, Arnop pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and placed it between his lips.

As he lit it with a lighter, the radio attached to his shoulder crackled to life.

─ "Captain! Can you hear me?!"

It always had to be when he was smoking. Annoyed, Arnop grabbed the radio and pressed the transmit button.

"Did you forget to state your rank and name again? How am I supposed to know who you are?"

─ "Ah, you're so picky! It's Sergeant Winter Enfeld! Satisfied?"

"Fine. What's the matter?"

─ "About the ground survey we conducted—you know, with the experts we brought in?"

Arnop nodded. Conducting a ground survey before construction was standard procedure.

─ "The results came in today, and let me tell you, Captain, I'm starting to see why they handed this job to Lieutenant Daniel Steiner."

Huh? Just yesterday, the sergeant had been complaining about Daniel alongside him. Now his tone had completely changed.

"Get to the point, Sergeant. What are the results?"

─ "Haha! Well, here's the thing…"

The sergeant exclaimed in a jubilant voice.

─ "Oil! There's oil! The ground beneath us is sitting on an oil field! And not just any amount—there's enough to make extraction worthwhile!"

Arnop's cigarette fell from his lips in shock.

'What?'

Oil? The Bardenplatz Plains were an oil deposit?

If that was true, then the one who lacked a basic understanding of logistics wasn't Daniel—it was Arnop himself.

Exhaling a hollow laugh, Arnop ran a hand down his face.

'Could it be that Lieutenant Daniel Steiner…'

Had known everything from the start? The thought made Daniel's unshakable confidence suddenly make sense.

Chuckling ruefully, Arnop clasped his hands behind his back.

'It seems…'

A truly remarkable talent had joined the Empire's ranks.

Meanwhile, upon hearing that the Bardenplatz Plains were an oil deposit, Lieutenant Daniel Steiner—

'Why?'

Was utterly bewildered in real-time.