I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 173

No victorious nation would sit idle while a defeated one worked on building a nuclear bomb.

Having sorted his thoughts, Daniel opened his mouth, feeling oddly exhilarated.

“The Allied Nations are aware, aren’t they? That we’ve succeeded in uranium fission experiments.”

“Indeed. They surely understand the destructive power of an atomic bomb. For all we know, they might be running a similar project themselves.”

“...So it’s only a matter of time.”

If the Empire didn’t build it, the Allied Nations would.

The most violent and inhumane weapon in history was trying to manifest itself into the world, one way or another.

“If it’s a historical flow that can’t be stopped anyway...”

Then the Empire had to be the first to build it.

Because that was directly tied to Daniel’s ultimate goal: survival.

“The side that builds the atomic bomb first will win the war. That’s not a possibility—it’s a certainty. Therefore, Dr. Rembador, if there’s anything I can assist you with, please let me know.”

Daniel’s proactive stance made Rembador look slightly surprised.

Most people, when told of a weapon with ten thousand times the power of a conventional bomb and a ten-kilometer blast radius, would react with a look that said, What nonsense is this?

But Daniel spoke with confidence, despite not having heard any detailed explanations about atomic bombs.

“I’ve heard Colonel Daniel Steiner is a remarkably capable soldier in many fields, but...”

He hadn’t expected the man to have insight into physics as well.

Without a basic understanding, grasping the implications so smoothly would’ve been impossible.

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Of course, what Daniel had actually envisioned was just a nation devastated by a nuclear blast—but Rembador didn’t know that. Instead, he felt a vague fondness toward Daniel as he spoke again.

“This is a little unexpected. I didn’t think we’d be on the same wavelength so easily. You’re offering to help... Though I’ve already received much from you, asking for more seems shameless...”

Rembador shrugged once.

“To speak of shame during wartime is a luxury. So if I may be so bold as to request something of you, Colonel Daniel Steiner, please focus your efforts on stabilizing the Empire for now. We must set right the chaos brought about by Duke Belvar’s rebellion.”

“Set right, you say. I assume you’re not just referring to the collapse of public order.”

Rembador let out a low chuckle.

“With such sharp intuition, it seems there’s nothing I could hide. Very well. With Her Majesty’s permission, I’ll tell you plainly—an ambassador from Vellanos is expected to visit soon.”

“So it’s related to this project. Meaning...”

“Yes. The Varghof Project.”

Varghof—Daniel was familiar with the name.

He was Selvia’s great-grandfather and the founding Emperor of the Empire.

“It was named in honor of Eternal Grand Emperor Varghof von Amberg, who laid the foundation for our present Empire by restoring order to the chaotic kingdom of his time.”

The reality, of course, was likely that the researchers—conscious of the royal family—had chosen the name in hopes of squeezing out a little more budget.

Finding the name strangely pompous, Daniel turned his head slightly. Selvia furrowed her brows as if protesting the injustice.

“...Could you not look at me like that? I never ordered them to name it that.”

Let’s call that even.

Daniel cleared his throat and looked back at Rembador.

Rembador also glanced at Selvia before speaking in a composed tone.

“In any case, the Varghof Project cannot proceed without the cooperation of Vellanos. We need not only material support, but also to recruit a physicist currently residing in Vellanos.”

“A physicist?”

“A scholar known as Remitel. A rare talent in modern physics, equally gifted in both theoretical and experimental domains. We need his mind.”

Rembador spoke seriously.

“As I mentioned earlier, there are several hurdles we must overcome to build an atomic bomb. One of the biggest is how to create a neutron moderator. Remitel possesses extensive knowledge on the subject. I’m confident he’ll find a solution.”

In short, the greatest mind in the field was in Vellanos, and in order to recruit him, they had to hold diplomatic talks with Vellanos’s ambassador.

Judging by the way he spoke, all the meeting schedules had probably already been arranged in secret.

But everything would’ve been canceled when Duke Belvar sparked the military uprising.

Vellanos likely designated the Empire as a high-risk state due to the insurrection, and must’ve suspended not just the ambassador’s dispatch, but all critical dealings with the Empire.

That’s why Rembador was urgently asking Daniel to stabilize the nation.

Only once Vellanos was informed that the uprising had been fully quelled would they lift the designation and send their ambassador.

“I understand what you mean. I’ll move quickly to eliminate the collaborators lurking within the Empire. But if I may ask one thing...”

“Of course. Ask away.”

“When exactly did the Varghof Project begin?”

It had been several years since the Empire conducted uranium fission experiments.

Which meant the investment in nuclear weapons had begun even before Selvia ascended the throne.

As Daniel asked, Rembador looked to Selvia for confirmation. She nodded.

Receiving her permission, Rembador gave her a polite nod and answered.

“It began unofficially five years ago. At the time, our scientists warned the late Emperor of the dangers based on theory alone. He dismissed it as utter nonsense.”

Rembador nodded slowly, as if it were an understandable reaction.

“As you know, developing such a project requires astronomical funding. The late Emperor was unwilling to invest in a project with unclear feasibility. He prioritized tanks and soldier training—things that could be bought with that money right away.”

Rembador then turned his gaze toward Selvia.

“It was Her Majesty, the current Empress, who stepped forward at that time. She said that if the scientists’ theory was true, then delaying support would be no different than forfeiting the Empire’s place at the forefront of technology. Hearing that, the late Emperor eventually agreed—after much deliberation—to fund our efforts.”

If not for Selvia, the development of nuclear weapons would never have been possible.

“After that, once Her Majesty was named successor by the late Emperor and took on the regency, we entered a new phase. From that point on, we were able to form an official organization.”

It was only after Selvia began serving as regent that large-scale funding began to flow and the project could move forward in earnest.

That was also one of the reasons the nobility began to push back.

They saw vast sums of money being moved and, when asked about it, were simply told it was “classified.” Naturally, they took it as an insult.

But from a military perspective rather than a noble one, Selvia was an exceptionally astute ruler.

“In the current circumstances, I merely pursued the only remaining possibility for the Empire to reclaim its place as a hegemon.”

Selvia took a sip of black tea, then set the cup down with a graceful gesture.

“I simply backed what I saw as a viable opportunity. The true driving force behind it lies elsewhere.”

Selvia turned her eyes to Daniel.

“As Dr. Rembador mentioned, this project required astronomical funding. Regrettably, my father was right—the Empire simply didn’t have that kind of money. There was a time when even maintaining our front lines was a struggle.”

But then, at some point, the Empire began accumulating enough wealth to carry out the project.

And it was all thanks to the man standing before her—Daniel Steiner.

“But that’s no longer the case. A certain hero brought the Kingdom of Eldresia to its knees and delivered a massive influx of resources and wealth to the Empire. He sold war bonds through a total mobilization speech. He turned the neutral state of Vellanos into a de facto ally, enabling not only financial support but the recruitment of brilliant minds.”

Selvia rose from her seat.

There was imperial dignity woven into every movement.

“Colonel Daniel Steiner. The Empire exists as it does now because of you.”

One step. Two steps. Selvia walked slowly toward Daniel, her delicate lips parting.

“And history will take note.”

She halted once the distance between them closed.

“It was I who gave the order for the project, and our scientists who carried it out, but...”

Selvia raised her hand.

“The one who laid the foundation was none other than...”

Her hand, rising slowly as though being drawn upward in a net, came to rest against Daniel’s chest.

Feeling the beat of his heart through her palm, Selvia looked up at him and offered a faint, gentle smile.

“Colonel Daniel Steiner.”

Only then did Daniel understand.

Why the Empress had confided in him about the top-secret Varghof Project.

It wasn’t simply because he had earned her trust.

“As of today... Selvia...”

She had effectively acknowledged him as a senior figure within the Varghof Project.