I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 176

After sending Count Ophilo away, Daniel headed down to the underground detention cells with Frien.

He had originally intended to leave the matter entirely in Frien’s hands, but changed his mind after seeing Ophilo’s attitude.

It was clear that the right course of action was to extract the list of collaborators from Duke Belvar as quickly as possible—so that the Noble Coalition would be unable to recover or attempt any countermove.

And so, accompanied by Duke Belvar’s family and several soldiers, Daniel descended into the underground of the Central Security Bureau and surveyed his surroundings.

Under the indifferent flicker of incandescent bulbs, several nobles could be seen behind iron bars, now living like common criminals.

Unwashed and disheveled, they lowered their heads or turned their gaze away as Daniel passed.

Like frightened puppies before a tiger, they cowered in fear.

Such scenes stirred dark thoughts.

“If the 7th Armored Division had been nearly annihilated on the eastern front...”

Then the one branded a traitor and thrown behind bars ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) would have been none other than Daniel himself.

Power was a cruel thing—where the victor claimed everything and dictated the loser’s fate.

Even so, Daniel felt no sympathy for these people.

They were the very collaborators who had bet their stakes on Duke Belvar and sent their own nation’s soldiers to die.

Daniel, casting a scornful glance at them, withdrew his gaze just as Frien—who was walking ahead—came to a stop.

“Here we are. This is where Duke Belvar is being held. It’s a little crowded with visitors today, but the space is wide enough for everyone to fit.”

With her usual clear tone, Frien pulled a ring of keys from her belt and opened the cell door.

She entered first, followed by Daniel and the rest of Duke Belvar’s family.

The first thing Daniel saw upon entering was Duke Belvar, bound to a chair beneath the flickering light of a bulb.

His hands and feet were bloodied, likely from Frien’s torture, and dried blood was caked around his mouth.

Even so, he appeared relatively intact on the surface—because Frien, after completing the torture, had restored his body with her unique healing magic.

“So, in theory, she can inflict eternal suffering. This really is hell.”

Clicking his tongue, Daniel watched as Peremilla, who had entered belatedly, recoiled and covered his mouth in shock.

The rest of the family also gasped or began to sob softly upon seeing Belvar’s ruined state.

It was the first time they had ever seen the once-dignified and authoritative Duke brought so low.

“Father...”

“How could Duke Belvar end up like this...?”

“This can’t be happening. Father...”

Though his family murmured in horror, Frien paid them no attention.

She simply walked delicately toward Belvar, who remained motionless with his head lowered.

“Your Grace? It’s me.”

She spoke in a gentle voice, but Belvar didn’t so much as twitch.

“Oh dear, seems he hasn’t regained consciousness yet. In that case, I’ll cast a little spell.”

Speaking as if narrating to an audience, Frien placed her hand on Belvar’s head.

A dark aura flickered at her fingertips, and Belvar’s body jolted violently as if having a seizure.

Then, slowly, his cracked lips parted.

“...You again. How many times must I tell you? You’ll get nothing from me.”

Confirming that Belvar was conscious, Frien removed her hand.

“You really are impressive. I’ve used every method I know to try to get Your Grace to talk. An ordinary person would’ve been crying and screaming long ago, begging to confess something, anything.”

A faint smile crept across Belvar’s lips.

“What would change if I told you everything I know? That I’d be spared torture until the trial and sentencing? Spare me your pity!”

He chuckled, his shoulders trembling.

“I’m already a dead man. It’s easier to think of it as paying for my sins before I go. No matter how skilled you are at torture, I will never speak.”

“Oh? But wouldn’t things be different if the ones receiving the pain weren’t you, but your family instead?”

“My family? What are you talking abou—”

Belvar instinctively raised his head—then froze.

Through the messy strands of hair that fell across his eyes, he could see Peremilla.

And not just Peremilla.

His second and third sons were also standing there, their faces tight with tension, staring straight at him.

At first, he thought it was a hallucination brought on by pain.

But no matter how many times he blinked, the family standing before him didn’t disappear.

“Why are you here...? You should’ve escaped by now... why are you still—”

For the first time, Belvar’s voice trembled.

Daniel, having confirmed Belvar’s shaken state, calmly opened his mouth.

“Let me lay out the terms.”

At the sound of Daniel’s voice, Belvar snapped his head toward him.

There stood Daniel, arms crossed, gazing down at him with an unwavering stare.

“Duke Belvar. If you wish to keep your family safe, you will reveal everything you know. If you refuse again, I will have no choice but to use the worst method you can imagine.”

Belvar said nothing.

The situation was too confusing—he had no idea how to respond.

His breathing grew ragged, and his pupils quivered.

“This doesn’t make sense... How? When Daniel Steiner invaded the capital, my family should have already reached the port city of Lost Bellemont. How could they have been captured?”

Staring blankly into space, Belvar slowly turned his eyes toward Daniel.

“Don’t tell me... You used some private organization to move ahead of me?”

When Daniel didn’t respond, Belvar let out a hollow laugh.

“Excellent. Truly excellent. You’ll stop at nothing to root out your enemies. Then let me ask you something—what makes you any different from Count Kalhedra? Just as he turned his king into a puppet for power, are you not doing the same to the Emperor of the Empire—”

Frien swung her hand.

Smack—

Belvar’s head snapped to the side as her slap landed squarely on his cheek.

Looking down at Belvar with a cold expression, Frien parted her lips.

“Don’t ever insult Colonel Daniel again. That was your final warning.”

Though her mouth wore a smile, her eyes were nothing short of murderous.

“Also, it seems Your Grace doesn’t fully grasp the situation you’re currently in. So let me explain it to you, kindly.”

Frien gently placed her hand on Belvar’s shoulder.

“We’ll start with the eldest son. We’ll place a chair in front of you, tie him up exactly like you are now, and subject him to every form of torture imaginable. Everything you went through—and more. We’ll try some new methods, too. Doesn’t that sound fun?”

Belvar clenched his jaw in fury, but Frien ignored him.

“The rest of your family will be tortured one by one, in turn. Imagine it—your family screaming in agony. Tell me, when it comes to the end, who do you think they’ll blame? Me? Or...”

Frien leaned in and whispered in Belvar’s ear.

“...you, who led your innocent family into hell.”

Belvar’s bound hand twitched.

He imagined it—his family, tied up across from him, being tortured by Frien.

The screams, the curses, the crying—it all played in his mind like a vivid hallucination.

His trembling hands began to shake more violently, and a deep sound escaped between his clenched teeth.

The sound soon became a sob, and tears welled in Belvar’s eyes.

He had kept silent until now to protect his family.

But if that silence only brought them pain—then what was the point?

Even worse...

This insane woman in front of him—she was the type who did what she said.

If it was something that benefited Daniel Steiner, she would never hesitate.

From what little time he’d spent speaking with her in this place, he knew she was a fanatic—someone who’d sacrifice her life without blinking if it served Daniel Steiner.

So then...

It wouldn’t be wrong to assume that the words Frien spoke reflected Daniel Steiner’s own will.

She’s nothing more than the mouthpiece of Daniel Steiner’s intentions.

Thinking this, Belvar turned his gaze to Daniel, eyes filled with dread.

Standing there, arms crossed, eyes cold from beginning to end—he looked like a true cold-blooded monster.

He doesn’t even blink when we talk about torturing innocents...

As Belvar was swallowed by despair, Daniel, unseen by the others, broke into a cold sweat.

What the hell, Frien? Why go that far...

It wasn’t that he didn’t blink—it was that Daniel himself was so shocked he froze.

He hadn’t expected Frien to talk about torturing all of Belvar’s family, one after another.

But of course, Belvar couldn’t have known that—and to him, it felt like there was no way out.

“...I’ll talk.”

If hell existed, this was it.

Eyes closed, voice shaking from sobs, Belvar finally spoke.

“I’ll say whatever you want...”

Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes—and instead of looking at Frien, he turned to Daniel.

“Colonel Daniel Steiner... I beg you.”

With his expression collapsing into something half-pleading, half-resigned, Belvar continued.

“Please... spare my family.”

At those words, one of Daniel’s eyebrows twitched.

Why’s he begging me...?

To be honest, it felt a little unfair.

I mean... I’m glad it worked out, but still...

He couldn’t help but feel a creeping unease—like he’d unintentionally earned himself a whole new layer of infamy.