I paused mid-drink and stared blankly at the soldier standing in front of me.

His face was brimming with excitement and admiration for me, which made me feel uneasy.

At first, I had been annoyed at the soldier for interrupting my relaxation at the officers’ club after hours, but now I was consumed by a completely different emotion.

He had just delivered news that the construction site for the logistics depot had turned out to be an oil field.

Maybe I had misheard him. God, I hoped I had misheard him.

Wiping the cold sweat off my brow, I set my glass down on the bar table and asked,

“Soldier. Could you repeat that one more time?”

“Of course, sir! A massive oil deposit was discovered at the site where Lieutenant Daniel Steiner ordered the logistics depot to be built! Captain Arnob Haupt, the logistics officer, instructed me to deliver this news to you personally, sir!”

This soldier’s voice was far too loud.

He practically sounded like he was bragging about my achievement for everyone to hear.

Thanks to him, not only the bartender but also several officers from other departments enjoying their leisure time had turned to look at me.

“...Oil at the logistics site?”

“Who found it? Don’t tell me it was that rookie?”

“Wait, isn’t that Lieutenant Daniel Steiner?”

“You don’t know him? He’s the guy who got promoted for catching a spy. The Central Intelligence Department took a hit to their reputation because of him. Not to mention that hill ambush incident...”

The stares and murmurs directed at me were becoming overwhelming.

‘I’m not coming back to this club anytime soon...’

If I stayed here any longer, it would be like sitting on a bed of nails, so I rose from my seat.

“If what the logistics officer reported is true, I can’t avoid inspecting the site.”

I adjusted my uniform and put on my cap, which had been resting on the bar table.

“I’ll seek permission for a site inspection from the Operations Staff Chief. Thank you for delivering the news, soldier.”

I tilted the brim of my cap slightly as I expressed my thanks, prompting the soldier to salute me energetically.

He looked genuinely moved—though I couldn’t fathom why.

“It’s an honor to be of service to you, Lieutenant Steiner!”

I casually returned his salute and left the club, frowning to myself.

‘The spot I specifically chose as the worst location turns out to be an oil field? What kind of nonsense is this? The logistics officer must have made a mistake.’

Yes, it had to be a mistake.

Oil was one of the most critical strategic resources in war.

Tanks, trucks, and aircraft all relied on it, and controlling oil fields could determine the outcome of a war.

If this discovery were real, my position within the Imperial Army would become unshakable.

In other words, my dream of a dishonorable discharge would drift even further out of reach.

So, please. Let this report be a mistake.

****

Unfortunately, it wasn’t.

After ten days of bureaucratic hurdles, I finally conducted the site inspection, only to find oil gushing out of the ground in the middle of the Bardenplatz Plains.

The sight of drilling rigs roaring as they operated made me grimace.

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

“Haha!” Sergeant Vinter Enfeld roared with laughter, raising his fist triumphantly.

If I weren’t an officer, he probably would’ve thrown an arm around my shoulder.

When I first ordered the depot’s construction here, this man had looked at me like I was human garbage. Now? The tables had turned.

As I glared at Vinter in annoyance, Captain Arnob Haupt, the logistics officer, spoke up.

“Lieutenant Steiner, on behalf of the logistics department, I want to thank you. According to reports, there’s enough oil underground to supply the Empire for the next 27 years. This will be a formidable weapon for the Empire.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I’ve also contacted the railway department. We’re planning to connect this logistics depot to the rail network to expedite oil transportation. That’ll put an end to our reliance on imports.”

Wasn’t this guy supposed to be a perpetually negative and irritable person?

When we first met, Arnob had seemed practically nihilistic. Now his eyes were sparkling with hope—and maybe even euphoria.

Meanwhile, all I could do was sigh deeply. What was the point of earning merits in an empire doomed to lose?

Arnob must have mistaken my sigh as one of relief over the Empire’s newfound self-sufficiency because he looked at me approvingly.

“You’ve only been commissioned for four months, and you’ve already achieved three major accomplishments. I wouldn’t be surprised if another promotion comes your way soon.”

Sergeant Vinter chimed in with a loud voice.

“Haha! That’s right! At this rate, Lieutenant Steiner might outrank the captain before long! Now that’d be something to see!”

Watching the two of them get carried away speculating about my promotion was...

Well, I appreciated the sentiment, but from my perspective, it was downright uncomfortable.

“You’re too kind. I have no desire for any further promotions.”

The moment I said that, both men froze and stared at me.

Did I say something wrong?

Arnob cleared his throat and responded with surprising seriousness.

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

“Lieutenant Daniel Steiner is a model soldier. How can someone be so noble-minded…?”

Wait a minute. Weren’t these the same people who treated me like a rookie during the first inspection?

I was speechless, but I couldn’t exactly blame them.

Compared to me, both Arnob and Vinter likely felt a stronger sense of loyalty to the Empire.

From their perspective, my refusal to seek promotion—despite my accomplishments—probably seemed aristocratic and selfless.

In reality, I simply wanted to get out of the army, but there was no need for them to know that.

I saluted Arnob.

“Now that the inspection is complete, I’ll return to Headquarters to file my report. I trust you two will handle the depot construction from here.”

“Leave it to us.”

Arnob returned my salute, and I lowered my hand before turning to leave.

I climbed into the nearby military jeep, and the driver started the engine.

As I adjusted my collar and glanced out the window, I noticed Arnob and Vinter still gazing at me with admiration.

Feeling uncomfortable, I turned my head forward and spoke quickly.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir.”

The driver stepped on the accelerator, and the jeep jolted forward.

With the roads still unpaved, the ride was bound to be rough.

Gripping the handle above my seat, I glanced at the rearview mirror—and broke into a cold sweat.

Arnob and Vinter were still watching us.

It felt like they were seeing off some high-ranking official.

Yeah. I was definitely not coming back here.

****

News of the oil discovery in the Bardenplatz Plains spread like wildfire across the entire Empire.

In celebration of this monumental find, newspaper companies ran their presses day and night, while street boys shouted headlines and sold copies as fast as they could hand them out.

Naturally, the Imperial Royal Family was no exception to hearing the news.

“Is it true that a massive oil reserve was discovered in the Bardenplatz Plains? Who exactly discovered it?”

The question came from Princess Selvia von Amberg, a girl with sapphire-blue eyes and golden hair that shone like sunlight on a spring day.

Kaspar Benedict, the Quartermaster General, carefully set down his utensils in response.

Despite the four stars gleaming on his epaulets, marking him as the commanding officer of logistics, Kaspar was no more than a subordinate before the princess.

“It is true, Your Highness. The heavens have indeed bestowed a precious gift upon the Empire.”

“It wasn’t the heavens,” Selvia interrupted.

Kaspar flinched, momentarily fearing the princess was about to commit blasphemy. However, that wasn’t her intention.

“It wasn’t the heavens who discovered the oil in the Bardenplatz Plains—it was a person. I’m asking you who that person is.”

“Your Highness, he is an insignificant orphan. It’s hardly worth—”

Selvia’s eyes narrowed.

“Quartermaster General. Since when has the Empire judged merit based on birth? Or have you forgotten that we are at war?”

It was a thinly veiled command to answer her question properly.

Kaspar understood her point all too well and bowed his head before speaking.

“To my knowledge, the one who discovered the oil reserve is First Lieutenant Daniel Steiner. He currently serves as the Acting Operations Officer in the General Staff Office.”

A lieutenant? Someone who was only a lieutenant had discovered such a valuable resource?

Selvia, who had naturally assumed the discovery came from an elite official backed by vast resources and manpower, was genuinely taken aback.

‘...How interesting. On multiple levels.’

A man who was only a lieutenant likely had little to no political entanglements—a blank slate, so to speak.

This meant there was no better time to recruit him as an ally.

If he was truly as capable as the reports suggested, then she needed to secure his loyalty.

The more talented people she had by her side, the better her chances of inheriting the throne.

“Daniel Steiner, hmm…”

Tapping her fingers lightly against the dining table, Selvia allowed a faint smile to cross her lips.

‘I’ll have to meet him soon.’