Kaiser Wilhelm II and Bruno stood side by side as they entered the room where all the other delegates had gathered.
Bruno saw a sea of faces he had morized in the history books of his past life. His own face now stood among them, not as an equal, but as a superior.
Every man stood up as they saw the Kaiser and his Reichsmarschall enter the room. Whatever discussions had been made up until this point ant nothing now that the main characters had arrived.
Bruno sat on the right side of the table, while the Kaiser sat at the head. Gazing into the eyes of those gathered. Kings, emperors, generals, and statesn.
A table filled with n who had defined an era, and would witness its end. Wilhelm ultimately broke the grim silence with a forced clearing of his throat before speaking like the Emperor he was.
"We have all gathered here today to discuss an end to this war. France has capitulated, Britain has surrendered, the Latin Arican countries have bowed out and signed their own treaties. All that remains here and now is for Australia, New Zealand, and Canada to do the sa. Allow to make the terms clear.... Unconditional surrender. There is nothing else on the table that will even be considered today."
One would almost feel pity for the three allied leaders, as they found themselves bowing their heads in sha and defeat, surrounded by wolves, lions, and eagles. Each of whom stared at them with a gaze filled with avarice and hunger.
Bruno however was as expressionless as usual. He closely watched not only his enemies who prostrated themselves before him, defenseless and begging for rcy, but also his allies.
Alexei’s shoulders stood proudly, squared, and solid. He peered over his own knuckles, which wrapped over themselves, watching the allied leaders like a hawk.
King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, however had a far more lax appearance. He was in the act of filing his nails to a fine and polished point. He had little care for what the Allies said, or how they behaved. The fighting was over as far as he was concerned, and this was little more than a formality.
The others appeared in various states of alertness, or outright disinterest. Bruno then shifted his gaze back to the allied statesn, chief among them being the Pri Minister of Canada, who rather ekly expressed his opinion.
"The Dominion of Canada accepts your terms, and hereby surrenders unconditionally..."
Next were the pri ministers of Australia and New Zealand. Both of whom looked at one another with a shared understanding of defeat and sha.
"Australia formally declares its unconditional surrender to the German Reich, and the Central Powers."
"New Zealand forfeits all ard contest, and surrenders unconditionally. Whatever may happen to her lands is entirely in the hands of the Central Powers."
Then, and only then, did the carrions descend, each nation partaking of its own claim of Australia and New Zealand’s natural resources as a recompense for warti expenditure.
Bruno watched as the three pri ministers witnessed in horror as the Central Powers discussed among themselves, without their input, how they intended to properly divide the spoils of war.
Resources and claims to them were ultimately allocated based on contributions to the war effort among the central powers. And limitations were made between the various countries to ensure that no nation was left unsatisfied.
However, Bruno had deliberately withheld the German Reich’s claims until the end. After all, what was left after all other powers had staked their claim was entirely his for the taking.
Russia erged with the lion’s share of coal, Italy took a fair percentage of oil and natural gas. Other nations like Greece, Spain, and Portugal, scrambled for individual minerals of importance to them, and timber.
As the conversations continued, Bruno noticed that the Kaiser kept glancing over at him nervously, as if Germany was losing out on serious gains. But Bruno simply smiled and silently shook his head.
It was a reassuring smile, one that only the Kaiser noticed as all others were too busy debating over their shares.
Wilhelm had trusted Bruno, ti and again in this life, even when the man’s plans seed outright mad. Bruno had never failed him. And he would not doubt the man’s ability here and now at the end.
Thus, the Kaiser remained silent and watched the negotiations unfold until there was nothing left to contest.
Then, and only then, did Bruno erge. Circling various regions of Australia, New Zealand and Canda. Undeveloped lands, and largely unexplored.
Lands that had gone completely unnoticed by the others. The mont Bruno circled them with a red pen, he spoke.
"You have all taken your part of the spoils, as is your right. Germany doesn’t ask for much. Just a leasehold over these lands for the next ninety-nine years, at the fixed price of one German mark per square kiloter."
Bruno’s words stunned the room into complete and utter silence. Alexei was the first to feel that sothing was wrong.
This was not the first ti that Bruno had waited for his allies to stake their claims before demanding a long-term lease of lands that were on the surface worthless.
He had done the sa with the Latin Arican countries when they surrendered as well. At the ti he thought nothing of it, believing that Bruno had simply been ready to sign on the dotted line and end the fighting.
But when Alexei saw it happen twice before his eyes, he knew sothing else was going on. Bruno was, after all his father-in-law.
He was a man whom Alexei had grown up idolizing, and it was safe to say that in this room only Wilhelm understood Bruno’s character better than Alexei.
It was perhaps because of this that Alexei was the only one to interrogate Bruno on his claims.
"Are you sure? These lands are barren, undeveloped, and by all ans worthless. For all that Germany did to ensure that the Central Powers erged victorious. Do you truly desire little more than gravel and silt to compensate the Reich?"
The Kaiser did not speak; he allowed Bruno to defend himself. Because he honestly had no idea why Bruno had selected these lands. Only that they were worth sothing, even if he could not even begin to guess what.
Bruno had been well prepared for this.
"I assure you, this will be enough. While it is true that the Reich bore the greatest expense in this war, we also started it when France attacked our borders under the guise of botched training operations. Since we were the ones to declare war, none of you were truly obligated to join our side. And yet you all answered the call, nonetheless. If it ans you all gain the majority of the spoils in the end, then consider it our gratitude for your loyalty and courage."
Alexei knew that Bruno was concealing his real intent with humble words of flattery. But unfortunately, he was alone in this regard.
The other monarchs bought Bruno’s words as if they were worth their weight in gold. Believing he was truly the last man with a sense of chivalry, honor, and decency left in the world.
Alexie knew better, but he couldn’t prove it... he could only sigh and accept the results. All the while the Kaiser leaned in and asked Bruno as the treaty was drafted in extrely precise legal language and signed by the parties present.
"I know you have sothing planned, but please tell we didn’t just walk away with nothing but gravel and silt..."
Bruno ensured his whisper was so low that only the Kaiser could hear him as he revealed the truth.
"Oil and coal are the fuel sources of the old world... With the end of this war, I have ensured that Germany controls the future...."
The Kaiser didn’t need to know specifics here and now. Simply being assured by Bruno that Germany had walked away the real winners was more than enough for the man as he smirked victoriously.
"Well done....’
Bruno exhaled slowly, the weight of years settling and then lifting from his shoulders. He set his pen down, having signed his na last among those present.
He glanced once around the table and spoke evenly.
"With this treaty signed, the war has co to a close."
The words lingered longer than expected. Several of the delegates exchanged glances before Pri Minister King finally spoke.
"And the United States?"
Bruno paused. Then he looked at them, not with anger, not with satisfaction, but with sothing colder.
"There is no United States," he said. "The last man capable of surrender died in a bunker, hiding from his own citizens."
Only silence followed these words until Bruno chose to speak again.
"What remains will not unify," Bruno continued. "It will fracture, fight, and exhaust itself. With the way things are now, that war will never truly end."
He rose from his chair.
"And it no longer concerns us."
Bruno then turned and left the chamber.
User Comments
0 comments from readers