Having successfully pulled off one of the most brutally efficient coups in history. Bruno now had to answer to the only man in the German Reich who was of a higher power than him. The Kaiser would most certainly be wanting an explanation for what had happened, and unlike everyone else Bruno did not plan to lie to the man.
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As a result, he made sure he was properly dressed and sober before ordering his car to take him to the Kaiser’s personal palace, where he requested entry at its gates before being granted a military escort inside the building.
By the time Bruno met with the Kaiser it was late at night, nevertheless the man seems to be sitting in front of him within his office as alert as one could possibly be. Possibly because of the chaos that had been going on across his empire and the numerous agencies beneath his command desperately trying to figure out what was happening.
Of course, with all the thoughts running through the Kaiser’s head, he thought perhaps for a second Bruno may have turned against him. And because of this, he was quite furious. Demanding an answer in a tone that sounded forcefully restrained.
“Well? Do you have an explanation for what you have done?”
Bruno did not immediately respond to this, instead pulling out his briefcase, which had been thoroughly searched by the palace security before handing over multiple folders containing all the relevant information of what he had been up to.
As the Kaiser read the documents, his eyes bulging in shock as he tried his damndest to contain his disbelief Bruno explained to him exactly what had happened.
“Tomorrow the papers will print that the Imperial Police tried to derail the war effort and plunge the German Reich into defeat despite victory being near. They will say that my close friend, and subordinate officer Oberst Erich von Humboldt was coerced into acting as an assassin on their behalf, being used as a blade to eliminate prominent figures of finance, industry, and the military in an attempt to sabotage the military.
This is one hundred percent pure and unadulterated bullshit… As you can see Erich was acting under my orders, to personally silence men guilty of conspiring against the German Reich, and the house of Hohenzollern.
These are men who have personally broken bread with you and your family at your table, under your own roof. Men who have close personal ties to not only your house, but the house of Habsburg and several other German monarchs.
Men of supreme power, wealth, and authority who, if allowed to do what you can see there in your hands were indeed plotting to do, would have crippled us the moment we began to invade France. This conspiracy is large and coordinated, and I have been fighting it on my own for many years.
The Imperial Police are indeed guilty of many of the crimes they were accused of, but they did not kill those people. I did… And I killed their families too, much to my own damnation. But… These were threats that have been festering for generations, a disease that would have ruined us all if left to fester for several more.
What I have done was necessary, to save the German Reich, and to save the legitimacy of you and your house. The narrative has been carefully crafted to pin the blame on my friend Erich and the Imperial Police.
But what you hold in your hands is the last copy of evidence that exists in this world of the truth. You can keep that, expose the truth, or burn it. Frankly, I don’t really care. But I felt you should know the truth of what happened here this night, and the price that was paid by a good, and loyal soldier to ensure that your reign, and the German Reich which we love and cherish remains strong, and prosperous….”
The Kaiser was so bewildered by Bruno’s actions, and everything that had happened, but the evidence was undeniable. There was no mistaking it, and because of this he eventually placed the folder down, and collected his thoughts before asking the immediate questions on his mind.
“I have two questions, why would you do all of this behind my back, and not inform me of these traitors who were so close to me, and my family, that they could have stuck a knife in our backs at any moment… And two, where is Erich now?”
Bruno’s voice was cold and emotionless as he answered the first question with a tone that was purely matter of fact.
“In no way could there be any communication between us should this endeavor mine had ended up failing miserably. The very idea of the Kaiser sanctioning such a killing spree, which included innocent people who were guilty simply by association would destroy the very fabric of our society and incite revolt.
No, if I were to have been defeated by my rivals, then I would go down in flames alone. I would never risk dragging your name and that of your family through the mud with me. And ample preparations were already made to ensure that my family was able to safely flee to Russia.
Even with me gone ,the preparations I have made for the invasion of France were still intact, and we would have won this war in a matter of months. Albeit would likely be facing a firing squad, it was a calculated risk to maintain the integrity of your dynasty and its right to rule.
As for your second question…”
Bruno’s face suddenly become complicated. It existed for only a flash of time, but the Kaiser recognized a degree of pain and agony on Bruno’s face and in his sky-blue eyes that he had never seen before. Proving that despite the man’s overwhelming cruelty and wicked actions. He was not a psychopath or sociopath devoid of empathy or remorse…
And his words echoed this sentiment, even if not outright admitting them.
“I did what had to be done, and Erich… He knew his fate was sealed the moment he agreed to my request… Like I said, a heavy price was paid to ensure the foundation of the future that you build as a result of our upcoming victory is set in stone…
For years, decades even, Erich will be remembered as a traitor… But perhaps one day the truth of his heroism will come to life, when that truth no longer threatens the fabric of our society… Now, I have a question for you my Kaiser… What do you intend to do with the evidence I have given you?”
As much as the Kaiser wished to deny Bruno’s words, or condemn him, the evidence was overwhelming. Generations of conspiracy to gain wealth, power, and influence over European monarchs and societies all in an attempt to destroy them.
The war that was being waged right now was an extension of this ill will. And Bruno had single-handedly been fighting it in the shadows for years. After thinking about it for several minutes in complete and total silence, the Kaiser pulled out a nearby metal wastebin and lit it aflame, tossing the evidence Bruno had voluntarily provided him into its heat, forever destroying what proof existed that could possibly connect Bruno to all that he had done.
Afterwards, the Kaiser sat down in front of Bruno and pulled out two glasses from his desk along with a bottle of his favorite spirits. And after doing so, he finally spoke his mind.
“I think…. The truth is what we make of it… Now… Tell me all about this friend of yours, Oberst Erich von Humboldt… Tell me his story, I would like to know more about the man to who my house owes a great deal of gratitude which it can never fully repay…”
Upon hearing this, Bruno wore a bitter smile as he shared several drinks with the Kaiser over the course of the night, regaling the man with all the stories he had of his years together with Erich and the brotherhood they had shared.
The last drink of the night was settled with a toast to the heroic sacrifice.
“To Erich… A hero of war!”
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