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* * *

How dare the king of a fallen nation call anyone with that filthy mouth.

Spetsnaz wanted to put a bullet hole in Alexander’s forehead but held back.

Perhaps that was exactly what he hoped to provoke with his words.

“I can’t answer such a question. Anyway, it’s best for you to follow us now.”

Still, Spetsnaz threatened him by pointing the gun.

Of course, Alexander had no intention of yielding to the barrel.

“If you try to drag me away, I’ll die right here!”

Alexander summoned his ultimate means to resist.

Yet, Spetsnaz’s soldiers merely smirked at his declaration.

It was already game over, so why bother? The magnificent Tsar had decided to erase the very existence of Serbia as an example for the future.

Naturally, the king’s life was of no concern.

“Do you think the life of a king from a minor nation matters? Even if we just take your corpse, we’ll have done our job. And exile is not permitted.”

While Alexander was taken aback by the rude remarks devoid of any respect for a king, Spetsnaz drugged him and knocked him out.

With that, preparations were complete.

* * *

Italy’s situation was worse than Germany’s.

Communist Germany at least had many who surrendered—a flimsy excuse. Italy simply crumbled without thinking.

“We are the Danube Defense Army!”

“The R-Russian Army and Bulgarian Army are coming too!!”

“Below, Ethiopia is about to enter Rome!”

“Enemies on all sides!”

Of course, enemies pouring in from all directions was one thing, but the conditions were undeniably disgraceful.

The Italian army was composed solely of incompetent generals unworthy of mention.

Not to speak of the original Italy; this place was far worse.

The only commendable fighters were Inigo Campioni, who had fought against Kuznetsov.

He tried to retreat as soon as he realized it was a trap, but it was too late.

He was simply overwhelmed by the overwhelming disparity in national power.

But what if Italy crumbled this much in its own homeland?

Rodolfo Graziani, Giovanni Messe, and Pietro Badoglio were left defending the southern front while others in the north were split in half and got completely annihilated by the Danube Defense Army.

If someone were to ask how I knew all this, it’s because I’m receiving real-time information about Italy.

Yes. I am currently in Italy.

First, I need to take care of Italy.

The German Empire Army maintains security in the German homeland while our Vermont’s Army responds to the red guerrillas.

The remaining main forces are confronting the remnants of the French Commune and Communist Germany at the lowlands and Maginot Line.

Regrettably, it seems the Maginot Line in this world will end up being referred to similarly in the future.

However, in the original history, Maginot was a figure who began extensive investments in the army and would later belatedly establish fortifications, so those fortifications are unlikely to be very strong.

In fact, the name Maginot was derived from the fact that it captured the French Commune, but I’m not sure how that played out.

Anyway, they say they are in the process of building fortifications.

Just like Hitler held the Red Front at bay in the Sudetenland, it’s clear they plan to hold out with the Maginot.

Seeing this, it seems the Spanish Army couldn’t deal a decisive blow to France.

“The Spanish Army seems to have reached Bordeaux as their limit.”

“Still, they made good progress,”

That should be enough. One could say they’ve paid their due. The Spanish even assisted with landings and undoubtedly played the role we desired.

Regarding the method of ending the war, it would be that. Even if Spain pushes ahead, we won’t have to directly charge in.

At this point, the Commune must also be feeling pressure.

Thus, to give them time to regroup, we are descending into Italy alongside the Danube Federation.

But that regrouping will render itself meaningless.

What will happen if all our meticulous preparations come to naught due to some nuclear event?

And—

I glanced to the side and saw the neatly coiffed toothbrush mustache of the Danube representative.

I never expected Hitler would end up accompanying me.

Kaiser Wilhelm II as well, I wonder if it’s contagious, with the leaders stepping forward themselves.

For me, as a symbol, it’s fine to step back, but wasn’t Hitler supposed to be the hero of the Danube? Can he really come out personally?

The driver who even brought us here was Göring.

Right now, something feels so—so very distorted, why is that?

Göring seems to be just like in the original history, serving as the Air Marshal and giving off vibes as Hitler’s successor.

He said he’d escort me along with their prime minister.

The absence of Hitler’s objections suggests it’s been approved. I wonder if Hitler considers Göring his successor.

Oddly enough, it seems that the leadership on the Austrian side is genuinely being settled.

“Are you intentionally bypassing France, coming directly to Italy?”

The meaning of that statement is clear.

Are you going to devour France, or do you aim to target Italy instead?

After all, they’ll be bound together later, does that even have any significance?

“France is doing that purposely. Our Air Defense Coordination Army can achieve victory without spilling blood in France. But don’t worry. Our aim in capturing Italy is merely to fall in line with you.”

We are not particularly interested in consuming Italy.

We’re just going to intervene here and there.

But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing for Hitler either.

“Hmm. To be honest, the amphibious operation was unexpected. We’d have preferred to capture it ourselves.”

Hitler clicked his tongue, looking disappointed.

Sure. That makes sense. I share that sentiment too.

Ethiopia is landing!

This is more of an act of tibegging.

“I can imagine the Emperor of Ethiopia was probably just as excited. After all, it’s remarkable the Emperor came himself! But Ethiopia only seeks Mussolini’s surrender. They’ve offered to assist with modernization though.”

As they took a moment to regroup, the Russian army stayed behind in support of the Danube Federation, bombarding Italy’s territory from the air with overwhelming force.

If even Communist Germany couldn’t endure it, wouldn’t the Italian Air Force, which’s being crushed by Ethiopia, stand a chance?

The quality of the aircraft aside, this is a nation that pulls people right out of the fields.

Younger soldiers, who are even less experienced than me, are flying over Italy, claiming they’d die for my sake.

“What do other nations want from Italy?”

“Spain seems to want Sardinia and Sicily. That’s something to negotiate with Spain. We’ll also need to restore the lands of the Papal States. The exiled king of Italy plans to declare independence for the Kingdom of Two Sicilies. What do you think?”

It’s not a matter of just casually giving it away; it’s sincere.

Since, if the European economic zone gets merged into one, it’ll all lose its significance.

“Hmm.”

“First of all, we must definitely divide Italy.”

“Then we must directly administer Venice and allow Lombardy to become a puppet state. I agree; I want to tear those bastards apart. I want to rip them all to shreds.”

Sure, that sounds good, but Venice too?

I briefly considered the prospect of acquiring Venice as part of the territory.

Good heavens. Isn’t that a bit too greedy? No, maybe it’s just that I’ve grown accustomed to my previous realm, but somehow—somehow it feels ugly.

“Ah, well, it feels like the territory is growing chubby.”

“Pardon?”

“No, and although this isn’t the time to discuss it, I plan to leave post-war Serbia to the Danube and Bulgaria. Whether I tear them in half or turn them into an autonomous region, or perhaps engage in a holocaust-like massacre from the Far East, making that land a place of death wouldn’t be a bad idea either. The Prime Minister understands this, but the Serbs are nothing but troublemakers who stir up wars while possessing nothing.”

“What about Germany? What do you expect to happen?”

“The Kaiser of Germany wishes to reclaim all the homeland. But given what the Danube has done, if he desires, why not take Bavaria in southern Germany, and transfer the rest of Northern Germany to the Kaiser?”

That seems about right for sharing the spoils from the war.

Conquering Germany has already been paved over, so following us to capture it would hold no meaning at all.

“What does the Tsar think?”

“To be honest, it’s pitiable seeing a Kaiser facing death. However, he’s been overshadowed by France in this instance. In fact, the German Empire may raise new conflicts in the future. If you want, I can give you the south.”

I’d unified it so that thoughts of war wouldn’t arise.

But in this timeline, the efforts of Hitler hold a significant presence. At the very least, I believe we can’t prevent territories from being taken post-war.

“May I ask about the reasoning behind that?”

Sure. There’s bound to be discontent.

Well, it’s not like there’s an enormous reason behind it.

“Honestly, while we attained victory in this war, hasn’t the Danube Federation suffered significant damage? Italy could devour Venice, restore Bosnia, and tear Macedonia apart. However, wouldn’t it require urgent restoration to fully incorporate that land? After all, we’ve achieved our goal of freeing the Germanic peoples; there’s no real reason to be greedy. Personally, I enjoy maps, you see?”

I have a fondness for maps; not in the same way as Hitler but rather for beautiful territorial depictions.

Korea appears beautiful only if it consists of the Korean Peninsula or reaches the end of Manchuria; I believe other nations also have equally harmonious land shapes.

It seems that the Danube will look perfect if it merely restores the territorial holdings from the Dual Monarchy period.

The other regions can be left as autonomous regions or puppet states, right? That’s why I set my sights on Venice.

“Are you talking about the maps?”

“I can approve of the territorial holdings of the Dual Monarchy era, minus half of Serbia and including Venice. However, if we eat areas up to Bavaria and Southern Germany, it ends up looking wrong with an odd protrusion.”

I pointed to the map I had brought, indicating from the western area of the Danube Federation to Southern Germany.

There’s no way I can tolerate that.

The Danube Federation should maintain a shape that resembles a dough that’s been thrown hard.

If we consume Southern Germany and Venice, it ends up resembling a rolling beast of a figure due to its awfully high BMI.

Let Hungary be chubby; that’s enough.

To be frank, I’m troubled enough by the unsightly look from Veneto. But to make the one with the largest share of war spoils ugly? That’s a firm no!

“Pandora’s box, eh?”

For a moment, I wore a serious expression.

Is that so? Maybe I’ll shut up now.

Well, if you had any grievances, you should have handled it well since the start of the war. Even if the Danube Federation has a large stake, without us, it’d be back to being a fragmented mess by now.

“Not that I’m prying, but is there any resistance from the Italian army?”

I genuinely want to know the answer to this.

“Yes. Our forces are indeed advancing down south after breaking through Italian resistance. The Italian army is simply pathetic; there aren’t even any red guerrillas stirring trouble.”

The fact that Hitler permitted an attack against such a pitiful country filled me with spite.

The ease of breaching their defenses is likely also attributed to the Ethiopian troops.

Given that tens of thousands have landed from Ethiopia, it’s hardly surprising.

In fact, we have little left to discuss.

The very fact that Göring is driving us around indicates that the situation has tilted in our favor.

Every city we pass in Italy is adorned with the flags of the Air Defense Coordination Powers.

Once upon a time, Italy boasted of its glory in Rome, and now it crumbles without resistance.

Ethiopia, not managing to capture anything, is left trapped in an awkward position.

At this point, it makes sense for Hitler to come.

“What about areas that are not yet captured?”

“The northwestern regions haven’t all been taken yet; unfortunately, Benito Mussolini seems unable to escape. He is reportedly making a stand in Rome.”

Is it because he was overwhelmed from all directions that he couldn’t even attempt to flee?

Reflecting on history, he fell into ruin, but thanks to Hitler, the Italian Socialist Republic could be established.

Though that hardly lasted long either.

It seems that once I reach Rome, I may even encounter the Emperor of Ethiopia. Perhaps Mussolini has been trapped unable to flee due to the onslaught.

“If he’s holding out in the capital, it would mean ending with the capture of both Mussolini and Italy.”

“Although, that might not be possible.”

“Soon, we will arrive in Rome, Italy.”

Italy’s Rome. Now, we head there!

My goodness, if that’s the case, why did we even start this war? Such foolish people.

“If we had just had the Danube Federation’s army strike Italy upfront before Yugoslavia declared war, we might have won.”

“How pitiful the Italians must be.”

“Isn’t that what I’m saying? Looking at how they’ve been destroyed in Ethiopia and Greece, hitting Italy seems rather sad, doesn’t it?”

“That’s right, haha! It’d be amusing if we told Mussolini that he was so pathetic in war that if he surrendered, we would allow him to keep his regime.”

It seems that Hitler has grievances of his own.

True, while the Danube Mountain Division was shattered, the pressures faced by the Danube Federation from the south must have been quite substantial.

The main force managed to defend Germany from the Sudetenland, but there must have been considerable armies from Italy gathering in the south.

Even if Italy is comparatively easy, if, Heaven forbid, the Danube Mountain Division was defeated, the path to Vienna would have been laid bare, and the forces in the Sudetenland would have had to be redeployed.

The Danube Federation could have been torn to shreds in no time, and Hitler would have again been sticking a bullet in his forehead in a bunker.

Had he faced the same ending in the Danube Federation’s bunker instead of Германии.

Certainly, as long as Mussolini has not reached a gas station, he might not have committed suicide yet.

“Your Majesty! It has been reported that we have captured Rome!”

As I leisurely descended while observing the cities adorned with the flags of the Air Defense Powers, it appears we have finally taken Rome.

This was, in essence, the moment the war in Italy drew to a close.

* * *

 

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