Chapter 163

Blossoming of Evil (2)

The moment I escaped the worker’s paradise, the Soviet Union, and set foot in the land of the true Aryans—Germania—I felt like I might go mad with happiness.

Ezel, who came with me, turned pale the moment he grasped the situation.

“Hey.”

“What? I’m dying of sleep here, why do you keep poking me?”

“…Adolf Hitler really seized power?”

“I told you that already.”

Damn idiot couldn’t understand even when I said it before—what am I supposed to do now that he finally gets it?

At my indifferent response, Ezel just gaped, then flipped through a few newspapers. Soon, as if he’d figured everything out, he puffed up and waved his arms confidently.

“So it’s nothing strange after all. Hitler’s just a figurehead.”

“Looks that way to you?”

“How could extremists like these possibly take and run a government? The Nazi Party is basically a den of idiots. I may be the kind of guy who keeps feeding politicians, but even I know politics isn’t something just anyone can do.”

Right. Politics isn’t for just anyone.

And the Nazis were absolutely not “just anyone.” If anything, it was Germany’s so-called lawmakers who fit that description.

“You still want to sell tanks?”

“…Yeah.”

Wow. What a blunt answer.

No wonder he’s the heir to a bandit noble—look at that nerve.

“You said yourself war can’t be avoided, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then of course we should sell.”

I was about to get angry, but after a brief moment of self-reflection, I understood him.

The only wars Ezel knows are the Mexican taco suppression campaign or the First World War.

So there’s no way concepts like massacres, the Holocaust, genocide, total war, or mushroom clouds—basically the complete collection of humanity’s worst atrocities—exist in his head.

Arms industries naturally grow through war. In fact, with Germany’s military tech cut off by the Treaty of Versailles, now is the perfect time to invest.

And laundering it wouldn’t even be a problem. Just call it “independent actions by the German branch.” Even in real history, American companies got away with it that way.

So… should I just pretend not to know and pocket dividends in crisp dollars earned by selling tanks to the Nazis?

Really?

Pushing that thought aside, I ended up having to receive another enthusiastic welcome from the lackeys of that damned mustache.

“General Kim! A pleasure! I am Ernst Röhm of the Nazi Stormtroopers (SA)!”

“Nice to… meet you.”

Wasn’t this guy gay? I shouldn’t think about it, but now I can’t not think about it.

“To meet a war hero who crushed the proud German army and raised his fame so high… it moves me deeply. Slurp.”

Ugh! Ughhhh! This lunatic just licked his lips!

Just then, a rat-faced man who had been glaring at Röhm approached me with a squeaky voice.

“Is that any way to treat an honored guest?”

“Ah, my lips were dry—”

“Step aside, you uncultured brute. A pleasure. I am Heinrich Himmler, head of the Nazi SS.”

What a heartwarming bunch. Then again, where would you find a normal person among Nazis? The only good Nazi is a dead one—or maybe a zombie.

“I’ve heard… forgive me for saying this… that you intend to entrust the rights for card pack sales to Chairman Hermann Göring.”

“That was the plan.”

“Göring is a man of very poor character. You should entrust it to someone reliable.”

What is he even talking about? Weren’t you supposed to be on the same side?

Himmler subtly raised a hand to cover his mouth and whispered.

“The greed of that drug addict is known throughout Germany. If you entrust this great endeavor to me and the SS, we will carry it out flawlessly. What do you say?”

…Ha. This is insane.

You want me to slap an SS logo on cards and sell them?

Clinging to what little sanity I had left, I had no choice but to accept the escort of these fools and degenerates.

***

A few days passed in Berlin.

I tried several times to visit Hitler, say my goodbyes, and leave for Greece—but every time, something came up, delaying my departure.

Ah… I get it now.

I read about this in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. When Guan Yu tried to leave after presenting the heads of Yan Liang and Wen Chou, Cao Cao deliberately delayed accepting his farewell, forcing him to stay.

Of course, Hitler probably never read Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but since I was pushed here by the State Department to build relations, I couldn’t just be rude and leave. Even if it’s obvious, I have to play along.

And so, my stretched-out schedule ended up filled with attending Nazi events.

Damn it… this is dangerous. These guys love filming events like this.

“General Kim! Himmler is a cunning man! If you trust him, you might lose the entire German card business! He’s a rat!”

Just look at this situation.

I was dragged to some German workers’ rally, clapping along while listening to Göring chatter beside me. My head hurts.

The atmosphere was like a steaming-hot iced Americano—completely contradictory. Right after taking power, Hitler forcibly dissolved several left-leaning labor parties, and many workers were furious.

So why did you even call me here?

Am I supposed to watch Hitler get beaten by an angry mob? If that’s a butterfly effect, I’d welcome it.

After a long, exhausting but grand ceremony, the great leader, Chancellor Hitler, finally appeared.

“Communists! Are you angry your parties were dissolved?”

Of course—he went straight at them like a complete madman.

“You’re angry! Furious! But that’s none of my concern! Listen well! Yesterday I dissolved thirty parties, and from now on, every party except the Nazi Party will be crushed in a single blow!”

The workers, who had gathered thinking, Let’s hear what this mustached man has to say, froze.

“You have lost! The German people will no longer tolerate your talk of rights, struggle, and strikes! Obey! And if you refuse—die here!”

“If you return now to the side of the German people, I can promise you jobs and bread as well. But if you persist to the end in standing with those deceitful Jew–Bolsheviks and take part in the destruction of your homeland, remember—only death awaits you!”

“Heil!! Heil!!!”

“Long live Germany!! Long live Hitler!!”

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from all directions.

A chancellor with overwhelming charisma dominated the massive stage, and countless supporters expressed fierce approval at every word he spoke.

No riot broke out—rather, something far more unsettling unfolded.

“I—I was wrong!”

“Please, accept us!”

“Heil Hitler! You are Germany’s savior!”

“Forgive me for being manipulated by the Jews!”

…Those are obviously planted agitators.

But in this place overflowing with fervor, as dramatic confessions of faith began one after another, even the hardened “red” workers couldn’t withstand the pressure of the crowd. One by one, they dropped to their knees.

“What do you think, General Kim?”

“About what?”

“Can you not see the Chancellor’s remarkable leadership?”

“…It’s quite impressive.”

At my reluctant reply, Hermann Göring beamed.

“His Excellency has always said that across the Atlantic, Germany under his leadership in the east, and the ‘true’ United States in the west, must become a great wall against the Jew–Bolsheviks.”

“I see. Yes, the reds must be stopped.”

“And in the United States—do you have a leader as strong as our Chancellor?”

…A strong leader, huh. Would a future four-term political monster count?

“The newly elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt is an excellent man.”

“He is merely a conventional politician elected through outdated elections. Can he truly defeat the Jews and save the United States?”

“Let’s stop there. I’ve been careful not to comment on your country’s politics—don’t push it.”

At this point, I was starting to understand.

More precisely, I could no longer avoid the truth I’d been dodging.

These lunatics… think I’m one of them.

***

<On the unbearable suffering of Himmler and Göring not letting me go>—sounds like the title of some island nation light novel.

But it seemed they were getting impatient. Instead of dangling pointless card business rights, they began making more direct “requests.”

“General Kim! Look at this perfectly ordered formation! Doesn’t it stir your revolutionary spirit?”

“No.”

“Hahaha. The moment our Nazi Party took power, the citizens found stability. What do you think of this clean Berlin? That Sodom and Gomorrah you saw before going to the Soviet Union—look how it has changed!”

“I actually prefer noisy places.”

If it gets this quiet, you can’t even play with firecrackers.

A society that functions only through absolute obedience… that’s basically Nineteen Eighty-Four. I’m not a fan of Big Brother—and becoming Big Brother myself is even worse.

Nothing is more unsettling than unanimity. Even in casual chatter, if you ask “What’s 1+1?” at least one idiot should say something like “a window” to keep things human. But if everyone answers in perfect unison, “It is 2, sir!”—what even is that? Could you stomach a meal in a place like that?

Maybe my attitude was getting to them, because one day Joseph Goebbels came to me and spoke bluntly.

“General Kim, forgive me for saying this… but couldn’t you at least say some polite, agreeable things in front of the Chancellor?”

“…What?”

“I understand that your views differ somewhat, but still—wouldn’t it be better to keep things amicable?”

Are you insane?

It’s already exhausting enough that Hitler acts friendly with me—and now you want to upgrade that to ‘friends with Hitler’?

Those people up top keep pushing me to get closer to him, but let’s be real. By the 1940s, they’d either discharge me for being Hitler’s buddy or stick me in some coastal artillery post.

“As you know, the United States government has also instructed that we accommodate your country as much as possible to maintain friendly relations.”

“In that case—”

Goebbels’ face brightened, thinking I would agree—but too bad.

“I’m afraid that part will be difficult. Unlike Germany, the United States is a country where even if the government tells you to do something, you’re free to say ‘no.’ So why don’t you just… let me leave?”

“…If that is your position, we will arrange your departure as soon as possible.”

Goebbels shot me a look, but what was I supposed to do?

I was sick of dealing with lunatics.

***

I immediately stormed into the American embassy in Berlin and caused a scene.

“I will not! Help you anymore! Do you understand? Why should I suffer through this just for your sake?!”

“W-we’re sorry. The ambassador is currently away…”

Exactly why I’m taking it out on you, the secretary.

I very politely and gently expressed my convictions, while the poor secretary could only nod repeatedly. He probably didn’t even know I had been sent here at the State Department’s request.

“Ah, the materials you requested earlier have been prepared. Would you like to see them?”

“If you had something like that, you should’ve said so sooner.”

I had once visited the SS headquarters at Heinrich Himmler’s invitation, and something on a map had caught my eye. I’d asked the embassy to investigate it.

The SS seemed to be building something on a large plot of land. If it violated the Treaty of Versailles, it would be useful leverage.

“It’s surrounded by barbed wire, and construction is underway inside. Its exact purpose is still unclear. Do you have any idea?”

“…No. I don’t.”

The secretary handed me several photographs.

A massive iron gate.

Barbed wire stretching in all directions.

And on the final photo, a single line:

“We will continue to monitor this secret area in Dachau.”

“Please do.”

But the Nazis went far beyond anything we imagined.

“[A new camp capable of housing 5,000 people has been established in Dachau. Unlike ordinary prisoners, the Reds who seek to destabilize the nation continuously attempt escape, posing a serious threat to prison operations. Therefore, a special facility is required to house them…]”

“…What an incredible country.”

Now, just being in Germany felt horrifying.