Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 286: Qualification of the Duce (2) comment

And yesterday, Dollfuss died.

"...Adolf, it's Adolf."

While there's all sorts of talk in public about French instigation or Nazi Party overzealousness, I can be certain.

This is a card Adolf has been preparing for a long time.

This sensation of constantly feeling like I'm missing something while simultaneously feeling familiarity.

"He wasn't admiring me... He was imitating me."

The interwar period chaos I knew was from 1936.

Generally, if history during this era is chaotic, it's usually due to Japan's invasion of China or the Nazi uprising.

But perhaps there were continuous large and small upheavals even before that.

"Alexander I died."

Incidents and accidents don't cease in Europe.

"And now Chancellor Dollfuss is dead too. Yes, it's entirely possible. These were events that happened in the original history after all."

But what I don't understand is.

"Why do I keep feeling like that author is trying to synchronize with me?"

Before Dollfuss died, we predicted confrontation with Italy.

Though weakening with the changing times, Pan-Slavism is still the best justification for mediating conflicts within the Balkans.

Mediating conflicts within the ethnic group—truly the best justification that leaves no room for other countries to interfere.

For that reason alone, we decided to protect Serbia.

'Right after that, Dollfuss died.'

Now, let's look at this picture from France's or Italy's perspective.

The influence of Austria and Hungary, remnants of the former Dual Monarchy, appears to be rapidly diminishing.

Furthermore, Russia and Germany seem to be moving in lockstep as if they've joined hands.

This... Doesn't this make Germany and Russia look like allies?

Looking back at this, Adolf wanted France and Italy to become friendly from the beginning.

In other words, he had no intention of joining hands with Mussolini long before Alexander I was assassinated.

Why? Why increase the number of opponents while already opposing France?

No, the question is wrong.

If we look at it from the perspective of not increasing opponents but increasing allies...

What Adolf gains from this is, first, the perception that Russia and Germany are together.

'Even if it's not true, that perception itself is dangerous.'

Next is...

The union of Mussolini and France.

And...

And.

Britain.

This country cannot be left out of this entire structure.

"Ultimately, is he trying to distance France and Britain from each other?"

The confrontation between Mussolini and the British Empire will inevitably intensify as years pass.

The moment Mussolini tries to project his expansionism and ambition onto the Mediterranean like an untimely puberty, the British Empire will seek to destroy him.

But the problem is that by then, France and Mussolini will already be together.

Up to here.

Alone, like a madman, I've been connecting thoughts one after another, and now I can't gauge how far I should be certain.

There are still plenty of unsubstantiated assumptions.

Is that mustached bastard really trying to pathetically imitate me?

Do Mussolini's ambition and France's fear still persist?

Could it be that my influence has unknowingly affected this entire process?

The more I think about it, the more complicated it gets, and I can't move rashly with insufficient evidence.

"Sigh... Well, I should solve one thing at a time."

Right now.

I need to beat up Mussolini first.

==

The Duce thought he was proceeding with everything rationally.

"A king who's split from his parliament? You can't even manage your own household, yet you dare to oppose me?"

Alexander I was clearly an unpopular king even in his own parliament. While the common people might like him, there was also significant public opinion supporting a constitutional monarchy, so he wasn't an entirely powerful monarch.

Moreover, he often tried to lead the state affairs alone, making many enemies both domestically and internationally.

"You dare to provoke me? Die!"

So he killed him.

He had his reasons, and he was confident in the aftermath.

Russia? They would surely resent Alexander I, who also had connections with France.

He thought he could compromise appropriately with the Slavic camp—

"Mussolini is the spawn of the devil like no other in the world, a persecutor of Christianity!"

"This man is a cowardly draft dodger! Now we understand why Italy was stuck in Isonzo for five years! Yes, just like Mussolini's country, Italy was too cowardly to leave its own home!"

"Benito is a Red who received British sabotage and only acts according to British intelligence directives! What? That's not true? Then I, Goebbels, proudly demand from this position! Mussolini, go ahead and tell George to go fuck himself once!"

Uh... but before the Slavic countries could even react, some strange guy jumped in.

Germany, led by Propaganda Minister Goebbels, pours out fierce criticism daily.

"W-why are those bastards suddenly butting in and making a fuss?"

"We're not sure either. Perhaps they're dissatisfied with the Rome Protocol?"

"That was from early this year, and they're expressing dissatisfaction only now?"

"If it's not that, then there really is no reason."

Wait, Germany and Italy fighting? And this Rome Protocol is clearly full of content to check France rather than Germany.

If Germany is truly angry about this, it's nothing more than looking for an excuse.

Regardless, Germany kept crossing the line.

They criticized everything about Italy with such force that they even denied Rome, the banner of restoration of the past raised by Mussolini, and clamored that the Duce deserved to die.

And when the Russian Empire also officially pointed to Italy as being behind it...

"Duce..."

"Sigh, what is that devil's mouth babbling about now? Is he insulting my parents?"

"Dollfuss... Dollfuss is dead. It seems they killed him right after Russia's official response came out."

"..."

Germany really killed the prime minister of a neighboring country.

"W-what happened after that? Any changes?"

"They're criticizing us again."

He thought Alexander I deserved to die when he killed him, but when Germany did the same thing to Austria...

'...Shit.'

Mussolini felt his hands trembling slightly without realizing it.

To face both Slavs and Germans simultaneously.

Even the Duce was intimidated by this.