Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 290: Qualification of the Duce (6)

"Something to divert attention both inside and outside Italy. And you need a benefit beyond the compensation to Serbia. Is that right?"

"It may sound shameless, but yes. By compensation, you mean territory, but in a situation where we've already gained little territory from the Great War, if we give land to Serbia, even His Majesty the King might withdraw support for the Duce. So if you could recognize Albania as a dependency—"

"Ethiopia."

No matter how manageable Albania is, asking for a Slavic country to be handed over. It seems he still doesn't understand the situation, but I can offer something else instead.

"I heard you've been arguing that you should occupy Ethiopia with an army. How about continuing with that?"

"...Are you saying you'll hand over the only independent country in Africa?"

"Hand over? You'll have to figure it out yourselves. I'm just withdrawing my hand. To be frank, why should I care about them when they're not even a Slavic nation?"

Albania is, metaphorically speaking, like the naval base on Greece's Leros Island.

A foothold for hegemony, a channel for projecting influence, but it will never make Italy an empire by itself.

But Ethiopia is different.

That vast territory. Resources and population. Even the geographical position that allows expansion beyond the Mediterranean to the ocean.

The only remaining empire in Africa, Ethiopia.

If the Duce bows just once, he can reach this place.

I believe the appropriate carrot and stick are complete.

The remaining decision is in the Duce's hands.

==

"...No, this isn't right."

[Mussolini Expresses Regret for Alexander I's Death.

Italian leader Benito Mussolini promised to cut off all support for nationalist groups in other countries and, feeling responsible for this situation, officially apologized to Serbia along with—]

The Slavs were clearly about to rise.

Adolf himself felt the giant's aura throughout his body.

This Mediterranean conflict was going to lead to a confrontation between the West and the East.

This meant there could be an opportunity for Germany, positioned between them, to stand at the core of all conflicts.

However, the Duce...

"...It's become incomplete."

His knees bent, and he decided to bow his head.

Adolf couldn't tell whether it was due to the influence of Foreign Minister Beren, who suddenly left Ethiopia and started calling for neutrality again, or the influence after that Ciano visited Petrograd, but one thing was clear.

The Duce is no longer great.

Does Italy as a country realize how much meaning this decision carries?

This surrender is... equivalent to admitting ideological inferiority.

No? It's all a misunderstanding and just a temporary bow?

"If he had denied it outright, Serbia could never have protested against Italy. Even the Tsar would have found it burdensome to go to war with Italy over this incident."

Of course, that might be true. But the Duce didn't just surrender to power.

"But to create conflict with Ethiopia while apologies and compensation are ongoing? Isn't this clearly a behind-the-scenes deal with the Tsar in anyone's eyes?"

Facing the reality of the Duce, whom he once briefly thought might be a hero of his own ethnicity, Adolf feels tremendous disappointment.

Fascism has been defeated.

They claimed to be different from Western empires, but in the end, they committed the betrayal of denying their own ideology by walking the same path, unable to overcome their desires.

But the disappointment Adolf feels...

Has already begun to transform into another emotion.

"Indeed, I alone am unique."

Benito's failure. The defeat of fascism.

These two facts seem to provide a subtle sense of elevation that lifts him up.

An illusion that only two people exist in this ignorant and stupid world.

It feels like two lamps illuminating each other on a darkened street.

"It's me after all. Only I have the qualification to lead the Germanic people and rise to the same position as the Tsar."

Since ancient times, it was common for Slavic peoples to be sold as slaves to Western countries for their aesthetic beauty or to be historically dominated by other countries.

The Mongols drove the Slavs to the brink of extinction, and there is significant history of Tatars ruling over Slavs.

The Muscovites also once had East Slavic peoples under their feet, and even Northern European countries have had occasional wars with Slavs.

Peter the Great, who is credited with raising such a people.

And the descendant of that Great, Nicholas II.

"The expression 'II' is incorrect. He too raised a perishing people again, so calling him 'the Great' would not be excessive."

Anyway, it has once again been revealed to the world that the only person who can confront that man is himself.

Of course, since someone else's failure cannot be the perfect logic to prove one's own worth, Adolf did not plan to stop his actions.

"Kurt Schuschnigg is suppressing our Nazi Party in Austria."

"That's correct."

"Seeing that Benito's head hasn't fallen to the ground yet, it seems the Tsar won't move for a while. We must use this opportunity to bring Austria firmly under our control."

Understanding that ideology is ultimately a tool to govern reality, Adolf was not merely absorbed in the fact that he stood on equal footing with the Tsar.

Expansion is essential to escape this economic crisis and recover past national power.

This means Germany needs its own market, its own economic sphere.

However, since he cannot reach out to Poland right away, the place he will head is Austria.

And to consume Austria, one condition must be fulfilled.

"Announce the remilitarization of the Rhineland."

"...Führer, wouldn't announcing it in advance give them time to respond?"

"On the contrary, doing it suddenly would be like admitting we're not confident. We must proudly send our army to the Rhineland. They will be furious. But they will have no choice but to accept it."

The moment Benito surrendered to the Tsar, the anti-German encirclement completed by the Treaty of Versailles loosened.

Throwing off that loose rope completely.

The entry into the Rhineland carries such meaning.

"I guarantee, France will not be able to stop it."

France, with neither the people nor the ideology prepared to stop him, will absolutely not be able to resist this.

Adolf could be certain of that.