Chapter 25:

May 8, 1938

Northern Germany, Berlin, Hjalmar Schacht's Mansion

"Dietrich, welcome."

"Mother.

Have you been well?"

I had grown used to acting affectionately toward Luise Sowa, my mother as Dietrich.

Honestly, at first, it didn't feel real that she was my mother, so I had to make a constant effort, but seeing how happy she was that her Unruly Scoundrel of a son was being kind to her was rewarding in its own way.

But my purpose today wasn't simply to see my mother.

While part of it was to treat her a little better in place of that Scoundrel Dietrich, I had never forgotten my true goal.

I didn't know if Lieutenant Colonel Tresckow had judged me on my own merits or not, but in the end, the so-called 'High-ranking people' of the von Kleist Group were surely paying more attention to my father, Hjalmar Schacht, than to me.

If I couldn't bring him along, it would be difficult for them to treat me as a Valuable Card.

My father, Hjalmar Schacht, was a seasoned Businessman, a recognized expert, and an eloquent speaker.

He was skilled enough to render even 'The Blood Judge' Roland Freisler—who spouted nothing but arrogant and insulting remarks while sentencing countless of the Nazis' political enemies to death—Speechless.

He was the kind of man who acted arrogantly and confidently from start to finish even at the War Crimes Trial, where he had no one on his side, and ultimately secured a Not Guilty verdict.

I knew that he would eventually be won over by the Anti-Nazi group, but in the Original History, I didn't know who had persuaded him. Because I had become a Variable, that role had fallen to me.

He's not an easy man to handle…

My mother was so happy to see her son, who usually only came on Sundays because he was at the War Academy, that it wasn't until after I'd had dinner that I finally faced my father, Hjalmar Schacht, alone.

"What is it, Dietrich."

No longer the disheveled man from our first meeting, my father, Hjalmar Schacht, in his cool and intellectual state, sent a blunt gaze from behind his glasses.

"Um… how have you been these…"

I had to stop myself mid-sentence. No, what the hell did I just blather to a man who's been dismissed and is a Minister in name only!

Hjalmar glanced at me, folded the newspaper he was reading—the Frankfurter Zeitung—and placed it on his desk before turning towards me.

"You have business? Sit."

"Yes, sir…"

I obediently sat on the sofa across from him.

"So, what is it."

"Have you heard of the von Kleist Group, Father?"

"Yes."

Well, it's known as a common High Society Gathering for nobles, so would it be stranger if he didn't know…

"They've invited you and me this time, and I wanted to ask if you would be willing to attend."

"Alright."

"…Yes?"

"Aren't you asking me to go with you?"

"…That… is correct, but."

"Then let's go."

I was thrown into confusion.

No, in Dietrich's memories, the man named Hjalmar Schacht wasn't kind or affectionate to Dietrich, was he?

Even setting aside the fact that Dietrich was a Scoundrel, Hjalmar Schacht is a typical Workaholic Politician.

He was not at all an affectionate family man, so it wasn't entirely without reason that his relationship with Dietrich was poor.

"…Excuse me, Father. But do you happen to know what kind of gathering this is?"

"Isn't it a group that intends to raise a standard against that bastard Hitler."

I was so shocked I almost shot to my feet, but then I slumped back down where I sat.

No, how does he know?

"I was invited once when I was still the Minister of Economy."

"Ah…"

I see.

So he hadn't joined yet, but they had already extended a hand to Hjalmar Schacht.

Hjalmar was silent for a moment, then slowly clenched his fist and spoke.

"Back then, I thought Hitler and the Nazis were the hope of this Germany. I believed they would overcome the situation where our once-powerful Fatherland was burdened by the Treaty of Versailles, forced to helplessly watch as the Ruhr Region, our Lifeline of Industry, was trampled by foreign combat boots."

In fact, my father's insight was half-right.

Hitler would powerfully rebuild Germany, occupy the Ruhr, and inflict a crushing defeat on the arrogant France that had intimidated the unarmed German government.

It was an achievement born of numerous flukes and lucky breaks, but Hitler used the fanatical support of the People gained from that achievement to ultimately bring Germany to ruin.

"So I put my family and friends aside and helped them as much as I could. Thinking about it now, it was a foolish thing to do."

Father Hjalmar Schacht's contribution to Hitler's seizure of the Regime was by no means small.

Before the Night of the Long Knives, it was almost entirely thanks to Hjalmar Schacht that the Nazi Party, which had been filled with far-leftists who were at odds with businessmen, succeeded in receiving enough support from Businessmen to take power.

His role was also significant in taming the Hyperinflation triggered by the Treaty of Versailles and the Occupation of the Ruhr, and in building the economy that achieved Rearmament up to this point.

Hjalmar tapped the armrest of the sofa with his fingers and spoke.

"I know that you've been making an effort recently. Luise has gotten much better thanks to you. …I'll go for now, but I must say one thing."

"…Yes."

"The economy of this Germany is already on the brink of collapse. There's no way to stop Inflation if we don't reduce Armaments immediately. But even if it weren't for Hitler and the Nazis, I don't think those Militarists would ever entertain the idea of cutting armaments to fix the economy."

…I had a rough idea, but so that's how it is?

The reason my father stepped down from the position of Minister of Economy was because he warned that the economy would collapse if Armaments weren't reduced, and his rival, Göring, boasted that it was possible to increase armaments even more and continued to do so.

Half a year has already passed like that…

The boasts of the King of Bluffs Göring, who was so confident that the Air Force could do anything that he created the Miracle of Dunkirk, were never going to come true, and it was only recently that the issuance of MEFO bills was halted because they could no longer be sustained.

I had seen analyses that the Nazi Regime ran a Wartime Economy that was utterly unsustainable under normal circumstances, making war a necessity rather than a choice, but finding out that it was the actual situation was not a pleasant feeling.

"I don't think very highly of you, but I pray you're not participating under the assumption that things will somehow work out if you just get rid of Hitler and the Nazis."

"…Haha… Yes…"

I was in high spirits all week after meeting Claudia last week, but now A Real Pain of a Problem has popped up.

-

May 14, 1938

Northern Germany, East Pomerania, Schmenzin (present-day Poland, east of Stettin)

The 'castle' of Sir Ewald von Kleist-Schmenzin, of the traditional Noble family from the Pomerania Region, just looked like a large mansion to me.

To call itself a castle in this era, shouldn't it be at least on the level of Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria?

Then again, even châteaux, famous as French-style castles, aren't the kind of castles you'd imagine from a story about The Middle Ages…

Whatever it is, reality is the Gutter.

The master of this castle, Sir Ewald von Kleist-Schmenzin, has a similar name and is from the same family as Ewald von Kleist of the German Army who would later rise to Field Marshal, but they are different people.

A passionate nobleman who had been imprisoned several times for refusing the order to hoist the Hakenkreuz, the Nazi flag, at his castle, Lord Kleist-Schmenzin was a gentleman with a receding hairline but a magnificent Mustache.

"Thank you for coming, Minister Schacht. Ah, you're the Former Minister now, aren't you?"

"Thank you for the invitation, Lord Kleist-Schmenzin."

Thanks to the barbed greetings being exchanged between my father and the Host, I had to break out in a cold sweat.

He's mocking him for refusing when he was a minister but coming only after he was fired, isn't he?

"Ah, is this your Son?"

"That's right. He is my son, Dietrich Schacht."

As Kleist-Schmenzin's attention turned to me, I offered my greeting as cautiously as possible.

"It is an honor to meet the head of a traditional Knightly Family, Lord von Kleist-Schmenzin. I am Captain Dietrich Schacht, currently serving in the Army."

"Oh, haha.

A young man who knows his manners. Yes, Captain Schacht.

I've heard your name well. Since you've come all this way, please make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you."

Leaving the Host, who was busy greeting guests, I went inside, where a Social Party was underway, a Scene a Modern person might commonly associate with the Middle Ages.

Splendidly dressed gentlemen and ladies. Good grief, just by appearances, it's a perfect High Society Gathering, isn't it?

Whether in The military or a Politician, the upper echelons of society in this era held these kinds of Social Gatherings almost as a duty.

No matter that they're Nazis, it would be difficult for them to interfere with a place like this that, on the surface, is for laughing, enjoying oneself, and engaging in pleasant conversation, a place where the Marriage Market opens.

These people, who look like they're just dressed up nicely and idling about, are still members of the traditional noble society passed down from Prussia or the social elite, so there's no benefit in getting on their bad side.

High-ranking members of The military also conventionally attend these events, so it's less likely to arouse suspicion.

As I entered with my father, a familiar face approached and greeted us.

"Former Minister Schacht, thank you for coming. I am Lieutenant Colonel Henning von Tresckow."

"A pleasure, Lieutenant Colonel. Hjalmar Schacht."

"Have you been well, Lieutenant Colonel?"

After exchanging greetings with my father, Tresckow chuckled at my question and whispered softly.

"Wait a moment. I'll call you when the people have gathered."

"Of course. Thank you."

"There are many people inside worth being introduced to.

Please enjoy yourselves."

Tresckow nodded, gave his salutations, and walked away.

Now there's truly no turning back.

The problems are piling up, but one way or another, I've now got one foot in the Black Orchestra.

From now on, I really have to keep my wits about me.

-

But my resolve was for naught, as I was hounded immensely from a completely unexpected quarter.

Though he was dismissed as Minister of Economy, I, as the son of a successful Businessman who was at least a minister without portfolio in the Nazi Regime, and as a young General Staff Candidate, was apparently a decent Commodity to the High-ranking people, more so than I thought.

There were more nobles interested in me than I expected, and I felt like my soul was being drained.

Damn it, with World War II just around the corner, do I really have to listen to these high-and-mighty Old Geezers drone on about how great their families are and how pretty and demure their daughters are?!

Worse, my father, Hjalmar Schacht, made absolutely no effort to rescue me, who had become the Bait, instead of talking about his own Dismissal from the ministry.

That Cold-blooded Old Man… This is why Dietrich became a Scoundrel!

It's a good thing Lieutenant Colonel Tresckow rescued me before I was completely exhausted.

…Less than an hour after thinking that, I had to change my mind.

I should have just passed out from exhaustion.

"…I am terribly sorry, but I was wondering if… perhaps I misheard… could you please repeat that?"

As I asked in a trembling voice, praying that my ears had deceived me, the gazes of the impossibly High-ranking people all focused on me.

Former Army Chief of General Staff Ludwig Beck, current Army Chief of General Staff Franz Halder, Reserve General of the Infantry Erwin von Witzleben, the Host Lord von Kleist-Schmenzin, and all the other various High-ranking people.

A pale-faced Lieutenant Colonel Tresckow was frantically gesturing for me to restrain myself, but I also know that this is no place for a mere Captain Riff-raff to speak out of turn.

I know, but I just couldn't believe it.

"Who are you?"

To Ludwig Beck's blunt question, my father, Hjalmar Schacht, replied first, his face looking as if he'd expected this and was tired of everything in the world.

"He's my son."

"…My apologies for the rudeness, esteemed Your Excellency, Colonel General. I am Army Captain Dietrich Schacht."

After hearing my father and me, Ludwig Beck's expression softened slightly.

"Ah, Former Minister Schacht's son. The personnel recommended by my friend Model, was it? I remember now."

My relief that he was letting it go was momentary; he then presented me with despair once more.

"We will have Cooperation with Britain for the Ousting of the Nazi Regime, but we must have our Sovereignty over the Sudetenland and Danzig recognized."