At the bustling headquarters of the Grand Deutsches Zeitung newspaper, the persistent ringing of phones melded with the clatter of typewriters and the low murmur of urgent conversations. Reporters and editors were deeply engrossed in their tasks—some scribbling furiously, others verbally verifying facts over the phone. At the far end of the room, a group gathered around a long table for a meeting.
"Quickly, over here! Use the largest font possible for the headline about the turmoil in the Far East! And add a subtitle featuring the Great German Party's slogan about hoping for everlasting peace. Yes, exactly like that!" Fanny, directing the meeting, pointed towards a layout sample and instructed the surrounding staff. "Here, make this advertisement a bit larger! It's for Mercedes-Benz Motor Company! They have a cooperation agreement with us! We must give them the best placement!"
"Understood!" replied several staff members in unison.
Fanny then shifted the topic to a more pressing issue. "How is the article criticizing Hitler's disregard for peace coming along? I want to juxtapose his views with President Akado's remarks on bolstering national defense in our next issue."
A hesitant voice from one of the cadres replied, "It's... still... being prepared."
Fanny's gaze darted sharply between him and the others before she decisively waved her hand. "The rest of you may leave; you stay," she ordered, signaling everyone but the hesitant cadre and Minister Matt Hough to exit. "You have two minutes to explain. If not satisfactory, I'll deduct three months' salary."
The cadre, now under intense pressure, confessed, "Deputy Minister Fanny, since Hitler's release from prison, the Nazi Party's activities have tripled, and our plans—especially our negative propaganda concerning them—have been compromised."
Fanny, her brow furrowed in concern, pressed for more details. "Compromised? How so?"
"It's difficult to explain," the cadre stuttered.
"Explain now, or don't bother coming in tomorrow," Fanny commanded sternly.
Summoning his courage, the cadre whispered, "Two of our reporters were assaulted, and several others received threats demanding they soften the language used in reports about the Nazi Party."
Fanny, visibly shocked, retorted, "They dared to assault? Why didn't you report this? Are you out of your minds?"
"We lacked concrete evidence. Those Brownshirts stormed in, attacked, and then fled. Any witnesses we had were countered by their own. The police were hesitant to intervene without clearer evidence," the cadre explained, his frustration evident.
"Prepare the car! We're going to the National Defense Force headquarters!" Fanny declared, donning her coat. To Minister Matt Hough, she said, "Please arrange a meeting with President Akado. I need to see him immediately."
Minister Matt Hough sighed, resigned to his role that increasingly resembled that of a secretary to Fanny, who acted more like the propaganda minister of the Grand German Party each day. He picked up the phone and set about making the necessary arrangements.
Meanwhile, at President Akado's office, discussions about international affairs were underway. A party member from the foreign affairs department reported, "The situation in the Far East remains volatile. Despite the withdrawal of most civilian enterprises from the war zone, a German expatriate was injured."
Gascol added, "The Kuomintang forces, under the command of Chiang Kai-shek, began their Northern Expedition in mid-July. They have been victorious in all engagements and are now pushing towards Wuchang. Their new weaponry, which we provided, has been pivotal."
Foreign Minister Streismann interjected, "The Japanese protest that our arms sales are disrupting peace in the Far East. The Americans and the British are also displeased. The British have even intervened militarily, engaging Chinese forces at Wanxian."
President Akado, already briefed by Colonel Smith about the British government's displeasure over arms sales to Chiang Kai-shek, instructed, "Apologize to the Japanese, Americans, and British. Admit our oversight in the arms sales. I'll also invite Mr. Smith to dinner to affirm our support for their decisions."
He continued, "Inform General Siket to delicately convey to Mr. Chiang Kai-shek that we do not wish to see further escalation in the Far East. In light of the Wanxian conflict, we will support the British government and hope that the Chinese will temper their provocations."
As discussions shifted to the situation with the Soviet Union, the door opened, and Fanny entered. She directly addressed the room, "Since Hitler's release, the Nazi stormtroopers have become increasingly audacious, threatening our reporters and hindering our operations. We need a more robust response than just legal action."
Akado turned to Reinhardt Heidrich, "Reinhardt, what can we do to assist Miss Fanny?"
Reinhardt, with a calm yet firm tone, suggested, "We confront those who cause trouble directly. A show of strength will deter them. They'll think twice if they know the consequences."
Fanny was taken aback by Reinhardt's suggestion, his handsome features belying the ruthless strategy he proposed. Akado introduced him, "This is Colonel Reinhardt Heidrich, chief commander of the Grand German SS, responsible for our safety."
Reinhardt stepped forward, offering his assurance, "Miss Fanny, I will ensure your safety and see to it that those who threaten you are dealt with swiftly."
Grateful yet overwhelmed by the swift promise of action, Fanny thought to herself, "Akado, you truly are decisive. Thank you."
As she left the meeting, her mind was a mix of apprehension and relief, knowing that the challenges were far from over, but reassured by the powerful allies she had in her corner.
"Don't leave at noon; I invite you to dinner," Akado said to Fanny with a smile after everyone else had left the office. "I've heard that you rarely eat lunch on time. There's a nickname for you in the German newspapers—Medusa. Everyone thinks you work so relentlessly that you don't even spare yourself."
"Since I'm high above, there's no need to concern myself with the opinions of the ants," Fanny replied, boldly reaching out to straighten Akado's collar like a gentle wife. "I only care about your opinion."
"You know I will have a wife someday. It's not me who chooses her, but I must accept her to stabilize my power," Akado said, not stopping Fanny's ambiguous actions but speaking matter-of-factly. "Your affection for me is doomed to be unrequited."
"My father has two mistresses. Even someone as mediocre as Matt Hoff has a beautiful secretary who visits his office every Wednesday afternoon to share two hours of coffee with him," Fanny said, her hand sliding from Akado's collar to his chest. "I don't aspire to be your wife, just leave me a place by your side!"
"You are excellent; there's no need for you to do this," Akado said, feeling embarrassed. Rejecting the request of a beautiful woman to be his mistress required great courage and perseverance—a challenge he doubted many could withstand.
Fanny simply shook her head, not understanding the gravity of her request. "Let's go eat," she said.
Akado nodded, knowing it would be difficult to change Fanny's mind quickly. If she were the type of woman easily swayed, he wouldn't have cared about her as much. "Let's go to dinner," he agreed.
Akado felt a sudden realization. He had just treated Miss Mercedes to an extravagant meal and had given Carl Benz a gift a few days before. Now, inviting Fanny to dinner, he estimated that he had spent the equivalent of a Mercedes-Benz military truck in just a few days. Yet, he commanded, "Anna, take a few people to... to... do you know any good restaurants nearby? Take us there. And dress casually; we might come back late. We don't want to be noticed if we're late."
He was really relying on his life secretary, Anna, now. Without her and Depp, he was sure he would get lost in the city of Berlin.
Anna was very cooperative. She changed into pants and flat shoes, concealing most of her voluptuous sexiness, yet still looking charming. However, compared to Fanny, who was dressed formally, she was less conspicuous. Anna didn't need to compete with Fanny in beauty; her job was to protect Akado. Convenient clothes and a pistol in her coat pocket were her tools.
So, Akado, accompanied by two beautiful women and a few IDF guards in plain clothes, arrived at a small restaurant near the IDF headquarters. It was noon, and the place was frequented by some IDF officers. Most of them, not holding high ranks, did not recognize Akado. Although they often spoke of the mysterious Major General of the National Defense Army, it was a pity they had never actually seen him.
Several soldiers and driver Depp sat at a table not far away. Being well-informed subordinates, they knew when to protect themselves and when to maintain distance, especially when their boss was dining with two beautiful women.
Eating Western food was more predictable than eating Chinese food. With Chinese cuisine, one never knew what the next dish would be; there were always surprises. Western meals were structured: an appetizer, soup, side dishes, main courses, greens or salads, desserts, and tea or coffee. Akado always believed that the Chinese had an edge in culinary creativity.
Fanny sat to Akado's right, perusing the menu, while Anna, dressed casually, sat quietly beside him, keeping her gaze averted. Akado found the dynamics among the women he knew quite interesting. Anna was undoubtedly the sexiest but never used her allure as leverage. She performed her protective duties with meticulous care and never overstepped her boundaries. She also managed Akado's daily needs with great efficiency, which pleased him immensely.
Cindra was like a shadow—except when reporting on work, Akado hardly ever saw her, yet she managed his schedule impeccably. Fanny was the most enthusiastic; her thoughts were unpredictable, and her capabilities were undeniable. Akado relied heavily on her for his publicity, making him cautious about defining their relationship.
Then there was the lady named Mercedes, always aloof, leaving Akado unsure how to interact with her. Knowing that she was recognized by influential figures like Krupp made it clear that she had unique qualities, though Akado had little direct interaction with her.
As he pondered the potential chaos of a dinner involving all four women, he couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?" Fanny asked, setting down the menu with a smile.
"Oh, nothing..." Akado quickly waved his hand, dismissing the thought. How could he possibly explain such an absurd scenario?
"I bet you're wondering if I'll end up fighting Miss Anna," Fanny continued, her eyes gleaming with pride. She was confident in her ability to read Akado's thoughts.
"Uh..." Akado suddenly felt a wave of embarrassment, as if he had been caught in a compromising situation.
"It's her! You can find that bitch!" A sharp shout interrupted the awkward moment, providing Akado with a timely distraction.
He turned toward the source of the commotion and saw a group of men in brown shirts, armed with wooden sticks, storming into the restaurant. The other patrons quickly scattered, throwing down money to escape potential harm.
Depp and several plainclothes defense forces immediately stood up and positioned themselves around Akado, but it was clear they were outnumbered.
"Look at that! Two beauties dining with a man! How shameless!" the leader of the Nazi stormtroopers jeered at Fanny, eliciting laughter from his group.
"And what about you, chick? Are you his mistress too?" another stormtrooper taunted, advancing toward Anna with a lewd gesture.
"Remove your filthy hand, or I'll sever it later!" Anna snapped, her expression fierce. Behind her, Depp and the IDF soldiers discreetly reached for their weapons, each armed with the latest military-issue P-38 pistols.
"Go ahead, cut it off! I'd like to see you try!" the stormtrooper mocked, his cronies laughing along.
"If I were you, I wouldn't invite such violence upon myself," Akado interjected calmly.
"What can you do, pretty boy?" the stormtrooper leader sneered.
Just then, a large group of people entered the restaurant, far outnumbering the stormtroopers. They were dressed in the black uniforms of the National Defense Forces, some with Luger pistols visible at their waists.
Seeing the new arrivals, the stormtrooper leader panicked. "Seize them! Take hostages!" he shouted, attempting to grab Akado as a bargaining chip.
However, before he could act, several pistols were aimed at the stormtroopers. "If I were you, I'd reconsider, although we're few, we're not to be trifled with," Akado said with a smirk.
The situation escalated quickly, but the overwhelming presence of the National Defense Forces made it clear that the stormtroopers were outmatched. More than twenty of them were subdued, most lying on the ground, too weak to even groan.
Reinhardt, one of Akado's subordinates, approached and bowed. "I just learned that these stormtroopers were causing trouble. My team and I came as soon as we heard. I apologize for any inconvenience, sir."
"This was an unforeseen incident; no need for apologies," Akado responded. "They wanted Anna to harm them. I think it's only fair that she gets the chance to interrogate them, extract all their information, and then perhaps send their hands as a gift to the Nazi Party headquarters."
"Understood, sir," Reinhardt replied, then turned to his men. "Take these men to the Interrogation Section at Defense Forces Headquarters and hand them over to Lieutenant Colonel Gascol."
After issuing his orders, Reinhardt faced Akado again and saluted. "Long live Akado? Rudolph!" he declared, with the assembled soldiers echoing the salute.
The stormtroopers were quickly dragged out of the restaurant, and calm returned to the room.
"Thank you," Anna said to Akado, her face slightly flushed from the ordeal.
"Akado, I feel more and more like you're the man I'm meant to be with. What should I do?" Fanny, undeterred by the recent chaos, leaned against Akado's shoulder. "If someone bullies me in the future, will you smooth things over like you did today?"
Akado, feeling overwhelmed, simply covered his face and replied, "Let's just eat."