Devouring World Dragon

Chapter 192 Axis and Allies

After saying this, Adolf got up and went to the window, looking out at the Danube River. The old iron bridge that used to inexplicably anger him still stood there quietly.

Kubišić recalled that when Adolf was discussing his urban plans for Linz, he often found the "ugly monster" very unpleasant. Sure enough, he immediately began to complain again.

“That ugly thing is still here! But it won’t last much longer, just you wait and see, Kubisik.”

Then Adolf turned around and smiled at Kubishik.

“I really want to walk on that bridge with you again, just like before. But that’s not very realistic anymore; I’d be surrounded by people wherever I go. But believe me, Kubizik, I’ve already planned a grand vision for Linz.”

Kubizik was convinced of this.

He had witnessed firsthand the thoughts of the "Führer" in his youth, when he had wandered the streets and alleys of Linz, just to find places that needed to be changed. Now, he was beginning to talk to himself about each plan.

"The new Danube Bridge will be called the Nibelungen Bridge, and it will be a model in the history of modern bridge construction."

Adolf described in detail to Kubizik the shape of the two bridgeheads of the bridge, followed by the theater. In Adolf's vision, once the new opera house was built on the site of the old train station, it would be used exclusively for plays and operettas. Furthermore, to make Linz a true "Bruckner City," a modern concert hall must be built for the city…

"I want to make Linz a cultural center, and I want to see it all come true."

Standing before Kubizik, with his back to Linz outside the window, Adolf spoke passionately to his friend, just as he had uttered those bold words years ago.

In the past, Kubizik would jokingly ask him, "So, where does the money come from?" which would then draw an angry glare from Adolf. But now, Kubizik can no longer ask that question.

Because he is no longer the poor boy he once was. Back then, he could only sketch out his dreams in his mind, but now he owns half of Europe, the whole world listens to his voice, and he has the ability to put his dreams into practice.

Looking at the "head of state" before him, his self-confidence and high spirits gradually overlapped with the image of the poor boy who had spoken eloquently and was full of ambition in Linz years ago...

Kubizik thought the meeting was about to end, but Adolf then began to envision forming a large symphony orchestra in Linz, at which point the conversation suddenly turned to a personal topic.

"Tell me, Kubizik, what do you do for a living now?"

Adolf gazed at his friend, wanting to know what had happened to him over the past thirty years. Kubišik then told Adolf that he had been working as a clerk since becoming a government employee in 1920.

"A court clerk? What does a court clerk do?"

he asked doubtfully.

Kubišik looked somewhat embarrassed. He knew that Adolf looked down on civil servants, thinking they were just coasting through their days. Adolf interrupted again.

"So you've become a civil servant, a clerk! This isn't for you. What about your music?"

Kubizik paused for a moment, then recounted a past he had never spoken of before.

In 1912, after studying at the Vienna Conservatory for four years, he was finally hired as the assistant conductor of the orchestra by the Maribor Municipal Music Theatre, where he made his debut. He then toured the surrounding cities, gaining much support and appreciation from all walks of life.

Immediately afterwards, the theater owner was so impressed with his performance that he offered him the role of opera conductor. It was an excellent orchestra of 40 musicians, a fine theater, and a modern stage—all in the capital of Kelten, a city renowned for its love of music.

From a family of decorators to a musician about to step onto the big stage, Kubizik has achieved everything he never dared to dream of before. Everything seems to be getting better.

However, a few months later... war destroyed everything.

In 1914, the war against Russia broke out, and Kubizik was forced to go to the front as an ordinary soldier in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. When he returned home a few years later, he found everything had changed. His father was seriously ill and died shortly after his return; to care for his mother, he ultimately chose to give up his musical dreams and become an ordinary civil servant in Efeding…

Adolf listened attentively, and finally fell silent. He had always respected Kubizik's parents, but he never expected it to turn out this way.

He nodded silently and said:
"Yes, the war we lost."

That war changed the fate of two people.

A young man with musical talent, a seemingly promising musician, was ultimately forced to abandon his dreams because of the war. Similarly, Adolf's future seemed predictable; aimless learning and disdain for professional training seemed destined for failure. Yet, he became the current Führer of Germany thanks to that war.

Then Adolf looked at Kubishik and said.

“You won’t be a clerk your whole life, Kubišek.”

As he spoke, he stood up again, paced back and forth, and then seemed to have made a decision.

“Kubishik, I want to go to Efedin.”

Efedin, this is where Kubishik now resides and where he works as a civil servant.

“Of course I will come to see you, Kubisik. But I will only come specifically for you, and then we can take a walk along the Danube. Here, I can’t even imagine it—they never let me go out alone.”

His tone was calm and firm, but Kubizik could imagine the difficulty of this decision.

He is not an individual; he is involved in the affairs of the entire country. Every day, he is surrounded by a multitude of laws being drafted, administrative processes being handled, appointments and removals of high-ranking government officials being made, and even orders for the mobilization of the armed forces. A single word from him can determine the life or death of thousands of people. He cannot even go out alone normally, let alone suddenly decide to abandon his political duties and go to a small city, which would inevitably meet with fierce opposition.

However, Kubizik shook his head and persuaded Adolf to give up the idea, as he didn't want his friend to delay his own important business because of him.

Adolf frowned, but the two eventually talked about their shared love of music.

Now they were finally talking about a topic Kubizik liked. But in the end, Kubizik only briefly mentioned some musical activities he participated in in town and the small band he had formed in his spare time. Compared to the major international affairs Adolf usually handled, his small concert performances seemed insignificant, so Kubizik worried that talking too much would bore him.

But he was wrong. To save time, he had to gloss over such matters, but Adolf interrupted relentlessly:
"What, Kubizik, you're actually playing symphonies in such a small place as Efedin! That's incredible. What pieces have you performed?"

He then asked me about the band's strength and composition; he was amazed by Kubizik's answer and congratulated his friend on his success.

“This is exactly where I need to help you, Kubizik,”

He couldn't help but speak loudly.

"Give me a list and tell me what you need. Also, how are you doing? Are you living a comfortable life?"

It was clear he was implying to Kubizik that he would provide a large band for his friend if he asked. For him at that moment, it was simply a matter of saying the word.

Kubizik replied that although his income was only so-so, it was enough for him, so he didn't have any personal requirements. He turned his head to look at Kubizik, his expression somewhat surprised.

Clearly, he had never met someone as detached from desires as Kubizik.

Do you have children, Kubizik?

"Yes, I have three sons."

"Three sons!"

He exclaimed admiringly, then repeated it several times with a solemn expression.

“You have three sons, Kubizik, while I am still single and all alone. But I am willing to take care of your sons.”

So Kubizik then talked to him about his sons—Hitler wanted to know every detail of their upbringing. Kubizik told him that all three sons were quite musically talented, and two of them were also excellent cartographers, which pleased him greatly.

“Kubishik, I should take on the responsibility of educating these three children,”

He said to Kubisik.

“I don’t want these talented young people to repeat our mistakes. You know best what we were like in Vienna. But after we parted ways, I experienced even worse days. I can’t let the intelligence and talent of young people be stifled by poverty and hardship. I will do my best in everything I can, especially for your children, Kubizik!”

"Knock down..."

Just then, there was a knock on the door, followed by a respectful male voice—it was his adjutant.

"Your Excellency, the scheduled performance is about to begin."

As if his conversation had been interrupted, Adolf looked displeased, but then, as if he had thought of something, he suddenly spoke to Kubisik.

"Kubishik, would you like to go to a show with me?"

……

It was an opera performed specifically for the Führer, called *Götterdämmerung* (Twilight of the Gods). German opera composers had traveled to Linz specifically to serve him, as the Führer had virtually no free time outside of his stay in Linz. It was an extremely magnificent opera, its solemn and resonant voices highlighting the theme of awakening. It was undoubtedly a masterpiece.

"This is the only show I can watch this year, but unfortunately, we're at war."

Sitting in the private room, Adolf spoke to his friend, then added somewhat resentfully.

"This war will delay our reconstruction plans for years, which is a disgrace. I am the Führer of the Greater German Reich not to fight wars every day."

Kubišić was quite shocked that the Führer, who had achieved major military victories in Poland and France, would speak to him in such a tone. He suddenly realized that perhaps his presence reminded Adolf Hitler of this fact.

Time flies like an arrow, making us grow old.

After all, we met when we were both in our prime. Although he looks stronger now than ever before, when he discovers that his childhood friend is getting old, he must also realize that the relentless years have left their indelible marks on him as well.

"This battle has taken away my best years."

he continued.

“You know me, Kubishik. You know I’ve always wanted to build this country better. That’s been my life’s dream. Do you understand what I mean? You know better than anyone how many designs and ideas I had when I was young. Only a few have come to fruition so far, and there are still a lot of plans to be completed. But who can take on this responsibility? Now I can only watch helplessly as war steals away my best years.”

"Shame, tragedy! Time waits for no one, Kubizik, we're only getting older. In a few years, it will be too late to do it."

Even after the opera ended and the two were about to part ways, with the war still ongoing, he couldn't stay in Linz to catch up with his friend. But he still held his friend's hand with deep affection and said something.

“This war has dragged me into this mess. But I hope this situation won’t last long. Once the war is over, I can shift my focus to domestic reconstruction and then begin implementing all my remaining plans. Kubishik, I will send someone to invite you then. I want you to stay by my side forever.”

Ragnarok has come to a close, and it was indeed a deeply moving performance.

Kubizik slowly walked out of the theater and found the street cordoned off. He stood where the Führer was about to pass, hoping to catch one last glimpse of his friend. A few minutes later, the Führer's motorcade arrived at the theater. Hitler stood in his car, receiving a welcoming welcome from the crowds lining the streets. His guards lined the police tape, driving along both sides of the street. What followed was an unforgettable experience for Kubizik.

The motorcade slowly approached the crowd where Kubizik was. Kubizik stood beside the roped cordon and saluted. Just then, the Führer recognized him. He signaled to the driver to stop the entire motorcade, while his own vehicle pulled over to me. He leaned out, took Kubizik's hand, and smiled at his friend.

"Goodbye."

The head of state's vehicle returned to the middle of the guard, and he straightened his posture and waved goodbye to everyone.

The motorcade then drove straight to the airport, leaving behind his friend who was caught in the crowd and became the focus of public attention, as everyone wanted to understand why this person had won the favor of the head of state.

This was one of Kubizik's rare encounters with Adolf Hitler, because as the war became increasingly difficult in the days that followed, he only had a few opportunities to see his friend again.

……

"Your Excellency, the EU project has made some new breakthroughs, and Dr. Davenz would like you to take a look at the latest progress."

On the special plane, a general sat to the side, occasionally jotting down notes on documents while speaking to Adolf Hitler.

Having just recovered from the joy of reuniting with his friends, Adolf gently rubbed his temples. Project EU was an extremely secretive project; even within the Nazi high command, only a very few people knew of its existence. E stands for Aether, and U for Unknown; the intention was to use ancient Atlantean technology to recreate various forms of dark magic. The members of "The Far North" held a fanatical belief in the existence of the ancient Atlantean civilization and sought to find the sunken Atlantis.

According to their research, the ancient Atlantis period was an era in which magic was highly developed. Ancient humans used an energy called "ether". Dr. Daventz was responsible for using the "ether" of the ancient Atlantis civilization to try to create flying machines powered by "ether" to deal with the Allied fighter jets.

"A disc-shaped aircraft? Interesting."

Looking at the blueprints for the new aircraft handed to him by the general, Adolf was intrigued by the strange, saucer-like aircraft.

"Ancient wisdom should not be buried like this. Germany needs more powerful technology, whatever it may be. Also, tell the Ancient Army Group that I don't care if their enemies are werewolves, fishmen, vampires, or even dragons. Any enemy that stands in Germany's way should be crushed!"

The deep voice spoke with conviction.

According to the German army group organization at the time, there were six army groups: A, B, C, D, and the South and North. Although they were expanded in the future, there was never any ancient army group organization...

……

In an ancient underground chapel in London, England, a group of people dressed in black monks' robes were talking in the flickering candlelight.

"It is now certain that the World Key has fallen into the hands of the Nazis, or more precisely, into the hands of that Nazi leader, or rather, the World Key has chosen him."

An elderly monk, shrouded in a black monk's robe, spoke to his companion.

The group remained silent, with only an occasional sigh breaking the silence.

"The World Key is not something that humans can control. Although no one has been able to truly crack the secrets of the World Key to this day, we cannot allow this possibility to continue. If that German leader really did crack the secrets... the consequences would be unimaginable."

One of them couldn't help but say something.

But then an old woman's voice retorted.

"But past experiences have taught us that getting involved in worldly power struggles is not a good thing, and we will pay the price."

A cacophony of voices erupted among the group.

A fierce debate arose within this ancient hermitage over whether to intervene in worldly affairs, but ultimately, a voice rang out and quelled the argument.

"Secular power is irrelevant to us, and the strength of Germany is irrelevant to us recluses. The world is in turmoil, power struggles rise and fall, nothing new happens in a thousand years, so why bother with them? But now, that young force called the Far North is trying to suppress the entire dark world with secular power in order to find their so-called Atlantis civilization... The struggle between the dark world and the secular world has lasted for tens of thousands of years, and it has only just reached the current balance. Breaking the balance is definitely not a good thing."

"This is not just a matter for us, but a matter concerning the entire human world. That German Führer named Adolf is now allied with Italy, pressing France with his troops and defeating Poland. He probably has no rivals left in all of Europe..."

The voice paused for a moment, then spoke.

“We are based in Europe, and with our own strength alone, we are afraid we cannot be completely confident. Perhaps... we should seek help from the new world across the ocean.”

The moment the word "new world" was uttered, the group fell silent.

For these old monks of the hermitage, the word seemed to possess some strange power, making them reluctant to mention it.

"The New World? You mean to turn to those Freemasons who are obsessed with worldly power and wealth?"

An old woman's disgruntled voice rang out, her disgust evident, as if she had some grudge against this Freemason.

"The Freemasons control the entire New World, and they also have power in Europe. Their power surpasses that of the Secret Order. This is not the time to dwell on grudges. For the benefit of humanity, we should unite with the Freemasons to defeat that German leader."

With this sound, the underground church fell silent once again.

A few days later, a letter was delivered to somewhere in the United States, across the ocean.

"...Regarding Germany...World Key..."

……

And somewhere in Berlin, in a place tightly protected by layers of steel chambers and state-of-the-art machinery, within that lifelike statue, a vertical pupil opens, coldly gazing into the crystal heavens.

On the chessboard, the ferocious head, wielding weapons in both hands, slashed wildly across its mother body, leaving trails of blood everywhere it struck.

The enormous creature, neither human nor beast, with hundreds of heads, hundreds of limbs, and a body that was neither human nor beast, cried out in pain as it tried to escape the torment. However, the hundreds of heads on its body each had their own different ideas and clamored wildly, making it difficult for it to realize its own desires.

"..."

Staring at the suffering behemoth, its cold pupils emitted a strange, inaudible sneer.

Nationalism, a patriotic sentiment that originated in the Hundred Years' War between England and France and was inspired by Joan of Arc, the saint who saved the nation, and was further tempered by the French Revolution, gave birth to something that seemed to float in the crystal sky.

It was precisely because of the formation of their own concept of "humanity" that the colossal creature with hundreds of heads, crawling on the earth, was ultimately formed, because all humans regarded themselves as their fellow human beings.

Now, this very thing that once promoted progress has been twisted into something perverse and cruel.

Wisdom breeds cunning, courage breeds tyranny, love breeds lust, kindness breeds weakness... Good and evil are one, everything has two sides, so what will nationalism, born in the name of protecting the country, give rise to?
The cold pupils once said that they planted a seed through Joan of Arc's hand, and now that seed has sprouted.

Watching the colossal creature on the chessboard weep in anguish, its cold pupils emitted a strange laugh, mocking the overconfident young beast.

(End of this chapter)