When Paul stepped inside, he was greeted by the sight of a man he knew all too well.
Hess? Paul thought, genuinely surprised for the first time in a long while.
"Herr Jeager," Rudolf Hess, Deputy Minister of the Reich, said as he extended his hand.
Paul shook it, studying the man before him. Hess wore an expensive black suit, and every strand of hair was meticulously arranged.
"Did you not expect me here?" Hess asked, his tone slightly provocative.
"I am surprised that the Deputy Minister of the Reich is personally greeting a major like me," Paul said honestly.
"That is precisely the point. You are a major, but the youngest one in the history of the Reich. Did you know that?"
Hess pointed forward. "Come, Major. Walk with me."
Paul did not answer. He simply followed.
"The youngest and the most frightening major we ever had," Hess began.
"The most frightening? I assure you I do not bite," Paul said skeptically.
"Only your enemies," Hess replied.
"I heard about your captivity and your ruthlessness in Spain. The Ghost of Avila. The Vulture of Madrid is what many in the Condor Legion began calling you after your burn and conquer tactics." Hess paused, looking up at the ceiling for a moment. "The question is not whether you bite, Major Jeager. The question is whom you bite. Who is your enemy?"
Paul's eyes changed. They grew colder and more distant.
"Only those who bite me first or will in the future." His voice lowered. "Am I going to be bitten by you, Deputy Minister?"
Hess' eyes widened with something close to madness before he suddenly burst into laughter. "How unsavory. What impudence."
He stepped closer. "Herr Jeager. I recognize your gaze. I know it because I once had it. You do not want to be a dog. You were not born for that role. But ambition has limits. Ambition takes you far, further than anything else, yet every step forward creates another enemy. You have already collected many, and although you seem to think I am one of them, you are mistaken."
"What are you then? A benefactor?" Paul asked, stepping closer as well.
"An opportunist," Hess said with a strained smile. "You are a man who provides opportunities. Continue and I will support you. Stop and I will oppose you. Very simple, is it not?"
"What opportunities have I given you, Deputy Minister?" Paul asked, intrigued.
"I was the one who mentioned you first to the Führer, and now, after your rise, I receive the laurels," Hess answered.
You are mistaken. I get them, Paul thought as he observed the dangerous man before him. He is an opportunist, exactly as he claims, but not an absolutist. What hinders him is his blind loyalty.
"Tell me what you want, Jeager, and perhaps I can help," Hess said arrogantly.
"Membership in the inner circle," Paul replied simply.
"You aim to rise politically, not militarily?" Hess asked, stunned.
"I can and will rise militarily on my own. Rising politically requires connections," Paul said, placing his hands behind his back.
"And what do I gain?" Hess asked.
"A friend. An ally who will support whatever you support. I do not care for political agendas. I want only to get closer to the Führer," Paul said, watching Hess' reaction.
"I will see what I can do," Hess said just before they reached a massive double door.
The guards opened it at once.
Inside, Paul was greeted by a group of men standing around a large table with a huge military map on top.
All of them were well known.
Von Rundstedt, Raeder, Göring, Richthofen, and the big man himself, Paul thought.
He stepped closer, raised his arm, and delivered the familiar salute. His eyes flicked to Raeder for a calculated instant.
The Führer studied him for a moment, then gave a short nod.
"So this is the famous Major Jeager," Hitler said, walking up to him and gripping his hand with abrupt force.
Surreal, Paul thought as he studied the man before him.
Hitler slapped his shoulder too hard. "Excellent work in Spain, boy. Hess told me about you, and Sperrle as well. Yes, Sperrle also spoke highly of your talent."
"Thank you, my Führer. Your guidance made these results possible," Paul said evenly.
Raeder raised an eyebrow, but Hitler was absorbed in his own approval.
He suddenly laughed, a sharp, manic burst. "Very good. Germany's future is secure with men like you, Major Jeager. True Germans. True Aryans."
"I am curious what he thinks, my Führer," said an obese man in an extravagant white Luftwaffe uniform.
Göring, Paul thought.
Hitler cleared his throat impatiently and pointed at the models on the table: a battleship, a plane, and a tank.
"We were discussing the weighting of the branches," Hitler said.
Göring pressed on. "Major, in your opinion, which branch is the most important?"
All eyes turned to Paul. Even Hess watched sharply.
So that is how this works. Rundstedt for the army, Raeder for the navy, and the fat one for the Luftwaffe, Paul thought.
"I believe it does not come down to the most important branch, but to the second most important," Paul said calmly.
Raeder raised his brows, interested. "Why is that?"
"The army is always the crucial one," Paul said. "Without it, a nation is defenseless. Especially Germany, not an island like the UK."
Rundstedt nodded in quiet approval, while Raeder's expression darkened.
"So you imply the navy is only third?" Raeder asked sharply.
"I do not," Paul said. "The Luftwaffe and the navy are equally important, but it depends on the enemy. Against the UK, the navy is paramount. Against France or Poland, the Luftwaffe has the advantage."
Hess exhaled softly, disappointed at Paul's refusal to choose sides.
"Although I see your point, young Jeager, I still consider the Luftwaffe more important," Hitler said, slapping Göring's shoulder. "Hermann's Luftwaffe will be prioritized. And since we have just purchased three new destroyers, it is time for fresh Luftwaffe projects."
Paul watched Raeder's veins bulge and his fist clench under the table.
"Mein Führer," Raeder said sharply, earning a scowl from Göring.
"Please reconsider. The Kriegsmarine is vital to Germany," Raeder protested.
"Admiral Raeder, I have spoken. Your navy's funding will be cut. This is a Führer order," Hitler barked, face red with fury.
Quite the power dynamics, Paul thought as he watched Hitler and Göring on one side, Rundstedt neutral, and Raeder openly defiant.
As the shouting grew, Paul analyzed the situation.
Raeder is already in my pocket, he noted.
Göring is impossible. That leaves only Rundstedt and the generals. Yet the army still lacks a dominant figure. Most famous generals have not earned real influence yet. So Rundstedt stands without real weight behind him.
And then there is that fox, Paul thought, eyeing Hess, calm while chaos shook the room.
Raeder slammed his fist again, the table creaking, then stormed out while Hitler shouted after him.
Paul watched each reaction carefully.
"This impudent bastard..."
"How dare he..."
"I am the Führer," Hitler roared, red with rage.
Paul waited in silence until the fury subsided.
Hess approached carefully and whispered something to Hitler. The man's expression brightened instantly.
"It seems we forgot the reason for your presence," Hitler said.
"Considering your tactical brilliance in Spain, especially the capture of the Madrid Airport, the General Staff and I have decided to promote you."
Paul glanced at Rundstedt, who looked visibly displeased.
The old guard of the Wehrmacht resents me. The Führer has once again acted alone, Paul calculated.
"I am deeply thankful, my Führer. I will continue to deliver results," Paul said as Hitler replaced the major insignias with those of an Oberstleutnant. His hand trembled slightly, leaving one insignia crooked.
After some small talk, Hitler, Göring, and Hess departed for an upcoming summit in the parliament.
Paul remained with Rundstedt, who forced an awkward smile.
"General, I wanted to thank you for recommending me for Spain. One could say I owe this rank to you," Paul said, his tone edged with irony and faint sarcasm.
Rundstedt clenched his jaw. "I am glad to hear that, Major."
"There is another matter. The Führer asked me to inform you that from now on you will be assigned to the General Staff here in Berlin. Your direct superior will be me," Rundstedt said, his awkward smile widening.
"Thank you, General. I look forward to the new responsibilities," Paul said as Rundstedt left.
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