Reich Marshal of the Belkan Reich-Chapter 369: RM Vol 4: War – - 57: Case Yellow (Day 16 - Just Another Day in Berlin)

Chapter 369 - RM Vol 4: War – Chapter 57: Case Yellow (Day 16 - Just Another Day in Berlin)

Author Notes:

Ok then, a small disclaimer for RM (?), from Case Yellow Day 16 onward, the timeline may be a bit freaky as there will be multiple POVs. Yeah, no kidding, this is what we'll be getting for trying to write up a World freaking War fanfic, huh. And somehow, I am loving every moments of it... Yggdra above, there must be something wrong with my brain.

Moving on! I really, really should edit the latest Chapters man...

Before I vanish into a coffee-induced sleep, however, I must send my regards to Corporal Mailliw Nimeuqcaj and now newly-promoted Sergeant Roughneck_2-0! Many thanks, you two, for contributing to the Imperium and the Belkan Reich!

Oh, and don't forget to visit the album for new pictures, just saying~

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A fine morning in Berlin. Flowers are chirping, birds are singing, and life is good and untainted by war. On days like this, citizens of Berlin stroll around with smiles on their faces. There's a new saying that is circulated throughout the capital city, and that is:

Even if the sky falls apart, Berlin and its people remain as steadfast as ever.

Confident, and maybe a tad arrogant, the quote certainly reflects the absolute trust, loyalty, and devotion the citizens of Berlin have for the ruling body of Belka. It's also a sentiment shared by the rest of the Reich, and it's quite understandable why that's the case. The Reich is the closest thing to a utopia on Gaia right now, any Belkan of sane mind knows to cherish what they have, which is plenty enough for a without much to worry about. Of course, that is only applicable when one is not a morally corrupted person in the Reich, which is kinda beside the point right now.

Nowadays, Berlin has an extremely vibrant city life. Every which way, there are telltale signs of a prosperous capital, even Berlin's lesser-known alleys are as clean and vigorous as its main streets. Handcraft shops, fine dining restaurants, well-kept parks... Berlin has its all and that is not an exaggeration. The capital of the Reich is a melting pot of multiple distinct cultures. Yet, under the expert guiding hands of the ruling and spiritual bodies of the Reich, these cultures from both the Eastern and Western serve not to undermine the dominant Belkan culture but rather to enrich it. Ultimately, they combine to form a civilization that is uniquely Belkan, for lack of a better word. If you can't seem to find the things you need or want to enjoy in Berlin, you will be hard-pressed to find them anywhere else.

Slightly off the major tourist attractions in Berlin, yet situated at a stone-thrown distance from Berlin Central Park, a place where Ningyo and Nicolae crafted a statue of the Reich Marshal, there exists a small shop that sells the finest of collectibles for cultured people. Vehicle models, figurines of famous characters from fictional works, miniature sculptures of celebrities, and even statues for worshipers... This store caters to everyone's needs, whether they are a military enthusiast or just a person looking for beautiful souvenirs. Best of all, all the products are handmade with love and effort by a pair of siblings. The eldest sister is a once-renowned sculptor, having taken herself off the stage to care for her disabled brother. Both of them, after being inspired by the Reich Marshal's statue in Central Park, have opened a collectible shop. The shop has leveraged the sister's modeling talent and the brother's wealth of ideas, growing to become a niche attraction and a must-see sight for any tourist. Nowhere else will one see such highly detailed models and sculptures, with each of the collectibles showcasing a slice of the Belkan life. Even if one isn't able to purchase anything, the colorful and life-like spectacles alone are already enough of a visual treat. In its opening hours, the small yet neat model shop hosts between three to five customers, with most leaving with a pretty sculpture or trinket and satisfied smiles.

Having just opened their storefront, the eldest sister and the owner of Berlin Kreativitat move to pat her younger brother on the shoulder.

"Alwin, I will go across the street to get us some breakfast. Do you fancy anything today?" She asks with a soft smile.

Her brother, Alwin, looks up from a half-painted model of a Panzer III and blinks his bespectacled eyes. "Oh... I nearly forgot about my hunger."

Rolling her eyes, the sister flicks Alwin chidingly on his forehead. "You... It's not like that order is a rush one. There's no need for you to hastily paint the model to the point of forgetting your daily meal."

Alwin puts down his brush, scratching his dark brow hair with a wry smile. "Sorry, Adel, it's just a habit, you know?"

Adel sighs with her hands on her hips.

"Seriously, I am glad that you find enjoyment in our day-to-day job. I understand that feeling quite well myself. However, I draw a line when you neglect your health, Alwin. The doctor says that the treatment is only possible when you build up more weight." Adel then looks at her slightly scrawny brother who is fidgeting in his wheelchair. "And by the look of it, we still have a long way to go with your irregular food intake."

Alwin blushes, chastised. "Ok, ok, big sis, I'll follow your advice seriously from now on... The sooner I can get rid of the wheelchair, the faster we can achieve our dream."

Adel nods, crossing her arms as she gazes approvingly at Alwin's look of conviction. "That's right... Now, any preference or should I just pick willy-nilly?"

Alwin looks up at Adel with a deadpan expression. "The last time you picked willy-nilly, Doctor Theresa nearly put me in the ICU. You have no idea how annoying it was to experience allergic reactions as a chair-ridden person."

Adel blushes, coughing to hide her embarrassment for a blunder that put Alwin in the hospital. Granted, neither of them had any idea that Alwin couldn't handle walnuts back then, but a blunder is still a blunder nonetheless.

Rolling his eyes, Alwin says. "I'll drink what you'll be having, Adel. Although I will take some strawberry and butter donuts instead of anything meaty today."

Adel nods, but not before teasingly smiling at Alwin. "Strawberry, you say? Well, you can pass at a young lady if you dress up probably..."

Alwin replies immediately. "If I could move my leg, I would have flicked my shoe at your stupid face, sis."

Very maturely, Adel pushes her tongue out at Alwin before skipping away from his workstation. Pushing open the door, Adel crosses the orderly Berlin city street and into a coffee place where the brother and sister are regulars. Stepping inside, Adel is greeted with the tantalizing aroma of coffee beans and freshly made pastries. Unlike some other establishments, this coffee shop emphasizes using wooden furniture wherever possible. The fragrant wood blends surprisingly well with the drinks and food being served at the place. The barista, a stout dwarf who may surprise some people with the fact, looks at Adel with a warm smile.

"Good day, lass!" The dwarf greets while wiping the countertop. "How's cha bro doing over there?"

"A fine morning to you as well, Uncle Kremlin. As for Alwin, he is craving some donuts today."

Kremlin the dwarf raises his eyebrows in exaggerated surprise. Leaning slightly to his left, the dwarf reaches out and opens the glass cabinet containing today's pastries.

"Then what are you waiting for, lass? Can't help da boy be starving, eh? Come, come! Pick what you need!"

Adel smiles before leaning in, pointing her finger at the glass cabinet. "Then I will take some of that strawberry and butter donuts... And maybe a banana tatin."

Kremlin nods before putting on his mitten gloves to bag the assorted pastries Adel picked.

"Good choices, lass!" Carefully, Kremlin lays the wrapped pastries on the counter. The dwarf then removes his gloves. "Alrighty then! Same drinks as usual to accompany the food?"

Adel nods. "Please."

Kremlin grumbles jovially in acknowledgment. Before he can move to make two servings of milk coffee to go, however, the only customer in the establishment speaks up.

"Oi, Krem, can you turn up the volume for that?" He says while pointing a finger at a small television set. On it, the morning news channel is shown in somewhat grainy color footage.

Rolling his eyes, the dwarven barista complains. "Sod off, Wilheim. Can't you move your elven butt and grab the controller by the wall? It's literally three steps away from your seat! Besides, what's the point of listening to the news when your daughter is standing next to the heart of this nation?"

"My brother in the Mother Goddess," Wilheim the wood elf replies with a raised eyebrow. "Why would I want to trouble Elysia with my curiosity? Besides, are you expecting an injured man to stand up and reach for the controller?"

The elf then gestures to his casted foot, making Kremlin sighs in annoyance. "Bloody Hell, who would want to be your bro... Why the flying fuck you didn't get that all fix up thoroughly anyway?"

As the dwarf continues to work on Adel's order, Wilheim replies. "Apparently, I banged up hard enough that even the hospital wondered how I even managed to retain my leg. That's what you get from nearly getting squished by an out-of-controlled road-roller, I guess. Ten out of ten would experience that again if it means I could say another kid though."

Both Adel and Kremlin look at the wood elf as if he has grown a second head. Ultimately, Adel shakes her head, trying to digest the information, while Kremlin just grumbles in annoyance, handing over to Adel the rest of her order. After that, Kremlin walks down the steps behind the counter. To maintain normal eye contact with his guests, Kremlin has to install some raised platforms in a few areas. One of which is behind the counter while another is by the wall where the TV set is. Grabbing the controller, Kremlin turns up the volume as Wilheim wanted, just enough to hear the newscasters speak animatedly.

"Great news all around! As you have seen from our reporters on the scene, Princess Rosa Bonaparte is a Princess no more! She is effectively on the way to being crowned as the Queen of Ustio!"

"Despite the somber event that happened recently, our condolence to the Princess and the people of Paris, people of many places are hopeful of a new and brighter future for Ustio. Now that the Reformist faction is in control of the steering wheel, it's only a matter of time before remnants of the Allied forces be subdued and the Ustian people's lives return for the better."

"Suffice to say, as a close ally of the Reich, our nation will go hand in hand with our Reformist friends and elevate them into a status higher than before. Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to move on from past grievances and focus on our wonderful present and glorious future! The moment has come to settle our scores with the dastardly Erusean Kingdom!"

As the news anchors go on to discuss animatedly on happenstances around the world, someone else from the station steps forward and whispers into their ears. Visibly, the jovial mood from earlier deteriorated into something more serious.

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"Ladies and gentlemen, we have just received news of grave importance. From here on out, viewers' discretion is advised as the footage we're about to show you may be too graphic."

"We must emphasize that what is about to be shown has just happened last night and is confirmed to be factual by the Obsidian Palace."

"To whoever that is tuning into the live broadcast... We are at war with not just the Allied forces but also the Republic of Polania."

"Last night, at 19:00 hours, under direct orders from the Revolutionary Command Council of Polania, the Polanian Army of the Republic of Polania trespassed and attacked our border installations. However, blessed her for her foresight, our Reich Marshal anticipated a possibility of some third party would fish in the muddied water and warned our border forces. As a result, without a single loss to our side, the Belkan Reich military subjugated and captured thousands of Polanian transgressors. They are being interrogated as we speak and it's expected that the Obsidian Palace will make another official statement regarding this unprovoked attack."

"Currently, there exists one direct comment from the Reich Marshal herself from her post at the Western Front. Allow us to read it out for all the viewers."

The Belkan Reich has been birthed, forged, and lived through wars. We, as a nation, and as people, are no strangers to the all-consuming flame of the battlefield. We take wars seriously, we conduct them in a civilized, and righteous manner, then we thrive in them and beyond them. Yet, what Polania just did is nothing short of tearing down the monument of our principles and kindness. They willingly committed such a transgression out of the naive thought that they could seek to profit from our entanglement with the Allied forces. For that, they will reap what they sow. The Belkan military, times and times again, have marched valiantly to protect our home, our way of life. Each and every single time, they return triumphantly as the heroes that we all look up to. This time around, it will be no different. The boots of our soldiers and the tracks left behind by our war machines will shake the East. The Republic of Polania will fall for their gross miscalculation. Its Revolutionary Command Council will be dismantled. The leaders who perpetrated this heinous act will be put on trial. The common people of Polania will no longer be led by the incompetents and racists. Today, the Belkan Reich seeks retribution. May the Mother Goddess spare your souls, for the Reich shall not.

"Well... That happens..." Wilheim speaks, not really knowing what to say. "I am slightly regretting asking myself to be kept out of the loop of, well, everything..."

Kremlin straight-up states.

"That's not a comment, it's a declaration from the Reich Marshal. But eh~! Our Marshal has every right to be pissed about that, huh? After beating them Eruseans and Loyalists black and blue, I would be mad if I was dragged into another war willy-nilly by some dumb fucks on their high horses. Nevertheless, I will pray for our glorious leader's success."

The dwarf gazes up at a corner of his shop with genuine reverence. There, upon a simple yet well-kept pedestal is a small sculpted statue of the Reich Marshal herself, modeled after the one in Central Park. Unironically, it's a sculpture Adel made when she first opened the shop with Alwin. Kremlin was one of the first customers to grace their little place and the dwarf was immediately attracted to the statue Adel made in memory of that day at the park. One can never forget how Marshal's family worked their magic and casually crafted a major tourist attraction. Adel knows that there are many such replicas of the statue in Berlin Central Park out there in the world. She even sold some of them as well. Yet, to her, the first one she made that the Kremlin bought holds a special meaning in her heart. To see the dwarf cherish it feels nice, and she hopes that other worshippers of the Reich Marshal can follow Kremlin's example.

While it may be uncommon to worship a living person, it is not at all out of place considering how much that person and her family have done for the well-being of their people. The Yggdrasil Pantheon even subtly encourages and guides the dedication and faith of the people for the Reich Marshal. After all, it's only fitting that the Mother Goddess' Chosen One is elevated to the status of a Living Saint or deified, is it not? So, don't get your pants in a twist. The Belkan people have no fear when it comes to another unexpected war. As long as the Reich Marshal still stands among the people, then no one can defeat the Belkan Reich. This war with Polania is merely just a side dish. What comes afterward will be the main course, and the Reich Marshal is the finest Master Chef of all.

Rue be Polania for they poke someone they really, really shouldn't.