At the same time, rumors spread through the German Allied Forces that the French kept ogres in their army who liked to eat human hands and feet.
Max Weissmann's crazed appearance gave everyone ample reason to believe he must have witnessed something so shocking that it had driven him mad.
The priests seized the opportunity to proclaim the holiness of the war. They were fighting demons, they said, and acting by the will of God.
The nationalists, meanwhile, came forward to declare that resisting national oppression and rescuing their countrymen were selfless, righteous acts.
The Austrian Empire's propaganda machine sang the praises of the state and the royal family, proclaiming the righteousness of the nation's actions and the greatness of the royal house.
Franz had actually wanted to visit the army camps one by one, just like other transmigrators, and even throw an arm around everyone's shoulders and share a drink with them.
However, the Austrian army's camps were simply too vast. He couldn't have made it through them all even if he walked all night. And fifteen hundred thousand cups of wine—not even using tiny 142-gram cups—would add up to 21.3 tons.
In the end, he could only make a token visit to fifteen camps, where, surrounded by cheering crowds, he posed for a series of historic photographs.
Even so, it took him a full eight hours. By the time Franz returned to his own camp, it was already three in the morning.
Overcome by exhaustion, he collapsed into bed and fell asleep.
Several socialites who had accompanied him all night had hoped something might happen between them. Instead, two maids ushered them out of the makeshift house, explaining that they might "disturb the Archduke's rest."
Still, for these socialites, having accompanied the heir to the Austrian Empire was