A New National Focus

At dawn, Eitel woke in one of the palace's rooms.

After finishing his discussion with Prince Max yesterday, he had returned to the Kaiser's palace, White Hall, though he had not yet moved into the Kaiser's bedchamber.

According to Prince Max, although he was now nominally the emperor of the German Empire, he had yet to hold an accession ceremony witnessed by the empire's senior leadership.

In other words, he was emperor in name only. Legally, he was still a prince of the German Empire. It was just that, with the towering edifice of the German Empire about to collapse, he was the only one willing to step forward, so those officers were willing to follow him.

Eitel washed, dressed in his freshly laundered uniform, left his bedroom, and headed for White Hall's conference room.

When he reached the conference room and pushed the door open, Rommel, Manstein, and Max were already talking quietly.

Hearing the door open, all three rose and saluted His Majesty Eitel.

"Your Majesty."

Eitel nodded and motioned for them to sit. Once all three had taken their seats, he walked to the head of the conference table.

Only after Eitel sat down did Max speak. "Your Majesty, we were discussing the arrangements for your accession."

"Once the operation to suppress the naval rebellion at Wilhelmshaven is complete, we will hold your coronation as German Emperor."

"At that point, you will become the true emperor of the German Empire."

Max's words sent Eitel into thought. Seeing His Majesty's expression, all three men present sat ramrod straight, looking at him nervously.

I hope His Majesty doesn't do something foolish and choose to welcome Wilhelm II back.

All three thought this nervously. As they saw it, their current emperor was truly far better than Wilhelm II.

Moreover, His Majesty Eitel had won far more hearts than Wilhelm II.

Yet while Eitel appeared to be thinking, he had actually turned inward to examine the system interface in his mind.

Just now, the system, which had remained silent all this time, had suddenly issued several missions.

[Mission: The True German Emperor]

[Mission description: Hold an accession ceremony and succeed to the throne as the true German Emperor.]

[Reward: Unlock decisions, laws, and special national focus branches.]

[Mission: Quell the Wilhelmshaven Naval Rebellion and Workers' Movement]

[Mission description: Suppress the naval rebellion at Wilhelmshaven, kill its leaders, and wipe out the Spartacus League.]

[Reward: Unlock the industrial module.]

[Mission: Military Authority]

[Mission description: Bring command of the armed forces into the emperor's hands. Each armed service brought under your control will unlock its corresponding national focus branch.]

[Reward: Unlock the army national focus branch/unlock the navy national focus branch/unlock the air force national focus branch.]

Eitel frowned at the three missions before him.

No wonder he had kept feeling that something was off. Although he did not know whose system this was, it was his first time encountering such a bare-bones interface.

Moreover, when he had unlocked national focuses earlier, he had already had a hunch. This time period, combined with that battlefield and the term "national focus," meant this system should have something to do with Hearts of Iron IV.

It had simply offered only the national focus function.

Now everything had an explanation. This system was the Hearts of Iron System; his control over Germany had simply been too weak before to trigger missions and unlock more functions.

At this thought, Eitel looked at Manstein. "Manstein, is there any news from Guderian?"

When Eitel questioned him, Manstein hurriedly stood and delivered a serious report. "Guderian wired back last night. They have quelled the naval rebellion in Lübeck and captured several troop transports. They are heading for Wilhelmshaven at full speed and expect to arrive within three days."

"Good. I'll leave that matter to you. Report to me immediately if there are any updates."

Very satisfied with Manstein's report, Eitel turned to Prince Max. "Then has yesterday's order to abolish the Hipper Plan been issued?"

Prince Max stood and lowered his head in some shame. "Your Majesty, the man carrying out the Hipper Plan, Admiral Erich Raeder, is unwilling to execute this order."

"He said he would come in person today to ask you for clarification."

Max's response made Eitel frown. He rose from his seat, paced back and forth a couple of times, then looked at Max. "Ask him to come as soon as possible. This task must be carried out."

Max nodded immediately. "Yes, Your Majesty. I will coordinate Admiral Erich's visiting schedule at once."

Having given Max his instructions, Eitel looked at Rommel.

Seeing His Majesty Eitel look his way, Rommel immediately became solemn.

But after looking him over a few times, Eitel said, "As for you, Rommel, stay by my side for now and serve as my secretary."

At His Majesty Eitel's words, Rommel was somewhat dumbfounded. So out of the three men here, he was the only one with nothing to do?

Still, hearing that he could become His Majesty Eitel's secretary-after all, the emperor's secretary! That made him a close attendant of the sovereign.

Once His Majesty successfully ascended the throne, he would have the merit of helping the dragon rise, something countless people could only envy.

At this thought, Rommel immediately agreed. "I will obey all your commands, Your Majesty."

Once everyone had been assigned their duties, Eitel turned and left the conference room. Next, he had something even more important to do.

That was to choose which national focus path to take.

After returning to his bedroom, Eitel opened the system interface.

[Congratulations to the host on completing the stage mission: Hold the Defensive Line. The great German Empire will never admit defeat.]

[Three national focus branches have now been unlocked.]

[One: Twilight of the Gods, Communist Germany]

[Two: Waking the Tiger, Kaiser Autocracy]

[Three: Eagle of Blood and Iron, Rule of the Führer]

Reading the explanations and functions of each path on the screen, Eitel smiled.

"Does that even need asking?"

"System, select the second national focus branch: Waking the Tiger, Kaiser Autocracy."

[National focus branch two unlocked: Waking the Tiger, Kaiser Autocracy path.]

[Matching a compatible national focus tree.]

[Match successful. National focuses unlocked.]

[Retake the Empire. Effects: national stability +20%, political power +2/day, factory production efficiency +15%.]

[Monarch's Compromise. Effects: welcome Wilhelm II back, naval combat effectiveness +20%, naval production speed +20%.]

[Rally the Wehrmacht. Effects: manpower +20%, army combat effectiveness +20%.]

Looking at the three national focuses on the system interface, Eitel pondered for a moment. Although their effects and names differed somewhat from when he had played before, he could make a choice like this with his eyes closed.

Having made his decision, Eitel looked at the system interface, his gaze sharp.

"System, I choose the Retake the Empire national focus."

[National focus selected: Retake the Empire.]

[The Retake the Empire national focus has taken effect. Consumes 0.5 political power/day.]

[May fortune favor you in war.]

Just after Eitel finished selecting his national focus, someone knocked on his door.