Formally Ascending the Throne

December 1918.

Inside the solemn hall of the House of Hohenzollern's inner palace.

Flags of the German Empire hung high on the walls on either side, with a flag bearing the Iron Cross emblem against a red-and-black background, symbolizing the German Empire, between every two national flags.

A long red carpet stretched through the center of the hall all the way to its far end. Standing on either side were the empire's powerful princes and generals. Some officers who had distinguished themselves in the Great War had also been invited to attend the German emperor's enthronement ceremony.

At that moment, everyone attending the enthronement ceremony stood silently in the hall, looking straight ahead. Not a single person made a sound.

At eight in the morning, Eitel sat in the palace's main chamber. Beside him lay an imperial robe that symbolized the German emperor's status, its decoration understated yet exceedingly sumptuous.

Eitel looked at the imperial robe, gently brushing his fingers against its collar, then slowly tracing downward until he touched the Iron Cross on its chest.

That Iron Cross belonged to him alone, and it was also proof of his standing as a battlefield emperor.

Like the emperors before him, he too had proved himself on the battlefield, proving that he was worthy of being the German emperor.

From Frederick I to Frederick the Great and his father, Wilhelm II, almost every emperor had demonstrated his abundant martial prowess.

And now, it was his turn.

For no particular reason, Eitel recalled his experience studying this period of history. Back then, he had been nothing more than an ordinary history student.

Now, however, he was the ruler who held the fate of the entire German Empire in his hands.

Lost in those memories, Eitel firmly grasped the Iron Cross that reflected a black gleam.

With his other hand, he lifted the imperial robe and turned his wrist. The robe traced a sharp arc through the air before settling over his shoulders.

Picking up the field marshal's baton beside him, Eitel strode out of the chamber.

Nine in the morning.

The imperial chancellor, Prince of Baden Max, stood at the very front of the hall in the House of Hohenzollern's inner palace. Dressed in the imperial chancellor's court attire, he gazed solemnly at the palace doors.

General Rudolf wore his general's uniform, with countless medals pinned to it, and likewise watched the entrance with a solemn expression.

Everyone was waiting, waiting for the German emperor's arrival.

Just as everyone craned their necks in anticipation, the doors slowly opened. Two imperial guards pushed the heavy doors open, one on either side. As the doors moved, a sound with a distinctive weight resonated in everyone's hearts.

"He's here."

At the sound of the doors opening, everyone present grew solemn at once.

Tap, tap, tap.

The sound of the doors opening was accompanied by crisp footsteps.

His Majesty Eitel stepped into the solemn hall just as the clock's hour hand pointed to nine.

With firm strides, His Majesty Eitel walked along the red carpet toward the dais.

Everyone present had their eyes drawn to his figure. Meeting their gazes and expectations, Eitel reached the very front of the hall.

"May Your Majesty receive the crown."

General Rudolf watched Eitel approach and spoke in a loud voice. As his words fell,

Chancellor Max solemnly lifted a crown from the stand before him with both hands, under everyone's gaze.

He slowly placed it on His Majesty Eitel's head.

Only after the crown rested on Eitel's head did Max take a step back.

"May Your Majesty take the oath."

After speaking, General Rudolf moved to the rear alongside Chancellor Max.

Feeling the weight on his head, Eitel slowly straightened.

He walked to the front of the dais and looked at everyone below.

"I assume the imperial title, ever mindful of my sacred duty: to safeguard, with German loyalty, the inherent rights of the empire and its constituent states; to preserve peace; and, drawing upon the united strength of all our people, to defend German independence. I pray that God grant me and my descendants the strength to protect the empire forever, so that Germany's prosperity may arise not from conquest through war, but from the welfare of its people, liberty, and order nurtured by peace."

"I swear in the name of God that I shall abide by the imperial constitution and treat all constituent states fairly; uphold the law and the church, and show compassion for the impoverished; preserve the glory of the army and navy, and do everything in my power to safeguard Germany's peace; govern all my people with moderation and justice, showing no favoritism and shunning reckless militarism. I shall follow the path of my predecessor, Wilhelm II, unite all the German states, and seek common prosperity for our people."

After finishing the prepared oath Max had given him, Eitel set it down on the table.

"Gentlemen, I have finished my oath. Finally, I have one more thing to say."

At this point, Eitel's gaze swept across the faces of those attending.

At last, it settled on the generals standing at the very front.

"Long live the German Empire!"

With that, Eitel pulled his imperial robe tight around him and raised the field marshal's baton high in his right hand.

"Long live His Majesty the Kaiser!"

[Mission: The True German Emperor, completed]

[Mission description: Hold an enthronement ceremony and succeed to the throne as the true German emperor]

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

[Decisions, laws, and special national focus branches are now unlocked]

[Three law branches unlocked: economic mobilization laws, trade laws, occupation policy laws]

[Four decision branches currently unlocked: army decisions, diplomacy/expansion-exclusive decisions, industry/economy-exclusive decisions, eastern occupied territories governorate decisions]

[Detected that the host has selected the national focus branches: Waking the Tiger, Kaiser Autocracy]

[Exclusive decision now unlocked: Rebuild the Holy Roman Empire Decision. Effects: integrate all German states in Central Europe, gain cores on all territory, factory output +10%, gain an exclusive national spirit]

As Eitel completed the enthronement ceremony, the system, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly displayed countless messages.

The densely packed messages filled his vision along with the screen of light.

Looking at the various decisions and laws before him, as well as the many decisions and laws with powerful buffs still waiting to be unlocked,

Eitel revealed a heartfelt smile.

After coming to this world, his greatest source of confidence had been this Hearts of Iron System.

At last, all its functions had been fully unlocked.

And now, he could finally put his ideas into practice, one by one.

Closing the system interface, Eitel looked at the generals and ministers below the dais, who had already fallen silent.

"Gentlemen, it's time to get to work."

With that, Eitel swept his imperial robe aside and walked out along the red carpet.

As he walked, Eitel said, "Chancellor Max, please come to my office. We have many more tasks to complete."

"Now, it's time to start preparing to finish what we left unfinished."

Confusion flashed across Max's face at Eitel's words, but before he could think further,

Eitel spoke again. "Field Marshal Hindenburg and General Rudolf, come along as well."