Field Marshal Hindenburg called

Dawn gradually broke, and the sun pierced the heavy clouds, casting its light over the ravaged battlefield.

After a night of fierce fighting, the German Stormtroopers had ultimately failed to break through the Americans' third defensive line.

The moment the sun rose, they withdrew like phantoms, taking the remains of their fallen comrades with them.

"Bring their bodies. They died fighting for the great German Empire."

"We cannot leave their bodies exposed in the wilderness."

The Stormtroopers' commanding officer picked up a fallen comrade's identification tag. The information on it belonged to the previous officer, who had led their attack the night before.

After withdrawing to the second defensive line, the Stormtroopers nodded at the friendly troops clearing the trenches with flamethrowers.

When the German infantry following behind saw the thousand-odd Stormtroopers returning, they immediately stopped what they were doing, stood at attention, and saluted them.

Their eyes held respect and admiration.

There had previously been rumors that the Stormtroopers were all madmen, and that only madmen were qualified to join such a unit.

But now, madmen or not, they were Germany's finest soldiers.

The Stormtroopers kept moving forward. As they passed, every German soldier along their route stopped to pay them respect.

Last night, they had truly demonstrated the dignity of the German Empire. The military spirit of Prussia lived on.

On their way back, the Stormtroopers saw captured American soldiers being escorted by German troops to the prisoner-of-war camps in their rear.

The American soldiers all froze the instant they turned and saw them.

"Was it a bunch of soldiers like these who defeated us?"

"They only look a few thousand strong, yet they chased tens of thousands of us around."

"Unbelievable."

They had already forgotten their status as prisoners of war. Looking at these soldiers, they could not understand why they had been defeated.

Driven by them all the way to a place close to German soil.

This made no scientific sense!

At the German forward position-or rather, what should now have been called a rear position-Eitel stood atop the sandbags at the front and solemnly saluted the soldiers returning laden with glory.

"You did well. This battle upheld the dignity of the German Empire!"

"I take pride in your efforts!"

Looking at the emperor who had come to welcome them, the Stormtroopers straightened up in excitement.

"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

Aboard the newly arrived Allied airship, the military observers widened their eyes at the German soldiers below, who had somehow advanced into the American positions.

"This is nothing short of a miracle. Despite such a disparity in numbers, they actually took the offensive and achieved such a tremendous result!"

"So these are Germany's soldiers."

The war correspondents accompanying them hurriedly took photograph after photograph. This was a major story for them.

Another major story following the recent enthronement of the German Empire's second prince, and once again it concerned the current German emperor, Eitel Friedrich.

At the thought, they could not help growing excited. As far as they were concerned, whoever won had nothing to do with them. All that mattered was getting sensational news like this.

They had already thought up their headlines.

"The German Empire successfully crushes the American offensive at the Meuse River Line: will Commander Pershing choose suicide over this defeat?"

"Will the outcome of this battle change the negotiating terms in the proceedings of the Verdun assembly?"

"The German Empire's ferocious tiger, His Majesty Emperor Eitel Friedrich!"

Thinking of this story and the bonuses they would soon receive, the reporters all grew excited.

The Allied military observers, however, wore troubled expressions. Victory in this battle demonstrated the German Empire's determination to resist to the death.

It also proved the German soldiers' valor and fighting prowess. At the thought, several observers exchanged glances, their eyes filled with disappointment.

"It looks like the terms at this assembly will have to change..."

While those aboard the military observation airship harbored their different thoughts, all the Stormtroopers below had entered camp to rest and recuperate.

The members who had fallen in the battle were given solemn burial ceremonies by German soldiers.

Their identification tags would also be taken back to Berlin and returned to their families.

Eitel approached a wounded Stormtrooper and bent down.

"Thank you for your efforts, soldier. Rest and recover."

The man had a massive wound across his belly. As the field hospital nurses bandaged him, they said in surprise, "You actually made it back alive with an injury this serious. It's unbelievable."

In response to the nurses and the emperor, the soldier looked at Eitel with fervor written all over his face.

"I thought I was going to die in that hellhole too, but I don't know why-whenever I thought of Your Majesty, strength kept surging through my body."

"Your Majesty is nothing less than my god!"

Eitel smiled and patted the soldier's shoulder. "You made it back alive because of your hard training."

"How could I dare take the credit?"

While Eitel was talking with the soldier, a German staff officer approached him. "Your Majesty, Field Marshal Hindenburg is on the telephone."

Hearing that it was Field Marshal Hindenburg, Eitel put away his smile and followed the soldier to the command post.

As soon as he picked up the telephone, he heard Field Marshal Hindenburg's hearty laughter. Eitel truly could not understand how a man already seventy years old could laugh with such vigor.

Only after Field Marshal Hindenburg's laughter subsided did Eitel speak. "Field Marshal, what has made you so happy?"

Field Marshal Hindenburg's voice came through the receiver. "Your Majesty, this victory of yours was so crucial."

"To tell you the truth, people from the Allies approached me a little while ago."

Field Marshal Hindenburg paused. "At first, I intended to agree to their demand for a full withdrawal. But instead of fleeing to the Netherlands, you stayed at the front and even held your enthronement ceremony. Then I knew I absolutely could not agree to that demand."

"You truly gave me a tremendous surprise. Still want peace talks? Those cowards can go to hell!"

Before Field Marshal Hindenburg could finish, Eitel interrupted him. "Come now, Field Marshal. I imagine that withdrawal order is sitting right under your hand."

Eitel's words instantly brought Hindenburg out in a cold sweat. Eitel was right. The withdrawal order was sitting on his desk at that very moment. Should anything unfavorable happen on the emperor's end, the order would immediately be transmitted throughout the German army.

Then Eitel continued, "Let's stop dodging the issue. You and I both know Germany is certain to lose this war."

"What matters is how we can gain more bargaining chips at the negotiating table."

"Wouldn't you agree, my dear field marshal..."