Bruno sat across from Erich. The man seemed to be doing quite well for himself. Recently having gotten back from the Balkans, Erich was clean shaven, and well groomed. Far more so than Bruno had ever seen the man before, immediately calling into question what the occasion was.
And in doing so completely forgetting, at least temporarily at the reason he had summoned his mad dog to meet with him over lunch.
“You sure have cleaned yourself up nicely. What’s the occasion? Are you finally going to beat the rumors and marry a nice young lady?”
Erich’s expression did not sour, unlike how it normally did when Bruno made fun of him for the rumors he had started years in the past. Rumors that persisted because Erich was such a broken man that he had no desire to marry or have a family, rather his one fancy was engaging in violence towards other human beings.
Yet, surprisingly, the man was in a chipper mood as he responded to Bruno’s quip in the most unexpected way conceivable.
“First of all, fuck you for that, and secondly, yes. My parents have decided I am far too old, and accomplished not to go without a wife. So I will be marrying a young lady of a noble family worthy of my lofty title. Not that it can compare to the likes of you, the Prince of Tula, and the Grand Prince of Transylvania…”
The Prince of Tula was the nickname given to Bruno after he had purchased the lands surrounding the town. They were rich in mineral resources, and had been the region which housed many of the Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation’s many arms factories during his past life.
It wasn’t an official title, but it sounded more appealing than simply being a landless Prince, and he did technically own those lands in perpetuity as he had purchased them at rather substantive cost knowing the full value of them which had yet to be fully delved into by the Russian Empire.
But none of that was important, as Bruno was more interested in the young lady Erich was betrothed to, shocked that it had finally occurred. Even going so far as to make fun of the man, knowing that his parents were no longer willing to tolerate his lack of concern for their family name and legacy.
“So, your parents finally decided that the rumors persisting about your alleged sexuality were too much to bear, and that you needed to properly act the part of a nobleman, correct? Do tell me, who was more aggrieved, your mother, or your father?
Also, who are you marrying? How old is she? Don’t tell me you’re marrying an old maid because there’s nobody who would rightly marry their daughter off to an alleged pillow biter like yourself?”
Seemingly unwilling to disclose who his new fiancée was, or the nature of their relationship, Erich’s expression grew stern as he turned to the reason Bruno had summoned him here.
“Judging by the fact, that we are sitting here in public, as the noise of construction hampers bystanders abilities to listen in on our conversation, and the fact that we are dressing as common men of industry, I am guessing that you didn’t call me out of the blue to discuss my personal life…
So how about you tell me what you need me to do, and who the target is so we can get this over with?”
Bruno sighed. While sipping on his coffee, Erich was one of the few men who understood his intentions well enough to call them out to his face. And thus he smirked before revealing this notion, as he also described the job he had in mind, and the dangers regarding it.
“You really do know me better than Heinrich does, huh? I should thank you. After all these years, the blood which you have spilled under my orders have never reached his ears, or for that matter anybody else in power. You have taken the blame without complaint once, even as I have fun at your reputation’s expense.
What I’m about to ask of you however, is more than just taking out a few political dissidents… In fact it borders on high treason… So let me make myself clear, this conversation and its exact details stays between us regardless of whether you choose to accept it or not.
You can tell the muscle you need to get the job done whatever assurances you need to, but if you or your men get caught, I will warn you in advance that I will play the part of the fool and act as if you have gone rogue. If need be, I will also condemn you publicly. Hell, I may even be the man whose words end with you being sentenced to the gallows.
Knowing all of this, do you still wish to hear what I have to say?”
Erich did not seem the least bit phased as he reminded Bruno what his job was, and that he was a man both without thought or conscience towards those he killed.
“Do you remember who you are speaking with? I am a mad dog, a living weapon to be unleashed on those you wish dead. Simply give me the details and I will be on my way. That is how it has always been, and will always be, between us.
Besides, if I am stupid enough to get caught, then I deserve to take the fall, now don’t I? So, who is my target?”
Bruno pulled out a small envelope, which contained a list of names, aliases, addresses, frequently visited locations, et cetera. And after doing so, he slid it across the table before taking another sip from his coffee while explaining what needs to be done.
“I know it doesn’t really matter to you, but half of the names on this list have already begun to work against the interests of the German Reich and its people. The other half will stab us in the back given the first opportunity to do so. Especially if we come close to winning this war as we have planned.
As you can see, some of these people are from families that have had the ear of the Hohenzollerns and Habsburgs for as long as they have been in power…. To kill even one of their family members would not only bring charges of high treason against you, but would invite the entire wrath of their cabal as well.
For the sake of this, I want them all dead; I want their wives dead; I want their children dead. I want their houses rooted out and destroyed entirely. There can be no chance of reprisal against us. I don’t care if one of the targets is a newborn infant. If their name is Rothschild, they need to die, period…. Do you have the stomach for such gruesome business?”
Erich looked through page after page of the dossier Bruno had compiled. While the Rothschilds composed a large subsect of targets, bankers, industrialists, academics, politicians, the list went on and on. And was by no means exclusive to the borders of the German Reich.
Some of these targets were across the Atlantic, living safely in the borders of the United States. While others resided in the lands of the Austrian Crown, or even the Russian Empire. He would need to dispose of thousands of people who had committed no official treachery that could be proven.
And yes, Bruno wanted their entire houses destroyed, down to the last woman and child. As no mercy could be granted to those who had stabbed the German Army in the back during his past life, despite how close they came during the 1918 Spring Offensive to strategic victory. Nor could they be granted the opportunity to do the same in this life.
Because of this, it took Erich some time to process the information he had been given in its totality. And after doing so, he handed the folder back to Bruno before standing up and dusting himself off. He left with only one parting statement, as he disappeared into the crowd as if he were a figment of Bruno’s imagination to begin with.
“As I said, I am your mad dog. It will be done…”
With this in mind, Bruno had just deployed his greatest asset against the enemies of his that remained in the shadows. Ones who were constantly conspiring against him from behind the scenes. And some of which were currently pulling the strings in the US Election.