The Aftermath of the Great War was far-reaching, global even. Bruno had changed destiny in ways that were now reversible. No matter how hard the three sisters of fate might try to steer the boat back to proper course, it was impossible to do so now.
With all that had been done, more changes appeared, the natural course of the change in events and what followed. Germany had asked for the colonies that the British and French Empires possessed in Africa which aligned with their concept of "Mittelafrika."
At first, the world thought that the German Reich had done so to exploit them for their natural resources the same as Britain and France had done. Only for the Kaiser to come out within a shocking declaration a few months after the war was concluded.
"It is my intention to begin a complete and total process of decolonization. The fact remains that the German Reich and its people only engaged in this costly endeavor as a means to combat the hostile influences of the British and French Empires.
But... mistakes have been made, and rogue colonial officials have abused their position to enact disproportionate vengeance on native populations that go well and beyond seeking justice for the innocent German citizens who were slain by mindless native violence.
The fact of the matter is, the cost in maintaining control over the colonies, and the risks it has posed to the safety and security of the German Reich are far greater than whatever tangible benefits we have gained as an act of necessity in the face of past allied aggression.
Now that we have gained control over vast new territories in Africa we intend to begin a period of safe and sustainable position to local and autonomous rule followed by full scale independence in way that works with everyone’s best interests in mind.
This, of course, includes all colonial possessions currently within the control of the German Reich. After all, the need for an empire abroad is antiquated thinking, as we have established a powerful and prosperous empire here in the heart of Europe!"
These were the words that had shocked the world. The era of decolonization had begun, not with a shot fired by the locals and war to retain control, but by the German Reich voluntarily ceding control over their colonial possessions back to the locals.
The reality was that Bruno had given this idea to the Kaiser as a way to mitigate risks and expense, yet still control economic and security control over the regions long term. Lessons were learned in his past life on how to more effectively control a developing nation.
One could do so through economical means, such as "debt trap diplomacy" while using mercenary forces to maintain authority in the region. Mercenary forces that would be paid by the locals for protection, meaning that the German Reich would be profiting from security operations, rather than hemorrhaging cash into the red zone doing so.
It was truly a masterful plan for global hegemony that Bruno had crafted from lessons learned in his past life. And as Bruno sat in his office, forming this mercenary group. He made a sudden realization as he looked at the list of applicants who had begun to sign up for its ranks.
It was subtle at first, and then jarring, as Bruno dropped the pen in his hand that he had been tapping repeatedly within his notebook, which contained the organizational structure of this new army for hire...
There were many men coming home from the war, forever tainted by the horrors in it who were already having a hard time reintegrating. And though services existed to help with "shell shock" and the addition of combat stimulants like "pervatin", services setup by Heidi’s charities.
Some men were just incapable of adjusting to a time of peace and instead signed up for this new mercenary outfit the moment they heard about it. And it was when Bruno realized how many veterans of the Great War were desperately applying to join its ranks, it hit him, like a brick to the back of the head.
The man most suited for this work, to lead this band of misfits incapable of properly integrating in an era of peace, was a man he had shot dead with his own sidearm... A man who was among his greatest friends, and brothers in arms...
In that moment, a large droplet of water fell upon the ink that his fountain pen had stained the parchment with. Creating a large misshapen blob, as another fell on top of it, followed by another, and another, until the tears of guilt and tragedy began to crash down around him.
Bruno’s voice was wretched, as he struggled to breathe, overwhelmed by his own existential terror, but eventually he managed to force his guilt free from the confinements of his heart.
"I’m so stupid! There was another way... This entire time... There was a place for him to belong... And I fucking killed him! Did I even try? Why couldn’t I see it? Why God dammit!"
Bruno was a man who seldom lost control of his emotions, but in that moment his grief shifted into a moment of unbridled rage as he swiped everything on his desk, including his lamp off of it, shattering glass, and oil alike on the floor, as he began to physically tear his thick oak desk apart, first attempting with his hands, before reaching for a more brutal nearby instrument to smash it to bits with.
In the end, he collapsed back in his seat, as if the weight of the world had crushed him into a fine meat paste, his bones losing all strength as he sat there with his head in hands cursing himself... For the simple sin of not being omniscient.
"God fucking dammit!"
Silence remained for the rest of the night, before Bruno emerged from his solitude with a haunted gaze, one which nobody would realize as he would immediately crawl into bed and fall asleep. Recovering from his physical turmoil by the time he woke up the next day... But some wounds would remain unseen.