Rise of a Kaiser

Chapter 24 - SMS Gneisenau

One year later.

In the capital of Visea King Dannik was getting stressed. He had ordered his son, Zerrin, to agree to the Persian Emperor's deal but it has turned out bad for him. One year after the meeting the Great Depression was still bringing misery to almost everyone across the continent. Even the countries that didn't sign the agreement were hit by the depression as prices skyrocketed meaning that expenses rose as did the national budget of a country like the Kingdom of Thaphia. The only countries that managed to avoid the calamity was Sparta, Ankyut and of course the German Empire. The latter which annoyed Dannik to his core.

His own, useless, son. He had forged a entire country all from a town that was not his. He was arrogant though, Dannik could've sent in his army and overwhelm his small kingdom but he didn't. He realised the threat of Wilhelm too late and before Dannik knew it Wilhelm was corninated and was recognised by many countries across the continent. The least he could was send Zerrin to at least show Visea's presence. But Germany wouldn't be worth going to war over. As much as Dannik hated to admit it he would probably lose in a fair fight compared to Germany's advanced technology.

And now only a few months before the Gathering at Omesos Germany had both snubbed the hero's party and the church. The party that was chosen by God to defeat the Demon Queen. The New Kaiser had extrodited both members of the Church and the Hero's Party. Both Hunter and the Archbishop had complained to the King but there was nothing he could do. Germany had signed a law which banned the church and forced adventurers to have an adventurers permit in order to carry weapons around in public.

Germany had snubbed Visea but Dannik had his own problems to deal with. While he hated Wilhelm it wasn't like he liked any of his children. Max was a brute, Valker was a smartass and Zerrin was too obsessed with his mother and eldest brother. Ever since Zerrin went to Germany for Wilhelm's coronation he became freindlier to him, and also started to prefer his mother's attention over him. Which was fine, less hassle for Dannik. But Max was impatient and entitled, it looked like he would challenge the leadership and start either a coup or a revolution.

But it wasn't like Dannik was any better, without his wife's knowledge, he has his men take women from the brothel in order to pleasure him. Dannik though ill of his wife, too many children. And Raidance didn't like him either. The door to the throneroom opened and Max came through. And once again began to argue with his father.

Raidance and Zerrin stood by the doorway and listened in. Zerrin had taken Wilhelm's advice and had grown more close with his mother. While Dannik didn't much care about what was happening on the streets but Zerrin and Raidance did. After all it was Zerrin who attended the meeting that cause all of this . Since Dannik did not care for his subject at all he hoarded wealth and food for himself causing alot of people to get angry with him. There were a few riots but they were brutally suppressed.

"No Max! You are a fool to think that our army could even stand a chance against the bloody Germans!" Dannik shouted.

"We have 80,000 men! Put me in charge and I will reach Berlin within a week!" Max retorted.

"NO! I do not want to lose my kingdom over your petty brother. At least he's smart enough to realise that you can't go to war over such petty things! They have over 100,000 men!" Dannik explained agrily. "I refuse to even put a single soldier over the border." Max grunted and went off in a huff. Zerrin and Raidance returned to a nearby room.