Chapter 72: The Archnemesis Lurking in the Shadows
The Death of the French Army's Chief of Staff had far-reaching consequences across all of Europe. But especially in France proper. Leon Sinclair was currently at a bar drinking excessively to cope with the most recent attack.
According to the French Government who had investigated the assassination it was conducted by the French Socialists, but that was utter bullshit and he knew it. Of course, Leon would be aware, an avid member of the French revolutionary socialist movement that none of his comrades would make such an attack.
That was just asking for trouble, trouble they were not yet prepared to deal with. So then who? Who could possibly pull off such an attack on French soil!?! Wasn't the answer obvious? It was the fucking Germans! It was always the Germans!
The man was quite livid. He had just come home from putting down the rebellion in Madagascar to find the news of the Bolshevik Revolution. Everything from the death of Leon Trotsky in Saint Petersburg where he was shot like a dog in the streets and left as puppy chow for the hounds of the Tsarist loyalists.
To the fact that the Red Army was being held responsible for the assassination attempt on Bruno's life. Something which Leon was personally suspicious of, but had no evidence for his theories which would broadly be considered conspiratorial by anyone who heard them.
And then there was the existence of the Iron Divsion. It was simply abnormal. How did the Germans arm, supply, and train a force of so called foreign volunteers in such a short span of time to fight against the Red Army?
And why was he of all people, in command of it? Truth be told, Leon had been keeping tabs on Bruno and his rise to power. Not necessarily since the Boxer Rebellion where they first met. But most certainly since his exploits in Manchuria, where he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun 4th Class for his efforts at Port Arthur.
A prestigious award, no doubt. One worthy of a man who had won a significant battle on behalf of the Imperial Japanese Army. Bruno had been busy making a name for himself by participating in foreign conflicts. And in doing so, building ties for the German Reich to other imperial powers.
That bastard had already risen to the rank of Generalleutnant, only to be discharged from the army, and immediately forming the Iron Division, a so-called force of volunteers to fight against the Red Menace?
No, Leon wasn't buying it. There was no way this Iron Division was a force of volunteers. Or at least not wholly so. At the very least, its leaders were active members of the German Armed Forces, acting under the guise of foreign volunteers to avoid causing an international dispute. Without a doubt Bruno's discharge was a mere farce on behalf of the Kaiser and the General Staff of the German Army. Bruno was 100% acting under the orders of the German Army, and would no doubt return to their ranks and active service once the war was over. No doubt accumulating many honors for his participation in the Bolshevik Revolution.