Chapter 477: He Who Controls the Press...
As von Bethmann had promised, he worked throughout the remainder of the evening and deep into the night, coordinating with the appropriate departments to ensure that the conspirators among the Reichstag—and their affiliated party members—were arrested before they could organize a full-scale revolt.
This marked the final death knell for the SDP, now officially banned as a political extremist organization deemed seditious and revolutionary in nature. Evidence gathered during raids on the party’s headquarters—and from the homes of its members—was more than enough to justify their arrest under charges of conspiracy against the Reich.
Other parties that had aligned themselves with the so-called "moderate bloc" were also investigated. Officers armed with warrants seized any materials that could lead to the identification and capture of additional revolutionaries.
Nobody dared resist—certainly not when the raids were carried out under the watchful protection of the Kaiser’s Secret Police, who arrived in full gear and made it very clear that any resistance would be met with overwhelming force.
And just like that, in a single night, the Reichstag had been reduced to little more than a prop—an illusion of "people’s power" shattered beyond repair—its last pretense of democratic relevance swept away in a single, silent night..
The next morning, Bruno sipped his coffee in peace after his workout and post-shower routine, seated comfortably with a hearty breakfast before him. Across the table, newspapers spilled with dramatic headlines about the arrests—exposing the corruption and conspiracy that had, overnight, been rooted out with surgical precision.
As he read, he noticed Eva fidgeting across the table—restless in a way that drew his attention. Lowering the paper slightly, he raised a brow and asked in a concerned tone:
"Is something the matter? Are you not feeling well, baby girl?"
Eva blinked, realizing she’d drawn her father’s focus unintentionally. She quickly straightened and gave a small, sheepish shake of her head.
"Forgive me, Father—I didn’t mean to disturb your morning coffee. But when I saw the headline, I grew a bit impatient waiting for you to finish reading it."