Chapter 1044: Project Pericles

To use the oil equipment and factories as a bargaining chip to negotiate with the Germans, and ultimately, in a future that might still exist, to secure a future for oneself, or rather for everyone around oneself—this was the best solution that the high command in Baku could think of.

This was the most tempting chip they could offer the German army, and it was also the main reason why the Germans had not, to this point, sent their bombers to add to their troubles. Of course, the time they had left was short. If the Germans really broke through their defense lines, then any negotiations would be at a disadvantage. Everyone understood this logic, but to actually act on it was another matter entirely. These men, after Stalin’s long-standing repression and the propaganda that had demonized the Third Reich, were still truly and deeply terrified.

In the Führer’s residence in Berlin, Germany, Akado looked at the report on the Caucasus war situation, which had been secretly transmitted from the front. After a cold laugh, he handed the document to his confidant in the Ministry of Industry, Speer. This man, who was in charge of the Third Reich’s industry, looked at the secret document, and a happy smile spread across his face.

The content of the document, for him, an official in charge of industry, was incomparably good news. Since the negotiations in Baku had already quietly begun, then there was at least a 50% chance that the Third Reich would take over the entire Baku oil industrial zone. And once this news reached the ears of those German business giants, countless hands would surely be reaching for it.

“A few days ago, on the Italian issue, this group of people was still trying to force my hand…” Akado said, as if talking about an unrelated matter. His voice was filled with a coldness that was unsettling to hear. But Speer did not feel that there was anything wrong with this. After all, the desire for money that those people now had, had already made him, the Minister of Industry, feel a little disgusted.

Speer didn’t even have to think too hard to imagine the kind of faces those business tycoons would make, after receiving the news, as they tried to get their own piece of the pie from the hands of the Third Reich. Even though a few days ago, they had all threatened Akado that if he could not resolve the Italian disaster, they would openly push for a motion in the Reichstag to remove him from office. But after Italy had returned to the embrace of the Axis, these people, as if it had nothing to do with them, had begun to discuss the issue of investing in Italy.

“My Führer, even if a small number of them have a loose tongue, they certainly do not have the ability to shake your absolute leadership of the Third Reich,” Speer said, comforting Akado. “At least, from what I can see, you are the absolute authority in Germany, and no one can compare.”

Akado nodded slightly, and then, as if he had forgotten these unpleasant things, he skipped the topic and went straight to the issue of the Baku oil fields mentioned in the secret telegram. “Regarding this oil field that is about to fall into our hands, what do you think, Speer? Should we divide it among these people, or should the Empire keep it for itself?”

“Such an important strategic resource, of course it is safest in the hands of the state. I personally suggest that the Empire organize a production and supervision department to manage this important oil production base in Baku,” Speer said. When it came to this issue, he was not so constrained. This was, after all, his domain, his area of expertise, so he could immediately state his opinion without having to weigh his words.

Akado nodded, then pointed to the secret telegram in front of him and instructed Speer, “Immediately find trustworthy people and form this oil resource supervision department you mentioned. I want them to report directly to the High Command, understand?”

“Yes! My Führer!” Speer stood up, raised his right hand, and saluted in acknowledgment. “I will do it right away… But, my Führer, you will also have to prepare some things on your end. After all, there are some conglomerates and the industrial production bases they control that even I do not dare to offend easily.”

Akado acted as if he had not heard Speer at all, but just waved his hand at him, signaling that he could be dismissed. And so Speer once again stood at attention, saluted, and respectfully exited Akado’s office.

Watching his confidant walk out of the room, Akado felt that to control this empire with just his own strength was simply too tiring. This was not some fantasy novel where an individual possessed absolute martial power, where one could start a country or develop a faction as long as one’s own power was strong enough. This was the supervision and development of a country. To rely on his own strength alone was, in the end, not enough… And those subordinates of his had a thousand and one ways of thinking for themselves. Sometimes, the angle from which they considered a problem was based on damaging the interests of Akado, or rather, the Third Reich.

Akado had relied on these large conglomerates and monopoly capitalists to defeat his rival, Hitler. He had also relied on these people’s support to launch an invincible war. Morally speaking, the entire Third Reich was supported by these people in the background, so they thought they controlled this country.

But Akado was not a player in the same game as these capitalists; he was the referee of this game. When the status of the several players at the gambling table was no longer equal, when the rules of the whole game were drawn up by one of the participants at the table, then the outcome of this game was already destined.

Akado had never regarded these tycoons and merchants as his opponents; he only saw them as his cash machines. He had used a pile of waste paper and all kinds of verbal promises to fill these people’s desires. This group of people, because Akado had fulfilled his promises a few times, had begun to treat this German Führer as a lovely war mascot that they had pushed to the front.

When only Akado and Anna were left in the room, he suddenly spoke, asking Anna, who was standing behind him, “Go and ask for me, has Major Otto Skorzeny returned from Italy? I have a matter I need to entrust to him.”

Anna nodded and left the Führer’s office. Soon, Otto Skorzeny walked into the room from outside. After all, opposite the Führer’s residence was the High Command, and Otto Skorzeny’s divisional headquarters was also located in that not-so-conspicuous building.

“Heil Akado Rudolph, my Führer!” Otto Skorzeny saluted at attention as he entered the room. Akado signaled for him to be at ease and then stated the reason he had called him here. “I have read the report you brought back from Italy. The matter was handled very well. I am very satisfied.”

Otto Skorzeny was silent. He knew that the matter Akado was talking about was the handling of Mussolini. This matter could not be brought to the table, but it was, after all, a matter worthy of the Führer’s concern. This supreme commander of the German special forces was very fond of this superior, because he only needed to lead his elite subordinates to get things done, without having to think too much.

“Do you still remember what I told you, about the three conglomerates that had joined together a few days ago to question the sacred cause of our Greater German Party?” Akado asked after a moment’s thought. “Now there is an even thornier problem. If we capture an oil field, but I do not want to divide this oil field among these fellows, do you… have any good ideas?”

This Major General, who had been single-handedly promoted by the Führer, and who, because of the 0th SS Division that the Führer had created, held a high and powerful position, and who, because the German special forces had created a series of miracles under the Führer’s leadership, had a fearsome reputation, raised his chin and replied with a hint of arrogance, “My Führer, if you need it, I will take my men and finish all of these fellows off. In just one night, not even a dog will be left in these people’s homes.”

His special operations units, which were active all year round behind enemy lines, assassinated and kidnapped high-ranking enemy officers, and turned the most steadfast and stubborn enemies of the state. If, in such a peaceful environment as within Germany, it was still difficult to finish off a few merchants who had hired a dozen or so bodyguards in their large manors, then they could really just dig a hole and bury themselves—to save themselves the embarrassment of going out.

“There’s no hurry for now. They think the game can continue, so I’m in no hurry to clear the table and kick them out,” Akado said, suppressing the anger in his heart. He spoke slowly, “However, I want you to start preparing ‘Project Pericles.’ You are to organize a truly loyal and elite force, and to prepare this plan to the point where, ‘as soon as I feel it is necessary, the plan can be implemented.'”

Project Pericles was, in fact, the extreme assassination plan that Akado had originally laid out to the dying August, the one that would fundamentally improve the cycle of economic borrowing. Originally, Akado had not wanted to execute this plan so quickly, but those overconfident conglomerates had made him feel a little bit insecure in his heart, and so he had begun to make up his mind to cut the grass and pull out the roots.

As long as all those who opposed him were wiped out in one fell swoop, then Akado would have completed his repayment to these people. The billions upon billions of borrowed funds would be written off in one stroke, and all the things that were owed because of the war would also be fundamentally returned to the state. The MEFO bills and the land, factories, and people in the occupied territories would no longer be valid. Everything would return to the beginning. All that would be missing would be a few stumbling blocks that were obstructing Germany’s advance.

“My Führer, I will immediately and secretly prepare the operational plan. May I ask, at that time, should we differentiate their identities and deal with them separately, or just directly…” Otto Skorzeny was only responsible for executing the plan. He never questioned Akado’s orders. For him, the Führer’s order was enough. As for who was to be killed in the order, and how many, these were not important. He killed people, the people the Führer wanted to kill. He saved people, the people the Führer wanted to save. That was all.

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