The meeting chamber was carved from white concrete and marble — long, cold, echoing. A rectangular table of pale stone stood at the center, flanked by black steel chairs. Overhead, no banners. Just the silence of power.
On either side of the chamber, guards from both nations stood at attention. The Bashurian knights wore polished armor trimmed in sapphire blue. The Reich guards wore long coats, high boots, and machine rifles across their backs. Their eyes locked. Neither side blinked.
Across the table, Valerie sat with elegance — back straight, chin high, her hands resting lightly on the table's edge.
Hitler sat opposite her, fingers steepled.
He was the first to speak.
"So," he said calmly, "you're an elf."
Valerie smiled, her voice smooth as glass."Why yes. And I see your country is full of humans. I must say… the strongest human nation on the continent."
Hitler gave a nod of acknowledgment, the corner of his mouth twitching with faint amusement.
She continued, folding one leg over the other."I'm here today for simple discussions. Let's begin with treaty agreements."
A knight stepped forward and placed a stack of parchment on the table between them. The pages were sealed with the crest of the Bashurian Empire — a rising sun crossed by a crescent blade.
Valerie slid the papers across to Hitler.
"The first clause," she began, "states that you will not invade any neighboring nations. This is to preserve balance in the realm in case of a demon invasion. All participating nations are expected to honor this agreement."
Hitler flipped through the documents.
His eyes scanned every line.
"So," he said at last, "you're proposing a continent-wide balance of power… with all nations united for mutual defense. And if I invade anyone, your Empire will intervene."
"Correct," Valerie nodded. "We understand that wars are sometimes… inevitable. But large-scale destruction must be contained. That's why we allow limited conflicts — under specific rules. As you've just read."
Hitler looked up from the page.
"I see."
She didn't smile.
"And there's more," she added. "Major military advancements must be shared with the alliance in the event of war. That includes new weapons and technologies."
Hitler leaned back and exhaled slowly.
"Denied."
Valerie raised an eyebrow.
"The German people," he said, "will not forge blades for foreign hands. Our weapons are for our defense. We will help when and if we choose. Not by order."
Her posture stiffened.
"You don't think we know what you're doing?" she said. "You're forcing multiple races into labor camps. That's a violation of continental law."
Hitler didn't flinch.
"And slavery of humans wasn't?" he said coldly. "Is that legal then, Princess?"
"If they are fed. If they are not dying. And if they're not physically branded or mutilated — it is not considered slavery under imperial law. Your people were paid and given food."
Hitler leaned forward, his gaze sharp.
"Paid in bronze. Fed with rotting scraps. You think that counts?"
She paused, unfazed.
"It is still food. Still pay. The law says nothing about quality or fairness. It simply demands minimums."
Hitler smiled.
"Then I assure you — our workers are paid. And fed. Not in coins, no… but in bread. Enough to keep them standing. Technically, we're not violating any law."
Valerie's jaw tightened.
Her voice grew sharp.
"So you reject the treaty?"
Hitler shrugged faintly, that cold smile still lingering.
"If this is all you came for… then you're welcome to leave."
She inhaled through her nose — slow, controlled."Your reputation precedes you," she muttered. "The other diplomats weren't exaggerating."
"Good," Hitler said. "Let them speak of me."
The princess sat back, recalibrating.
"…Very well," she said, her tone shifting. "Let's change the subject. Have you appointed your nobles yet? Or perhaps… a queen?"
Hitler's expression flattened.
"I am the king," he said. "And the nobles."
Her eyes narrowed.
"So… no dynasty? No bloodline? You mean to rule alone? If you were to die… who carries the future of your kingdom?"
For the first time, the air in the room shifted.
Hitler didn't answer immediately.
The guards didn't move.
The chamber went still.
Then—
"I have my ways," he said quietly.
No smile now.
Only steel behind the words.
Valerie said nothing.
And for a moment, the world watched two rulers — different blood, different purpose — locked across the table of history.
Valerie didn't flinch.
"So… you choose to rule as a dictator."
Hitler didn't blink.
"I choose to rule as necessity demands."
He sat upright, fingers interlocked atop the white concrete table, completely still."When the house is burning, you don't gather a council. You break the door down. Fast. Ruthlessly."
Valerie tilted her head, studying him.
"And when the fire's out?"
His answer came without pause.
"Then I decide who lives inside."
There was no smile. No tone of jest. Just fact.
She gave a slow exhale through her nose.
"…Very well," she said. "Let's move to something more practical."
She reached into the leather folder beside her and drew a second set of documents. With one hand, she slid the pages across the smooth white table between them.
"This proposal requests permission for the Bashurian Empire to construct and operate two joint military bases within your territory," she explained. "One near the western border. One by the central mountain range. Strictly for demon monitoring. No artillery. No troops beyond a minimum defensive garrison."
She waited.
Hitler didn't even touch the paper.
He kept his hands folded.
His eyes stayed locked on hers.
"No."
Valerie blinked once.
"…Is that a rejection of the proposal?"
He gave a faint smile — a chill one.
"It's a rejection of the idea itself."
His voice didn't rise, but it hit harder than a shout.
"I will not permit foreign boots to anchor themselves on my soil. Not yours. Not anyone's. Not even under a flag that says 'peace.'"
She leaned forward slightly, maintaining her grace.
"You do realize these bases are part of a continent-wide early-warning network. We've built them in seven other kingdoms. They exist to coordinate—"
"I'm not seven other kingdoms," Hitler interrupted. "And I don't coordinate with strangers."
Valerie's tone grew firmer.
"This is not about sovereignty. It's about survival. The last demon incursion nearly destroyed half the southern nations. We need eyes and ears in every corner of the continent."
"I have eyes," Hitler said.
"And if you fall behind—"
"I won't."
Valerie narrowed her gaze.
"If a second cataclysm starts, you'll be alone."
"I already am."
Silence stretched.
Then she took a measured breath, trying to shift tactics.
"Then at least consider a shared outpost. Neutral. Staffed by both Reich and Bashurian officers. No weapons. No armor. Just watchers and messengers."
"No."
"You'd be allowed full access to the Bashurian stations in return."
"No."
Valerie leaned back in her chair, visibly frustrated now.
"You're dismissing the most basic tenets of diplomatic trust."
"No," Hitler said calmly. "I'm protecting the people who trust me."
She narrowed her eyes again."You don't believe in cooperation?"
"I believe in leverage," he replied.
Valerie crossed her arms.
"You think stubbornness is strength. It's not. It's isolation. And isolation is death on this continent."
Hitler's expression didn't change.
"I'd rather stand alone than sleep in a shared bed with knives beneath the sheets."
The princess paused, watching him.
Her tone dipped low, dangerously close to a threat.
"If the council finds you uncooperative, you'll be declared a hostile actor. Trade will freeze. Borders will tighten. Your Reich will be alone… entirely."
Hitler finally reached for the treaty.
He lifted the pages slowly, flipped through them, scanned the lines again.
Then set them down without a word.
He looked her dead in the eyes.
"If your goal is to starve us into submission, I suggest you study your history."
Valerie didn't respond.
But her eyes said enough — she was taking mental notes.
"This isn't about starving you," she said. "It's about preparing for what comes next. If another breach opens… and you're not connected… your people will be the first to burn."
"If that happens," Hitler replied, "then your Empire will follow us in the fire soon after."
He leaned forward now — just a little — resting both hands flat on the table.
"But you'll have no bases left to run to."
Valerie stared, her voice lower now.
"…You would let the world burn rather than compromise?"
He smiled again — cold, confident, resolute.
"No."
"I would build a wall of flame so high… no one dares cross it again."
Valerie tapped the edge of the treaty with one gloved finger.
"You speak of walls, but let's be honest—your only true barrier is the human kingdom to your south."
Hitler didn't flinch.
"And the mountains around the Reich," he said calmly. "Not to mention that 'human kingdom'..."
He glanced down, then looked back at her with a knowing grin.
"…Well. You'll see."
Valerie studied him, saying nothing at first. Her eyes flicked once toward the guards behind him, then back.
Then her voice cut through.
"Are you truly this confident because of your weapons?"
She narrowed her gaze.
"You know rune circuits don't last forever. Their power fades. They wear down. Especially when rushed."
Hitler's smile widened.
"You think our weapons are guided by runes?" He leaned forward slightly, amused. "Oh, you poor thing."
There was no kindness in his tone.
"Your mind can't begin to comprehend what we've built. You still think in crystals and glyphs. My engineers deal in fire, force, and pressure. A different kind of sorcery. One you can't read."
Valerie's expression sharpened.
"No wonder I sensed no magical presence in your soldiers' weapons," she muttered. "I thought they were decoys… dummies."
She leaned forward, eyes glowing a soft, simmering red.
"…But I see now. You have a secret."
She smiled thinly.
"A secret weapon. Mechanical. Cold. Ruthless."
Then her voice changed. Darker. Stronger.
"I'm a sixth-tier mage," she said softly. "As a high elf… I see more than flesh."
Her pupils tightened as her eyes locked to his. A faint pulse of red light shimmered from her irises like embers through smoke.
"I can see your soul."
She leaned in — close now.
"And yours is the blackest I have ever seen."
Her voice turned to a whisper, heavy with weight.
"You've killed more men than anyone in this world. Their souls cling to you. Screaming. Restless. Torn from life by hatred, vengeance… or silence."
She was inches from his face.
"And yet… you stay sane?"
Hitler didn't blink.
"I did what I had to do," he said. "To protect my people."
Valerie didn't speak for a moment.
Then, finally… she leaned back slowly.
Her voice lowered.
"I see."
She folded her hands again.
"You'll do whatever it takes. No matter the price. No matter how many burn for it."
There was no judgment in her voice anymore — only clarity.
She stood.
Her dress whispered against the stone floor as she rose to full height.
"Well, Adolf…"
Her tone turned lighter, even pleasant.
"…Though we came to no agreements today, I finally understand who I'm dealing with."
She turned to walk — paused — then glanced over her shoulder.
"I can't wait to see your parade tomorrow. And your speech."
Hitler stood as well, his posture calm, precise, authoritative.
He stepped around the table.
Their eyes met again — no longer adversaries, not quite allies — but forces that now understood one another.
Valerie smiled, extending her hand.
Hitler extended his in turn, grasping hers firmly.
"A pleasure," he said.
Their hands shook.
And the chamber, though silent, seemed to pulse with the echo of something ancient stirring — war, prophecy, or something darker still.