Ch.245The Power of the Saint (Under Revision)

# The Consequences of One’s Actions

“You reap what you sow, what can we do about it?”

Not just the existing White Army generals, but also the new generation who joined our side—Zhukov, Tukhachevsky, Vlasov, Vasilevsky—all agreed with my approach.

“This way, we can rebuild the Danube region and German territory, while France—always a dangerous element with its constantly changing regimes—won’t even be able to freely build up its military.”

This solves everything.

If we can’t barbarically kill them all, we simply strip away their capacity to wage war.

“Then let’s just hold their main forces at the front.”

We’re keeping them tied down here while also applying pressure from the south. If anything, the situation is advantageous for us, not disadvantageous.

Needlessly pushing in and taking casualties before dropping a nuclear bomb might make it look like we’re resorting to asymmetric weapons out of desperation.

We’ll apply overwhelming pressure sporadically from here, and if they still refuse to surrender, then we’ll drop it.

This way, we’ll have sufficient justification.

Besides, we have Pétain to take the blame for us.

It seems they’re targeting me somehow, trying to mobilize troops and shell our position, but anyone who attempts this ends up reduced to ashes by our bombers and artillery.

And then, not long after, another crisis fell upon the Commune.

“Your Majesty, British forces have landed in Brittany.”

“The British in Brittany?”

British forces landing directly in Brittany?

“Yes, Your Majesty. The French Commune forces didn’t even properly defend, so the landing was successful.”

So this is what they were hiding.

If they’ve started in Brittany, they’ll reach Normandy soon.

This must be quite a blow to the French Commune.

I wonder if Britain can push all the way to Paris.

Churchill must have prepared thoroughly this time.

Even Churchill, who became “Mr. Dunkirk,” surely won’t become the ultimate “Mr. Brittany” this time.

With British forces threatening from the north, and Spanish and Italian Federation forces coming from the south, yet they still refuse to surrender. This is problematic.

“The Italian Federation forces are fighting better than expected.”

“I suppose Mussolini was the real problem all along.”

Italy, fragmented after Mussolini’s departure. The armies of the Two Sicilies, the Papal States, and the Kingdom of Piedmont are moving quite rapidly.

“Your Majesty’s Operation Unsinkable—rearming the Italian forces—was truly a brilliant plan.”

“Yet it’s surprising how willingly they follow us.”

“They have no choice if they want to survive.”

Having felt our overwhelming power, Italy would naturally try to please us just to survive.

“I originally thought their combat effectiveness was terrible and just wanted more cannon fodder. But surprisingly, they’re fighting well, which suggests that the fragmented Italian states are eager to impress us, despite the mess Mussolini left behind.”

“But this will only lead to destruction. Isn’t it time to make a decision? The Commune must know about the British landing, yet they still refuse to surrender—it seems they truly have a death wish.”

“Yes, you’re right. Let’s summon Pétain.”

It will be our General Pétain who ends the Commune.

* * *

Not long after, Free French officials who had joined our side came to see me.

Pétain looked even more gaunt than he had just days ago.

He must be feeling the imminent end of his country to the bone.

“General Pétain, have you made your decision? Whether our allied forces spare more lives depends on your judgment. Of course, we’ll use aircraft to urge civilians to evacuate Paris for several days. We’ll lend you the weapons—please end this with French power. This way, Free France can show the world that it did its part in the aftermath. We’ll set the stage for you.”

Essentially, I’m saying: isn’t it right that you end this with your own hands?

The plan is to drop it using French bombers and end it.

“I understand. I will strike the Commune leadership.”

“Yes, we will ‘gladly’ help you.”

Pétain’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, then he bowed his head deeply.

He must know how dire the situation has become.

“We have no choice anyway. Please proceed.”

“Tsar, I beg you to show mercy to France. Please.”

De Gaulle stepped forward.

Asking for mercy for France. But it’s too late for that.

No matter how you look at it, the entire country’s upheaval must be due to revolutionary elements mixed into the French people’s blood.

So purification by nuclear means is appropriate.

“I met Commander de Gaulle during the Russian Civil War. Out of loyalty to that time, I’m allowing you to maintain at least some of your mainland territory.”

“How can this be? Is there no other way?”

Of course there isn’t. It’s not just my idea—Hitler agreed to dividing it, and Churchill is also trying to carve it up somehow.

“It’s unfortunate for Free France, but the Commune government controlled the mainland and inflicted irreparable damage on us. At the very least, they must pay the price. I desperately persuaded Prime Ministers Hitler and Churchill to allow Free France to maintain at least some mainland territory, out of loyalty to General de Gaulle. Prime Minister Churchill has even agreed to recognize Free France as the legitimate French government if French forces directly eliminate the Commune.”

There’s some embellishment here, but given Churchill’s personality, it’s plausible.

But it seems our Mr. de Gaulle couldn’t easily accept this.

“France cannot be torn apart like this!”

“General de Gaulle, if the nation survives in some form, won’t reunification happen eventually?”

Like East and West Germany did.

Well, I didn’t actually try to persuade anyone, though I did set the stage. I didn’t “desperately” persuade anyone.

From the beginning, Hitler only needed to focus on liberating southern Germany, punishing Serbia, and dealing with Italy, the betrayer in the Great War, so he had little interest in France’s demise.

As for Churchill, he only wants Brittany and Normandy. He didn’t ask for more. I just made some vague statements.

Well, now that Pétain has given his consent, all that remains is the nuclear option.

“Since Free France also wants to eradicate the Commune, we can no longer show mercy to them.”

Now is the time for the almighty nuclear weapon.

* * *

Moscow, United States of Greater Russia

The State Duma of the United States of Greater Russia had Alisa Rosenbaum, who worked at the Moscow broadcasting station reporting news from the Kremlin Palace, announce the justification for nuclear weapons to the entire Russian nation via radio.

Very concisely and briefly:

[Citizens of the United States, our Tsar, concerned for the sacrifice of his sons in the White Army, made a merciful offer of conditional surrender to the French Commune and Belgrade, with terms of disarmament and bringing their leadership to war crimes trials. Yet they responded with sneers and dismissal. After careful deliberation, our sovereign has agreed to the Free French government’s proposal to create a new sun over Paris. Belgrade will meet the same fate. Now they will taste our sovereign’s wrath. A new sun will rise over Paris and Belgrade. God protect the Tsar. God protect our Russia!]

A weapon rivaling divine authority, capable of ending the war, was headed for Paris and Belgrade.

Meanwhile, Paris was in a better situation than Belgrade.

Despite continued pressure from the south, the Spanish forces and Italian Federation allied forces were manageable.

However, the British landing was not disclosed to citizens by order from above.

Of course, if news of the British landing spread in the current situation, the Commune leadership might be dragged out by citizens.

Even if they were to die, shouldn’t they resist until the very end?

Of course, much of this was motivated by fear of facing war crimes trials and a desire for self-preservation.

As this continued resistance persisted, something strange began happening.

Oddly enough, Russian forces of the Anti-Comintern Pact had advanced to the Belgian border but stopped advancing further. They only bombarded the People’s Army positions and fired those rocket weapons at Paris, causing countless destruction, while aircraft dropped leaflets urging Paris citizens to surrender.

But the Parisians had no intention of doing so.

After all, the fact that Russian forces weren’t advancing further was proof that their People’s Army was successfully defending against the Russians!

The Republican Army that had collapsed so helplessly before was incompetent, but the People’s Army was strong!

Having nearly become a defeated nation before joining a new alliance with Germany, the Parisians didn’t care what regime was in power as long as it was for the glory of France.

Of course, not everyone believed France would be victorious.

Those with military knowledge understood that this war would inevitably lead to France’s defeat.

To these complex and peculiar Parisian citizens, leaflets from those “imperialists” fell again today.

While Paris lacked even paper, the enemy was wastefully scattering it everywhere. It was absurd.

As always, citizens picked up the leaflets dropped by the imperialists, assuming they were surrender demands that wouldn’t change anything.

“Looks like they’re comfortable enough to waste paper like this.”

“We’ve already lost the war, what’s the point of holding out?”

“Shh, be quiet. Don’t you know any comment can get you labeled a reactionary these days?”

“Wait, what’s this?”

But today was different.

What was written on this leaflet wasn’t a surrender demand.

‘Soon this city of Paris will disappear along with the Commune leadership, by the decision of France’s true government, the Free French government. Parisians should leave the city before suffering great harm.’

“Paris will disappear? What nonsense is this?”

“It’s just intimidation. Our People’s Army is invincible, don’t worry.”

Where in the world could such a weapon exist?

Surely this was just the Moscow witch spouting nonsense to force surrender.

In fact, the Russian army halting its advance under Anastasia’s orders was seen by Parisians as the end of the Russian offensive—they believed that if they just maintained their defense, the imperialists would eventually give up and negotiate.

Free French government? Weren’t they just the remnants of those who had proven incompetent in war and been purged?

Although they were barely surviving on special rations, they believed they could endure.

But this continued for days.

The missile attacks and bombings on Paris completely stopped.

There was no offensive directed at Paris, and even at the front lines, there were no significant battles.

The hardcore Commune citizens of Paris instinctively sensed something was wrong.

Some intellectuals left Paris, but as their numbers grew, the People’s Army blocked people from leaving.

“This is nothing but empty threats from the imperialists! Anyone trying to leave Paris, deceived by these lies, will be considered an imperialist collaborator and executed!”

Several people had already been executed as examples and their bodies hung around Paris.

After all, a weapon that could destroy Paris? No matter how strong Russia was, could they really create such a weapon?

In the underground bunker in Paris, Commune leader Thorez and Communist Germany’s Goebbels were skeptical.

“Such a weapon cannot exist.”

“Indeed. This must be Russia’s attempt to divide us.”

Thorez, representing the last remaining Red Front nation, insisted on fighting to the death, arguing that surrendering would make them no different from the French Republic. The Communist German command, including Goebbels, Keitel, and Jodl, also resolved to fight to the end since they had come this far.

And finally, that day arrived.

As citizens were receiving their rations and struggling through life while enjoying this inexplicable peace, aircraft suddenly appeared in the Paris sky.

The aircraft were a squadron of bombers with the Free French flag prominently displayed, as if proclaiming “These are French planes!”

The atmosphere was different from the usual leaflet drops.

With anti-aircraft facilities and planes neutralized, it was difficult to send interceptors against the bomber squadron, so citizens could only flee.

The bomber that appeared opened its bomb bay, dropped a single bomb, and departed.

The bomber squadron hastily withdrew as if trying to escape the blast’s aftermath.

The fleeing citizens briefly wondered why they would drop only one bomb, but soon they would understand the reason with their entire bodies.

BOOM!

The mysterious bomb detonated at an altitude of 500 meters, and an enormous explosion with a flash of light engulfed Paris.

EEEEEEEEEEE-

Like witnessing the sun rising directly from the earth, citizens who saw the flash had their eyes burned away, followed by their bodies being consumed by the flash.

Human flesh was no more substantial than paper scraps before the power of the saint.

Those at the epicenter of the explosion were fortunate in a way—they left only shadows as their bodies vaporized instantly, without even feeling pain.

Parisians who witnessed the explosion from a distance had their eyes burned and their skin melted by the heat wave, fusing with their clothes. Even if they survived by luck, their internal organs were so damaged that life was no longer truly living.

Countless people screamed and groaned from all directions as Paris instantly transformed into a scene from hell.

The Eiffel Tower, which in the distant future would be considered one of Eiffel’s masterpieces alongside the Statue of Liberty, stood eerily appropriate to its initial reception as an eyesore that ruined Paris’s aesthetics—now a grotesque figure towering over a city reduced to ruins by nuclear aftermath.

Streets filled with long-abandoned, crumbling ruins.

The Eiffel Tower, grotesquely maintaining its position amid the nuclear heat.

Citizens, their bodies melting, wandering the streets in search of water, unable to die.

The city of art, Paris, now embodied the art of hell.

Belgrade’s situation was no different.

The capital of Serbia, which had started a world war with nothing to its name, met an end befitting an axis of evil.

The French and Russian pilots who dropped nuclear bombs on Paris and Belgrade had to return to base feeling fear at the overwhelming destructive power of the massive mushroom clouds rising over the cities.

And so.

On November 7, 1942, new suns rose over Paris and Belgrade.