Iron Cross

August 21, 2012, the picturesque Alps.

Mr. Friedrich-von-Hoffmann, wearing the Knight's Iron Cross, is standing on the platform looking into the distance. This day has special meaning for him. His grandfather, Hoffmann Sr., was once a lieutenant colonel staff officer in the headquarters of the Third Reich. Unfortunately, he was killed in a car accident on August 21, 1942. The place where he served was exactly It is the former site of the Eagle's Nest - the headquarters of the Empire.

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross he wears on his chest is also a relic left by his grandfather. Although the Hoffmann family produced several celebrities during the Holy Roman Empire, in the 20th century, except for the old Hoffmann who served as a lieutenant colonel in the Wehrmacht of the Third Reich, , there is no other history to show off, this Knight's Cross of Iron is the only thing worth being proud of. Even during the most difficult time for the family after the war, my father kept it instead of exchanging it for money like many families do.

Every August 21st, my father would polish the long-cherished medal and wear it, and take the whole family to pay homage to the old Eagle's Nest site. After his father passed away, it was Hoffman who brought the whole family here. Unfortunately, before the trip, their son suddenly contracted pneumonia, so his wife had to stay back home in Hamburg to take care of him.

Because of the influence of the elder Hoffmann, Hoffmann joined the German Wehrmacht after graduating with a doctorate, and devoted himself to studying the history and military strategy of World War II. At the age of 40, he made great achievements in this field, and became a leading figure in the military and World War II history. At the same time, he has served as a historical consultant for many World War II games and war films. In the famous "Hearts-of-Iron" series of games, he has been the chief member of the expert team.

After the war, the Eagle's Nest has been transformed into Germany's No. 1 mountain resort. Except for all the weapons and equipment, all other facilities and furnishings are the same as they were 70 years ago. Every year, people from all over the world come to visit. As the sun sets, Hofmann, who is concerned about his son's condition, decides to end his condolences and return to Hamburg overnight.

The elevator is still the same one that was erected 70 years ago. It is a big thing that can accommodate 53 people at the same time. Although it has been weathered, it can still be used normally thanks to the good quality made in Germany and the careful maintenance of the engineering office. . There were not many people in the elevator. Standing next to Hoffman was a young man who was also wearing an Iron Cross. But at a glance, he could tell that it was a replica made in the 21st century. Seeing the other man staring intently at the real one on his chest, Hoffman laughed. He smiled and didn't take it seriously. The elevator is descending at a constant speed and will reach the ground in a few dozen seconds. But suddenly, Hoffman felt the elevator descending rapidly. Before he could react, the elevator turned pitch black.

"Ah..." Amidst the desperate screams, there was a loud noise, and Hoffman felt himself being shaken up, and then lost consciousness...

The next day, major newspapers across Germany used front-page headlines to introduce the accident that occurred at the Eagle's Nest site. A total of 7 people died and 1 person was missing. The local police station has promised to find the whereabouts of the missing persons as soon as possible. To see a person is to see a corpse.

I don’t know how long it took, but the unconscious Hoffman seemed to feel a glimmer of light. He tried his best to open his eyes to see, but his eyelids were as heavy as lead. In the confusion, a man wearing a field gray Wehrmacht uniform came towards him.

"Child..." The kind voice and kind face looked a bit like his father, but Hoffman knew it was definitely not the case - his father had never served in the military, let alone dressed in the uniform of the Third Reich.

However, this looks a bit like my grandfather.

Have you arrived in heaven?

"My child, you are a lucky one. God bless you. Without this Iron Cross, you would have gone to heaven, but you are the most unfortunate one because what you are about to face is such a thorny and difficult one. The empire..."

Tricky?

difficulty?

empire?

There are countless questions in Hoffman's mind. What does this mean?

Before he could figure it out, the holy light surrounding his grandfather had disappeared, and old Hoffman seemed to turn into a faint wisp of smoke in the air and gradually recede. Hoffman was startled and seemed to have a different kind of power all over his body. He suddenly opened his eyes and tried his best to reach out and grab the other person...