Chapter 12: Now I’m Famous Too

"SS Senior Corporal, Lin En Gargo, Room 416!"

Lin En was in a daze when a cold voice snapped his attention back to the present, and a shiny silver key was placed in his hand. Noticing that his soldiers had not yet been assigned their rooms, he asked the female soldier in a gray uniform with a side cap and short hair, "Uh... excuse me, who am I sharing a room with? And where are my soldiers going to be?"

Whether she didn't hear him or simply chose not to answer, the female soldier merely made a mark on her clipboard, called out the next unfamiliar name, and assigned the key to room 421.

"What the…"

Lin En looked down at the key in his hand. It was nothing like the sophisticated, multi-sided keys of modern high-security doors; it seemed quite simple, a lock that any piece of wire could probably open. However, in this secret and heavily guarded location, the significance of the lock likely lay not in its actual function.

Turning to the bewildered soldiers, Lin En reflected on the arduous journey to this hidden "sanctuary," and the significant losses suffered by all units. Could it be that they were going to completely reassign and reorganize the troops?

Six female logistics soldiers were working simultaneously, and before long, Wolfram and his men were called out and assigned to three different rooms. However, the female soldiers did not give them keys. When Bruhl asked about this, one of the female soldiers explained, "According to regulations, the dormitories for NCOs and regular soldiers do not have locks!"

"Aren't I an NCO too?" Lin En asked, holding up his key.

This time, it was not the short-haired female soldier who answered but another with her hair in a bun, who smiled and said, "You won't be for long!"

Lin En wanted to ask more, but Mottschig announced loudly, "Everyone, return to your rooms once you receive your keys. Reassemble at 8 o'clock in Dining Hall No. 7. You have about an hour to rest now, so make the most of it!"

Seeing the logistics women returning to their desks, Lin En decided to hold off on further questions. If "soon" really meant soon, it wouldn't be long to wait.

In buildings over seven stories high, elevators are mandatory—rules from decades later that didn't apply here. Lin En's room was on the fourth floor, not very high, but climbing was tough until his leg healed. Surprisingly, it seemed the higher the rank, the higher the floor, with Mottschig's room on the seventh floor and the soldiers on the first and second. Was this to encourage senior officers to exercise more?

Climbing the narrow staircase, sweating profusely, he finally reached the fourth floor. He found Room 416 by its standard number plaque. The door was ordinary, a smooth wooden door painted pale yellow, with a new metal handle. Imagining he'd have the room to himself, Lin En unlocked the door, only to find a small room with two double bunks. The outer wall had a balcony with floor-to-ceiling windows, and three uniformed men were playing cards around a small table.

Surprised, Lin En managed a simple greeting, "Hey, guys, how's it going…"

The three officers were unfazed. One, with a middle parting and a long, thin face, said, "Sorry, only the top bunk by the door is left."

It felt like his first day of college again, but the speaker wore an SS lieutenant's insignia, giving Lin En a sense of disorientation. He had turned in his weapons and carried only a canteen, a mess tin, a military satchel containing some personal items, including a small bottle of spirits, a comb, and some dry bread. After hanging his gear on the bed, he looked around. The room had just the two bunks and some coat hooks, even simpler than a college dorm.

Thinking to lie down but remembering his leg and shoulder injuries, Lin En limped toward the balcony.

"Hey, guys, I…"

Seeing his condition, a blonde SS lieutenant offered, "Since you're injured, you can take my bottom bunk. I've only used it for two days; it's clean!"

"Thanks a lot! I'm Lin En, Lin En Gargo!" Lin En introduced himself with a smile.

The blonde lieutenant's eyes widened, "You're Lin En Gargo? The crazy guy who doesn't fear death?"

"Crazy guy who doesn't fear death?" Lin En was puzzled by the nickname.

The blonde lieutenant handed Lin En a neatly folded piece of paper, "Here, yesterday's newspaper!"

"Newspaper?"

Lin En was astonished that they had newspapers here.

The third officer, a brown-haired man with glasses, sitting at the table, explained, "Technically, it's the fourth issue of the 'Germania Gazette' printed in the 'sanctuary'! The first issue's front page featured our great leader's brilliant speech to senior commanders on April 26th. The second issue was about the air combat ace Eric Hartmann. The third issue interviewed submarine ace Erich Topp. And the fourth issue is about you, the 'Ruthless Vampire of Germania,' the crazy night-fighter!"

Lin En opened the two-page spread of the 'Germania Gazette.' It was simple yet refined, with clear, clean print and detailed illustrations. The issue titled him the "Cold Night Hunter," without using "crazy" as a headline. Lin En realized his new roommates had given him the nickname out of boredom.

"Pretty nice, right?" said the bespectacled officer, who had a scholarly air. His uniform and insignia were those of the Wehrmacht. Seeing Lin En's surprise, he added admiringly, "The editor-in-chief of this new paper is a young, beautiful, charming, and talented lady!"

Lin En immediately blurted out, "Eva Futtrich?"

The officer adjusted his glasses, surprised, "Oh? You know her? So, she did the interview with you?"

No one likes being given strange nicknames, but Lin En thought about his bold actions on the battlefield. People can say what they want. However, his combat achievements were far from comparable to the top aces or Adolf Hitler, the spiritual leader of most Germans. Making it onto this unpublished newsletter was partly due to saving Eva's life and likely also because of Propaganda Minister Goebbels' influence. Their new submarines must have arrived safely at least by yesterday.

Lin En lowered his voice and asked, "Hey, guys, any news about the Führer?"

"Hey!" The SS lieutenant with the middle parting sneered, "What was the first order we got before entering the 'sanctuary'? Forgotten already?"

Recalling Mottschig's words, Lin En reluctantly resumed reading the paper praising his and his soldiers' combat deeds. The blonde lieutenant kindly advised, "Once you're here, if you want to know something, look and listen yourself. Don't ask too much, and don't speak carelessly. The secrets here... are many."

Lin En nodded, though he didn't fully grasp the meaning.

After resting on the bottom bunk, Lin En headed downstairs when it was time. His three new roommates also left for the dining hall. Seeing his difficulty, they helped him along, teasing him about being so crazy that even bullets couldn't stop him. Lin En played along with self-deprecating humor. In the hall, Mottschig and some soldiers had already arrived. Lin En rejoined the group and asked Bruhl about their accommodations. It turned out the soldiers were in rooms of eight, which were a bit cramped but far better than the muddy battlefield. Hearing that the food supply here was plentiful added to Lin En's logistical curiosity. Could this cold place really grow its own food?