New Battleships (Seeking Collection)

Wilhelm II glanced at Crown Prince Wilhelm, his face expressionless. He was somewhat dissatisfied with his heir. As the Crown Prince and Imperial Crown Prince, his heart was too narrow, lacking the capacity to tolerate others. If he could even envy his own brother, how could he be expected to treat others well?

Essen von Jonath also felt a tightening in his heart.

"Your Majesty, Karl holds a twenty percent stake in His Highness's company and has received a ten percent return. I can donate that portion to the royal family unconditionally." Karl von Jonath quickly said.

Though giving up so much wealth felt like his heart was bleeding, he had to say this to show his loyalty and protect his position.

However, Essen von Jonath was deeply dissatisfied with Crown Prince Wilhelm. In his view, the Crown Prince had spoken out of sheer jealousy.

"Essen, it's already commendable that Oscar and Karl thought to contribute twenty percent of the profits to the royal family. This is, after all, their enterprise. As the empire's exemplar, how could the royal family seize another's property? Still, seeing Oscar's filial intent, I'll accept the twenty percent profit." Crown Prince Wilhelm said calmly.

To claim he wasn't tempted by the massive profits of Oscar's German Welfare Lottery Company would be a lie. But Wilhelm II didn't want the stain of seizing his own child's business. Besides, an annual income of fifty million Marks was already excellent—equivalent to a battleship. Gaining such revenue was an unexpected boon.

"Your Majesty is wise." Essen von Jonath quickly said.

Crown Prince Wilhelm's face alternated between pale and flushed. The Emperor's decision was a blow to him. Clearly, Wilhelm II was already very displeased with his earlier performance.

But Crown Prince Wilhelm didn't see it as his own fault; instead, he believed his proposal was perfectly correct. Oscar was just an ordinary prince—what did he need so much money for? As the German Empire's Crown Prince, he was the one in need of funds. If Oscar were sensible, he should donate that money to the royal family and himself.

Of course, Crown Prince Wilhelm could only bury such thoughts deep in his heart, not daring to reveal them. Otherwise, it would only make Wilhelm II even more dissatisfied with him.

"Your Majesty, Prince Oscar fears that greedy individuals, seeing the German Welfare Lottery Company's profits, will try every means to plunder their company. Thus, he hopes Your Majesty can provide them protection." Essen von Jonath said.

Wilhelm II nodded. He was well aware of the nature of the capitalists in the country.

"I knew that boy wouldn't give away so much profit for nothing. But for the sake of an extra battleship a year, the royal family will handle those people for them." Wilhelm II said with a smile.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Essen von Jonath breathed a sigh of relief. If the royal family stepped in, the capitalists would naturally show some respect. That would keep the German Welfare Lottery Company safe, and their profits secure.

"Essen, tell Oscar to return to the palace for the Christmas banquet." Wilhelm II said.

His view of Oscar had now changed dramatically. Previously, he thought Oscar was a good-for-nothing playboy only interested in amusement. But he hadn't expected Oscar to have such a high talent for business. Moreover, Oscar was very loyal to the royal family and the empire—exactly what he, as both father and Emperor, wanted to see.

As for his earlier ban on Oscar returning to the palace, that was now forgotten.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Essen von Jonath nodded. He was pleased that Oscar had regained Wilhelm II's favor. After all, his son Karl and Oscar were practically tied together.

Crown Prince Wilhelm, however, looked even more grim after hearing this. Though he didn't think Oscar posed any threat to his succession, it still stirred a sense of crisis.

In European countries, succession changes were extremely rare—unless the heir died young or committed treason, the inheritance was very stable. But Crown Prince Wilhelm didn't want his younger brother to outshine him. He believed his brothers should merely be supporting roles.

With the royal family's private statement that the German Welfare Lottery Company was royal property, countless capitalists eyeing this fat prize, after much deliberation, had to abandon their covetous intentions. Though the company was extremely profitable, clashing with the royal family over it was clearly unwise.

Upon hearing this news, Oscar also breathed a sigh of relief. With the crisis resolved, he could use the massive profits from the German Welfare Lottery Company for other ventures. His plans could now proceed smoothly.

Leaving the company's main business to Karl, Oscar shut himself in his office to refine the design of his ideal battleship.

Since being reborn into this world, Oscar had already begun related research. As a military enthusiast, he had collected many weapon models in his past life—planes, tanks, and warships of all kinds. Among the warships were not only battleships but also aircraft carriers.

In this era, battleships were unquestionably the dominant capital ships, much like aircraft carriers in later times. Only a handful of countries worldwide had the ability to build battleships, with the top-tier nations being Britain and Germany.

"If I calculate the timing, the British 'Dreadnought' battleship's design drawings should be completed by now. Next year, it will be approved. Then, it will be built within a year. That battleship's service will spark a revolution. All the old battleships before it will become obsolete with the 'Dreadnought's' emergence. That naturally includes the German Navy's four 'Brandenburg-class' battleships, five 'Kaiser Friedrich III-class' battleships, five 'Wittelsbach-class' battleships, five 'Braunschweig-class' battleships, and five 'Deutschland-class' battleships."