Cooperation

Early the next morning, Oscar arrived by car at the headquarters of Krupp Company. Since Karl had made an appointment in advance, by the time Oscar arrived, Miss Bertha Krupp, the current helmsperson of Krupp Company, was already waiting at the entrance.

"Miss Krupp, I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting so long!" Oscar said with an apologetic expression.

The Krupp family had always been a pillar of German militarism and enjoyed the favor of the nation's highest authorities. Punctuality, discipline, and obedience to orders were traditions of the family. Take mealtimes, for example: breakfast was at 7:15. Anyone arriving at 7:16 would find the dining hall doors shut and everyone else already eating. Moreover, even in the depths of winter, the Krupp family refused to stoke the fireplace too high, deliberately making their offices bitingly cold so they would not grow listless... It could be said that this family was the very model of a standard.

"Your Highness, your visit to Krupp Company is an honor for the Krupp family and the entire company. Your legend is now being told throughout the German Empire. Everyone believes you are a business genius without equal in the world. I have long wished to discuss business matters with you as well," Bertha Krupp said with a smile.

"Miss Krupp, the honor is mine as well," Oscar replied with great humility.

Bertha Krupp was the granddaughter of Alfred Krupp, founder of Krupp Company, and the daughter of Friedrich Alfred Krupp, the company's second-generation president. In 1902, Friedrich Alfred Krupp, Krupp Company's second-generation president, committed suicide after his homosexual scandal was exposed by the press, leaving behind only one daughter, Bertha Krupp. Yet for all of Germany, the idea of the Krupp arms empire being controlled by a young woman was simply unbelievable. Krupp Company was far too important to Germany. The Navy's Naval Guns and the Army's artillery were, for the most part, produced by Krupp Company.

Oscar knew that next year, Wilhelm II would personally choose a husband for Bertha Krupp. The Prussian diplomat Gustav von Bohlen und Halbach would become the final choice. Naturally, after Gustav married into the Krupp family and took control of Krupp Company, the company would begin a new round of development and become one of the world's foremost arms conglomerates.

Of course, for now, Krupp Company was still struggling to keep going under Miss Bertha Krupp's leadership.

Led by Miss Bertha Krupp, Oscar began touring Krupp Company's headquarters. In truth, this was merely the company headquarters. There were no factories or production workshops here, and there was not much to see. The only thing he could truly experience was probably Krupp Company's corporate culture. Its frugal, diligent, and rigorous work ethic left Oscar deeply moved. Perhaps that was why Krupp Company had been able to succeed.

After the brief tour, Oscar and Miss Bertha Krupp returned to the office.

"Your Highness, what brings you here this time?" Once only the two of them remained in the office, Bertha Krupp came straight to the point.

Although Oscar was young, the German Welfare Lottery Company he had founded with his own hands had already been hailed as the most profitable company in the entire German Empire. Even the enormous Krupp Company likely could not compare with its annual profits.

"Miss Krupp, I have come this time to place an order with your company," Oscar said with a smile.

"Place an order? What does Your Highness wish to purchase?" Miss Bertha Krupp asked in surprise.

Very few people currently knew about Oscar's acquisition of the Imperial Shipyard.

"Miss Krupp, I acquired the Imperial Shipyard from the royal family. I have also renamed it the German Shipyard."

"The Imperial Shipyard—the shipyard located in Danzig?" Bertha Krupp frowned. The Imperial Shipyard was merely a medium-sized shipyard. To Miss Bertha Krupp, its scale was truly too small.

"Does Your Highness intend to enter the shipbuilding industry? The Imperial Shipyard can purchase the steel it needs directly from us. I guarantee that I will give Your Highness the most favorable price." In Bertha Krupp's view, the Imperial Shipyard was only a medium-sized shipyard and would not use much steel each year.

"That would be wonderful. We expect to officially begin constructing warships in the second half of the year. We will need roughly eighty thousand tons of steel, including twenty thousand tons of armor steel. We require the finest-quality armor steel." Oscar was greatly pleased. Such a large quantity of steel, especially armor steel, would cost a considerable sum. Miss Bertha Krupp's offer of the most favorable price would undoubtedly save him a great deal of money.

"Uh? That much steel? And twenty thousand tons of armor steel?" Miss Bertha Krupp was stunned. Clearly, she realized that with a single remark, she had caused Krupp Company to lose a tremendous amount of profit.

"Your Highness, isn't the Imperial Shipyard a medium-sized shipyard? Why would it need so much steel?" Miss Bertha Krupp asked.

"Yes, Miss Krupp. The Imperial Shipyard is indeed only a medium-sized shipyard. But the German Shipyard is a large shipyard. After acquiring the Imperial Shipyard, I invested over a hundred million Mark to expand it. So that shipyard has shed its old skin and been reborn." Oscar smiled happily. He was delighted to gain an advantage over a formidable businesswoman like Miss Bertha Krupp.

Miss Bertha Krupp nodded. Although her promise had cost her a considerable amount of profit, there would still be profit in it after all. Moreover, Oscar's order was so large that there would surely be plenty of cooperation between them in the future. If they established a long-term partnership, they would certainly earn even more substantial profits.

"Your Highness truly makes grand gestures! To invest such enormous funds in expanding a shipyard—you will surely achieve success in this industry," Miss Bertha Krupp said.

"Miss Krupp, aside from steel and armor steel, I also hope to order a batch of Naval Guns from Krupp Company. These are the design blueprints. I believe they should not pose much of a problem for Krupp Company." Oscar took the blueprints for a triple-mounted 305mm 50-caliber Main Gun from his briefcase and placed them on the coffee table.

Krupp Company could be said to be Germany's finest artillery manufacturer. If Oscar wanted to order 305mm Naval Guns, they were the best choice.

"Naval Guns? Triple-mounted 305mm Main Guns, with a fifty-caliber barrel?" Bertha Krupp immediately frowned.