Berlin Imperial Palace, Wilhelm II's office. The Imperial Council was in session. German Emperor Wilhelm II, Chancellor Bernhard von Bülow, Foreign Minister von Kiderlen-Wächter, Chief of the General Staff Moltke the Younger, Minister of War von Falkenhayn, Field Marshal Count Tirpitz, the First Sea Lord, Crown Prince Wilhelm, and Oscar were all present at this meeting.
It was perfectly normal for everyone except Oscar to attend the Imperial Council. After all, they were all important ministers of the Empire. Crown Prince Wilhelm, meanwhile, was the heir to the imperial throne and qualified to attend the Imperial Council as the heir apparent. But Oscar was merely an ordinary prince. Although he had displayed outstanding talent in commerce, shipbuilding, and other fields, that still could not change the fact that he was only an ordinary prince. Oscar was qualified to attend this Imperial Council because the main topic of discussion had been proposed by him. Another reason was likely his keen understanding of the world situation.
Even so, Crown Prince Wilhelm's gaze toward Oscar was filled with hostility. Clearly, Crown Prince Wilhelm believed that this was Oscar further launching an assault on the succession, and it had already seriously threatened his position. This was something Crown Prince Wilhelm could never accept.
Damn Oscar, that hypocritical, shameless bastard. He really does want to fight me for the throne. He's merely an ordinary prince, far down the line of succession—how dare he! Crown Prince Wilhelm was furious, nearly wanting to question Oscar on the spot. If the occasion had not been inappropriate, and if Wilhelm II had not specifically warned him before, he would probably have exploded right then and there.
"Gentlemen, I believe everyone already knows why today's Imperial Council has been convened. Prince Oskar has proposed that we establish a National Petroleum