Intelligence chief Molka reported to Ferdinand, "Your Majesty, the plan on the American side has succeeded. This time, we worked with the French. People within the United States government have accepted our goodwill and have begun pushing the plan forward. They demand that we not hold them accountable after the war and that we guarantee their safety. We have agreed!"
That "goodwill," naturally, meant money. America's capitalists were very wealthy, and American politicians also became wealthy after retirement—but while they were in office, they were basically dirt poor!
Though their positions were high and their power immense, corruption and bribery were still not so easy. Far too many eyes were watching them.
Now that the United States government was clearly about to go under, naturally no one felt much pressure about making one last haul before leaving!
Ferdinand said with a smile, "Mm, you handled this matter well. So long as we achieve our objective, it does not matter even if we let President Wilson off!
"What has been the reaction in the states along America's East Coast? Have the British settled them?"
After considering it, Molka replied, "Your Majesty, the British have great influence in the eastern states. Their representatives have already begun appearing openly in local high society. They should have achieved some results, but the state legislatures are still wrangling among themselves!"
Ferdinand said calmly, "The British have operated in America for more than a century and fostered quite a few lackeys. Although those lackeys turned traitor some time ago, their influence remains considerable. Persuading them to switch sides is merely a matter of time. In this regard, we cannot compare with them!
"If we speak of influence within American society, not only do we fall short of the British—even small countries such as the Netherlands, Portugal,