The formal signing ceremony

The final elegy of the battleship era, after the Battle of Jutland.

The High Seas Fleet, once the pride of the German Empire, had now reached the end of its road.

Currently moored at Wilhelmshaven were eighteen dreadnought battleships, five battlecruisers, fourteen light cruisers, and more than sixty torpedo boats.

At any other time, this would have been a force that could not be ignored, but now it was bound by the treaty's restrictions.

Eitel had no choice but to sell it to President Wilson of America.

As President Wilson listened to His Majesty Eitel recite the ships' names one after another, the interest in his eyes grew increasingly apparent.

"Name your price."

Once Eitel finished describing the current size of the High Seas Fleet, President Wilson spoke without preamble.

Unlike the European nations that had endured the whole of the First World War, America, which had entered the war last, had abundant funds and resources of every kind.

And under the influence of The Influence of Sea Power upon History, they were also very interested in naval supremacy.

In fact, it was not only the German Empire that demanded a place in the sun. America had the same idea.

The German Empire had merely been the first to act.

Thus, President Wilson now very much coveted a vast, fully organized fleet like the High Seas Fleet.

Faced with President Wilson's generous declaration, Eitel did not hold back in the slightest.

"What I need isn't a particular sum of money, but the impetus and resources that will allow our German Empire to continue developing."

"Do you understand?"

After speaking, Eitel looked at President Wilson. He believed President Wilson could understand the meaning behind his words.

They were both national leaders. Some things did not need to be spelled out.

Clearly, President Wilson understood what Eitel meant. His brows furrowed slightly, and after thinking for a while, he spoke.

"Five million dollars, a twenty-year contract for the sale of various resources, and a contract for reconstruction assistance projects in the postwar German Empire."

"What do you think?"

President Wilson looked confidently at Eitel after speaking. After all, twenty years of assistance and support for various projects were precisely what the German Empire needed most now.

As for the five million dollars, that was a little extra, as well as an excuse to silence everyone else.

As for England, neither of the two men present gave any consideration to its wishes.

Hearing President Wilson's offer, Eitel froze for a moment. He had originally thought President Wilson would seize the opportunity to drive down the price.

He had not expected such a generous offer, but these terms were also exactly what he needed.

After considering it briefly, Eitel readily agreed.

"Very well. As for the details of the various contracts, I'll have our chancellor coordinate with your people."

"Here's to a successful partnership."

With that, Eitel stood and extended his hand.

Seeing Eitel's gesture, President Wilson smiled and likewise stood to shake his hand.

"To a successful partnership."

After they finished shaking hands, Eitel remained in the room, his face still bearing the smile he had worn upon entering.

President Wilson was somewhat puzzled by this. "May I ask, His Majesty Eitel, is there anything else?"

At President Wilson's question, Eitel first let out a long sigh, then sat down with a sorrowful expression.

"Alas, esteemed President Wilson, there's something you don't know. Our German Empire is poor."

"Across the country, people have nothing to put in their cooking pots. Even I, the emperor, have to tighten my belt to get by, and now I have to pay the reparations stipulated by the peace treaty. My life is bitter."

Watching Eitel make a show of wiping away a few tears, President Wilson's smile suddenly grew somewhat stiff.

"Then what are you suggesting?"

As though something had occurred to him, President Wilson spoke cautiously.

"I simply wanted to ask whether I could take out a loan."

When President Wilson finally asked that question, a smile returned to Eitel's face, but his answer left President Wilson somewhat stunned.

"So you mean you want to use my money to buy my goods?"

"Is that right?"

After President Wilson finished speaking rather stiffly, he saw Eitel nod with a smile.

"Please rest assured, we'll repay it at the highest interest rate."

"We have always treated friends willing to help our German Empire with sincerity."

President Wilson simply stared at Eitel. He had never imagined there could actually be someone even more shameless than himself.

After a long while, President Wilson sighed.

"Very well, I agree. For the first installment, we'll provide you with a loan of five hundred million to assist in the German Empire's development."

"As for interest, we'll calculate it at the normal rate. Just remember to pay me back."

Hearing President Wilson relent, Eitel seized his hand in delight.

"Thank you for your faith in the German Empire. The people of the German Empire will remember you forever. We'll take our leave, then."

With that, Eitel pulled Rommel along and hurried outside, as though afraid he might change his mind.

Only after Eitel and Rommel left did President Wilson sit down, but this time, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Although he had not obtained what he wanted at this conference.

He had never expected that, at the very end, the emperor of the German Empire would deliver such an unexpected gift.

Although the price he had paid for this High Seas Fleet was rather high.

In fact, those terms were the very measures for supporting the German Empire afterward that he had discussed with the secretary of state before coming.

Whether it was the loans or those contracts, they had long since made up their minds to support the German Empire.

And now, he had an even better reason to offer them.

The arrogant attitudes of England and France had already angered the president of this rising empire, and the German Empire was the representative he had chosen.

A country capable of muddying the waters of all Europe even further was far more useful than one that had been utterly crushed.

Besides, as for those repayments, none of the Allies had ever really expected the German Empire to pay those war reparations in full from the outset.

After all, even they themselves thought the treaty went too far.

Thus, both His Majesty Eitel and President Wilson felt they had obtained what they wanted.

Both men were in very good spirits after their discussion.

That mood lasted until the following day, the day of the formal signing ceremony.

As the German Empire's representative, Eitel checked the time on his wristwatch. The hour hand had quietly reached nine.

"It's almost time, Your Majesty."

Rommel stepped forward and spoke to Eitel.

Eitel nodded and took the lead, walking at the very front.

All the way to the doors of the conference hall.

Seeing the German representatives approaching, the soldiers on duty stepped aside to clear the way and pulled open the doors.