Even If You Know, You Have No Say

Three days had passed since the last inspection.

During that time, all arrangements for converting military production to civilian use in Berlin had been completed, and every project was proceeding to the urgent beat of drums and gongs.

During that time, the heads of the Krupp Company and Rheinmetall had also arrived in Berlin.

In His Majesty Eitel's office, Chancellor Max was giving him a report.

"Your Majesty, work on converting the arms factories in Berlin and its outskirts to civilian production has now begun across the board. Arms factories throughout the German Empire are also undergoing urgent modifications."

"The situation looks excellent, and the heads of the Krupp Company and Rheinmetall have also arrived at the palace."

"Would you like me to arrange a time for them to meet with you?"

Eitel nodded lightly at Max's words. "Yes. Set it for nine in the morning."

"Arrange for it to be held in the conference hall of the Reichstag building."

"As you command, Your Majesty."

After receiving his orders, Max turned and left Eitel's office.

Eitel checked the time on his wristwatch.

It was already eight in the morning, and he had now been working for two hours.

After checking the time, Eitel reviewed and endorsed a few documents, straightened his clothes, and stood up.

He headed outside.

He reached the palace's main entrance.

A jet-black car was already parked outside the palace, and Chancellor Max was waiting beside it.

Seeing Eitel emerge, Max hurriedly opened the car door.

Eitel walked over and got into the car. Once Eitel was inside, Chancellor Max followed him in.

"Your Majesty, everything has been arranged. The heads of the Krupp Company and Rheinmetall are now in the conference room of the Reichstag building, awaiting your instructions."

As soon as he entered the car, Chancellor Max eagerly began reporting to Eitel.

After hearing Chancellor Max's report, Eitel nodded lightly.

"Let's go. I have other things to do after meeting them."

"Understood, Your Majesty."

Before long, the two arrived at the conference room in the Reichstag building.

The heads of the Krupp Company and Rheinmetall, Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach and Heinrich Ehrhardt.

Along with several other managers who had accompanied them, they sat on either side of the conference room.

The heads of both companies had initially worn worried expressions. After all, as giant, integrated arms-manufacturing enterprises, the military contracts they had previously handled had been positively dripping with fat profits.

Even when they had reduced their profits later on to support the front lines, those returns were still far beyond what their current civilian machinery and farm equipment could offer.

Thus, all the managers present were filled with anticipation, hoping that the current emperor could point them toward a clear path.

But all of them knew that the chances of that were currently vanishingly small.

They had come here now more to hear their sentence pronounced.

While everyone in the conference room waited, the doors were pushed open.

"Creak-"

Hearing the sound of the doors opening, everyone turned their gaze toward the entrance in unison.

His Majesty Eitel had barely stepped inside when he felt countless gazes converge on him.

Facing their expectant gazes, Eitel walked slowly inside.

Max followed closely behind Eitel.

Eitel slowly made his way to the front of the conference room, those gazes following his every movement.

All the way to the very front of the conference room.

Standing at the head of the conference room, Eitel looked at the two company heads seated at the front.

Eitel understood that these two men at the front were the highest-ranking executives of the two companies.

After nodding lightly to the two men below and giving them a reassuring look.

Eitel spoke softly. "You should know why I called you here, shouldn't you?"

"Is it about the conversion plan for switching military production to civilian use, Your Majesty?"

"We have already prepared the materials for that. Most of the heavy machinery currently in our companies needs to be dismantled manually. The manpower and resources required are enormous, so it will also take more time."

"But please rest assured, Your Majesty. We will finish the dismantling as quickly as possible and complete the conversion to civilian production as soon as we can."

Gustav, the head of the Krupp Company, wanted to say more, but Eitel interrupted him.

"I know you are all pillars of the empire, and that you are willing to give everything for it. But that is not why I called you here today."

As Eitel spoke, he looked at the two company heads. "As for the heavy machinery, high-precision machinery, and machine tools you are currently dismantling, apart from the bulk that must be placed on record, I will arrange for some to be secretly shipped into the Soviet Union, while I will negotiate cooperation with America concerning another portion."

"I will also make suitable arrangements for the research and development personnel and experienced workers in your factories. In the future, we will still need them to keep shining and giving their all for the empire's arms industry."

Eitel's words echoed through the spacious conference room.

But the information in those words left the two company heads stunned. Then a glimmer of hope appeared on their faces, followed by a trace of delighted surprise.

Gustav immediately spoke up. "Your Majesty, do you mean we still have a chance to work in the arms industry?"

"Exactly. But you will need to keep a low profile for now. Once the Allied inspectors leave, we will arrange for you to travel to America and the Soviet Union to collaborate, learn, and develop the latest weapons."

The moment Eitel finished speaking, discussion broke out among the managers below.

Eitel did not interrupt them, merely listening quietly to their discussions.

Some expressed their joy at being able to continue this work, while others even began discussing the latest weapons on the spot.

Eitel even heard one engineer mention plans to develop the latest type of anti-aircraft gun.

Upon hearing this, Eitel immediately thought of the Third German Reich's later anti-everything gun-the 88 Anti-Aircraft Gun.

Just as everyone was discussing enthusiastically, Chancellor Max suddenly spoke.

"Your Majesty, the Bolshevik Red Army and the White Army are currently locked in fierce fighting within Soviet territory. Shipping this high-precision machinery in at such a chaotic time would be no different from sending sheep into a tiger's jaws."

"Or do you intend to intervene in the war between the two sides, Your Majesty?"

Max spoke calmly. Eitel, who had anticipated this, nodded. "We cannot call it intervention. We cannot even let anyone know we were behind it."

"Although the two sides are still confronting each other on the battlefield, the Bolshevik Red Army will soon sweep away the White Army like rotten wood and withered weeds."

"What we need to do is make this war last a little longer. When the time comes, I will sell our wartime weapons under the name of an outsourcing company in exchange for permission to operate companies within Soviet territory."

At this point, Eitel looked at the two company heads. "When that happens, those people from the Allies will have no say over what we research."

"As for America, I will speak with President Wilson about cooperation later."