Wilhelm II cast a glance at Crown Prince Wilhelm, his expression impassive. He felt a degree of dissatisfaction with his heir. Despite being the Crown Prince of the Empire, Wilhelm's narrow-mindedness and lack of magnanimity were evident; his envy towards his own brother raised doubts about his ability to treat others fairly.
Essen von Jonalett's heart tightened at this realization.
"Your Majesty, Karl possesses a twenty percent stake in His Highness's company, yielding a ten percent profit. I can donate this portion of the earnings to the royal family without any expectation of return," Karl von Jonalett hastily interjected.
Although relinquishing such a substantial sum felt like a painful wound, he felt compelled to express his loyalty and ensure his position.
Despite this, Essen harbored deep dissatisfaction towards Crown Prince Wilhelm, believing that his remarks were driven purely by jealousy.
"Essen, it is indeed commendable that Oscar and Karl are willing to contribute twenty percent of their profits to the royal family. After all, it is their enterprise, and as a symbol of the Empire, the royal family should never stoop to usurping the assets of others. Nevertheless, in light of Oscar's filial piety, I shall accept the twenty percent," Crown Prince Wilhelm replied, his demeanor unruffled.
To claim that he was unaffected by the substantial profits of Qin Tian's German Welfare Lottery Company would be untrue. However, Wilhelm II aimed to avoid the disgrace of being perceived as seizing his own child's enterprise. Moreover, an annual profit of fifty million marks was quite commendable, equivalent to the cost of a battleship. Acquiring such a windfall was certainly a pleasant surprise.
"Your wisdom is commendable, Your Majesty," Essen von Jonalett promptly affirmed.
Crown Prince Wilhelm's countenance shifted from pale to flushed. The Crown Prince's earlier decision was undoubtedly a blow to him. It was evident that Wilhelm II was displeased with his recent behavior.
Yet, Crown Prince Wilhelm did not perceive any fault in himself; he firmly believed that his proposal had been entirely justified. After all, Qin Tian was merely an ordinary prince—what need did he have for such wealth? As the Crown Prince of the German Empire, he was in dire need of funds. If Qin Tian were wise, he ought to donate that money to the royal family and himself.
Of course, such thoughts remained buried deep within him, concealed from view. To voice them would surely exacerbate Wilhelm II's discontent.
"Your Majesty, Prince Oscar is concerned that certain greedy individuals, upon noticing the profits of the German Welfare Lottery Company, may devise ways to seize their enterprise. Therefore, he hopes that Your Majesty can provide them with protection," Essen von Jonalett remarked.
Wilhelm II nodded, fully aware of the unscrupulous nature of the capitalists within the country.
"I knew that boy wouldn't part with such substantial profits without an ulterior motive. However, considering that it allows us to construct an additional battleship each year, the royal family shall indeed intervene on their behalf," Wilhelm II chuckled.
"Indeed, Your Majesty," Essen von Jonalett exhaled in relief. With royal intervention, the capitalists would undoubtedly afford them some deference. Consequently, the German Welfare Lottery Company would remain secure, and their profits would be preserved.
"Essen, please convey to Oscar that he is invited to the palace for the Christmas banquet," Wilhelm II instructed.
His perception of Qin Tian had undergone a significant transformation. Previously, he had regarded him as a frivolous playboy lacking in ambition. Yet, he had come to realize that Qin Tian possessed remarkable business acumen. Additionally, his loyalty to the royal family and the Empire was a quality that both father and emperor cherished.
As for the earlier decree forbidding Qin Tian from returning to the palace, it was now forgotten.
"Understood, Your Majesty," Essen von Jonalett nodded. He felt delighted that Qin Tian had regained Wilhelm II's favor; after all, his son Karl was closely tied to Qin Tian.
Crown Prince Wilhelm's expression darkened further upon hearing this news. Although he did not believe that Qin Tian posed a direct threat to his claim to the throne, he could sense an encroaching sense of insecurity.
In European nations, changes in succession were rare, provided the heir did not die young or commit heinous acts. Therefore, succession remained remarkably stable. However, the Crown Prince did not wish for his younger brother to outshine him. He believed that younger siblings should serve merely as supportive figures.
The royal family's discreet endorsement of the German Welfare Lottery Company as their enterprise caused numerous capitalists eyeing this lucrative venture to reconsider their intentions. Although the lottery was highly profitable, clashing with the royal family over it would undoubtedly be unwise.
Upon receiving this news, Qin Tian felt a wave of relief wash over him. The crisis had been averted, allowing him to utilize the considerable profits generated by the German Welfare Lottery Company for other endeavors. His plans could now proceed in an orderly fashion.
Having entrusted the company's primary operations to Karl, Qin Tian isolated himself in his office to refine his vision of an ideal battleship.
Since his rebirth into this world, he had begun extensive research in relevant fields. As a military enthusiast, Qin Tian had amassed a vast collection of weapon models, including aircraft, tanks, and warships. Among these were not only battleships but also aircraft carriers.
In this era, battleships undeniably reigned as the principal naval vessels, akin to the role of aircraft carriers in later periods. Few nations possessed the capabilities to construct battleships, with Britain and Germany being the foremost among them.
"Considering the timeline, the British 'Dreadnought' battleship's design should be nearing completion. Approval will likely be granted next year, followed by a construction period of one year. The commissioning of this battleship will herald a revolution in naval warfare. All previous classes of battleships will become obsolete with the advent of the 'Dreadnought'. This includes Germany's four 'Brandenburg-class' battleships, five 'Kaiser Friedrich III-class' battleships, five 'Wittelsbach-class' battleships, five 'Brunswick-class' battleships, and five 'Deutschland-class' battleships."