The young man sat down and, as soon as he opened his mouth, sure enough—he was of German descent. Well, Americans do this kind of thing too. It's just that, in China, people ask "Are you from Henan? From Sichuan?" while in America they ask, "Are you German? Italian?"It's really the same thing—just checking if you're from the same hometown. People from the same place helping each other out when venturing through America.
In this case, though, the guy didn't need help—he just couldn't find a seat because the dining car was full. He saw that there were only two people at Frederick's table, so he asked to join.
Young master Frederick put on his aristocratic air and said, "We're both of German heritage, so this meal is on me. Don't fight me on it. Consider it a friendly gesture. If we ever meet again, you can treat me then."
The man was easygoing and gladly accepted, saying he was happy to have made such a straightforward and generous friend. And so the two of them sat down together in a warm, friendly manner. They discussed their ancestral hometowns and realized their families came from nearby areas in Germany, which made them feel even closer.
The young man introduced himself as Herbert. Since he shared the same name as his father, people usually called him "Little Herbert." He was a Harvard graduate in petroleum geology and had also studied geology at Stanford. This time, he was heading to the Great Lakes region to continue researching local mining resources.
Both he and his father were the kind of prospectors who traveled everywhere in search of mines. According to him, his father had even worked as an engineer at China's Kaiping coal mine. As for places like South America and Europe—he'd been all over.
This was a good friend to make!Mining, in this era, was an extremely lucrative industry. In Brooke County, coal mine owners were all wealthy tycoons, their fortunes worth hundreds of thousands—sometimes millions. A family like Herbert's, who had been in the mining business for generations and studied at Stanford and Harvard, was likely worth at least a million.
They were definitely wealthier than Frederick's family. And since they were doing business in the Great Lakes area, this was perfect for Frederick, who planned to open hotels in that industrial region and make money off single laborers from the factories.
Anyone able to establish a business there would certainly have excellent connections with local law enforcement, tax authorities, and the courts—not to mention the ability to deal with gangs and unions. Knowing someone like that could save Frederick a lot of trouble down the line.
To Frederick, this was the perfect drinking buddy. But for Nyle, not so much. The two kept switching into German, which Nyle couldn't understand at all. Plus, Herbert had a slightly odd way of enunciating his words, making him even harder to follow.
When Herbert bowed his head slightly, Nyle saw the reason—he was wearing a hearing aid. That explained why he sometimes spoke louder than usual. It was a habit caused by his hearing impairment.
Frederick noticed too, but neither of them said anything. It would've been rude to ask directly whether someone was deaf.
Soon the food arrived, and Nyle focused on eating, while Frederick and Herbert chatted enthusiastically. Eating became secondary; socializing was the main event. When Herbert learned that Frederick's family was influential among the German community in northern West Virginia and had no political ambitions, he became even more pleased.
But the trip to Pittsburgh was short. After a hearty meal and lively conversation, they returned to the train car to keep talking. Nyle followed along and saw that Herbert really was a young master—he had his own private compartment, with a big suitcase full of clothes and shoes in the corner.
They chatted a little more—it wasn't long, less than an hour—before the train reached its stop. Frederick and Herbert said goodbye like they were old friends.
Frederick got what he wanted: Herbert's family did indeed have branch offices in Chicago and Cleveland. They had originally been run by his father but were now managed by professionals. As for where Herbert lived—well, he was always on the move. Once he settled somewhere, he'd write to Frederick.
Neither of them had anything urgent. Herbert left the addresses and phone numbers of their two branch offices and said, "Stay in touch," before waving goodbye.
Once Herbert left, the emotion vanished from Frederick's face. He pulled out a handkerchief to cover his nose and mouth—Pittsburgh's air really wasn't great. Coal dust seemed to be floating everywhere. The cold air from the Arctic hadn't fully arrived yet, so it couldn't clear out the thick, suffocating atmosphere.
What a social butterfly!
Nyle cursed inwardly. He hadn't expected their buddy to have such a two-faced nature. Although he'd seen glimpses of it back in school, it still surprised him.
"What did you think of that guy?" Nyle followed suit, pulling out a handkerchief to cover his nose.
"He's alright. Seems like a young master type, but I don't care about that. As long as their companies in Chicago and Cleveland are real, that's all that matters." Frederick had no illusions about this "fleeting friendship."
"I heard him asking about Uncle Barend. What was that all about?" Nyle asked as they walked out of the station.
"Their family's Republican. They've got some relative in the state government. Might be hoping to ask my family for a favor down the line." Frederick wasn't that interested in politics and was pretty casual about it.
That actually worked out well. Frederick wanted to leverage Herbert's family connections in the Great Lakes area to get in touch with both legitimate and shady local figures to help him open a hotel. Herbert, on the other hand, clearly hoped Frederick's family would, in the next election, represent the German community in northern West Virginia and support their relative.
Mutual benefit!
"We could be friends—hahaha—cough!" Nyle started laughing but choked and began coughing.
"Get in the cab," Frederick said, not making a fuss. He pulled Nyle into a taxi.
Why take a taxi?
Simple—when you arrive in a new city, unless you meet a crooked driver, cabbies will answer anything you ask. In just a few questions, you can find out the best food, entertainment, and even how good the local "special services" are.
Frederick came here to investigate the local industry, so of course, he wouldn't miss this chance. Spend a couple bucks and maybe gain some valuable information.
Whether it was about the employment rate, industrial activity, recruitment numbers, or local prices—it could all help verify Nyle's earlier claim that an economic crisis might be on the horizon.