It was already night when Prince Oscar and Karl returned to Potsdam. However, Oscar did not spend the night in the palace; he moved out immediately. He knew that the agreement he had reached with Dean Ludwig Birkenhagen would soon be known to Kaiser Wilhelm II. In fact, it was probably already known. To avoid long nights of anxiety and dreams, it was better to leave as soon as possible.
Oscar left the palace with only simple luggage. Naturally, he did not leave behind his most important asset: the royal passbook. Karl von Jonareit also chose to leave with him. Although Oscar's plan seemed audacious, Karl subconsciously believed that Oscar would succeed.
They went directly to Berlin. To earn sufficient funds, one must go to a major city. Berlin, the capital of the German Empire, was not only the political center but also the hub of finance, trade, and emerging industries.
The German royal family owned fiefs and various enterprises. These assets generated significant annual income. As a prince, Oscar was relatively low in succession and influence, but he still received a substantial yearly allowance. Over time, he had accumulated an impressive deposit. The number in his passbook was five million marks—his startup capital for the coming venture.
Upon arriving in Berlin, Oscar and Karl checked into a luxury hotel. Although expensive, the cost was negligible compared to the potential profits of Oscar's plan.
"Your Highness, what exactly are you planning? Earning at least forty million marks in four years is no small feat," Karl said, raising his concerns in the hotel room.
"Prince Oscar, have you truly made up your mind to pursue this? Failure could be disastrous. You know the consequences," Karl added, looking intently at Oscar.
"Of course I have," Oscar replied calmly. "Karl, if you are willing to work with me, then we will succeed. We will make a fortune and shake the entire German business community and high society."
Karl nodded without hesitation. Among the many princes of the palace, Oscar had always been unassuming and modest. This made Karl, who was of similar age, eager to assist and loyal to him. Their trust in each other was absolute.
"Alright, Karl. Here is my plan. Take a look." Oscar pulled several sheets of paper from his suitcase and handed them to Karl.
The plan was to establish a company called the German Welfare Lottery and generate profits through ticket sales.
At this time in Europe, lotteries were not new. Many countries sold lottery tickets, but the prizes were modest, and the systems were simplistic. While many people bought tickets, the market had not yet reached its potential.
Oscar's lottery would be modeled on the double-color ball game of later generations: thirty-three red balls and sixteen blue balls. Winning six red balls and one blue ball would yield the grand prize—up to five million marks.
The reasoning behind this system was clear. Large prizes combined with multiple smaller prizes created appeal for lottery buyers. For the public, this lottery would be enticing, exciting, and worth pursuing.
From his studies of the modern lottery system in later generations, Oscar was confident that a similar system in Germany would cause a frenzy. Once the German market was secured, he could expand throughout Europe, generating immense wealth before the outbreak of war.
It took Karl half an hour to read through the plan. Well-educated since childhood and sharp-minded, Karl analyzed the proposal thoroughly, speculating on its chances of success.
"Your Highness, I must admit this 'double-color ball' lottery is far superior to existing lotteries. Once launched, it will dominate the market," Karl said excitedly. "It's simple, enticing, and lucrative. People will flock to buy tickets."
Oscar smiled. "Karl, you really believe we can succeed?"
"Absolutely, Your Highness," Karl replied confidently. "Germany has over sixty million people. Millions will buy tickets. Even accounting for taxes and operational costs, the profits will be enormous."
Oscar nodded in satisfaction. Even if the lottery only earned one million marks per issue, with three issues per week, that would amount to 156 issues per year—at least 200 million marks annually. To fund a battleship, which cost tens of millions of marks, this income was more than sufficient. Multiple battleships could be financed from these profits alone.
Karl raised a concern. "Your Highness, once the lottery becomes popular, it may attract attention from other capitalists."
Even as a prince, Oscar had limited protection. Once the German Welfare Lottery became profitable, other businessmen could become jealous, attempting to seize his assets. Karl's warning was prudent.
Oscar nodded. "Exactly. Capital expansion and competition are ruthless. Once we generate sufficient profits, rivals will do everything to undermine us. That is why I must safeguard the lottery as our financial foundation. Many future ventures will rely on these funds; without them, everything else is meaningless."
There was no doubt in Oscar's mind: the double colour Ball lottery would succeed. The next challenge was not just selling tickets but protecting this goldmine from those who would covet it.
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