No Hesitation—Time to Strike Hard!"

But how could this situation become an opportunity for Bismarck? This required careful consideration: 

As the eldest princess of the British Empire and the wife of Frederick, who clearly leaned toward liberalism, Victoria's political stance was evident. It was destined that Victoria could never truly be Bismarck's ally. At most, they could maintain a surface-level cordial relationship without outright breaking ties. 

However, Bismarck's true intentions lay elsewhere—on the young prince. 

To the average person, this may seem like an incomprehensible strategy. After all, in the present, the newborn prince could not possibly exert any real influence on Prussian politics, whether in historical reality or this timeline. 

But Bismarck was not someone who focused solely on the present. His vision extended far into the future. 

Since Frederick William IV was childless and nearing the end of his days, it wouldn't be long before Prince William, the current Regent, ascended the throne as the future King of Prussia. This future king had only one grandson—this young prince—who was destined to become Prussia's next crown prince. If Bismarck could establish a connection with the child early and involve himself in his upbringing, it would undoubtedly benefit his own political future. 

Bismarck's plan was the epitome of "casting a long line to catch a big fish." 

In fact, from the perspective of 1859, Bismarck likely didn't expect this line to be overly long. The Regent, Prince William, was already over 60 years old. Based on the "historical patterns" of the Hohenzollern family, the future King William would probably pass away within a decade or so. By then, the young prince would become the Crown Prince of Prussia. With age, he would play an increasingly significant role in Prussian politics. Within another decade, this prince would likely be a pivotal political force. If Bismarck could align himself with the prince, he would gain a powerful ally within 20 years—just in time for his prime at 60, with accumulated experience and stature to dominate the political arena. 

Even in the present, this resource could already have an impact. Bismarck knew William, the Regent, well enough to predict that the patriarch of the Hohenzollern family would not ignore his grandson's education. It was certain that the Regent's vision for the prince's upbringing would clash with that of Frederick and Victoria. When this happened, the Regent would undoubtedly seek to expand his influence on the child. And who better to assist than a certain man named Bismarck? 

Thus, Bismarck appeared here. Unlike a typical visit to a household celebrating a newborn, Bismarck's focus extended beyond Victoria to the little prince himself. 

Although an infant might not retain a vivid memory of this meeting, the faint impression left during childhood could subtly influence their development and foster a future closeness to Bismarck. 

After some pleasantries with Victoria, Bismarck turned his attention to the baby, engaging him with playful words. 

It was the usual tricks for entertaining children, not much different from those used worldwide. However, Bismarck's approach displayed remarkable finesse. Even Smith, who could already surmise Bismarck's true motives, found his performance in person difficult to dislike. 

Such was Bismarck's personal charm and theatrical skill. 

This encounter also offered Smith an unprecedentedly close view of the man destined to become the "Iron Chancellor." 

Had Smith known nothing of Bismarck's history, he might have mistaken the middle-aged man before him for a kind and trustworthy uncle. 

After all, who would imagine that the seemingly benevolent and genuine man had, in his youth, been a reckless aristocrat indulging in vice and prone to dueling at the slightest provocation? Who would suspect that this same man was a master of political intrigue and manipulation, destined to refine his craft to near perfection in the years to come? 

The stark contrast between these personas fascinated Smith. Was Bismarck, after all, one person—or many within one form? 

Smith gazed intently at Bismarck's features, hoping to glean some clue from the lines of his face, the wrinkles around his eyes, or his subtle expressions. Each glance deepened his realization: the true Bismarck was far more complex than the simplified accounts of history or caricatured narratives suggested. Only by stripping away the layers of labels and symbols could one glimpse the flesh-and-blood reality of this man. 

And now, this flesh-and-blood Bismarck stood just an arm's length away. If Smith stretched out his hand, he could touch the Chancellor's thick mustache. 

Without hesitation, Smith reached out and stroked Bismarck's mustache. 

It felt unexpectedly smooth and soft, with none of the scratchiness or discomfort one might anticipate. On the contrary, it was reminiscent of the texture of a doll's hair. Through the dense whiskers, Smith could even sense the warmth of Bismarck's skin, a reminder of the man's living, breathing presence. 

"How many people in history could claim to have touched Bismarck's mustache?" Smith mused mischievously. "If I plucked one of his whiskers, how would he react?" The thought amused him, and a sly smile crossed his face as he prepared to act on it. 

Before Smith could proceed, his adoptive mother, Victoria, broke the moment with a courteous remark to Bismarck: 

"You see? He likes you!" 

"Perhaps you should hold him," she added graciously. 

"It would be my honor!" 

Bismarck replied with a respectful bow before swiftly and adeptly lifting Smith into his arms. The suddenness caught Smith off guard, yet the Chancellor's hold was so precise and gentle that it felt almost professional—like being cradled by a seasoned caretaker. This display of strength and control underscored Bismarck's extraordinary physical prowess. 

"Impressive!" Smith marveled. Then again, it made sense. During his university days, Bismarck had been a famed duelist, undefeated in over twenty encounters, emerging unscathed in all but one. Such skill and reflexes were no coincidence. 

Glancing at a nearby mirror, Smith caught sight of himself, small and fragile in Bismarck's powerful embrace. The reflection emphasized the Chancellor's towering figure. 

And yet, despite his imposing stature, Bismarck's voice was strikingly high-pitched. The contrast puzzled Smith. Being held so closely, he became even more attuned to the sharp timbre of Bismarck's voice. In debate, this tone could deliver devastating thrusts like a duelist's rapier. 

But this was no debate. Here, Bismarck wielded his words to lavish praise upon the new member of the Hohenzollern family. The sharpness of his voice softened into an innocuous emphasis, transformed into a form of verbal artistry. 

Bismarck's visit, of course, was not without gifts. As a seasoned politician, he knew that tangible presents mattered. However, lavishing precious metals or jewels on a prince of the Hohenzollerns—a family already steeped in wealth—would have been gauche. Instead, Bismarck opted for cultural sophistication: a limited-edition copy of *Grimm's Fairy Tales,* exquisitely printed and bound, bearing the personal signatures of the Brothers Grimm. 

Victoria expressed her gratitude with impeccable poise, and even Smith smiled warmly at Bismarck, adding his own silent approval. At this point, by all conventional storytelling tropes, the visit should have concluded—a brief yet memorable interlude in Smith's otherwise uneventful early years. 

But history, as always, had other plans. 

This shouldn't have been a question. 

When Smith was handed over to the palace servant, he had thought it was a definitive statement. Yet, at the very moment he was handed over, whether it was some kind of sixth sense or something else entirely, Smith detected a faint whiff of danger. This feeling came out of nowhere but was undeniably real. 

Smith didn't understand what was going on. As a newborn not even a month old, he had no way to articulate himself, so all he could do was cry and struggle. However, such actions only appeared to be the typical tantrums of an infant. 

Victoria didn't take it to heart. It's said that mothers and children are emotionally connected, but perhaps because Smith was a transmigrator, Victoria failed to sense anything unusual. She continued to exchange pleasantries with Bismarck, smiling warmly as she said: 

"It seems little Willie is protesting. This child doesn't want to leave my side for even a moment. But since you're here today, it would be most impolite of me not to see you off properly!" 

Bismarck didn't notice anything out of the ordinary either. Hearing Smith's earth-shaking cries, he remarked to Victoria: 

"You are such a charming mother. It's only natural for the child to be reluctant to part from you!" 

Before he could finish, Smith's cries suddenly hitched for a brief moment before becoming even louder and more piercing. 

Both Victoria and Bismarck froze. This was definitely not normal. No matter how carefree Victoria's demeanor might usually be, she couldn't ignore the strangeness of the situation. Her expression immediately changed as she swiftly said to Bismarck: 

"I'm so sorry, but I can only see you off up to this point!" 

As she spoke, Victoria turned and strode back into the house. 

Bismarck, no ordinary man, was not about to take his leave so easily. As an ambitious Junker with military training and extensive experience in dueling, he had no reason to depart at this moment. Besides, he, too, was beginning to sense a faint trace of danger. 

Without hesitation, he followed Victoria, striding toward the door while quickly replying: 

"A true gentleman never leaves when a lady is in need of assistance!" 

In just a few steps, the two of them reached the door. Without waiting for the servants outside to open it, Bismarck grabbed the door handle and flung it open. 

Victoria, seeing the door swing wide, dashed into the room in a single leap, with Bismarck close behind her. 

What met their eyes was a bizarre scene: 

The palace servant was holding Smith's left arm in a strange manner—an unnatural grip that was definitely not how one would normally hold a baby. It was as if he was trying to tear the child's arm clean off! 

"Michel! What are you doing?!" 

Victoria was shocked and furious, momentarily frozen in place. All she could do was shout, trying to stop this servant named Michel. 

But the agile and battle-hardened Bismarck wasted no time. Without a word, he closed the distance in two quick steps, raising his fist and delivering a powerful punch to the servant's face. The blow sent the palace servant reeling backward, collapsing unconscious to the floor. 

Seizing the moment, the nimble Bismarck scooped Smith into his arms and quickly stepped over to Victoria, returning the child to the astonished mother. 

Victoria was still in a state of shock. The events that had just unfolded seemed to flash by like a series of rapid-fire images, leaving her overwhelmed. She looked at the baby, then at the unconscious servant on the ground, and finally at Bismarck, utterly stunned and speechless. 

"The situation was critical…" 

Bismarck, having already composed himself, spoke with his usual polite and slightly apologetic tone: 

"I couldn't hesitate—it had to be a decisive punch!"