Wings of Ambition

The assassination attempt on Oscar seemed to have faded into obscurity. With Crown Prince William placed under house arrest, no one dared to discuss the incident anymore, as though it had been quietly erased from the collective consciousness. But for Oscar, the memory was fresh and raw. Confined to the hospital, the gunshot wound was a constant reminder of how close he had come to death. Recovery would take months, with the risk of infection always looming. It was a precarious state, both physically and politically.

However, Oscar was not one to waste time. His hospital stay became a period of intense planning. The events had not shaken his resolve; instead, they had crystallized his focus. Industrial development and technological advancements were paramount, and he pushed these agendas forward with relentless determination.

Carl von Jonareit entered Oscar's hospital room carrying a stack of reports. "Your Highness, I've scheduled a meeting with Mr. Gustav Lilienthal for tomorrow afternoon. Additionally, our representatives in the United States have established contact with the Wright brothers. They seem intrigued by the prospect of funding, but they remain hesitant to leave the United States."

Carl had undergone his own transformation. Formerly the general manager of the Deutsche Welfare Lottery, he was now Oscar's secretary—a position of trust and influence. Despite his continued investments in the lottery, his ambitions had shifted. Inspired by his father, Essen von Jonareit, Carl aspired to serve as the royal family's steward, a role that wielded immense behind-the-scenes power.

Carl, like many others, believed in Oscar's potential to ascend the throne. The general sentiment among military and government officials was that Crown Prince William's future was bleak. Oscar, despite being lower in the line of succession, was viewed as the most capable and promising candidate.

Oscar nodded as Carl explained the situation. "Keep negotiating with the Wright brothers," Oscar said. "If necessary, improve the terms. I want them in Germany next year to carry out their research."

Carl hesitated. "Your Highness, is their work truly worth this level of effort? It's still in its infancy and hasn't proven its significance."

Oscar's expression grew intense. "Their invention will change the world, Carl. Airplanes will revolutionize not only transportation but warfare. In the wars of the future, control of the skies will determine the victor. Germany must lead this charge. This is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss."

Carl nodded solemnly, sensing the gravity of Oscar's words. Yet, he couldn't ignore the subtle shift in the prince's demeanor since the assassination attempt. Where Oscar had once been more cautious and diplomatic, there was now a sharp edge of ruthlessness beneath his composed exterior.

"If they refuse," Oscar continued, his tone darkening, "use whatever means are necessary. If that includes silencing them, so be it."

Carl stiffened, but he managed a nod. The cold pragmatism in Oscar's voice unsettled him, but he understood the stakes.

Shifting topics, Oscar said, "Ensure Mr. Gustav Lilienthal has everything he needs for his research. If the Wright brothers agree to come, they can work under Lilienthal's project. I trust Gustav more than foreign talents."

Many people may be unfamiliar with Gustav Lilienthal. However, his elder brother Otto Lilienthal was famous.

Otto Lilienthal was a German engineer and gliding pilot, one of the world's aviation pioneers. He was the first to design and manufacture a practical glider, known as the "Father of Gliders." In the three years from 1893 to 1896, Lilienthal conducted more than two thousand gliding flight tests, improved the overall layout three times, took many photos during the gliding, accumulated a large amount of data, and compiled the "Air Pressure Data Sheet," which provided valuable information to aircraft manufacturers in the United States, Britain, France, and other countries. In 1894, he controlled a glider to glide down a 50-meter-high mountain slope, flew 350 meters, and reached 1,000 meters at the farthest time. Lilienthal's name spread like wildfire with the reports of the press and spread all over the world. People gave him the nickname "Batman."

On August 9, 1896, Lilienthal took off from a hillside near Stullen, Germany, with his glider. With a strong wind, he soared to a high altitude. Lilienthal was very excited, but he didn't know that the glider had reached the verge of stalling due to the high angle of attack. Just as he was trying to try a new method of control, the "two-winged bat" suddenly plunged headlong and fell to the ground. The glider crashed. Lilienthal was also fatally wounded—a fractured vertebrae. People rushed him to the hospital. On the way, the dying Lilienthal uttered his last words to his loyal collaborator and younger brother Gustav: "Someone has to sacrifice..." A generation of "Batman" passed away peacefully at the age of 48.

After Otto Lilienthal passed away, Gustav Lilienthal inherited his behest and continued to conduct research on flight. And Oscar also planned to fully support their research from now on. If you add the Wright Brothers in the United States, Germany would be able to rank among the top in the world in this field.

At that time, the research on aircraft in the military field would be carried out again, allowing Germany to maintain the world's leading level in this field and even play a greater role in future wars.