Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Tesla
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"What? Someone's at Schloss Friedrichshof right now?"
I asked into the receiver in a dazed voice.
After the demonstration ended, I'd returned to the New Palace in Potsdam feeling relieved when a phone call came in.
It was a call for Princess Margarete, who had recently moved into Schloss Friedrichshof with her family.
At first, I thought something major had happened again.
If Princess Margarete just wanted to check on me, she would've sent a letter. There was no rush, so she wouldn't bother with a phone call.
But what came out of Princess Margarete's mouth was so shocking it easily surpassed my wildest imagination.
-He says his name is Nikola Tesla. He seems a bit odd in the head... Hans, is this really the person you invited to Germany?
"Ahaha..."
A hollow laugh escaped me involuntarily.
Tesla.
Nikola Tesla, of all people.
'Why the hell is this guy popping up at Schloss Friedrichshof?!'
I'd been wondering where he was and what he was doing since he hadn't replied to a single letter. I never imagined he'd sneak up on me like this.
This was beyond ridiculous.
I shook my head and said to Princess Margarete,
"Yes, that's him, Your Highness. I'm sorry to ask this of you, but could you let him stay at the estate for a bit? I'll head straight to Friedrichshof tomorrow."
I made the request to Princess Margarete and hung up the receiver.
For some reason, I felt more drained than after the demonstration.
"Nikola Tesla..."
He was definitely an eccentric, through and through.
I never dreamed he'd cross the Atlantic right after getting my letter and rush straight to Germany.
It was terrifyingly decisive action.
But at the same time, it meant Tesla was deeply interested in my proposal to develop radio—which was great news for me.
'With Reginald Fessenden out of reach across the ocean, I need to lock down Tesla for sure.'
Of course, these two weren't the only pioneers in radio.
Right there in Italy was Guglielmo Marconi, who'd commercialized wireless telegraphy.
But he already had his own thriving business, Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company, so there was no reason for him to accept my offer. Plus, he was the type who'd be harder to handle than Tesla.
In that sense, Tesla was far better.
He was an eccentric, sure—but a pure scientist and inventor at heart.
"Guess I'll have to prepare for another trip."
I muttered to myself, filled with anticipation for Tesla.
"It's been a while, Hans."
"How have you been, Your Highness?"
Two days later.
I arrived at Schloss Friedrichshof after a long absence and exchanged warm greetings with Princess Margarete, whom I hadn't seen in a while.
"Is Mr. Tesla inside the estate?"
"Yes, in the drawing room."
Princess Margarete said.
"He's quiet, but strange. I have to wonder if he's really that famous scientist from America?"
"The smarter someone is, the more twisted their personality tends to get."
"Ah, so that's why you..."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing, dear."
Princess Margarete covered her mouth, chuckling, and led me into the estate.
Schloss Friedrichshof hadn't changed at all since the Victoria Dowager Empress's time.
Honestly, it was still hard to believe this massive place was mine.
"Baron Hans von Choi?"
As soon as I entered the drawing room, an unfamiliar man stood up and addressed me directly.
"Nikola Tesla."
Father of交流.
Unlucky genius.
And the original mad scientist, an eccentric among eccentrics.
"At last, I get to meet the genius of the century."
Tesla's face was exactly like the photos from my past life—and strikingly handsome for a middle-aged man.
The rumors that even rivals like Edison were jealous of his looks must have been true.
Tesla himself had zero interest in romance or marriage, despite all the female attention, though.
"I am definitely a genius."
"Ha, haha..."
And his personality was definitely odd.
Anyway, we shook hands and sat on the sofa to talk in detail.
"I never expected we'd meet like this. At least a reply would've been nice."
"Time is finite. Isn't it more efficient to meet in person than drag it out with letters for months?"
"Haha, I'll take that to mean you're very interested in my proposal."
I handed Tesla the prepared proposal.
"I'm very interested in wireless communication technology, which is starting to get attention lately. The kind that carries voices or music on radio waves and delivers them in real-time to distant places."
"Yes, you mentioned that in your letter."
"It sounds like a pipe dream, but I don't think it's impossible. In fact, related technologies are already emerging."
Reginald Fessenden, who turned down my offer, would succeed in long-distance voice transmission on December 23rd—just days from now.
That meant voice-over-radio technology was essentially already developed.
"What I'm aiming for first is a receiver for one-way communication. For convenience, let's call it a 'radio.'"
"Radio..."
"Yes. Think about it, Mr. Tesla. Until now, to get outside news, you had to hear it from others or read the papers."
Which made it nearly impossible to get instant news from far away on the day it happened.
"But with radio, people could sit in their easy chairs and receive news or weather reports in real-time."
And that was just the start. Its political and military value was limitless.
That was why I was so desperate to claim radio first.
Early to mid-20th century, radio's influence rivaled television and smartphones.
"And that's where I come in to help develop it."
"Since you're a pioneer in wireless tech, Mr. Tesla. You developed wireless telegraphy before that Marconi, didn't you?"
"Ahem, yes, that's true. You know your stuff."
Tesla's mouth twitched, pleased at my acknowledgment.
It wasn't a lie, after all.
As always, Tesla had developed the tech first but lost the patents—and the money.
"So, Mr. Tesla, why not collaborate with me on radio development?"
"Hmm... I'd love to accept your offer, Baron, but there's a problem."
"A problem?"
"I'm already working on a project in America. Funded by JP Morgan."
'JP Morgan? Don't tell me...'
One thing popped into my head.
I said its name to Tesla.
"You're talking about the Wardenclyffe Tower."
Wardenclyffe Tower.
The experimental wireless facility Nikola Tesla built with JP Morgan's backing, aimed at the whole world.
Tesla had tried to use it for a global wireless system and wireless power transmission.
But Wardenclyffe became Tesla's great black mark.
Disappointing results led JP Morgan to cut funding ruthlessly.
Already struggling financially, Tesla abandoned construction, left with massive debt.
The shock of his life's work failing over mere 'money' drove him to a nervous breakdown.
'And Tesla's money troubles weren't just once or twice.'
That's why he's called the unlucky genius.
He lost patents he'd invented first, too broke for lawsuits—even that.
Tesla lived under financial pressure his whole life.
Though he did blow money recklessly on research and inventions.
In every way, his life was the opposite of his rival Edison's.
Anyway, I couldn't let Tesla go.
I gazed steadily at him and spoke.
"But I hear the Wardenclyffe project is already stalled due to budget shortages?"
"!"
"And JP Morgan refused your request for more funding."
"What? How do you know that?!"
"I don't know everything. Just what I know."
I continued.
"Mr. Tesla, forgive me, but Wardenclyffe has no future."
"But..."
"And you know that, which is why you came all the way to Germany to see me."
"......"
"I understand what Wardenclyffe means to you. It must feel unjust. Pouring your heart into a massive project, only to abandon it after a year over 'money.'"
"Haa... You're right, Baron."
Tesla sighed, admitting it.
With a defeated look, he slowly spoke.
"Budget shortages are bad enough, but that damned pasta-eater Marconi succeeded in transatlantic communication, stealing my thunder. My finances aren't great either."
"And JP Morgan won't invest more."
"A panic hit America recently over a railroad dispute."
'The Panic of 1901.'
Triggered by a fight between EH Harriman of Union Pacific and JP Morgan of Great Northern for Northern Pacific control.
"That's when I got your letter. I agonized over it. Maybe starting fresh in Germany was better than chasing Wardenclyffe under money and investor pressure."
And so he crossed the ocean to Germany.
"But I can't just quit the project first. JP Morgan would sue me for fraud!"
That JP Morgan would absolutely do it.
"But if you stay, Morgan will cut you off soon anyway. He'll demand his money back. You'll be left with a rusting iron tower and huge debts."
"Th-that..."
Just like in original history.
"No need to worry, Mr. Tesla."
"Baron?"
But with me here, I wouldn't let that happen.
"I'll solve this problem for you."
"Really?"
I nodded with a smile.
Time to draw up the contract.
A few weeks later.
A group of suspicious men appeared in Shoreham, Long Island, where Wardenclyffe Tower stood.
"That's the iron tower we're after."
The leader pointed at Wardenclyffe Tower, and his men nodded.
"Boss, do we really have to wear these ridiculous outfits?"
"Orders from above. Apparently, it's the uniform of a notorious radical group operating in America."
"This?"
The subordinate eyed the prepared 'disguises' skeptically and shook his head.
Yankees were insane, no matter how you sliced it.
"Time."
At the leader's word, the men grabbed rifles, pistols, and German TNT.
They approached Wardenclyffe Tower cautiously.
Close up, workers were gathered in small groups for construction.
"Remember, no harming civilians."
The leader gave his men a final glance.
"And no German."
Bang—!
A gunshot rang out.
"Urk?!"
"Wh-what?!"
"Nobody move!"
As workers panicked at the sudden shot, the armed leader and his men stormed the site, guns trained.
They all wore white conical hoods over their faces.
"It's the Ku Klux Klan! We'll purify this devil's tower now!"
A few days later.
Shocking headlines spread across America: the infamous white supremacist group KKK had dynamited Wardenclyffe Tower in their bizarre hooded attire.
As a bonus, owner Nikola Tesla, shattered by the event, abandoned the project and left for Germany to recuperate.