Chapter 84: What Should Have Come, Did Not

“What did you say?” Akado froze in shock, so stunned that he didn’t even notice the document in his hand fall to the floor.

“General, please accept my condolences,” Anna said, lowering her head and speaking in a sorrowful voice.

“Didn’t I tell you to send people to take good care of him? How could it be so fast?” Akado stared at Anna with a frown.

“The people we sent really did their best! We found the best doctors,” Anna said, letting out a soft sob before continuing, “But he has been constantly worrying about ‘Plan Number Four’ recently. Overwork caused his condition to worsen…”

“Say no more!” Akado waved his hand, cutting off Anna’s report. “You may leave! Let me be alone for a moment.”

Akado couldn’t help but be sad, couldn’t help but grieve. His loyal supporter, Mr. Karl Benz, who had always guided and supported him like an elder, had passed away. This old man had dedicated his entire life to the German motor vehicle industry and had given his connections and his funds to the young man he was most optimistic about, Akado.

Akado felt extremely powerless. He had tried his best to prevent Karl’s death, but Mr. Benz had still fallen in the spring of 1929. He had given Karl Benz greater power, more suggestions, and better medical conditions, but he had also made Karl Benz more exhausted, more worried, and more aged.

At this moment, a sad thought occurred to him: could it be that his efforts to strengthen the German Reichswehr would still fall short at the last moment?

“Anna! Make arrangements for me. I want to personally handle Mr. Benz’s funeral. Also, help me contact a Mr. Robert Adams. I will appoint him as the new head of the Mercedes-Benz company,” Akado said, calling for his assistant Anna. “Give Mr. Benz’s family 5% of the Mercedes-Benz company’s shares to ensure they live without worry for food and clothing! Understood?”

“Yes, General! Please take care of your health! The German people still need you!” Anna said with a German salute.

“I know. You may go,” Akado said with a wave of his hand.

“General! Four people from the United German Chamber of Commerce are requesting a meeting with you. They want to know when ‘Operation Sewing Needle’ will finally see a return,” Cindra said, walking in with a large stack of documents. She placed the documents on the table as she spoke.

“A bunch of bastards who only know about money! Mr. Karl Benz has just closed his eyes! Couldn’t they choose a more appropriate time to come? Get out! Tell them all to get out for me!” Akado roared, pounding the table. Cindra saw that this man, who had always strengthened the Reichswehr while talking and laughing, had a glistening tear fall from the corner of his eye.

“Yes, General,” Cindra said, turning to walk out.

“Wait a moment!” Akado suddenly said. “Tell them to be at ease! After I have handled Mr. Karl Benz’s funeral, I will convene a meeting regarding ‘Operation Sewing Needle’.” His voice had already returned to calm. This brief loss of composure was seen only by Cindra.

“Understood, General!” Cindra said, standing at attention. “I know how to handle it! Please rest assured.”

For some reason, at this moment, a small bit of warmth stirred deep in Cindra’s heart. A superior who could cry for his subordinates seemed quite nice, didn’t he? It was only at this moment that she saw Akado as a person, and not just a high and mighty symbol.

“I’m sorry. I… I shouldn’t have lost my temper with you,” Akado said after some thought.

“It’s alright,” Cindra was taken aback for a moment, then accepted the apology with great frankness. “I am also saddened by Mr. Karl Benz’s passing. Please accept my condolences.”

…

The sky was filled with gloom. Akado, wearing his military uniform, walked at the very front of the funeral procession. Behind him followed almost all the key members of the Greater Germany Party. Just the members of parliament numbered over a hundred, and the dozen or so representatives from the Reichswehr were all generals or colonels.

The crowd quietly watched the coffin being lowered into the soil, quietly watched the tombstone being erected, quietly waiting for the eulogy that Akado had personally arranged for the funeral.

Akado bowed to the tombstone… once, twice, three times. No one knew what this special etiquette really meant.

Before anyone could think too much, Akado began to speak. “Thank you all for coming to attend Mr. Karl Benz’s funeral.”

He looked around at the vast sea of black-clad people and continued his speech, “He could be said to be my elder. In terms of age, he could even be my grandfather. But more than that, he taught me the principles of how to do things. A long, long time ago, he was already striving for the prosperity and strength of Germany! He also deeply loved this country! Compared to those self-righteous fellows, he was the true patriot! The contributions he made to this country are more than those of any of us present! He rushed about his entire life for the strength of Germany! Germany needs people like this! The Greater Germany Party needs people like this!”

“I want to become a person like him! To exchange my own life for the future of the German people! To let the German people no longer suffer oppression, to let the German nation stand among the world’s great powers! Long live the Greater Germany Party! Long live the Great German People! Victory—hail!” He gave a solemn German salute to Karl Benz’s tombstone.

Everyone stood at attention. The clicking of their leather boots made a neat sound. Right arms, like a forest, were raised high. “Long live the Greater Germany Party! Long live the Great German People! Victory—hail!”

Rest in peace, Karl Benz. I will fulfill your wish! I will lead the Greater Germany Party and the German people onward! Towards victory! I will use my everything to complete our shared dream! Akado thought to himself, looking at the fanatical crowd before him.

…

That night, some business representatives rushed to the headquarters of the Greater Germany Party, which was a new office building called the “Comet” at the end of Wilhelmstrasse. They were impatient to know if the so-called “Operation Sewing Needle,” which had hoarded a large amount of cash, could really achieve the profits they had anticipated.

And the purpose of these people coming was to participate in an emergency economic conference held within the Greater Germany Party. The core topic of discussion at this conference was whether the “Operation Sewing Needle” plan, drafted by the party a few years ago, could be smoothly implemented.

The moment the meeting began, the scene descended into chaos. Everyone…

“Mr. Chairman, when you had us execute ‘Operation Sewing Needle,’ we had an agreement from the start! Although we trust your and Mr. Krupp’s vision, the opportunity you predicted that would require a large amount of cash to manipulate has not arrived! Our large sum of capital has seen no return. Our losses are very great!” a bald merchant said, standing up.

“General Akado, I think everyone knows that the funds we have accumulated are already enormous. The interest on these funds over these years would be enough to make many people rich overnight. But the price we have paid for this is also enormous. Many companies have missed opportunities for development and expansion! If you cannot give us a reasonable explanation, I will not be able to answer to the board of directors of my company,” another middle-aged man in a grey suit also said, full of complaints.

“Mr. Krupp! You were the initiator of this fundraising plan. You have to say something, right? I heard that the funds you have tied up in this are at least 3 billion. I imagine you are not having an easy time sitting on this huge sum either?” a merchant whose face could not be seen clearly said from a distance.

The moment his voice fell, another person shouted, “That’s right! Mr. Krupp, I heard that to support General Akado, you even mortgaged your own mountain villa to the bank. Doesn’t he even give you an explanation?”

“Mr. Jellinek Cassia! Say something!” one person pleaded, his voice carrying far.

Another person leaned in close to Merkel. “Merkel, you are closest to the Chairman. Do you have any news?”

“Either you continue to argue, or you shut up and listen to me say a few words,” Akado said softly. Two seconds later, the huge conference hall fell silent. Everyone looked at Akado, who had only said one sentence from his seat.

“If you feel dissatisfied, you can take your funds and leave! I will even pay you interest,” Akado said, his eyes narrowing. “Go over there and register your company and account! I will return the money to you. Will those who have left their names and accounts please leave!”

No one moved. At a time like this, who would dare to be the first to move? Wouldn’t that just be asking for trouble? The Greater Germany Party might not retaliate against everyone who left, but the first one to take the lead would definitely not have a good ending! Everyone present was an old hand who had been in the business world for many years. They naturally could see that this was not the time to stick one’s own neck out.

And so, those who had been shouting the loudest were now silent. Everyone looked at each other, but no one went to leave their name.

“Since no one is willing to withdraw, then there is no need to hold this meeting, is there?” Merkel looked at the group of cowards and sneered. “The same words still stand. you can withdraw from this plan at any time! Does anyone have any other questions?”

“Since there are no more problems, then please, everyone, go back!” Krupp also stood up and said, “Meeting adjourned!”

The businessmen left, very dissatisfied, but still, no one dared to voice their objections to their faces. They just silently calculated in their hearts how they should get their money back.

“Akado! This is not a long-term solution!” Krupp said, wiping the sweat from his forehead after seeing that there were no more outsiders in the room. He looked somewhat frightened. “If the opportunity we spoke of does not arrive soon, these people will be uncontrollable.”

Akado no longer had his usual confidence in his heart. Because of the early discovery of the Middle Eastern oil fields, and the booming development of the arms business, the timing of the world financial crisis had changed. This made Akado unsure if this crisis would still come at all.

“Let’s wait a few more months and see,” Akado said, leaning back in his chair as if completely exhausted. He covered his forehead with his hand. “Send people to keep a close eye on these men. Their phones are also to be monitored twenty-four hours a day! I don’t want anyone else to know about this plan!”