“Your Highness, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.”
Edison felt a wave of relief and hurried forward to shake Archduke Karl’s hand, a grateful smile squeezed onto his face.
From this moment, a new cooperation contract formally entered the drafting stage.
And Archduke Karl felt as if he had just accomplished a great feat, like facilitating world peace.
To catch the thief who had pirated his films, he had crossed the Atlantic from ten thousand miles away.
In the process, he had lightly tickled the sensitive spots of these inferior yet conceited Americans, reaping unexpected prestige.
He had met the proud genius Tesla and reached a peace agreement with the thief without the arbitration of the Federal Supreme Court.
Good, everything was going smoothly.
The final agreement was that Edison promised to cough up all the money he had previously earned from illegal copying.
Simultaneously, both parties signed a long-term distribution contract: “Karl & Otto Pictures” would serve as the content provider, while Edison’s companies would be responsible for the distribution, screening, and subsequent merchandise sales of the films within the United States, with profits split according to an agreed-upon ratio.
Although Edison had bowed his head to beg for this contract, Archduke Karl was not overly harsh in the distribution of interests; he only took a slightly larger share, which was still relatively fair.
After all, for a business relationship to be long-lasting and stable, the partner must also be allowed to profit.
If the other party is pushed to the point of no profit or even loss, they will lose motivation, which will eventually lead to worse results.
As long as the benefits were sufficient, with Edison’s character and ability, he would naturally spare no effort to maintain this common interest, even taking the initiative to crack down on other pirates to protect the market for Archduke Karl.
Oh boy, it seems that after returning, I’ll have to work hard on movies.
I need to try incorporating more new techniques and start combining the phonograph with the visuals, adding sound or soundtracks.
Since the phonograph is Edison’s invention, the synergy in this regard should be significant.
But I can’t be complacent.
The various techniques of filmmaking will eventually be learned and caught up with by latecomers; only by constantly innovating and maintaining a lead can one stand firm and not be swallowed up in the upcoming tide of the film industry.
Even so, this is the American market beginning to take shape; it should generate a considerable amount of capital, providing valuable cash flow for future plans.
Otherwise, the shrewd Edison wouldn’t have been so obsessed with those few films in the first place.
The money earned can be used to make some long-term investments in the United States to lay a foundation.
Archduke Karl calculated that before long, the Spanish-American War would break out.
At that time, whether investing in related military industries or purchasing war bonds issued by the U.S.
government, both should be good choices.
This country rose rapidly by “sucking blood” through successive wars and trade expansions; he was merely inserting a straw in advance to get a taste of the sweetness.
America truly is a land of opportunity.
At least in this era, it still shows everyone the illusion and possibility of the so-called “American Dream.”
And then—
“Ha!”
Having finished all this, and finally having a bit of leisure before returning home, Archduke Karl sat on the balcony of the legation, leisurely sipping a colorless beverage with a strange sweetness and a spicy, stimulating kick.
That’s right, it was Sprite.
Although there was still some difference from the taste in his twenty-first-century memory—the syrupy feeling was heavier—that familiar bubbly sensation hitting the throat was still nostalgic.
Since transmigrating, Archduke Karl had developed a psychological shadow regarding Coca-Cola and only wanted to stay away from it, so he had tinkered around and created Sprite.
And carbonated drinks, things that bring simple pleasure, would be a loss to life if not enjoyed and promoted to the fullest.
Such a wonderful drink should be brought to more people to taste.
However, for now, the Coca-Cola Company had already established sales networks across the United States, and its brand value was beginning to show; the cost of acquisition or taking a stake would naturally be high.
In short, it would cost a lot of money, and the results might be half the effort for twice the cost.
But how could Archduke Karl be willing to be a sucker or make a dress for others for free?
So, he decided to wait patiently.
According to his vague memory, it seemed that in a few months, the company named “Pepsi-Cola” would be born.
That might be a better time to intervene.
Some might mock him for choosing the “newcomer” over the “authentic” one, but Archduke Karl always liked to use the minimum cost to leverage the maximum gain, enjoying the pleasure of nurturing something from scratch.
Before Pepsi-Cola appeared, he would first use movies and other businesses to accumulate capital and build a network of contacts.
As soon as that company was founded, he would immediately look for opportunities to invest and secure enough shares to influence decision-making.
Then, relying on his memories of the future, he would try to recreate a formula closer to the twenty-first-century taste and promote Sprite to Europe and even the whole world.
Perhaps some Coke fundamentalists would foam at the mouth because he didn’t use Coca-Cola and insisted on choosing this “heretical cola.”
But as long as he could take the lead in spreading Sprite across the European market and shape it into the new orthodoxy and trend, wouldn’t that be enough?
“From now on, you’ll be called Cola!”
Archduke Karl thought mischievously that in this life, perhaps transparent cola would rule the world.
With that, his main affairs in the United States had come to an end.
He could no longer use “handling commercial disputes” as an excuse to continue staying overseas. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
It was time to return to Vienna, to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
“Your Highness, this trip to America is truly admirable.
Your strategy and bearing far exceed my imagination.”
Tressler, who had once harbored doubts about some of Archduke Karl’s decisions, had completely changed his attitude by the time they boarded the ocean liner leaving New York Harbor for Europe, becoming a loyal subordinate with a glimmer of admiration in his eyes.
“After we return, we must work even harder.
In the film industry, competition will only get more intense.”
“Please give your orders, Your Highness!
I will fight with the team until our bodies are crushed!”
Before latecomers could imitate and catch up, they had to use their current lead to expand and consolidate the market as much as possible.
Archduke Karl was responsible for conceiving scripts, techniques, sound, and other elements, while Tressler traveled around with the equipment and actor teams to implement the ideas.
Combined with the other matters Archduke Karl had already planned—military observation, technical investment, and maintaining court relations—the future would inevitably be incredibly busy.
For a long time to come, he probably wouldn’t have the thought of traveling far to America again.
If there were truly such leisure, it would likely be when the empire had already collapsed or had just regained stability from turmoil.
Standing on the deck of the ship, Archduke Karl watched the shrinking silhouette of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, repeatedly mulling over the gains, losses, and memories of this trip to America.
After crossing the long and tedious Atlantic sea route, the ocean liner finally arrived at the Port of Hamburg in the German Empire—
On the pier, several well-dressed, serious-looking middle-aged men stepped forward and bowed deeply to Archduke Karl and his party as they disembarked.
“By His Majesty’s decree, we are waiting here.
It is a great honor to have an audience with Archduke Karl.”
The accompanying Austrian veteran Guards immediately became alert, their hands instinctively moving toward their waists.
These people knew His Highness?
Were they from the court?
The leader looked up and said respectfully:
“His Majesty summons Your Highness; please proceed to Vienna immediately.”
Ah, as expected, I’ve been found out after all.
Did I play a bit too ostentatiously in America?