The Rise of German empire

The next morning, as the first light of dawn crept over Berlin, Oscar and Karl were already deep in conversation, their minds set on the enormous task ahead. The excitement and weight of their plan hung in the air, but they both knew that the path to success was fraught with risks. The foundation for their venture had been laid, and now it was time to fortify their strategy.

"Carl, the problem of protecting our venture from competitors and external threats can be easily solved," Oscar said, breaking the silence with a confident tone.

Carl turned his head, curious. "How do you mean, Your Highness? What do you suggest?"

Oscar smiled, his eyes gleaming with a sharp intelligence. "The company we are about to build will not just be a business venture; it will be an institution that supports social welfare. A portion of the profits from each lottery ticket we sell will go toward charitable endeavors—funding medical care for the poor, offering food subsidies to families in need, and supporting orphanages. In this way, we can garner widespread public support. When society stands behind us, it will make it almost impossible for anyone to undermine our efforts."

Carl's eyes widened in realization. "Your Highness, that's an excellent plan. If we attach a noble cause to our enterprise, then no one will be able to touch us without facing massive public backlash. It will make our position nearly untouchable."

Oscar nodded in approval, satisfied with Carl's understanding of the approach. "Exactly. Social reputation will act as our shield. Once we are known for giving back to society, anyone who attempts to harm us will be met with the fury of the public. It's a brilliant defense against any attack."

"But there's more," Oscar added, his expression turning more serious. "While we, as entrepreneurs, may have good intentions, we cannot ignore the reality of power and influence. The royal family holds substantial control over the wealth and resources of the empire. Even though I am a prince with limited standing in the line of succession, I still have access to certain privileges. To ensure that our business is protected from outside forces, I will allocate part of the profits to the royal family. By doing so, we secure their backing. With the royal family supporting us, no one will dare to make a move against us."

Carl nodded fervently, impressed by Oscar's foresight. "With the royal family behind us, plus the public goodwill we generate from supporting charitable causes, I don't think anyone will have the courage to challenge us."

"Exactly," Oscar affirmed, his voice steady. "And now, let's talk about the distribution of profits. Here's how it will work: 20% of the profits will be allocated to social welfare programs. Another 20% will go to the royal family. The remaining 60% will be ours to reinvest into the business or for our personal goals."

Carl's eyes gleamed with enthusiasm. "That's a very fair breakdown. And with that 60%, we can expand the business significantly, especially if we meet our revenue goals. After all, this is a venture that is guaranteed to make money."

"Indeed," Oscar said thoughtfully. "The proceeds will help fund our long-term objectives, including the purchase of battleships for the German Navy. In a few years, we could see the lottery business paying for several warships. Our goals are ambitious, but achievable."

The two men shared a look of determination. With their plan in place, they were ready to proceed. The next day, they went to register the company, taking care to secure patents for not only the double-color ball lottery but also other future lottery formats they had in mind. As a prince, Oscar enjoyed certain privileges that expedited the process, and what would normally take weeks to accomplish was completed in a matter of days.

Once the registration was done, the real work began. They set up an office for the company, recruiting a team of capable employees. They also worked with a professional printing company to create the tickets, ensuring each one was equipped with anti-counterfeiting features. The tickets were designed to be foolproof, and every sale would involve meticulous tracking to prevent fraud.

One of the major challenges they faced was the potential for collusion. To avoid any inside manipulation of the lottery, Oscar devised a system where every ticket was split into two parts. One part would be given to the buyer, while the other would be archived by the company. The sales would stop six hours before the draw, and all archived tickets would be transported to Berlin for verification. This system would make it nearly impossible for anyone to manipulate the results.

While all this was taking place, Karl worked on the promotional campaign. They decided to flood the market with advertisements. Full-page ads were placed in major newspapers across Germany, with bold, irresistible calls to action: "Do you want to become rich overnight? Play the Double-Color Ball Lottery—five million marks await you!"

The response was overwhelming. The marketing campaign was so effective that even people who had never bought lottery tickets before were drawn in by the promises of a massive jackpot. The advertising budget was enormous, and Oscar poured millions of marks into the campaign, but the return on investment was more than worth it. The buzz surrounding the double-color ball lottery spread like wildfire.

As the launch date neared, the excitement reached a fever pitch. People were eagerly anticipating the chance to win the grand prize. There was a sense of anticipation in the air, and on November 18, 1904, the lottery went live. Originally, the plan had been to limit sales to North Germany, but the advertising had been so successful that the entire country was swept up in the frenzy.

Sales outlets across the nation were inundated with customers. There were lines that stretched for blocks, and every person who walked out of a lottery booth held their ticket with a sense of hope that they could be the one to win the five-million-mark prize. The draw was scheduled for a few days after the launch, and the public's excitement was palpable. Even the most skeptical of individuals couldn't help but be drawn into the spectacle.

By the end of the first week, the double-color ball lottery was already generating a fortune. The sales figures were astronomical, and Oscar and Karl could barely keep up with the demand. The company was on track to exceed their expectations, and the profits were beginning to roll in.

However, Oscar knew that their success was just the beginning. As the profits grew, so too would the attention they attracted. Other businesses and powerful individuals would undoubtedly notice the rapid rise of the German Welfare Lottery Company. The real challenge would be maintaining control over their growing empire and ensuring that their wealth and influence remained secure.

For now, though, Oscar and Karl could afford to enjoy their success. The double-color ball lottery had taken off in a way they hadn't fully anticipated, and their future seemed brighter than ever. But even as they reveled in their early triumphs, Oscar's mind was already working on the next steps to secure their position in the cutthroat world of business and politics. They had won the first battle—but the war was far from over.

The German Welfare Lottery Company had just begun its rise to power, and Oscar was prepared to navigate the complexities of the coming years with sharp eyes and a steady hand. It was only a matter of time before they would face new challenges—but with their strategy in place, they were ready for whatever came next.