Chapter 9: Miracle Potion
Emperor Franz Joseph I, the great-grandson of the last emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Franz II, and the ruler of Austria-Hungary, stood as the very symbol of the empire itself.
For 50 years, he diligently occupied the throne, rising early in the morning and toiling for more than 10 hours each day. In short, he was extremely strict, and facing him with a guilty conscience was far from pleasant.
This wasn't my first encounter with the emperor. I had been to the Augarten Palace before, but it was not a face-to-face meeting back then. The focus was on the adults, and children like me were merely in the background, receiving praise for our hard work based on rumors about us, and that was the end of it.
However, today was different. It seemed they were finally acknowledging me now.
I had dreamed day after day of bringing this person down from his lofty position. Despite his diligence, the emperor had made numerous mistakes, and the mistakes kept piling up.
In this turbulent era, maintaining the status quo was not an option for the survival of the empire. Anarchists and radicals lurked, perpetually plotting assassination attempts wherever the emperor went.
Nationalists cried out for independence, eager to break free from the empire and establish their own nations as soon as possible. In such a chaotic world, standing still could only lead to collapse.
As I stood there, I felt like I had been caught under the scrutiny of his gaze.
"Your eyes hold a highly suspicious glint," he said. "To me, they appear as if you were planning to assassinate me."
I could not deny it; I was caught.
"They are merely admiring the great Kaiser of the empire," someone else tried to explain.
But Emperor Franz Joseph seemed to have a different perception.
"You have nothing to say to your young great-grandson, I see," he continued.
"Don't worry. I have no intention of forcing you down or resorting to violence against you. Revolting against Franz Joseph, the very embodiment of the empire, would be a foolish act. No one would support it. However, you even left the country without my permission." The well-dressed old emperor glared at me with a terrifying gaze.
Even though I set the entire United States on fire from afar, I couldn't act surprised when caught. Truthfully, I hoped to wrap up things swiftly and return, thinking the emperor might remain unaware.
Being an emperor doesn't offer much leisure, and I strongly felt that burden. Swamped with office work, I couldn't tend to my mother or care for my wife and children. Family tragedies came my way, but I endured them with resolve.
It's impossible for the emperor to keep track of every noble's movements, especially during such a delicate time. Young nobles traveling abroad wasn't convenient, particularly with Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the throne, fiercely clashing with the emperor over his marriage to a commoner.
These unions were hard for the elderly emperor to accept, but Franz Ferdinand's stubbornness and the dwindling heirs compelled him to allow the marriage. However, children from this union had no succession rights, making them even more valuable.
The next heir would be my father, but he wasn't fit for the emperor's position, and considering his age, expectations naturally turned toward me. In such circumstances, it's no wonder he felt irritated when I decided to go abroad on my own accord.
The emperor's attire caught my eye. "The imperial uniform is truly beautiful."
"You think changing the subject will let you off the hook?"
"I'm being sincere."
"I think so too."
Austria was a country where style and elegance mattered. The various military uniforms were truly beautiful. And I see myself as a soldier.
During this era, it wasn't uncommon for aristocrats and nobles to serve as military officers. However, unlike the emperor's view, the current imperial army wasn't a force to be reckoned with. Even the emperor himself hadn't achieved remarkable military accomplishments.
We had lost territories like Lombardy and Venice in wars but didn't make a thunderous impact like other great armies, enduring six-week sieges or continuous battles. Honestly, compared to those folks, we seemed more like fairies.
I didn't blindly support them.
"I'll ask again. Why did you go abroad without permission?"
"There was something I needed to take care of."
"What was it?"
"Somebody stole my film to profit from it."
The emperor frowned. Films of this era might be hard for him to grasp from his elderly perspective. Just like how conservative older generations might not understand games, the same could apply to films.
"You went out just for that?"
"It's not only that. I have a deep love for films. The problem was that my film, as a member of the Habsburg family, was stolen."
The emperor's frown slightly eased. The same words could hold different persuasiveness depending on the priority. Arguing the cultural influence and financial gains of films to a conservative emperor might not be as convincing as appealing to the nobility's pride.
"Then why didn't you seek my help?"
"It might have led to unnecessary conflicts between nations. I believed I could handle it myself."
The emperor seemed rather satisfied. Having a competent successor who might become the future emperor wouldn't be bad.
Yet, I couldn't shake off the tension. As an aristocrat, it wasn't unusual for me to have clashes with Crown Prince Rudolf or Archduke Franz Ferdinand over power issues. However, given the significant 57-year age gap between us, it seemed like things would eventually settle down.
"Nevertheless, I can't overlook the fact that you went to the United States without permission and used the consulate's facilities privately," the old man chided me, his strictness making it feel like he enjoyed nitpicking at a young child.
Muttering to myself, I left Schönbrunn Palace.
Today, my genius image has become detrimental to me. They might have let it slide if I were an ordinary child, but my reputation was already overflowing in Vienna. That's why the emperor prohibited me from leaving Vienna without permission.
Deep down, he probably thought he couldn't stop Archduke Franz Ferdinand's morganatic marriage and thus wanted to keep someone of high value like me tied to Vienna.
It felt like receiving a yellow card in soccer. Removing that warning wouldn't be too difficult. I had already planned something to score points with the emperor long ago.
Until then, I needed to quietly focus on making films. I was well-prepared for the new customer, the United States. If it was an American, they would wake up excited just by hearing the word "Western!"
A handsome white man with a mysterious backstory settling in a town, clashing with gangs, bandits, and gamblers, using a shotgun to deal with the enemies, and finally having a showdown with the main boss in the background of tense music.
It was like creating a clichéd Western film, hitting every single trope. I chuckled at the thought. Couldn't you imagine Americans, hands gripping bundles of dollars, begging for more? With this work alone, I would dominate the American film market for years to come.
As for academics?
"Newbies can easily get beaten while doing other things," someone remarked, clearly impressed by my overwhelming presence as an Archduke.
"It's okay. Just do better next time, alright? You haven't done anything wrong," I replied.
No one ever dares to compare their children to mine, nor do they even attempt to. They simply avoid making such comparisons. It's not shameful to lose to Archduke Karl.
While I focused on academics and film production, news arrived from across the sea. A war seemed to have broken out between the United States and Spain.
History remained unchanged.
The United States opened its eyes wider, swallowing up Cuba's independence, Guam, Puerto Rico, and even the Philippines through wars.
Having tasted the feeling of being a bully, it would be difficult for them to stop now. The United States, which had begun to exert influence over the Pacific and Atlantic through military power, awakened to imperialism.
Although I felt glad that the United States had solidified its position through this war, I couldn't help but feel bitter as I noticed the signs of a peaceful era coming to an end.
And then came something that continued to bother me.
Life is not always pleasant and smooth. Uninvited guests arrived at the Augarten Palace. Approaching nervously, with awkward and timid attitudes, the two people standing before me were the heads of the research institute I had founded.
"Your Highness, I apologize for not visiting often," they greeted politely, their voices trembling.
"Yeah, it would have been nice to see you more often," I replied coldly to their greetings.
They were eating up money, yet there were no significant results. Why should my tone be polite? Seeing them, I couldn't help but sigh. Even my film hobby was making an enormous amount of money. Vincent van Gogh's works were just an excuse to spend a little of my reputation and family money. Thinking about the future gains, it wasn't a waste at all.
However, the thing I cared about the most and had the highest expectations for showed little progress. For several years, it had been nothing but a drain on my finances.
"Hantzsch, do you have any good news for me today?"
"Actually, Your Highness, there has been some progress with my apprentice," Hantzsch replied.
"Your apprentice?" I asked, intrigued.
Hantzsch then introduced the person who had come with him. "Your Highness, it's an honor to meet you. This is Karl Landsteiner."
A man who looked to be in his thirties nodded politely in greeting. In fields like this, progress often requires time and consistent investment. It was only natural to bring in new personnel. But were there no outstanding talents like Tesla or Einstein among them?
I was slightly skeptical because I had never heard of Karl Landsteiner before.
"Nice to meet you. So, there has been progress?" I inquired.
"Yes, while researching the blue mold you mentioned, we made significant discoveries," Karl Landsteiner replied.
Blue mold is the mold that produces penicillin.
Penicillin is an antibiotic that kills bacteria or inhibits their growth, protecting the body. It may seem simple, but the discovery of penicillin marked a tremendous advancement in modern medicine and allowed humanity to make great strides in the fight against diseases.
Although it wasn't a panacea, the creation of penicillin propelled humanity's medical knowledge forward. In fact, I hadn't even thought of penicillin initially.
Why am I always the one coming up with plans?
There was plenty of studying to be done, even if it wasn't particularly difficult for me. I had to learn about European and family history, basic philosophy and religious studies, and numerous languages and engage in physical activities like horse riding, befitting a member of the aristocracy.
The realization came unexpectedly, thanks to my wretched father.
Every time I entered the house, the terrible smell of alcohol and a mix of various colognes emanated from him. Despite always thinking about my parents, I couldn't help but feel disappointed in my own lack of filial piety.
Where was my sense of duty as a son?
Anyway, before delving into my father's issues, I needed to focus on my own small goals. My plan was to build political power before the outbreak of World War I, earn a substantial amount of money, and prepare a strong military force as a precaution.
Due to my young age, there were significant restrictions on my political involvement. Making money was achievable with good ideas and alignment with the times, but meddling in imperial politics was an arduous task.
The Emperor and Archduke Franz Ferdinand were potential obstacles, as were the assertive Hungarians. Numerous people were blocking my path. However, I pondered, if my father didn't pass away quickly, wouldn't I gain some influence as well? It was only natural for my father, who had held a strong position in the aristocracy for much longer than I had been alive, to have a powerful voice.
So, how would my father meet his end?
In a manner befitting the House of Habsburg, he would engage in relations with many women, contract syphilis, and ultimately succumb to the disease. A predictable fate, indeed.
Nevertheless, I couldn't help but wonder how syphilis was treated in this era. The answer was mercury. Yes, a heavy metal with tremendous toxicity was used to combat this dreadful disease!
One might question the sanity of treating such a dangerous illness with an equally perilous substance like mercury, but didn't they say "like cures like" when dealing with toxins? By using hazardous mercury to eradicate the syphilis bacteria, the effect was believed to be remarkable.
However, the problem was that while it effectively exterminated the syphilis bacteria, it also caused significant harm to the human body.
It turned out to be a more repulsive endeavor than I had anticipated. I couldn't subject my father to a mercury shower, so I needed to come up with an alternative: penicillin.
Penicillin showed remarkable effectiveness against syphilis, making me seriously consider its potential.
If I could save my father with this cure and use antibiotics to treat numerous diseases like syphilis, gonorrhea, and pneumonia, it could undoubtedly become a fortune.
So, as soon as I had enough funds available, I established a dedicated research institute for penicillin. Though not extensive, the institute was adequately funded and staffed with excellent resources.
I knew that penicillin was extracted from the blue mold, and I assumed the researchers would handle the extraction and production effortlessly.
Initially, the research institute made quick progress, but a problem arose when the initial discoveries proved too weak, with a shelf life almost as short as immediate expiration.
Achieving the perfect temperature and environment in this era was impossible. The process of mass production or treating patients required precision, and the fragile nature of penicillin made it impractical. It was frustrating; the potential benefits were lost before they could be used or transported for mass production.
It seemed futile.
Just when we thought we had found the solution, the extracted penicillin proved too sensitive, leading the researchers to propose using various extracts or modifications from the same mold. Moreover, they insisted on studying penicillin from other sources of blue mold cultivated elsewhere.
At first, I even suspected that these damned researchers were coming up with these ideas just to drain more of my budget. It felt like a denial of reality.
Maintaining such highly skilled staff and the materials they used came at an exorbitant cost. How could I not feel a pinch in my wallet? The expenses were staggering, and there was no clear timeline for success.
Despite all that, my confidence in penicillin held, and I clung on. However, an unexpected development finally breathed new life into me. A film, of all things, turned out to be a game-changer – a triumphant moment for cinema.
"What would I have done without the film? Still, the results were lackluster compared to the money invested. We secured a minimal amount, and even storage was challenging. The clinical experiments involving human subjects also ended in failure. However, today was different."
"Your Highness, you can trust us. We have found a new strain of blue mold that boasts more than 200 times the production capacity of the existing one. We are adjusting the culture medium and fermentation conditions to match it."
No previous curator I had met exuded such confidence. Was it truly a remarkable achievement? Though not fully completed yet, they seemed so assured.
"So, have you come to report that you've finally found the right path?" I inquired, hoping for positive news.
"Well, you see..." However, the curator, Hansche, seemed a bit hesitant, his confidence wavering. "For further achievements, we need more research funds and time."