Chapter 7: The Count’s Madman
Translated by Vine | Proofread by Lust
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Graf (Count) Zeppelin. The man who dedicated his life to airships, etching his name in history with the Zeppelin. The name Zeppelin became synonymous with airships, even inspiring the band name Led Zeppelin. His name was forever imprinted on history.
Of course, at present, he was considered a crazy old man, and the powerful Prussian military wasn’t exactly fond of him. Our Emperor, Wilhelm II, called him “the stupidest man in all of Southern Germany,” and when Zeppelin secured 1 million marks for airship development, the Emperor contributed a mere 6,000 marks. The Kingdom of Württemberg, much smaller than Prussia, contributed 100,000 marks, revealing the Kaiser’s true character.
However, the fact that the future Nazi Germany planned to name a warship—or rather, planned to build one, and name it—after Graf Zeppelin showed the immense respect he would later receive. He’d be placed in the same ranks as prominent figures like Bismarck, Scharnhorst, and Tirpitz. Like Van Gogh, it seemed true fame rarely came during one’s lifetime.
So, I wanted to join forces with him, by any means necessary. Despite being labeled a madman, he was a Count. He wasn’t immensely wealthy—he was pouring his fortune into airship development. But his vast network, especially in the field of aviation, could be invaluable to my airplane project.
Considering his social standing, financial resources, and expertise in aviation, I couldn’t let Count Zeppelin slip away.
Before meeting him, I’d envisioned a demonstration where a nimble military airplane, equipped with machine guns, shot down a lumbering Zeppelin. Wouldn’t that be a spectacular publicity stunt? The airplane’s image would soar, while the airship would be left with an image of fiery destruction.
“So, you’re saying this airplane can fly?”
“If my calculations are correct, all it needs is an engine. And I’m certain. This will work.”
“Damn it! Let’s call someone. Telephone, where’s the telephone-?”
“It’s the middle of the night.”
“Does that matter? Honestly, Prussians have no flexibility.”
But it seemed unnecessary. The Count was far more passionate than I’d anticipated.
I had planned to present my materials, make a good impression, and leave, but the Count wouldn’t let me go. “Come this way.”
“Thank you.” It was an honor to have the Count personally show me to my room… but his words were a little unsettling. And his smile made me even more nervous.
“After careful consideration, I believe airships and airplanes won’t interfere with each other. It’s similar to the relationship between trains and automobiles.”
“Is that so?”
“This airplane you envision seems better suited for rapid transport than mass transit. Good. Very good.”
The prefix “if it works” was omitted from our conversation. We both believed that human flight was a certainty.
“Imagine. A massive airship floating in the sky, and armed airplanes launching from it en masse. Faced with such aerial dominance, any army would be reduced to crawling ants!”
“The thought of us achieving that is truly thrilling. You’re amazing, Count!”
That would require alien technology… I kept that thought to myself. I was here to beg for his help. I didn’t want to shatter his illusions.
But… I was so sleepy. Instead of letting me go to bed, the Count plopped down on the sofa next to the bed and resumed his talk about flight.
“Eat more. A young man needs his strength.”
“I’ve lost my appetite after the long journey from Berlin. It’s such delicious food, but I can’t eat much, which saddens me.”
“Huh! This is why men need to join the military. When are you enlisting?”
“After university, I’ll do the one-year officer program-”
“Nonsense! A German, and an elite at that, should attend a military academy! A man who aims to lead must become an officer and experience the battlefield! Unbelievable, a Prussian trying to avoid military service!”
I’d probably eaten more army rations than him, but I’d never been on a battlefield, so I couldn’t argue. Not that I should argue in the first place.
I was finally released to sleep after breakfast.
And a few hours later…
“A young man sleeping so late in the day?”
“Huh? Huh??”
“I have some questions about your blueprints. Get up and come here. Now!”
I started to think I’d made a huge mistake. But it was too late.
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Several days had passed since I’d arrived at Count Zeppelin‘s estate. Thankfully, it was summer break. I had university entrance exams to prepare for, and now I was stuck here. While I frequently skipped classes, I rarely missed school altogether.
“I apologize. My husband is so energized after so long that I didn’t want to stop him.”
“Not at all. I came seeking the Zeppelin family’s support. I’m thrilled and honored by the Count’s interest in my research.”
Countess Zeppelin scanned me with sharp eyes. Her intense gaze was making me nervous.
“What about the military? Are you really going to attend a military academy like he said?”
“Haha. No. But if my invention is successful, it will greatly benefit our military, which would be far more valuable than me enlisting.”
“I don’t know much about inventions, but you’re certainly a smooth talker.”
“Hahaha…”
“Do you know how many con men I’ve met while he’s been obsessed with his airships? I can tell the genuine from the wolves. You, at least, don’t seem to be a wolf.”
“Thank you.”
The Count was grilling me to verify my claims, but why was the Countess scrutinizing me as well? While I was pondering this, the Count’s two daughters entered the drawing-room. “Hello, Mr. Rosenbaum.”
“Hello.”
“Good evening to you both.” I quickly greeted them. It sounded narcissistic, but my face was a cheat code. If I’d been born a few decades later, I would’ve gone straight to Hollywood. As I smiled brightly, the two daughters seemed to take a liking to me. Speaking of which, if they had any spare allowance, a hundred marks would be-
“Are you flirting with my daughters in front of me?”
“Huh? Of course not. It was just a greeting.”
“Don’t smile at my daughters.”
“Yes, ma’am.” This was tiring. There was zero chance of a union between the barely bourgeois Rosenbaum family and the prestigious Zeppelin family. One should stick to one’s own kind. I could’ve made a fortune as a womanizer, but that would’ve cemented my place in history as Casanova the Second. I’d rather not. It would be embarrassing for my legacy as an aviation pioneer to be tainted by romantic scandals.
I made polite small talk, keeping them at arm’s length.
With a thud, Count Zeppelin entered the drawing-room. “Rosenbaum!”
“Yes, Count.”
“Let’s go to your laboratory.”
“My laboratory? Ah, you mean the wind tunnel?”
“Yes! I’m itching to see it. The airship is in its final stages, so let’s go. If you’re not a fraud, you have nothing to fear.”
I was dragged back to Berlin, and my poor family froze at the sight of my unexpected guest. “My, my son has caused you such trouble.”
“You must be Mr. Rosenbaum. A pleasure. I’m Count Zeppelin. Deutsche Bank doesn’t seem to like giving me loans.”
“I, I’m so sorry. L-loans are, not my, my, area of expertise.”
“You seem frozen. My apologies.”
“Would you like some tea or coffee?”
“I’ll gladly accept anything. Thank you, madam.”
Coming from the Count’s grand mansion, our Berlin home felt even smaller. Especially the drawing-room. “I’m considering investing in this young man’s future.”
“Investing, you say?”
“Yes. I hear he’s developing an airplane. I’ll need to inspect it myself, but if it matches his materials, I’m willing to offer some assistance.”
“I see.”
At that moment, Bruno Rosenbaum, who’d been shrinking under the overwhelming presence of the Count, straightened his back, his eyes flashing. “I’m the head of the Rosenbaum family. Of course, Armin, who will soon graduate from Gymnasium and take the Abitur, can be considered an adult, but since this is related to my profession, I’d like to discuss it with you.”
“Hmm. Ahem. Let’s inspect it first.”
“Contracts require careful consideration.”
“You’re talking as if I’m trying to steal this young man’s work.”
“That’s not what I meant. I’m just excited to finally act like a father.”
Oh, Dad. This was the first time I’d seen him shine since I’d become… me.
After some discussion about finances, we finally went to the wind tunnel where my experimental aircraft was housed. “Is this it?”
“It’s the prototype.”
Count Zeppelin examined my creation, the culmination of my blood, sweat, and tears, scrutinizing its workings, the control surfaces I’d cobbled together from various sources.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a rearview mirror. As you can see, the horizontal and vertical tail surfaces control direction, so after takeoff, to adjust the course, I need to see if the rudder is working properly-”
“You fool.” The Count, looking at the mirror, cursed at me. What? “Patent this mirror immediately!”
“Huh?”
“If you attach this to automobiles, you’ll make a fortune! Ugh, I have to spoon-feed you everything. Refine it and sell it! A man seeking sponsorships while sitting on a goldmine!”
I, is that so?
I cursed Jo Beom-seok’s stupidity as I sweated profusely. Jo Beom-seok, you idiot! If you had something this valuable, you should have told me! That’s why you died like that.
“Who’s going to pilot this thing?”
“Me, of course.”
“No. Don’t you know what happened to Lilienthal? If you’re the pilot, I won’t invest a single pfennig.”
No! This crazy old man was obstructing my dream of conquering the skies! Old men were useless. “Alright. I’ll find someone.”
“There should be plenty of volunteers. Actually, I’d like to try it myself.”
“Absolutely not.”
“You damn brat.”
“I’m an adult.” You think you can fly it when I can’t? Over my dead body.
Thus, Count Zeppelin, instead of investing in the airplane, left with the unexpected treasure of a car rearview mirror. And a while later, he sent someone.
“Are you Armin Rosenbaum?”
“Yes. The Count said he’d send someone knowledgeable about engines.”
“Indeed. I occasionally assist him. I’m Wilhelm Maybach from Daimler.”
We shook hands.
But this newcomer was anything but lightweight.
(Side note)
Historically, Count Zeppelin had only one child, a daughter (born 1879). Armin was born in 1884.
Wilhelm Maybach is the founder of the Maybach brand. He left Daimler and, with Count Zeppelin, established Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH to build engines for Zeppelin airships.
After Germany‘s defeat in World War I, the Treaty of Versailles prohibited the production of airships and airplanes, bankrupting Maybach, which then shifted to automobile manufacturing.
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