Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World

It was a chilly morning in the capital of the German Empire. The trio was on their way to the main headquarters of the Imperial Railway Office, where they will meet an important official that could decide whether this trip is worth it or not.

The carriage stopped in front of the building. Poul and Jonathan looked out of the window and scanned the structure. It was an imposing building made of red bricks, adorned with intricate carvings and embellishments. The windows were tall and thin, giving the building a somewhat stern appearance. Poul and Jonathan exchanged a quick nod.

They stepped out of the carriage, feeling the cold breeze of the morning air brushing against their faces. They straightened their suits and adjusted their top hats before making their way toward the entrance of the building.

Amelia followed behind as the industrialist duo approached the door, they were greeted by a uniformed guard who stopped them.

"Good morning, sirs. May I ask your business here?" the guard asked in a formal tone.

Amelia stepped forward and gestured a polite bow. "Guten Morgen, I'm Amelia Weiss, executive secretary of these gentlemen who also serves as their interpreter. We came from the United States and have an appointment with Herr Heinrich von Stephan, Director of the Imperial Railways."

After saying that, Amelia handed a letter to the guard, proving their appointment with the Director of the Imperial Railways.

The guard inspected the letter carefully before nodding his head. "Very well, you may now enter."

Poul, Jonathan, and Amelia stepped inside the building and were immediately struck by the grandeur of the interior. The walls were adorned with elaborate paintings and ornate decorations, while the floors were made of polished marble. They followed a uniformed attendant who led them to a spacious conference room where they were to wait for Herr von Stephan.

As they waited, Poul and Jonathan looked around the room, taking in the luxurious furnishings and the artwork that adorned the walls.

"We are also going to meet the gentlemen who visited us in Pittsburgh right?" Poul asked, looking at Poul.

"Of course, they are associates of the Director of the Imperial Railways."

"Good," Poul leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, waiting patiently for the person that they had come here for.

After a few minutes, the door creaked open. The trio straightened their postures, preparing for the entrance of the man they were about to meet. A tall figure appeared, filling the doorway, and slowly walked towards them. It was Herr Heinrich von Stephan, the Director of the Imperial Railways. He was a towering figure, standing well over six feet tall, and his broad shoulders and imposing presence filled the room with an air of authority. His face was graced with a thick beard, which was trimmed neatly, and his dark eyes seemed to bore into the souls of those he looked upon. He wore a dark suit that fit him perfectly, with a red tie that added a pop of color to his otherwise somber attire.

Behind him trailed two gentlemen whom they immediately recognized. It was Peter Mueller and Markus Braun.

Poul and Jonathan approached them and extended a hand.

"Good day to you, my name is Poul Nielsen, the CEO of the Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company."

Stephan looked down at Poul's extended hand.

"You are young," he spoke in English, his tone rumbling. "You are the founder of the air brake company?"

"There are two of us, Herr Stephan," Poul said, tilting his head to the side where Jonathan stood.

"He's also young," Stephan said, scanning Jonathan's appearance. "I didn't expect my guest to be this young. Peter, Markus, are you sure that these are the gentlemen that we are supposed to meet?"

"Yes, Herr Stephan, they are the ones I talked to you about after my visit to the air brake company."

"Well, in that case, we should get this meeting started. Take your seats, gentlemen," Stephan said.

Poul and Jonathan took their seats, flanked by Amelia on one side and Peter and Markus on the other. Stephan took his seat at the head of the table, while the others settled in around him. He pulled out a folder from his briefcase and began to leaf through it, occasionally glancing up at the visitors across from him.

"Mr. Nielsen, Mr. Axelsen, we are pleased to welcome you to the Imperial Railway Office," Stephan said, setting the folder aside. "As you may already know, the German Empire is currently facing a crisis in its railway industry. Accidents and derailments are on the rise, and many of them are attributed to faulty brake systems. We believe that your air brake technology may be the solution we are looking for."

Poul and Jonathan exchanged a quick glance, trying to hide their excitement at the prospect of a potential business deal.

"We are honored to be considered as a possible solution to your railway crisis, Herr Stephan," Poul said, keeping his tone respectful and formal. "Our air brake system has been proven to be effective in ensuring the safety of trains, and we have already installed them on several railways in the United States. I'm sure you already know that a number of railway companies in this country are already using our brake system."

"That is indeed correct, Mr. Nielsen. When the select railroad companies adopted your air brake systems, there hasn't been any news of derailment caused by brake failure ever since," Stephan said, nodding his head. "We are willing to work with you and invest in your technology to improve the safety of our railway industry. However, we have certain concerns regarding the feasibility and costs of implementing your air brake system in our railways."

Poul and Jonathan nodded, understanding the importance of addressing the concerns of potential investors.

Jonathan spoke this time. "We are aware of the challenges that come with implementing a new technology, Herr Stephan. But we assure you that our team of experts will work closely with your engineers to ensure a smooth and efficient installation process. In terms of costs, we believe that the benefits of our air brake system in terms of safety and efficiency will outweigh the initial investment in the long run."

Stephan nodded thoughtfully, stroking his beard. "Very well, Mr. Axelsen We will take your proposal into consideration and conduct further discussions with our team."

"We are glad that you are interested, Herr Stephan," Jonathan added and continued. "We believe that our air brake system will revolutionize the railway industry and improve the safety of passengers and workers alike. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you and your team."

Stephan nodded once again, his expression serious. "Before we conclude this meeting, I have one final question for you, Mr. Nielsen and Mr. Axelsen," he said, leaning forward. "I was told that you are thinking of opening a branch here in Berlin, is that true?"

Poul and Jonathan exchanged a surprised look. They hadn't expected this question, but they had been considering the possibility of expanding their business into Europe.

"Yes, Herr Stephan, that is something we have been considering," Poul replied, trying to gauge the Director's reaction.

Stephan leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I see. In that case, If you do decide to open a branch here in Berlin, we would be happy to help. As you can see, our government is taking safety very seriously."

Poul and Jonathan exchanged another quick glance, this time with a hint of excitement. Opening a branch in Berlin would mean expanding their business into a whole new market, and with the help of Imperial Railways, it could potentially be a huge success.

"Thank you, Herr Stephan, we appreciate your support," Poul said, his tone grateful. "We will definitely take your offer into consideration."

Stephan nodded. "Excellent. Now, if there are no further questions, I think we can conclude this meeting," he said, standing up from his seat. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Nielsen, Mr. Axelsen, and I hope that we can continue this discussion in the near future."

Poul and Jonathan stood up, followed by Amelia. They exchanged handshakes with Stephan, Peter, and Markus before making their way out of the conference room and back into the grand foyer of the Imperial Railway Office.

As they walked towards the entrance, Poul turned to Amelia. "Please make a note to start looking for a suitable location for our branch," he said, his tone filled with excitement.

Amelia nodded and pulled out a notepad from her bag. "Consider it done, Mr. Nielsen," she said, jotting down the note.