"Buy a team?" Eric looked at Charles in disbelief, with a hint of exasperation. "Lieutenant, some things can't be bought with money. If you're looking for entry-level workers, or just any laborers, I'm sure you could find them quickly. But we need the best minds in the field. You don't even know where to find people like that…"
Charles interrupted, "Have you heard of Aston Martin?"
Eric shook his head, puzzled. "No, I haven't. Are they famous?"
"No," Charles replied calmly. "It's a car company founded just last year—a British company."
"So…?" Eric gestured, as if to ask, What's the point?
"It's only a year old," Charles continued, walking further into the factory while observing the busy workers. "But they're already building race cars, competing, and getting good results."
Eric grew even more confused. "And? What does this have to do with designing airplanes?"
Charles stopped and looked at Eric, finally revealing his point. "I've heard they're planning to sell off all their machinery and staff."
Eric's eyes widened in realization. "You mean we should buy this car company?"
"Along with their technical team," Charles added. "Everyone there with any real expertise."
"But…" Eric stammered, momentarily at a loss for words. "This is a failing car company, barely a year old…"
Charles looked at him in silence.
Eric suddenly recalled that his own aircraft factory had also been on the brink of bankruptcy when Charles bought it. Now, it was a thriving operation.
"Alright," Eric said, a bit embarrassed. "Maybe there's potential here, but these people build cars. They probably don't know anything about airplanes…"
"They don't need to know about airplanes, Uncle Eric!" Charles replied. "They just need to know how to build engines. If they can develop a high-powered race car engine in a year, then that's exactly the team we need."
Eric fell silent, considering the idea. After a moment, he nodded thoughtfully. "This might work. But it'll likely cost a fortune…"
"That's my problem," Charles cut him off. "I need you to take a few people and negotiate with them. Buy the company and bring them here."
"Alright," Eric replied reluctantly. "If that's what you want…"
He still thought it was a ridiculous idea—spending a huge sum to buy a failing car company to use as an aircraft research team. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like pouring money down the drain.
But Charles knew otherwise.
Aston Martin wasn't just any car company. In history, it had been purchased by the British aircraft manufacturer Sopwith, which later developed the groundbreaking "Clerget" air-cooled radial piston engine. Based on this engine, they created the iconic "Camel" fighter plane, which gave the British the edge in aerial combat against the German air force. Even Germany's famed ace, the "Red Baron," had been shot down by a Camel fighter.
Charles knew that airplane engines were still in their infancy; most planes were equipped with adapted engines rather than purpose-built ones. A team capable of creating a high-powered race car engine in a short time was certainly skilled enough for aircraft engine development.
Charles wasn't about to let this team slip through his fingers, nor would he allow German Fokker planes to dominate the skies as they had in history.
Traveling to England seemed straightforward for Eric. While most people would need to travel by car, train, and ferry to reach their destination, a journey that could take a week or two, Eric had a simpler plan. With a single assistant, some supplies, and a plane, he'd be there in no time.
As he prepared to depart, he waved to Charles. "I should arrive tomorrow morning. Wait for my good news! Let's hope their asking price doesn't shock you!"
Charles waved back with confidence. Over the past few months, his sales of tractors, planes, and motorcycles had brought in over six million francs. Buying a struggling car company was well within his means.
As the plane taxied to the runway, Eric called back to Charles, "You could still reconsider, Lieutenant. I don't think this is wise. Maybe you should talk it over with Mr. Deyoka first!" Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn No(ᴠ)ᴇlFire.nᴇt
Charles smiled and waved him off.
He had already spoken to Deyoka. In fact, it was more of an informal mention than a consultation.
Deyoka had been sitting on the sofa reading The Honor Gazette, a paper he bought every issue of, having thrown out all the others he'd previously kept.
"If it's all lies, why keep it?" he'd said.
Camille agreed but didn't understand why newspapers with stories about Charles were fetching such high prices on the black market.
When Charles mentioned buying Aston Martin, Deyoka had looked as stunned as Eric. His expression seemed to say that Charles had lost his mind—buying a race car company to merge with an aircraft factory!
Yet Deyoka didn't say a word in opposition. After a brief pause, he simply nodded and replied calmly, "Do as you see fit."
This caught Charles off guard. "You don't think it's impulsive?"
Deyoka kept his eyes on the newspaper and asked in return, "Have you ever acted impulsively?"
He spread the newspaper out in front of Charles. It was an article on the Battle of Antwerp, describing how Charles had cleverly lured the German "Big Bertha" within range.
"Do you think someone who could come up with this is the type to buy a company on a whim? No, I don't think so."
Deyoka added, "Besides, it's your money, Charles. You have the right to decide what to do with it. And in another month, you'll be an adult. Then you can open your own bank account."
Charles didn't feel much difference between being a minor and an adult.
Then he realized something else: the assembly had agreed to allow him to avoid the front lines because he was underage.
Once he turned eighteen, would that mean he'd be sent into combat?
At that thought, Charles decided that being a minor had its advantages after all.
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