Chapter 58

Chapter 58 on RAW was almost entirely about China, so I didn't post it and skipped to the next chapter.

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"Ah, I'm so bored. Is there anything fun happening recently?" Finally having some free time, Wilhelm couldn't help but reminisce about his computer and the internet from his original timeline.

I really want to play computer games, even if it's just Minesweeper. We have typewriters, the ancestors of keyboards, and black-and-white TVs that can serve as screens, but the problem is we don't have a host that can connect them both!

Too bad Turing is still a little kid who hasn't finished school yet. We'll have to wait for him to come up with the theory of artificial intelligence and create the first computer... Wait, hold on, I think I got it wrong. Turing didn't create the first computer. He laid the foundation for the theory of computer science with the concept of the 'Turing machine' (which is not a specific machine but a theoretical model that established the foundation for modern computers). It was actually von Neumann who proposed the model for electronic computers.

While he was contemplating, Annie responded, "I heard there's a shooting competition at the shooting club these days. Why don't you go and check it out?"

The shooting club? He's the one who organized it. Mainly to discover sharpshooters and train them as snipers. Back in the day, he was really good at quick-scoping, no-scoping, and blind-scoping in CS... Damn, I'm thinking about computer games again. He shook his head and stood up. "Let's go take a look." Since we're idle anyway, might as well go out and get some fresh air.

Arriving at the outskirts of the competition venue, the entire stands were packed with people. "Looks like shooting sports are quite popular" Wilhelm remarked.

Annie chimed in "Mainly because of the prize money." Since last year, the prize money for shooting competitions has skyrocketed several times. The champion's prize money can equal the salary of an average worker for five years. With such generous rewards, participants flocked in, which also boosted business for shooting clubs across the country.

Upon hearing that His Highness was present, the person in charge of the competition rushed over anxiously. "I salute you, Your Royal Highness, Crown Prince Wilhelm."

Wilhelm nodded slightly and asked, "How is the competition going?"

The person in charge respectfully replied, "It's already the third day, and only two shooters remain. They are still neck and neck at a distance of 450 meters. We're planning to move the targets to 500 meters."

Wilhelm shook his head. "What's the point of shooting at fixed targets? Make them moving targets."

"As you wish, Your Highness."

Soon, two frames were set up, each suspended with ten pots using ropes over half a meter long. As the people on both sides of the wooden frames pulled the ropes forcefully, the twenty pots started swaying irregularly in all directions.

The referee shouted loudly, "The winner is the one who breaks ten pots with the fewest bullets! Let the competition begin!"

The two participants on the field almost simultaneously pulled the triggers, and both pots at 500 meters exploded at the same time.

"Oh!"

A chorus of amazed voices erupted from the stands. These were dynamic targets from 500 meters away!

However, the two shooters were not distracted by the spectators' astonishment and remained focused, pulling the triggers with concentration. As they replaced their magazines (even though the military has switched to ten-round magazines and the 98k with a rotating bolt and a rear-locking system, these civilian clubs still use Gew. 98 rifles), the whole venue suddenly fell silent, becoming eerily quiet.

The seventh, eighth, and ninth pots were all shattered. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the final result.

Finally, after a long wait, the two competitors pulled the triggers again, firing their last bullets.

Bang! Only one of the remaining two pots in the distance shattered, while the other swayed alone.

The entire arena erupted in cheers and applause. The audience waved and saluted the champion shooter.

Wilhelm let out a breath and then applauded. "Absolutely brilliant!" To hit moving targets the size of a head at 500 meters with a bolt-action rifle without a scope, this guy is incredibly skilled. It's such a waste for him not to be an instructor at a sniper school.

Wilhelm and the person in charge approached the awarding platform together. "Congratulations on winning the championship. Your marksmanship is truly impressive. By the way, I don't know the name of this champion yet."

The handsome young man replied nervously, "Your Highness, my name is Simo Häyhä."

Wilhelm was taken aback. "What?!" He couldn't help but be surprised. The person before him was none other than the famous "White Death" from the future, the holder of the highest hunting record in Finland and the world, with 542 confirmed kills. He completed the task of assassinating 500 people in just over three months, which means an average of five enemies fell under his sniper rifle every day.

In the "Winter War," Simo Häyhä used the Mosin-Nagant rifle inherited from the Tsarist Russia era to kill a total of 542 Soviet soldiers. There are also records showing that Simon killed more than 200 people with a submachine gun. This record remains unbroken in the future, and he has become a national hero in Finland, known as the "White Death."

The person in charge of the club was also startled by Wilhelm's reaction and reported carefully, "Simo Häyhä, from Finland. Um, Your Highness, the shooting club has no restrictions on welcoming foreign guests, and there are no rules prohibiting foreign participants in the competition."

Wilhelm waved his hand. "That's not a problem. I'm just amazed. Simo Häyhä, how did you train your marksmanship?"

Simo Häyhä proudly replied, "Your Highness, my grandfather and father were skilled hunters, and I trained with them since I was little."

That makes sense. Wilhelm pondered for a moment and proposed, "Simo Häyhä, can I invite you to my shooting academy to train a group of sharpshooters?"

"..." Simo Häyhä came purely for the substantial prize money and had no intention of staying in Germany. He hesitated and said, "I'm sorry, Your Highness, but I'm currently serving in the Finnish military. I came here because I have a 20-day vacation, and I have to report back in a few days."

Wilhelm wouldn't easily let go of such a skilled White Death. "That's not a problem. I will inform the Finnish Embassy in Fentagard to arrange for you to take an extended leave with your Minister of Defense. Let you stay here for a few years. Don't worry, you'll be well taken care of." Without waiting for Simo Häyhä's response, he turned to the person in charge of the club and said, "Today, let's celebrate our champion properly. Tomorrow, the academy will send someone to pick him up."

Watching the bewildered Simo Häyhä being surrounded by club members and leaving, Wilhelm turned to the disappointed runner-up. The person in charge of the competition introduced, "This is John Alberg, a veteran from the previous war."

Wilhelm looked at him with interest. "A sniper?"

John Alberg saluted him. "Yes, Your Highness. I had 57 confirmed kills. If it weren't for my injury, I would have had more."

Wilhelm raised an eyebrow. "I believe you. Don't be too disheartened. I know there are many factors that can affect accuracy. After eliminating those factors, luck is the only thing you can't control. Perhaps the target today had better luck and evaded you. But I think next time it won't be as lucky." The terrifying German sniper during the previous war was well known. According to records, on a dark night, a German sniper shot and killed a vigilant British soldier. Remember, there were no night vision devices back then. The investigation later revealed that it was because the soldier was wearing a fluorescent watch that exposed his position, bringing him fatal consequences.

In 1915 alone, due to the curiosity or boredom of British recruits, about 20 soldiers from each company were taken out by German snipers for quickly peeking at the enemy's positions.

"Victory and defeat are common in the art of war. If it didn't work this time, try again next time. Tomorrow, report to the academy as an instructor. I hope you can train excellent sharpshooters for the Empire. There, you'll have the opportunity to compete with Simon Haaye."

John Alberg saluted once again. "Yes!"

Leaving the competition venue, on the way back, Wilhelm instructed Annie, "Annie, go to Berlin University and find Professor von Neumann. Hire him as Ellen's private tutor in my name."