Chapter 0851: The Easy Mark

"Your Highness, only ten battleships remain," Admiral Anton Haus reported with mounting anxiety. Their initial aim had been to secure all 18 German warships in the auction. Yet, eight had already been sold, and they hadn't claimed a single one.

"I know! Starting with the next ship, leave no room for those others to bid," Crown Prince Karl said through gritted teeth. After all, he had a $200 million loan from the Americans—equivalent to 800 million marks. With an average bid of 80 million marks per battleship, other countries wouldn't stand a chance. However, such an approach would come at a hefty cost, as the ships' actual value was far below that figure.

But Karl had no alternative. He hadn't anticipated the sheer financial audacity of his rivals, who were willing to spend exorbitant sums on secondhand warships, derailing his plans. If he hesitated further, Austria-Hungary might end up with nothing.

"Yes, Your Highness!" Admiral Haus replied solemnly.

The next ship up for auction was the battleship Oldenburg. When Vice Admiral Hipper announced the start, bids surged rapidly. Even Brazil and Argentina joined the fray, determined to prevent Chile from acquiring another powerful warship. Their desperation forced them to act.

The price climbed swiftly, jumping from 30 million marks to 50 million. Yet the bidding showed no signs of slowing.

"Sixty million marks!" Admiral Haus declared.

"Sixty-five million marks!" Fatih Pasha of the Ottoman Empire countered.

"Sixty-seven million marks!" came the Chilean representative's bid.

After a hushed exchange, Brazil's delegate raised the stakes to 70 million marks with Argentina's financial backing.

"Damn it! Have they all lost their minds?" Karl cursed inwardly.

"Seventy-two million marks!" Admiral Haus bid again.

"Seventy-five million marks!" Brazil's representative responded immediately.

In the end, Admiral Haus chose to abandon the pursuit. Oldenburg was sold to Brazil for the exorbitant sum of 75 million marks. Of course, Brazil couldn't afford such an expensive ship on its own. They had partnered with Argentina, borrowing funds in exchange for a promise to support Argentina militarily against any Chilean aggression.

Karl's face darkened like a thundercloud. He hadn't foreseen such fierce competition. Half the ships had already been sold, and Austria-Hungary had yet to win a single one.

Hipper then announced the auction for East Prussia. This time, Karl placed the bid himself.

"Sixty million marks!" he declared, doubling the starting price.

Yet the bold bid failed to deter rivals. Both the Ottoman Empire's Fatih Pasha and Chile's representative continued bidding.

Determined, Karl pressed on, driving the price to 78 million marks. Ultimately, Austria-Hungary purchased all four Helgoland-class battleships for a staggering 285 million marks, well above their original construction costs. Germany, instead of losing money, had turned a significant profit from this auction.

"Next, we'll auction the Moltke-class battlecruisers: Moltke, Goeben, and Seydlitz," Hipper announced with a grin. In his eyes, these bidders were fools—eager to overspend on Germany's secondhand warships.

For Germany, the higher the bids, the better. Emperor QinTian had pledged to reinvest all proceeds into naval development. This influx of funds would make the German Navy even more formidable.

Bidding for Moltke began at 30 million marks. Only Chile, the Ottoman Empire, and Austria-Hungary remained in the competition. Chile sought another flagship to strengthen its dominance over Brazil and Argentina. The Ottoman Empire aimed to bolster its naval power for greater influence in the Mediterranean. Austria-Hungary was desperate to secure warships to fulfill its strategic objectives.

The price quickly climbed to 62 million marks, prompting the Ottomans to withdraw. They shifted their focus to the upcoming Kaiser-class battleships, which boasted superior capabilities compared to the Helgoland-class.

Ultimately, Austria-Hungary purchased Moltke for 68 million marks, Goeben for 69 million, and Seydlitz for 70 million. The three battlecruisers cost a total of 207 million marks—a fair price considering their age and depreciation.

Though the Crown Prince spent a fortune, acquiring three powerful battlecruisers gave him a sense of satisfaction. He cast a contemptuous glance at his rivals, his disdain evident. The message was clear: Austria-Hungary had outmaneuvered them.

Of course, without the massive American loan, Austria-Hungary couldn't have afforded to participate in the auction at all.

Still, Austria-Hungary was far from the true victor. The ultimate winner was undoubtedly the German Empire. By selling these warships, Germany not only recouped substantial funds but also ensured its naval superiority through future investments.