Tyranny of Steel

After sharing some sweets with his guests, Hans began the real portion of the tour, as a way to show off the wealth and prestige of the reich, he intended to head into a nearby residential district whose citizens were of the middle class.

Despite having a household with a middle class income, the people in this neighborhood lived in rather large houses, which were a minimum of five hundred square meters in size. After all, polygamy was the norm, and they needed large homes with many bedrooms to house these families.

Upon walking through the cobblestone streets of this neighborhood, Dharya and Zhu Zhi were astonished by the level of architecture these common houses were designed with. The impressive thing about Kufstein was that it was a city whose buildings made use of a variety of architectural styles, but they segregated these styles into their own sectors of the city.

In the Old Quarter of Kufstein, the houses were largely constructed in the earlier Frachwerk design. These were the first buildings established in the city, after it had transformed from a small agricultural village to a thriving metropolis. They had been renovated over the years to keep up with the newest advancements in living standards.

This neighborhood that Hans was showing off to his guests was built with baroque architecture. The large houses were more like noble villas than common homes. With opulent balconies and elaborate entryways that made use of steel gates to keep intruders out. Zhu Zhi and Dharya alike were quick to express their awe at the stunning visuals.

"I can't believe your nobility live in such extravagant villas."

"I never knew Kufstein had such a wealthy district..."

Hans gazed over at the two foreign men and scoffed before enlightening them on just what kind of families lived in this neighborhood.

"The people who live here are part of the middle class. The villas that the wealthy elite live in are substantially larger and more extravagant than these houses."

The Ming Prince and the Anangpur Emperor slowly shifted their gazes over to the young German Prince, who had a haughty smirk on his face. They could not believe that the middle class of the German Empire lived in such wealth and opulence. Zhu Zhi in particular was quick to question how this was even possible.

"How can they afford such luxury? Surely one would have to work for decades to achieve the amount of fortune that is required to buy such a lively villa?"

Hans nodded his head as he heard this before explaining the economic principle of mortgages to the Ming Prince and the Anangpur Emperor.

"Of course they would, which is why the bank buys the house for them, and they pay off the bank over the next few decades with interest. This ensures that a citizen's money is constantly flowing into the economy rather than being stashed away in vault for thirty years, waiting to buy a house. Not everyone is as wealthy as my father, who could afford to buy this entire neighborhood for himself as if it were a mere pittance."

The concept of mortgages was completely foreign to Zhu Zhi and Dharya. It was something Berengar had implemented some time ago and helped boost the economy to a significant degree. It still shocked these men that a middle class family could afford such a large and opulent house, so much so that they barely comprehended what the boy prince had said. '

Hans ended up taking the two men through an open house of one of the buildings that was for sale. Though the realtor did not understand why the prince, or the two men, were visiting, she made sure that they were well accommodated. The furniture inside the building was rather luxurious: plushy sofas, soft beds, silk sheets, and curtains. Ceramic bathtubs, with glass showers. Granite countertops, etc.

It was definitely something that the lower end of the middle class would not easily afford in Berengar's past life. However, to Hans, who literally grew up with a solid gold spoon in his mouth, such trappings were a symbol of the poor. Or at least from his privileged perspective.

Still, Hans did not look down on such homes with an arrogant attitude, because he was well aware of the state that the Feudal nobility of foreign kingdoms lived in. A house like this was far superior to the living conditions that even the neighboring monarchs suffered through.

Zhu Zhi was beginning to understand just how wealthy the Reich was in comparison to the rest of the world. As an Imperial Prince of the Ming Dynasty, he lived a life of luxury that few people in this world could ever experience. However, a middle class German citizen was not far off from the lifestyle he lived back in the Palace. He dreaded the idea of how Germany's wealthy elite lived.

The Ming Prince had been astonished by the extensive use of gold and other fine minerals in Berengar's palace, but he had thought that the man used his Nation's entire wealth to build such a magnificent palace. Instead, it appeared as if the man had spent a small fraction of his personal treasury to construct his home.

Dharya, who was used to living in the German Palace for close to a year now, was actually not as shocked as Zhu Zhi when he saw the luxury of this home that was for sale. He was more astounded that this was how the middle class of the Reich lived.

After bumbling around a few residential districts, the sun began to fade, and Zhu Zhi was convinced it was time to return home. After all, there was no point staying out after dark. However, before he could express these thoughts, he was immediately greeted with the lighting of the street lamps, which illuminated the entire city. He gazed in astonishment at the miracle of electricity before asking what it was.

"Sweet merciful buddha! What is this?"

Hans smirked when he heard this before explaining to the man what he was seeing.

"It's the same technology that is being used to power the street lights. I don't know much about it, but it is a recent invention. The only reason you haven't seen such things in the Palace is because Father is concerned about the safety of his family during the extensive renovations that would be required.

The summer palace is currently being constructed in Berlin with this technology and is nearing completion. Father intends to move us there in the next few weeks while the main palace here in Kufstein is retrofitted to accept this technology. Come, our tour is not over. Every evening there is a concert in the city, where people are able to purchase tickets. Naturally, there is a spot reserved for the Royal Family."

After saying this, Hans led the Ming Prince and the Anangpur Emperor to the Grand Concert Hall, which was capable of seating 2,500 people. The Grand Concert Hall was modelled after the Grosser Saal in Vienna from Berengar's past life. However, it was extended in size for a superior seating capacity.

Naturally, there was a private booth above all other seating arrangements which were reserved for the Royal Family and their guests. When the young Prince Hans arrived, a beautiful blonde woman in a cocktail dress quickly greeted him. She was the aide that was provided for the evening to him and his compatriots. She wore a friendly smile on her pretty face as she knelt down so that she could be at the same level as Hans.

"Your highness, Prince Hans, it is my honor to be looking after you tonight. If there is anything you need, you just let me know and I will be happy to assist."

Hans was not the only one staring at the woman's bountiful cleavage. Zhu Zhi and Dharya struggled to take their gazes away from the woman's hefty bosom. She noticed this and continued to smile gracefully before leading the trio to their seats.

After sitting down, the Kufstein Orchestra began to play an eloquent piece, which Hans greatly enjoyed. It was actually a song that Adela had written with the help of Berengar. Berengar knew little of music or the arts, but he had a love for orchestra, especially that which came in the 21st century of his past life by way of video game soundtracks. This song was the theme for the tenth installment of a popular JRPG that he had played in his youth during his life as Julian Weber.

It was a melancholy theme that played at the starting intro, and later on in the game at its depressing climax. However, there was something deeply beautiful about this song that Berengar truly loved. Naturally, Adela had recreated the music by listening to his humming, and it was truly a work of art.

Dharya felt a tear form in his eye from the moment the piano intro began. By the end of the song, he was practically soaked in tears. He did not know why he was moved so much by the song, but he was monumentally happy that he had run away from home with his sister at this moment.

Though the music was vastly different from what was traditionally played in the east, even Zhu Zhi found himself enjoying not just the first song, but the entire concert, which lasted for nearly two hours. He was enthralled with the music, and the artists who played it so perfectly from the moment it began.

After the concert was over, Hans and his guests departed, where they witnessed a large gathering of people in the center of the city holding candles in their hands. A band had gathered and was playing the German National Anthem, whose words paid homage to the Kaiser.

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Every member of the crowd knew the words by heart and sang along in a joyous celebration. The sight dumbfounded Hans and his guests, and the boy quickly asked one of his bodyguards just what had occurred while they were at the concert.

"What's going on? Why has everyone gathered here to celebrate?"

The bodyguard quickly asked around to find out what was happening. After several minutes, he returned to the Prince and gave him some shocking news.

"The war is over. Our enemies are defeated, and the heroes of the Reich have returned home, including your father. The people have gathered to celebrate and pay homage to the men who fought and bled for our victory."

This news instantly filled the boy's heart with joy as an excited smile formed on his lips. Hans was glad that his father had returned home safe and sound. He gazed around at the crowd and noticed a lot of young men in military uniforms regrouping with their lovers, wives, and children. All while singing the national anthem of the Reich and praising the Kaiser for his victory.

Undoubtedly, in the coming days, a national celebration would be organized, but for now, the people of Germany were having their own minor celebrations like these throughout every city and town in the Reich. Hans was swept up in the moment and sang along to the lyrics of the National Anthem, known by the title of "Hail to Thee in Victor's Crown".

The celebration continued for some time, where beer and food were served by local taverns and restaurants free of charge. It was only after a while did the people notice their Prince was standing among them, where they immediately knelt in front of him with the utmost respect. Upon seeing such a random celebration taking place, Zhu Zhi and Dharya were certain that Hans had planned all of this, but after seeing his bewildered expression, they knew this event was spontaneous.

After being noticed by so many people, the Reichsgarde swiftly led Hans and his guests back to the palace. Zhu, Zhi, and Dharya alike felt a bit more humble when they finally returned to their lodgings. They were glad they had been taken on the tour and were completely stunned at the state of the German Empire.

As great as their homes may be, the fatherland was like a Utopia, or at the very least, its capital was. Zhu Zhi now understood why his interpreters were so eager to visit Kufstein when he initially set out on this journey.