"Anne!"
The moment Isolde entered the hospital room, she bowed her head repeatedly before Johannes and Julius out of panic.
"I—I'm so sorry! It's my fault my daughter—"
Johannes didn't wait for her to finish. "Who are you to Julius?"
Not 'my son', but simply 'Julius'. As if he didn't even acknowledge him as his own blood. But to Julius, that was nothing new. He'd grown used to it long ago.
"Father," Julius began. "Just as you once gambled everything on Dream Industries when it was still worth scraps, I'm gambling everything on this woman."
Johannes's gaze turned toward Isolde. Julius watched closely. He could tell his father was already calculating her, assessing her like a business prospect rather than a person.
"This is new," Johannes murmured.
He rose from his seat, and before the guards outside could barge in to drag Isolde and Anneliese away, he gestured for them to stand down. The guards halted immediately.
Johannes faced Isolde. "What did Julius offer you?"
"You don't have to answer, Doctor Isolde," Julius said.
"A doctor, then," Johanne said. "Whatever Julius promised you, I'll offer double if you walk away from whatever he's planning."
Isolde froze, unsure how to respond. Julius's expression darkened.
"Father," Julius began, "you're not buying stocks. You're talking to a person."
"A person can be sold more easily than a company, Julius. You, of all people, should know that."
Julius's jaw tightened. "You're missing the point."
"I never miss the point," Johannes replied. He turned his full attention to Isolde. "You're a doctor. You, of all people, understand cost and return. Whatever he's offering, it will lead you nowhere."
Johannes took a step closer.
"I say this not as a father, but as a politician. A woman of your profession can contribute far more to society than wasting her time entangled in his pursuits."
Johannes eyed Julius slightly.
"I'm not condemning his ambitions, nor am I stopping him. But this is a mistake. You have a child, Doctor. Think wisely before you throw both your futures away."
"It's—"
"Mister is kind…" Anneliese suddenly said, cutting off her mother, her small hands clutching her dress. "He gives me snacks…"
The room fell silent. Johannes blinked. He hadn't expected that child to speak up first. Meanwhile, Julius watched his father's reaction carefully.
Anneliese fidgeted. "He's nice to Mommy, too." She shrank back, clutching the hem of Isolde's coat.
At that, Johannes shook his head, thinking it was ridiculous, and headed toward the door.
"Father."
Johannes glanced around his shoulder at Julius's voice, his hand resting on the door handle.
"Do you really believe what you're doing is right?" Julius asked. "Dream Industries will cross a threshold one day, Father. It will push the world into a new era. An era that won't be favorable for humanity. Progression is a means, yes, but it'll lead to the end."
He paused for a long moment before answering. "That depends."
"On what?"
"On who controls everything." Johannes turned just enough for the light to outline his silhouette. "Germany is already an international superpower. And it'll be even greater. I will make it greater."
"..."
"Those who resist that vision are obstacles. To defy it is to defy the very blood that built this nation. Progression does not destroy, Julius. It separates the capable from the incapable, the strong from the weak."
Julius's lips parted, but no words came.
"That is what history has always been. Those who fight for causes are nothing but idealists chasing comfort in the now. They never think of what must be done for the future."
He wanted to argue, to reject every word, but he couldn't.
Because, deep down, Johannes had a point.
That was the terrifying part.
The world his father envisioned was cruel, but efficient. A world where morality was a currency too costly to keep.
"We adapt, or we perish. But Germany will never be brought to its knees again. Never again will this nation bow to foreign will. Not to the East, not to the West, not to anyone."
He reached for the door once more.
"You can hang on to your morals if you wish. But remember, Julius, morals are the luxury of men who have already won."
And with that, Johannes left the room.
"...."
Julius just sat there. His reflection on the floor was slightly distorted by the glare above, a small, warped version of himself staring back.
"Heh."
A low sound escaped his lips.
"Haha…"
Then a bitter chuckle followed.
"Mister Schneider…"
"He's wrong."
For the first time, Johannes was wrong.
It wasn't Germany that would fall first. It wasn't the nation that would collapse under its own ambition, but the man who believed he could control everything.
Johannes Sievernich Schneider, the man who built empires, who outwitted kings and tycoons alike, who believed he was untouchable, would be the first to fall.
And Julius would be there to see it.
He was truly an unfilial son.
"Mister!"
"...."
Julius turned. Anneliese was pointing eagerly at the pile of snacks on the bedside table.
He gave a small nod and smiled. The little girl beamed, taking as many as her small hands could carry before retreating to the corner of the room.
Isolde stepped forward.
"Mister Schneider," she began. "I understand what kind of position you're in right now."
Julius tilted his head. "And? Are you backing out?"
"No," she said, shaking her head. "That man, your father, he reminds me of my ex-husband. Anne's father. He left us for his career. He never even claimed her as his own."
Her voice trembled, but a look of conviction was evident in her eyes.
"I don't have power, or influence, or wealth. But I want to prove that people like them, people who think everything can be bought, controlled, and discarded, are wrong."
Julius regarded her silently.
"I know I accepted your offer because of what it promised," Isolde continued. "The security, the funding… all of it. But now, I want to help you for real, Mister Schneider."
Julius leaned back. His expression softened by an imperceptible degree.
"Then… SIBYL?" he asked.
"I'll modify it," Isolde replied. "As many times as you want. As many times as you envision for it. I believe you truly have good intentions for it, Mister Schneider."
"Alright. But understand this, Doctor Isolde, there will be many who come after me in the future. Enemies who won't hesitate to use anything, or anyone, to get to me."
"I…"
"Are you willing to risk your daughter's safety for that?"
For a brief moment, hesitation crossed her face. Her eyes turned toward Anneliese, who was silently munching the last of her snacks by the window.
Julius didn't press her. He simply waited.
Isolde clenched her fists.
"If it's for a future where my daughter can live without fear, yes."
* * *
Johannes walked through the hospital corridor. Five bodyguards followed close behind.
A man appeared from the far end of the hall, clearly breathless from running. The moment he saw Johannes, he stopped abruptly and bowed his head.
"Lord Schneider."
"Gabriel."
"Is Julius…?"
"He's awake."
Gabriel exhaled in relief and bowed again, about to turn and leave when Johannes's voice stopped him.
"He's changed."
Gabriel turned back. "Pardon?"
"He used to look at me with fear, as if I'd hit him. But this time… there was nothing. Not even a trace of it. The fact that he could stand his ground and speak to me… was unexpected."
"...Is that so?"
Johannes nodded once. "Go and tell him not to sully my name."
"...!"
Gabriel's eyes widened. The meaning behind those words was clear enough.
For the first time in years, Johannes Sievernich Schneider was truly expecting something from his youngest son.