He is Already a Tycoon at a Young Age! - Chapter 98



Only Krnovel

Episode 98 – The War of Fame and Money

“All those people agreed to appear for ten dollars?”

Richter said in a tone of disbelief.

“RCA is paying tens of thousands of dollars per star… and we’re going to use celebrities for free. What’s your secret? Did you promise to pay me later?”

“If you think about it, there’s a very simple reason, Richter.”

I said.

“You’re giving them a chance to promote for free.”

“Oh, if it’s publicity…”

“Charlie Chaplin is going to make a new movie soon. Why don’t you come on a talk show and talk about it?”

“Naturally, it will be a good promotion.”

“That’s right. It’s not just money that has value.”

Publicity and PR.

The talk show was also an opportunity to become nationally known.

And I don’t have a Tesla radio in my hand.

“Celebrities can come on radio shows and promote their movies, their work, or themselves for free. We run a talk show without spending a dime.”

Could anything be more win-win than this?

And I have a secret weapon that RCA doesn’t have.

“If I participate in talk shows regularly, I might be able to attract more people’s attention.”

You can also manage your network.

Won’t people flock to me to exploit my fame?

“RCA got it wrong. Just throwing money at a show doesn’t guarantee success. Dramas have inherent limitations.”

Spending a lot of money doesn’t necessarily guarantee success.

The chances of failure are also quite high.

Even if a drama is successful in one season, there is no guarantee that it will be successful in the next.

“Talk shows are different. You just invite guests who are popular with the public.”

It doesn’t require much fixed costs and can address a variety of social issues.

Even if RCA followed the talk show pattern, they couldn’t get me on the show.

[A talk show with Adolf Hitler as a regular member.]

“Alp, listen to what you said, it’s so obvious, I don’t know why I didn’t think of it.”

“Radio is still a new industry.”

It’s an old and outdated medium that’s a bit boring to me.

There is no one in this day and age who knows more about marketing and entertainment than I do.

“Let’s keep in touch.”

I said.

“We need to recruit as many celebrities as possible in the beginning to attract attention.”

＊＊＊

RCA

New York Headquarters

“It was expensive, but our company now has a clear advantage.”

Sarnoff rubbed his dark-circled eyes.

Not only that, but all of the RCA executives looked visibly tired.

“It seems like Tesla has also given up on competing.”

“I don’t know what new program you’ve organized, but I don’t think it can threaten us with just one.”

While the executives were talking to each other, a servant came into the conference room.

“What’s the matter, Tom?”

“This is information that was published in the Hearst-affiliated morning papers today.”

One of the executives read the note aloud.

“Tesla Radio has announced a nightly talk show to coincide with the launch of People magazine, which will begin airing next week. Confirmed guests so far include…”

“Talk show? Are you saying it’s just a talk show and not a drama?”

“Shh, be quiet! Tom, keep talking.”

“Charlie Chaplin, Edison, Tesla, Curie, Einstein, Disney, Chanel, Babe Ruth, Robert Goddard, and Alexander Fleming… There is said to be one more special guest whose name has not been revealed yet.”

“…”

As the list continued, all the executives became silent.

“Isn’t this the mobilization of Hitler’s entire division?”

“I can’t even imagine how much money that would have cost. Is it even possible to recruit all those people?”

“No, maybe… there was talk that Hitler himself would appear?”

Sarnoff stood up and asked.

“Yes? Oh, yes. I announced that I will be participating in talk shows regularly.”

“I see. There’s no way they all got paid. Hitler himself is trying to grow the talk show. He’s trying to use his fame.”

“Then shouldn’t we start a talk show right away? We should hire a suitable host and launch a full-scale counterattack.”

“It won’t be easy. There’s no one who can replace Hitler now. He’ll just have to lure celebrities to appear on his talk show. But…”

Sarnoff muttered.

Hitler is promoting talk shows, not dramas, as the new trend.

RCA will also fall behind if it stays still.

“The dramas will proceed as scheduled, and we will also reschedule the talk shows. If we spend more money, we can increase the appearance fees. If we give them money, celebrities will appear on our programs.”

“But Sarnoff. Right now, we’re running out of spare cash. If we continue like this…”

“We have no choice now.”

Sarnoff looked at the middle-aged officer and said.

Unlike Hitler, the only carrot RCA could offer was money.

Hitler’s fame and RCA’s money.

Which one will fall out first?

“If we stay still, Hitler will crush us like a steamroller.”

After saying that, he sat down with a thud.

One special guest whose name has not been revealed.

‘Who the hell is it?’

＊＊＊

December 12, 1921

7 AM

Ernst Richter got out of bed and turned off the beeping alarm.

He took off his pajamas with a familiar motion and headed to the shower room.

As I came out of the shower, the fragrant smell of pie wafted from the kitchen.

“Here’s a freshly baked cherry pie from this morning, Mr. Richter.”

“Yes, thank you, Mrs. Sharon.”

Richter sat down at the table and picked up a fork.

Mrs. Sharon was the woman next door who cleaned his house and prepared his meals.

Sometimes his fiancée Anna Bella would come and help him out.

‘Hitler would be furious if he found out.’

Hitler was always obsessed with healthy eating.

He even nags his wife to only smoke occasionally and to eat vegetables and fruits regularly.

‘Even the shriveled turnip bread was delicious in the trenches. I guess I get used to such luxuries faster than I thought.’

After finishing his meal, he greeted Mrs. Sharon.

“Thank you again today, ma’am.”

“No problem. Have a nice day, Mr. Richter.”

Richter left the building and climbed into a waiting Rolls-Royce.

“Good morning again, Paul.”

“Good morning, Vice President. Then, I will leave right away.”

8:00 AM

Richter went to work at Hitler Company.

On the second floor, female employees in charge of calculations and computers were busily preparing for work.

‘Hitler seemed to laugh every time I said computer.’

Why is the word computer funny?

Richter entered the office.

[Hitler Company]

[Vice President Ernst Richter]

He glanced at the nameplate on the table and picked up the phone.

“Anna? Are you awake? Yeah, I’m already at work. By the way, I heard a new Chaplin movie is coming out soon. If you have time tonight…”

After a brief conversation, he hung up the phone.

It was time to get to work.

I looked at the pile of documents and let out a deep sigh.

“Is this ever going to end?”

10:30 AM

Partner Strategy Meeting Room

“Oh, I will be chairing the strategy meeting today. Please give reports from each department.”

Tesla Radio

Hitler Motors

Compound H

Advanced Invention Research Institute

Warner Brothers

Disney Studios

coke

Hoffman Foundation

Gunsback Publishing

etc.

The conference room was crowded with partners from each subsidiary.

Their ages were all different.

From mid-20s to late 40s or 50s.

The nationalities were a mix of Austrian, American, British, etc.

Each partner opened his mouth.

“There’s too much money being lost in taxes right now. It’s high compared to other companies like Rockefeller, Ford, GM, etc. When you look at the balance sheet, there’s a lot of money that could be saved through tax law…”

“How many times have I told you this? I have no intention of saving taxes even if my profits drop right now.”

“I’m not suggesting that you evade taxes. I’m just suggesting that you take advantage of some loopholes in the tax laws…”

“If we do that, we can all make money in the short term. But we also have to take care of our brand image. If there’s a problem in one place, it will quickly spread throughout the company.”

Richter said with a sigh.

There were many loopholes in American tax law.

It’s almost common sense that companies save money by evading taxes.

But Hitler was particularly strict about tax issues.

“I will not mention this issue again. I hope that our partners will also keep the basic policy in mind. Mr. Roy Disney, how are the preparations for the talk show going?”

“RCA has responded, but it could take several more weeks for them to find a host and guest.”

Roy Disney said.

“RCA seems to be trying to lure guests with appearance fees, but no guests have left the show yet.”

“Well, then I guess I can reveal the remaining one. H also said that it’s time to start marketing.”

Richter looked at his partners and smiled.

One guest yet to be revealed.

It was treated as a top secret even within the company.

“Who on earth is that guest?”

“Let’s say you’re from the White House.”

“Surely not… President Harding?”

“No, not the president. But the person right below him.”

“So, Vice President Coolidge is coming to the talk show?”

Both partners looked at each other with surprised eyes.

“But… isn’t he famous for being quiet? Even at the dinner table, he only uses two words: ‘napkin’ and ‘fork.’”

“That’s why it’s going to be a bigger issue. Think about it from a marketing perspective.”

Richter said with a smile.

I felt like I was following Hitler.

“How many times do you get a chance to hear Vice President Coolidge’s voice? It’s a perfect way to grab the public’s attention. If you can get a laugh out of the air…”

Richter added.

“RCA will end up just wasting money.”

1:30 PM

After lunch, Richter took a nap in his office.

After about ten minutes of closing my eyes, the secretary knocked on the door.

“Vice President. A woman named Leni Riefenstahl has come to see H.”

“If it’s Riefenstahl… oh, that guy from Germany. I’ll show you upstairs to the waiting room. You’ll have to wait a bit before Alf comes.”

“Okay, I’ll tell you that it’ll take some time.”

“Please.”

Richter woke up, rubbing his eyes in a daze.

Hitler checked the Compound H factory late last night.

I’m planning on coming back this afternoon.

“I should call Riefenstahl just in case.”

Richter checked his watch and adjusted his clothes.

There was no need to do it right now.

As I was processing the remaining paperwork, the secretary knocked on the door again.

“Vice President, it’s time for our meeting.”

3:04 PM

“I heard that Mr. Robert set up the dealership system for Ford Motors.”

“Henry Ford wouldn’t have been as successful as he is now if I hadn’t been there. And yet, that guy kicked me out without any hesitation. I got in trouble for saying that we need to come out with a new model. And now my son, Ezel Ford, is also saying that we need to come out with a new model… Oh, sorry. I got too excited.”

The middle-aged man took a deep breath.

“At our Hitler Company, we welcome anyone with ability and competitiveness. Especially, those like Mr. Robert who are good at speaking and field business are especially welcome.”

Richter wrote some numbers on a piece of paper and handed it over.

“How about this salary? It doesn’t include bonuses based on sales.”

“This… seems like a generous offer.”

The man’s eyes widened when he saw the numbers.

“Well, first of all, Hitler Motors is not like Ford, where one person makes all the decisions. We can always adopt new styles and systems.”

“That is a most attractive offer. I will consider it positively.”

The man left the room, and Richter sighed.

There were still five more people I had to meet.

“Vice President, I think H will be late due to the strike at the train station.”

“Okay, I guess I’ll have to take care of everything else.”

8:00 PM

After work, Richter returned home and had a cherry pie on the table and a glass of milk.

I was so tired that my whole body felt like it was screaming.

‘The car thing is more or less finished, and if the talk show goes well, that’ll be fine… but considering Hitler’s reputation, it’ll be harder to fail.’

He sighed and trudged to bed. After reading a book for a while, he soon fell asleep.

‘I feel like I’ve forgotten something…’

I couldn’t quite remember.

As I was thinking deeply, something suddenly occurred to me.

“Riefenstahl! I forgot to tell Hitler that Riefenstahl has arrived.”

He stared blankly out the window into the darkness.

“I should have contacted you right now… No, Miss Riefenstahl would have probably gone back by now.”

Richter went to bed, thinking that he would have to apologize tomorrow.

By this time, the secretary would have definitely sent it back.

‘I think you said you were a dancer.’

Why would Alf be interested?

Hitler often got excited when he met certain people.

Louis Armstrong, Walt Disney, etc.

‘It’s like there’s a genius detector in my head.’

Leni Riefenstahl.

What on earth did you see in that German girl?