Reborn In 17th century India with Black Technology

Oppenheimer Manor

Reuben Süß Oppenheimer, who had read the contents of the letter in the back before his father, did not ask for the letter so that he could read the front fully. Instead, he went back to his seat and sat down, not making any comment since he knew that the decision his father had to make was a very hard one.

Even though he knew that his father would still agree to the request made by The Emperor of Bharat and let his brother become a citizen of the Bharatiya Empire, he still knew that it was a hard decision for his father to make since agreeing to this condition would most likely mean not seeing his second son for the rest of his life.

Joseph Oppenheimer was really in a dilemma, not because he was worried about not seeing his second son, but because he suddenly realized that following the suggestion of Vijay Devaraya would open up another door for the Oppenheimer family. And he was worried that the risk was too big if His decision was wrong.

Joseph finally put down the letter and did not speak for a long time. He kept staring at various documents that were scattered on the table and at the wall, which contained the map of the Holy Roman Empire, its neighbouring countries, along with the Oppenheimer Bank and its branches.

Finally, looking at the replies he got from the House of Württemberg, the House of Zähringen, and finally the House of Habsburg, he hardened his heart and came to a decision.

Joseph looked at his eldest son with a complicated expression on his face. "Reuben, you are over 30 years old already. It is time for you to take over the Oppenheimer family," he said with a heavy heart.

"Huh?"

Edmund was startled. His eyes widened in disbelief; he did not expect that after reading the letter sent by the second young master, his master would take such a decision.

"What!" Reuben exclaimed. Although he had been looking forward to one day inheriting the legacy of his father and taking over the Oppenheimer family, that day was not today. He could not understand why his father suddenly made such a decision.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Father, what are you talking about? What happened?" he asked, confused.

Butler Edmund knew that the next discussions were going to be highly confidential, so he immediately sent away all the people in the room, even those loyal to the Oppenheimer family, and intently stared at his master.

Two pairs of eyes were intently staring at Joseph, but he did not feel anything.

"I have decided to emigrate to the Bharatiya Empire and become its citizen," he said with a relaxed expression, as if coming to this decision gave him a lot of relief.

"Wh-what?" Reuben and Edmund both exclaimed as this was not something they had expected Joseph to say.

"Father, are you serious? Why take such a big risk? Isen't it possible for little brother to get the citizenship of the Bharatiya Empire? Why must you go personally?" Reuben asked, his brows furrowed and his eyes a little confused, he seemed lost.

"That's right, master. Moreover, you are so old now. You cannot withstand travelling in the ocean. Have you made this decision hastily?" Edmund suggested. He loved the second young master, but he could still accept him becoming a citizen of the Bharatiya Empire, although reluctant, for the future of the Oppenheimer family and their whole Jewish race. However, letting the master directly go to the Bharatiya Empire was something he could not bear to see.

Joseph Oppenheimer knew that this decision would cause huge reactions from his son and the butler, but he wasn't willing to back down. "I am not going to change my decision, Edmund, Reuben," he said, looking at his first son and the butler with an unquestionable determination in his eyes.

But he knew that he could not make things too rigid between the three of them, so he went on to explain.

"Reuben, haven't you already realized that the amount we can grow in Europe has already reached the ceiling?"

"Haven't we been reading the letters of consolation and rejection sent from Eberhardt III from the House of Württemberg and other nobles from other prominent noble houses, including the royal family, the Habsburgs?"

"What did they all say? Didn't they say they could not help and suggested we forget about our decision?"

"I could understand if this is the reaction from one noble family, but can't you see that all the nobles we have contacted so far are giving the same response? They cannot help us in expanding our business into not to mention Eastern Europe, they are even unwilling to support us in expanding our business to the Nordic region. What is it if not these nobles constraining us into Central-western Europe and not allowing us to expand and grow bigger?"

" They don't want us to grow beyond their reach, Reuben and don't want us Jews to be out of control."

"For such a reason, which practically stems from their superiority over us Jews and has nothing to do with monetary interest, no matter how much I am willing to pay, they will not agree. And you can already see such a tone in the letters they have sent."

"So what is the use for me to stay here, rotting away along with the business I have built? Hah?" Joseph questioned, his face becomming red, showing intense anger.

Reuben Oppenheimer immediately became silent after his father's outbreak, because this was the decision he had reached in his heart during his conversation with his father before the butler arrived, but he did not dare to say it out loud. Now that his father mentioned it himself, he had nothing to refute.

Joseph continued, "Listen, Reuben, given that there is no longer room for growth, the Oppenheimer and Co. Bank does not need me to handle it directly."

"You have been handling the current banking business for the last five years, and you already have the ability to maintain this business of ours."

"So I am relieved when I go to the Bharatiya Empire to look for new opportunities and fight for a better future for our people."

Looking at the sincere emotion in his father's eyes, Reuben let out a deep sigh as he became silent.

"As for Edmund, you don't have to worry about my health. Although I am 56 this year, I feel completely healthy. God has blessed me with good health."

Then he straightened his back with strong determination in his heart as he continued:

"I have seen everything there is to see, and I have lived a fulfilling life so far. But the same could not be said for all our Jewish brethren. They have been mocked, discriminated against, enslaved, robbed, and everything else imaginable. All this only because we do not have a strong backing; if we did, do these noble bastards dare to offend us like this?"

"For most of my life, I have lived only considering the interests of myself and my family. But now that I have the opportunity and a little ability to change all these things, I will do it without hesitation."

Joseph looked at the butler with a heartfelt smile.

"Edmund, you can understand. You're old. Maybe in your heart, your final wish is to hold the child of little Ezekiel."

Edmund's eyes moistened a little, but he firmly nodded his head, unwilling to lie in this situation. "Yes, Master, my only wish is to hold the child of Young Master Ezekiel, and for that, I would give up anything, even if it is my life."

Joseph nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude as he wholeheartedly thanked Edmund for being present in the life of his second child, whom he had mostly ignored.

"You see, Edmund, even you, who are older than me, are willing to put your life on the line for your final wish." Joseph's fist was suddenly clenched, and his eyes blazed with a fiery will that couldn't be shaken. "So how can I, who is younger than you, stronger than you, dare not take this decision? When His Majesty Vijay has shown enough sincerity by allowing someone from my family to witness and participate in the birth of the Jewish nation, how can I, with a good heart, refuse?"

"Isn't the chance of obtaining this supreme glory enough for me to risk it all?"

"The wandering knights of the Middle Ages gave their lives for a promise. Then am I not even brave enough to put my life on the line for the future of our whole Race?"

"Now listen, both of you," Joseph said as he got up with a stern expression on his face. His back straightened as if he were once again a middle-aged man with infinite energy.

"I have worked hard all my life and have built such a big wealth for myself and my family, but I no longer have any interest in these things the moment our expansion was blocked. So I have decided, whether both of you agree with it or not, I will participate in the operation of founding the Jewish nation. Even Poseidon the god of the oceans, and Hades the god of death cannot stop me from doing so."

Joseph said this as he looked at both his eldest son and the butler, who wouldn't dare to contradict him anymore. Having said everything he wanted to say, he immediately left and ordered the head maid to pack up all his belongings that he wanted to take with him.