Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World

Poul stepped forward and gazed around the room in awe. The chandelier that hung above illuminated the luxuriousness of the room. He was surrounded by an extravagant four-poster bed, silk curtains that hung from the ceiling, and portraits of important events from centuries past adorning the walls. A feeling of being transported back in time washed over him as he took in the Renaissance-style décor.

"So this is to be our room?" Poul commented as he sat down on the king-sized bed. He leaned back with his arms spread and he felt a sensation of sinking on his back. "The bed is soft, unlike the ones we have been sleeping on for ages in our office."

Jonathan stepped forward inside their room too, and the sound of the embers crackling from the hearth caught his attention. "Yes it is, and I am glad that we finally get to sleep in comfortable beds like that. Ah, if you look around, you can really appreciate simple things. No modern gadgets, everything is just a piece of art…Oh, there is also a bathroom here. Let me check."

Jonathan opened the door towards the bathroom. There he saw the toilet and wash basin. The sight of it made him chuckle as he remembered the time when they rented a room in Columbus at the time they got transmigrated into this world.

"They have indoor plumbing so that\'s a plus. We don\'t have to throw our poop out," Jonathan said before closing the door. He walked over to the window and swiped the curtain aside. He peeked outside. It was night but the streets were well-lit by a gas lamp. The rooms of the buildings with candlelights. It was not bright so the outside gave an eerie yet calming feel about it all.

Jonathan turned his head towards the door and looked at Poul who was lying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling as if he was thinking of something.

"Looks like we\'ll have to share a bed again. Why didn\'t Morgan book us two rooms instead of one? Is he saving money? No, the price to stay in this hotel is just a speck of dust compared to his fortune."

"I don\'t really mind sharing a bed together," Poul said. "We have been sharing a room together since our reincarnation in this world. Well, if it bothers you that much, we can just rent another one for you. It\'s not like we are a pauper or something."

"No, that will be a waste of money. Let\'s just do what we have been doing. And the bed is large enough to accommodate two people. Just don\'t do anything funny."

"What do you mean?" Poul glanced in Jonathan\'s direction.

"Whenever I wake up, I always find your arms over me. Can\'t you just sleep like a normal person?"

"That\'s how a normal person sleeps. What can I do? Anyways, we have to go through tomorrow\'s meeting with Russel and Morgan. The electric motor. We have to sell the idea of electricity being the new force that will drive industrialization forward, farther than steam."

"We have only brought an electric motor. If only you had built simple devices like portable drills or something."

"I didn\'t have the time. It\'s why I only drew schematics. But I haven\'t turned it into reality yet. Hence I can\'t patent it. I\'ll just show him a glimpse of what a functioning electric motor could do," Poul said and continued. "The lighting ceremony will be held in the New York Stock Exchange building the day after tomorrow right?"

"Yeah, it\'s going to be the first building to be lit up with electricity," Jonathan confirmed, crossing his arms and leaning his back against the wall. "It is going to be a momentous achievement for humankind, to capture what has been a flash across the night sky and tame it to work for humanity. Just saying that makes me excited. Aware that I\'ll be part of the history when the parallel Edison turns the switch on."

"But you know it\'s going to fail, right?" Poul yawned as he said that. "Direct current transmission systems. Russel\'s power can\'t travel over one mile. It peters out. But with alternating current, we can step up the voltage and travel as far as the eyes can see, then it can be stepped down for residential use. The A.C. system is cheaper as it uses less copper."

"I know and I thought you had a plan right? You know, using Russel\'s popularity to sell the idea that electricity is the future and that when the limitations of the direct current arise, we\'ll step in and offer a better solution."

"In the end, stealing his customers and possibly his investor out from him? I think I heard this story before in our world history," Jonathan rubbed his chin.

"Inventing technology is a walk in the park for me. I can still remember everything that I have learned since I was born. The techniques that I developed on my own when I was working, and its theoretical aspects, " Poul said. "The problem is how are we going to market it. How to make people think that they need it and what can it do to them to make their life easier. If we can\'t answer those questions, then it will be forever locked up somewhere in the depot. Especially in this world. The rich are fine to live a life without automobiles, private jets, and a yacht."

"Then we can only impress them with that technology," Jonathan concluded as he stroked his chin. "Just the thought of it is making me fired up. Very well, let\'s bring it on."

***

New York 61st Street, Fifth Avenue. Nine o\'clock in the evening.

Amelia trudged down the hallway as the thought of her getting robbed in the broad daylight weighed down on her. It\'s good that her purse was the only thing that they snatched from her. If it was her briefcase that contained important documents, then she would receive a harsh scolding from Caroline.

Speaking of Caroline, she is heading now to her office. She stopped in front of the door and knocked on it.

"Lady Caroline, it\'s me, Amelia."

"Come in," a voice came from behind.

"Excuse me," Amelia turned the doorknob and opened the door. She stood by the doorframe. Caroline was sitting on the chair behind her desk writing on a sheet of paper. On the other side of the desk were stacks upon piles of papers which Amelia assumed to be correspondence from business associates.

"How was your trip to Philadelphia?" Caroline asked without glancing in her direction.

"I have spoken with the mayor in Harrisburg about our prospect in the area. He is thrilled to have us there and is willing to sell us a plot of land where we can build our branch there."

"Very good. And how is your trip back to New York?" She asked again.

"It wasn\'t a pleasant one, Lady Caroline. My purse was stolen while I was waiting for the train to Landsdale."

Immediately after hearing Amelia\'s words, Caroline stopped her hands from writing. She stood up and dashed over to Amelia. Then suddenly, braced both of her hands on the wall, cornering Amelia between herself and the wall.  Her gaze was fixated on Amelia\'s face.

"What?! Who stole it? Were you hurt?! Did you alert the authorities?" Caroline interrogated her with great intensity as if she feared that Amelia might get hurt.

Amelia raised her hand and gestured for Caroline to calm down.

"No, I\'m fine. I wasn\'t hurt…" she let out a forced chuckle.

"This is no laughing matter. Tell me what happened exactly? I shouldn\'t have sent you there all by yourself as it is dangerous," Caroline hissed. If something happened to Amelia, she wouldn\'t forgive herself.

"I was sitting on a bench, waiting for the train. Then a scuffle broke out. A man punched another man. The man who punched me fled the scene and pushed one gentleman in my direction and fell on me. I think at that moment, the gentleman snatched my purse. So the gentleman recovered himself and left the station too."

"By the sound of it alone, it seemed like it was planned. Then how were you able to return to New York without your purse?" Caroline asked another question.

"Fortunately, there are two gentlemen on the scene who loaned me train and ferry tickets. They were also heading to New York and are here currently for a business trip. I was thinking of repaying them tomorrow."

Hearing that, Caroline heaved a huge sigh of relief. She placed her hand on her ample bosom, feeling the beat slowly decelerating from worry.

"We should thank those men tomorrow. What\'s their name? Did they ask for your address? I will pay them two times the money they lend you."

"Uhm…they were insisting at first that I don\'t have to pay but I insisted. As for their name, it\'s Poul Nielsen and Jonathan Axelsen. Do you recognize those names?"

"Poul Nielsen, Jonathan Axelsen…" Caroline repeated, she had indeed heard of those names before. "Aren\'t they the founders of the Axelsen and Nielsen Air Brake Company?"

"That\'s correct, Lady Caroline…Uhh…" Amelia was startled as Caroline hugged her.

"I\'m sorry, Amelia, for sending you there alone. I shouldn\'t have done that in the first place. If something were to happen to you that time, I wouldn\'t forgive myself…"

Caroline let go and breathed heavily, her fingers traced Amelia\'s soft cheek and cuffed it. "I WILL MAKE THOSE RUFFIANS PAY FOR WHAT THEY DID TO YOU," her expression turned grim and deadly.