The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1232: Chapter 146: The Neighboring Prime Minister Grows Up (Part 3)

Bismarck paced as he solemnly introduced his grand blueprint.

“After graduation, I want to take the national judicial exam in Prussia, and then, in exchange for the legitimate status of a glorious estate heir, become a civil servant loyal to His Majesty the King, that is, serve as an intern judge at the Berlin City Court. I plan to intern there for a year, then move to the Provincial Government Court in Aachen. In the second year, I’ll also take the diplomatic exam. Then, no matter if Fate, the great goddess, unceremoniously sends me to the icy Saint Petersburg or the wild jungles of Rio de Janeiro, I will happily go where destiny leads…”

“Stop, stop, stop!”

Schublan interrupted him: “Otto, I think dreaming of becoming a chief of staff in a few decades might be unrealistic, but you, kid, clearly dare to think bigger! Where do you get the confidence that you are certain to pass the judicial exam, and how are you so sure you’ll be assigned to the Berlin Court? As for the later diplomatic exam, I have even less to say, haven’t you imagined it all too simply? Who do you think you are? You need to know, your surname is Bismarck, not Hohenzollern!”

Bismarck chuckled and immediately said: “Sorry, Gustave, you know my old habit of rambling on about myself. Sometimes I really am shrouded by this trivial vanity. Perhaps the diplomatic exam part is a bit exaggerated, but I haven’t exaggerated at all about the judicial exam, I am sure I’ll pass. Besides, if you want, you can pass too.”

Schublan, originally planning to mock Bismarck, immediately frowned at the second half of the sentence: “What do you mean? You…”

Schublan pondered for a moment: “Does someone in your family work in the Prussian Justice Ministry?”

“No.”

“Is the next judicial exam by a family friend?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, leaking exam questions is a crime.”

“Hiss…” Schublan took a deep breath while pinching his chin, looking Bismarck up and down: “Could it be, your family arranged an intern judge position for you without exams? I remember your grandfather seemed to have served as the president of the Berlin Court of Appeals, right? I remember during class, Professor René mentioned your grandfather, his influence in the Prussian judicial community should be quite significant, right?”

Bismarck coughed: “Of course, I don’t deny my grandfather could provide some help, if he were still alive, I really wouldn’t have to worry so much about the judicial exam.”

“He passed away?”

“Yes, he passed away two years ago.” Bismarck said sorrowfully: “Although my mother says the family can still find some channels in the judicial system, it’s certainly not as convenient as when he was alive. So, even if I could fix the intern judge position at the Berlin Court, then transfer to Rheinland to shorten my internship, it all hinges on passing the judicial exam.”

Schublan couldn’t help feeling a bit sour at this.

Both studied law, yet their prospects were worlds apart.

As long as Bismarck clears the judicial exam, he might achieve great success, and his three dogs might well be enrolled in court as intern police dogs.

Yet even if Schublan passes the judicial exam, he doesn’t know where he’ll be assigned.

The most likely outcome could be wasting a life in some remote court.

But, pondering too much is useless since even that ‘tragic ending’ at least puts him in the stable civil service. Schublan figures he must first pass the civil service exam to go to the hinterlands.

Schublan let out a dejected sigh, gazing at Bismarck unsure of what to say, eventually reducing all words to a blessing: “May your future be bright, Otto.”

Seeing Schublan about to leave, Bismarck quickly stepped in front of him: “Gustave, don’t be in such a hurry to leave! If you align with me, passing the judicial exam would be a breeze.”

“Ah?” Schublan self-mockingly: “Don’t joke, Otto, I don’t have a grandfather like yours. Intern judge positions at the Berlin Court are inherited.”

“Gustave!”

Bismarck quickly said: “You don’t have a grandfather like mine, but our academic director is the same! Hastings School Director said, working hard in the Student Union is a kind of tough training. So, if you can do well there, Gestapo heads can get school recommendation letters. You know? These letters can add points in the judicial exam!”

“This…”

Hope gradually brightened the disappointment in Schublan’s eyes, and his body shook: “Are you serious?”

“Of course!”

Bismarck opened his arms generously, smiling: “When this good news came, the first ones I thought of were Pomerania’s old brothers! There’s no better place than ours in terms of talent. We share noble ideas and wonderful traditional values, yet just because of slightly lacking scholastic levels, we’ve been outdone by the petty citizens. Finally, there’s a way to balance this!”

Schublan pondered Bismarck’s words repeatedly, before suddenly laughing uproariously and punching Bismarck’s chest hard: “Damn it! Otto, I thought you had betrayed us!”

“How could I?” Bismarck chuckled: “We’re brothers who’ve seen real action, don’t you know what kind of person I am by now?”

Just as Bismarck finished speaking, there was an English chuckle from nearby.

“Such a shameless young lad.”

Luckily, the remark was in English, so Bismarck could pretend not to understand. If it were in German, he’d have to confront them even if he didn’t want trouble.

While Bismarck wasn’t itching for a fight, he still needed to see who dared to challenge him.

He shifted his eyes, just catching sight of a gentleman smoking by the street.

His face was very familiar; Bismarck recognized him at once with a brief thought.

Damn! It’s the British diplomat who did dirty deals with Hastings!

Has he returned from Munich?

Schneider, still smoking, noticed Bismarck watching him and courteously doffed his hat with a smile: “Good afternoon, Gestapo sir. I just heard you say Mr. Hastings is upstairs. If it isn’t too much trouble, could you call him down for me?”