I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 526

“Oh, Vice Chairman! I never doubted that you would recover!”

A middle-aged man, well over 50, said, bowing deeply.

Seeing the hospital director bowing his head like this, I must be a pretty important person.

“As soon as you were brought to the hospital, Vice Chairman, we mobilized all of our hospital’s best medical staff! We provided 24-hour intensive care. All of this was out of my sincere desire to help you recover…”

“Ah, yes. Thank you. But my memory is still a bit hazy.”

“Oh, our Vice Chairman needs to rest, but I’ve been holding you for too long without realizing it. However, the detailed examination results are surprisingly good; there are no problems with your physical functions anymore. Just be careful today, and if there are no problems by tomorrow, you can go out for a while.”

The hospital director appealed several times, as if asking me not to forget his hard work, and then left.

I lay in bed and adjusted the huge wall-mounted TV, which seemed to be well over 100 inches.

Wow, it’s been so long since I’ve handled modern civilization. The progress of science is truly a blessing to humanity.

I wondered what the broadcasts of this era would be like, so I flipped through a few channels, and surprisingly, a screen showed me giving a presentation in front of a large crowd.

[AL Group Unpack 2024: Vice Chairman Lee Hyun-seok’s Fantastic Showcase, Opening a New Era of Mobile AI!]

With embarrassing subtitles, I *on* the screen was holding up a familiar-looking smartphone and giving a presentation in fluent British English.

“…The new A Phone 24 Pro is the fastest smartphone on Earth. It’s the only smartphone that uses AL Foundry’s latest 1nm process [a cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing technique]. The new 6-core GPU provides 32% improved performance over its predecessor, and above all, the on-device AI features…”

I can understand it roughly just by watching the video.

It seems that AL, where I am now, is the leading conglomerate in the Joseon Empire.

Seeing them making smartphones, producing semiconductors, and even creating displays, one name naturally comes to mind.

“With the new A Phone, you don’t have to worry about traveling abroad at all. What if the internet connection is lost? Don’t worry. The on-device AI translation program will translate your words more accurately than any other program. The future is with you at this moment. And here’s one more thing!”

Wow, I’m good at presenting.

Unlike the image that usually comes to mind when thinking of the second or third generation of a *chaebol* [a large, family-owned business conglomerate] group, I in the video looked very professional, with both poise and intelligence.

So, that’s why I came to the presentation to announce the company’s core products myself?

I took my eyes off the screen for a moment and searched the internet for AL Group.

I was going to rummage around to see how much the world had changed in the 100 years since I died, but what is this?

Too much has changed, so it seems difficult to acquire information in an hour or two.

The names of familiar companies like Apple or Donbeevil are gone, and unheard-of companies are at the top of the market capitalization rankings.

Where is AL Group… When the entire group is combined, it is the second largest in the world in terms of market capitalization?

What? Isn’t this too much, no matter what?

Even if it’s the entire group combined, can a group from a non-English-speaking country in Asia grow to this size?

Curiosity led me to look it up, and this AL Group was a bit special from its birth.

The founder of the group is Princess Alice, the granddaughter of Emperor Edward VII of the British Empire.

To be precise, Lee Sang-woo, the second son of Princess Alice, laid the foundation for the group, taking his mother’s name.

So, it’s a company founded by the children of my great-granddaughter who went to Joseon.

AL Group originally started as a company that mined minerals and made cars, but in modern times, the automobile division was separated into a separate group.

In a way, the business that was the foundation of the company was spun off, but the current subsidiaries boast overwhelming profits, so it’s not a problem.

“…Smartphones are ranked first in the world in market share and second in profit. Semiconductors are overwhelmingly first in both memory and non-memory, displays are also first in the world, and the GPU market is also overwhelmingly first in the world?”

If you compare this to the original history, it’s like combining the 1st and 2nd ranked companies in Korea and Taiwan into one?

So, when the entire group is combined, it is understandable that it is ranked 2nd in the world.

No, even if they have done this much and are ranked 2nd in the world, I naturally wonder what the 1st ranked company is doing.

Looking at the company’s growth history, it seems that they used the fact that they were descendants of the British Imperial Family to dominate the Asian market, and my descendants certainly have a knack for business like me.

Currently, AL Group has its headquarters in the Joseon Empire and branches in the Asian British Empire, specifically in Taiwan and Singapore.

By the way, the Joseon Empire… Joseon *in* Empire? The name doesn’t feel right.

Well, it’s not strange that it would be called that since Joseon continued without collapsing.

-Joseon Empire

Population: 132 million

Average GDP per capita: 51,000 pounds

Compared to the peak of Korea that I remember, its national power is much stronger.

In fact, the most pleasing thing here was that the currency unit for calculating GDP was pounds, not dollars.

It was the most solid evidence that the British Empire still held the world’s hegemony firmly.

I was about to search for what I was really curious about when I heard a knock on the door.

“Vice Chairman! I heard that you have regained consciousness, and someone from Gyeongbokgung Palace [the main royal palace in Seoul] has come to see you.”

“…Gyeongbokgung Palace?”

“Yes. His Majesty was very worried about you. The hospital director said that there would be no problem if you went out, so how about visiting His Majesty?”

“Well… okay. Let’s do that.”

Why does it feel so awkward that the Emperor lives in Gyeongbokgung Palace?

Anyway, they finally restored Gyeongbokgung Palace.

If the Joseon Empire is running smoothly, it seems that they didn’t cause inflation this time to restore Gyeongbokgung Palace.

“But can I just see His Majesty whenever I want?”

“Everything has already been arranged. A car has been prepared to take you, so you just need to come. Of course, if you are still not feeling well, you can postpone the schedule.”

“No. I was feeling a bit stuffy anyway, so I’ll go out.”

With the help of the staff, I changed my clothes, got into the car waiting in the parking lot, and left the hospital.

I wondered what the cars of this era would be like, and it turned out to be an electric car with no engine sound at all.

Seeing that it can go nearly 1000km on a single charge, the pace of technological development in this era was definitely faster than in the era I lived in my previous life.

They are already printing 1nm, which was only possible to try around 2030, and the electric car technology is much more advanced, so isn’t the snowball I rolled still rolling well?

I feel happy and a little proud; it’s a strange feeling.

Even though I was embarrassed to suddenly fall into a new era, I couldn’t hide the smile that broke through my lips when I saw the Killian logo plastered on the car.

* * *

-Today’s 2 PM economic news will be with Professor Kim Gun-ik of Hanseong University. Professor, the situation in Northeast Asia has been unusual recently. What impact will this have on our economy?

-Ah, yes. The momentum of the Republic of China and Qing, which are rising rapidly, is unusual. Both countries have a population of 500 million, so we cannot deny that they are powerful countries.

-But hasn’t the Republic of China been close to the British Empire and our country since the past? So, if the Republic of China and Qing confront each other, will we naturally take the side of the Republic of China?

-In theory, that’s right, but both countries are only engaging in a war of nerves and are not really fighting. Both countries have already grown to a very large economic size, so they have too much to lose if they fight.

“They’re just talking about things that don’t have much nutritional value from the afternoon. I’ll switch to another channel.”

Beep.

-AL Group’s successor, Vice Chairman Lee Hyun-seok, miraculously recovered three days ago. Surprisingly, there is nothing wrong with his body, and he will return to work soon. AL Group recently succeeded in mass-producing 1nm process, and its stock price continues to rise day by day.

Beep.

-With the recovery of AL Group’s Vice Chairman Lee Hyun-seok, his colorful history with women is once again attracting attention.

Vice Chairman Lee Hyun-seok has had scandals with numerous women, including three members of a world-renowned K-pop girl group and two Hollywood top actresses…

What is this again? My head is spinning.

I quickly changed the channel, but I had already heard everything.

He has a handsome appearance similar to me in my previous life, is young, capable, and has a background, so it’s no wonder that women are lining up.

But what’s frustrating is that I don’t have any of those memories.

Fortunately, old memories are slowly returning, but this is mainly limited to my work or really close acquaintances.

It wouldn’t be so frustrating if I had memories of having a good time with those beautiful women.

“But the world seems to be very interested in me?”

“…Yes? Of course. If you ask who is the most famous person in our country after His Majesty and the Chairman, most people will mention your name, Vice Chairman.”

Hmm… is that really the case?

Well, he is the successor to the world’s second-largest conglomerate and a member of the Joseon Empire’s imperial family, even if he is from a collateral line.

With his appearance on top of that, he can’t help but be famous even if he doesn’t want to be.

I listened to the voice coming from the radio and chatted with the driver for a while.

I grabbed my phone again and checked my SNS account.

Fortunately, the SNS account was clean itself.

I wasn’t the type of person who liked to leave my traces on SNS or communities.

So, what I need to pay attention to are the women I may have had relationships with in the past?

It’s a bit difficult because I don’t know what kind of relationship I had and how it ended.

I hope all these memories come back… wait a minute.

But what on earth is that thing?

I took my eyes off my smartphone, lowered the window, and stared blankly at the huge golden object in the distance.

“Wh-what is that over there?”

“…Yes? Isn’t that Gwanghwamun Park?”

I have eyes, so I know that.

The Gwanghwamun Square of this era was a beautiful space surrounded by much larger and greener trees than I knew.

There are also statues of General Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong, which you can’t help but worship if you have the blood of the Korean people, which is no different from my memory.

The problem is…

“That! What is that hideous golden thing!”

“V-Vice Chairman! Hideous? What if the Chairman or His Majesty hears you!”

In the very center of Gwanghwamun Park, where the car was passing.

There stood Killian from my previous life, shaking hands with someone dressed as the Emperor of Joseon with a friendly expression.

In a tacky figure that emits golden light in all directions.

Victoria… are you kidding me? Did you really do it?

Did you cause this mess not only in the British Empire but also in Asia?

And what is wrong with these Joseon guys that they put my statue right in front of their palace?

Does that mean that my statue in that shape has been showing off its presence in various parts of the world for over 100 years? Kuwaaa!

While I was tearing my hair out and writhing in shame, the car stopped smoothly in front of Gwanghwamun.

Gyeongbokgung Palace in my memory was also a tourist attraction crowded with people, but this Gyeongbokgung Palace was on a different level.

The area in front of Gwanghwamun was crowded with people from all over the world, and armed guards were actually guarding the front of the gate with solemn faces.

It is a natural scene since Gyeongbokgung Palace is not just a cultural asset but a place where the Emperor actually lives.

I was guided by the guards through the gate and into the palace.

As I walked along, admiring the buildings that were so densely packed that I wondered if there were so many buildings in Gyeongbokgung Palace, I saw a young man in a modernized version of the *Hwangryongpo* [Emperor’s ceremonial robe] standing in front of Geunjeongjeon [the main throne hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace].

“Welcome back to the palace of Joseon! My brother!”

So, that kid is my great-granddaughter’s great-grandson or great-great-grandson?

…Well, he seems like a nice kid.

Well, if children grow up to be nice and cheerful, half of parenting is successful.

I bowed politely and followed my descendant up the stairs to Geunjeongjeon.

Hoo… I feel complicated.