I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 118

Became a Hidden Power in the British Empire 118 (118/537)

The Butterfly Effect (2)

An upscale townhouse in Westminster, London.

The Whig Party members, who usually gathered to discuss the party’s major and minor affairs, were unusually quiet today.

[The Truth Finally Confirmed! The Amazing Secret of Asia Prince Killian Gore’s Birth]

[The Amazing Truth of the Foreign Secretary! What Impact Will It Have on the British Empire’s Diplomatic Course?]

[How Are Asian Royals Different from European Royals? Exploring the Mysterious Culture of Asia with Asian Experts]

Newspapers filled with simple listings of facts, various predictions, and even fictionalized accounts were lined up on the table.

Gladstone found the sight of the other members silently flipping through them frustrating.

“We must act preemptively. The Conservative Party is also unsure how to react to this unexpected situation. We need to take the lead and seize the initiative here.”

“That’s theoretically correct, but how exactly do you propose we take the lead?”

Since Lord Melbourne stepped down, the Whig Party’s movements had been led by Lord Palmerston, Henry Temple.

John Russell, who was considered the next major figure in the Whig Party alongside Lord Palmerston, seemed to be holding back for some reason.

However, even Lord Palmerston and John Russell were showing signs of bewilderment.

“Lord Palmerston, we must first unify the party’s opinion. We need to decide whether to treat this matter as a significant issue or just a minor incident before other members can voice their opinions.”

“That’s right. Then, could you tell us what you think, Mr. Gladstone?”

Thanks to his spectacular defection from the Conservative Party and the significant help he provided to the Whig Party in this general election, Gladstone had already risen to become one of the central figures in the Whig Party.

In particular, since he had been politically active in the Conservative Party, the influential figures in the Whig Party valued his opinions because he knew their thoughts well.

“In my opinion, we should wait for the follow-up report to arrive. There’s still a chance that the facts were misidentified in Shanghai.”

“Hmm… Would they send such a significant issue without verifying it two or three times?”

“There’s a limit to how careful we can be, as we can’t find out anything by investigating ourselves. Perhaps that’s why the Conservative Party isn’t showing any particular movements right now? Isn’t it strangely quiet?”

The Conservative Party, led by Charles Wellesley, had always been quicker than the Whig Party in taking the lead in public opinion battles and leading the political situation, no matter the issue.

But strangely, this time, they were not issuing any reactions or statements, simply watching the situation quietly.

Could it be because Killian, the person involved, is in Canada?

Still, the head of the Wellesley faction and the Prime Minister of the Conservative Party was Charles Wellesley, not Killian Gore.

‘Could it be that the assumption I’ve been making is correct?’

Gladstone, who had been with the Conservative Party for a long time, had secretly suspected that the real power in the Conservative Party was Killian, not Wellesley.

Of course, it was just a hunch without any concrete evidence, but when he actually talked to them, he often had such suspicions.

However, no matter how well the Whig Party’s heavyweights listened to his stories, they completely denied this particular reasoning.

In particular, John Russell, who was usually quiet, would preach about the terror of Charles Wellesley more fervently than anyone else whenever such stories came up.

“We must not be complacent just because the Conservative Party is staying still! The center of the Conservative Party right now is none other than Prime Minister Wellesley. He must be plotting something in multiple layers!”

See that? He’s doing it again.

John Russell’s theory of Wellesley as the mastermind behind everything.

I don’t know why he’s doing that, but Russell keeps shouting ‘Beware of Wellesley’ day and night, and whenever a discussion comes up, he just repeats ‘Don’t be fooled, it’s a trap by Wellesley’ like a parrot.

He’s saying the same thing again this time, so at this point, I want to ask him what the reason is, even if it’s just out of curiosity.

“Mr. Russell, do you really think Prime Minister Wellesley has set up some kind of trap? From my point of view, it seems like he’s just taken aback by the unexpected situation and is trying to wait for more reports to come in.”

“That can’t be. Mr. Gladstone, how can you not know how terrifying the Prime Minister is, even though you’ve been in the Conservative Party for so long?”

“Yes. The Prime Minister I talked to was a cheerful and good-natured politician, not someone who plots scary and sinister schemes.”

“He even deceived people from his own party like that… Do you see why I told you to be wary? He’s so good at hiding himself that even people who watched him up close don’t know his true nature.”

If he does this, it’s scary because of this, and if he does that, it’s scary because of that, so what am I supposed to do?

“Then what do you think we should do, Mr. Russell? If you’re so afraid of the Prime Minister, should we just do nothing and watch his every move?”

“For now, that’s the best option. Don’t try to do anything, just watch what the Prime Minister does and come up with a countermeasure.”

“I don’t understand why you’re so wary of Prime Minister Wellesley. Could you please tell us the reason so we can sympathize with you?”

“There are circumstances. Lord Melbourne, the former party leader, kept emphasizing to be careful of the Prime Minister even as he stepped down.”

Seeing John Russell acting like that after Lord Melbourne, the former party leader, there must be some behind-the-scenes story that we don’t know about.

But since there’s no one in the party who knows exactly what it is, it’s just frustrating.

But what can we do?

His voice in the party is still bigger than mine, who is just a newcomer from the outside, so I have no choice but to follow.

“Then how about this? For now, we’ll watch the situation as Mr. Russell says. And leave it to me to figure out how to devise a strategy to respond to any moves they make.”

“…Are you confident?”

“I’m not confident, but I’m sure of what direction we should be heading in.”

Focusing on Killian, whose abilities I have personally confirmed, is a hundred times more constructive than being consumed by an intangible fear.

In particular, once the shackles of his identity, which had been his only weakness until now, are resolved, the means to check him as he ascends with wings will disappear.

‘Is there a good way? A clever way to keep Killian away from the Conservative Party…’

Sowing discord? It won’t work, so it’s out of the question.

Conspiracy theories? We’ll be framed and end up with mud all over our faces, so it’s also out of the question.

We need to dig in with an unexpected and extraordinary move, not those methods, to have a chance of winning. What could it be?

Unlike the other members, all of Gladstone’s attention was focused solely on Killian, not the Prime Minister.

* * *

The world is wide, and there are many crazy people, and Asia is just like that now.

I thought they were just spouting nonsense, but who would have known they would even fabricate a family tree and officially stamp it like that?

Still, let’s say Japan is originally a group that often does extraordinary things, so it’s possible.

But what about Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom]? Why are they joining in on this crazy act and going on a rampage?

Is it because they were underestimating the Japanese, who were considered a step below, that they’ve become incapable of rational judgment?

Even so, I can’t even begin to grasp how to accept this insane family tree.

“Could it be that the data sent from England was mistakenly fabricated?”

“No. I’m also getting calls from the office in the home country, and they say it’s already a confirmed fact. You’re the hottest gossip in London right now, Master.”

As James showed me the fresh newspapers that had flown across the Atlantic, I became dizzy.

“So, to summarize, is this it? A person involved in treason, mixed with the blood of Tokugawa [Japanese Shogunate family], and born with the blood of an Irish aristocrat father, is me?”

“That’s a perfect summary. At least on paper, you’ve become such an existence, Master.”

What is this, a chimera [mythological hybrid creature]? How much is mixed in?

A Joseon royal relative, with the blood of the shogunate shogun, the blood of an Irish earl, and a British Empire aristocrat.

Usually, this kind of mixed-blood hodgepodge is created in the process of attaching all sorts of abilities to the protagonist in a shonen manga [Japanese manga targeting young boys], isn’t it?

“No, James. You, who came to Joseon to pick me up, can guess that this is all just nonsense, right? When did they treat me like a beggar, and now they say I have noble blood flowing through me? Isn’t it absurd?”

“That’s why they added that they want to sincerely apologize to you, Master.”

“Who told them to apologize like this? They’re crazy. I want to open the head of whoever came up with this bizarre idea.”

At first, I tried to deduce what the purpose was for blowing things up like this, but I couldn’t understand it at all, so I decided to stop.

Still, I can roughly guess.

At first, there must have been some purpose.

However, it’s clear that emotional factors have played a role in getting things to this point.

Originally, when national pride battles break out between countries, things that are even more absurd than this happen frequently.

“What are you going to do? I think you should go back for now…”

“I have to. Wellesley also says in his letter to come as quickly as possible, so I need to go there for now. But shouldn’t I finish everything I need to do before that?”

Originally, bloodline manipulation to bring influential figures or celebrities who have had a global impact into their own families was quite common, regardless of East or West.

However, most of them mainly involve inserting their lineage into prestigious families of the past, or subtly incorporating past figures into their own families.

Taking someone who is still alive and saying, ‘You know what? You’re actually related to us’ is not normal, no matter how much you think about it.

Still, the work has already been done, and the country is in chaos, so what can I do?

I need to anticipate what impact this unexpected situation may have on me and prepare countermeasures.

Because once I get on the ship back to London, there’s no turning back.

“James, I think I need to meet the Governor-General and tell him some instructions, so you listen carefully to what I’m saying from now on and finish the work as quickly as possible. This may be the most important turning point in my life.”

James immediately nodded, sensing the seriousness of the situation in my carefully lowered voice.

“I will process it immediately and return home with you, Master.”

Good. Then I need to meet the Governor-General as quietly and quickly as possible and give him instructions.

I don’t want any commotion, so I’ll just say what I need to say concisely and quickly and quietly slip away.

However, this wish of mine was mercilessly trampled by the violence in the name of the goodwill of Governor-General Barbot, who thought too highly of me.

“It’s the Minister! The Minister has returned!”

“Ooooooh! Long live the Minister!”

“Asia Prince! Asia Prince!”

As soon as I arrived in Kingston, where the temporary Governor-General’s residence was located, the Canadians who had rushed to welcome me held a grand welcoming parade.

Moreover, it was an event that Governor-General Barbot had planned to celebrate my return after a successful meeting with the United States, so people flocked from all regions, not just Kingston.

“Asia Prince! Asia Prince! Asia Prince!”

“Minister Killian, the ruler of Asia! Thank you for your hard work!”

“Asia Prince!”

Ugh, please stop.

Who was the first to say that cheesy title, Asia Prince?

Even if I concede a hundred times that I’m a royal relative, a royal relative is not a prince!

“Asia Prince! Asia Prince!”

Before I can correct the error in the title, I’m too embarrassed to even lift my head.

Could it be that the Governor-General was a spy sent by France to assassinate me with shame?

If so, the plan almost succeeded.

Still, if the support for me is so enthusiastic to this extent, I can see that I have taken out insurance that can get me out of even the worst-case scenario.

Good. Shame is momentary, so let’s think as positively as possible for now.

As a result, I can be sure that even if something happens in the home country, I won’t be held back.

“I love you! Asia Prince!”

Just.

All I have to do is endure the embarrassment and shame that rises up my whole body, but it’s not as easy as I thought?