I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 212

News of the cholera outbreak being contained swept through London, and naturally, other European countries learned of this.

The embassies of each country were the first to learn of this astonishing news and began to busily verify its authenticity.

Because the results were so unbelievable, all sorts of unconfirmed information poured in.

French Embassy in London.

“What on earth are you doing! You need to report to the home country quickly! The UK’s cholera policy should be applied at home to reduce the number of deaths, even a little!”

“Ambassador, but there are so many absurd stories. It will take time to verify them through cross-examination…”

“Haa, this is so frustrating.”

Count Beaufort, the French ambassador, was frustrated by the slow processing speed, but even he could see that something was strange about this case.

What kind of disease was cholera?

A terrifying epidemic that had emerged as Europe’s biggest nightmare since smallpox.

The great disaster in which 100,000 people died throughout France was enough to send shivers down his spine just thinking about it.

When nearly 100,000 patients broke out in Paris alone, with a population of 650,000, he really thought France was going to collapse.

It wasn’t just France. Russia and England were equally helpless in the face of this terrible epidemic.

At least until now, that was what Count Beaufort knew.

That’s why the information being collected now was a chaotic mess, and it was impossible to know what was false and what was true.

“Wait, is this true? They declared that they would resolve the situation within half a month and actually had an effect in just two days? Even so, I think these British guys are exaggerating their achievements to promote their national prestige, aren’t they?”

“We thought so too, but after looking at the trend of the outbreak, it was true.”

“…What? No, that doesn’t make sense.”

Then, is he saying that Great France has been suffering from a problem that this young man could solve in just two days?

While causing over 100,000 deaths?

Does this make sense? No matter how much the data proves it, it was psychologically difficult to accept.

The embassy staff who were collecting data seemed to be in a similar state of mind, desperately searching for more information and repeatedly investigating.

This was also a matter of national pride in some ways.

“Ambassador, could it be something like this? It’s said that they solved it in two days, but considering that they said they would solve cholera in half a month, the British, for national prestige purposes, were already aware of the cause of the problem.”

“Logically, that’s more likely.”

“In the end, whether it’s said to be two days or half a month, in fact, they must have been researching with a lot of time and effort before that. We think they have been conducting research steadily for at least several years.”

“…Is that so?”

Not only this cholera outbreak, but France also received too much help from the British Empire’s royal family in this quasi-revolutionary situation.

They accurately predicted the unexpected crop failure, provided food, and even built a bridge to exert influence in Austria.

Even in dealing with that one incident, the difference in capabilities between the two countries was proven to be enormous.

The French cabinet did not show it, but it was quite shocked by this situation.

‘When did the gap between France and England widen to this extent? Do not miss even the slightest information on how England is developing, and report everything.’

Prime Minister Guizot, who barely survived thanks to England, seemed to have judged that in order for France to develop further, it should keep a close eye on England and learn as much as it could.

So naturally, the role of the ambassador stationed in London became even more important.

The consulate, which was already using its staff for espionage-like purposes, was ordered to mobilize people more actively.

And then the cholera outbreak broke out here.

If Count Beaufort does not fulfill his role properly even a little bit here, he is likely to be dishonorably recalled.

But what can he do? The more he investigates, the more he can only laugh in vain.

“…There are so many absurd things, so if we check each one to see what is true or not, the verification will not be finished until the end of the year. Just send all the data provided by the British side as it is and attach a note that this is what the British side claims, so it may be wrong. And say that we are currently verifying the truth and will add a more detailed report.”

“Understood.”

“Prime Minister Guizot will be shocked again when this fact is known. Haa… I’ll be busier in the future.”

No, why are they tormenting innocent diplomats because they are behind England?

Still, isn’t it the life of a pitiful civil servant to do what they are told?

Count Beaufort was destined to work hard to collect information about Killian and prepare to send it to his home country today as well.

And it wasn’t just France that was caught up in this commotion.

The head of the Prussian Embassy in London.

Karl Bunsen was better off than the French.

Fortunately, he had a very good card to tell whether this information was true or not.

“So, is everything in the British announcement here true?”

“Yes, Ambassador. I have witnessed most of the facts from the side, so there is no room for doubt.”

“Haa… I’ve talked to him once before, but he’s really an unpredictable person. If what you say is true, then His Excellency already guessed the principle of how cholera spreads?”

“That’s… right?”

Could this guy be bribed by the British and be committing treason?

Ambassador Bunsen glanced at Bismarck, who was watching him with a dazed look, and tried to figure out his true intentions.

However, even as someone who had spent his life in diplomacy, he did not feel that Bismarck was lying.

He doesn’t think that young man, who is close to a country bumpkin even though he is a Junker [Prussian nobleman], can deceive the sharp eyes of the Prussian ambassador.

Then the conclusion is that he has no choice but to accept all of this as fact.

“Thanks to you, we got very high-quality information. Professor John Snow and the Health Authority Committee had a big fight at the nursing college, and His Excellency ordered Professor John Snow to find out the cause of cholera. But this raises a question… Isn’t the investigation period too short?”

“First of all, His Excellency showed a very unexpected reaction to the fact that cholera had occurred.”

“You mean he didn’t know and prepare in advance.”

“According to what he said, he expected that there would be a cholera outbreak someday, but it seems that it broke out faster than he expected.”

If this is true, Killian really figured out the cause of cholera in that short amount of time and found a way to stop it.

Of course, Professor John Snow would have done the actual work, but the ability to create a stage where such a capable person could work freely and the ability to take action as soon as the results came out could not be underestimated.

“Bismarck, you’ve been watching from the side, so you know, right? Do you think he is suitable as a long-term partner for the home country?”

“Nearly a million people died from the disease in Russia, but less than a few thousand died here. Doesn’t this alone compare the capabilities of the country too nakedly?”

“Hmm… But the fact that they dealt well with the epidemic doesn’t mean they are good at other things, right?”

“Of course. But I think the basic capabilities of the country are revealed in such places. And these differences in capabilities will eventually become even greater in the long run.”

“But the existence of France is another obstacle to partnering with England.”

For Prussia, Russia was an opponent that could somehow be reconciled, but France was an impossible opponent.

Even if they patched up the conflict for a while, they would inevitably clash again someday.

That was France, and this was not just Bunsen’s opinion.

“The era when France was acting as the leader of Europe is already over anyway. The strongest country in Europe is currently here in England, and we must use a strategy of quickly riding on them and solidifying our position as the second-in-command rather than confronting them. The next problem should be considered after we have surpassed Russia and France.”

“Hmm… Okay. I understand. In fact, I roughly decided which side we should take while watching this situation.”

As Bismarck said, given the clear difference in the basic capabilities of the country, it is impossible to guarantee how long Russia can maintain its position as a superpower in opposition to the British Empire.

Moreover, the British Empire had already brought in France and Austria to check Russia.

With the existence of the Ottoman Empire, which is constantly at odds with Russia, the encirclement of Russia was already 90% complete.

If Prussia were to take Russia’s side here, it might be attacked by both France and Austria.

The best thing to do is to create a situation where the British Empire and Russia fight each other, and they remain neutral.

But if the time comes when they have to choose one of the two…

“Bismarck. In fact, the report to be sent to the home country has already been written. But if we want to explain in detail what is happening in London now, shouldn’t someone who has had a vivid experience up close go? So, I would like you to go to Berlin.”

“Yes? Me?”

“Yes. You are the only person among the Prussian nobles who has formed a close relationship with the national prestige of this country. Currently, the home country does not even properly grasp the political situation of the British Empire. How much power does the royal family have? To what extent do the cabinet, the royal family, and the government influence the establishment of diplomatic strategies? We are currently wandering around in the most basic first stage.”

Originally, it was not easy to understand because it was a country that made a fuss about constitutional monarchy and cabinet responsibility system, but recently it has become even more severe.

Bunsen sees this as a problem caused by Killian Gore, who had even served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, entering the royal family.

“I understand. So you’re saying that I should return to Berlin and inform those with policy-making authority of the exact reality.”

“Yes. I have already written a detailed letter to His Majesty. He will listen to your words, so please do your best. You understand that this will be a good opportunity for you, right?”

“Of course! Thank you for giving me an unparalleled opportunity! I will do my best not to disappoint your expectations, Ambassador.”

It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance that is even excessive for a Junker from the provinces who used to raise pigs in the countryside.

Bismarck did not hesitate and accepted the letter that Ambassador Bunsen handed him.

* * *

One week after the cholera outbreak ended.

Time has passed a little, but the excitement in London has not subsided yet.

And people still didn’t want to come down from this high.

Wellesley held a large-scale festival to commemorate the eradication of cholera as promised, and of course, the main characters of this event were me and John Snow.

“If it’s a festival, there will be a ball. Hmm… such a place is a bit uncomfortable.”

“If you, one of the main characters, don’t come, the meaning will be diminished, so the Prime Minister asked you to come.”

“The main character is actually His Excellency, so I think it would be fine if only His Excellency went… I understand. If I have a good relationship with the upper class, it will help my future research, so I will go.”

“Good. And Nightingale must participate, so please take care of her. She is from a wealthy family anyway, so she will be familiar with balls.”

Of course, no matter what, it will be the first time in his life for him to attend a place where the members of the House of Lords, the representatives of the ruling and opposition parties, and the Prime Minister all attend, but he won’t feel as uncomfortable as John Snow.

And as Snow said, if you build up connections in such a place, there will be more people who can help you when you do big things later.

But John Snow scratched his head as if he still felt uncomfortable.

“I’m okay, but Miss Nightingale might not want to participate.”

“What are you talking about? Is there a problem?”

“No. There was a nobleman who was recently hospitalized, and he seems to have fallen in love with a Nightingale student. He keeps bothering her to officially date him, so she doesn’t want to go to places where there are nobles…”

What is this again?

Anyway, there are nobles who try to hit on you if you look a little pretty, regardless of the era, so it’s not particularly strange.

Still, knowing Nightingale’s story, I just feel sorry for the nobleman who is making such hopeless efforts.

“I can solve it myself if the harassment is too severe. Who is bothering her so much?”

“Ah, it’s not that bad. But she says she’s in trouble because he’s almost ten years younger. Who was it… I heard he was a young master from a Marquis family.”

“Then I’ll take responsibility and solve it, so tell her to attend the ball.”

I should take a look at the face of the cute young master from which family who is so in love with the white-clad berserker that he is following her around.

I hope it’s not a face I know.