I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 430

< The Age of Fortune (2) >

There are many great inventors in the world, but not all of them achieve recognition.

Countless geniuses have created remarkable inventions only to fail commercially and remain unacknowledged.

While it’s often said that good things are recognized, that’s not always the case.

No matter how brilliant an invention is, without a proper patent, the idea can be stolen or superseded by a more commercially viable product.

Yet, society tends to hold those who invent something first in higher regard.

As long as humanity exists, the admiration and recognition for original creators will endure, regardless of societal changes.

‘God damn it, is this my fate after all?’

But becoming such a person isn’t simply a matter of desire.

If becoming a historically significant inventor were achievable through mere effort, the title of “historical figure” wouldn’t be so exclusive.

And today, a young man with such lofty dreams sighed, confronted by the harsh reality.

“Why does it keep failing? The plan was perfect! And why is *this* succeeding?”

The young man was certain that his ambitious electric voting recorder would revolutionize the world.

With democracy spreading rapidly, parliaments established in nearly every country, and an era where political parties debated and enacted laws, wouldn’t improving the inefficient voting process be a lucrative venture?

Driven by this seemingly flawless logic, the young man created an electric voting device.

However, people dismissed his invention, citing concerns about manipulation or its departure from tradition.

They were like fools, unable to adapt to the changing times.

But needing to earn a living, the young man reluctantly modified and sold existing products instead of pursuing his own inventions.

After all, groundbreaking ideas didn’t simply materialize on demand.

But what was this? When he enhanced the existing stock ticker technology, making it slightly more user-friendly, it was a hit.

Individual brokers could now access stock trading information more easily, and he suddenly earned a comfortable income.

“…Can’t the masses accept anything too new?”

Initially, he tried to rationalize it, but eventually, he had to concede.

The United States was undergoing a transformation, a period of rapid change where innovations emerged and vanished in the blink of an eye.

The government, eager to demonstrate the North’s superiority in its competition with the South, implemented policies favoring inventors.

However, the young man consistently failed to profit from his original inventions.

While some generated modest income, modified versions of existing products received overwhelmingly positive responses.

At this point, he had to face the truth.

The young man who aspired to be a historically significant inventor…

Thomas Edison was more adept at efficiently improving existing technologies than creating entirely new products.

From then on, Edison focused on identifying existing products with untapped potential.

Within a year, he successfully improved several products, gaining wealth and recognition.

Still clinging to his inventor image, Edison subtly presented his improved products as his own inventions.

He figured he could address any lawsuits later; after all, wasn’t he the one who commercialized them?

As Edison rapidly built his reputation, news of his success reached the James Group [a powerful industrial conglomerate].

In particular, Carnegie [Andrew Carnegie, a leading industrialist], with his keen interest in industrial innovation, took notice of Edison’s activities.

Edison, aware of the James Group’s reputation, readily accepted their invitation.

“I expected an executive of the James Group to be older, but you’re quite young.”

“That’s our group’s strength. We believe in providing opportunities to those with ability and talent, and assigning them positions that match their achievements.”

“I understand immediately that you give positions that match the results, not positions that match the ability.”

“That doesn’t mean that you can do anything as long as you get results. Results that match your ability are key. And recently, as technology continues to develop and new industries are increasing, we are also recruiting new talent to match. I am one of those who came in on that trend.”

Judging by the conversation, the James Group was trying to recruit him, a prospect he found both exciting and daunting.

“I didn’t realize my reputation had reached someone like Mr. Carnegie. But I’m curious how you know about me.”

“You make things that don’t make money, make money.“

“Ahem…”

It was an objective assessment, but he was unsure whether to be pleased or disheartened.

“But Mr. Carnegie, I understand you’re in charge of the steel business, so why are you here to see me personally?”

“You’re said to have exceptional talent in improving electrical inventions, and the development of the electrical and steel industries are intertwined.”

His ability to make that connection so quickly demonstrated why he had risen to the head of the steel sector in the James Group at such a young age.

“So, you want me to join the James Group and collaborate.”

“That’s right. I’ve already informed the Chairman and received approval. However, I wanted to meet you in person.”

“To assess whether I’m a suitable person to work with?”

“Precisely, but I want you to know that the scope of collaboration is quite broad.”

What was this person implying?

Carnegie, sensing Edison’s confusion, lowered his voice and leaned in.

“I’ve been following your work. I see a kindred spirit in you. If you join the group and leverage its resources, you could rise to a prominent position rapidly.”

“…I appreciate the high praise, but isn’t the Chairman’s opinion paramount?”

“Doesn’t the fact that the Chairman immediately approved your recruitment suggest otherwise? And strangely, it seems the Chairman already knows you.”

“Yes? Me?”

How could the world’s greatest tycoon know him?

He had only gained recognition in the past year or two. Had the Chairman already gathered information about him?

As expected, becoming the world’s richest man required exceptional abilities, and Edison couldn’t help but admire him.

“Initially, I wasn’t sure if he knew, as he didn’t react much. But when I spoke to him again a few days later, he said he was aware of you. He also knew you were a talented businessman with a knack for improvement rather than a pure inventor.”

“I never imagined it, and I’m grateful.”

“So, I believe you’ll excel within the group. The Chairman’s judgment is always accurate. Wouldn’t it be beneficial for newcomers to forge closer relationships?”

Now he understood why such an important figure had come to see him.

Carnegie was clearly trying to build his own faction to climb the corporate ladder.

“Have you spoken to anyone else? I doubt I’m the only new talent the group has recruited, besides you and Mr. Carnegie.”

“There’s one more person. Rockefeller [John D. Rockefeller, another prominent industrialist] is about our age, but we don’t get along well, so I doubt we’ll cooperate… Think carefully. We can create a powerful synergy together, but collaboration with Rockefeller is unlikely.”

He hadn’t even agreed to join, yet he was already being invited to participate in a power struggle for the group’s future leadership.

He questioned whether this was the right path, but Edison felt he had no choice.

With the James Group’s support, he could pursue research and development on an unprecedented scale. How could he refuse such an opportunity?

And perhaps, with the group’s influence, he could finally popularize his inventions.

Despite his talent for improvement, he hadn’t abandoned his dream of creating at least one truly groundbreaking invention.

He longed to be praised as a great creator.

* * *

“…Who?”

“My name is Edison. Thomas Edison.”

“Who brought in Thomas Edison? Carnegie?”

“Yes. So I told him to do that for now. Looking at the data that came up, it seems that he is definitely an unusual person. So I was going to ask Your Majesty for a judgment, but did you happen to know him?”

“I know him, I know him. Of course I know him.”

I was already moving the scholarship foundation to bring Nikola Tesla [a brilliant Serbian-American inventor] to London recently, but Edison is rolling in at this timing?

It may come a day when Tesla and Edison eat in the same company within my company.

It might be fun if the business division within the group is split due to the battle between AC [Alternating Current] and DC [Direct Current].

“Edison is a competent businessman, so he will be helpful. But there may be a lot of disputes such as patent rights, so it would be good to pay attention to that. Even if it’s good to make money, you have to pay attention to the group’s image.”

“I understand. I will tell them to handle things in a way that negotiates with the patent holder as much as possible unless it is unreasonably expensive. But how did Your Majesty know Edison?”

How could a 21st century Korean who has not encountered this name in a biography not know it?

Even I, who grew up in a protection facility, remembered seeing a book about Edison when I was young.

Of course, when I was young, I was mistaken for a truly great inventor with indomitable will.

Perhaps if I were to pick the person whose image I encountered when I was young and the reality are the most different, I could compete for 1st and 2nd place with Columbus?

Still, it is true that Edison succeeded in commercializing numerous inventions by innovatively improving existing products.

I think it would be more appropriate to call him the King of Improvement rather than the King of Invention, but in fact, this is where the real money is.

If I push him to develop his talents even better, he might be able to leave a greater mark than in the original history.

“By the way, it’s meaningful that Carnegie brought Edison. Do the two of them know each other?”