I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 437

< The Age of Madness (3) >

Leopold II’s relentless actions, once initiated, continued unabated.

Fresh from successfully hosting the Geographical Conference, he promptly established a peculiar organization called the International Congo Association, appointing himself as its chairman.

The stated reason for forming the organization was, ostensibly, to aid the impoverished black population and assist them in achieving independence.

He even managed to deceive the surrounding nations with a display of method acting so convincing it almost fooled himself. A prime example was his seemingly virtuous endeavor to locate missing missionaries.

To rescue Livingstone, a missionary recently lost in Central Africa, Leopold II personally dispatched Morton Stanley, who was just beginning his career as an explorer.

Stanley successfully completed the mission, earning Leopold II widespread admiration throughout Europe for his efforts.

Unlike the rulers of other major powers, he refrained from displaying overt hegemonic behavior, instead garnering praise as a true monarch who wielded his power for the betterment of the world.

“The world must become more beautiful! Jesus taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves! This means we must embrace all our neighbors with love, regardless of their intelligence or perceived shortcomings. Have we, the white race, become so consumed by our sense of superiority that we have forgotten the importance of the love that Christ emphasized?”

I learned of Leopold II’s growing influence after he had won over not only Europe but also the United States with his inspiring rhetoric.

This was partly because my attention was largely focused on Edward and America, and more significantly, because I was intentionally clearing my mind and relaxing with Victoria.

While in London, I generally avoided involving myself in politics and administration.

Therefore, when I initially received James’s letter, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“…Consequently, it is believed that Leopold II has readily gained recognition from the North [the Northern United States]. Leopold II has already concluded negotiations with the Northern administration, signing a contract that allows Northern citizens to freely trade real estate in the Congo and receive tax benefits. The North is actively encouraging the participation of various companies. The treaties Leopold II has signed with the Congolese also appear quite reasonable, leading us to consider active investment within our group.”

As I read James’s letter aloud, Victoria’s eyes widened, and she took the letter to reread it herself.

“The King of Belgium must be a truly virtuous man. I have never witnessed a monarch so actively championing the cause of Africa.”

“Virtuous, you say…”

How should I phrase this?

Belgium and the Congo.

No matter how I consider it, isn’t this that scoundrel?

A butcher so notorious that even the racists of the era condemned him as a demon in human form, shaking their heads in disgust.

His actions were so appalling that there are accounts of another country’s king openly criticizing him, stating that if this man was human, then he was Jesus Christ himself.

Yes, that’s right. If my memory serves me correctly, Leopold II is undoubtedly the human garbage who will transform the Congo into a living hell.

However, the timeline seems to have shifted. Could this be a form of butterfly effect [the idea that small changes can have large consequences]?

Given that several major events have transpired, altering the course of history, it’s not surprising that the timing has been accelerated.

The crucial question is whether Leopold II’s character has changed or remains the same. From what I can discern, he doesn’t appear to have reformed.

He has no reason to do so, and this sequence of events bears an uncanny resemblance to what I had previously learned.

The manner in which Leopold II gained control of the Congo serves as compelling evidence of how effective a king’s lies and incitement can be if he sets his mind to it.

Just look at the present situation. Not only James, who penned this letter, but even Lincoln has been deceived.

“If he is negotiating with the North, there must have been some contact with the British Empire through some channel. Have you heard anything?”

“I have heard something. But it’s not significant, so wouldn’t the parliament or cabinet be handling it? We never intended to occupy the Congo in the first place, and it would be beneficial in many ways if Belgium treated them well rather than it becoming a colony of another country, wouldn’t it?”

“Hmm…”

If even Victoria holds this view, France and Prussia would likely feel the same.

Indeed, Leopold II was astute, cunning, and remarkably adept at using the guise of justification to sway Europe.

I’m uncertain if he was this devious in the original timeline, but based on his actions thus far, his diplomatic skills are undeniably exceptional.

“France and Prussia may not necessarily desire to occupy the Congo, but they wouldn’t want to cede it to another country, and Leopold II has cleverly exploited this sentiment. Anyone could be deceived.”

A territory they desire to possess, but not to the extent of engaging in conflict with other major powers.

Therefore, if a nation like Belgium assumes control of the Congo, guaranteeing the interests of the major powers, the British Empire, France, and Prussia can all be reasonably satisfied and move forward.

After all, even if Belgium takes over the Congo, it won’t pose a significant threat to the existing great powers.

Furthermore, Belgium is voluntarily treating the black people of Africa well, improving Europe’s image, so there’s no reason to object.

It eliminates a potential source of future conflict and can also be used for self-promotion, making it highly likely that they will view it as killing two birds with one stone.

Of course, to my eyes, knowing the truth, it merely appears as a comedy of deception.

“Deceived? So, you believe Belgium has ulterior motives?”

“Well… perhaps not, perhaps so.”

“You seem rather certain for someone who says that.”

“Generally, people who appear overly kind are often the most suspicious, so it’s wise to be wary.”

“Hmm, but there are many kind people in the world, so shouldn’t you be so cynical? Of course, if you feel that way, there must be a reason.”

I am aware of Leopold II’s true nature due to my knowledge of the future, but others do not.

Moreover, even if I were to reveal Leopold II’s intentions here, it would be mere speculation and would only create unnecessary trouble.

Of course, considering the weight and credibility of my words, I could easily suppress someone like Leopold II, but reversing an already finalized negotiation is another matter.

Without more concrete evidence, it could be perceived as the tyranny of a great power.

“I should meet with the Prime Minister first. Would it be alright if I go to work for a bit?”

“Unless you’re traveling abroad, when have you ever seen me interfere with your work?”

“Haha… then I’ll go to work!”

I kissed her forehead lightly and immediately went to my office.

I thought things had been quiet for a while, but this occurred while I was gathering information to give to Edward.

It’s all thanks to Governor Parker’s loose tongue, who claimed that nothing would happen.

Just you wait and see.

* * *

[Leopold II, a philanthropist or a great ruler?]

[Is the Congo, the land of ivory and gorillas, really valuable?]

[Are black people really unintelligent? The answer is unknown!]

“How are things progressing?”

“Just average. I didn’t expect Your Majesty to be interested in this. I thought you weren’t particularly interested in Africa.”

“What are you talking about? Have you already forgotten whose work the Suez Canal is?”

“Well, the Suez… isn’t what we commonly refer to as Africa further south? Like the Congo over there.”

Wellesley, whom I met for practical work after a long time, showed me the already agreed-upon document with an indifferent expression.

“In fact, Prussia and the North are all supporting Belgium, so we had no reason to object. Leopold II is a sensible person, so he is willingly cooperating.”

“Prussia is also supporting Belgium?”

He even deceived that man Bismarck. He’s quite the character, the more I observe him.

If someone is this skilled at lying, I can’t possibly blame the deceived person.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sees no reason not to support it. We have already received assurances that our merchants can invest on a large scale, and they are demonstrating clear sincerity by granting us many conveniences, including tax exemption clauses. If we were to seize that vast land for ourselves, France or Prussia would object, and that would be a headache for them as well, so it’s better to simply pass it on to Belgium. We just need to invest with our merchants and reap the profits, right?”

“That’s correct. Other countries must have concurred with that sentiment.”

“Above all, Leopold II did not include clauses that he would monopolize all the profits even if he occupied the Congo. So, he intends to share the profits with the natives of the Congo. If we oppose this, we may be criticized for being a great power bullying others.”

After examining the contents of the agreement that Wellesley presented, I could clearly understand why other European countries were supporting him.

As he mentioned, even if Leopold II became the ruler of the Congo, a significant portion of the profits generated would be reinvested in the Congo.

To an uninformed observer, it would appear that this man is a righteous white man working for the betterment of the people of Africa.

I must admit, he has such meticulously crafted malicious intentions that he can deceive the entire world.

Moreover, he cleverly stimulated not only the philanthropic spirit towards Africa but also the hatred of white supremacists and the plight of black people.

What would happen if the Congo were developed in this manner and transformed into an ideal land for black people?

Black people suffering from all over the world would naturally migrate to a country exclusively for black people, and white supremacists in the United States secretly desired that.

The United States is a country of great white people, and they believed that black people, who were no longer even useful as slaves, were tarnishing this purity.

Having garnered support from all segments of society in this manner, he proposed an international conference to formally elect the ruler of the Congo, and public opinion was already largely in favor of him taking control of the Congo.

“What do you think, Your Majesty? I believe it would be better to let Leopold II handle the complicated management and we simply extract the sweet water appropriately. And even if the Congo develops, there’s no way black people in Canada will immigrate to the Congo, even if those in the North or South do, so there’s no need to worry.”

“That’s obvious.”

It’s not Wakanda [a fictional, technologically advanced African nation], and even if the Congo develops to some extent, would black people in Canada abandon their rights as Canadian citizens and immigrate to the Congo?

What I’m concerned about is not that, but the reactions that other major powers will exhibit when Leopold II’s true colors are revealed.

“Prime Minister, what if… people’s minds change between going to the bathroom and coming out, right? What if Leopold II suddenly goes mad after becoming the King of the Congo?”

“Well… wouldn’t we simply move on thinking, ‘I knew he was no different’? Anyway, the home country and other allied countries will only complain if they extract a moderate level of profit from the Congo. Not many people have high expectations for that land in the first place.”

Later, it will become known that rubber is abundant in half of the Congo’s territory, and public opinion will suddenly shift, but as Wellesley stated, the Congo is not such an appealing land to covet right now.

Leopold II himself was planning to export ivory as the primary revenue source for the Congo.

But now, as the demand for rubber explodes around the world, the volume of rubber exports from the Congo will skyrocket, so if we leave this man unchecked, there will undoubtedly be an uproar.

“Prime Minister, regarding the conference to discuss whether to grant sovereignty of the Congo to Leopold II, has the location been decided?”

“No. It hasn’t been decided yet.”

“Then let’s hold it here in London. I want to meet Leopold II and speak with him.”

It’s not that I’m excessively greedy for rubber, but I cannot condone Leopold II turning all the Congo residents into one-armed people, knowing full well that he will.

In this world, the only cool character without arms is Red Hair Pirates [a reference to the anime One Piece].

I won’t relinquish ownership of the Gum-Gum Fruit… no, the rubber tree.

Then, shall we assess how thick the mask of the greatest actor who deceived the world is?

In fact, my mask is quite thick as well.