I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 486

< Sunset >

It’s the way of the world: the moon wanes after being full, and the sun sets after it rises.

Ask anyone on the street, and they’d casually say it’s only natural, just how the world works.

I, too, was close to that mindset until recently.

But it seems people can’t be so detached when it comes to their own lives.

After hearing about James’s passing, I stayed in my office long after Wellesley left.

I feel a bit sorry for Kijo, but that feeling was completely different from when I heard about James’s death.

It’s inevitable; it’s like the passing of an acquaintance versus a family member.

No, even though I’ve experienced family deaths, this time the shock was particularly great.

When my father passed away, I was sad, but a part of me thought it was inevitable, given his age and health.

But I thought James was enjoying his retirement, and I subconsciously considered him to be of my generation, so perhaps that’s why I feel so conflicted.

“He said he’d enjoy his final years… he should have rested for at least another 10 years before leaving.”

He talked about retiring and relaxing in a warm, scenic place for the rest of his life, so what is this all about?

This makes me feel even more guilty for exploiting him until right before his death.

Ah, I’m depressed.

I went to my treasure trove and opened a bottle of Chivas Brothers whiskey, aged for a whopping 50 years using only the finest original spirits.

You couldn’t buy it with money, and I was going to show it off to James, saying, “This is the power of authority.”

“Ah… the aroma is amazing.”

I savored the rich aroma that filled the room, leaned back on the sofa, and lay diagonally.

“Edward will be very sad when he finds out.”

When it comes to uncles the child has been close to since he was young, it would only be Wellesley or James, and now he’s gone without even seeing the wedding.

Instead of making his beloved nephew’s wedding happier, he’s creating such a gloomy atmosphere; he’s a terrible person.

“Well, it’s about time for everyone to step down.”

Kijo started it, and James followed right behind him; there are plenty of people scheduled to follow suit.

Kim Jwa-geun, who was originally planning to attend [a social gathering or event], contacted me recently to say he couldn’t come because he had difficulty moving around.

They say that when a person can’t move their body as they please, it’s a sign that there’s not much time left, and that old man is over 70, so he’s definitely lived a long life.

In addition, Victoria’s mother’s health is getting worse, so it seemed like she was preparing herself [for the end of her life].

It’s already sad enough to get old, but with news of deaths pouring in from all directions like this, I feel even more depressed.

“But I wanted to share more drinks with you like this.”

What was the last thing we said to each other? I exchanged letters a few times afterward, but if I had known that would be our last conversation, I would have at least told him not to worry about his children.

We first met in Joseon [historical Korean kingdom] when we were young, and then we grew our business together in the British Empire, becoming top tycoons in the political and business world.

James was the only person who started with me in this era.

We started together, so we couldn’t end together, but I wonder if I subconsciously thought we would leave around the same time.

Maybe that’s why I feel so unsettled.

I emptied a glass, using memories of the past as a snack, and was about to pour another when,

“Are you still here?”

“I’m planning to stay until tonight. I’m sorry, but postpone anything I need to do until tomorrow.”

“You can postpone it until the day after tomorrow or three days later, right? Why until tomorrow again?”

“No. I should only drink until today and then get back to work.”

Victoria looked at me with pitiful eyes, then sat across from me and picked up a glass.

“About James…”

“Huh?”

“You were very close, right? I knew he was like family to you.”

“We were close. When I was young, he was like a father figure and an older brother, and since I met you, I think he was my closest friend.”

Perhaps my relationship with him was much closer than with any ordinary family member.

They say not to do business even with family, but that guy and I were truly soulmates.

“I was honestly very surprised when I first heard it. To hear that the real owner of the business empires owned by the world’s richest man was actually you.”

“When did I tell you that… so what did you think then?”

“First of all, the first thought was, of course, surprise, and the second was… wow, my eye for people is definitely right. You married incredibly well?”

As she raised her glass and smiled playfully, a smile naturally appeared on my face.

“Actually, when I first started, I didn’t intend to grow the business this much. I just thought there was a high possibility that there would be limitations due to my background, so I tried to break through with the power of money at the time, so I grew the size, but somehow it turned out like this?”

“Then couldn’t you just be satisfied and stop?”

“Satisfied? There’s no way. Even if I don’t, if I think about our children now, this is not enough.”

People now think that this golden empire will never collapse, but I, who knows the future, know that’s not the case.

No matter how much wealth the James Group owns now, how many of them will survive as lucrative industries when we move into the 21st century?

It’s important to keep up with the times and continue to grow the wealth we have now.

Well, in fact, even if I just hold onto the Suez and Panama Canals, Alaska, and the Middle East oil fields that I now occupy, I can still live as the world’s richest family in the 21st century.

“Are you going to see James?”

“It’s too far. He was in California, but I don’t have the time to go there with Edward’s wedding coming up, and in the first place, James’s children want to bury their father in his home country, so they said they’ll come here, so I’ll see them then.”

“Then let’s have a state funeral. He was like a brother to you, so shouldn’t he be sent off in a way that’s at least appropriate for that?”

“Even so, it’s not good for our relationship to be known to the public….”

“There’s no problem if we honor him and hold a state funeral as the British Empire’s greatest patriot, not as a friend of the British Empire’s consort, right? There’s also the will.”

“Ah, that’s right. There was a will.”

Was my head hardened because of the whiskey? Why did I forget the most important thing?

My identity is to analyze political and economic factors first, no matter what happened, but it’s the first time it’s been paralyzed like this.

As soon as Victoria saw that I had really forgotten, she closed the whiskey bottle.

“You must have been quite shocked. It’s the first time I’ve seen you like this. Just drink the glass you’re holding now.”

“I want to have one more drink….”

“So I’m telling you to have just that one more drink and stop. You’re going back to work tomorrow, right?”

“Yes. I understand.”

I had learned from long experience that if I didn’t listen when she came out this firmly, I would be scolded later, so I nodded obediently.

And I had completely forgotten, but I have to take care of the will-related work as well.

Even if I’m sentimental, I have to end my sadness in just half a day.

The death of a person who has a lot of influence in the world cannot simply be concluded with family members gathering to mourn and offer condolences.

When James’s will is revealed, an even greater shock than his death will sweep across the world.

Of course, I have to bear the aftermath entirely.

So he should have lived a little longer. Why is he throwing such a nerve-wracking thing at me until the very end?

“By the way, you. If I go first, will you be sad like this?”

“I don’t think that will happen… you have to see the dawn of the 20th century.”

“Where did you see that? You never know what will happen.”

“If you go first, I’m planning to build statues commemorating you throughout the British Empire’s mainland and colonies and visit only those places every day to pay tribute.”

“Are you kidding me? Just try it. I’ll never let you get away with it.”

After a light squabble, Victoria retaliated by saying that if I went first, she would turn an entire district of London into a memorial park for me and erect a golden, glittering statue of me there.

That’s a bit embarrassing. I have to do my best to live a long life, too.

* * *

In fact, the wealth that James had built up, although it was essentially my property, was beyond imagination.

His corporations, which stretched extensively throughout the British Empire and even North America, were practically a country in themselves.

The world’s entrepreneurs and politicians were watching with hawk eyes to see who would fill the void of the giant who moved that empire.

James has sons, but compared to him, who has shown remarkable performance so far, his sons have shown almost nothing.

James openly used his children only as figurehead directors, as if he had no intention of passing on the company to his sons from the beginning.

Because of this, the James Group has been constantly plagued by rumors of discord between father and sons, as well as rumors that he has hidden mistresses or other children.

However, as the will left by a huge entrepreneur who could control the world was revealed, people were finally able to know the reason.

-I have always been grateful for the grace of the British Empire’s Imperial Family, and I have never thought that I came to this position because I was good.

What is the reason why I was able to fully demonstrate my abilities and accumulate such wealth? Of course, it was possible because I was a citizen of the British Empire, so the wealth I have is no different from what I and the country have worked together to build.

I have always admired and respected His Majesty Killian, who works tirelessly for the country day and night, and I have been running forward with the desire to resemble him even a little, and I have been able to build this position now.

And if it is His Majesty, I have unwavering faith until the moment I leave this will that he will be able to use this wealth I have left behind wonderfully for the country and the world······.

It continued after that, but to summarize, it was a statement to the effect that all rights and shares as the actual ruler of the James Group would be transferred to me.

Newspapers from all over the world, including the British Empire, poured out scoops on this will that no one in the world had ever imagined.

Naturally, the British Empire focused on the patriotism of the world’s richest man, while other countries questioned how this could be possible, no matter how deep their patriotism was.

Some compared it to religion. Those who liked conspiracy theories also raised other hypotheses.

“Was the James Group’s growth supported by the British Empire’s Imperial Family from the beginning? Or was Chairman James in a state of being caught with a weakness by the Imperial Family!”

“It is human nature to want to pass on even small amounts of power or wealth to their children, so how can they take the entire company and hand it over? There must be a much more complex conspiracy involved!”

Bark as much as you want; will you even receive a speck of damage?

It was unexpected that James would leave so quickly, but the work of transferring the group to the Imperial Family has been going on for decades.

Of course, I thought about numerous reactions and variables, and I had already prepared everything so that once the transfer started, it would proceed without any obstacles.

First, James’s sons all testified in unison how much James usually revered the Imperial Family and devoted his patriotic loyalty.

-My father loved the country more than anyone else and thought of being loyal to the country as his pleasure. The very fact that he built his business was because he wanted to help the citizens of the British Empire live a little happier and more comfortable lives.

-Where is there a businessman who has guaranteed the rights and interests of workers as much as my father? That’s because my father pursued greater public interest rather than his own private interests and lived his life. We have been learning that way since we were young, so we have no regrets about our father’s decision!

James’s sons were allowed to take huge dividends as directors of the group, and they were given a huge amount of land that was more than enough to live on for generations.

And since they were even given aristocratic titles in recognition of James’s achievements, they would have no further complaints.

I read an article in the newspaper that was diligently packaging James as the greatest patriot in the history of the British Empire and threw it on the desk.

My head will explode once again to figure out how to run this again once the succession work is over.

I smiled bitterly and reopened the lid of the whiskey that Victoria had closed.

“It was a concern I never wanted to have forever, but now I can’t avoid it anymore.”

I muttered to myself and deliberately poured the strong whiskey in the glass all at once.

“Ah… my throat is burning.”

Then, I put the whiskey bottle next to the large photo of James, which was printed using the latest technology, and turned my back.

I want to drink with you again, but it seems like it will take a little longer.

I’m sorry, but I want to follow as late as possible.

Don’t think of me as being too heartless; just go and rest first.

Thank you for your hard work so far. My brother.