I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 495

< Uprooting > (5)

“Dear citizens, this is an attack against our country and its allies!”

“Goodness. What reckless people would commit such an outrage…”

Citizens who heard about Killian’s press conference gathered in small groups, sighing as they checked what was written in the newspapers.

“I heard that radical groups gathered in front of the Austrian Crown Prince’s residence and were arrested after causing a commotion?”

“Really? But why is that an attack against our country?”

“Hey, you always pretend to read the newspaper, but you can’t use your head. Think about it. The Austrian Crown Prince is a state guest, so if something happens to him, whose fault would it be?”

“Well, of course, it’s our fault for not protecting the guest properly… Ah, so those guys did that to undermine our status?”

“Of course. Do you know how old the Austrian Crown Prince is? He’s still a very young little master. What does such a child know about protesting?”

Killian didn’t add any further comments.

However, the basic outline of the incident was already known through the newspapers, and it was endlessly reproduced and amplified through word of mouth.

“I heard that they weren’t protesters but an armed organization?”

“Actually, the original purpose was to assassinate the Austrian Crown Prince, right?”

“It’s a good thing the armed police rushed in when they did, or something terrible would have happened!”

“Trying to kill a foreign crown prince in broad daylight in the middle of London? These guys are just crazy. We have to catch them all!”

Frankly speaking, one might say that it’s not a big deal that a foreign figure was attacked, but in this case, fuel was constantly being added to the fire in a very clever way.

At first, it was just news that people were arrested for holding a violent protest in front of the Austrian Crown Prince’s residence.

Up to this point, most people reacted with, ‘Tsk, tsk. That’s why those who engage in violent protests can’t succeed.’

However, it was further spread that the Austrian Crown Prince was still a child and closely related to the British Imperial Family.

On top of that, breaking news spread that Gisela, who had just become the Crown Princess, was shocked and fainted upon hearing that strangers had rushed to her brother’s residence.

Of course, this was fake news, and a correction was briefly issued the next day, but even before people paid attention to it, even bigger news spread in succession.

[Continued slander against the Austrian Imperial Family. Is it the Crown Princess’s turn this time?]

[It has been confirmed that excessive defamation against Crown Princess Gisela has been spreading in various countries.]

[“The attack on Crown Prince Rudolf and the slander against the Crown Princess are connected. We must thoroughly investigate and uproot the masterminds! What is the police doing?” A sharp rebuke from Congressman John Russell.]

[“Crown Prince Rudolf, who is still young, is said to have complained of difficulty breathing due to the sudden violent protest. If something had happened to the Crown Prince, the British Empire would have owed Austria an unpayable debt. We must immediately strengthen the security system and find the mastermind.” Gladstone, the leader of the Liberal Party, showed an unusually strong reaction.]

[A conspiracy by those who do not welcome Austria and the British Empire growing closer. Who are the likely suspects?]

A mind-blowing topic that grows bigger as fuel is constantly added.

Before anyone knew it, Rudolf became someone who suffered from breathing difficulties due to shock, and after a few days, even bizarre rumors circulated that he was wandering between life and death.

“Um… Prime Minister, is His Highness really okay?”

“Of course. If you’re worried, you can meet him, can’t you?”

“Well, His Highness doesn’t really like me visiting…”

“There are strange rumors circulating, but I’ve asked for a correction article to be published, and His Highness will be attending a charity event with Edward and Gisela, so those strange rumors will soon subside.”

No matter how much it is shaken from the outside, the strong alliance between the British Empire and Austria does not budge.

As Wellesley assured, Crown Prince Rudolf, who appeared a few days later, bravely stated that he was not afraid at all and that this incident would not cause any problems in the friendship between the British Empire and Austria.

Regardless of East or West, there is a strong perception that young children should be protected, and this is proven by the fact that labor laws regarding children were passed first.

Citizens could clearly feel how much goodwill the young Crown Prince had towards the British Empire.

“He’s still young, but he’s a brave Crown Prince.”

“To be so confident even after experiencing something scary, he will become great later on.”

“I heard that he’s siblings with the Crown Princess? Look at how gaunt the Crown Princess has become. I wonder how worried she was about her brother’s situation.”

“Oh, those guys who deserve to be torn apart and killed. Even if they are royalty, they are still young.”

Gisela, who had been dieting with all her might in preparation for her wedding with Edward, became the tragic heroine whose face had become half its size due to worrying about her younger brother.

Killian didn’t say much other than a simple press conference, but the citizens of the British Empire had already fully prepared to support the government in catching the culprit.

It was exactly fifteen days later that news broke that there was a secret organization in Serbia to hinder Austria’s integration efforts.

* * *

The rivals of this era who once growled at each other whenever they had a chance.

If there are Goku and Vegeta, Naruto and Sasuke in the 21st century, there are Disraeli and Gladstone in the 19th century.

The two had been clashing since they were young and continued to clash until they were over 60, and even ordinary citizens as well as parliament were well aware of their rivalry.

Of course, there were those who mocked, saying, ‘What kind of rival is it when the Conservative Party wins every time?’

In particular, ardent supporters of the Conservative Party often belittled Gladstone with this logic.

However, supporters of the Liberal Party also had something to say.

-Isn’t Disraeli just Wellesley’s puppet anyway?

A magical spell that relentlessly scratches the reverse scales of Disraeli’s supporters.

-Isn’t Disraeli just an ordinary person who couldn’t even become Prime Minister once?

Wellesley was also the one who played a significant role in regaining power from the Liberal Party.

Wellesley was also the one who pushed out the Prime Minister and reorganized the party around himself.

Wellesley was also the one who won the war against Russia, enjoyed the greatest heyday of the British Empire, and reigned as the longest-serving Prime Minister in history.

If there was a reason why Gladstone could not be compared to Disraeli, Disraeli’s supporters didn’t really have anything to say.

Of course, that didn’t mean they admitted it.

“You bastard! How dare you call Disraeli, the longest-serving minister in British Empire history, a political companion of His Majesty Killian, favored by Her Majesty Victoria, and called the father of the Conservative Party, your friend? Why do you keep comparing him to Gladstone, who has never won an election?”

“Well, aren’t they both the same in that they’ve never been Prime Minister once? And Gladstone has also been a minister, right?”

“No, that’s just Prime Minister Wellesley feeling sorry for him and throwing him a seat.”

Supporters were still fighting and clashing, but the changes of the times were progressing rapidly, and now the two were no longer the energetic politicians they used to be.

If one of them had been Prime Minister, they might have continued to clash until now, but neither of them is at the top anyway.

It was true that Wellesley had completely entrusted Disraeli with party management issues, but literally, Disraeli was currently focused on internal party affairs.

This was also why he was called the father of the Conservative Party.

“Hmm… Are you really going to stop paying attention to foreign affairs after this?”

“That’s right. You’ll know when you get to my age, right? One year isn’t the same as it used to be.”

“Anyone would think there’s a 10-year age difference. There’s only a 5-year difference.”

“Let’s see in 5 years. Maybe you’ll be groaning then too.”

Disraeli announced that he would completely step down from international issues after visiting the Crown Prince and Prussia.

And he was saying that instead of actively intervening in domestic politics, he would shift his focus to nurturing the young people of the party.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“That’s not it. However, I heard that health doesn’t return once it’s completely deteriorated, so it’s better to prepare in advance. And I’ve already done enough, so what more greed would I have at this age?”

“So you’re going to step down?”

“Why not?”

Anyway, Wellesley would continue to serve as Prime Minister, and even if Wellesley stepped down, it was unlikely that Disraeli, who was older than him, would get his turn.

In the first place, Disraeli had been perfectly dividing his work with Wellesley, mainly handling internal party affairs and diplomatic issues, so it didn’t seem like he would be able to do a good job as Prime Minister.

It would have been possible when he was younger, but it’s too much now that he’s just been doing the same thing and has become accustomed to it.

“…Since you’ve made a decision after thinking deeply, I don’t think there’s anything I can add.”

“You’re still thinking of running, right?”

“Of course. I can still do it for another 20 years.”

“You’re disgusting. How about passing it on to someone with potential?”

“You’re talking nonsense. How can I pass it on if there’s no one to pass it on to?”

Even though it was the second party, the Liberal Party couldn’t really have any influence on the Conservative Party’s events.

The reason why the discussion seems fierce is only because the Conservative Party is listening to the opposition party’s arguments as much as possible to avoid being called a dictatorial legislature.

Many talented and ambitious young people were flowing into the Conservative Party, and the Liberal Party was having a hard time stopping this.

This is why it’s scary when a one-sided structure solidifies.

Even people who originally had thoughts about the Liberal Party can’t help but waver when considering the realistic factor of winning the election.

When talent is concentrated, the talent pool itself differs, and this becomes a difference in competitiveness, and the snowball rolls endlessly.

It would be one thing if it was an accumulation of about 10 years, but since this has been going on for 20 or 30 years, the Liberal Party was in desperate need of young politicians.

“Our party has recently seen quite a few promising young people, so we’re trying to nurture them. They are young people of the same age as His Highness the Crown Prince, and these people must grow up strong so that they can support this country well after we step down.”

“Has it already come to that? Hmm… I didn’t even realize how much time had passed since I’ve only been losing every time.”

“So why didn’t you just stick with the Conservative Party? Why did you bother moving to the Liberal Party and becoming the head of the snake?”

“Well, it’s because I couldn’t agree with that side at all, and I felt like I would die of frustration.”

Even though they are talking like this now, they are not exactly close or feeling a sense of kinship.

It would be most appropriate to define them as people who can give each other a few words of blessing on the way, even if they are hateful people, because they have lived face to face for decades.

“Anyway, I’m planning to step down to the second line when I return from Prussia, so try your best to become Prime Minister once and retire. I don’t think it’s possible no matter how I look at it.”

“You can only know the result of chess until the end, and you can only know the result of horse racing when it enters the goal. Let’s see.”

The two people, who had abilities that were by no means insufficient to become the masters of the era, but had to be satisfied with the position of second-in-command for the rest of their lives, exchanged glances and let out a bitter smile.

It’s not that they didn’t want the position of number one, but what could they do?

There was too strong a competitor sitting at the top of the British Empire.

* * *

[Death rather than integration]

The power of those who work day and night to build a great Serbian empire based on Greater Serbianism has increased in an instant.

It is an organization that is directly backed by the country’s military.

In addition, the leaders of the organization were all middle-ranking officers and promising officers who were doing well in the military, so it would be strange if the organization did not grow quickly.

“Agitation, manipulation, sabotage, violence. Our goal is to use everything necessary to prevent Austria from embracing minorities!”

“Don’t worry. Our comrades who have already infiltrated Austria will revive the desire for independence of our compatriots who are oppressed and castrated.”

“Perfect. Now, if we can only get a picture of those disgusting Austrian bastards oppressing the Slavic people, our goal will be easily achieved.”

Having established the shape of a full-fledged organization, they secretly planned to dispatch agents to heighten anti-Slavic sentiment in Austria.

Only then will there be a clamor within Serbia to embrace the oppressed compatriots.

However, there was an unexpected variable here.

“What! What the hell are you talking about!”

“That’s what I want to say! What kind of idiot sent people to London to attack the Crown Prince! Was it you?”

“Who would do such a stupid thing unless their head was full of shit!”

When the British Empire made an announcement that seemed to be targeting the Serbian secret organization, the officers in the organization fell into a natural misunderstanding.

-Ah! What an idiot who couldn’t stand it and went on a rampage!

“Minister! Austria has sent a letter of protest.”

“Pressure is coming in to confirm whether the British Empire’s announcement is true.”

“Petar! Call Petar! You said you were sending agents to Austria, so why are you causing trouble in the British Empire!”

The foreheads of the Black Hand executives, who were in crisis at the same time as their launch, were being carved with deep grooves comparable to the Bosphorus Strait in real time.