I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 496

< Uprooting the Source (6) >

It was labeled a grand affair—an attempted assassination of the Crown Prince—but upon closer inspection, it was merely a simple incident.

Thus, Gizella was accused of slander. But logically, who would be foolish enough to admit, ‘Yes! I did it’?

Even if they did, they would deny it, and if they didn’t, they would naturally vehemently deny it.

From the outset, the suspicion that the state was involved in such a matter isn’t something to be raised lightly.

Therefore, the British Empire didn’t officially protest but rather probed lightly to test the waters.

Strictly speaking, even this is a bit much, but considering the difference between the most powerful nation and a newly established country, this level of scrutiny isn’t a major problem.

“No, Your Majesty. Even if it’s just to test the waters, Serbia isn’t stupid enough to get caught.”

“Of course, they won’t get caught. I’m just trying to gauge their reaction.”

“Gauge their reaction? How?”

“…Well, there’s information coming in from the field, you know.”

“You’ve already planted people everywhere?”

Of course, I’ve planted them.

Actually, it wasn’t intended for this specific purpose. I had already dispatched investigators from James Detective Agency to Serbia to keep a close watch.

Using British Empire personnel could cause diplomatic problems if discovered later, but if a private company is investigating on its own, it can be easily explained away if caught.

“Your Majesty, tell me honestly. The protest in front of Crown Prince Rudolf’s residence, wasn’t that really instigated by you?”

“Prime Minister, do you think I would do that? Get a grip.”

“No… if not, why did you send detectives to Serbia?”

“Didn’t I tell you? If an accident that plunges Europe into a crucible of war occurs, it will definitely be in the Balkans. So, I’m just preparing in advance.”

“…So, you prepared, and then radical nationalists actually caused an accident and got caught? Killian’s famous prophecy has come true once again.”

Recently, he hadn’t shown such accurate predictions, but coincidentally, the pieces fit together well.

To be precise, it wasn’t that the pieces fit perfectly, but rather that they were forcibly carved to fit into the hole.

“Even if we raise suspicions, they will likely remain silent, but since we have already bribed some people within the military and administration, there will be some reaction. We’ll decide how to proceed based on that.”

“But frankly, isn’t that a stretch? All their reaction will amount to is ‘vehement denial’.”

“Wait and see. I have a plan.”

If my knowledge is correct, the Black Hand of Serbia [a secret military society formed in 1911] was formed a few years before World War I, so it shouldn’t exist now.

However, since the establishment of the Kingdom of Serbia was a few years earlier, similar organizations could exist, and even if they don’t, people with such ideas are bound to be everywhere.

Then, it’s easy to drag in the most dangerous one and fabricate them as the culprit.

From the start, this suspicion is just a feint to land a proper hit.

I never intended to score a valid hit with this.

“By the way, Prime Minister, I heard that Minister Disraeli wants to step down after this matter is concluded. Have you heard about it?”

“Of course. He probably told me first.”

“Is there something wrong with his health?”

“Fortunately, that’s not the case. I tried to dissuade him, but he seemed a bit tired, so I told him to do as he pleases.”

“I talked to Gladstone as well, and he seemed somewhat disappointed, whether it’s because the opponent he used to fight with is gone, or because he realizes that a generation is changing.”

In fact, the parliament doesn’t need the royal family’s permission, so I can’t stop Disraeli’s decision.

Besides, he’s not retiring completely but focusing on internal party affairs and nurturing young politicians, so what can I say?

Rather than tightly holding onto the party leadership and not giving anyone a chance, that might be more helpful to the British Empire’s political scene.

“Anyway, Prime Minister, just trust me and wait. I’ll make sure you’re praised as the greatest prime minister in history for extinguishing the sparks of a future world war early on.”

“That World War again. Just the name gives me chills, and frankly, I hope Your Majesty’s prophecy is correct. But even if it’s Your Majesty’s words, I honestly don’t understand. Our rational white civilization engaging in such a large-scale war over such trivial matters?”

Of course, they will. They’ll even do it twice because once isn’t enough.

If I said that much, even Wellesley wouldn’t believe me and would think I’m writing a novel.

“Originally, the more absurd something is, the more likely it is to happen. Prime Minister, you didn’t believe me when I told you about the American Civil War, did you?”

“That’s… but this is different.”

“It’s not different. Did the people of the Union even imagine that their country would be split in half because of the slavery issue?”

He still looked uneasy, but recalling the memory of the Civil War, he nodded as if it made sense.

Looking back, he realized that the more ‘Is this really possible?’ the things I had told him were, the more certainly they happened.

However, this suspicion, which was merely a stepping stone for the next move, brought about a completely different result than I had expected.

“Your Majesty. A report from Serbia. The military is in an uproar.”

“Of course, they’d be in an uproar. No matter how powerful we are, how angry would they be to be framed like this?”

Even if it’s a newly established country, a nation that has just achieved independence wouldn’t have low self-esteem.

Even if it’s the British Empire, they are ready to confront anyone who insults them.

Of course, if they were really asked, ‘Do you want to fight?’, they would back down, but that’s only when we have a clear justification.

It’s natural for them to be blinded by rage when they are being falsely accused of something they didn’t do.

“That’s not it. They are said to be in confusion, not anger.”

“…Confusion?”

“Yes. There’s a colonel we bribed and won over in the military, and this is confirmed information from him. The top brass is completely overturned, and they are bringing back all the officers who are abroad.”

“Really?”

This is an unexpected reaction. What are those guys worried about?

Did those guys really lead the Crown Prince’s protest?

While my worries deepened.

– Urgent dispatch to London. The Serbian military is secretly investigating whether there are any individuals who have carried out operations in the British Empire. If evidence is found, it has been confirmed that they have concluded to cut ties, stating that it is merely an individual’s deviation and has nothing to do with Serbia’s official position.

So, they are actually doing something shady behind the scenes, and they themselves are confused, right?

I just threw a jab, but their jaw got twisted.

I didn’t have a plan for this situation. What should I do?

With a mix of bewilderment and absurdity, I couldn’t take my eyes off the report from Serbia for a while.

* * *

To Bismarck, Serbia was frankly an insignificant third-rate country.

Since it was insignificant, he didn’t have any particular animosity, but personal feelings have no place in matters of national importance.

“We must use Serbia’s radical nationalism as a mirror to discard the Greater German expansionism rampant within us. To do so, we must sacrifice Serbia, though it is regrettable.”

“But Prime Minister, Serbia is frankly just a remote country that we in Prussia have never even heard of. Whatever those guys do, it won’t have much impact on us.”

“You’re talking nonsense. If you don’t know, you can be taught. That’s how politics is done.”

Bismarck’s plan for reforming Prussia was grand.

1. First, use Serbia to focus the attention of Prussia and Austria.

2. Use radical nationalists to cause large-scale disturbances within Germany and promote conflict between Prussia and Serbia.

3. Gather radical nationalists from both Serbia and Prussia, sweep them away, and include a large number of unhelpful Junkers [Prussian nobles].

In fact, Bismarck’s three-stage plan had been conceived and gradually implemented for some time.

Soon, there will be a wedding of the century with France, so the world’s attention will be focused on Prussia.

He had already bribed a small number of Serbians residing within Prussia to prepare.

With absolute safety guaranteed and a large sum of money offered, everyone was eager to volunteer.

Just looking at this, a cynicism arises that nationalism is just a hollow facade.

Frankly speaking, if Serbians or Croatians could have perfectly equal rights with Austrians within the Austrian Empire.

Would Serbians still want to return to Serbia to live?

If black people residing in Canada were told that they could find and return to their homeland in Africa, how many would actually ask for that?

I could bet my entire fortune that no one would step forward except for the extremely poor who are worried about what to eat today.

In fact, the British Empire is attracting various ethnic groups into their fold in that way.

Prussia, which adheres to Germanism, cannot use such methods, but it can learn a lesson from the Serbian situation.

Saying that Germans should unite can promote the unification of the federation, but at the same time, it can be too exclusive, so it should be done moderately.

If this opportunity is used well, Prussia can be reborn as a true German Empire.

Still, the only concern was that Serbia still had little recognition among Prussian citizens.

No matter how much they highlighted the Balkan situation and talked about the results of the Russian-Turkish War, most people were not interested.

“Serbia? Where is that country?”

“I don’t know. Is it a new country in Africa?”

“Really? Isn’t it an Asian country?”

“Judging from the fact that I’ve never heard of it, it must be very far away. Is it a little east of Greece?”

With most people’s perception like this, unless a really big incident occurs at the Crown Prince’s wedding, the progress of the plan will be hindered.

More firewood is needed.

While pretending to be relaxed in front of his confidants, he worried that the interest might fade away while only warming the pot.

“Prime Minister! Prime Minister! Serbian radicals are said to have caused problems in the British Empire! London is in an uproar, and the British Empire is protesting to Serbia!”

“Serbia caused an accident in London?”

That can’t be. Even if they are immersed in grandiose fantasies of Greater Serbia, there is no reason for them to cause a commotion in London.

“Something is wrong… no. That’s it. That’s what it was.”

Bismarck, who was second to none when it came to conspiracy and machinations, instantly deduced the entire process of how the current situation was unfolding.

Not long after conveying the plan to Killian to use Serbia to clean up internally, this incident occurred.

And the person who had a keen interest in the reorganization of Prussia and the issue of nationalism in the Balkans was none other than Killian.

Then, why did this series of events occur?

“That audacity and decisiveness to use even the Crown Prince of another country as a pawn on the chessboard without hesitation. He always surpasses my imagination and runs ahead.”

Yes. If there is a lack of interest, just create an incident.

Killian must have set up this stage and personally demonstrated it for him, who was hesitating because there was no suitable topic.

Since the other side is cooperating so much, he can’t help but show sincerity.

“Tell France and the British Empire. There may be a ‘minor production’ at the wedding, so don’t worry.”

Under the Prime Minister’s instructions, Prussia launched an operation to prepare a play that rivaled the British Empire’s self-made protest.