I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 519

< Sunset of the 19th Century (2) >

Asia is, after all, Asia.

Most of those who came to Great Britain with dreams of success realized the harsh reality within a few months.

Anyone studying abroad in London was typically either a young master from a family with influence in their home country or a talented individual recognized for their potential.

However, the special treatment they might have received back home didn’t extend to London.

Even the children of noble families who wielded power in Japan were just another face in the crowd of Asians in London.

No matter how hard they tried to speak English, their accents always betrayed them, making them the target of subtle ridicule.

Even though they weren’t openly criticized for being from influential families overseas, Asians were particularly sensitive to the prevailing atmosphere.

“Oh… this is very delicious!”

“Ah, is that so? I’m glad it suits your tastes. Next time, let’s explore London (go hither and thither).”

“···Pardon? What does that mean?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. It’s an old expression, so it might be hard to understand. It simply means let’s go here and there.”

They would deliberately use words that Koreans or Japanese people studying English couldn’t easily understand.

“Ku, could you please give me water?”

“Excuse me? What did you say? Ah~ you’re asking for water. I’m sorry.”

They would feign misunderstanding of the pronunciation and make them repeat themselves.

There were countless ways to subtly give someone the cold shoulder without being overtly rude.

However, since their own pronunciation wasn’t perfect, they couldn’t seriously protest the way they were treated.

It was always possible that the listener genuinely didn’t understand the pronunciation and needed clarification.

“Damn it. These snobby white bastards. Were they born speaking English or what?”

Ito Hirobumi, the Japanese Consul-General in London and chairman of the Asian Scholarship Alumni Association, slammed the door roughly and bit his lip.

“Consul-General, is something the matter?”

“No. It’s just that there were some annoying fellows as usual.”

Ito, from the Choshu Domain, had broadened his horizons by traveling through various countries since the establishment of the new government in Japan.

He was a trusted confidant of Okubo Toshimichi, arguably the most influential figure in Japan, so his path to success was virtually guaranteed if he returned home.

It was no exaggeration to say that he was a figure destined for the position of Prime Minister after gaining experience in his home country, leveraging his time as the Consul-General in London.

However, even Ito was just another “yellow monkey” from the East when he first arrived in Great Britain (a derogatory term used at the time).

Of course, no one was foolish enough to voice such thoughts openly, but there was a palpable feeling you got just from interacting with people.

“I met with the people involved in the Asian Scholarship event this time, and do you know how it went?”

“They pretended to cooperate as usual, but in reality, they didn’t follow through properly, did they?”

“That’s right. Those guys don’t see us as equals in the first place. Tsk, if we had even the national power of Spain, we wouldn’t have suffered such humiliation.”

“With patriots like you, Consul-General, honing your skills, won’t we one day be able to proudly stand as equals among the great powers?”

It had to be that way.

However, the international community wasn’t generous enough to simply allow the emergence of new great powers.

In order for Japan to advance, there needed to be a compelling reason for other great powers not to impede Japan’s rapid rise.

The breakthrough Ito envisioned was to bring Joseon (ancient Korea), an ally of the British Empire, into a close alliance.

Both countries were of similar size and development, and their imperial families were also connected through marriage.

The fact that such a prominent figure was the chairman of the Asian Scholarship Association hinted at these underlying intentions.

If the two countries combined, the population would already exceed 50 million.

What would happen in 20 years if they continued to grow at their current pace?

If they united, they could become a force strong enough to rival most of the great powers, excluding France and Prussia.

“Where… are there any promising students among the international students?”

As Ito scanned the list, one person with a remarkable background caught his eye.

Syngman Rhee, a distant relative of Killian from the Joseon imperial family.

He had a name that Ito felt compelled to investigate.

* * *

Syngman Rhee, who was studying in London, was increasingly aware of the power his title held.

After it became known that he was a distant relative of Killian, Syngman Rhee was never ridiculed for his small eyes or imperfect English pronunciation.

He had no recollection of experiencing the unpleasant treatment that most other Asians endured.

Moreover, Ito, the Japanese Consul-General and chairman of the international student alumni association, even sought him out, a mere student.

“Yes, yes, is studying in London proving difficult for our student Syngman?”

“Every day is enjoyable and rewarding.”

“Did you study English extensively before coming to London? Your English is quite good.”

“I didn’t have special tutoring, but I believe that English proficiency will be a crucial skill in the future, so I dedicate more than 6 hours every day to studying English.”

“That’s a very insightful perspective. As you said, there will be a significant advantage for those who are fluent in English compared to those who are not.”

Most international students gradually became proficient in English reading.

And most of them reached a level where they could understand spoken English without much difficulty.

However, unless they had studied in England or Canada from a young age, overcoming the distinctive accents of Asians took considerable time.

The problem was that the children of high-status families often found this process embarrassing and didn’t invest much effort into it.

Because they were ignored and ridiculed due to their language skills, they tended to associate with people from their hometown who shared their language.

Or they would gather with Asians who could empathize with their experiences of discrimination, creating a supportive environment.

In particular, Koreans and Japanese people, who historically had conflicts in Asia, often became close friends.

This was because when one of them shared a story about being discriminated against by those “disgusting white people,” everyone genuinely felt their anger and empathized, fostering a sense of camaraderie.

However, Syngman Rhee instinctively recognized that English proficiency was a key to unlocking power and influence.

By leveraging his connection to Killian, he could easily gain access to the British upper class, and by speaking English fluently like a native, he could win their favor.

“Does student Syngman aspire to attend university here?”

“Yes! My goal is to graduate from Oxford University, where His Majesty Killian himself studied.”

“Having the world’s best university as your goal is certainly ambitious. By the way, His Majesty will be making a brief appearance at the international student alumni event this time, so how about we greet His Majesty together there?”

“It would be an honor, Consul-General!”

Ito was attempting to use Syngman Rhee’s background to gain an audience with Killian, and Syngman Rhee also had no reason to refuse, as he could use Ito to make a favorable impression on Killian.

The two men, despite being more than 30 years apart in age, shared the same ambition: to speak with Killian, even if just for a moment.

However, they had no idea that Killian already knew their names quite well.

* * *

“Your Majesty. This is the speech you will deliver at the Asian international students’ event.”

“Let’s see… this length is appropriate. I can offer a few words of blessing and then return to the palace, correct?”

“Wouldn’t it be unnecessary to have a meal at such a gathering?”

“Still, if they all return to their home countries someday and assume positions of influence, it will be beneficial to show them that we value them.”

To Asian international students in London, I was like a beacon of hope, a source of comfort, and a symbol of success.

How much hardship and pain must they have endured living within the imposing walls of the world’s most powerful nation?

So, my presence, which even those snobby white people admired, could only appear even more significant.

And if they felt that I was taking care of them, their loyalty towards me would only deepen.

The reason why I attend the international student event every year to give a congratulatory speech is precisely for that reason.

“Come to think of it, I heard that the chairman of the alumni association changed this year? What was his name?”

“Yes. The newly appointed Consul-General took over as chairman this year. I believe he studied in London for a while, and his name is written on this invitation.”

I took the paper handed to me by the servant, skipped the introductory remarks, and looked at the name of the sender written at the end.

[…Your Majesty’s faithful servant, Ito Hirobumi, who yearns to hear Your Majesty’s voice more than anyone else.]

“···Huh?”

“Do you happen to know him?”

The servant, noticing my momentary surprise while holding the letter, asked with a puzzled expression.

Of course I know him.

There are few people in the 21st century Republic of Korea with even a basic education who haven’t heard that name.

I felt it when I met Tojo Hideki’s grandfather before, but now I truly sense that the 20th century is just around the corner.

Such a gathering of familiar names… I wonder if there are any other familiar figures I know in London.

Intrigued, I decided to drastically revise my plan to simply recite the congratulatory speech and return to the palace.

* * *

“···Therefore, always remember that the future of your countries rests on your shoulders, and constantly strive forward. And I hope you will never forget that peace and harmony are paramount at all times…”

The congratulatory speech was successfully delivered.

There were people who wiped away tears or trembled with emotion at every word I spoke, but I’ve grown accustomed to it by now.

Is the reason why Asians are so fond of melodramas perhaps because they are naturally more emotional?

There wasn’t a single line in the congratulatory speech that warranted tears, yet the room had transformed into a sea of emotion.

Anyway, while everyone was caught up in their feelings, I made a special exception today and stayed for the meal, accepting people’s greetings.

“Your Majesty! It’s such a great honor that you stayed so long!”

“Ah, that’s enough, go and get me something to eat. No, there are people eating over there, so I’ll go there myself.”

“Yo, it’s an honor! But the food preparation was insufficient because we thought Your Majesty would return immediately…”

“I can eat sashimi or kimchi, so don’t worry.”

I calmed down the flustered guides and approached the table laden with food, and the people who were eating hurriedly put down their utensils and bowed their heads.

Among them, a man who was devouring what appeared to be kimchi stew with gusto wiped his mouth at lightning speed and blurted out.

“Your Majesty! Thank you so much for visiting us! I, Ito Hirobumi, swear once again at this moment that I will never forget today when I greeted Your Majesty and will dedicate myself to the peace of Asia until my dying breath!”

Goodness, Ito Hirobumi bowing his head while eating kimchi stew.

As I was momentarily stunned, Ito, who was watching me, hastily brought forward a young student who was eating sushi next to him.

“Your Majesty, this student is a relative of the Joseon imperial family and a distant relative of Your Majesty.”

“···Oh, really?”

No wonder such a young student is here; it must be because of the prestige of being my relative.

But somehow his features are strangely familiar… where have I seen him before?

As I stared at his face, the young student put down the sushi he was eating and bowed politely.

“I greet the elder of the family. My name is Syngman Rhee, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, nice to meet you. Syng···man?”

A combination of Ito eating kimchi stew and Syngman Rhee eating sushi.

I scratched my head for a moment, wondering what this bizarre situation was.

Should I tell them to get along well with each other?