I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 62

Fair and Square (4)

“A spy sent by the Whig Party approached me some time ago. I knew they were trying to influence members of our party, so I was about to dismiss him immediately. But then they made me a completely different offer.”

“Why would they make you a different offer than the others?”

“That’s obvious! If you had any sense, you’d understand!

That intense look, determined to erase the shame of being a traitor to the nation.

O’Brien continued speaking rapidly, almost before I’d finished my question.

“Do you think the Whigs or Tories [the two main political parties in Britain at the time] don’t know that I’m considered radical even within the young Irish faction? Of course, they figured I’d be the most receptive, so they made me a different offer.”

“Really? Even so, you’re asking us to believe that the Whigs made an offer that would benefit Ireland?”

“Ha… You’re so frustrating. Do you think the Whigs did it for Ireland’s sake? Of course, they were trying to gain something for themselves.”

Honestly, I’m curious.

How did the Whigs manage to entice such a fervent Irish separatist?

“I’ll listen to everything and then decide, so keep talking.”

“Alright. The Whigs’ primary goal was to depose O’Connell [Daniel O’Connell, a prominent Irish political leader]. When I heard that, I scoffed, but when I heard the conditions they offered, I had to listen further.”

“Conditions? Like, they’d give Ireland independence or something?”

“……”

What, why aren’t you answering?

That was purely a sarcastic question, but could it really be true?

“Do you think the Whigs are crazy enough to give Ireland independence? Are you suggesting I’m completely brainless?”

“Maybe? I said that at first too, but after hearing the Whigs’ story, I changed my mind a little. What do you think is most important to a political party in parliamentary politics?”

“Winning the election, of course.”

“Exactly. But the Whigs have completely lost Ireland, so they can’t even dream of becoming the ruling party for the time being.”

I don’t really disagree with that.

Even on the mainland, public opinion is split 50:50 these days, and the Whigs can’t exert any power in Ireland, which holds over 100 seats in Parliament. That’s the reality they face.

Moreover, the Repeal Association [an Irish political movement advocating for the repeal of the Act of Union], which could be a swing vote, is strangely friendly with the Tories and shows no signs of breaking away.

As O’Brien said, if things continue like this, the Whigs’ position will only worsen, and there won’t be any suitable opportunities for a comeback.

“So, the Whigs will take over Ireland and then grant it independence when they become the ruling party?”

That’s like saying a company will definitely lower prices if it makes a profit. There’s a limit to nonsense.

O’Brien, provoked by my sarcastic tone, raised his head.

“No, no. The Whigs want to depose O’Connell, but they don’t want to wipe out our entire party. I will take over the Repeal Association after O’Connell, and I will take over the Tory-held northern Ireland. Then we can get about 70 to 80 seats, and we can push the Whigs to become the ruling party with that.”

“And in return, the Whigs will give Ireland independence?”

“Yes. From the Whigs’ point of view, it would be better for them to maintain power even if Ireland secedes.”

“You’re only seeing one side of the coin. That’s only true if the current structure remains fixed. If the Whigs can’t prevent Ireland’s independence, will the mainland public forgive them? They’ll say those incompetent guys should never be given power and punish them in the next election.”

Frankly speaking, that’s putting it mildly. They’d be branded as traitors who sell out the country, and they wouldn’t be surprised if they were attacked.

The Whigs wouldn’t be so stupid as to not consider this, so there must be some other hidden agenda.

If O’Brien hadn’t been so eager to dispel my doubts to prove he wasn’t a traitor, it might have been difficult to get to the truth.

“That won’t be a problem either. Of course, the Whigs aren’t just trying to make Ireland independent. They’re going to reveal that O’Connell’s downfall was all a Tory plot, and use that as an excuse to start a large-scale riot throughout Ireland. The Whigs will blame all of this on the Tories, so they don’t have to shoulder the burden of Irish independence alone, do they?”

“……”

My head is starting to hurt. I knew he was extreme, but who would have imagined he’d go this far?

But if I think about it from the perspective of a radical Irish faction, I can’t deny that this is a tempting offer.

Only Daniel O’Connell is being targeted, so if they get backstabbed by the Whigs, they can always side with the Tories.

Moreover, it’s a method that perfectly aligns with O’Brien’s usual belief that violence should be used actively if necessary, so he must have been even more tempted.

“Ireland gets the independence it wants, and the Whigs sacrifice the Tories to build a foundation for long-term rule, not just regain power. It’s an ideal cooperative structure where both sides win. So there’s no chance of betrayal, and the Repeal Association can rest assured that it has the option of sticking with the Tories if it just maintains its seats. It certainly sounds plausible.”

“I told you? I accepted this offer for the sake of Ireland’s independence. I respect O’Connell, but we can’t achieve independence his way. Saying we won’t shed a drop of blood for independence is like saying we’ll win a war without a single casualty.”

“……If you start a large-scale riot, there will inevitably be people who are sacrificed in the process, right? Quite a few, too.”

“You’re probably thinking this now, right? That I’m all talk and not willing to shed my own blood. No, when the riot breaks out, I’ll be at the forefront with my compatriots more than anyone else. If I die in the process, that’s even better. The flames of violence will burn even more fiercely.”

O’Brien also readily told me how he would depose O’Connell.

During the election period, they will hold violent rallies in northern Ireland and manipulate things so that O’Connell is blamed as the mastermind.

This way, O’Connell will be arrested by the authorities, and around the time the trial is over, they will release fabricated evidence that this is a Tory plot.

What would happen if Daniel O’Connell, the leader who enjoys the support of everyone in Ireland, is wronged by a Tory plot?

Moreover, if the people who plotted such a scheme were the Tories, who had been pretending to cooperate with Ireland all along, and their past actions were just tricks to deceive them?

If someone takes the lead, starting a nationwide riot will be a piece of cake.

And judging by the madness in O’Brien’s eyes, which he calls conviction, this guy was definitely not just some trash who was all talk.

He was really planning to stab his respected mentor in the back and use that as an excuse to plunge all of Ireland into chaos.

Suddenly, a conversation I had with O’Connell before flashed through my mind.

-Nonsense! I don’t need public opinion that has to be fueled by sacrificing the lives of countless compatriots!

When asked if he could sacrifice the Irish people for independence, he answered without the slightest hesitation.

Realistically, O’Brien’s words may be right, but I can’t help but sympathize more with O’Connell’s ideology.

It’s not just because I have to take Ireland completely. Ahem.

Of course, contrary to these inner thoughts, I opened my mouth in a tone that even felt a bit touched.

“…To think you were thinking about the future of the country that much. We misunderstood you because it’s a method we can’t even imagine.”

“So you finally understand our ideals? But surely you’re not just going to apologize with words after causing such a mess, are you?”

“Of course. Didn’t I say? Unlike Daniel O’Connell, we don’t hesitate to use violence if necessary. It may sound shameless, but we’re also serious about wanting to make Ireland independent. If you need it, we’ll gladly lend you our strength.”

“Then why don’t you take off that mask and show your face?”

“I’m sorry, but that’s impossible. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but I can’t reveal my face because of my position. I need to get permission to reveal my identity.”

I considered taking off the mask here and pretending that I was actually a radical who wanted independence, not just autonomy.

But that would be too much of a stretch.

I had to add too many layers to convince O’Brien that this was the truth.

It was best to just say that there was a real boss and that I was also in a position to receive orders.

“Are you not the person in charge?”

“Think about it logically. Even if you can’t see my face, you can probably guess how old I am just by hearing my voice, right? Do you think someone as young as me could lead an organization like this?”

“That’s… true. Then you can at least tell me why you can’t show your face, right?”

“Because it’s too different from my publicly known position or image. Can you understand that much? Of course, I know that you can’t trust us if I hide my face like this. So I’ll show you sincerity in another way.”

A sign of trust that is much more reliable than showing that face.

Magical paper that also serves as a reason why I can’t easily show my face.

O’Brien’s eyes widened at the sight of the 50-pound notes pouring onto the table.

“That’s about 5,000 pounds. I’ll give you all of this as a way to express my condolences for this commotion. And if you need more money to carry out the plan, we’ll cover that too. Will you believe our sincerity with this much?”

“R-Really?”

“Yes. If you borrow money from the Whigs, you don’t know how those guys will act later, so it’s better not to borrow from the British, at least when it comes to funds. And if we push you this hard, it’ll be good evidence that we’re sincere, so wouldn’t that be satisfying for each other?”

“…Okay. Then how should we contact you in the future?”

“I’ll send someone as soon as I get permission from our boss. Until then, it would be helpful if you could write a detailed plan and calculate the funds needed.”

There was a handshake, and we parted ways with smiles.

I spent 5,000 pounds at once, but considering the benefits I’ll get from this, I didn’t feel any regret.

O’Brien naturally decided to keep today’s meeting a secret from the Whigs, and I gave the coachman who had been through the ordeal an additional 100 pounds to comfort him.

“Ah, right. What should I call your organization?”

“The Irish Liberation Front. That’s what we’re calling it for now.”

“The Irish Liberation Front… Okay. I’ll keep that in mind. But if you guys are willing to target nobles or active members of parliament, there’s someone you should definitely deal with, right?”

“If you tell me his name, I’ll consider it positively.”

I don’t actually intend to get rid of him, but this is a good opportunity to hear who the young Irish faction considers a thorn in their side.

But why do I feel like I can guess whose name will come out even before I hear it?

“He’s a despicable traitor who betrayed his compatriots and sided with the British, even though he has Irish blood. Most of all, the most heinous thing is that he spreads the subtle perception that he can succeed under the British system.”

“…So there was such a despicable guy. What’s his name?”

“You’ll know it, of course. Earl Aaron, Killian Gore. If you really want Ireland’s independence, that’s a name you must eliminate.”

I thought something like this would happen.

But even so, I think that’s too harsh of an assessment.

Above all, isn’t it too much for a kid who will be an adult next year?

“Earl Aaron is certainly someone to watch out for. But there are many who believe he is still young, so we were in the stage of observing him.”

“No. He’s a viper’s cub. If you show mercy because he’s young, you must not forget that he could kill us with deadly poison someday.”

“……”

I was going to acknowledge that he had a firm belief, even though he had dangerous ideas, but I guess he’s incorrigible.

He doesn’t hold back anything, even things he shouldn’t say in front of the person himself.

Well, whatever, the conclusion was already decided anyway, but thanks to him, I feel like I can approach the task with an even lighter heart.

“Okay. As you said, it’s foolish to leave someone who will be harmful in the future alone. I promise you. You will never have to face Killian Gore as an adult.”

“Good. I feel relieved to hear that.”

O’Brien laughed heartily, as if he liked my sincere promise, and left the basement with the guidance of his men.

It’s not really a reward for honestly confessing his plan, but anyway, I didn’t lie at the end either.

O’Brien, as promised, you probably won’t live under the same sky as me.

Still, I feel better because he went back smiling like that.

* * *

About 30 minutes after O’Brien left.

“The cleanup is complete.”

“There wouldn’t have been anything that could have been traced, right?”

“No. I took him to the place where the carriage was originally located with his eyes covered, so it will be impossible to find out where the building we were just in is.”

I came out of the back of the building and took the carriage that James had prepared in advance back to the mansion.

“I got more results than expected, but the scale is too big, so I’m a little overwhelmed. What should I do with this?”

“Are you going to tell the Prime Minister? If you play your cards right, you might be able to completely destroy the Whig Party.”

“Do you think someone who made such a meticulous plan wouldn’t have considered the risks? He must have prepared for the possibility that O’Brien would fail or leak the plan.”

I can guarantee it.

Even if we mobilize the Tories here to pressure the Whigs, they will definitely cut their losses and escape.

They probably sacrificed O’Brien and prepared a way to safely extricate themselves.

And even if the plan succeeds, I don’t think they have any intention of granting Irish independence.

If I were them, I would instigate a large-scale riot and use that as an excuse to wipe out the young Irish faction all at once.

In the end, no matter how things end, there is no happy ending for O’Brien and the young Irish faction.

“Then what are you going to do? It’s a bit of a shame to just turn in O’Brien and end it there.”

“Keep it a secret from both the Prime Minister and O’Connell for now. If they move without knowing anything, the rat hiding in the Whig Party will be deceived into thinking it was a success and crawl out of its hole.”

No matter how many scenarios you can anticipate, if you get blindsided by something completely unexpected, there’s no way to deal with it.

Let’s set up a board with delicious bait wriggling enticingly.

Let’s see who can’t resist and takes the bait first.

From now on, it’s fishing time.