I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 8

The Familiar Scent of Home

Aside from getting a general sense of what London was like, there was only one thing I could focus on right now.

“Young Master, shall we begin our studies with enthusiasm today?”

“Yes! Please guide me.”

“You learn so quickly, Young Master, that I believe you’ll soon be ready for advanced studies. I’ve been a tutor for well over a decade, but I’ve never encountered a student who grasps concepts as rapidly as you do.”

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to your excellent instruction.”

Ultimately, the most crucial skill for navigating this world is language.

In a society where language is ineffective, even the most intelligent individual becomes as if deaf and mute, unable to comprehend or communicate.

The faster I could convincingly master English, the easier it would be to integrate into society and the fewer limitations I would face.

Of course, I still needed to refine my pronunciation, and many words from this era differed from their modern counterparts, necessitating genuine learning.

Because I focused diligently on my studies without trying to be overly clever, my tutor developed a habit of praising me daily.

“My Lord! The Young Master is a prodigy! A true genius!”

“Hahaha, is that so?”

“I have never taught such a bright student in all my years. In just a few months, he has not only mastered simple conversations but can also read fluently and apply grammar correctly. You must be immensely proud to have such a gifted son.”

“Hahahaha! Well, I’ve never been called unintelligent, but I certainly wasn’t this exceptional. I wonder after whom this child takes to be so clever. Do you think he would be prepared to enter Eton or Harrow?”

“Absolutely! Students typically enter at the age of twelve or thirteen, so the Young Master still has nearly three years to prepare. That’s more than sufficient time. I will remain by his side and guide him.”

What? Was my father considering enrolling me in Eton College?

My eyes widened at this unexpected news, and the Earl smiled warmly, patting my shoulder.

“Ah, this must be the first time our son has heard about it. Eton and Harrow are undoubtedly the most prestigious schools in the country. They are institutions where children of your age gather to live and learn together.”

“So, I’ll be living with friends there?”

“Yes. It’s a place reserved for the brightest children in the nation, so forming friendships there will undoubtedly be a significant advantage for Killian in the future. The entrance exams are challenging, but your teacher assures me that our son will have no difficulty, so I felt it was time to share this with you.”

Perhaps he was being considerate, not wanting to pressure me with the expectations of attending such prestigious schools from the outset.

I was somewhat taken aback, but I didn’t feel any resistance.

Securing a place at a super-elite school like Eton would only benefit me, not hinder me.

Besides, those prestigious institutions are filled with children from all sorts of upper-class families, as my father mentioned.

The current British Empire thrives on connections to an extent that modern times can’t even compare.

If I cultivate strong friendships there, they will undoubtedly become invaluable connections that money can’t buy.

In many respects, it’s advantageous to gain entry if I can.

“I understand. Then I’ll study diligently and strive to gain admission to Eton College. I want to be a son that Father can be proud of.”

“Yes, yes. Whose son is so intelligent and speaks so endearingly? If you require anything, I will provide it for you, so don’t hesitate to ask at any time.”

“Yes, thank you. I’ll dedicate myself to my studies.”

Thinking about it, my father is a nobleman with his own estate in Ireland.

He’s staying here for my sake, but he can’t leave his estate unattended indefinitely.

Therefore, if I were to enter Eton or Harrow and reside in a dormitory, my father could return to Ireland with peace of mind.

Of course, that’s still a distant prospect, but it’s always wise to plan ahead to avoid rushing later.

Following that day, I diligently adhered to my tutor’s instructions and began receiving instruction in subjects beyond English.

It was simply studying to catch up on the curriculum appropriate for a ten-year-old.

Latin proved somewhat challenging, but mathematics and music were so straightforward that it became a concern.

What if I progress too rapidly and my tutor or father mistake me for a genius and encourage me to pursue a scholarly path?

I aspire to ascend to the pinnacle of British society, not to become a globally respected scholar.

Yet, even at this level, I was constantly showered with praise and admiration from my tutor and father.

“Incredible, Young Master! You’re already solving these problems!”

“······.”

“Grasping the principle of multiplication in just one day!”

“······.”

“Goodness, mastering division in a single day! Are you truly a genius?”

Everything is satisfactory, but being lauded as a prodigy for solving math problems that a ten-year-old should be able to handle is starting to make me feel self-conscious.

The tutor raved that even this demonstrated the Young Master’s inherent humility, which further deepened my father’s trust in me day by day.

Recognition earned through multiplication and division.

Everything is fine… but it’s still a bit embarrassing.

* * *

Anyway, all is well, and having received abundant affection from my father and becoming acquainted with the layout of London, I felt confident.

Still, I was only a ten-year-old child, so I couldn’t venture out alone.

James always accompanied me, and thanks to my father’s instructions to indulge my whims, he bought me whatever treats I desired and escorted me wherever I wished to go.

Then one day.

As usual, while strolling through the downtown area with James, I paused upon noticing a building with a peculiar ambiance.

“Young Master, why have you stopped here?”

“Oh, I was just curious about what this place is.”

“This is not a place that the Young Master should be concerned with. There’s a street with delicious food nearby. Shall we go there instead?”

“What? Is it a place that would be inappropriate for me to see?”

Could it be similar to those establishments I glimpsed in Soho last time?

No. If it were such a place, it wouldn’t be operating in such a prime downtown location.

James’s reaction is akin to parents preventing their child from consuming junk food, but isn’t it human nature to crave what is forbidden?

“I suspect I’ll only become more curious if we simply leave. Wouldn’t it be easier to understand if you explained why I shouldn’t know about it?”

“Well… Haa, I understand. The Young Master is correct. In short, this is a gambling house. Gambling is an act of squandering one’s life by wagering money and competing. It’s a place to waste your life engaging in such futile activities.”

“I’m familiar with gambling. It existed in Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom] as well. But this place appears quite grand and elaborate from the outside.”

“There are numerous private gambling houses like this in London. In the past, high-end social clubs primarily served that purpose, but these days, with the market’s expansion, these gambling houses are flourishing everywhere.”

I wondered why I detected a familiar scent. It was a gambling house.

I once heard that gambling was so prevalent in England that nearly all forms of gambling, except for horse racing, were banned starting in the 19th century.

Every outcome in the world has a cause, and if gambling was so widespread, it makes perfect sense.

I recall that gambling became illegal around the mid-19th century, so the gambling houses in London now must be enjoying their final days.

Thinking along those lines, I’m intrigued again.

Since I won’t be able to enter in a few years, I wonder what transpires inside.

Since ancient times, gambling and fraud have been considered two sides of the same coin.

I, too, am a skilled gambler who has acquired techniques from frequenting countless gambling tables in my past life.

Sometimes I participated in games as a player, and sometimes I manipulated the outcomes as a dealer.

Of course, I was an irregular who preyed on other gamblers, primarily disrupting gambling tables where other gamblers were active.

“Hey, James. Couldn’t we just go inside and take a quick look?”

“As I mentioned earlier, this is not a world that the Young Master should be exposed to. Certainly, social clubs also involve card games and horse racing for money. But that’s only for true gentlemen with strong self-control, and most people squander their fortunes and descend to the depths of despair.”

“That’s precisely why I want to witness it firsthand. That way, I’ll learn to avoid such activities. Shouldn’t I take a look now, accompanied by someone who can provide guidance like you, James, so that I can develop a more accurate sense of values?”

“That sounds plausible, but… Young Master, you don’t simply want to observe, do you?”

To be honest, that’s accurate.

Why would I stop in front of this particular building among so many others?

Would a sparrow simply fly past a mill [a place where grain is ground, often used metaphorically to suggest a place of activity or opportunity]?

Isn’t it because some instinct ingrained within me is reacting to this gambling house?

Eventually, James, realizing that he had no choice but to show me the gambling house, sighed and opened the door to the building.

A middle-aged man who was observing us from inside approached us swiftly.

“What? Children are not permitted here…”

The man, who was waving his arms to usher us out, immediately altered his expression upon noticing my neatly tailored attire.

“Are you perhaps a nobleman?”

“Can’t you tell? The Young Master expressed interest, so I was going to give him a brief tour, but I suppose children are not allowed? In that case, we’ll leave immediately.”

“If you are a nobleman, you could become a valued customer in the future, so of course you are most welcome. What does age matter? Please come in and take your time looking around. Hahaha!”

Following the man who was laughing heartily, I could see the expansive interior of the gambling house at a glance.

Even if a child entered, it would be conspicuous, but no one paid us any attention.

Everyone was fixated on the cards, dice, and beads before them, speaking loudly.

James clicked his tongue, regarding the scene with disdain.

“I’ll explain from now on. That’s a game where you roll dice and predict the outcome. You can think of it as throwing your life away along with the dice.”

“Um, um, I see.”

“And that’s a card game. There are various types of games, but they all share the common characteristic of irresponsibly entrusting one’s fate to luck and drawing cards.”

Did this guy lose a significant amount of money while gambling, or does he know someone who did?

The bitterness in every word is undeniable.

After that, James led me around every corner of the gambling house, diligently preaching about why gambling is a waste of life.

Of course, I fully agree, but humans are creatures whose greed knows no bounds and who repeat the same mistakes.

At least the people filling this place will continue to frequent it until gambling is outlawed.

Just as I was about to become lost in such thoughts.

A man engrossed in a card game at the central table, which appeared to be a VIP area, caught my eye.

More precisely, the dealer in front of the man captured my attention.

It was only a fleeting sense of unease, but when I focused, I immediately understood the reason for my discomfort.

Look at these guys. Are these dealers engaging in some shady sleight of hand?

The people seated at the table were focused on the cards, narrowing their field of vision, and they lacked the awareness to notice.

But I can perceive everything.

When I paused and observed for a moment, I could see that they were carefully manipulating the game to avoid detection.

It’s not about draining them dry unilaterally but about allowing them to experience the thrill of victory occasionally while steadily taking their money bit by bit.

This isn’t a skill they’ve only practiced once or twice; at this point, it can only be interpreted as collusion between the dealer and the establishment.

I wondered why my feet had stopped naturally in front of the building.

Well, it would be rather strange if I, who am not a professional gambler, had a premonition simply by passing by a gambling house.

This cool and heavy feeling, as if I’ve returned to my hometown after a long absence.

My partner spirit, which is more considerate than anyone else in this world, was wriggling and screaming with joy.