Chapter 117

Chapter 117

The Chairman's Daily Routine (2)

I silently waited until Mr. Fleming signed the document.

He seemed to ponder briefly then slowly put down the pen and handed the document to me.

In fact this process wasn't necessarily needed, but made him sign to give the feeling that something is progressing at least.

Whether relieved by this Mr. Fleming's expression also fully softened.

Only next recalling another worry seemed just due to his introverted personality.

"Now what happens, chairman...? I seem unable to return to the company anymore."

"Wait a moment. I'll solve that problem soon too."

After becoming chairman there's exactly one good point. Exactly being able to use the telephone.

I lifted the receiver of the telephone on the desk.

Briefly a crackling sound seemed to be heard then the operator answered.

- This is the exchange room. Where shall I connect?

"Whitehall 26. Please deliver to Colonel Ludwig."

- Yes, understood. Please wait a moment.

I confirmed Mr. Fleming's expression with a side glance.

He was looking at me with eyes full of longing, as if the appearance of me holding the telephone was quite amazing.

That is well the telephone still wasn't an absolutely universalized technology.

Even at each university one or two maybe?

To install the telephone one had to directly pull the line from the exchange office, and also pay enormous usage fees every month.

What kind of method this is, first if I call the exchange office, the operator finds the jack of the other party's telephone line and matches each other, such manual exchange work was needed.

So the cost is expensive. Because the minority of people using the telephone have to share and bear the maintenance cost of this vast telephone network.

Ordinary people absolutely can't dare to use, an item only power holders can use. Literally the symbol of living power.

This also the government installed because I became as much as chairman.

But there was a problem too.

Said wait a bit, but even after a few minutes no response from the opposite side.

That is well even at the Admiralty someone has to directly run and find Colonel Ludwig, and the colonel also has to move to the place with the telephone.

The telephone of this era this is the problem. Hard to expect immediate response!

...Said wait to Mr. Fleming a bit embarrassing. Should have just told from the start to reply from that side.

Shall I just hang up?!

Anyway even if hanging up that side seems will call again—

- Haa, this is Ludwig. Sir Durand! What matter calling me?!

"Ah, hello, Colonel? Have one thing to ask."

Ran? Wasn't a matter to that degree?!

I briefly waited until he caught his breath.

And asked him a few matters, and Colonel Ludwig readily answered.

Persuasion was just one word enough. Just well chase out the fraudster and amicably share the profits that talk.

And finally added one more word. I guarantee this technology will definitely succeed.

With my guarantee added Colonel Ludwig also started definitely seriously accepting the success of wireless communication.

From the start as much as the Admiralty invested seeing the utilization possibility of wireless communication, if only the technology is alive no reason to refuse.

That was the end.

"Ended. Now rest assured and do the work you were doing."

"Rest assured...?"

"Yes, because from the Admiralty side a summons will fly to that Mr. Marconi immediately tomorrow on charges of breach of trust. For the time being will be very busy."

This is why one shouldn't carelessly receive the government's money.

If by any chance getting dumped, a structure easy to put all kinds of responsibilities on.

Still uncivilized modern society so judges also mostly hammered on the government side for government lawsuit cases. A world where fair trials can't exist.

So to do business in London making a backer first is important, looking from that point I thought I also now might have gained a bit of power enough to look after someone's back.

Mr. Marconi, sorry but the possibility of going to the expulsion ending I drew was high.

Probably would put down everything accumulated in Britain and board a ship to Rome.

The fame he has accumulated until now would return to nothing with one media play of the Admiralty.

But Mr. Fleming became dejected again.

"...Then this wireless research seems unable to proceed anymore until everything is solved. Research equipment and records all at the company..."

"Well, for the time being seems so. Just better not to face him. Don't know what harm will do. Still don't worry. Will end in not even a month."

"T-that so...! If a month fortunate!"

Now no international court or such, if international patent disputes occur usually no choice but to file lawsuits locally.

And usually if entangled in patent disputes with power holders, put down everything and gave up or ended at obtaining a bit of share. So many patent thieves or fraudsters in America or Britain, and J.P. Morgan also tried to wage patent wars without hesitation.

Whether judge or jury if cooking with money enough and in the American western region cases of mafias threatening with force also.

Looking like that this was a very gentlemanly case. Just returning the rights to the original creator.

But this pushover inventor, the sadness of research blocked immediately seemed greater than the joy of recovering rights.

"My advice is up to here. Take this recommendation letter and find Colonel Ludwig of the Admiralty. Whatever happens with that Italian person the Admiralty will help."

"Thank you! Chairman! Really received a great favor! How to repay this favor..."

"Okay. Later do research well and raise Britain's status. If possible that wireless communication, want to see definite results before next June. If work goes well as promised I'll do definite investment."

"I'll try! Absolutely won't disappoint!"

The words I just spat, slightly didn't look like Chairman Balfour?!

Didn't know would follow such words with my mouth, as expected if becoming the person in charge the position makes the person so.

Anyway no more business with this person. The help I can give all given, after that a matter fate will do on its own.

I raised the body from the seat to go eat dinner.

That moment a bizarre sound heard.

Grumble, grumble.

I was also hungry but not to the degree of making that degree of sound.

Instead Mr. Fleming made a very embarrassed expression.

"Ha, haha... Running around here and there and holding a long argument so missed meal time... Excuse me, chairman."

"Well, nothing to be sorry. A natural matter. But if still haven't eaten, will you do with me?"

"Meal?! How can I dare with the chairman..."

"Hey, well no relation. Let's go, quickly. No guarantee of entertaining delicious food but instead as meal price tell more of that wireless communication development story."

"To taste the cooking of the renowned chairman in London... Thank you! No stories to tell, but I'll explain with best effort."

What, by personality thought would decline two or three more times?!

He did the polite refusal exactly only once, and smiling brightly quickly followed behind me.

Expression change so quick to the point of wondering if the person who was immersed in serious worries until just now is correct!

This clearly an expression expecting really delicious dinner!

Somehow somewhere heard the false rumor that Jean-Paul Durand's cooking is the world's best, the heart wanting to correct that rose to the neck but soon gave up.

"Anyway follow. To eat have to move to the lodging next building."

* * *

Naturally, at the lodging there were a few more people waiting for my cooking.

Because Mr. Edison and Mr. Tesla have been staying here from a month ago already.

And I was in the middle of directly cooking with my hands and entertaining one meal a day meaning for them to concentrate on refrigerator research and produce better results.

There having about one Mr. Fleming participate no particular problem.

Looking at the appearance seemed not properly eating even meals so a bit hard to just leave.

"But why the baron..."

"Here, because this friend Edison said will entertain delicious and special dinner and followed, here also your building...? Interior very luxurious so thought a hotel!"

"Ah, so. Well so. If waiting about 30 minutes more I'll serve dinner."

"Thank you! I also the day of eating that rumored cooking you make will come!"

Glasgow University natural philosophy professor William Thomson, aka Baron Kelvin.

Heard the words that the two people are proceeding additional research on the refrigerator together with this old professor, but didn't know would continuously get along.

And somehow the additional guest I brought also seemed to know the existing waiters.

"Who is this! Isn't it Mr. Fleming!"

"Teacher Thomson! Long time no see!"

Looking turned out both people electrical engineers and formal members of the British Royal Society already acquainted.

"But why you with Sir Durand?"

"That... A problem arose in my research and the chairman tried and helped."

"What problem? Recently heard talk of immersing in something from your friends, was that a matter that problems arise?"

"Yes, well somehow entangled in patent right dispute..."

"What! Tell that talk in detail!"

The people who heard Mr. Fleming's explanation all indignant like their own matter.

That was so, patent right thieves or fraud acts too frequent not only in Britain or America but all over Europe so if a good scientist would have the memory of getting hit in the eye once.

Especially Edison and Tesla came chased to Britain due to similar problems so got angry more greatly.

"Such a fraudster guy have to tie to a pole and burn! Jean, no Sir Durand, by any chance can't somehow change the law?"

"No... Still I'm not a member of parliament. Regrettable. Laws only members can make, right."

"If your degree seems can easily enter the lower house even if running immediately?! Saw the newspaper article? After your investiture everyone seems only talking about you!"

Now can definitely assert.

The top influencer in London is not Arthur Conan Doyle but exactly me, Jean-Paul Durand that fact.

Really seems going crazy that talk! On earth why is everyone's my private life so curious?!

Because people so crowding inevitably even stopped the parents' Chicken and Chips business forcibly and evacuated to the manor of Windsor Castle.

A bit hard to send only the two so gave 1 year's annual salary to a few newspaper sellers and sent safely following degree.

So my restaurant also inevitably temporary closure extension.

A bit more public opinion has to subside to do something.

That was also the reason I'm diligently performing the chairman duties. Because nothing separate to do.

"That really a good idea! Sir Durand! Revise the patent law for scientists in the British Empire! Then numerous scientists of the world entangled in patent disputes will crowd to the British Isles! This is a matter only you can do! Sir Jean-Paul Durand!"

"Ah, haha... I'll go make dinner now!"

No, what do I even do such matters?! Until last month I was just a simple chef!

Unable to bear everyone's sparkling eyes I hurriedly retreated to the kitchen.

And there discovered Miss Edith dabbling something and painting items.

"Ah, what doing there—"

"Shh-."

Miss Edith put out a finger to me and made a gesture to be quiet.

Then the sound of chatting comfortably in the dining room started flowing into the kitchen.

"...Ah, thinking about it still haven't introduced us. Teacher Thomson seems already acquainted so skip, said Mr. Fleming? I'm Thomas Edison. And this friend here is Nikola Tesla."

"E-Edison?! Tesla?!"

"Know us? Indeed if not knowing that more strange, hahaha! This Edison of the light bulb! Finally a person who recognizes right away in London appeared!"

"I, worked at Mr. Edison's lighting company! Although an old matter."

"Company? Where company?"

"At the London branch..."

"Ah, name familiar then, there was a friend who was active at the London branch ten years ago and spread my light bulbs all over Britain that was exactly you!"

"I, Mr. Edison! Mr. Tesla! Will you look at this once?!"

"What's that?"

"A current conversion device I made utilizing Mr. Edison's light bulb technology! The name attached diode!"

"Wait wait wait, this by any chance your item utilizing my Edison effect...! A-amazing! Where is this device used?! Show in detail!"

Just simply people who hit it off?

What wanted to hear?

"...Not saying much special."

"Ah, just curious. Curious, right. A cool meeting between inventors! By any chance more cool refrigerator ideas come out!"

What's a cool meeting?!

No, that also what imagining hiding alone and eavesdropping?!

After my investiture, Miss Edith has been in a state seeming something broken continuously.

Especially more so after being introduced to the refrigerator Mr. Edison and Mr. Tesla made.

Now that the restaurant entered indefinite business suspension, she almost lives in my lodging kitchen and fell into infinite love.

Exactly one week ago, to my refrigerator Mk.2 newly born through Mr. Royce's hands.

I opened the refrigerator she completely fell for and took out a large meat piece.

That was seasoned pork ribs marinated in soy sauce last night.

Pork ribs.

Today's dinner exactly this.

Even now to the inventors who occupied my dining room and fell into chatting samadhi will fully show the umami essence of modern Korean food and make unable to flee anywhere.

Then my eyes, realizing what the paint piece Miss Edith was making, stopped the action.

"Uh... Miss Edith, what were you making now?!"

"Ah, this? Looks fun, right! How? I also want to showcase this at next year's exposition! Chairman Jean! My new invention, possible to exhibit together...?"

What she was making was a board game.

And that using dice.

Naturally I almost fell over in surprise.

This also an item that shouldn't exist in this era.

Miss Edith smiled freshly at such my reaction.