Chapter 124

Chapter 124

Political Monster

I pondered briefly then ultimately decided to finish by hand.

"I'll somehow solve the political problem, so Sir Lister please put the proposal first. If the proposal enters room to try something arises."

- Understood. Will run to the Royal Society and gather scholars who will support.

"Thank you."

- Wish quickly solved. Received a report that dysentery and cholera outbreaks increasing recently, seemed a problem related to that. If wrong another serious health crisis might hit Britain.

"Agree. Time is the problem."

Intended to pull the feet and shake the puppet from behind, but clearly became bothersome.

First let's grasp the situation a bit more.

I rode the carriage and ran to Whitehall.

* * *

Whitehall, Department of Food Innovation.

I like ordinary London citizens had no particular interest in government administrative agencies, and didn't know what civil servants do, so ultimately the place I could find was only here.

Funnily the current Britain almost no central administration existed.

The pride of being the country that first succeeded parliamentary politics in Europe so strong, so dumped all many matters the central government should take charge of to local governments and local councils.

The most absurd point the fact that even the capital London the rest districts except 'City of London' treated as local autonomy zones.

No, capital, right?! If capital combining administration efficient, right?!

Sir Samuel's explanation itself sounded somehow absurd to me.

"East End water problem? That naturally the jurisdiction of the London County Council."

"There, doesn't the central government do some role separately...?"

"Hmm, there's the Local Government Board but know only doing about administrative supervision role."

"Then if a serious health crisis occurs nationwide?!"

"Then... Then, hmm, in fact I also don't know well. Then won't a special emergency committee be organized in the parliament...?"

Why the world's 1st country so sloppy? Because here Britain?!

Don't know whether because lived in a centralized country in the previous life, but at least health problems the central should firmly hold, right?

The reason privatization rampant in Britain also this.

The central government avoids responsibility, and local governments lack manpower so ultimately no choice but to outsource to private companies.

Subcontract of subcontract of subcontract of subcontract.

This a much worse structure than simple manpower subcontracting. Because even core services the state should take responsibility with taxes entrusted to private companies.

The words efficiency and cost reduction soon equated with decline in service quality or unclear responsibility location.

Well even so no thought of touching even such minor systemic problems.

Impossible unless the government overturned once, right?

Ah, one thing certain.

If something like Spanish flu bursts once in this situation Britain gets wrecked and goes to the goal.

Sir Samuel slowly nodded.

"Sir Durand, know you reside in the City of London, why the East End problem...? That's that, the hot sauce matter, seems flowing in a quite fun direction in the government."

"Hot sauce...?!"

"Probably will confirm in the newspaper soon. No matter Sir Durand hard to tell more with my mouth. Seems some embargo matters to be processed in the parliament entangled."

Ah, the gochujang matter.

Even while I was away business preparation proceeding steadily under the lead of the Department of Food Innovation.

In fact lately head complicated with exposition preparation, so I completely took hands off that matter.

Instead dispatched Lee Ha-yeon and entrusted the role of developing know-how so can go over to mass process.

If that goes well promised to send to medical school with my back, so she also lately seeming very motivated commuting.

Well a good matter for her too.

But now my interest not that.

Can't continue pretending not to know and drinking that dirty Thames River water ahead that talk?!

Before my mental health polluted and wrecked had to hurry and pass the chlorine disinfection matter first.

"More than that, go to the London County Council, right? Is there a health bureau there separately?"

"Yes. There's the council headquarters at Spring Gardens. From here walking roughly... Will take about 20 minutes. Don't know the health bureau matter."

"So. Just ride the carriage and go."

"Shall I guide?"

"Okay. You'll be busy."

"Still if intending to act something me accompanying better. I have a minister position too, and a councilor too, and operating business on a quite large scale as a businessman. Quite a lot of connections in London too."

"No, what calling Shell just ‘large’ scale... Well, then shameless but please."

After the launch of the Department of Food Innovation, Sir Samuel's fame also skyrocketing not knowing the sky high.

Here various laughable backgrounds related, the starting point of everything him as soon as becoming minister allied with Chairman Balfour and started all-around beating a person called William D'Arcy.

William D'Arcy.

He a businessman who immigrated from Australia, a tycoon who earned big money due to gold mine development, a person who through a broker colluded with the Qajar dynasty of Persia and this summer, obtained the exclusive oil mining rights of all Persia and made all London noisy.

The problem Sir Samuel also as an oil businessman did similar tricks in Persia.

But he failed, and D'Arcy succeeded nicely.

Probably pride cracked a lot, or seemed resentful.

Sir Samuel with power on his back openly stepped forward for retaliation against D'Arcy.

Tax investigation, tax rate adjustment, property seizure threat, mining right invalidation attempt, contract legality investigation, monopoly prohibition law violation charges filing...

Ultimately D'Arcy surrendered, and the Persia mining rights absorbed and integrated into Sir Samuel's Shell Company at a bargain price.

Honestly in 1901 Britain where a businessman who if the government thoroughly shakes no dust comes out?!

Sir Samuel also words European food innovation, the reason craving power the true intention originally not that goal seemed... Well still performing the minister position quite diligently so no particular relation for me.

Here the butterfly effect occurred again.

In the case of the Persian dynasty, no dissatisfaction because Sir Samuel readjusted the profit rate D'Arcy negotiated at 16% to 17%.

In the case of the British government, nodded when Sir Samuel promised to accumulate some of the oil mining profits as a fund.

In the case of the Russian government, competing with Britain over Persia's oil mining rights, when Sir Samuel slightly adjusted the profit rate of the kerosene he imported took action of temporarily calming dissatisfaction for now.

In the case of the Chinese government, very dissatisfied because passed the damages of all these measures there and raised the kerosene export price.

And the Persian dynasty struggling with chronic fiscal deficit, wanted additional fiscal supplement by selling even agricultural products in bulk, this time the Department of Food Innovation dug into this gap.

As a reply to the profit rate adjustment in Persia, agreed to export olive oil, pistachios, walnuts, almonds etc. nuts and raisins, figs, various spices, and wheat overflowing due to good harvest to Britain at low price for the next 5 years.

Of course this plan before execution and ships not even departed from there yet, but the market reaction very fast.

Various agricultural products waiting for the opportunity to pile in warehouses and sell expensively poured out cheaply, so completely unrelated other crops also lowered prices crying and eating mustard...

As a result London prices stabilized!

No what stabilized London prices with just shaking one person?!

Honestly speaking I dozed in high school economics class so don't know how such a chain reaction occurred with just one negotiation document, but anyway the result so.

Anyway in the case of British citizens, a happy ending of wallet burden reduced and became happy.

Sir Samuel's fame couldn't not rise.

Great success in stabilizing London prices simultaneously with the launch of the Department of Food Innovation!

The government also didn't miss this achievement and greatly reported...

The South Africa withdrawal not adversely affecting government approval ratings, but rather rebounding also the reason various backgrounds entangled like this.

Of course only excluding the dissatisfaction of me, Jean-Paul Durand who got hit by stray bullets here.

Anyway the famous Minister Samuel saying will directly provide support fire, no reason to refuse.

Thus we decided to head to Spring Gardens together.

* * *

Clearly coming to the London County Council the atmosphere quite different from the calm Whitehall.

Civil servants running holding documents here and there, shouting sounds from all directions, arguing sounds, responsibility passing sounds etc. etc.

If by any chance today's evening newspaper will be greatly reported but clearly fire fell on the instep.

If knew like this would have secretly stabbed the newspaper company first and come, but forgot.

We were guided to one meeting room where a water health countermeasure meeting being held.

There councilors all crying out with necks.

"Water cutoff! Have to do water cutoff even right now!"

"Water cutoff?! Know how big the damage from that?! Factories will stop! All factories in the East End! That damage amount alone will reach hundreds of thousands of pounds!"

"Better to stop even one day than supplying contaminated water, right!"

"If sued?! What to do after that?!"

"Then the councilor saying to repeat the 1858 tragedy now?!"

"Bring the person in charge! Where did the management supervision go?!"

"Health bureau! Contact the health bureau! Tell to bring countermeasures!"

Completely a shambles. A feeling of not even knowing we entered the meeting room fighting each other.

I indifferently looked at that scene and sighed.

These people, all uniformly only talking about money.

No one interested in the health problems of East End citizens?!

Of course there well many people earning one day and eating one day so factories stopping also an important problem. Because one day's daily wage flies.

And many factories turning with steam turbines so if water cutoff clear adverse effects.

Production delay possibility of causing additional losses due to export contract violation, distribution delay etc., so naturally don't want to take responsibility.

But looking far water cutoff correct. Can't exchange health safety and money, right?

After the Great Stink incident a manual prepared for when such problems recur already made.

Installed steam engine pumps in all filtration reservoirs, and prepared so if an emergency occurs can drain water outside.

The problem the council that should implement that that shape, so nothing decided and spinning in circles.

I started counting heads one by one inside.

That councilor there, ate bribes from the water supply management company.

That person seems separately turning a factory in the East End.

That human the indirect person in charge? Doing all kinds of efforts trying to escape from responsibility.

Watching such scenes live, gradually the inside started becoming nauseous.

"Sir Durand, did some fun thought float?! Why smiling—"

"Ah, did I smile?! No, not fun at all."

I unconsciously covered the raised mouth corner with the hand and lowered.

Those guys, annoying so all put on the Durand kill list.

"Anyway those people won't do. No higher rank?"

"The pitiful person standing on the podium not knowing what to do seems the chairman."

Clearly so.

A shabby impression man wiping cold sweat with a handkerchief standing on the podium. If not going to hit why holding a hammer in the hand?!

That, just a pants president. No real power at all seeming.

"This no answer. Just let's go out."

"What thinking of doing? You seem wanting to intervene in the East End water management incident."

"Have to press from above. Those people also ultimately belong to some party, right. If the party gives instructions won't follow?"

"T-that so."

"The year before last London County election, the Liberal Party won, right?"

"Hmm, probably so. That side not my area so don't know well. Thinking of going to the Liberal Party office...?"

"Seems have to. Do you know where the Liberal Party office is?"

"The Liberal Party has no official office. Usually parliament members freely do party activities in personal offices."

"Uh... Then where to go to meet the members?"

"If now time, going to the 'National Liberal Club' in Westminster correct. Soon afternoon tea time."

A new club name.

Let's remember this name well.

"Sir Durand, really going?! That side really a dangerous neighborhood."

"No choice. If leaving as is the matter doesn't end. I'll go directly to the Liberal Party, persuade the party leader and make this incident solved in the Liberal Party name."

"Understood. Then I'll also accompany to the end."

"You'll be uncomfortable. I'm okay."

"I'll protect."

"No particular need to."

"There's a matter promised with Chairman Balfour. Let's chase."

"Hmm, understood."

I shrugged the shoulders and ended the words.

* * *

Westminster, National Liberal Club.

Westminster a neighborhood first visited after the investiture. And this club boldly located right in front of Buckingham Palace.

Entering the club interior simpler than thought.

Because from the entrance immediately recognized me, Chairman Jean-Paul Durand and Minister Samuel.

Minister Samuel also no party affiliation, and I also the same, so no particular to mind.

We entered the club interior guided by one kind employee.

Clearly here matching the name a much freer atmosphere than the Carlton Club.

That is well the party leader playing billiards in the center of the club, if this degree free atmosphere not?! Almost laissez-faire level?

East End, London County Council in chaos but here very calm piano music flowing...

A feeling of a bit understanding why Britain became such a messed up country.

First infinitely no interest in fields not one's responsibility, these guys.

So even causing so many messes in countries around the world not ashamed at all. In my view the cause of becoming a hated country exactly here.

What to do with these people?! Seems not the time to leisurely play now?!

I slowly digested the rising heat inside.

"Ooh, Sir Jean-Paul Durand! Minister Samuel! Come here! This way!"

Liberal Party leader, Sir Campbell also immediately recognized us and gestured to the center.

That moment the club inside filled with murmuring sounds.

That is well I'm currently London's top influencer, there Sir Samuel also raising the name value day by day.

No matter lower house members not many people who actually saw me, so sending curious gazes nothing strange.

Faintly words like 'Chairman Balfour's secret weapon', 'must recruit to win the next election', 'more handsome than thought shall send a matchmaker' brushed the ears but decided to just ignore.

Anyway I sent a greeting. Saying the purpose from the first meeting a low hand thing so intending to lightly circle once.

"Sir Campbell, hello?"

"Haha, Sir Durand. By any chance have you played billiards?"

"Billiards? Don't know the rules well, but if teaching seems can do well."

"Oh dear, then will Sir Durand receive my teaching? I Campbell taught the famous Jean-Paul Durand! Want to have such honor worth boasting like this!"

And I also immediately realized Sir Campbell also a master of circling.

With a heavy low tone hitting the ears saying such jokes, natural people charmed that seemed.

First time directly talking but recognized right away in just a few words.

This person, quite a scary figure.

If only putting tension same grade as Chairman Balfour.

Let's be careful not to be charmed.

"Please teach. I'll gratefully learn."

At my words Sir Campbell made an eye smile and pointed to the billiard table side with a large gesture.

And I soon noticed.

This person, never called me chairman even once.

Really a bit scary? No, now not particularly scary!

The aim clearly visible what to do?!