Chapter 125

Chapter 125

Closed Room Politics

Now due to the newspaper company's large-scale promotion articles people all knew I got the chairman position, so rather people meeting for the first time more often called chairman.

Of course someone also called me Sir, or simply chairman. No correct answer.

Anyway even to close acquaintances awkward so sometimes asked to call as calling.

Titles can change as much as one wants depending on the situation and context.

But if a person of Sir Campbell's position bothers to continuously call me 'Sir', that couldn't think except political intention beyond simple title contained.

If not that should have called Minister Samuel also 'Sir' like me, right?

Why only calling me so?!

A few aims guessed.

First, provocation.

A calculation of collapsing my psychological balance and inducing emotional mistakes or exposing weaknesses.

But no reason to particularly provoke me met for the first time today so this hypothesis rejected.

Second, intimacy appeal.

A show-off strategy of emphasizing noble homogeneity, and reestablishing the relationship with me who has the chairman position.

Considering here the National Liberal Club, quite a plausible reason.

Third, reaction exploration.

Might be the intention of using the title ‘Sir’ repeatedly and probing how much I currently conscious of my status.

Might be the purpose of grasping something through my reaction to his actions.

Fourth, political pressure.

All my current positions and power no different from made thanks to Chairman Balfour's support.

If no Chairman Balfour backing doesn't exist.

The title of the Department of Food Innovation, the position of the Board of Trade, and the honor received from the royal also the same.

His Majesty Edward VII bestowed various honors on me, but what substantially moves the British Empire now not the king but politicians, and that the Conservative Party currently holding power.

Last time at the investiture decorating this and that to give the baronet also, because current Britain a system the king absolutely can't solo.

Whatever needed the agreement of politicians even formally, and if trying to do something under the lead of a specific party the opposite side unconditionally throwing opposing votes the custom.

So I correct to really not act up and stay quietly at least at the Liberal Party office, and what Sir Samuel worried also exactly that part.

A place necessarily dangerous to me.

The meaning the people gathered here people who can shake my position even without grudge, just with political reasons.

Even if Sir Campbell looks treating me friendly, the words I'm currently in the tiger's mouth the same.

Clear that Sir Campbell in a political rival relationship with Chairman Balfour.

Usually fought with his older brother First Lord of the Treasury Arthur Balfour, but almost no Britons who don't know the substantial head behind the First Lord of the Treasury is Chairman Balfour.

The friendliness such Sir Campbell shows me.

By any chance a subtle signal to abandon Chairman Balfour's back and turn the direction to the Liberal Party side?

Last time at the investiture also seemed subtly caring about me entering the Conservative Party statements.

Then okay entering the Liberal Party?!

Well ultimately someday the Liberal Party will seize power, so no bad in forming a good relationship.

But if thinking of waging a psychological war at this place now, seems chose the opponent a bit wrong?

"—Come, if this degree roughly learned the snooker rules, right? Now let's test."

"Hmm, still confused scoring."

"That well... Learn while continuously losing! Hahaha!"

This just provocation, right?!

Snooker the only billiards rule currently recognized in Britain.

A method of alternately putting red balls and color balls on a billiard table with 6 pockets, and the person who obtained the highest score at game end wins.

Clearly Sir Campbell, said will teach but actually no thought of properly teaching.

That is if stuffing all rules in one cue, on earth how a beginner understand?!

Ah, I didn't lie.

Really didn't know snooker rules at all.

That is in the previous life played 3-cushion or 4-cushion, how do I know British billiards?!

For reference 3-cushion, 4-cushion billiards called carom billiards French style billiards, if saying play this in Britain only eat dirty curses.

From the start the billiard table itself different so couldn't even practice 3-cushion or 4-cushion at pubs.

"Hmm, Sir Durand, really first time playing billiards now? The gripping posture quite proper?"

"Said don't know the rules well, didn't say billiards itself completely first..."

Honestly even in the previous life busy with cooking so couldn't play billiards much.

Even occasionally playing never exceeded 200 points in 4-cushion.

Exactly me banned from masse at the billiard hall.

But the new body obtained again through reincarnation, seemed equipped with much more overpower performance than my expectation.

Concentration, muscle strength, flexibility, eyesight, joint mobility etc. all superior to the previous life, so even having the same experience different results came out.

The skill improved frighteningly the more playing that talk.

Sir Campbell also seemed to notice that.

"...Clearly a beginner is a beginner. Clearly visible missing obvious angles. But the skill of handling English, spin etc. not ordinary. Shall I try my skill once."

4th game.

Sir Campbell who tried his skill quite scary.

Sir Campbell's cue ball hit the cushion four times and pushed the red ball into the pocket.

Ultimately I narrowly lost this round Sir Campbell seriously engaged.

"...This, did my billiards skill rust in the meantime? Directly learned from the champion. Only playing with beginners so eyes lowered. Hahaha!"

This clearly a joke. Where is a champion in British billiards?! No world competition yet what champion talk?

"Shall we play one more round. Okay, right?"

"I well no relation."

Fire lit in Sir Campbell's eyes.

He didn't ask at all why I appeared at the club no different from the Liberal Party office, and why accompanied Sir Samuel.

Sir Samuel also sat on the chair without saying anything and only watched our game blankly together with other members.

The two of us just concentrated only on billiards for a while like meeting an old friend by chance while walking the road and playing happily.

And, lost again.

"...Play one more round."

"Please."

Lost the next round too. This absolutely can't win.

Sir Campbell started trembling hands little by little, and rubbed the sweat from the hands on chalk powder and wiped and tried to maintain composure.

"...Finally only one more round. Sir Durand you playing like some Frenchman?! By any chance not hiding skill?"

"No way. Really didn't deceive. Just fun so possessed."

Frenchman?! Of course half the bloodline might be so but where a person with the awareness of clearly being British like me?!

The murmuring of the members watching around also heard together.

Honestly looking even I strange.

Because continuously losing only by 15 points.

Even losing and catching up 15 points, even close 15 points, even winning and reversed 15 points.

"Honestly tell. Not first time billiards, right?"

"First correct. What matter of playing billiards in the meantime? Even recently learning can make such skill to beat Sir Campbell?!"

"Indeed. So."

...Accepting too easily?

Hearing those words I realized Sir Campbell also investigated my background in advance.

"Let's stop here. Even winning eight rounds in a row scary might lose the next round!"

Sir Campbell now put down the cue with a completely lost interest in billiards appearance.

In fact might have been the intention of feeling superiority after overwhelmingly beating, but the conclusion a picture of somehow me seeming to go easy drawn no matter who sees.

Not going easy. Really really accidentally became so result.

I always do my best in games?!

In 3-cushion or 4-cushion billiards deceiving skill cheating act, but from the start snooker score accumulation system.

Even deceiving skill no meaning.

Ah, because no money at stake did half sincerity. From the start a nerve war no particular relation winning or losing. Don't know if strange rumors won't come out.

"Ahem, enjoyed billiards too much after a long time so tired have to catch breath a bit. Just in time afternoon tea time so will you have even one cup of black tea?"

"Good."

We were soon guided to some closed room.

No gazes continuously looking from around so that one good.

"Sir Durand, smoke tobacco?"

"No, don't smoke."

"I'll smoke one."

"Yes."

Sir Campbell took out a thick cigar and cut with a cutter and lit.

Because of the strong smell the nose slightly stung.

What so good smoking that?!

Well in the current era not that many choices.

Because filter cigarettes not yet invented, all rolling leaves directly and smoking cigarettes or pipe tobacco.

If disliking that smoke cigars well.

Sir Campbell deeply sucked a few puffs of smoke, then finally showed signs of entering the main point.

Played billiards for over an hour to say this one word.

Looking back the reason Sir Campbell as soon as seeing me didn't take to the closed room and bothers to play billiards also understood.

Because many gazes around, might have been trying to reduce suspicion by playing billiards as if showing and directing a natural atmosphere?

No politicians in London who don't know I'm under Chairman Balfour now.

He also seemed to keep that point in mind.

"Yes, thank you the young person playing with the old. Now tired so hear the message brought."

"Message...? What message words?"

"Not sent by Chairman Balfour and came?"

"Chairman Balfour? No, just followed the feet and came."

"Just came and accompanied Minister Samuel...?"

"Well, might have come to monitor me, right? I might say I'll join the Liberal Party."

"...Really will?"

I shrugged the shoulders.

"If will, will you accept?"

"Stop jokes not in the heart. Know who taught that shamelessness of yours. Well placed the teacher."

Being able to meet the Liberal Party leader in charge of one axis of British politics so comfortably also in fact impossible without my fame or back.

Until last year a working class laborer holding nothing in the hand, newspaper seller origin, and not even long since becoming an adult.

Even if I was the eldest son of a duke family, if young British politicians still would have ignored me, right.

Here a place that also sees age as another power.

"Ah, not a joke not in the heart. If giving a minister position I'll go. I have no party affiliation."

"Stop really idle jokes. Now really tell why came."

Seeing trying to turn words clearly hit the vital point.

From here the real main point.

I didn't want to be caught that I'm aiming for London's water quality purification.

To such skilled political monsters such one by one caught as weaknesses.

At such times, just good to directly touch human nature.

Greed for wealth that is.

"Trying to propose only one investment business to the member."

"Investment business...?"

Sir Campbell looked at me, then glanced at Minister Samuel who was quietly next to me and looked at me again.

"Heard the strange rumor that whatever business you touch succeeds. Yes, what business intending to do this time?"

"Thinking of establishing one charcoal factory in Greenwich."

"Hmm. Greenwich..."

"Do you know activated carbon? Secondary processing existing charcoal at ultra-high temperature and completely removing impurities, made so can use much longer... Looking turned out this quite all-purpose."

"All-purpose...?"

"Yes. Adsorption ability tremendous. Sucks all pollutants coming from factories? For reference the latest research result directly heard from the Royal Society. Natural Sir hearing for the first time too."

"Wait, possible with only charcoal simply that words?"

"Confirm at the Royal Society. I also recently heard news. Hearing those words immediately saw business possibility. If burying in the ground revives the energy of the ground and no need for fertilizer, if placing in the room eats smog and bad smell, if putting in the reservoir even water from factories cleanly purified that?"

"No way! Like some panacea."

"Not no way but fact. Hearing those words immediately resolved to establish a factory, but doing alone... Anyway burdensome, right?"

Sir Campbell looked at Minister Samuel again.

Minister Samuel who was silent until now said only exactly one word.

With that one word trust added to my statement.

"Chairman Durand's words correct."

"Hmm."

Sir Campbell tightly closed the lips and briefly fell into deep thought.

"...Even if activated carbon really that all-purpose, if no market where thinking of selling?"

"Market? There is. If none make, right."

"How words?"

"If activated carbon that good effect? Bury in water supply facilities or reservoirs ends. If obligating regular replacement by law? That's all money, right. Can drink clean water too. Good money earning. Further even distributing household simple water purifiers and conducting a campaign to drink water purified with activated carbon okay."

"Will people bother try to drink water purified with activated carbon...?"

"Make find."

"Make find?!"

"In unpurified water germs swarm. If drinking such water lifespan shortens. To solve this problem have to use activated carbon filter... Like this."

"Wait, didn't you just say activated carbon has adsorption ability? Not related to sterilization that kills germs or microorganisms, right?"

"Ah, so I have one more move."

I slightly lowered the voice.

"Put chlorine in the water supply."

"Chlorine?!"

"Chlorine kills bacteria and microorganisms. And according to Royal Society research activated carbon adsorbs the remaining chlorine in the water. As a result, can drink clean water without germs. If looking into the water supply coming from this club with a microscope right now germs will be swarming floating. Because we've been drinking such dirty water until now. So even just drinking water get cholera."

"Ha..."

I completely reversed the logic I said to Sir Lister.

Have to introduce activated carbon. And added chlorine dropping as the reason to introduce that activated carbon.

"Persuasive. If all your words fact. Will confirm at the Royal Society. The investment matter discuss after that."

"Thank you."

"But too extreme a proposal so hard to easily agree. At least an experiment site that can guarantee safety needed."

"Well no need to think difficult. Try experimenting in the East End."

"East End...?"

"Overturn the East End water supply first, and if no problem introduce sequentially. If doing well can obtain the party support of East End citizens together. The activated carbon factory no need for large facilities so can establish in one week. Moreover the primary raw material charcoal already sufficiently produced at factories in London, right."

"Ha... Hmm... Properly learned from Chairman Balfour. Gradually liking. Yes, politics correct a person like you rather than the half-penny ones of this club doing. Will remember. See again next. Then bring specific materials like whether the efficiency of activated carbon Chairman Durand said exaggerated, how much the production cost etc. and talk."

After that immediately the order to leave.

I politely greeted and came out of the seat.

Thought would die suffocating because of the cigar smell!

But the goal achieved. So the steps coming out also light.

Didn't say even one word about the commotion of the London County Council, or demands to do something somehow, but from now Sir Campbell will solve on his own.

While putting an inquiry to the Royal Society will grasp the East End problem, and will try to strangle the breath of related companies to force the installation of the activated carbon purification system obvious.

If so will try to use the currently burst situation as good.

Giving the order to the county council to unify water cutoff as party line also inevitable.

About the effect of activated carbon said only facts so nothing to mind, the experiment results also will come out so, then Sir Campbell also clearly will be active behind for his own money earning.

Like that if putting the British activated carbon industry in the grasp, a small hope of whether will play a part in reducing London's winter smog by obligating activated carbon filter installation at factories.

Because the period smog will surge approaching soon.

And Sir Campbell moved exactly as I predicted.

The next morning, an article that the president of the East London Waterworks Company in charge of East End water supply under investigation on charges of breach of trust, and an emergency water cutoff order for East End for 'water pipe cleaning' will take effect two days later Sunday appeared in the Times.

Also the content of mobilizing all fire carriages in London for that one day's water supply together.

Since Sunday factories no matter of loss.

Come, then this activated carbon factory matter who to make plan...? Shall I entrust to the dean? Many graduate students there, right?!

Immediately have to establish gochujang factory, activated carbon factory, Nutella factory, refrigerator factory, super large studio all in Greenwich, but even this alone tremendous work so didn't want to increase work more! At least need more trusted hands to entrust!

Around this time Sir Samuel who was just quietly watching until then also started looking at me with eyes of awe.

And I, reached the thought of how many matters besides simply water I passed unknowingly like Wonhyo drinking skull water in the meantime.

Since obtained power, even if revising later can tear and see once, right.

Seems the time to start London walks again.