Chapter 21

Chapter 21

The Mysterious Great Detective

In fact, Nikola Tesla has a considerably undervalued side in modern times.

One of the things that surprised me while living in early 20th-century Britain was that Europeans of this era had a deeper interest than expected in the movements of the American inventor Tesla.

That was natural, as even by the standards of this era Tesla had a very unique appearance, gained fame from winning the Current War with Edison over a decade ago, and was an eccentric who enjoyed media exposure and frequently appeared in the media.

It means that seeing Tesla's face on the stalls or the front page of newspapers in 1901 London was not strange at all. If Lord Crookes only appeared in the science section, he stuck his face out on almost every page!

In other words, he was a 'walking influencer' like Mr. Arthur Conan Doyle.

So I was quickly disappointed. It wasn't difficult to grasp that the man sweating among the people right now was not Nikola Tesla.

Just three men of thin impression with clear signs of embarrassment who looked like ordinary graduate students.

And the situation was that the people surrounding them were shouting Tesla's name and yelling at a level close to lynching. So I also mistook that Tesla was here.

But even so, everyone was excessively angry? What's with the commotion like a pack of wild dogs tearing into prey? So how could I not be curious. I grabbed the arm of one scholar who was circling the outskirts looking for an additional lynching opportunity.

"What on earth is that about? Why are those people acting like that?"

"What, who are you? Why is a greenhorn here? Get out!"

Oh dear, this person's eyes have rolled from excitement.

I silently shook the pass Lord Crookes had cut for me in front of his eyes. The scholar confirmed the seal and signature of Lord Crookes stamped at the end of the pass, and his eyes widened and immediately changed his attitude 180 degrees.

"Uh, um. Excuse me, but by any chance what is your relationship with the Academy President..."

"Lord Crookes is my maternal uncle. I've been indebted a lot since childhood."

Of course it's a bluff. What does it matter, it's a relationship I'll only see today. Lord Crookes probably doesn't know either?

"Ah... Ahem, the family of the Academy President! I'm really sorry. The words I just said were a slip of the tongue so please forget them!"

"It's fine. Then returning to the main point, what on earth is the commotion?"

"That is... There was an important academic seminar today. Nikola Tesla was supposed to give a congratulatory speech in front of several nobles and guests, but he never appeared! We were properly disgraced! How much money was spent bringing Tesla from America all the way here... So we got angry and just... Ahem, anyway please forget my mistake just now!"

The scholar said that much and hurriedly fled.

I nodded. Ah, it was a matter completely unrelated to me.

Hearing up to here, I fully understood why those scholars were shouting so much.

Edison, AC, DC, whatever.

You don't know what I'm saying? In fact I don't know well either. But because the media has been noisily talking about it until recently, I roughly know.

To understand this, you first need to know the commotion called the 'Current War.'

Everyone probably knows the fact that Edison and Tesla were rivals from biographies, but you probably don't know well why they fought?

In the background, the history of the American power transmission system is deeply intertwined. Edison who claimed direct current (DC) was safer, and Tesla who rebutted that alternating current (AC) was more efficient.

They say they fought for ten years like that? That's the Current War. Of course the Tesla side won overwhelmingly and it ended cleanly.

As a result of that incident, I heard Edison was kicked out of the position of electric company president a few years ago, but listening carefully it seemed he sought a foothold for recovery in London, Britain.

The determination to revive the DC system! All-around lobbying toward the British government and politicians!

They say he was in the middle of persuading to change Britain's power system back to the safer DC while scattering money in all directions to members of the House of Commons, the Board of Trade, and even the media.

And the scholar gentlemen gathered here were in the position of opposing that.

But since the scholars didn't have money to lobby like the millionaire Edison, in the end they invited Tesla from America to add strength with his support. But Tesla never showed his face.

In professional terms, he just swallowed the money, that is, ate and ran.

It makes sense to be angry.

But in the end it's a story unrelated to me. Seeing the people making such a fuss, it seemed certain that Tesla wasn't at the academy.

So I pushed through the still excited people and turned my steps toward the front door of the academy.

"Damn... I got my hopes up for nothing. Ah, I'm hungry."

The hunger I had briefly forgotten because of the commotion stabs my stomach again. Is there somewhere to secretly hide? Let me take something out from the point shop and eat. After a long time I crave convenience store kimbap and banana milk.

But there was no particularly deserted place visible around. Even though it's the weekend, why are there so many people.

Then I saw Lord Crookes approaching from the front swinging a cane. I tried to turn my body and slip out as if nothing had happened naturally, but he discovered me first.

"Young Jean-Paul Durand! Where are you going so busily? Did you find what you were looking for?"

"...Lord Crookes, haha, no, I haven't found it yet. Thank you for helping, and now I'll return. Because the time is late."

Growl.

The moment a stomach rumble sounded loudly without notice from my stomach. Hearing that, Lord Crookes burst into laughter.

"Puhaha! Even the most skilled chef in London can't do anything about hunger! You, you haven't eaten lunch yet, right? Will you have a simple tea with me? I was just about to go enjoy Afternoon Tea. When it ends I'll give you a ride back to Lombard Street again!"

"Hmm."

If I accompany Lord Crookes here I'll have to endure endless chatter, and if I refuse I'll have to walk for 3 hours in the scorching sun.

It was a situation that didn't need pondering, but I hesitated for a moment. Because I saw a passion flickering like earlier in his eyes. Surely this grandfather hasn't given up yet?!

But I had no choice but to nod. Refusing here would be even stranger! Surely nothing will happen? As long as I'm careful with my mouth it should be fine.

"Understood. So where are you going?"

"The coffee house right next door! I'm on my way to catch Nikola Tesla right now!"

"Yes, is that so... What? Mr. Tesla?!"

No, didn't Tesla eat and run? But do you know where he is? Then why were you quiet during that commotion until just now? Only the innocent staff got scolded!

"Just in time! Thinking about it, I might need your help. Then let's go on a fun adventure together with me!"

Wink. Unable to know what meaning was contained in Lord Crookes's playful wink, I had to be confused for a long time.

###

Coffee house.

There is a tradition of the British valuing tea, but that doesn't mean they stay away from coffee. Rather, some prefer coffee more than tea.

And that coffee is mainly drunk at social clubs, coffee houses, or cafes. What's the difference between these? The main customer base is different.

Simply put, social clubs are for the highest upper class, coffee houses for gentry or the middle class, and cafes for the working class like me.

They don't check identification when entering a coffee house, but there is an atmosphere so it was difficult for laborers to easily approach.

So this was also the first time I visited a genuine coffee house.

"You, aren't you looking around too much like a beginner? It seems that friend Henry didn't bring you to a coffee house? Hehehe."

"Ah, yes it's my first time. The smell of the beans is a bit unique."

When I looked around here and there, Lord Crookes seemed to have noticed right away.

"Surely, you're not drinking coffee itself for the first time, right?"

"Ah... Well, I've drunk it a few times."

In fact it's the first time in London. From the start even in my previous life I only drank iced Americano or cafe latte!

But there was no way there would be an espresso machine that could pull shots in 1901 London. Of course steam milk couldn't be expected either. It seems it still hasn't been invented.

So the coffee of this period is only drip coffee. Since espresso shots can't be extracted, the range of choices was also narrow. Cafe latte is unimaginable, and cappuccino is also impossible.

Something like cafe au lait mixing milk into strongly brewed drip coffee was the only drink I could drink familiarly.

Ah, there's one more thing I can drink.

"I'll just have hot chocolate."

"Hot chocolate! A good choice. I'll also have hot chocolate. For dessert, scones with strawberry jam."

Fortunately cocoa powder could be easily obtained even in this era. Should I call this fortunate?

The ordering method was no different from modern times. A method of receiving orders and paying right at the counter. I thought a waiter would come to the table and take orders because of the somewhat luxurious atmosphere, but it was a more informal place than expected.

I looked around. Men in suits and bowler hats sitting in threes and fives discussing, or reading newspapers or magazines.

No matter how I look, it's exactly the same as a modern Korean cafe.

If there's a difference from my previous life, it's that there are only men here. A perfect men's bathhouse.

"Then shall we gradually check where this friend Tesla is?"

Finding him wasn't difficult. Because he was really in this coffee house.

He was a very tall and skinny man even by British standards. Prominent cheekbones and a sharp jawline.

Short slicked-back hair, a stylishly groomed mustache, a high-quality suit and a navy four-in-hand tie (*Four-in-Hand Tie, modern-style necktie).

Exactly as seen in the newspaper photos.

And he was sitting with a very uncomfortable expression. Moreover, as soon as he saw Lord Crookes he looked disgusted. As expected, a reaction befitting a person rumored to be an eccentric.

"Ahem, Lord Crookes."

"This friend Tesla! What are you going to do if you skip the seminar like that and run away! You should have at least shown your face!"

"No, wasn't it the politicians' tricks from the start? Do I have to play along there? I came to London because it was Lord Crookes's invitation. I'm very busy. The completion of wireless power transmission technology is right in front of me!"

He was sitting on papers piled like a mountain, and traces of having been working on something until just now remained intact on the table.

"Tricks! You, what are you saying!"

Even though he heard harsh words, there was no seriousness in Lord Crookes's voice. Rather, the signs of trying to hold back laughter were clear.

"If that's not a trick then what is it? Everyone is deceiving to extract money from that pitiful Edison, right? From the start without any intention of replacing the power system with DC. There's no such budget either! Isn't it the intention of just taking the money and crushing it later? The British are really nasty!"

"Hehe, this friend! You've seen through it quite accurately! As expected of a genius inventor!"

Ah, somehow. Even though they skipped an important schedule, both looked too calm. It was all a staged play.

The real eat-and-run wasn't Tesla but the honorable members of London. Only the other scientists and staff who didn't know the inside story were being swayed here and there. Pitifully.

"Anyway, I don't have the leisure to spend time elsewhere. It feels like if I take just one more step something will happen, but I'm stuck right now! Since Lord Crookes called me, please handle it yourself, Lord Crookes. This research is more urgent for me."

"Is that so? What are you stuck on?"

"Everything! I feel like I want to grasp even a straw. To the point I want to sell my soul even to Mephistopheles!"

The way of speaking is very direct and informal. Is this the typical American of this era? Mentioning the devil in a novel! In Britain if you said that you'd really get lynched.

"Yes, is that so?"

Lord Crookes chuckled and laughed. And he suddenly turned to look at me who was watching the proceedings interestingly.

Wait a minute, what is that gaze! It's very impure! Why are you laughing?!

"Then it seems this friend would be of great help to your research?"

What? Grandfather, what are you saying right now?!

"That young man? But come to think of it, who are you? You look quite young."

"He's an amazing friend! His scientific intuition is tremendous! He might solve your worries in one go! Moreover look at those features, he's handsome! How lovable! To the point I want to make him my son-in-law!"

Yes? Excuse me! Suddenly what is this crazy situation?!

"This friend? Looking at the appearance, it's a face that would suit being an actor on Broadway in New York."

Nikola Tesla's blue eyes scanned my entire body as if piercing through it.

"Hmm... Ah, right, I remembered."

A brief silence, he tilted his head and carelessly blurted out a word.

"You, you're the Frenchman with the name Jean-Paul Durand or something, right?"

"Yeees?!"

"Seeing the reaction, it's correct."

No, how on earth do you know my name?!

I couldn't close my mouth, engulfed in shock. A completely unexpected situation!

Why on earth does the world-class genius inventor from America know me?

Lord Crookes who saw up to here burst into laughter clapping his hands.