Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Repercussions

Of course it wasn't the spicy taste dish matter.

Producing a special article in one day after an incident occurs is an absurd speed.

Considering reporting time, editing time, even printing time, no matter how fast it takes half a day.

And that the entire editorial department has to stay up all night, there was no reason to compete in breaking news at that speed when not even a war broke out.

Moreover the participation fee was also expensive so reporters couldn't have tasted either.

The problem was the fish ball.

Ten days ago, the oven dish similar to handmade fishcake I created with cod at the wounded soldier patient cafeteria of St. Thomas' Hospital.

The Admiralty suddenly put my fish ball on the main munitions list, and made a unconventional declaration of building a cannery and supplying to the Boer War!

Somehow the change degree suddenly moving 4 percent seemed suspicious, the real ambush was this side!

In fact fishcake isn't suitable as combat ration.

Moisture content is high so if storing long at room temperature it easily spoils, and vulnerable to temperature and humidity too.

And dried fishcake needs separate cooking, so there was also a limit to eating right away on rough battlefields.

But my fish ball was different.

Because it was a special recipe deforming the existing fishcake manufacturing method matching British ingredients and environment.

From the start the original recipe also used pollock flesh not cod so the taste was also different.

My fish ball didn't fry but baked in the oven so the outside is crispy and moisture content is much less. Thanks to that if just putting in cans and sealing and heat sterilizing preservation is sufficiently secured without bacteria worries that calculation.

Does my stomach hurt because suddenly using my created dish as combat ration? Not at all!

I didn't want any reward!

In this era cooking recipes copyright or whatever didn't exist, and I was also in the position of using recipes others made in the past whatever.

Cooking is the law of developing by continuously receiving the public's love and circulating.

From the start this was a recipe provided with goodwill to use as wounded soldier patient food, so even if used as combat ration it didn't matter. Moreover Colonel Ludwig also asked for permission several times and returned, so there was nothing to be a problem.

But what really flustered me was, the part of boldly introducing hanging my name saying 'Durand Fish Ball' even though I clearly repeatedly earnestly requested not to associate with me!

No, really doing this again?!

As much as a special article, detailed explanation was also together.

Although the newspaper came out this morning the decision itself was correct that it was made a few days ago. They said after going through tests several times at other military hospital cafeterias they obtained explosive reaction from soldiers?

Well whatever elsewhere they would have given tasteless fish cakes so it has to be more delicious than that! If making tasteless with a mass manufacturing recipe this side is also troubled!

Only no matter how strong the influence of Colonel Ludwig a royal family member, changing the direction of the combat ration business so sharply in such a short period was an impossible matter.

In modern times the food processing industry is so developed so the image of combat ration is also light and reliability low, but even just Britain of 1901 the combat ration supply business itself was regarded as a very large national privilege.

To maintain the vast military power spread all over the world food supply was the most important element above all, and a matter directly connected to military morale so one couldn't handle easily. Interests would have been scattered here and there too.

So the quality and production technology of combat ration sometimes became the target of industrial espionage activities.

From the start European countries tastes are all similar so if one thing hits in one country quickly copying was daily.

Anyway I continued reading the article.

“···The Admiralty of the British Empire is looking for a company to take charge of this new combat ration distribution and plans to select a business operator after quick review and announce.”

And under that they just completely open-opened the entire fish ball recipe of mine saying try conceiving a new business! Durand Fish Ball recipe this and that!

"No... Haa."

Lately my sighs seem to have increased but it's an illusion, right?

I did think it would become like this someday. Compared to my fame that rapidly spread in London city the mentions in the media were particularly few. Because I seized the newspaper boy distribution network with connections so they were watching eyes largely.

But now blocking seems the limit. Previously interview request cases piled up dozens but I was ignoring all.

So these media guys, seemed to have committed the act of kindly explaining who I am at the very end under the pretext of Durand Fish Ball!

Founder of Chicken and Chips, and a philanthropist conducting relief business? Should one say fortunate just not mentioning Culina Divina?

Philanthropist? What is this talk? It's true I distributed bread and peanut butter every day, but it wasn't to the point of hearing philanthropist sounds at all!

Obvious intention. If wanting to correct respond to the interview, right.

If it became to this point one can't even tackle now. It was time to accept fate.

The surprised one wasn't only me.

First of all Mr. Henry knocked on the restaurant door like lightning.

"Jean! What accident did you cause again! Durand Fish Ball? When going to work in the morning people came out from the Admiralty!"

"Yes? People from the Admiralty?"

Because continuously scattering business cards, now the fact that 'Electric & Imperial Spreadworks' and I are related became an open secret to ordinary people.

There was no official mention that the developer of peanut butter is me, and such rumors didn't largely circulate either, but at least that I'm stepping in that company was information one could find out if digging a little.

So the Admiralty also seemed to have gone to Mr. Henry's office first. Saying take charge of the fish ball cannery business. Anyway the same food industry.

"As you know our side has no more business expansion capacity! We have to expand five more peanut butter factories!"

This side's problem was this. Peanut butter now hitting to the point of swallowing the place of golden syrup, the supply amount was tremendously short!

Even if increasing peanut import amount from America one couldn't catch up with demand so there was no solution.

Barely supplying in London city, in the provinces complaints were still severe, and the voice demanding peanut butter export somehow even in colonies was gradually growing was the news I last heard from Mr. Pitton.

Governors of India, Canada, Australia also begged for export every time, and even from America letters were flooding?!

At that time I gave only one advice.

Isn't it solved if converting the facilities and personnel of the recently acquired golden syrup factory all into peanut butter production factory.

Then Mr. Henry and Mr. Pitton said it's a clever idea and ran out, and about the subsequent progress situation I didn't particularly hear.

Anyway I carefully explained the identity of Durand Fish Ball to Mr. Henry.

"So, your words are that providing that recipe just once at St. Thomas' Hospital is all?"

"Right."

"You didn't contact the Admiralty separately either?"

"It's real! I didn't ask for privileges or anything at all either!"

"Then you have no relation with this fish ball, and clearly requested to remove the name too?"

"How many times do I have to say! Do you know how tired I am if becoming more famous? I can't even go out for the hobby of strolling!"

"Then what is this content on earth?"

"Yes? What content?"

Mr. Henry pushed several sheets of paper documents to me.

I slowly raised my gaze onto the documents, then slowly lowered again.

Looking at the seal stamped it seems correct as government official documents, but just looking at the title somehow an ominous premonition that if reading this all the way to the end a tremendously bothersome matter will arise was felt.

"Durand Fish Ball business plan approval request...? What is this?"

"Continue reading."

This was so to speak, a guide about emergency processing procedures like modern fast track.

Super-legal procedures permitted only in war situations to skip parliamentary approval and regulatory procedures.

Since the Boer War is in full swing in South Africa now content of shortening the approval process as much as possible to quickly proceed the combat ration business.

I flipped the paper fluttering. The content was quite long.

“To receive Durand Fish Ball business permission, one must match the product quality above the level the Admiralty recommends. Must be strong to impact and good portability, and must be able to be consumed hygienically and safely. Raw materials must be easy to obtain. All items are scored and judged···. Isn't this just obvious words?"

"No, not there the very last!"

At the very last of course the signature of the plan approver was there.

Walter Kerr Admiral of the Royal Navy and First Sea Lord, and William Palmer Earl of Selborne First Lord of the Admiralty.

And I raised my gaze very slightly up from there.

"All these procedures can pass right away if there's a recommendation letter from recipe creator Jean-Paul Durand...?"

"Yes, right. Nominally the content is so... But it'd just be formal. According to the person who came from the Admiralty your recommendation letter is almost an essential condition they said?"

What on earth is this talk?! Why is my recommendation letter needed?!

According to Mr. Henry's words, although not yet revealed in the media, there were serious problems with the canned products being sent to South Africa now!

My, the defect rate over 20%?! Spoiled and tasteless meat cans were being distributed on the battlefield that!

So the Admiralty headquarters was in emergency from several months ago, and was anxious trying to prevent this news from spreading to civilians. Because if rumors go wrong anti-war public opinion might explode situation!

So there was already movement to hurriedly re-examine the combat ration business, and in the midst of that 'Durand Fish Ball' that appeared like a comet looked like a savior to the Admiralty that talk!

"You're in big trouble now. If we don't take this business, as early as next week other businessmen in London aiming for this business will run trying to shake hands with you even once... Please somehow avoid well!"

"...Can't you just take this business at Mr. Henry's company?! Or seduce even relatives a bit!"

"Ahem, our side has no more capacity. Even the usable nephews are all mobilized in the peanut butter business. Then pray for the protection of St. George!"

"No, wait a moment!"

Mr. Henry fled as is. I was dazed and buried my body in the chair.

No, does the snowball roll even like this? Since something didn't come right in front of my eyes right now it doesn't feel real, but it was obvious it'd become bothersome!

Words are recommendation letter, in the end isn't it dumping all the review process on me?!

If writing recommendation letters recklessly to anyone and distributing defective fish balls who eats that curse?

It seemed I have to quickly block before rumors spread!

"Rather than this shall I go find Colonel Ludwig? At least the recommendation letter part somehow erase..."

I worried about the aftermath that would hit me, but in fact the waves of the fish ball incident were pushing faster from elsewhere.

And that tsunami level!

###

I noticed this change, from realizing that the street vendors around Lombard Street suddenly became kinder.

About a week after the Durand Fish Ball newspaper article was issued?

The repercussions as much as worried weren't there at all yet. Thanks to running to St. Thomas' Hospital that day and questioning Colonel Ludwig.

Just the title of fish ball creator stuck thickly on the fame of Jean-Paul Durand.

So it was words that other people can now introduce me as Jean-Paul Durand of Chicken and Chips and fish ball.

Not a joke, actually it was being called like that! It was terrible!

Anyway since there seemed no particular repercussions yet I decided to resume strolling reassured.

But strangely every time I walked around surrounding gentlemen started taking off hats and greeting!

"Jean-Paul Durand! Thank you!"

"...Yes?"

"Thank you!"

"What are those words?"

"Anyway thank you. Will you take this meat pie a bit?"

"No, wait a moment. You have to explain a bit first. What are you thankful for?"

"Nothing special, thanks to you we were liberated from my aunt's tasteless fish pie!"

"That's a matter to congratulate. But why is that thanks to me?"

"That is because aunt is making fish ball with those ingredients instead of fish pie! Not knowing how much spices to use she roughly pushed in by eye every time, how happy she was saying if just following the answer you informed it becomes much more delicious!"

This is a bit scary? Isn't fish ball selling better in London than grilled eel or Chicken and Chips?!

Although a rough guess, such possibility was very slightly visible.

Chicken or grilled eel one has to buy and eat at stalls, but fish ball if only having ingredients and kitchen one can easily make even at home.

Fish pie, or fish cake, or fish ball... From the start just changing the direction of the ingredients one was eating a bit is enough, and there was no need to add cooking utensils either!

It was the same as the Edward Sandwich. Although not intention both Durand Fish Ball and Edward Sandwich recipes were consecutively disclosed through newspapers, so public opinion comparing the two even arose to that point.

His Majesty Edward VII vs Jean-Paul Durand. Whose dish can captivate London citizens' tastes more?

Knowing the background it was an absurd matter for me.

In the end both were dishes that started from my hand! Moreover both were deformed recipes I created matching the current era Britain London's cooking environment deviated a lot from authentic recipes that point was even the same!

I once again earnestly wished the secret of the Edward Sandwich wouldn't be revealed to the world.

Then I die! If the atmosphere like now I might really be crushed and die by people!