Chapter 91

Chapter 91

Tiger's Den

There's a saying that even if entering a tiger's den one lives if only keeping one's mind.

And unwillingly, I seemed to have been dragged into that tiger's den.

No matter how much my name value is flying around in London society these days, I thought that was just a temporary trend.

That is what I did was only things of utilizing previous life's lifestyle or knowledge and trying to eat and live well alone, but when coming to my senses I ended up becoming the frontrunner of the trend.

And that Durand Grilling or Durand Fish Ball weren't things I arbitrarily made trend, they alone potential burst and flew around so to me it was actually a feeling of grasping floating clouds.

Well if talking about Chicken and Chips or peanut butter there was nothing to say. Because that was correct that I made and made trend.

Still am I living a great life as much as the current name value? That wasn't at all.

Eating and sleeping at the restaurant, cooking as always, if thinking of it taking care of surrounding people a bit, strolling every day and conversing with London citizens, then on days when drizzle suddenly falls just getting hit from the head. People who comfortably greet are all only laborers or merchants. Just a simple and ordinary life.

It wasn't that it changed to such a splendid life like a young master of nobles where servants attend as soon as waking, wiping hands with linen cloth in the bathroom every time and spraying perfume, reading newspapers in a wide rose garden, enjoying refreshments with a few high bloodlines, in the afternoon riding horses or watching opera or being called to luxurious banquets.

Still no dedicated barber or personal carriage! No 3-story mansion either!

Bloodline? If biological father and mother were alive one doesn't know, for now the influence on me was only one mysterious letter coming in all!

Still I didn't dislike such a simple life. Whether because growing up in an orphanage and poor lower class family noble splendor seemed clothes that don't fit me. In the previous life I also flexed with donations as soon as earning. Thanks to that the good deed image solidified and even when swept into unwanted scandals I died and lived with public opinion shield.

Still there was a degree of awareness that if someday earning a lot of money, I'd live a completely different life from now.

According to my plan if Nutella becomes a big success and becomes a big business, and definitely retiring parents, and the unidentified status window also no longer gives missions, then it would be the turn for the frying pan to leave my hand.

But that wasn't right now! Still no mental preparation to be swept by fate at all!!

I strongly wailed inside and tightly swallowed the scream.

When noticing, here was absolutely not a place a working class origin chef would be invited as a guest.

No, even if a noble earl it's unreasonable. A place even the Earl of Derby would feel burden and flee.

That was certain just looking at the participants' faces.

Chairman Balfour who brought me to the concert at Buckingham Palace. And His Majesty Edward VII nodding and immersed in the piano sound.

The old gentleman with lush beard holding a cane, thinking carefully the face was remembered. The leader of the Conservative Party who has held the key of the world's strongest power the British Empire for over 10 years, the current Prime Minister Marquess of Salisbury!

And the man with drooping eyes sitting next to him is Chairman Balfour's brother and First Lord of the Treasury Arthur Balfour!

The actual government heads holding power in Britain are all gathered at this place... How shamelessly staying as if nothing?!

Finally one more eye-catching person outside that couldn't be left out.

A plump middle-aged man in his 50s with short white hair, a quite gentle looking impression.

Whether because seeing Chairman Balfour, Marquess of Salisbury, Secretary Balfour in a row, this person also roughly guessed who.

Certain. Because I saw the photo in last week's newspaper.

The big shot of the Liberal Party opposing the Conservative Party camp, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman!

A gentry of Scottish origin, who took charge of major administration of the War Office for over ten years in the Gladstone government, and while serving as War Office minister a few years ago experimentally introduced the world's first '8-hour labor system' at Woolwich Arsenal and gained tremendous fame politician!

Based on that popularity he even rose to the Liberal Party leader position now.

Honestly if only talking about political popularity one could see Sir Campbell as the most famous figure at this place. The evaluation that if the opponent wasn't only the Marquess of Salisbury the current prime minister would be this man was dominant.

Newspaper boy hurrah! If not carefully reading newspapers usually one would have recognized no one and been trembling here!

But that didn't mean the tiger's den changes to heaven.

His Majesty Edward VII, Chairman Balfour, Marquess of Salisbury, Secretary Balfour, and Sir Campbell.

Even without knowing it would have been scary but knowing it was scarier!

These people were all people in positions who could easily erase working class like me from London with just flicking one finger!

I tried to roll my body as much as possible into a cornered place so as not to stand out in the field of view, but Chairman Balfour shook his head then ultimately sat me in the very front seat.

No, why are you doing that to me on earth?! What wrong did I do? His Majesty is also here why am I the front seat?! Does this match etiquette?!

At this point resentment burst so even if the other party is Chairman Balfour one could do a word of rebuttal, but unfortunately this place now was a concert.

I absolutely couldn't break that beautiful piano melody the participants were concentrating hard with my voice!

Claude Debussy was completely immersed in his own music, and without one resting moment freely scribbled on the keys.

So I had to powerlessly endure for about 30 minutes, with goosebumps all over my body!

###

The concert ended.

The famous pianist invited from France stood up from the seat and politely greeted then quietly left the hall.

Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was intoxicated by that beautiful melody, then suddenly realized he forgot to clap.

But it seemed not only he forgot to clap.

Because as soon as the performance ended the figures participating in this place except him all turned their gazes to one young man.

The young man Chairman Balfour who belatedly joined a while after the concert started brought.

A young man with quite large height, youthful appearance. Campbell didn't know who he was but other people all seemed to know.

Even the Marquess of Salisbury!

The marquess sent an eye urging explanation to Chairman Balfour while stroking the abundant beard.

The one who broke the long and awkward silence was the quiet muttering of the Duke of Norfolk sitting in the very back seat.

"Jean-Paul Durand...?"

Jean-Paul Durand? A name that seems heard somewhere.

Chairman Balfour nodded as if waiting.

And slowly standing up he confidently said toward the audience.

"Yes, right. This person I brought here is Jean-Paul Durand. Please all present at this place pay attention. Your Majesty, excuse me but I'll request the right to speak belatedly."

"Permit."

"Thank you."

Chairman Balfour moistened his throat with water and briefly cleared his throat.

"In fact the reason for inviting the precious figures representing Britain who came to this place is, to make an important proposal that can shake the future of Britain ahead. This story must absolutely not leak outside. Therefore receiving Your Majesty's permission and unavoidably inviting borrowing the form of a concert, please do not regard unpleasantly."

Certainly this place was a concert. Campbell also knew so and received the invitation, and conveyed so to the party.

The master of lyrical music currently enjoying the greatest popularity in European high society, Claude Debussy.

Campbell and his wife loved French art and literature. So every summer they spent vacation at spas in France and Bohemia.

The reason for running without hesitation as soon as receiving the concert invitation from Buckingham Palace was also for that. Whether Conservative Party politicians were at this place or not he didn't care. Before art there was no left or right.

But if the concert suddenly changes to a political meeting, the story changes.

This kind of induction was a method that could be very unpleasant to some. Especially if a problem related to Britain's future, it wasn't a grave matter one could discuss without any prior preparation.

Campbell raised his hand.

"Yes, please speak, Sir Campbell."

"There's one thing to confirm, Chairman Balfour. Is the young man you brought related to Britain's future correct? Is he a figure absolutely necessary at this place?"

"Yes, I am convinced."

The later words were received by Secretary Arthur Balfour. He also seemed to have nothing shared in advance from his brother.

"Gerald. Now at this place not only Your Majesty but several dukes are also present. Is it a matter everyone should know? Transcending political ideology?"

"Yes, it is so."

Campbell turned his head and looked around.

The expressions were each different.

The Marquess of Salisbury frowning a lot, the Duke of Norfolk bewildered, Secretary Balfour seeming a bit angry. And...

His Majesty Edward VII enjoying.

Found, the accomplice!

But was there a matter His Majesty Edward VII would join hands with Chairman Balfour?

Chairman Balfour was famous as a particularly cautious figure even in the Conservative Party. His Majesty also always maintained neutrality and was not a person who would put strength on one party's opinion.

As far as Campbell knew, no connection link existed between the two at all.

Secretary Balfour also turned his head to Campbell. Although not intended, the situation was gradually flowing like a hearing on Chairman Balfour.

Anyway Campbell recited the lines he had prepared in his heart as if muttering again.

"Is there a grave matter to decide something at this place? Unrelated to internal party votes or strategic lines?"

"None. It's solely my alone proposal. In fact possible to proceed alone with the Board of Trade, but for this proposal to succeed the power of all of you is needed."

In a way it was words that could sound arrogant.

However the Board of Trade was an institution with tremendous economic and commercial influence within Britain.

Even if not directly earning money or investing assets, just the public funds related to railways, shipping, insurance the Board of Trade moves were enough to match the annual budget of an ordinary small European country.

From the point that the party who spat those words was Chairman Balfour there were no more words to say. Although the party was different if the most reliable person thinking of the country at this place, anyone would unhesitatingly pick Chairman Balfour.

So Campbell closed his mouth. It was an expression of will to continue proceeding.

"Thank you. My proposal is clear. Before His Majesty Edward VII's coronation next year..."

Chairman Balfour briefly stopped words, and looked at His Majesty Edward VII. An eye seeking permission.

And at the same time His Majesty Edward VII nodded, he continued the dragging words.

"...That is mid-June next year, hanging the honor of the British Empire government I wish to hold an international cooking exposition in London where countries from all over the world participate."

"What?!"

Thud!

At that moment the cane strongly hit the floor.

A heavy sound that instantly captured the gazes of the audience.

The one who struck the cane was the Prime Minister, the Marquess of Salisbury.

"Say again. The event to proceed hanging Britain's fate at that important time is not science technology or culture, inventions, art but only a 'cooking' exposition that talk!"

The coronation scheduled was next year, that is June 26, 1902.

Literally a moment the world's attention concentrates. Already diplomatic missions of various countries were scheduled to flock to London.

Also within the British Empire gatherings toward London, visits, travels etc. were scheduled to be actively done, so opinions of linking side events like expositions to maximally boost the festival atmosphere were gradually spreading even in the government.

And that had to be a means to boost the pride of citizens residing in all territories of the British Empire, and flaunt power saying the British Empire is intact to the whole world.

Campbell also momentarily thought he heard wrong. However Chairman Balfour repeated his proposal with accurate pronunciation.

"Yes, right. My proposal is clearly a 'cooking' exposition."

"Explain so one can accept. At this time when the world's wealth and products are pouring into Britain, why hold an exposition for trivial 'cooking'! And what benefit that is to the British Empire!"

"Yes, Uncle. That is exactly because British cooking is trivial. Didn't you feel the wind of change occurring in London society recently?"

Chairman Balfour straightened his waist firmly. At that moment he became a firm great tree.

And he, shouted putting strength on his neck as if about to declare war on other countries right now.

Like Cicero orating in the public square in ancient Roman times!

"Chicken and Chips! Durand Grilling! Peanut Butter! Grilled Eel! Edward Sandwich! And the spicy taste dishes and fish ball that over half present here have already tasted! All these changes occurred in just a few months! In the hundreds of years history of the British Empire was there a time citizens were enthusiastic about cooking like this? Now is exactly that moment! If missing this opportunity, we will regress again to the tasteless British cooking of the past! Riding the momentum through the cooking exposition inform this innovation to the whole world, and must transform Britain into a cooking power like France! This alone will become the most powerful and efficient means to re-boost the solidarity and harmony of torn Britons!"

His voice was firm and intense like a drum sound on the battlefield.