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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: The Young Master's Double Life
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The Britain of 1831 was a far cry from what it had been just a year earlier.
The Tory Party, which had held power for an impressive twenty-three years from 1807 to 1830, had been relegated to the opposition.
In fact, the Whig Party's last brief stint in power had been for just one year, from 1806 to 1807.
If one were to trace back to the era of Pitt the Younger, the Tories had effectively been the ruling party of the British Empire for nearly half a century.
With that power structure overturned overnight, it was only natural for society to be in an uproar.
My father, Earl Aaron, was preoccupied with determining how this change would affect us, and as a result, he was often away from the estate.
Seeing my chance, I summoned Wellesley to the estate and, on the pretext of needing him to entertain our guest, had James remain at home.
Naturally, James, suspecting nothing, escorted the arriving Wellesley to my room.
"Young Master, Sir Charles Wellesley has arrived."
"Good. Sir Wellesley, please have a seat here. James, you sit beside him as well."
"Wouldn't it be better for me to step aside so you two can converse? I heard some fine tea has just arrived; I could bring some."
"No, that's alright. Both Sir Wellesley and I have something to discuss with you today."
As if to confirm my words, Wellesley smiled and gestured to the seat next to him. James, no longer refusing, awkwardly took a seat.
"Now then. First, Sir Wellesley, did you bring the documents I requested?"
"Of course. I'm telling you, this has been making my days so much more enjoyable. Not investing in American land as you suggested was a painful miss, but I've been buying it up steadily since. Combining that with this, it feels like it's all balancing out somehow."
"In the beginning, you didn't have much capital to work with anyway, so even if it tripled, the actual profit wasn't that substantial. The amount that will grow from now on will be much larger, so don't dwell on it too much."
"Right, right. I'm putting all my faith in you, Killian. Lately, I've even started to wonder if every high roller in London is flocking to our gambling den. Just as you suggested, I acquired the adjacent building and turned it into an exclusive VIP club. The response has been fantastic, and the term 'VIP' just rolls off the tongue."
James, who had been listening quietly, had a look of confusion cloud his eyes.
"A gambling den? What are you two talking about? And what's this about investing in American land?"
"James, you heard that the gambling den where we met Sir Wellesley last year was acquired by him, didn't you?"
"Yes, I had heard that."
"The truth is, half of its shares are mine. To be precise, I suppose you could call me a co-owner. And I'm using the income from it to enthusiastically purchase land in Chicago, in the United States."
"What? A co-owner? Why would you two… no, before that, why on earth would Sir Wellesley be running a gambling den with someone as young as you, Young Master?"
Seeing is believing, after all.
I showed James the charts I had asked to be prepared in advance, detailing the gambling den's recent profit growth and the return on our American real estate investments.
"This is your answer."
"What? What is all this…?"
"The rates of return written there are all my doing. That's why Sir Wellesley is in business with me."
James's eyes trembled uncontrollably as he scanned the neatly organized charts.
A long silence followed.
It was a testament to the magnitude of his shock, and by extension, the sheer volume of information he needed to process.
I waited patiently for him to speak again.
"Young Master… I believe a very long explanation is in order. First, does the Earl know about this?"
"No. I intend to ensure that no one aside from you and Sir Wellesley ever learns of this."
"Just Sir Wellesley and me? Why?"
"Sir Wellesley needs to know as my business partner, and I want you to act as my proxy in various matters from now on."
Wellesley would likely serve as a decent shield against any potential threats or unwanted attention, but I couldn't entrust everything to him.
As a nobleman himself, the positions in which Wellesley could openly operate were limited.
I needed someone who could handle the dirty work on my behalf and, if necessary, push the trash off a cliff.
And at present, I could find no one more suitable than James.
"Just so there's no misunderstanding, I'm not plotting anything nefarious. It's just that if someone like me—an illegitimate son of an Irish nobleman with Asian blood—becomes too prominent, it could draw unnecessary attention, don't you think? Besides, I'm still too young. I want to remain hidden and unnoticed, at least until I'm old enough to have a proper voice in politics."
"If that's the case, wouldn't it be alright to tell the Earl?"
"I will when the time is right. When I am absolutely certain that telling my father won't risk my story spreading to our relatives or into political circles."
"The Earl is not one to go about carelessly gossiping about his beloved son… hmm, his affection is so profound that I can't be completely certain, but he would never create a situation that would be disadvantageous to you, Young Master."
I was well aware of that.
As the direct recipient, I knew better than anyone the depth of my father's love and attention.
However, separate from that, my father was intimately connected to too many people in society.
Especially now, while he was in the midst of working to make me his legitimate heir, I felt it was necessary to be as cautious as possible.
One experience of being caught by the tail and sent to my doom, like in my past life, was more than enough.
"For now, the fewer people who know the secret, the better. That's why I needed some time to prepare before telling you the truth."
"Time to prepare for what?"
"Time to be certain that you would not refuse, of course."
"...If this all truly came from your head, Young Master, it is an unbelievable ability… but no, seriously, the gambling den's income tripled in a single year?"
"It did! Look here, James, your young master is simply a peerless genius when it comes to making money. You entrust him with money, and it's like he just prints it!"
At the mention of profits, Wellesley, who had been listening from the side, could no longer contain himself and jumped in.
It was easier for me to let him explain than to do it myself, so I didn't bother to correct him.
"And was it truly the Young Master who suggested improving the gambling den's income and investing in American land?"
"As for the American land investment, he said he had some information, and honestly, I didn't believe it at first either. But what do you know, the prices are really skyrocketing like crazy. And to be clear, that kind of land speculation is fundamentally different from improving a gambling den. Killian is overhauling the very structure of London's gambling scene from the ground up. In the future, the model Killian has proposed will become the standard for all of London's gambling dens."
As if in disbelief, James examined the documents Wellesley had given him again and again.
But no matter how many times he looked, the numbers on the page wouldn't change, nor would Wellesley's conviction waver.
Strictly speaking, this success was entirely due to a stroke of luck.
In any other field, I could only put on a veneer of expertise, spouting superficial knowledge. But gambling was a different story.
After my primary profession of swindling, gambling was the field I knew most intimately.
Naturally, I was all too familiar with how modern casinos operated and the methods they used to rake in money.
In contrast, the gambling dens of this era were rudimentary in their variety of games and management styles, and their methods for managing VIPs were unsystematic.
Providing maximum satisfaction to extract an equivalent amount of money was the most basic of business principles.
All I did was remodel Wellesley's gambling den to be on par with a lavish modern casino.
If anything, I was the one more taken aback by how rapidly the income was rising compared to the work I had put in.
Of course, with this explosive income, we were buying even more land, and the price of that land was still soaring, so Wellesley and I were savoring a happiness that grew with our wealth each day.
"So, what you intend to do is… take control of all the gambling dens in London and reign as the king of gambling?"
"No. This is merely a tool for generating cash. I plan to liquidate everything in a few years."
According to my knowledge, this type of gambling den would be outlawed in London sometime after the mid-19th century.
I only knew the general timeframe, not the specific date, but it was a future that was certain to arrive in ten or twenty years.
Therefore, I would sell off every gambling den in my possession for the highest possible price right around the year 1840, no sooner, no later.
I had already told Wellesley that it wouldn't look good for a man destined for great things to have a reputation for running gambling dens.
"Please give me a moment to think. This is all just so overwhelming… So what is it you plan to do, Young Master? No, before that, how on earth did you, who have only been in England for a year, come up with all this…?"
"James. Do you know what I've realized while living here? There's a clear limit to how high I can climb in this place."
"…"
"I may be a nobleman and receive at least a minimum of respect, but the English aristocracy openly looks down on the Irish. And on top of that, I have the blood of those yellow monkeys from a corner of the Far East mixed in me. Isn't it obvious what that means?"
"Hey, Killian. You know I, at least, don't think that way,"
Wellesley quickly interjected, and I returned his sentiment with a smile.
"That's why I'm making these thorough preparations in advance. You know as well as I do that simply inheriting the earldom my father gives me has its limits, right?"
"That is true. It is certainly an accurate insight."
"And you're not the type of person to be content as our family's butler forever, are you? The job I want you to do is to be my proxy in all things. That means a commensurate reward will always follow."
For James, who, due to his status as a nobleman's illegitimate son, couldn't inherit proper assets or a position, this must have been a very sweet proposal.
As a final touch, I gently prodded the complex that lay dormant deep within him.
"James, I, more than anyone, understand how you must have felt all your life. The frustration of having ample ability but not receiving the treatment you deserve is an emotion that only someone who has experienced it firsthand can truly comprehend. But that is precisely why we can be the best of partners. An illegitimate son of a nobleman? So what? I know better than anyone how capable you are."
"Young Master…"
"So let's go together. From now on, let's play in the big leagues together."
"You said the gambling den is a means to earn money… What else are you planning for the future?"
Excellent. He's on board.
"First, what Sir Wellesley and I intend to create is an information organization. London is where all of Britain's money is concentrated, and there are far too many people playing games with that money. In that case, wouldn't it be fine for us to take some of that money from them?"
"Don't tell me that's how you acquired the gambling den?"
"Of course. But that was entirely a result of luck. That's why we need an organization that can gather information more efficiently and reliably. However, operating too openly will risk our identities being exposed quickly. So, we'll put up a different sign on the surface. James, I want you to take on the public role of representative for the gambling dens we currently own and for the new company we'll establish."
"An information organization… I have heard that there are a few people in London recently who investigate and pass on information about thieves and criminals."
I was about to steer the conversation in that direction anyway, but since he'd already heard of it, the explanation would be quicker.
What I envisioned was the establishment of a modern detective agency, which would be used for both profit and intelligence gathering.
I seemed to recall that modern detective agencies like this had appeared in America and Britain in the 19th century, but upon investigation, no such agency had emerged yet.
If I had more knowledge, I might have known which specific agency it was and who its owner was, but given the broad and shallow nature of my knowledge, knowing all that was impossible.
Still, the fact that such agencies would soon flourish was a clear sign that sufficient demand already existed.
If I played my cards right, I could rake in money while simultaneously achieving my primary goal of gathering information.
After a moment of glancing back and forth between the papers in his hand and my face, James took a deep breath, rose from his seat, and bowed his head.
"I will seize the opportunity that you and Sir Wellesley have given me. In any case, you are the one who will become the master of this earldom. Just as I have served the Earl, I will follow you with all my heart. Though I still question how someone who is just turning eleven can think of such things."
"A wise decision. You won't regret it."
"To revisit what you said earlier, Young Master, the establishment of the new business you're planning will certainly be effective. I heard that since Sir Robert Peel established the London Metropolitan Police two years ago, the old thief-takers and Bow Street Runners who used to catch criminals have been somewhat diminished. If we can bring them in, we should have no problem assembling an initial workforce."
That was a point I hadn't even considered. This must be why they say a capable subordinate is essential for success.
Especially for someone like me, who is strong on the macro level but weak in the micro, a hands-on manager like James who can fill in these details would create an ideal, complementary partnership.
As I thought, my choice was not wrong.
"Good. Then I'll leave this matter to you, James. I'd appreciate your efforts. I have an important meeting tomorrow, so I need to get going."
"A meeting? Ah, that's right. You have an interview with Head Master John Keate at Eton. Will you be alright without me accompanying you?"
"Sir Wellesley said he wanted to visit his alma mater after a long time, so we're going together. It'll be fine."
Of course, visiting his alma mater was just a pretext for him to deliver the Duke of Wellington's message, but James understood without needing a further explanation.
"I see. I suppose an additional explanation regarding the letter of recommendation might be necessary. In that case, I will continue to handle the tasks you've entrusted to me. But Young Master, once you enroll at Eton, you won't be able to move about outside as freely as you have until now. Will you really be alright?"
"That's why I'm appointing you, whom I trust more than anyone, as my proxy."
"Ah! I understand. I had no idea you had already thought that far ahead."
Eton students must adhere to strict rules and manage a busy schedule, so they don't have much free time.
However, the studies of students in their early teens wouldn't be very difficult for me, and for my purposes, the benefits gained by riding on that kind of public image were far greater.
James, as the butler, would deliver regular reports, and no one would find it strange for the butler of an earl's family to visit the school.
And if I gave him instructions during those visits, I could manage my businesses without arousing anyone's suspicion, even while staying at Eton.
No matter what happened in London, no one would ever think to connect it to me, who would be quietly studying at Eton.
On the surface, a diligent Irish nobleman striving in his studies to overcome the disadvantages of his birth.
Behind the scenes, the true power of a burgeoning organization, steadily growing its influence within London's gray areas.
For the time being, I would focus on establishing these two identities, taking care not to be discovered by anyone.
I had no worries about arousing suspicion.
After all, living with multiple identities was the one thing in this world I did best.