Chapter 33 – The Bearings Scandal (3)

The statement submitted by the writer, Hanslow Jin, was passed from Scotland Yard to the London Securities Commission.

However, this alone could not solve the problem.

Today, the Securities Commission, divided into the Liderdale faction and the Marshall faction, had a heated debate.

"He didn't know?! Does that make any sense?! He caused this situation and then says he didn't know!?"

"Why are you harassing an innocent novelist in the first place? Isn't the problem with the Governor!?"

"Isn't it extremely suspicious! Who is this Hanslow Jin anyway? Is he even British? There's a rumour that he might be German, a Kraut conspiracy to incite divisions within our Great Britain!"

"Are you bringing up conspiracy theories because you have nothing else to say? If he were a German spy, he would have exposed it before the bailout was implemented! The fact that he wrote about it after the restructuring means he really knew nothing!"

"So you want us to believe that this is all a coincidence?!"

Of course, it wasn't entirely a coincidence.

Just as the saying goes, human greed knows no bounds and the same mistakes are repeated, the British at this time couldn't have anticipated that a similar situation would occur in the distant future in the United States.

The subprime mortgage crisis and the subsequent bailout of Lehman Brothers.

This incident, which had a tremendous impact on the global economy, became a topic that was dissected and discussed for nearly 20 years, and in Korea, it became a typical cliché in corporate web novels.

In other words, it was a result of a stray bullet from the future mistakenly leaking into the past.

"So, what do you propose we do about it!"

"What do you mean, what to do!! Let's take this opportunity to properly discipline these private banks and companies! Those bastards took investments and didn't even do their jobs properly!!"

"Are you in your right mind? Are you suggesting we violate the free economic activities of private companies!?"

"Freedom, my foot! If that's the case, as Professor Marshall said, isn't it their freedom to go bankrupt as well!?"

"But you can't just stand by and watch companies go bankrupt!!"

This issue fundamentally arose because the concept of capitalism had not yet fully matured.

The contradictions accumulated due to the mismatch between theory and reality, with the state making convenient choices, were only exposed earlier by someone from the future.

You could say it was a preventive measure, but just like kids who don't appreciate vaccinations, the British didn't particularly thank him for it.

On the contrary.

"The fact that something that could have been passed over quietly was exposed is all because of Hanslow Jin."

For nearly a fortnight, the tiresome arguments continued.

Tired of the endless bickering, William Liderdale, the Governor of the Bank of England, gritted his teeth and spoke.

Of course, the real culprits were none other than the London Stock Exchange.

Had it not been for their ridiculous misunderstanding, he wouldn't have had to go through this ordeal.

However, as the saying goes, "crayfish side with shrimp," the central bank couldn't truly fight the stock exchange.

They couldn't all go down together.

The leadership of the stock exchange knew this well. They hadn't lifted the trading ban on Liderdale because they were wary of Alfred Marshall.

The Securities Commission was an organisation heavily influenced by academia, and Marshall was one of the leading figures in that academia.

Therefore, to end this amicably with a draw, they needed one thing.

A suitable scapegoat.

"Tell Scotland Yard! Not just to request cooperation, but to arrest and investigate! Make him pay for taking the British financial sector lightly!!"

But. They didn't know.

That this scapegoat had backing that shouldn't be turned into an enemy, as much as the London Stock Exchange.

"You seem to be exhausting yourself with this absurd scandal, Governor."

"... Baron Rothschild?"

Ferdinand de Rothschild.

He wasn't the head of the family. He was from Austria and had a separate position and standing from the British branch of the Rothschild family, and he wasn't heavily involved in the actions of Nathaniel Mayer Rothschild, the head of the British branch.

However, this also meant that he was a powerful figure who could exert influence if he chose to speak. It also meant he was the hidden power within the British Rothschild family.

In the end, it was clear that the Governor of the Bank of England could not take it lightly.

"I will mediate with the London Stock Exchange for you."

"Are you serious?"

"Of course, even for our Rothschild family, it is undesirable for the London financial sector to remain this turbulent."

It wasn't wrong.

Although Ferdinand was a Liberal Party MP and an advocate for the protection of minorities, including Jews, he was, like most wealthy individuals, not someone who would support relief for the poor or market regulation.

Most importantly, it was Nathan, the head of the British Rothschild branch, who had supported William during the Barings Bank bailout.

Thus, William could subtly nod his head.

"If the Baron could do that, there would be nothing more to ask for..."

"In return, let's put this whole matter to rest. Including that novelist, Hanslow Jin."

"... What do you mean?"

William Liderdale squinted at Ferdinand.

And he realised it in an instant.

Ah, this is a warning disguised as mediation. They were telling him not to approach Hanslow Jin...

Did the hidden power of the Rothschild family come to see the Governor of the Bank of England in person just for one novelist?

"Could it be...?"

Was Hanslow Jin a Jew connected to the Rothschilds?

To William, it seemed a plausible speculation.

Jews were not only famous in finance but also heavily involved in the arts.

Legally unable to own land or join guilds, they often pursued such professions.

Even Cervantes, the famous Spanish writer, was believed to be a Jew.

'If that's the case...'

This could be quite a profitable affair.

Even though the Rothschilds had a firm grip on the financial sector, they were still considered outsiders among the British nobility, merely barons.

If it became known that a novice affiliated with the Rothschilds was openly writing novels attacking the nobility, they would face a barrage of criticism and might have to leave London.

'If I could extricate myself from this predicament, hold a weakness over the Rothschilds, and erase my debt to the Liberal Party...'

It would be like killing three birds with one stone.

William Liderdale was about to smile happily in anticipation when...

"Hmm, you seem to be under some misunderstanding."

"Excuse me? What do you mean?"

"He isn't particularly connected to us. It's just that we've recently taken on his business's accounting through some connections. He should take care of his own affairs."

Not like the bank, though.

Just as William was about to get angry at what seemed like a deliberate poke at his sore spot.

"Governor."

"Yes. What is it?"

"Excuse me, but a certain naval officer asked me to deliver this note to you..."

What on earth.

Both William and Ferdinand frowned in displeasure.

To interrupt a meeting between the Governor of the Bank of England and the effective head of the Rothschild family with just a message seemed incredibly rude.

A naval officer? Whoever it was, they seemed terribly impolite... But then again.

'Or maybe not!'

William stopped thinking as he saw the note stamped with the insignia of the lion and unicorn.

For someone above all laws and etiquette, the concept of rudeness did not exist.

'What on earth could this be about.'

Liderdale nervously opened the note.

And, upon reading the simple command, he broke into a cold sweat.

─Do not touch Hanslow Jin.

Ah.

I'm screwed.

William Liderdale turned pale as ash. The ash then spoke to a bewildered Ferdinand.

"... Baron Rothschild."

"Yes, what is it?"

"Could you please mediate?"

"Of course. That's why I'm here... Are you alright?"

"Haha, I'm fine... I've given up on everything now."

"..."

Ferdinand de Rothschild could only tilt his head, seeing the old man, who seemed to have aged ten years in a moment.

'Well, it's probably not something I need to worry about.'

In any case, he had achieved what he wanted.

Ferdinand, gathering his strength, recalled the man who had visited his home a few days ago.

***

A few days earlier, in Buckinghamshire.

"It has been a while since I saw you outside the auction house, Frederick."

"It should have happened more often. Hahaha."

Frederick Alba Miller looked around Waddesdon Manor, a famous landmark in Buckinghamshire.

The manor, reflecting Baron Ferdinand's taste, was a splendid French-style château and garden in the neo-Renaissance style, a delight to the eyes.

Frederick thought how nice it would have been to visit such a place with Clara and the kids. Regretfully, he entered the drawing room.

"So, what brings you here?"

"First, thank you for accepting my abrupt request."

"Hahaha. Why so formal between friends? It's an honour just to be involved in something good."

They exchanged pleasantries with friendly smiles.

But Miller wasn't foolish enough to not realise that the Rothschilds had already figured everything out.

"Alice and Peter Foundation. Hahaha, Samuel would be quite surprised."

"Well, it's a rather blatant name, isn't it?"

Miller shook his head, sighing deeply.

"Doing good is fine, but it seems we have stepped on a pointless landmine in the process."

"Hahaha. You seem to be enjoying it quite a bit, though?"

"Well, it's like watching a mischievous youngest sibling."

"A troublemaker... Indeed, this mess was quite significant. It's been a while since the London Stock Exchange went berserk like that. It was quite a spectacle, really. Hahaha!"

"Hah."

Frederick Alba Miller smiled bitterly and shook his head.

Indeed, it was quite an entertaining spectacle in itself...

"But the fallout has been rather strange. My employee has done nothing wrong."

"Well, that I agree with."

To Ferdinand, an Austrian, British democracy was a bizarre political system.

The idea that every citizen had one vote was peculiar enough, but trying to combine capitalism, which openly divided classes, with such a system was baffling...

What were they thinking, maintaining such a system?

Of course, that wasn't the issue at hand.

"However, the world doesn't work so easily that being innocent means not bearing any responsibility."

"That's why I've come to ask you. Baron Rothschild, if you mediate, this childish farce could be brought to an end, couldn't it?"

"Hmm."

Ferdinand scratched his chin.

Certainly, if he mediated, the two financial institutions, unable to back down due to pride and honour, would yield.

But.

"Is there any reason I should?"

Why should he bother with such an annoying game just because of personal connections?

Ferdinand asked, and Miller sighed deeply, looking him straight in the eye.

Then, he uttered a single, weighty word.

"Zionism."

"... Hmm."

Ferdinand inhaled sharply.

Zionism. The ambitious plan to build a utopia for the Jewish people, wandering without a home.

"Last year, in Vienna, wasn't it? The student wrote very well."

"What are you trying to say?"

Though Rothschild had entered the establishment with his wealth... No, precisely because of that, he was well aware of the persecution and oppression faced by Jews and secretly supported them.

To a man who believed he could buy anything with money, now even a country.

For love, the man who had once given up his country spoke calmly.

"I will make you an offer you can't refuse."

"..."

"As you might have realised, I now hold a card that can sway the public opinion of this country. It's a card that is as silent as it is violent."

Indeed. Ferdinand smiled bitterly and said.

"You're going to let me use that card as well?"

"That's impossible. You know how much of a rebel he is from what you've seen so far."

"Hahaha, that's true."

"But he is a friend with a lot of loyalty."

Miller finished speaking calmly, and Ferdinand understood the implication.

'... It would be wise to keep him close.'

The old man, who would do anything for the aspirations of his family, chuckled and nodded.

"Very well. It looks like I need to visit the bank after a long time."

"Thank you."

"Shall we have dinner together this evening?"

"Oh my."

It would be an honour.

Miller smiled and shook Ferdinand's extended hand.

'Now I can relax for a bit.'

Such a high-maintenance employee.

Miller thought bitterly to himself.