บท 5: CHAPTER 5: Age of Hypocrisy (End)

A grand, opulent chamber within Buckingham Palace. Prince William, heir to the throne, sits at a desk, his face etched with concern. Arthur Wellesley, Prime Minister and a prominent figure in British history, stands before him. The room is filled with the soft glow of lamplight and the gentle ticking of a grandfather clock.

Prince William, looking directly at Wellesley, sets down his teacup.

"Arthur, we have a serious problem. This bill, if passed, could destabilize the entire nation."

Wellesley, a man of action and renowned military strategist, meets William's gaze with a steely determination.

"Your Majesty, I understand your concern. But we must be pragmatic. The King's wishes are paramount."

William sighs, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.

"You know as well as I do that the King's health is failing. We cannot allow this bill to pass while he is still on the throne."

"I agree. We must delay its passage, at all costs. Perhaps we can exploit the King's deteriorating health to our advantage." Wellesley nods thoughtfully.

"How so?"

Wellesley leans forward, his voice low and conspiratorial.

"The King's physicians, particularly Lord Halford, are known for their questionable judgment. If we can discredit Halford, perhaps we can convince the King to reconsider his support for this bill."

William's face lights up with a glimmer of hope, "That could be a brilliant strategy. But how do we go about it?"

"The King's addiction to opium to alleviate his cystitis is a matter of grave concern," Wellesley remarked. "It won't be long before his health deteriorates further."

William nodded, his expression somber. "I understand. We must be prepared for any eventuality."

"I agree," William replied. "But we must proceed cautiously. Any sudden move could backfire."

"I'll speak with the lawmakers," Wellesley assured him. "I'll gauge their sentiment and see what can be done."

"Excellent," William said. "And remember, if I ascend the throne, I will do everything in my power to suppress this bill."

Wellesley nodded. "Your Majesty, I will not let you down."

***

< Scuffle in the city... 2 injured, 10 arrested>

< Listen to Micaiah's warning! The third knight, the black knight, is approaching!>

"Is everyone mad?"

I sighed and chewed my biscuit.

"Master?"

I heard Layla calling out to me

"The editor-in-chief has come to visit."

"Really?"

'Without even informing me in advance? That's not like her.'

***

Sorry for just showing up like this, I know its rude of me"

"As long as you're sorry, but I have to ask why the sudden visit to my house?"

"...There was an arson attempt at our publishing house."

"..."

"Luckily the officers made the arrest in time, but it seems things have escalated beyond our expectations. Even in Congress…"

"Do I have to appear in parliament and give a speech?"

"That won't be necessary. There is no reason for that, and hasn't the author already made his position clear enough? The problem lies with the reporters who will do anything to write a catching story, and obviously make money."

"…. An uninteresting newspaper is a sin."

'Was it Hearst who said this? But how old was Hearst? No, is it Hearst? I guess he wasn't born yet. Well, anyway, that's not important.'

"But you'll have to make some sort of move."

"Isn't it enough that I issued a statement through the media?"

"Sorry but I don't make the rules, you need to write a new piece."

A writer speaks through writing.

So, the conclusion was a new work.

"It will take time."

"I don't want to rush you, but I would appreciate it if you could understand that the situation is not good."

"I hear you."

Humans often focus on the most exciting or dramatic aspects of a situation, overlooking the broader context. This tendency is reflected in the common saying, "A quotation out of context is a distortion of the truth."

Throughout the 19th and 21st centuries, countless individuals have created innovations that were previously unimaginable. This demonstrates the power of human ingenuity and our ability to shape the world around us.

Politicians, however, may prioritize short-term gains over long-term consequences. They might believe that as long as they've taken action, even if it's controversial, they've fulfilled their obligations.

While I personally regret the situation we find ourselves in, I can say with certainty that I acted in accordance with my moral principles. My contributions to the debate surrounding the Malthus Trap were intended to spark discussion and promote critical thinking.

However, I couldn't help but wonder about the potential unintended consequences of my actions. What if history were to take an unexpected turn due to my involvement?

A whirlwind of thoughts swirled in my mind. The implications of revealing Soylent Green's true nature were staggering. It was a controversial topic, sure, but I was determined to use my future knowledge to shape a better world. I didn't want to repeat the mistakes of Arthur Conan Doyle, who faced a backlash after killing off Sherlock Holmes.

The public outcry against Doyle was immense. Londoners mourned Holmes as if he were a real person, and Doyle received countless threats and insults. His home was even pelted with stones. It was a stark reminder of the power of fiction to capture the hearts and minds of readers.

The controversy surrounding Sherlock Holmes was truly remarkable back then. Even when an elderly woman attacked him with a parasol, he had the audacity to sue her! The Crown Prince, later King Edward VII, intervened, insisting that Holmes's life was too valuable to be lost in such a trivial matter.

Doyle's own mother, whom he deeply trusted, even questioned his judgment when he threatened to die if she didn't stop criticizing him. She wrote back, 'You're going through a lot, son, but why did you kill Holmes?'

Only After years of public backlash, Arthur Conan Doyle finally brought Holmes back to life in The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Adventures of the Empty House.

I refuse to be manipulated in the same way. I used Soylent Green to bury the past. But the controversy still raged on. Why? Why was there such a strong emotional attachment to this fictional character?

***

"The readership is quite different for these two books," Riley explained, adjusting her reading glasses. "Soylent Green is a more complex novel, while Sherlock Holmes is more widely accessible."

"You're right," I admitted. "Soylent Green was definitely aimed at a more sophisticated audience. But Sherlock Holmes has a broader appeal."

Riley nodded. "Exactly. So, it makes sense to prioritize the release of Sherlock Holmes. We can build momentum with that and then introduce Soylent Green later."

"That's a good plan," I said. "But what about the other novels I'm working on?"

Riley paused, considering my question. "Well, we might need to prioritize those as well, depending on their potential market and your own interests."

I sighed. "I just hope I can keep up with it all."

Riley smiled. "You'll do fine. Just focus on one thing at a time."

As we continued our conversation, I couldn't help but think about my personal life. My mother had been talking about finding me a wife, and I knew she was serious about it.

"Have you heard anything about my mother's matchmaking efforts?" I asked Riley.

"Yes, she's been quite active," Riley replied. "She's been looking into potential matches from noble families."

I groaned. "Great. More family pressure."

Riley chuckled. "Don't worry, you'll find someone eventually."

I just hoped it wouldn't be too soon.

I sigh again

"Layla."

"Yes?"

"Please prepare the carriage."

"Where are you going?"

"City of London, for business reasons."

Of course, I don't run the business myself.

Strictly speaking, it is an investment.

Of course, my mother—both my mother in my past life and my current life—have always said,

Stocks are a shortcut to ruin, so don't mess with them.

It's wise to save diligently. Many people make rash decisions with stocks and end up losing everything. If you have a significant sum, investing in land might be a safer option.

But, what if I had stumbled upon stocks with historically guaranteed astronomical returns—a staggering 144,000%? What if I had a glimpse of the future, witnessing a rising star's meteoric success?

While I didn't possess any insider knowledge, I was certain that a company backed by such a prominent figure wouldn't fail. Perhaps my presence had slightly altered the course of events, but I was confident in the company's potential with a little extra capital.

I considered the risks of excessive greed, but I was determined.

After a brief pause, Layla informed me that the carriage was ready.

As I descended the stairs, I called to the coachman. "Nari, take us to the Great Western Steamship Company in the City of London."

The City of London—the financial heart of the British Empire. A vast duty-free zone. And the home of a company that would soon provide me with a substantial fortune.

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