Chapter 111
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: To the Land of Opportunity
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After years of navigating the political landscape, one naturally develops the ability to distinguish between those who can be trusted and those who cannot.
John Quincy Adams, now seventy-four, felt he had only recently awakened to such an ability.
He couldn't help but feel a pang of regret; if he'd had this kind of insight in his younger days, he would have done a much better job during his presidency and might have easily won re-election.
Here in the British Empire, he had been putting on the facade of a benevolent old man, but his true nature was suspicious, stubborn, and uncompromising.
However, he knew full well that displaying such an attitude in a foreign land, not his own, would not help him achieve his goals.
"...So, Minister, you are pursuing this immigration policy out of concern for the Irish people. Indeed, for someone so passionate about the abolition of slavery, it seems only natural that you would be so dedicated to your homeland."
"That's right. In fact, I believe my interest in abolition stems from having witnessed the wretched lives of the Irish so often. They may be citizens of the British Empire in name, but the majority of them live lives not so different from slaves. It is my hope that they might finally live as human beings in Canada."
His voice and expression were so full of sincerity it couldn't possibly be an act.
In truth, there was little reason to doubt Killian's words.
From their earlier conversation about the abolition of slavery, it was clear he was a man of surprisingly progressive and humanitarian views.
This was not something one could simply feign or act out.
Even among the lifelong abolitionists he had known, he had never met anyone with such a solid theoretical foundation.
How could he describe it? It was a perspective that seemed to see the world from a step ahead.
It felt like experiencing the mindset of someone who had actually lived in a future that had not yet arrived.
He could now understand why the diplomatic envoy had described him as an incredibly difficult man to assess.
"Are you then certain, Minister, that Canadian immigration will not bring chaos to the United States?"
"These are human affairs, so how could I say so with absolute certainty? However, to minimize that possibility, I plan to stay in Canada for a time with full authority. If necessary, I intend to visit the United States and speak with His Excellency the President."
"I see. I have heard that even when the British Empire was at war with the Qing Dynasty, you did your utmost to accommodate their demands and avoid conflict."
The information he had gathered on Killian beforehand showed a clear consistency.
He was the type to seek the most peaceful path and avoid making enemies, but if things went awry, he would strike decisively to break his foe.
In other words, it was highly likely that his desire not to be at odds with the United States was, to some extent, sincere.
"To be frank, what reason is there for us and the United States to quarrel now? For my part, I am simply doing my best to care for Canada so that it does not leave the fold of the mother country as the United States did."
"My... If only there had been someone like you in the past, Minister, the relationship between the United States and your country might have been very different."
"Indeed. But what can be done? We reap what we sow. I intend to learn from their mistakes and do my best to ensure the British Empire does not make any more self-defeating moves in the Americas. In fact, speaking frankly between us, this is the problem with English politicians. They think they are the best. If I had been the Prime Minister of the British Empire back then, I would have treated the United States not as a colony but as a complete equal to the motherland and guaranteed them the right to vote."
"Had you done so, there would have been no reason for the sentiment for independence to explode. You are from Ireland, Minister, so you certainly seem to feel a close emotional connection to Canada and to our side. It's as if you understand our position well."
Killian nodded with a smile, as if in agreement.
He had overlooked it because Killian was the youngest minister in history, but he was indeed not from the English mainland but from Ireland—and of mixed blood at that.
To have risen to such a position, how much discrimination must he have overcome, how much ridicule must he have endured from behind his back?
Perhaps the Minister's interest in the marginalized and in slaves was due to such a background.
"I will be heading to Canada soon myself, so I'm sure we will have a few more opportunities to meet there. And I have already instructed my staff to compile the materials on the abolition of slavery, so I will have them sent to you as soon as they are gathered."
"Thank you for your consideration in so many ways."
"Not at all. If my humble efforts have been of any help, I could ask for nothing more."
After that, James laid out a series of concrete plans to support Adams's abolitionist movement.
After reviewing the various proposals and accepting the ones that seemed most effective, Killian and James took their leave.
From his perspective, the visit had yielded the best possible outcome, achieving not only its official purpose but also his personal objectives. Yet, paradoxically, for that very reason, he could not let his guard down.
'When everything goes this well, it's never a good sign.'
There should have been some dubious points or elements that didn't quite add up, but right now, all the circumstances fit together so perfectly it was almost euphoric.
If he were twenty years younger, he might have just accepted it as a good thing, but these days he had grown so suspicious that something felt off.
The same went for Killian Gore.
He was a truly fine man—polite, capable, a champion of human rights, and a proponent of peace with other nations.
His record, as far as he had investigated, was impeccably clean, and meeting him in person, it was impossible not to be charmed by the fine young man.
In other words, he was too perfect.
Was it just him being old and cynical?
That perfection didn't sit right with him.
Though he spoke sense and offered conditions that were impossible to refuse, he felt he could not open his heart and trust him one hundred percent.
'Still, his desire for the abolition of slavery seemed genuine. Perhaps I'll trust only that part.'
Politics, after all, was a battle of wits where each side used the other to achieve its own goals.
Even if the other side wanted something, as long as he could achieve his own aims, he would play the part of being used while using them in return.
The titan of American politics, who had seen and weathered it all, watched the spot Killian had vacated, his eyes still sharp with caution.
***
"Fortunately, it seems to have gone well this time, too."
Once they were outside, James confirmed they were alone and let out a sigh of relief.
"Gone well?"
"Yes. They've agreed to accept our help, and they've promised to work with me on various matters when we go to the United States. Since they've chosen to trust us, all we need to do now is build on that trust, wouldn't you say?"
"If that's what you felt, then he's certainly not a man to be taken lightly. Then again, I suppose that's what makes it a thrilling challenge for me."
"...Pardon?"
"I'm talking about Adams. Contrary to his words and expression, he didn't fully trust me."
It was only natural for James to believe things had gone well; Adams, who had initially seemed suspicious, had soon appeared to place his complete trust in Killian's words.
However, after observing him closely, Killian realized that while Adams's words were plausible, his demeanor suggested he did not trust him entirely.
Of course, having met only twice, Killian didn't expect to have earned his complete trust.
But for Adams to feign trust on the surface while thinking otherwise was a separate issue.
It went beyond mere distrust; it had to be interpreted as him having his own scheme to use them.
And if James hadn't noticed, it meant Adams was concealing his intentions that much more carefully.
"Was my acting unconvincing?"
"No, your performance was perfect. If your skin were just a little more tanned, Adams might have asked if you had any Black ancestors."
"Then he must be a naturally suspicious person. I suppose having survived in the world of politics for so long..."
"Exactly. We're dealing with a giant among giants, a man who's even been president. Wouldn't it be stranger if he didn't react this way?"
He had almost grown numb from putting on a brazen act and having everyone fall for it hook, line, and sinker. This was a welcome change.
Having an opponent who required such tension now and then was the only way he could feel a bit of a thrilling suspense.
"But no matter how hard he tries, I doubt he'll be able to figure out our true objective at this point."
"You never know. People can always resort to the ultimate weapon known as a leap of logic."
It's the kind of thing that usually earns one a rebuke like, "Stop making up stories," or "Save your delusions for your diary," but when it hits the mark, it becomes a sharp intuition.
And a seasoned political giant like Adams might just stumble upon a fragment of the truth the moment he spots the slightest crack, like a blind squirrel finding a nut.
"It won't be easy. If he still doesn't believe us after all we've said, we'll have to consider his suspicion a constant."
"Even so, he'll only be suspicious. For now, he'll follow our lead. At this point, he's still in the 'something feels off' stage and nothing more."
"Now that you mention it, that's true. If he were truly suspicious, he would have acted differently."
If that weren't the case, there would have been no reason for him to listen to the end, nor to pick and choose only the least problematic of James's proposals to accept.
His attitude could be summarized as: it seems it will help my own cause, so I'll take the deal, but I won't trust you completely.
"He wants to pick out all the good stuff from us for himself, and we, in turn, will use him to create the situation we want. In the end, victory will go to whoever can read the other's hand without revealing their own."
Playing along with each other, pretending to be used while using the other, and never giving up what's truly important.
The thought of enjoying a high-level battle of wits after so long made his heart pound a little.
"But will you be alright?"
"With what? Surely you're not worried that I might lose?"
"I am worried. If Adams is not an easy opponent, you'll have to put in that much more effort, which means you'll have to go to Canada and even the United States yourself. It's obvious your stay will be longer than you initially anticipated."
"That's something I have to do anyway, so what's there to worry about... ah."
He had a point. There was cause for concern.
He had been so busy striking poses and talking about battles of wits that he had completely forgotten about his truly formidable opponent.
He glanced at James, but James, having no better solution, simply raised a fist as if to say he should face it head-on.
Was it just his imagination, or did James's smiling face seem to be mocking him, as if to say, "Serves you right"?
What an impertinent subordinate, laughing at his superior's misfortune.
I mentally confiscated James's vacation for the next three years and, with a heart as heavy as lead, made my way toward Kensington Palace.
***
He had already mentioned long ago that, having been put in charge of Canada, he would need to go and assess the situation at some point.
Victoria had said nothing against it at the time and had cheerfully told him to go. Unfortunately, the situation now was a little more delicate.
"Are you saying you not only have to go to Canada but also stop by the United States?"
"I think it would be beneficial to our national interest to go and speak with the President of the United States, hold talks with members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and observe how quickly the United States is growing..."
"There's no reason why not. So, what kind of schedule are you thinking of?"
"The Canadian immigration policy is now in full swing, and various settlement processes are underway, from people working on farms and in factories to those expanding into the western territories. To control this effectively, be mindful of avoiding border disputes, and carefully observe the results..."
"So how many months will it take?"
Sensing that Victoria's voice was becoming overly sweet, I hastily laid out my calculations.
"The best method would be to stay in Canada and monitor in real-time how the seeds I've sown are growing. Adding to that the need to keep an eye on developments in the United States, it would take at least three years to reach a stable point..."
*Crack.*
Victoria pressed the knife down on the strawberry she was eating, and red juice spilled onto the plate.
"...is what I thought, but that might be too long and could be counterproductive. Even fruit spoils if left for too long, doesn't it? So, I've revised the schedule to proceed with a more condensed plan. Including the development of the Great Lakes region and cooperation with the United States, I should be able to manage it in about two years..."
*Crunch.*
This time, the cream pastry she was enjoying for dessert crumbled into dozens of pieces, becoming unrecognizable.
Was it just my overactive imagination that saw my own face superimposed on those crushed pastry crumbs?
"...is also what I thought, but that's still long. One year! I'll finish everything and be back within a year! I might have to return in the middle, but I believe I can get it all done within a year."
"Really? You're not overexerting yourself, are you?"
"Of course not. In this rapidly changing society, we cannot survive with the same leisurely mindset as before. I will finish my business as quickly as possible and return!"
"Excellent. In that case, I'll prepare a surprise gift and wait for my minister, who will be exhausted from his arduous duties."
"To think that Your Majesty would prepare a gift for a humble servant who devotes his body and soul to the glory of the British Empire... I am so moved by your warm consideration that I feel tears welling up."
Yes. The tears that felt like they were about to burst forth were simply a natural reaction to being so deeply moved, and not from any other emotion.
The timeline was a bit tight, but who was he? He could handle this with ease.
All he had to do was complete the Canadian immigration policy, use the gold mines to pioneer the west while minimizing side effects, establish infrastructure for the Great Lakes development, and put a leash on the United States before coming back.
And the time limit for all that... one year.
He was in big trouble. He really felt like he was about to burst into tears of overwhelming emotion.