Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Interview with Roosevelt
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1903, January. The White House in Washington D.C.
"Never in my wildest dreams back in my previous life did I imagine I'd set foot here."
I muttered those words, lost in sentiment, as I gazed down the corridors of the White House.
It looked quite different from what I knew, since Truman hadn't renovated it on a grand scale yet, but a White House was still a White House.
And on top of that, I was about to share a formal dinner with none other than the President of the United States—theodore Roosevelt himself, whose face was immortalized on Mount Rushmore alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, the original Four Hokage of the rocky monument.
I wondered what my past self would think if he saw me now.
"Come on in, this way."
While I was distracted taking in the sights of the White House, Roosevelt called out to me in a friendly, neighborly tone, like the uncle next door.
I responded to the president's kindness with a smile and followed him into the dining room.
"I thought about inviting my family at first, but then I realized the table would get way too noisy."
"Haha, I see."
Roosevelt's kids took after their father—full of energy and mischief. They wouldn't have been ideal for an occasion like this.
Especially his eldest daughter, Alice Roosevelt. She wasn't just eccentric; she was a full-blown troublemaker.
'Even in 1905, when she visited the Korean Empire, she rode a stone horse at Empress Myeongseong's tomb in riding gear and had her picture taken for proof. That alone speaks volumes about her character.'
Even by 21st-century Korean standards, it was the kind of stunt that'd make you curse. No doubt it looked utterly outrageous to the people of Joseon back then.
And not just the Westerners in the Korean Empire—folks back in America were shocked and condemned her for her over-the-top rudeness.
'But she just laughed it off in the face of all that criticism.'
In a way, she was one remarkable woman.
I could see exactly why Roosevelt hadn't brought her here.
Parents know their kids best.
"Who would've thought I'd get to meet the 'Boy Who Saved the Kaiser' in person."
"Looks like my name's made it across the Atlantic pretty well."
"You're famous enough, but your novel's even more so. I read Immortal Admiral Yi quite often myself."
With that, Roosevelt offered me a cup of coffee.
'Ugh!'
The intense bitterness hit my tongue the moment I took a sip, making me grimace involuntarily.
Of all things, it had to be espresso.
"Oh dear. Not to your taste?"
"My palate's still got that kid-like sensitivity."
I forced a smile through the lingering bitterness while facing Roosevelt, who grinned at me like a grandpa watching a child's antics.
Then I turned to the waiter nearby.
"Sorry, but could you dilute this with some water? Ice if possible."
"Pardon?"
The waiter blinked back as if he couldn't believe his ears.
Probably Italian-American.
But that didn't change the outcome.
I held his gaze steadily without backing down, and he eventually returned with the coffee remade just as I'd ordered, looking like he'd lost his country.
There's nothing like an iced Americano in the dead of winter.
Mint chocolate, Hawaiian pizza—the world is full of people who just don't get good taste.
"Ah~ Now that's more like it."
"...Is it really that good?"
"Try it yourself. It's got this weirdly addictive kick."
"Hmm. Get me one too."
Curiosity piqued, Roosevelt decided to give iced Americano a shot.
The waiter, tears practically streaming from his eyes, brought another one.
Roosevelt sipped his cautiously, then peered into his cup with a peculiar expression.
"Interesting flavor."
He muttered, clearly more pleased than he'd expected, and kept sipping away.
As expected of an American—he knew good Americano when he tasted it.
"Speaking of which, I was shocked by the performance of Germany's new battleship."
"You mean SMS Friedrich der Große, sir?"
"Our Admiral Dewey was mighty impressed. The old man's been carrying on all day like a kid begging for candy, insisting we need to adopt the Frederick-class too."
Admiral Dewey? Yeah, that tracks.
America's most capable and seasoned admiral wouldn't miss the value of a Dreadnought after seeing it with his own eyes.
And Frederick-class, huh.
In this world, it seemed Dreadnoughts were known as Frederick- or Friedrich-class battleships instead.
"Thanks to that, Congress is griping that the Navy's demanding too much budget, and balancing both sides is giving me one hell of a headache."
"Haha, sounds rough."
Still better than the Brits, though.
Over there, Balfour and Admiral Fisher pushed to scrap existing battleships and fund Dreadnoughts with the savings. But with naval supremacy already shaky, the opposition freaked out about a potential fleet gap during construction, turning everything into a mess.
"Right. So how does the German Empire plan to resolve this Venezuela business—and the headaches it's causing me and my government?"
"!"
Just like that, amid the friendly chat, Roosevelt cut straight to the chase, showing his true colors.
What a masterful shift in demeanor.
I calmly laced my fingers, staring down the gray bear before me who looked ready to devour me at any moment.
"Venezuela resuming repayment of its debts to Germany."
"And?"
"And full compensation for damages to German nationals from the civil war and this incident under Castro, plus all costs incurred resolving it. Oh, and tariff privileges on trade."
"Hahaha! You sly fox."
Roosevelt pushed up his glasses and burst into laughter.
Then he said flatly,
"Where'd you leave your conscience?"
"The Venezuelan government bears full responsibility for this mess. So from the German Empire's perspective, it's only right we get what's owed."
"I could never in good conscience say Venezuela would agree to those terms."
"What's the issue? America will represent them anyway."
Roosevelt shrugged at my words.
No denial there. But he had no intention of accepting Germany's demands wholesale either.
"Resuming debt repayment is a given, so we'll skip that. Compensation for German losses from the civil war? Fine, if you adjust to a realistic amount. But nothing beyond that."
Roosevelt stated firmly.
America didn't want Germany using debt as leverage to bend Venezuela to its will.
"If Venezuela can't pay up, Germany would have to take something else instead. Say, special privileges from Venezuela..."
BAM!
Before I could finish, Roosevelt slammed his fist on the table, eyes bulging at the word "privileges."
Essentially, Germany demanding the right to interfere in Venezuela.
And promising privileges to Germany would have other European powers lining up, demanding the same treatment.
That violated the Monroe Doctrine, and Roosevelt wouldn't stand for it.
"Baron. You think America would accept Germany wielding influence in Venezuela under the guise of special privileges?"
I figured as much.
I hadn't been serious about privileges from the start anyway.
No, what I really wanted was something else.
"How about resource mining rights instead?"
"Resource mining rights?"
"I read a paper on Venezuela's resources once. High chance of oil reserves."
Roosevelt's face twisted at the word "oil."
"You know what that implies, right?"
"Of course. But Germany has no intention of hogging Venezuela's oil all to ourselves."
"Hmm?"
"Good things are meant to be shared with friends, aren't they? Let's split it."
Venezuela was sitting on massive oil reserves.
Reserves rivaling Saudi Arabia's, if not surpassing.
Of course, Venezuelan crude was lower quality than American or Middle Eastern oil, and like most South American fields, it was heavy oil—a huge drawback. That's why even in original history, extraction didn't ramp up until World War I was nearly over.
It's also why 21st-century America obsessed over Middle East oil instead of the oil-rich neighbor right next door.
'But it's still oil.'
Money and oil are always right.
If it proves unusable, I could always cede shares to Britain later for Middle East stakes.
Securing oil interests now couldn't hurt.
At my proposal to carve up Venezuelan oil together, Roosevelt—unlike moments ago—fell deep into thought.
He was tempted too.
"Plus, think about it: untapped fields untouched by Rockefeller and Standard Oil. You're famous for hating trusts. Wouldn't this be a boon for you down the line?"
"Now that's... an intriguing offer."
Roosevelt smacked his lips.
In original history, he'd swung the antitrust axe against Rockefeller's Standard Oil, Carnegie Steel, and other robber baron monopolies.
No way he wasn't interested.
I pressed on toward Roosevelt, who was starting to get excited.
Truth be told, this mattered more to me than the oil.
"If you consider my proposal favorably, I'll throw in a gift."
"A gift?"
"Your Excellency, any interest in the Nobel Peace Prize?"
I flashed the practiced, insincere smile that had become second nature.
"What? The Nobel Peace Prize?"
Roosevelt raised an eyebrow at the words from the young Eastern baron before him.
He'd thought the boy intriguing from afar, but up close, he was far more entertaining.
Shrewd and utterly shameless, to boot.
Who'd have thought he'd propose splitting Venezuelan oil between America and Germany right here?
Irresistible bait for Roosevelt.
And those fields could serve as a weapon against John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil stranglehold on the world petroleum market.
Roosevelt had read reports speculating on Venezuelan reserves himself.
Still just theory, but the sheer volume promised to be massive, quality aside.
Civil wars had prevented proper surveys until now... but it was concession enough for Roosevelt to yield a step to Germany.
'But the Nobel Peace Prize out of nowhere?'
He couldn't claim disinterest, but it was a curveball.
"They won't hand out a Nobel for mediating Venezuela."
"Not Venezuela. This is about Russia and Japan."
"Oh? Russia and Japan."
At the names of two powers America couldn't ignore, Roosevelt finally grasped the baron's intent.
The Anglo-Japanese Alliance signed around this time last year had ratcheted up tensions between Russia and Japan to a level America watched closely.
And so, eyeing Pacific interests keenly, America and Theodore Roosevelt could see it: war between them was inevitable.
"Don't tell me you're asking me to mediate if Russia and Japan go to war."
"Quick on the uptake."
"Only way to snag a Nobel over the Russo-Japanese War. But why's the German Empire interested? You've got a concession in China, sure, but no reason to meddle between Russia and Japan."
Roosevelt was genuinely curious.
And his question was answered—much to his shock—by the baron's next words.
"The German Empire seeks balance in the Far East, nothing more."
"You bastard. You've teamed up with Britain."
The Germany Roosevelt knew cared nothing for diplomatic balance.
Only Britain meddled in others' wars under the banner of "balance."
Visibly awkward, the baron cleared his throat and continued.
"Ahem. Not a bad deal for America or you, sir. Neither a Russian Pacific breakout nor Japanese dominance there suits U.S. interests."
That's why, in original history's Japanese victory, Roosevelt sent War Secretary—and close ally—William Howard Taft to secretly pact with Japanese PM Katsura Taro: America ignores Japan's Korea grab; Japan ignores U.S. Philippines rule.
And that held until Pearl Harbor.
"When the Russo-Japanese War breaks out, have America mediate peace. In return, Germany will scale back demands on Venezuela to realistic levels."
"Oil included?"
"Naturally."
"Mediation terms?"
"Russia keeps northern Manchuria but cedes Korea and Lushun."
"Hm. Solid. But will Russia and Japan accept?"
"Japan's Britain's hound anyway, and Russia won't object. Besides, if I weren't certain they'd agree, I wouldn't propose this to you."
Roosevelt pondered Baron Hans von Choi's words.
Far from bad for America.
Actually, a damn good deal.
If it went to plan, America's—and his own—prestige would soar.
And yeah, that Nobel tempted him too.
So it didn't take long for Roosevelt to decide.
"America will consider the German Empire's proposal favorably."
"Excellent judgment, sir."
Roosevelt grasped the baron's small outstretched hand and shook it firmly.
A satisfying agreement.