The sudden announcent that malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes.
People were shocked, but when it beca known that the one who made the announcent was none other than John Snow, the hero who eradicated cholera, the impact was imnse.
On top of that, the research had been conducted together with Florence Nightingale, who had made trendous contributions to combining dicine with statistics, so countless dical professionals and scholars around the world began to verify the findings.
Naturally, the result was that it was highly credible.
Until now, there had been many claims about identifying the cause of malaria, but never before had such a systematic and well-supported argunt been presented.
The problem was that the timing of this research was far too coincidental, but even that had already been prepared in advance.
Following cholera, now malaria as well. His Majesty Killian's unwavering support for dicine.
Professor John Snow stated that he had devoted himself to research since malaria cases surged in Panama, and that he had settled in Canada because it allowed him to receive information about Panama most quickly.
Florence Nightingale said that countless people had suffered due to misguided beliefs, and that she hoped this research would beco a aningful milestone that could save many lives.
Most people spared no praise for the achievent of these two giants of dicine.
And naturally, praise also poured in for , who had supported such dical figures consistently since long ago.
However, those directly involved had already begun to look at the situation with suspicion.
The mont Panama was transferred, the transmission route of malaria, the greatest obstacle to canal construction, was suddenly revealed.
Could this really be a coincidence?
No one was foolish enough to believe that.
Naturally, voices arose in parliant suggesting that I had known everything from the beginning and had deliberately taken Panama.
Having returned briefly to London to et my family, I stopped by parliant and discussed the matter.
"Your Majesty, did you not already have a complete plan for canal construction when you accepted Panama?"
"What is your basis for thinking that?"
"As soon as all authority over Panama was transferred to Your Majesty, this announcent was made…"
"Then if it had been announced a month later, would you not be suspicious? What about a year later? Or three years later?"
"Your Majesty, that is unreasonable."
"In the end, you are saying that this discovery was inevitable. To speak plainly, yes, I did prepare for malaria eradication, and yes, I did think that if malaria could be controlled, it might be possible to resu canal construction. But what exactly is the problem with that?"
As I responded confidently, it was the mbers of parliant who beca flustered.
Those who had already suffered losses at my hands remained silent and did not involve themselves in the controversy.
Russell and Palrston had learned their lesson.
Only those eager to assert themselves began to speak up.
"Let ask the honorable mbers here. Mr. Russell, even if I prove that mosquitoes transmit malaria, can canal construction imdiately resu?"
"…It might be possible… No, it would be difficult."
So mbers nodded in agreent, while others belatedly realized the issue.
"Understanding the cause does not an we can eliminate it. Avoiding mosquitoes sounds simple, but is it actually possible during construction in Panama? Do mosquitoes politely ask for permission before biting?"
"That is not the case. But perhaps traditional thods…"
"These so-called thods have already failed. If you believe in them, then take back Panama and handle the construction yourselves."
Knowing that mosquitoes transmit malaria does not provide an imdiate solution.
It is like saying that if bullets kill people, one simply needs to avoid being shot in war.
The reality is far more complex.
"At this mont, let us hold a vote. I will return Panama to the governnt."
"Your Majesty, that was not our intention…"
"I do not see it that way. If I am to be treated as soone who set a trap to seize Panama, I see no reason to continue this matter. Do as you wish."
I turned and left.
Behind , the voices of the mbers rose in panic.
"How could anyone say such a thing?"
"This is absurd. Knowing mosquitoes are the cause does not allow construction to resu."
"What will we do if Her Imperial Majesty hears of this?"
Victoria's anger would be severe.
This situation could be interpreted as an insult to the royal family.
That evening, Charles Wellesley, Benjamin Disraeli, and William Gladstone ca to Buckingham Palace with the mbers responsible.
"Your Majesty, this was not the official position of parliant."
"They do not seem particularly young."
The Pri Minister bowed deeply.
"I sincerely apologize."
Others followed.
The mbers stood pale and shaken.
I sighed and tapped my forehead.
"Very well. If this reaches Victoria, the consequences will be severe. I will let it pass this ti. However, I cannot let this go without compensation."
"Anything you require, we will provide."
I paused, as if thinking.
In truth, I had already decided.
"There is a region near the Trucial Coast. What was it called? Bahrain?"
"Yes."
"And the Qatar Peninsula nearby?"
"Yes."
"I will take developnt rights there."
"Understood."
Thus, I secured additional gains.
The parliant believed they had resolved the situation.
But in truth, everything had proceeded exactly as planned.
And yet, one final elent remained.
Mosquitoes.
And the insecticide currently being developed.
It would soon be revealed.
Not in Britain.
But in the northern United States.
Timing, as always, was everything.
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