While his younger brother Anthony Rothschild was carrying out operations against the Bengal narcotics department, Lionel Nathan Rothschild, who led the Rothschild family in Britain, was also busy executing Killian's orders directly in India.
To avoid being recognized, he shaved off the sideburns that had long been his trademark and completely changed his hairstyle.
Using the alias Lionel Kane, a name Killian himself had recommended, he successfully made contact with the department responsible for commissioning merchant ships in Bombay.
"So… you are saying your company wishes to participate in this merchant ship construction bid?"
"Yes. If you review these documents, you will see that our Anglo-Asia Shipping Company employs experienced personnel and veterans who have worked in the industry for many years."
"Hmmm… judging from the record, it certainly appears impressive."
To carry out this plan, the Rothschild family had been working for months—long before Killian even departed for Asia—to create companies capable of deceiving the East India Company.
Of course, even the Rothschilds could not accomplish such a task alone.
Through Killian's introduction, they had gained the assistance of a well-known British businessman whom every financier in the Empire knew.
James used his network and resources to fabricate the entire history of the shell company.
They acquired ship blueprints and designs supposedly built in the past.
They even falsified the accounting ledgers.
Anyone examining the documents would conclude that the company was an experienced and trustworthy enterprise.
While carrying out the operation, Lionel Rothschild had also come to an unsettling realization.
Today he was the one deceiving the East India Company.
But someday another company might attempt to deceive his own bank in the same way.
If they wished to avoid becoming victims of such fraud, they would need to become far more vigilant.
Now he understood what Killian meant when he said that personally handling such work would be educational.
"But your bid conditions are remarkably generous," the official said. "You are offering prices 10 to 15 percent lower than competing companies. Is that really possible?"
"If you review the record of ships we have built, it will make sense. We are a company that adopts new technology faster than anyone else. One of our directors is a former senior naval officer. Thanks to him, we receive the latest techniques directly from the naval shipyards at Portsmouth."
"Ah… the advantage of connections. I understand. So these new ships will incorporate such technologies?"
"Of course. Even merchant vessels require armaments nowadays, which means heavier steel plating. We maintain close relations with several emerging steel manufacturers and receive their newest steel directly. The same technology used in modern warships will be applied—making the ships lighter, stronger, and cheaper to produce."
Technological progress was indeed lowering costs year by year.
Rothschild was not speaking nonsense.
Iron quality had genuinely improved in recent years.
The only lie was that these innovations would be applied first to merchant ships.
"Hmmm… if these terms are true, it would be extremely favorable for us. However, your advance payment requirement is rather high. Normally the deposit is ten to fifteen percent, but you are asking for twenty."
"Well, considering we are offering prices more than fifteen percent lower than competitors, I believe such a request is reasonable. And we have included a special clause below, have we not?"
"…If delivery is delayed by even one day, the deposit will be fully refunded."
The official nodded slowly.
"Offering such a condition yourself certainly suggests confidence."
"You can see from our past record that we have never once failed to meet a delivery deadline."
After carefully reviewing the documents Lionel presented, the official reluctantly nodded.
The reason the East India Company had urgently ordered new ships was simple.
Two new markets had opened.
Japan and Korea.
In such a situation, merchant vessels had to be deployed as quickly as possible.
Those markets were far smaller than China.
Which meant whoever captured them first would likely dominate the profits.
Every day of delay did not simply reduce revenue by one day.
It meant losing the chance to dominate the market entirely.
The East India Company desperately needed profits.
Ordering multiple armed merchant ships while paying twenty percent in advance was burdensome.
But with proper clauses and collateral, the risks could be controlled.
"Well… I will do my best to push it through," the official said cautiously. "But the deposit amount is quite large, so it may not be easy."
"That is understandable. Such matters are never easy. Which is why I brought something to help you keep your spirits up."
Lionel casually placed a bag on the table.
The official cleared his throat, eyes gleaming.
"Oh dear, you really shouldn't have."
"India's climate is harsher than Britain's. I thought this might help lighten your burden. Please don't feel pressured."
"Haha… really, this wasn't necessary."
Even as he said that, he quickly grabbed the bag—clearly afraid Lionel might take it back.
He opened it slightly.
Silver coins gleamed.
Bundles of pound notes were packed tightly inside.
Naturally, his expression brightened instantly.
Closing the bag again, the official stood up and extended his hand with a radiant smile.
"This will certainly strengthen my resolve! Leave everything to me. You can trust that I will handle it!"
"I'm glad to hear that. Then I look forward to working with you."
Watching the man, Lionel thought quietly to himself.
If you could win over the right officials like this, destroying a company would be easy.
Once he returned to Britain, he resolved to overhaul every system in the Rothschild bank to ensure they would never fall victim to such schemes.
"How did things go?"
With the door closed, Lionel spoke to his younger brother.
"The preparations are almost complete. How about your side?"
"What do you think? Of course we won the bid."
"Well, offering prices fifteen percent lower and promising to refund the deposit if delivery is delayed by even a single day would certainly attract attention."
They had expected the operation to be difficult.
But everything had proceeded surprisingly smoothly.
Of course, their preparation had been meticulous.
But the East India Company's severe financial troubles had also played a major role.
No—
Killian had undoubtedly considered that factor when he ordered them to begin.
Both Bengal and Bombay had taken the bait immediately.
"How much opium have you ordered so far?"
"We've already paid the opium department about £50,000. I keep increasing the order size, and since we always pay promptly, Bengal probably believes the opium trade is about to recover."
"Excellent. That means they have already instructed farmers to increase opium production."
"Yes. We've also placed an advance order worth £100,000. Because we have been paying faithfully, they now accept advance orders without hesitation."
"The opium department must be delighted. Their division was on the verge of being shut down. Then suddenly two new markets—Japan and Korea—appear. They probably felt like offering prayers of gratitude."
People always viewed the world from their own perspective.
And these men had ruled India with near absolute authority for generations.
Aside from the British government, they had never needed to answer to anyone.
Why would they ever imagine that someone could deceive them and shake their entire organization?
"But brother," Anthony asked, "I thought we were supposed to dump the opium into the sea. Why did we change the plan and hide it on an island?"
"Because this method works better for the next stage."
The £100,000 worth of opium they had ordered would never be paid for.
Anthony's company would soon declare bankruptcy.
The East India Company would never receive the money.
Technically they had already received £50,000 in payment.
But the situation was not so simple.
The key issue was that the opium department had already ordered farmers across India to expand production.
All of that opium would soon become unsellable inventory.
And the East India Company would be forced to face the farmers' anger directly.
Of course the company would claim they had been victims of fraud.
But real swindlers rarely suffered losses themselves.
If this had been a genuine fraud, the criminals would have disappeared with £100,000 worth of opium.
Which meant the story would not sound convincing.
And what would happen if the £50,000 worth of opium supposedly stolen by the fraudsters was discovered on a nearby island?
"The island where we hid the opium belongs to the East India Company's board of directors," Lionel said calmly.
"And when the parliamentary investigation begins, the investigators sent there will discover the opium the board has secretly hidden."
Anthony's eyes widened.
"Ah… I understand now. The goal wasn't simply to damage the company financially."
Exactly.
The financial damage was only the trigger.
The real fatal blow would come later.
"And who will become the unfortunate scapegoats for this entire affair?"
"I have selected several members of the board. They are worthless scum whose disappearance would benefit society."
Even hardened financiers would recoil if they examined the list.
Many of those men were directly responsible for the rising anti-British sentiment in India.
They were perfect scapegoats.
When Anthony had reviewed their records, even his own attitude had changed.
"These are the men who pushed for salary cuts and reduced privileges for the Sepoy soldiers, aren't they?"
"Yes. And this Edward fellow here—when I met him in London, he spoke of Jews as if we were insects. I've wanted to see him fall ever since. Thanks to the Prince Consort, I finally will."
"Did you ask His Highness to include him?"
"…I may have mentioned it. But he wasn't chosen just for that. This man has also been exploiting Indian locals. His Highness must have considered that."
Anthony's company, which pretended to trade opium, was already prepared to disappear.
The same was true for the Anglo-Asia Shipping Company, which had just received a 20 percent deposit from the East India Company.
At first they considered reclaiming the £50,000 already paid for opium using the deposit.
But Killian had warned them not to ruin everything through greed.
So they left the money untouched.
"Now then," Lionel said, "our next task is to deposit the contract payments we received into Indian banks under the names of these directors. Spread the deposits quietly so no trace leads back to us."
"Of course. I wouldn't ignore such basic precautions."
Bensley. Boyd. Cotton.
Laughing at the pigs who were still squeezing wealth from India without suspecting anything, the Rothschild brothers sent a message to Killian, who waited in Britain.
The preparations were complete.
It was time for the show to begin.
Riding the wings of the Prince Consort—
The Rothschilds would soon rise to unimaginable heights.