“What is… this book?”
“It’s written in the title, isn’t it? A cookbook. A cookbook for cooking up those in power.”
The Anarchist Cookbook is, as the name suggests, a book that contains recipes you can make at home.
But instead of pasta or stew, it’s all about making Molotov cocktails, pipe bombs, IEDs, and such.
‘In the world I came from, this was an outdated, old manuscript, but here, it will be useful.’
Originally, this book was written in the 1970s by an anarchist named William Powell in the United States.
He wrote it because he hated the government that was involved in the Vietnam War and likely wanted to incite people to destroy it.
Naturally, a book that’s over 54 years old won’t have fresh information.
In the 21st century, it’s completely outdated, and the content is all information you can find on the internet.
To be blunt, you’d be much better off spending your time surfing the web to gather information than reading this.
But in this age?
This kind of fresh and cutting-edge information is hard to come by.
‘It’s almost impossible for civilians to obtain military information in this era.’
It’s difficult to even know that gunpowder is made from ammonium nitrate/potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur.
Because this was treated as highly sensitive military information, it remained a secret unless you were involved.
But this book has all the manufacturing methods written in it.
It explains the best ratios for making the most powerful explosives, how to make a detonation device, and even covers the doctrines of urban warfare and the effects of terrorism, concepts that didn’t even exist yet.
‘There’s probably no better book for stirring up chaos than this one.’
To put it another way, it’s like a 23rd-century tactical manual dropped into the 21st century.
Overall, I think it’ll be pretty useful, especially if Winston Churchill has the smarts to use it properly.
Still, just in case, I made some appropriate edits and additions, mostly to make it fit the context of this society.
Pipes, oak barrels, wine bottles, and ceramics—all can become weapons capable of holding explosives powerful enough to kill dozens in an instant.
With the right mix of explosives, fuses, and skilled hands to deploy them, even ordinary objects turn deadly.
Secure saltpeter above all else.
It can be obtained by rotting animal carcasses and bones in fields, cultivating saltpeter beds, or mining it from mountains.
However, the first two methods are time-consuming, so refining phosphate ore is more efficient if possible.
Alternatively, steal gunpowder from the military.
I left the weapon-making instructions untouched, as there was no room for improvement—only removed anachronistic terms and references to Earth’s literature or history.
Ah, and I cut the parts about drugs.
This world has no marijuana or cocaine.
There’s something akin to opium here… but I couldn’t write about whether this can be concentrated into heroin or its properties.
I’m not an expert on drugs.
[The true nature of human society is in a state of anarchy.
A society where individuals’ rights are freely and independently guaranteed, rather than one with a powerful system controlling the people, is the path that humanity should truly pursue.
It is a natural right and a duty to overthrow the tyrants who block that path.]
[To use Heaven as an excuse or justification for the king’s actions is the most common sin committed by earthly kings.
If the emperor does this, kill the emperor.
If the king does this, kill the king.
If the prime minister does this, kill the prime minister.
Make them understand what hell is by turning the wheel of karma they have built for themselves.]
In return, criticism and contempt for the government and the system were emphasized even more.
As expected from the writings of a nobleman who was originally an anarchist, the book was filled with hatred for the concept of state control, and I extended the length even further.
‘After all, the person who would receive it also dislikes the existence of kings.
So I purposefully packed it in a generous serving.’
Churchill was originally from a middle-class family and lived an ordinary life, but he came from a fallen family due to political/religious logic.
It is clear that he himself had expressed dislike for rulers who act recklessly, so the author’s mindset likely aligned well with his.
I organized it systematically with the idea that he could read the book, build his ideological foundation, and make a fellow comrade in the process.
There are many good phrases, so I hope you put them to good use.
“Is it alright for me to accept such a valuable thing? Books aren’t cheap items, after all…”
“Haha, it’s fine. Wouldn’t I be able to give such a small gift to someone heading toward a great undertaking?”
I smiled and patted Churchill on the back, who liked it without knowing better.
Wouldn’t it be unreasonable not to give a small gift to someone about to embark on a mission close to suicide?
Since failure due to fear would be problematic, I must pump him full of motivation in this way.
*****
“The ship to Alcyone will be ready soon.
Until then, please stay at the branch where you were originally working.”
“Yes! Thank you so much, Ishmael!”
After sending the clueless fool away, I was left alone with Kalia and fell into deep thought.
“Well… if the king dies, what will happen to that country?”
If the assassination attempt fails, we can just try again.
Let’s assume it succeeds and calculate the future.
King Drake IV is the most powerful ruler the Alcyone Federation has ever had since its founding.
He established a long-lasting gold-based political system with funds looted by the pirate Elizabeth, and solidified his position quite well.
Although, compared to other nations, it still looks rather clumsy.
“The problem is that this is a makeshift power. It wasn’t gained through hereditary succession or by any formal means.”
Anyway, he does have power, but in exchange, he has accumulated a lot of resentment and hatred.
He purged various factions to gain power and used them as sacrifices to strengthen the monarchy.
Like other rulers, he had a desire to rule and reign supreme, doing all sorts of foolish things to achieve that.
Of course, since it succeeded, his cunning and sharp strategies are praised, but… the moment he dies, all the karma he’s built up will explode at once.
“Kalia, branch manager?”
“Just call me as you did before. What’s wrong?”
“If there’s a sudden power vacuum in the Alcyone Federation, what are the chances of a civil war breaking out?”
“It depends on the timing, but right now?”
“Yes. No more than three months.”
Kalia thought for a moment, muttering to herself, then shook her head.
“This is a question that doesn’t even need to be considered. It’s certain. The country will fall apart and people will fight.”
“Just as I thought.”
Yeah, violence is the answer.
The people who have suffered, and those who have benefited, will each form their own factions and end up killing each other.
Honestly, I can’t even predict how divided the factions will become.
First, there’s the orthodox goddess cult that Winston Gallipoli Churchill belongs to, and the state church that King Drake IV followed.
There are also the reformist faction of the rapidly expanding sect and the conservative anti-royalist nobles from the south.
Then there are the various factions like the Anabaptists and the Virgin Mary Order, as well as the collateral royals aiming for the throne, and influential figures who want to change the dynasty… it’s endless.
How on earth was the country ever unified with all these factions?
“If the crown prince’s authority was firmly established, maybe…”
“But he’s just a 5-year-old child.”
“Whether the country will even survive until he grows up is a question. No, we should worry about how long he’ll even live.”
If there had been a proper heir, it wouldn’t have been such a big problem.
If there had been a grown crown prince who inherited his father’s political ideology and policies, and had gained enough experience, he could have solidly succeeded the throne and strengthened the legitimacy of the dynasty.
“Such a pitiable fate.”
“Pitiable? He’s much better off than me. I ate scraps and barely survived until I was taken in by an organization. At least he’ll live well until he dies.”
But King Drake IV had his son very late in life.
He had him in his old age and will likely die before raising him properly.
In that case, the heir has no future.
Not just power, but even life itself.
There will surely be those who think, ‘If only I can do something about this little brat…!’ Will they survive?
I don’t think so.
“But having so many small factions is also troublesome.”
It’s not my concern how many people die in Alcyone, but this situation makes things a bit awkward for me.
The excessive diversification of power structures inevitably leads to the rapid collapse of one side.
The factions will be about equal in strength, so they’ll try to win by throwing everything into it.
Then, naturally, the people’s livelihoods will be shattered, and the hungry commoners and poor will try to find a way to survive.
What’s left on an island with no neighboring countries to escape to?
Is there anything but piracy?
‘What I mean is…’
An excessively heated civil war is likely to create livelihood-driven pirates, which would destroy the safety of trade routes.
“Is there any element that could unite the factions?”
A common interest that could bring together people with different stakes and goals.
A goal valuable enough to make them set aside their conflicts and cooperate.
If something like that existed, it would be possible to arrange things into a rough 3-4 faction setup and guide them into a clean civil war.
‘However, such things aren’t exactly lying around on the streets…’
“Ah. There is.”
In that moment, I remembered.
Many of the potential rebel forces were those who harbored grudges against the monarchy’s oppression, repression, and political maneuvering.
Therefore, regardless of the success or failure of the rebellion, they would surely hate the strong monarchy and the ruler’s tyranny.
So, what if I provided the knowledge to create such a system and institution?
I happen to remember a good card.
“Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights.”
Historical charters that any political scientist would know.