"The American branch has been monitoring, but so far, nothing suspicious. If the Japanese had reached out to American investors, we would have heard."
"Good. Keep watching.
Discreetly. We can't risk exposure."
"All agents monitoring him are White associates, so detection is unlikely."
Fang Ming nodded, though his mind remained restless.
"Not yet time for Jacob Schiff," he mused.
The currents of history had quickened, and the geopolitical tension in East Asia was escalating. Japan's obsession with Joseon was no longer just a stepping stone for continental expansion—it had become their only future.
For Russia, Joseon offered a strategic dream: a warm-water port, a vital link to their leased territories, and untapped synergy with their ambitions in Asia.
But neither power could fully claim Joseon alone.
Russia's resources were stretched thin across Europe, and driving Japan out completely was unfeasible.
Hence, their first offer: divide Joseon along the 39th parallel.
