Chapter 40 Finding Documents
Lungmen wants to completely break free from Victoria's constraints.
This was undoubtedly a very malicious signal. Especially for the current Victoria, it couldn't get any worse.
Carrying a walking stick , Lord Spencer walked into a secluded, deserted coffee shop, drinking coffee with a gloomy face, looking at the sparse flow of people outside, his heart not much moved. Because he had long known that someone like Wei Yenwu would absolutely not be content to be subservient to others, and Lungmen was the same.
Victoria had supported many trading cities before, and the final fates of these trading cities were not particularly good. Why? Because Victoria possessed strong political and resource capabilities. People like Lungmen, who wanted to break out once they had strength and allies, were not uncommon. He was just particularly furious that the timing Lungmen chose was truly somewhat unfortunate. Or rather, for Lungmen, it was too perfect a time. Perhaps this was also the reason for Wei Yenwu's provocation at this time.
"Those parasites in Parliament simply won't heed the Queen's glory…"
Ordering a cup of black tea and sitting by the window, savoring the not-so-authentic black tea flavor, Lord Spencer frowned. But afternoon tea was a reserved item for Victorians; he had endured for a long time, so for this inferior afternoon tea set, he just frowned and ate it without changing his expression.
If there was one thing Victorians absolutely couldn't accept, it was clearly turning afternoon tea time into work time. And Wei Yenwu was also tactful enough not to make efforts in this aspect. The signs of rebellion were there, but a proper rebellion still needed time. Lungmen's current strength was not enough, its influence not enough, preparations not enough. As long as Victoria freed its hands, it could easily suppress Lungmen's little noise.
But, when would the internal chaos end?
Lord Spencer looked at the sky outside, sighing uncontrollably in his heart, feeling regret for those short-sighted compatriots.
A group of people want this, want that too. And the most terrifying thing was, they had interests in almost every project affecting the world. Whether it was Umbrella, Raythean Industries, or Kazimierz, they all had the ability to convert their technology and power.
But it was precisely because there were too many choices that it led to Victoria's internal chaos. They wanted too much, and there were too many external factors. With internal disharmony, Victoria was like a drunk giant, often punching unnecessarily into empty spaces. They could do biotechnology, heavy machinery, large-scale knights, but their strength was not yet sufficient to have a share of everything. Yet Parliament insisted on having a share of everything.
This also led to Victoria's sphere of influence gradually shrinking, its power projection abroad progressively declining.
Internal political struggles had already affected the external situation; what was even more worrying was that they were gradually declining amidst internal friction. The technology they possessed had progressively fallen behind under the rapidly developing cutting-edge research. They didn't even understand the working principle of Eden.
Spencer, as a representative of the royal family, saw it and was anxious. But limited by his identity, he couldn't directly stand out to preside over the overall situation. Because that would break the rules.
But the result of this was that even a small city-state like Wei Yenwu's could jump in their face ; this was simply a humiliation.
Unless, some huge benefit that could end their discussion appeared…
Lord Spencer thoughtfully picked up his teacup.
"Is this person sick? Why put such messy things in a top-grade safe? Wasted a trip…"
"…Hm?"
Lord Spencer, drinking coffee in the street corner cafe, his ears twitched slightly, hearing the sigh of a small thief on the roof of the coffee shop. Subsequently, a very crude, clearly handwritten manuscript was thrown into the alley entrance of the coffee shop.
Somehow, although it was a small matter, it inexplicably attracted Spencer's attention.
And at the same time, Li Lin, who had returned to Penguin Logistics and snatched a safe under the pressure of everyone, was now facing a strange-looking Ch'en, frantically flipping through the precious safe in his hands, sweating profusely. A triangular gash had been cut on the leather covering at some unknown time, and the scratch marks of mechanical claws were exceptionally conspicuous beside it. Unsure what kind of technology could create such a huge wound without being noticed by others.
But now was not the time to marvel. Li Lin continuously searched through the alley, which still had some other items remaining, his face growing increasingly pale. The speed of his hands flipping through things became faster and faster, seemingly unwilling to believe such a horrifying fact had occurred.
"—Where's my saved manuscript?!"
"No, no, no… How could it be gone… Impossible…"
"What exactly do you want to show me?"
"My novel. I said I wanted to show it to you; I specially snuck it over from Penguin Logistics. I even went back to get it, how is it missing?"
"Stolen by a thief? Look, there's a gash here cut open by a claw."
"Why would a thief steal a novel manuscript for no reason! Are they sick!"
"Maybe because your box looks too valuable?"
Watching the furious Li Lin step on the box, Ch'en said somewhat speechlessly.
Who, with nothing better to do, would put a novel manuscript in a place that clearly looked like a safe? Can't blame others for taking action. Although Lungmen's public security has improved a lot, it hasn't improved to the point of letting children carry valuables around at night. Looking at Li Lin, who released his foot and unwillingly flipped through the safe torn open with a gash, on the verge of tears, Ch'en coughed once and awkwardly averted her gaze.
"Then how about we go to the coffee shop downstairs and chat? Although the manuscript you wrote has been lost, it's no problem for me to listen to you talk about it. If the manuscript is gone, just rewrite it, and you can also check for omissions and make improvements, isn't that good?"
"B-But, my wallet is still at Penguin Logistics…"
"My treat. Considering how unlucky you are."
"Alright…"
Hope whoever picked up the manuscript treats it well.
Finally, unwillingly flipping through the interlayer of his backpack, looking at the torn area, Li Lin could only sigh helplessly.
"…"
At the same time, somehow, Lord Spencer looked at the document that fell out of thin air, always feeling he should go over and take a look. He finally gave up his gentlemanly reserve, walked over to the document, gently wiped off the dust on it, and put the document into his pocket.