Volume 1: Raging Waves City Chapter 184 Jedi
Gunther Valentine rushed to the window, looked at the dark crowd outside, and shouted in horror: "How could this happen! Where did these people come from! Just now... just now there were hardly any people in the square.
Someone must have organized this demonstration, just like the day after the fall of the Wrath of Thunder Tower. It was the Cape District Secret Service, it had to be them!"
Yomington also walked to the window. He heard the slogans shouted by the crowd and saw the banners held up by the crowd. He finally knew where the meteorite would attack.
The City Alchemist Association abused its influence and power and got it wrong this time.
The momentum of the ordinary citizens who were looked down upon by them gathered together and attacked the City Alchemist Association. With such neat slogans and such neat banners, there must be someone behind the scenes organizing it.
But what good can you do knowing this?
It’s too late, it’s all too late!
Speaker Grover's face was as hard as steel: "Senator Valentine, we all know that this was organized by the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau. Since it was you and your project that caused this, tell me... do you have any solution?
This is not like the last city-wide demonstration. If you don't appease the citizens who are angered by you as soon as possible, it is very likely to turn into a large-scale riot at night. I will never allow this to happen. If necessary, I will send you to the gallows to calm the anger outside. "
Yeominton also said angrily: "I am afraid that the death of a member of parliament will not calm today's events."
"That means sending more people to the gallows!"
Gunther Valentine had never seen Grover so angry. He finally realized the seriousness of the matter and thought quickly about a solution.
"We can negotiate with Inspector Meteorite..." Senator Valentine immediately changed his words after feeling the sharp gaze from Speaker Grover: "This is the last resort... We can promise to return their investment to them.
This bunch of damned lowly people, since they invested in a risky project, they should understand what risk is. When the hydrogen airship project was good, they desperately wanted to give me the money, but now that the project has a little trouble, they want to take the money away. How can such a good thing happen in the world! "
Valentine, who felt extremely wronged, spoke angrily. In his opinion, the demands of the demonstrators were simply unreasonable.
Grover's expression eased a little when he heard Valentine was willing to return the money. The reason why Meteorite was able to organize such a large-scale demonstration was that it deceived ordinary investors. These people were greedy for small profits. If they could make trouble for money, they could naturally calm it down with money.
For the City Alchemist Association, the money spent can be earned from other places, and the important thing is to survive this crisis.
Grover comforted Councilman Valentine in a soothing tone: "I am very pleased that you have such a magnanimous attitude. I know that this amount of money is a large sum for your project... Don't worry, the City Alchemist Association will help you. You can check how much money is in your account and how much refund you need to pay. The shortfall can be borne by the association.
When the incident subsides, I will find a way to get the World Bank to reinvest in hydrogen airships, so you won’t lose too much.”
"Speaker, the money you need to pay... may be a lot." Gunther Valentine said hesitantly.
Grover's heart was lifted by the bad premonition: "There must be a number."
"Five billion Reichsmarks... or ten billion... or... I need to go back and calculate a number."
Grover's face turned grim again: "How much money can you give?"
Feeling the pressure from the Speaker, Valentine said hurriedly: "Speaker, I used this money to make some investments, and now there is no way to cash it out. And I am not the only one who does this... I, I also lent a lot of money to other research institutes.
I can now come up with 100 million Reichsmarks if you give me half a year."
"You only have half a day!"
Valentine seemed to see himself being sent to the gallows. His mind was spinning rapidly. "We can borrow money... from the wealthy merchants in the city. Their factories all use the patents of our Alchemist Association. If we ask them to lend us money, they will definitely agree."
Grover immediately said to his assistant: "Send people to meet all the wealthy businessmen who have business relations with us and ask them to lend the City Alchemist Association a sum of money to the best of their ability.
We can give them some discounts on future patent licensing.
In addition, we will calculate how much money is in the association's account and raise some from our affiliated research institutions.
Send someone to tell all protesters in the name of the City Alchemist Association that the City Alchemist Association agrees to their refund request and will start the refund process before tonight. "
The assistant took the order and ran out.
Grover yelled at Valentine again, "Go back and prepare for the refund, and don't cause any more trouble for me."
Gunther Valentine said gratefully, "Please rest assured, Mr. Speaker, all investment receipts have strict anti-counterfeiting marks. I will not let anyone falsely claim the refund."
Seeing Gunther Valentine leaving in a hurry, Speaker Grover breathed a sigh of relief: "The attack by Meteorite was indeed beyond our expectations, but he still underestimated the wealth hidden in Raging Wave City. Money is the least valuable thing here.
We will use the existing Reichsmark to process the refunds at night, and the demonstrators will retreat. When the merchants' loans arrive tomorrow, this crisis will be over.
The meteor taught us a lesson, and we taught him a lesson."
Yomington was not as relaxed as Grover. He saw a large number of City Alchemist Association members rushing into the crowd of demonstrators in the square. Soon the shouting of slogans stopped and the anger quickly dissipated.
It seems to have been resolved.
"I always feel like this won't be the end of it?"
Grover said confidently: "What else can Meteorite do? Unless he dares to arrest all the wealthy businessmen in Fury City... I actually hope he will do that."
Yomington sighed and said, "I hope I am too sensitive."
"You are too afraid of meteorites. Don't worry, it's over!"
At this moment, the assistant rushed in in panic: "Mr. Speaker! The city court sent someone to deliver a letter. They have received lawsuits from almost all the wealthy businessmen in the city. They are suing us... for fraud!"
Grover's floating body swayed and he almost fell to the ground.
"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible... Are you sure this message was sent by the city court, and not someone impersonating you?"
"I'm sure, Mr. Speaker! This is the official document from the City Court." The assistant handed the document to Grover: "The City Court has received more than 20,000 indictments and is still increasing... Under pressure, the City Court has initiated judicial proceedings against this case.
There is news that the people from the Secret Intelligence Bureau of Cape District took the printed lawsuit to the streets to collect signatures from people, and then gathered them together to send to the city court..."
Grover was holding an official letter from the city court, which contained extremely harsh wording. It was obvious that the city court was not going to be partial in this matter after receiving the indictment from the wealthy businessmen.
In the City of Raging Waves, money is indeed worthless.
But a penny can also make a hero fail.
If the City Alchemist Association wants to quell this incident now, it will have to come up with not only the money of retail investors, but also the money of wealthy businessmen.
Without the loan from the rich businessman, the City Alchemist Association couldn't even get rid of the people in the square. But... they just promised to start processing the refund before the evening.
What to get a refund now?
Speaker Grover felt a slight headache, a situation he had never encountered even when doing the most complicated experiments.
"I, I need to talk to these wealthy businessmen. We have the patents they need, and they will listen to me!"
Yomington said calmly: "I don't think Meteorite will give us this opportunity..."
Sure enough, those who went to borrow money from the wealthy businessmen came back one after another to report.
They are all in Congressman Ibel's mansion right now!
Grover was too weak to continue floating. He sat back in his seat, muttering, "How could this happen? How could this happen...Aren't they afraid that we will stop letting them use the patent?"
Yomington said: "Of course they are afraid, but if the City Alchemist Association does not bow to the merchants today, the people in the square will rush in at night if they can't get the money. At this moment ... Meteorite used its power to fight back, making the entire Raging Wave City stand on the opposite side of the City Alchemist Association.
He had been planning for today's situation since that duel.
No... He had been planning this a long time ago. The Rage of Thunder Tower Parade was a rehearsal for today's scene. If you think about everything he did, including winning over the city's finance and taxation chief, Councillor Ibul, it was all planned for this moment.
All so that we can’t get the money at this moment.
It’s amazing, we don’t complain about losing.
Get ready to negotiate with Meteorite."
Grover asked, "Is there no other way?"
"Under the current situation, without the cooperation of Meteorite, no one can stop the riot at night. If we are given a little more time, we will be able to solve this problem, but what we lack is time.
Let’s negotiate.
I will report everything that happened here in detail to Prime Minister Gabriel, and he will be considerate of the allies of Raging Waves City. This time the opponent was too cunning, and the responsibility is not entirely yours. "
Speaker Grover didn't expect that his first public appearance not only failed to turn the tide, but also had to face such a defeat.
"What conditions do you think Meteorite will propose?"
Yomington thought for a moment and said, “My biggest gain from coming to Raging Waves City this time is… don’t guess what Meteorite is thinking. If you guess too much, you will only fall into his trap.
It would be better to consider the purpose of the meteorite from the perspective of the eldest princess.
The riot in Nutao City and the imposition of martial law are definitely not the best outcome that the princess wants."
Grover took a deep breath to steady himself.
"Okay, I will negotiate with Inspector Meteorite on behalf of the City Council of Raging Waves. Please ask Inspector Meteorite to come to the City Council meeting hall..."
The assistant replied, "Yes, Mr. Speaker!"
After Luke submitted the merchants' lawsuit against the City Alchemist Association to the city court, he returned to the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau to wait for news.
All the subordinates were also waiting for news, and the originally bustling office became silent.
Now everyone who can spread it has spread it.
With the experience of the last city-wide parade, the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau was familiar with organizing a new demonstration this time. With 200 Reichsmarks per person per day, it was easy to pull tens of thousands of people out of the Cape District.
The central city was in chaos, and the Central City Public Security Bureau was on holiday, which exacerbated the chaotic situation. Now the entire crowd of demonstrators in Fury City was under the control of the imperial spies lurking inside, and the ordinary people who blindly followed were led by the rhythm and executed the attitude that Luke wanted to express to all parties.
At this moment, Luke has revealed all his cards, and all that remains is to wait for the response from the City Alchemist Association and the Parliament.
Should we compromise? Or should we watch a disaster that no one can bear befall this city?
Speaker Grover will answer the multiple-choice questions.
Luke didn't have to wait too long before someone from the City Alchemist Association came to deliver a message... Speaker Grover invited Inspector Meteorite to go to the City Council to discuss the crisis that Raging Waves City was facing at the time.
For a moment, deafening cheers rang out in the office hall of the Secret Intelligence Bureau of Cape District.
Soon, Luke came out of his office.
He was wearing a suit and a gentleman's hat, holding a cane in his hand, and he said in a full voice: "Shelley!"
When Shelley heard that the inspector did not call her by her code name in public, she was stunned for a moment, then she jumped up and stood at attention: "Shelley is here, please let the inspector give you a lecture!"
"Gather your people, and let's go to the city council to meet our speaker."
"Yes, Inspector!"
Under the escort of the fierce and ferocious CIA rangers , Luke entered the central area from the Cape District and then arrived at the City Hall building.
There were twenty to thirty thousand people gathered in the square. Seeing so many imperial spies coming to the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau, they wondered what would happen.
When Luke got off the car, a plainclothes agent came forward to report.
"Inspector, not long ago, the City Alchemist Association sent someone out to spread the news that the refund could be processed before tonight. Please instruct us on what to do next..."
Luke snorted, "You're still talking nonsense even though you've cooked a duck. The City Alchemist Association can't get so much money from anywhere at this time. If they had money, they wouldn't have invited me here.
You continue to lie in wait and await the outcome of this negotiation."
"Yes, Inspector."
The plainclothes agent retreated, and after making a circle, he blended back into the crowd in the square, and then passed the inspector's order to other undercover agents.
Luke led a large group of imperial spies up the stairs into the city hall building.
In the council chamber, all council members sat in their seats except for Virgil's seat which was vacant.
Viscount Iscolan was also invited.
He whispered to Luke, "Inspector, the scene you set is really huge, beyond my expectations. I feel that we can complete the task assigned to us by Her Royal Highness the Princess ahead of schedule, and this time it will be a complete victory."
Luke replied: "It is huge, and it is beyond my expectation. Let's take a seat and see how much we can take away from here.
But first congratulations to you, Councillor Iskran."
Iscolan looked at the vacant parliamentary seat and smiled with satisfaction: "Thank you, Inspector!"
