Volume 2: Empire Chapter 121 Arrival at Winter Capital
But just when Luke was about to change the subject, Harry, who had been silent all along, said, "My father used to be a worker in a steel mill. He lost both legs in an accident. But the steel mill not only did not give him any compensation, but also demanded compensation for the losses he caused to the factory.
I was…sent to a thief training camp, and have been paying off my father’s debts.
I didn't think there was anything wrong with it before, because everyone did it the same way. But after I heard what Mr. Luke said, my previous understanding was greatly shaken.
My father and my grandfather worked in the steel mill all their lives. They smelted furnace after furnace of good steel to build railways and bridges... They created a lot of wealth for the factory, but in the end they still had nothing, and even owed the factory money.
This is not fair! "
The words of the thief Harry touched Rebecca deeply: "My situation is similar to yours. My father worked in an ore crushing plant, and he got lung disease because of inhaling too much dust. He was fired from the factory without any compensation, and all the family savings were spent on his treatment. I had to drop out of school, undergo body transformation, and join the company's security team.
I have two younger brothers, and they are both very smart.
I was always afraid that if I didn't go back someday, who would take care of them.
I used to think that this was normal, but after listening to what you said, Mr. Luke...it's not normal at all!"
"Oh..." Norton sighed at this time.
Luke sighed and felt very disappointed.
The current scene has a strange familiarity, this moment is just like that moment, as long as I pour a bucket of oil into this spark, I will surely be able to start a raging fire in Dongdu.
But once this fire starts, no one knows what it will look like.
Losing control was not what Luke wanted.
"I sympathize with your experience, but the past cannot be changed. What you need to consider is to live a good life. Don't have any dangerous thoughts. Your power is not enough to shake the rules set by the superiors."
Norton, who is already middle-aged, was enlightened: "Yes, yes, Mr. Luke is right. You can just say these words in the carriage, and forget them when you get outside. We are just ordinary security guards. The three of us alone are not qualified to fight against the superiors.
Even with A-Mao, it won’t work.”
Snowman Amao roared.
Rebecca also realized that such a topic was too dangerous. She said, "We certainly won't talk about it outside. Mr. Luke...thank you for making us understand our own value and letting us know that we are not born lowly, but things that originally belonged to us were stolen."
"Thank you, Mr. Luke." Harry's expression showed more hope for life.
Luke didn't know how much of his advice they had listened to. He just hoped that they wouldn't cause any trouble before he took away the power engine.
Alas...I was careless!
"This topic ends here. Prepare to return to the surface, complete the mission and report it as soon as possible, and go back to rest as soon as possible.
We were delayed a lot of time repairing the pipeline.”
The rail car drove out of the tunnel, and a team of people changed to the off-road vehicle parked here and drove towards the underground steam city.
At this time, winter has already entered night.
The snow that had been falling for a whole day finally stopped, and a train slowly pulled into Dongdu Railway Station with a long whistle.
Princess Dai'er lay behind the window, looking at the snow scene outside curiously, and the hot air she exhaled condensed into a layer of mist on the glass.
"Wow, this is the Winter Capital! Miss Qingkong, Great Anba Fort is completely different from Saint Lun City. Look, there are so many pipes, all filled with steam. And there is steel everywhere. It is truly a city built in steam and steel."
Qingkong was distracted by the noise of the excited Dai'er. She closed the book in her hand and turned her head to look out the window. The train was slowing down...
"Princess Dai'er, if you want to learn more about Winter Capital, you can find some books introducing this place. There is no need to follow me secretly. You are the princess of the Golden Shield Empire, and the Empire is at war with the At County Alliance."
Dai'er sat back in her seat, her face full of curiosity and anticipation for this city.
"There's a difference between reading about it in a book and seeing it with your own eyes. And you're also a senator of the Upper House of Raging Waves City. If you can come, then of course I can come too."
"I am still the head of the Department of Mystic Arts at Oulu College. I came to Dongdu this time at the invitation of Dongdu Magic Steam College..."
"I am your student, Miss Qingkong. I believe you can protect me. And..." Dai'er sat up straight and put on the temperament of an imperial princess: "I have heard that the Art County Federation's propaganda against the empire is all kinds of slander, saying that the imperial family is ugly, stupid, greedy and morons. I came here this time to let the people here see what the imperial princess looks like!"
Qingkong was helpless with this eccentric Princess Dai'er. She said, "You wanted to go out and play because Emperor Augustine is recuperating and the Queen is not in the capital."
Dai Er, whose thoughts were exposed by Qing Kong, immediately lost her temper, but still said stubbornly: "No!"
The train stopped, and Qingkong warned Dai'er: "No matter what your purpose is in coming to Dongdu with me, you must always be vigilant. The Yat County Alliance will not do something openly, but it does not mean that they will not take actions against you in secret.
I really don’t know how you got into the team.”
"Don't worry, Miss Qingkong, I will never run around." Dai'er suddenly asked in a low voice: "Governor Meteorite is also here, can I see him?"
Qingkong smiled and said, "I don't know."
Jennifer came over and said, "Professor Qingkong, Your Highness, we have arrived at Dongdu. The reception staff of Dongdu Magic Steam Academy is on the platform, and there are also some people from the At County Federation Government."
Qingkong had already seen the people waiting on the platform through the window. Under the night lights, everyone had an expectant look on their face.
Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy was established not long ago, and the uniforms of the teachers and staff are very modern. They wear black suits with runes representing different meanings, and top hats with snow gull tail feathers on their heads, which are fashionable and mysterious.
At the ancient Oulu College, the teachers and staff wear traditional magic robes that carry a lot of history.
"Let's get off the car!" Qingkong picked up the wizard's hat on the table and put it on his head.
Under the hat is a sleeping black cat.
The sheriff got up and stretched, then before Jennifer's hand could grab him, he jumped into Dale's arms. Dark Night crawled out from somewhere, jumped onto the sheriff, and rubbed his front paws to massage him.
The sheriff purred in enjoyment.
Jennifer was helpless with the sheriff.
The current sheriff was developing in the direction that Qingkong was worried about. He regarded himself as the Queen's mount, parading around the museum, showing off his power, and recruiting many followers. Jennifer's pocket could no longer hold him, so the princess's arms became his exclusive seat.
Jennifer didn't dare to snatch the cat from Princess Dale's arms. She could only remember this lesson and punish him when she got the chance.
Qingkong walked away and Jennifer immediately chased after him.
The entourage got off the car one after another.
Including several magic professors from the Oulu Academy, the ferocious war song Modesti, the half-orc Harquin, these Moonlight Knights, and the special mystic apprentice Dale Augustine.
Since accepting the authority of the previous World Tree and becoming the Queen of the Moonlight Royal Court, Qingkong has received many invitations from magic academies around the world. The World Tree is an extraordinary creature that has existed since ancient times, and all major magic academies hope to go to the Moonlight Royal Court to study the World Tree.
Qingkong came to Dongdu at this time because she received an invitation from Dongdu Magic Steam Academy. However, the invitation letter was sent a long time ago, and she only accepted it recently.
Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy attaches great importance to Qingkong’s visit.
In view of Qingkong's special status in the Golden Shield Empire, the Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy not only did , but also set up a special magic guard team to protect the safety of Qingkong and his entourage.
When Qingkong got off the car, the guards of the Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy immediately set up a semicircular wall. Holding magic wands, they looked at those who were obviously from the government with caution.
The leader of the Dongdu Magic Steam Academy came up to Qingkong. He was a handsome and tough young man, whose temperament matched the city of Dongdu very well.
The young man took off his hat and saluted Qingkong: "Hello, Professor Qingkong! I am Professor Temple Antoine of the Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy, and I am currently the vice president of the academy. Your safety during your visit to Winter Capital will be the responsibility of me and the guards specially formed for you.
Excuse me for the compliment, your beauty is the most beautiful scenery on this snowy night."
Qingkong saluted Antoine and said, "Visiting the Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy during this special period must have caused you a lot of trouble. But we all believe that academics have no national boundaries, and war cannot be an obstacle to the exchanges between Oulu Academy and Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy."
"Yes, Professor Qingkong. Academics have no national boundaries, and academic exchanges should not be hindered in any way. The car to the Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy is ready, and the rooms for you to rest have been cleaned. Everyone should have a good rest tonight, and we will start working tomorrow."
Antoine invited Qingkong and his party to go to the Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy.
Qingkong said, "Before I leave, let me introduce you to an occult apprentice who came with me."
Antoine was immediately interested in this apprentice of the secret arts after receiving such a grand introduction from Qingkong. When he saw a beautiful girl in an apprentice robe standing next to Qingkong, he wondered what kind of talent she had to be valued so highly by Qingkong.
"I am looking forward to seeing what kind of occult genius he is."
"Professor Antoine! This is...Princess Dale, the youngest daughter of Emperor Augustine of the Golden Shield Empire. She is currently a student at the Oulu College's Department of Esoteric Arts. This time she came to Winter Capital with me as an assistant."
Antoine's expression suddenly became stiff.
"Princess Dai'er! The princess of the Golden Shield Empire!"
Antoine never expected that Qingkong would bring such a person to the winter capital.
As a senator of Nutao City, the academy has spent a lot of effort to arrange for you to come to Dongdu. Can't you just come by yourself? Why did you bring an imperial princess with you? Isn't this stirring up a hornet's nest?
Qingkong said, "Professor Antoine, you just said that academics have no national boundaries and academic exchanges should not be hindered in any way."
"Yes, yes, academic exchanges should not be hindered in any way." Antoine looked at Dale, still finding it hard to accept this sudden incident.
The other faculty and staff from the Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy who came to greet them also looked at Dale in shock.
Dale gracefully saluted Antoine: "It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Professor Antoine."
"Princess Dai'er, Your Highness, it's a pleasure to meet you..."
Antoine could not be happy.
There were so many people on the platform. The news that Princess Daier of the Golden Shield Empire was coming to the Winter Capital had spread. Not only did the government officials gather around, but some passengers were also attracted by the princess of the empire and wanted to see what the noble princess looked like.
Antoine didn't dare to delay here.
They definitely couldn't catch the train back, so they had to go back to where they came from. Now they could only be taken back to the academy and then hold a meeting to discuss how to deal with this incident.
Antoine brought his men to protect Qingkong and Dai'er as they left the train station. After getting on the train, they quickly drove to the Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy.
The news that Princess Dai'er of the Golden Shield Empire was coming to Winter City spread rapidly in Winter City like wings. When tomorrow's newspapers were published, it would definitely be a big news that all Winter City residents would discuss.
On winter nights, the temperature drops sharply, but the sky is hazy white.
Mina climbed down the maintenance ladder in the ventilation duct. Although the iron ladder was extremely cold, she was wearing a pair of thick gloves. Her body was warm, and her heart was even warmer.
Mr. Luke, who was kind and wise, let me take the rest of my dinner, and advanced me a month's wages, so that my father could have bread and fried meat, and a jug of wine.
My father used to like drinking. He said that alcohol could eliminate cold and fatigue and enable him to do more work.
Now that I have money, I can treat my father's leg.
The doctor said...if my father's leg cannot be cured, he can replace it with a mechanical leg, which will cost a lot of money.
Mina crawled alone in the long, dark ventilation duct. She was thinking about many things, especially the conversation between several people in the rail car, which kept appearing in her mind.
Workers are the real creators of wealth.
…
"Father, do you think what Mr. Luke said is right? Uncle Norton, Sister Rebecca, and Brother Harry all said that Mr. Luke was right.
And... Uncle Norton said: If the workers stop the entire mine from producing anything, Kunden will definitely agree to any conditions the workers put forward!"
Back home in the camp, the father and daughter were having dinner in the simple house. Mina couldn't help but express her doubts. She wondered why her father and his co-workers had such a hard life when they dug so much ore every day.
Mina's father was tasting the wine he hadn't drunk for a while, but after hearing what Mina said, he was stunned on the spot.
After a while, he asked his daughter, "What kind of person is Mr. Luke and what did he say to you?"
Mina told her father how she met Luke and how she was hired: "Mr. Luke is a gentleman. He is very smart. Uncle Norton, Sister Rebecca and Brother Harry all respect him. Only the snowman Mao always yells at him."
The father looked at his daughter and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
In order to prevent his daughter from being bound underground for the rest of her life like himself, he decided to do something bold.
"Mina, Mr. Luke is a good man. Don't let anyone else know what he said to you ."
"I understand, father. Uncle Norton said the same thing. If these words were to get out, it would cause trouble for Mr. Luke."
The father thought for a while and then said to Mina, “I need to tell this truth to more people, but I cannot let others know that it was Mr. Luke who said it.
We need a code name to represent Mr. Luke."
Mina thought for a moment and said, "When I came back, the sky was dark white. How about calling him Mr. White Night?"
The father thought it was a good idea: "Let's call him Mr. White Night. The truth he brings brings light to the dark night. Go and call Lambert, Dominic, Wycliffe, and Ivan here, and tell them that I'm treating them to a drink."
"Yes, father."
