Volume 2: Empire Chapter 136: Visiting the Ice Cave
When Luke went to work on time the next day, as soon as he stepped into the floor where the steam engineers were, he was greeted by a bunch of colorful fireworks and congratulations from a large group of colleagues both known and unknown to him.
The whole floor burst into applause, causing people on other floors to lie on the patio railing to look over here.
Yesterday, after Luke was invited by the deputy editor-in-chief of Steam Weekly, Waltaski, to do an exclusive interview, Mrs. Yolanda sent someone to keep an eye on the editorial office of Steam Weekly to gather information.
It turned out that her decision was a wise one, as the people who inquired brought her news that was even more explosive than she had imagined.
It is such an honor for Editor-in-Chief Morsong to write a column for this interview himself.
Then the Steam Engineers Association also sent a congratulatory letter to congratulate Luke, a steam engineer employed by Harut Heavy Industries, for his promotion to the fourth-level member of the Steam Engineers Association.
Mrs. Yolanda, the director of the steam technology department of Harut Heavy Industries, is also a level 4 member, and she is the only level 4 member in the entire company.
One can imagine how much Luke is valued by Editor-in-Chief Morson. The content of this interview must have extraordinary significance.
This is an honor for Luke and the entire Steam Technology Department of Harut Heavy Industries.
Mrs. Yolanda decided to hold a welcoming party for Luke.
Among the group of steam engineers who came to greet them, Mrs. Yolanda clapped her hands and stepped forward, saying to Luke, "Let everyone see your Level 4 membership certificate of the Institution of Steam Engineers. To be honest, I still can't believe the news I received last night. I thought it was a joke from the Institution of Steam Engineers.
You didn’t bring it with you, did you?”
"Of course I bring it. I still need to register with the company." Luke took out the Level 4 membership certificate from his briefcase and handed it to Mrs. Yolanda.
Mrs. Yolanda took it and read it carefully, then handed it back to Luke, saying with great emotion: "It's incredible, what did you talk about with Editor-in-Chief Morson, asking him to write a letter of recommendation to the Steam Engineers Association and make an exception for your promotion.
You have to know that it took me 25 years to upgrade from level 1 to level 4, and I don’t know how many times I failed in my applications during that time.
How enviable!
Let's go to my office...Your future work needs to be rearranged ."
"Yes, Mrs. Yolanda."
The company had a heavy production workload and the welcome party ended quickly. The steam engineers went about their work while talking about the blockbuster Luke.
Came to Mrs. Yolanda's office.
After Luke sat down, Mrs. Yolanda said, "I am very curious about what you talked about with Editor-in-Chief Morsong, but professional ethics prevent me from asking you. What can be made public should be available in the new issue of Steam Weekly.
Let’s talk about your work.
As a Level 4 member of the Association of Steam Engineers, the company will soon send someone to discuss a new contract with you, and the Steam Technology Department will make adjustments based on your requirements.
You can do whatever you want, you have the power now."
"I want to continue checking the underground steam pipes," Luke said.
Mrs. Yolanda was stunned.
"Are you kidding? A fourth-degree member of the Steam Engineers Association goes to check underground pipes... Do you know what a fourth-degree member means in Winter City?"
"Of course I do. Please listen to my thoughts, Mrs. Yolanda."
"Okay, you tell me!"
In order to get the job so that he could complete the remaining occult ritual arrangements, Luke made up a reason.
“There is nothing confidential about the conversation between me and Editor-in-Chief Morsson. It was mainly about realizing internal heat energy circulation based on the duality of water molecules and developing a dual-phase steam engine for water molecules.
Editor-in-Chief Morson would write to Mr. Elvis, the owner of the company, to open a steam laboratory for the water molecule dual-phase steam engine, and I would be responsible for the development of the new steam engine.
The preparations for the steam laboratory will probably take some time. So I would like to use this time to continue to admire the underground steam system of Dongdu so that I can complete the steam cycle system thesis I envisioned.”
After hearing Luke's explanation, Mrs. Yolanda couldn't help but stand in awe.
"So you've been working so hard on studying the underground steam system of Winter Capital. No wonder Editor-in-Chief Morsong thinks so highly of you. Your dedication and seriousness in steam technology surpass all the steam engineers here.
Since your future work has been arranged, you can do whatever you want during the preparation of your laboratory.
It's just that...your security team needs to be reassigned and the protection force needs to be strengthened. You are an invaluable asset to the company."
Speaking of the security team, Luke asked casually, "No news about Norton and Harry yet?"
Madam Yolanda shrugged. "No news. The military has issued a nationwide wanted order, but there has been no trace of them."
"Is Rebecca back?"
Mrs. Yolanda thought for a moment and said, "After negotiations between the company and Bingku, Bingku released a group of employees. However, Rebecca's name does not seem to be on the list of executable tasks submitted by the security department.
After all, Norton, Harry and she belong to the same security team, and Ice Cave will not let her out easily.
These incompetent agents, after losing a group of people, vented their anger on innocent people. Don't worry, the company is still putting pressure on Ice Cave, Rebecca will be fine."
In fact, Luke had already let Qingkong get information from the Secret Service Intelligence Station, and Rebecca was still imprisoned in the Ice Cave. The Ice Cave agents interrogated her several times, but Rebecca said nothing and was punished a lot for it.
The Ice Cave agents were furious after having two teams of agents wiped out in front of their own doorstep. Moreover, they had not found the so-called resistance army, and when the Harut Company came to ask for them, they were mocked and ridiculed.
Bingku released a group of people due to pressure from the company, but is keeping a tight rein on the rest. Someone has to let them investigate this case.
After the company rescued most of the employees, they were not so concerned about rescuing the remaining ones.
It can be said that Rebecca has been abandoned by the company. Even if she says nothing, she will most likely be charged with a crime and taken away by Bingku.
Luke was all too familiar with this approach.
"Mrs. Yolanda... During the time I've been working here, Rebecca has been in charge of my close protection. She is a very professional and responsible security guard. If it were someone else, I might not be able to adapt.
Can the Steam Technology Department come forward and get Rebecca out?"
Mrs. Yolanda thought about Luke's request for a moment and said, "Rebecca is from the security department. If our Steam Technology Department comes forward... it would be too much of a compliment to her.
Just a low-level security guard, do you really need her?"
Luke said, "The ice cave is not a good place. I want to give Rebecca some help."
Madam Yolanda looked at Luke and seemed to have figured out something. She smiled and said, "You have been working since you came to Dongdu, and you probably haven't come into contact with many women. I advise you not to waste too much emotion on a low-level security guard. You are now a fourth-level member of the Steam Engineers Association, so you should choose your lover carefully."
When I have time, I will take you to some high-class parties, where there are many beautiful and well-educated ladies from noble families."
Luke knew that Yolanda had misunderstood his relationship with Rebecca, and he replied: "Thank you, Mrs. Yolanda, I am indeed too obsessed with work. I really want to rescue Rebecca..."
“Since you insist so much…” Yolanda took out a piece of paper and wrote quickly on it, then stamped it with her own seal and handed it to Luke: “Until your exclusive security team is in place, you cannot enter the underground, and there is no other work for you today.
Take my letter to the Ice Cave headquarters, and they will hand Rebecca over to you."
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Yolanda." Luke took the letter and put it in his briefcase.
"Remember my advice to you. Don't let your private life hinder your progress. When the new issue of Steam Weekly is published, you will become a star that all the ladies in Winter City will compete for."
"I understand, ma'am..."
Luke left the company and hailed a taxi on the roadside to head to the Ice Cave headquarters. When the Ice Cave agents following him arrived at their home base, they looked at each other in bewilderment, "What is he doing here?"
The Ice Cave headquarters was surrounded by a high wall with electric fences and fully armed Ice Cave agents on duty on the sentry towers. Inside the wall was an agent training camp, and the core of the Ice Cave was underground.
Luke showed his ID to explain his purpose and passed through the gate into the ice cave.
This is a real ice cave with no internal heating system, and the people inside must endure the same extreme cold as outside. This is the working environment of the Ice Cave Agents, and it is designed to hone their will.
Even the Ice Cave Agents have to endure such cold, so one can imagine what the situation is like for the people imprisoned here.
After Luke handed Mrs. Yolanda's handwritten letter to the relevant agent, he sat on a cold bench and waited.
Not long after, a woman wearing an ice cave clerk uniform came over with a cup of coffee.
"Hello, Mr. Luke, would you like a cup of coffee?"
Luke looked up.
The tight top shows off her slender waist, and the one-step skirt wraps around her round buttocks. Flesh-colored stockings, black boots...
Anyone who dares to dress like this must be no ordinary Ice Cave Agent.
Luke had already found the information of the woman in front of him in the cell phone database.
Darikova: An ace agent who reports directly to Ice Cave Chief Raymond Helkkin, whose rank is much higher than that of the deceased Enoch.
Luke took the coffee from Darikova and said with a smile: "Thank you, beautiful lady. It is the most wonderful thing to have a cup of hot coffee in this cold place."
Darikova sat down next to Luke and looked at him with her big blue eyes: "I can feel the heat radiating from you from a long distance away. You are a powerful mage!"
Luke took a sip of coffee, savoring the delicate taste, and then answered: "If you want to be an excellent steam engineer, you must first become an excellent magician. Traditional steam technology can no longer meet the development of efficient steam utilization. Only by combining magic and alchemy can we create a better steam engine.
I have been waiting for a long time to see the person I am looking for. ”
Darikova kept staring at Luke, her eyes full of emotion, but her words were full of temptation: "Rebecca is preparing... Before that, I want to ask you a few questions?"
Luke said, "Before you, an agent has already asked me questions. I don't want to answer them a second time. If you have any questions, you can ask him."
"You mean Commander Enoch? He's dead!"
Darikova observed Luke's expression, waiting for his answer.
"Dead?" Luke frowned: "That's really a pity."
"Do you want to know how he died?"
"I don't want to..." Luke didn't follow Darikova's lead. He refused, "I don't want to have too much interaction with you people. Your life and death have nothing to do with me."
Darikova threatened: "You don't seem to know who you are talking to. This is an ice cave. I can buy you hot coffee or iced coffee."
Luke summoned a fireball to heat the coffee in his hand, and said sarcastically, "You don't seem to know who you are talking to. The Ice Cave Agents... are just dogs raised by the superiors. If you have iced coffee, you can bring it over."
Being called a dog angered Darikova: "I can see that you really want to drink the iced coffee here."
When Luke was about to tease Darikova again, a scolding sounded: "Darikova, what are you doing? How dare you be so disrespectful to Mr. Luke!"
After hearing the reprimand, Darikova immediately stood up and saluted the approaching person: "Mr. General!"
The person who came was the Ice Cave Chief Herkekin.
He came to Luke and angrily ordered Darikova: "Apologize to Master Luke!"
"Big, Master?"
Darikova had a question mark on her face.
Helkkin said: “This morning, the Steam Engineers Association updated its membership list, and a new member was added to the fourth-level membership, Mr. Luke.
If I hadn't come in time, do you know how much trouble you would have gotten into?"
Darikova was a little dumbfounded.
The information shows that he is a first-class member of the Steam Engineers Association, isn't he? How did he suddenly become a fourth-class member?
You must be mistaken!
After Helkkin winked at her repeatedly, Darikova had no choice but to give in. She saluted Luke: "Yes, I'm sorry, Mr. Luke... I apologize to you for my recklessness!"
Luke handed over the coffee in his hand: "This coffee is too hot, please cool it down before sending it back to me."
"Why don't you do what Mr. Luke says?" Helkkin drove Darikova away, then smiled and invited Luke: "Come to my office... I am a loyal reader of Steam Weekly. Tell me what you talked about with Editor-in-Chief Morsong that made him think so highly of you."
Luke knew that Hulkkin had invited him to his office for no good reason, so he said without giving him any face: "Before the new issue of Steam Weekly is published, everything I discuss with Editor-in-Chief Morson is top secret.
Mr. President, the content of our conversation has allowed me to jump directly from the first-level member of the Steam Engineers Association to the fourth-level member. Do you really want to hear it? "
