Volume 2: Empire Chapter 148 Secret Affair
The scent of tea filled the whole room along with the misty smoke, and the phonograph played soft music. Outside the closed windows, heavy snow was falling in the strong wind. This was the heaviest snowfall in the capital since the beginning of winter.
The knock on the door broke the peace. From the rhythm of the knock, one could tell that the person outside was a little anxious, but still restrained himself and maintained the proper courtesy.
"Come in, the door is not locked..."
Luke set out the teacups and poured the tea from the kettle.
The door was pushed open with a creak, and Helkkin, wearing . He turned around and asked his subordinates to wait outside, then closed the door and walked in front of Luke.
"I'm very surprised you didn't run away!"
Helkkin looked at Luke with a complicated expression. Although he had thought that this genius steam engineer was a spy from the Golden Shield Empire, it was just a thought and he rejected it.
The situation on the battlefield in Snow City has deteriorated irreparably, and the army of Art County Union has suffered heavy losses. The strategic idea of quickly defeating the Golden Shield Empire has been completely shattered, and the County Union has to really fight a protracted war.
The reason for all these consequences was that the heating system of the Snow City battlefield was precisely destroyed by the spies of the Golden Shield Empire.
The drawings of the Snow City War Heating System were definitely stolen by the Golden Shield Empire Secret Intelligence Bureau's spies lurking in Winter City. This is an extremely serious intelligence leak. Congress has issued a strict order, requiring Bingku to investigate the process of intelligence leaks and destroy the intelligence station set up by the Golden Shield Empire Secret Intelligence Bureau in Winter City.
But no one probably expected that such important information would leak out from the hands of Chief Ice Cave.
"If I run away, won't there be no one to answer all the questions in your mind?" Luke smiled and invited Helkkin: "Please sit down... I don't have coffee from the Imperial Secret Service here, only the Imperial Palace Tribute Tea. Even if you are the chief of the Ice Cave, you probably can't drink such good tea."
Helkkin did have too many questions in his mind, and seeing that Luke had no intention of escaping or resisting, he sat down opposite him.
"You admit that you are a spy for the Golden Shield Empire!"
Luke picked up the tea and drank it. "Admit it, there is no need to hide it any more. I am a spy of the Golden Shield Empire. I restored the heating system of the Snow City battlefield through your paper and gave it to the eldest princess of the empire, Agatha.
Judging from your appearance... the battle of Snow City should be over."
Helkkin didn't drink the tea. Facing Luke, he was extremely cautious: "Although the battle of Snow City has not yet been completely over, the County Alliance has already been defeated.
If you can return alive, the Empire will definitely award you a medal. You saved Queen Christina and delayed the battle until after winter.
In fact, I feel very sorry for you!
Originally, you didn't need to reveal your identity. You would be a talented steam engineer, and with the support of the Elvis family, you would gradually become a powerful politician who could influence the Art County Federation. It was not impossible for you to even become the president of the county federation.
At that time, there were spies from the Golden Shield Empire at the political core of the County Alliance, and all the secrets were no longer secrets... What a terrible thing that was.
The County League lost in Snow City, but in the long run, the defeat was well worth it.
There is just one thing I can't figure out, why you? Your talent and knowledge should be well protected. In my opinion... your value far exceeds that of Queen Christina."
"Thank you for thinking so highly of me. How should I answer your question..." Luke thought for a moment and said, "In fact, everything was an accident. I didn't intend to make myself so dazzling. It was Enoch who found me. In order to prevent Bingku from touching me, I had to change the original plan. As a result, things were out of my control.
This accident also allowed me to contribute to the Empire's Snow City Campaign."
Accident!
If Luke's real purpose was not to enter the Congress of the At County Federation, what was the purpose of his coming to Winter?
Thinking of the dead Enoch and the case he was investigating.
Helkkin asked, "You are Mr. Bai Ye. The Imperial Secret Service is indeed behind the underground resistance army."
Luke said helplessly, "Actually, it was an accident. I said something and Mina told her father. Then Mina's father made up a name for me called 'Mr. White Night' and formed a resistance army. It was later that the Imperial Secret Service funded the resistance army."
This is also unexpected!
Helkkin pressed, "What on earth do you want to do in Dongdu?"
"I won't answer this question for now." Luke put down his teacup and asked Helkkin, "What will you do to me if you catch me? After all, I got my information from you, so your guilt is not light."
Helkkin, who had already thought of a way out for himself, replied: "That's why I came to see you alone. I will personally investigate your evidence, and your source of information is naturally the Steam Engineers Association.
If Mr. Elvis knew that you were a spy for the Golden Shield Empire, he would definitely not let this matter become a scandal for the Elvis family. You will die in an accident, and everyone will feel sad and regretful for your death. "
Luke praised: "Very professional!"
"We are professionals! Now tell me the real purpose of your coming to Winter Capital!"
Luke poured himself a cup of tea. "Would you like to take another job and work for the Imperial Secret Service?"
Helkkin sneered, "Is this your last resort to survive? To be honest, I am very disappointed!"
"Don't rush to refuse. Let me explain it to you. Your plan is based entirely on catching me. If you don't catch me, the leak will be a big handle for you."
Hercule snorted, "This handle is at least less important than working for the Imperial Secret Service, and even if it is exposed, my merits outweigh my faults. I'm telling you, don't think about unrealistic things, you can't escape today."
Luke picked up the teacup again and said, "If I were the Special Cabinet Minister of the Golden Shield Empire and the Governor of Raging Waves City, Meteor, and you have such a close relationship with me, how many people do you think would believe your self-defense in the At County Federation?"
Watching Luke slowly drinking his tea, Helkkin sneered, "Are you the Falling Star of the Golden Shield Empire? With such a noble status, how could he risk coming to the Winter Capital!"
“A talented steam engineer who should be heavily protected has come, so why can’t Meteorite come?
Besides... aren't you curious about why Qingkong came to the winter capital at this time?"
The smile on Hercule's face suddenly stopped, his muscles tensed, and his magic power couldn't help but leak out of his body.
yes!
Why did Qingkong come to Winter Capital at this time? This is a question that Bingku has never found the answer to.
Helkkin remembered that Enoch had said that Qingkong might have come to protect the meteorite, but after his death, no one mentioned this absurd speculation again.
"You, you really are a falling star!"
Luke took off the glasses he was wearing, looked at Hulkkin and said, "That's up to you to judge."
Helkkin looked at Luke and compared it with the meteorite data collected in the Ice Cave.
There is no separate portrait of Meteorite circulated, but he is a frequent guest in the major newspapers of Raging Waves City and Saint Lun City, and some of his magical images can be collected. Although the magical images are not clear, his general appearance can still be pieced together.
He had never thought of Luke as a meteorite before, but now when Luke took off his glasses, Hulkkin found that he really was very similar to the meteorite.
At this time, Luke activated the Thunder Fire Eye.
Such unique eyes made Helkkin no longer have any doubts.
"You really are a falling star! How dare you come to Winter Capital!"
Luke removed his Thunderbolt Fire Pupils and put his glasses back on: "I'm already here, why are you still asking if I dare or not! Now, you understand your situation, right?"
Hercules' heart was beating violently.
Meteorite was right in front of him, which meant that the elf Qingkong had not left Winter City, and she was nearby. Moreover, Meteorite's identity determined that he was not a soldier who could sacrifice himself for the mission. Even if he was surrounded, he would definitely have a way to escape.
These days, he went to Luke's steam laboratory every day, and even specifically announced that he was learning steam technology from Master Luke.
If Luke was just an ace spy sent by the Golden Shield Empire's Secret Intelligence Service, he could still explain that he had long suspected his identity and that everything he did was to uncover his disguise.
But Luke is a falling star.
What he has done in the past three months since he came to Dongdu... Just guessing is enough to cause a major purge within the Art County League.
And I am definitely among those who would rather kill someone innocently than let .
"Governor Meteorite, I really don't know how to express my feelings at the moment. But please don't question my loyalty to the country. Your value is enough for Bingku to make any sacrifice."
Luke smiled and said, "Helkkin, I know you much better than you know yourself. In order to capture me, the Ice Cave can make any sacrifice, but definitely not you.
You just want to rely on a steam engineer qualification certificate to get rid of your identity as an Ice Cave Agent that prevents you from climbing up. This is the recommendation letter I wrote for you as Luke, and the paper I wrote on the underground steam system of Dongdu, signed with your name and mine.
With these two things, the door to the Institute of Steam Engineers is open to you.”
Luke picked up the two documents that had been placed beside him and pushed them to Helkkin on the table.
Helkkin picked up the document and took a look at it. With these two things, the other exams would basically be a formality.
But Helkkin threw the document on the table: "You think you can bribe me with this? You look down on me!"
"After I leave, all the materials for the water molecule dual-phase steam engine will be left to you. You and I will have a single line of communication, and you can come to me for any research problems you encounter. In the end, the water molecule dual-phase steam engine was proposed by me and invented by you.
You will become a late bloomer and star steam engineer, and reap the fame and fortune brought by the launch of the new steam engine ."
Helkkin couldn't keep calm anymore.
"The water molecule dual-phase steam engine can really be built. It is not a hoax designed by you to conceal your identity."
Luke couldn't help but laugh, "What a hoax! Do you think this could fool the Steam Engineers Association?
The Steam Engineers Association gave me such a great honor because the water molecule dual-phase steam engine was able to be manufactured. Even without me, with the model I designed, the Steam Engineers Association could still build the water molecule dual-phase steam engine. The only question is when it will be built and who will build it.
With my guidance, you will definitely build it faster!"
Helkkin certainly knew what the emergence of the water molecule dual-phase steam engine meant; he also knew what it would mean to himself if he could become the successor of Master Luke.
Even if he cannot inherit all of Luke's current influence, even if he inherits half of it, it will be enough for him to rise to a high position in the future.
And the price to be paid is also obvious.
"I will not put my future destiny in the hands of the enemy!"
Luke said: "There are no eternal enemies. The Art County Alliance cannot destroy the Golden Shield Empire, and the Golden Shield Empire cannot destroy the Art County Alliance. The two countries are tired of fighting, and they will eventually have to sit down and negotiate and become friendly neighbors.
Your relationship with me will become a strong political asset for you in the future, and the higher you go, the less control I will have over you."
Following Luke's words, Hercules analyzed the current situation between the two countries.
The war will end one day.
The Art County League missed the best opportunity to defeat the Golden Shield Empire, and the war dragged into a protracted war of attrition. In the future, as the anti-war voices within the County League grow louder and louder, the Congress, which can no longer fight, will naturally seek peace talks.
At that time, if he could get a good position, he could make a lot of political capital for himself during the peace talks. The country after the war must be reshuffled, with a group of scapegoats going down and a group of heroes who ended the war taking over.
Just as Meteorite said, the At County Federation is not the Golden Shield Empire. As long as one's position is high enough, the previous stains will no longer be stains, and Meteorite's restraint on oneself will become smaller and smaller... until it is not worth mentioning.
"Governor Meteorite, you are really good at judging people!"
A somewhat incongruous smile appeared on Helkkin's tough face: "How do you plan to get out of this perfectly?"
Luke held up a cup of tea and invited Hulkkin: "Didn't you just arrange everything? I will die in an accident, and everyone will feel sad and regretful because of my death."
Helkkin picked up the teacup: "Very professional!"
Luke and Hulking smiled at each other and drank the tea in their cups together.
At this time, Darikova broke through the door and rushed in: "What happened? Why are there so many Ice Cave agents outside? Herkkin, what do you want to do to Mr. Luke?
you……"
Darikova was stunned when she saw the two people who were drinking tea. The arrangement of the agents surrounding the ice cave outside was obviously a position prepared for a strong attack.
Herculin smiled and responded, “Intelligence shows that the Golden Shield Empire has sent an ace spy to harm Mr. Luke.
I brought people here to protect Mr. Luke!"
