novelraw Chapter 101 : Learning Makes Me Happy
Chapter 101 : Learning Makes Me Happy
Chapter 101: Learning Makes Me Happy
After returning to Mist City, Levi naturally wrote the whole matter into a report and submitted it to the Old Butler.
However, regarding the issue of the Baskerville family’s inheritance, he was somewhat evasive and did not state it directly.
After all, this was the Baskerville family’s secret, and Levi was not sure whether he should reveal everything, so he only wrote some vague speculation.
If Aurelia wanted to tell the Queen, then she naturally would.
If Aurelia did not intend to tell the Queen, then Levi was not willing to be the one making a report behind her back.
He did not have any particular loyalty to the Queen anyway.
Work was work—it was not yet at the level of bowing and exhausting himself unto death for her sake.
Moreover, since this was only speculation, Levi did not have sufficient evidence to prove that his thoughts were correct, so he presented it in a relatively objective way.
As for how the Queen saw it—that was the Queen’s business.
After reading the report, the Old Butler also wore a grave expression.
“Are you certain?”
“Of course I……… cannot be certain.”
Levi helplessly spread his hands.
“These are matters from decades ago. The people involved are either dead, or dead—I can’t possibly dig a corpse out of a grave to ask, can I? All I can say is that this is reasoning and speculation based on the available data and intelligence. At present, Baroness Baskerville is conducting a large-scale investigation and purge of the Luddite remnants in the Delicat Region.
Perhaps she can find some clues.”
“Mm, at that time, Luddism was indeed rampant.”
Hearing Levi’s answer, the Old Butler nodded, a trace of nostalgia showing on his face.
“The invention of the steam engine back then made us believe we had found the key to human civilization’s progress.Of course, we knew it would bring sacrifices. But for the sake of the Empire, we had no choice.”
“Perhaps at the time, you should have paid more attention to the groups affected by the steam engine.”
“Hehehe.”
Faced with Levi’s suggestion, the Old Butler chuckled.
“Believe me, Mr. Levi, we did indeed think of that, and at the time, we indeed intended to do so.”
“But you didn’t?”
“Because the Luddite movement erupted.”
At this point, the Old Butler’s expression became stern.
“The Royal Family cannot be questioned, let alone desecrated. The Empire absolutely cannot bow its head to rioters!”
“Oh-hoh.”
Levi shrugged without speaking.
He understood what the Old Butler meant.
Perhaps back then, the Royal Family truly had considered how to properly resettle those workers displaced and affected by the steam engine.
But with the outbreak of the Luddite movement, the Royal Family immediately abandoned that idea.
Just as the Old Butler said, in that era, the dignity and honor of the Royal Family were supreme.
Did they really think that smashing a few steam engines, burning a few factories, and killing a few people would make the Royal Family yield? That was absolutely impossible!
In that era, commoners had no such thing as human rights to speak of.
To the Royal Family, dignity and honor were clearly more important than tens of thousands of rabble.
And from the Royal Family’s perspective, what they did was not wrong—making a decision on their own was completely different from making the same decision under the coercion of a Luddite riot.
Even if the Royal Family had plans to arrange for those workers before, after the outbreak of the Luddite movement, they absolutely could not make the same plan.
Otherwise, would that not prove that the Royal Family feared the commoners? That as long as the latter smashed and looted in a wave of “zero-cost shopping,” the Royal Family would obediently listen to them?
What a joke! Outrageous! Absolutely impossible!
Thus, even if the Royal Family abandoned those workers completely and watched them die, they would never leave the impression that they had yielded to the Luddite movement.
Of course, in Levi’s view, things were definitely not that simple.
Most likely, it was also filled with political calculations and schemes.
But……… he could not be bothered to concern himself with those matters.
He was just a detective.
It was enough to do his own duty.
He did not wish to meddle in the rest.
“However, at present we are indeed facing many problems.”
The Old Butler quickly shifted the topic, likewise unwilling to linger on past events.
“According to our investigation, the Empire is currently facing an unprecedented threat. In fact, those cases you previously experienced were all part of it.”
At this, the Old Butler lowered his voice.
“We have reason to believe that the Holy Lord Church has joined forces with the surviving Luddite elements, attempting through these bizarre rituals and monsters to create unrest and panic within the Empire. Moreover, the Francis Republic is very likely involved as well.”
“Oh?”
Levi was not particularly surprised at this.
After all……… that bishop who had turned into a feather monster was a Francis man, was he not.
“And after some time, there may be a major operation requiring your assistance.”
“A major operation?”
“That’s right.”
The Old Butler produced a newspaper and placed it before Levi—not their own, but the Daily Times.
Curious, Levi picked it up and glanced at the front-page headline.
“‘Imperial Trade Hit—Tea Crisis in the Melisia Region?’”
Levi scanned the news.
Its content was indeed interesting.
Simply put, the Melisia region was refusing the Empire’s tea trade, and protests and clashes had even broken out as a result.
Not only that, but the conflict had already reached a fever pitch.
There were even Melisia people rushing aboard merchant ships to dump the tea into the sea.
Hmm……… it did seem awfully familiar?
“This conflict, on the surface, is due to tea dumping. But in fact, it is not so simple. According to the Intelligence Department’s investigation, there is currently an undercurrent surging in the Melisia region. They are attempting to break away from the Empire, harboring delusions of independence.”
At this, the Old Butler’s face grew stern.
Unlike Levi’s world, the Empire of this world was a power of both land and sea.
It did not possess vast colonies like that Empire of Levi’s world once had.
Instead, it was mainly land-based with the sea as auxiliary, and its principal territories were its own lands.
Back when the Empire declined, there had indeed been a period of fragmentation and independence, but the Empire had been too weak to stop it.
But now, with the steam revolution, the Empire was on the rise again.
For such a thing to happen again—it could not be tolerated.
“The so-called tea dumping is nothing but their excuse. They publicly claim that drinking the Empire’s tea is equivalent to being exploited and oppressed by the Empire……… the meaning behind it is already very clear.”
“But this has nothing to do with us, right?”
MI7, after all, was specifically for dealing with mysterious incidents.
Melisia’s attempt at independence was indeed a major issue, but in Levi’s view, it was not his concern.
That was more the problem of the Intelligence Department or the military.
“In principle, that is so. However, in this period, Imperial officials in the Melisia region have been dying one after another. On-site investigations show they either died of accidents or sudden illness. But clearly, that explanation is not enough. Therefore, we suspect it is very likely caused by someone using certain mysterious powers.”
“I see.”
Hearing this, Levi instantly understood.
Indeed, whether they became independent or not—that was none of his business.
But if someone there was using some kind of mysterious power—then it was his business.
“We have already dispatched two investigation teams to the Melisia region. Once they discover anything, it will be your turn to act.”
Now, within MI7, Levi was basically the equivalent of an ace—just like those famous detectives.
Ordinary petty theft and such cases were no longer under their jurisdiction.
When they acted, it was only for cases of major severity.
Levi himself was conscious of this, and he also felt it was a good thing.
After all, he was only one man.
He could not possibly take on every case in the whole Empire.
“So I hope you remain in Mist City during this time, don’t leave, so we can contact you easily.”
This era, of course, had no mobile phones.
If one did not make things clear in advance, once someone ran off somewhere, they might not be found at all.
“No problem. During this time I’ll be staying in the Imperial Library.”
“What are you going to the Imperial Library for?”
“To read more books, to study, of course.”
“Young men being diligent and studious—nothing wrong with that.”
The Old Butler nodded, then once again lowered his voice.
“By the way, let me tell you in advance. Because of your outstanding performance at the Imperial Bridge and with the Baskerville family, Her Majesty the Queen has already decided to confer honors on you at the New Year’s Banquet at year’s end.”
Each year, at the year’s end New Year’s Banquet hosted by the Royal Family, the Queen would bestow honors upon distinguished citizens of the Empire.
It might be a medal, or perhaps an ennoblement.
“There’s such a good thing?”
Levi was somewhat surprised.
“Of course. The Empire will not shortchange its meritorious subjects. Do your work well.”
At the Old Butler’s words, Levi chuckled.
This was nothing but painting a pie.
Truly, no matter the era or the world, the things people did never really changed.
Of course, joking aside, Levi would not refuse.
After all, it was something earned with his own life.
After that, Levi chatted a bit more with the Old Butler, then left the Editorial Department and went to the underground MI7 office, where he found……… Benjamin.
“Oh? So my assumptions were correct?”
Benjamin was quite excited.
He had already read Levi’s report on the Red Cloak Girl and the Baskerville family incident.
As for other contents, Benjamin neither cared nor paid attention.
He only cared about whether the weapons he had designed had been effective.
Now, seeing that his designed bullets had not been wasted, Benjamin was quite thrilled.
“So far, they’ve been pretty useful. But I think their armor-piercing and penetrating power could be enhanced a bit more.”
Levi put forth his request.
In his view, the greatest problem with those monsters was their thick hide and flesh, which made them hard to breach.
So he hoped Benjamin could focus on armor-piercing penetration.
After all, as long as he broke through their defense, the rest would not be a problem for Levi.
But if one could not break the defense, then no matter how fancy the shots, it was just like setting off fireworks—completely useless.
“Armor-piercing……… hmm……… the existing armor-piercing rounds aren’t enough?”
“Their power is still a bit lacking.”
“But with the current caliber, adjusting the power is rather……… hmm……… perhaps I could try making some adjustments starting from the rifle rounds.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
After talking with Benjamin, Levi also went to see Mr.
Richard and Miss Windsor.
The former was buried in stacks of books, investigating various legendary records of the Melisia Region.
Miss Windsor was not there—today was said to be her teaching day, so she had gone back to her school to give lessons.
After wandering around MI7 for a while, Levi then went to the Imperial Library to begin his……… great reading enterprise.
The Imperial Library was one of Mist City’s most famous buildings.
Its exterior resembled a sacred, grand cathedral.
The symbol of the All-Seeing Eye was carved at the top of the building, symbolizing that the Holy Lord bestowed knowledge upon humanity.
Inside the Imperial Library were tens of thousands of books, placed upon bookshelves as tall as three stories, arranged densely in neat rows.
Many citizens of the Empire even proudly declared that the Imperial Library possessed the most complete collection of books on the entire continent.
The heavy desks were polished to a shine, and the whole library gleamed, truly resembling a temple of knowledge.
Levi chose to start reading from the folklore and mythology section.
After all, his current work often required dealing with myths and legends from various places.
Of course, he could simply ask the locals at the time, but if he could prepare in advance, was that not more convenient?
And to Levi, these books were quite interesting.
Originally, folklore and myths were always rather strange and curious matters.
But the problem was not merely that.
Levi discovered that every time he finished a book, its content appeared in his mind completely intact.
It was just like the special trait given by that skill “Library.” Levi felt that his brain was now a library.
Each time he read a book, it was stored in his brain’s library.
And whenever he recalled it, he could easily summon up every detail.
He could even remember precisely which page, which line.
Learning like this was truly delightful!
Flipping pages, Levi sighed with emotion.
Previously, whenever he heard people say “Learning makes me happy,” he always thought they were just pretending.
After all, how could such a painful thing as studying possibly be joyful?
But now it seemed—if one had perfect recall, remembering every line and word clearly without painful memorization, then indeed, learning really did become nothing but joy.
Of course, mathematics was still an exception ┓(`)┏.
“Excuse me.”
Just as Levi was immersed in the joy of reading, a cool voice sounded.
Levi turned his head and saw a bespectacled young girl standing beside him.
“May I borrow this book?”
“This one?”
Levi glanced at the book beside him—Records of Imperial Mysterious Species Legends.
“Of course.”