Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 171 Secret Documents
Strictly speaking, the riot did not last long. After Livy and Olivia defeated the rioter leader, the Central Data Tower was back in the hands of the Empire before nightfall.

However, the damage it caused was unimaginable compared to any previous terrorist attack.

The central data tower's four large differential servers were responsible for processing data related to transportation, communications, finance, and energy, respectively. Fortunately, because one server was missing, the energy differential server survived, preventing the entire city from being blown up. However, the other three servers presented significant challenges.

Although everyone ultimately adopted Qi Ya's suggestion to rotate the differential machine of the entire central data tower, this also meant that all the data for the day would be reset to zero.

Thank goodness, the difference engine is a computer with a physical structure whose data paths are visible to the naked eye. Unlike modern CPUs, where you can stare at the electronic circuits for ages and still not see any 1, 2, 3, or 4.

Therefore, the governor of Steel City immediately sent people to notify all places in Steel City connected to the central data tower to suspend input calculations. Then, Steel City would send someone to copy these data and re-enter them into the central data tower to compare and fill the gaps.

According to Qi Ya, even if everyone works day and night, it will probably take more than ten days or even half a month to complete the task.

As for the data that cannot be stored during this period, it can only be stored on the local differential machine or recorded on paper.

Fortunately, the energy differential engine didn't malfunction; otherwise, this steel city would have been back to square one overnight, without even electricity.

Meanwhile, those people, including Dr. Tester, whom Levi had never heard of but who looked like great scientists, were summoned overnight to begin a comprehensive analysis of the three black cards found on the difference engine and the one hidden in Qi Ya's arms.

After all, this was the first time the world had encountered a computer virus attack, or rather, before this, no one had discovered that the difference engine could be destroyed in this way.

Now that this problem has been discovered, it seems natural to want to solve it completely.

In this incident, the most attention-grabbing characters are naturally... Olivia and her three-headed dog.

That's right, even Li Wei, who is always the center of attention, has to take a backseat this time. After all, no matter how powerful he is, he only has one nose and two ears, not three heads.

Dogs biting people is not news, but a three-headed dog biting a person is big news.

However, the people in this world are indeed very receptive. Perhaps because of her status as a descendant of the Twelve Knights of Baskerville, most people quickly accepted Olivia's three-headed dog. Of course, some biologists came to her, eager to conduct a thorough physical examination, and even some biologists came to her.

Some milder suggestions included allowing the three-headed dog to breed and see if it could produce offspring, while more radical ones wanted to draw a vial of blood to study the mysterious creature themselves.

Of course, all of these people were mercilessly scolded and driven away by Olivia.

Incidentally, Li Wei was unable to meet with Crown Prince Fernando. What could he do when such a thing happened in the Steel City? Considering the other party's identity, and the previous kidnapping incident, it was definitely necessary to return home as soon as possible.

Therefore, Grand Duke Fernando did not meet with Livy, but instead entrusted someone to leave him an oil painting as a token of his gratitude.

It was a landscape painting. Li Wei glanced at it and didn't think there was anything special about it. Anyway... he had never been very interested in appreciating these kinds of artworks.

As for how much this thing is worth, Li Wei had no idea.

Li Wei has always found it incomprehensible that Western paintings sell for such high prices. Take Van Gogh's "Sunflowers," for example. It looks very ordinary, just a sketch of sunflowers in oil, but it sold for nearly forty million US dollars.

This is still considered good; at least you can tell that it's a sunflower. If it were an abstract painting, it would look like a murder scene after a drunken rampage, where you can't make out what it's about. And yet, this kind of thing can sell for tens of millions... It makes you feel that not only is the painter crazy, but the buyer is also crazy.

The oil painting that Grand Duke Fernando gave to Livy must be priceless, but unfortunately, from an artistic point of view, Livy... well, okay, he can't see anything about it.

Even with the [Soul Vision], nothing can be seen.

It's just an ordinary landscape painting. I'll see if there's anywhere to hang it when I get back.

If you don't have it, just put it in the warehouse.

Incidentally, after that, Li Wei only met the governor of the Steel City once. The governor originally seemed to be a rather refined and polite diplomat, but when he met Li Wei, his eyes were sunken, his vision was dark, and he was muttering to himself, as if he were in a trance.

Later, Li Wei heard from Antony that Her Majesty the Queen had personally called him on the communicator and given him a good scolding, which explained it all.

After all, this happened during the highly anticipated World Expo. To carry out such a terrorist attack, causing such a huge uproar, with at least several thousand dead and injured, and tens of thousands of losses. Fortunately, because the energy data tower was intact, the entire Steel City wasn't blown to bits. Otherwise, given Her Majesty's temper, she might have executed his entire family.

Her Majesty the Queen contacted them personally, which was certainly not simply to hurl insults.

Anthony also brought Livy an urgent telegram from MI7, ordering him to set off immediately for the Rune region, located in the heart of the Empire.

The situation was urgent, and there was no need to contact the governor to arrange transportation, because the Royal Navy would personally send a reconnaissance boat to take Levi there!
"Is the situation that urgent?"

Li Wei stared blankly at the urgent telegram in his hand, while Anthony nodded solemnly.

“That’s right, boss. According to the notification we just received, the Navy’s ‘Sky Blade’ will arrive at the military docking platform in Steel City at 10 p.m. You must board that airship immediately and head to Rune.”

"What are the specific details?"

"I've heard the specifics are a bit complicated, but I'm sure you'll find out once you get there."

"You won't come with me?"

"I need to stay and follow up on the current issues."

Anthony then dropped his playful demeanor and sighed.

"Thanks to you, boss, I wasn't strangled by my superior. But I've been following this whole thing from beginning to end, and besides you, I'm the only one who knows the full story. The higher-ups urgently need to know the details of these black punch cards and what to do next, so I have no choice but to stay here. But don't worry, boss, there are our team members over there who will be with you."

"Oh? Who? Henry? It can't be Katie, can it?"

When it comes to the Royal Navy, the first person that comes to mind for Levi is Henry.

"No, it's Sister Elizabeth."

"Her?" To be honest, this was really unexpected for Li Wei. In this group, Elizabeth appeared the least. Apart from the initial trip to the haunted house, she hadn't appeared in any of the other missions.

Li Wei never expected her to appear in this mission.

"Could you please help me transport my belongings back to Steel City?"

"Of course that's no problem."

Faced with Levi's request, Anthony readily agreed. Seeing his quick wit, Levi figured Anthony wouldn't mess it up, so he didn't think much of it. After returning to the hotel, taking a shower and changing his clothes, Levi found Olivia and said goodbye.

"I'm sorry, Miss Olivia, but due to some urgent matters, I must leave Steel City and must say goodbye."

"There's nothing we can do about it."

Olivia was surprised by Li Wei's farewell, but she only sighed softly.

"Well then, have a safe trip, Mr. Levi. Also, I hope you have time to come to Delicat again next year. I believe you will see a Delicat that is completely different from what you see now."

"I am looking forward."

Li Wei gently held Olivia's hand and kissed the back of it from a distance, bidding her farewell.

Most of the luggage didn't need to be carried; Levi treated Anthony like a subordinate, leaving the remaining luggage and purchases for Anthony to take back. As always, he simply carried a briefcase and, holding a cane, arrived at the military docking station in the Steel City.

"call…………………"

It was almost evening, and Li Wei stood in the lounge of the tower, looking out at the steel city through the window.

Even after nightfall, the steel city remained bustling with activity, countless lights illuminating the city. Simply standing there, it looked almost indistinguishable from a modern city in one's own world…

Li Wei stood quietly by the window, gazing at the city outside, lost in a brief moment of homesickness. He still missed his hometown dearly, but wondered if he would ever have the chance to return… Oh well, there was no point in thinking about it now.

A dark shadow appeared on the horizon. Li Wei pulled himself out of his thoughts and then saw an airship slowly flying in from the sky and then smoothly landing at the connection point of the tower.

Incidentally, docking the airship is actually quite a troublesome matter. It requires securing it with cables, then having the staff below lock it in place and turn the winch to align it with the entrance. Only after a ladder is extended from the airship's door can it move.

However, none of this happened.

As the airship approached, Li Wei saw the hatch open directly, and then a man dressed as a soldier stood in the doorway and shouted loudly at Li Wei.

"Is this Mr. Li Wei?"

"Yes!"

"Please come up immediately, we need to leave right away!"

Why the rush?

Although I had heard before that it was an urgent telegram, this is too urgent.

Regardless, Li Wei had realized the urgency of the situation, so without hesitation, he leaped into the airship. The soldier, who had intended to help him, was taken aback by Li Wei's agility and quickly closed the hatch.

"The captain is waiting for you, please follow me."

"Ok."

Following the soldiers, Levi arrived at the bridge. He had ridden in reconnaissance airships before, back in Melisia, and they were basically the same. In Levi's view, these two airships were essentially identical except for the captains.

"Hello, Mr. Li Wei."

When the captain saw Li Wei on the bridge, he quickly and solemnly saluted him, and Li Wei returned the salute by removing his hat.

"Hello, Captain, I heard the situation is urgent?"

"Yes."

As he spoke, the captain looked at Li Wei and handed him a confidential document.

"Please read this in front of me, and then I will be responsible for burning it."

"………………………"

This really does feel more and more like a confidential matter.

Looking at the sealed document in his hand, Li Wei was somewhat puzzled, but more than that, he was nervous. After all, he had only ever seen similar situations in movies before. Generally, this kind of plot unfolds in disaster movies when the government discovers that the world is about to end and then summons scientists to study countermeasures.

However, I am not a scientist, and there are many people who know more about astronomy and geography than I do.

So, what kind of disaster intelligence is in here?
As a detective, I can't exactly ask him to solve problems like the Earth's core stopping or an imminent meteorite impact.

With this question in mind, Li Wei tore open the secret document.

　When boiling chicken legs, I add scallions and ginger to remove the fishy smell. After boiling, I don't add any other seasonings and just eat plain boiled chicken. This is how I eat chicken, and it actually makes me more hungry. To be honest, it's more satisfying than eating big plate chicken or KFC.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)