Comprehensive network wizard, magic emperor.

Chapter 210 (Chapter 209): Leaks and Official Status, Winter Approaching
The radio station caused a sensation among tourists and diplomats from various countries on the day it was unveiled at the World's Fair.

Newspapers and media outlets described the telegraph code sent by the radio station as the chimes of a new era, a sentiment echoed by many visitors at the expo.

Although current radio stations are limited by the level of component processing, resulting in excessive noise and an inability to transmit clear analog signals, with the continued technical support from the Royal Academy of Sciences, the Mysterious Machine Workshop is confident that it can manufacture a qualified voice broadcasting station before the end of the year.

Viscount Pearl made this boast, and his confident speech put considerable psychological pressure on foreigners at the time. A new era was dawning in the Sail Islands, while the nations of the bountiful continent were falling behind.

Intelligence agencies from various countries have set their sights on the Mysterious Mechanical Workshop. Coincidentally, Velen Pearl is also searching for these spies. He needs to leak information discreetly, so that he can both complete the order's mission and maintain his power and position within the Imperial system.

However, their mutual affection still needs to overcome the final hurdle.

The Kening Empire's secrecy measures were very timely. The Mysterious Mechanical Workshop's premises were isolated by high walls and guards, with security checks to prevent any smuggling. The mechanics and craftsmen were restricted in their freedom, and neither they nor their relatives were allowed to leave Hongdu. Viscount Pearl himself was also secretly monitored by informants from the Ministry of the Interior.

However, this seemingly robust security system was riddled with flaws. The Kening Empire lacked a dedicated intelligence agency; the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Army and Navy each had their own intelligence units, independent of each other, though theoretically all reporting to the Emperor. Due to the lack of professionalism among security personnel, they were completely unaware of internal leaks.

The Hongdu branch of the religious order quickly made arrangements, recruiting cleaners for the Mysterious Machinery Workshop from within the domestic service industry.

Agents from various countries walked into the workshop with impunity, only to discover how lax the security was inside this seemingly impregnable fortress. The files in the archives were all unlocked, unattended, and freely available for perusal.

In just a few days, the workshop's archives became a meeting point for spies from various countries. When they met, they were initially surprised, but then they tacitly searched for information and recorded the contents with their brains that could not be checked by security.

As time went on, the spies became more and more relaxed. They would greet each other, exchange pleasantries, talk about their work benefits, share food and drinks, and treat the archives as a lounge.

Viren Pearl was well aware of this, and he would occasionally bring new technical information into the archives, only to have the agents disguised as cleaners rush in to look through it as soon as he left.

The domestic service guilds in Hongdu have become a talent market for intelligence agencies from various countries. Those engaged in this profession are mostly secretive followers of the elderly; the Five Gods belief has a wide reach and influence in the world today.

Spies gradually made contact with the Tower Keepers' Order in Hongdu. In their intelligence reports to their superiors, they mentioned that a secret cult was spreading in the Kening Empire. However, this intelligence did not attract much attention.

The leak at the Mysterious Machinery Workshop was eventually discovered, not because of the Ministry of the Interior's excellent security work, but because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spies from various countries planted on the Bountiful Continent discovered the radio station's replication work.

Logically, imitation should be a gradual process, but these countries all achieved technological breakthroughs within a week. At most, they only changed the outer packaging, while the internal parts and production equipment were almost identical to those of the Kening Empire.

After being urgently summoned by a cabinet minister and learning of the leak, Viren Pearl immediately expressed his outrage, stating that his company's interests had been severely damaged and that he could not imagine why such a serious espionage theft had occurred.

"Your Excellency, since it has already happened, this is the only way," the Foreign Minister advised. "Now we should try to prevent such incidents from happening again. Do you have anyone you suspect? Which craftsman or mechanic betrayed the Empire?"

“I don’t know. It seems like anyone could be a possibility, but it also seems like no one can.” Viren Pearl looked bitter, then cheered up. “It’s okay. Technology is always evolving, and thieves can’t keep up with us.”

"This matter won't end here." The Interior Minister's tone was strained, his expression like that of a wet dog. He was in charge of domestic security, and although the leak of secrets from the Mystery Workshop hadn't been made public, it was a tough winter for him. If similar cases occurred again, his position would naturally be in jeopardy.

The civil servants and ministers in the conference room turned their heads in surprise upon hearing this.

The Minister of the Interior took a breath and said, “I will propose to His Majesty the establishment of a dedicated intelligence agency. The Empire’s eyes and ears are too dull to deal with these endless streams of foreign thieves.”

Viren Pearl maintained his composure, his expression unchanged, though his hands, resting on his knees, unconsciously clenched into fists.

The Interior Minister glanced at Pearl a couple more times, and after the meeting, gestured to his secretary to lead him to his office for a private meeting. "Viscount Pearl, I remember you are a member of the Court of Nobles. Would you be interested in undertaking a greater responsibility, going to the lands of plenty, to serve supreme power?"

"Are you referring to the Holy Father or His Majesty?" Viren Pearl's eyes widened slightly.

“Of course, it’s Your Majesty.” The Minister of the Interior smiled, full of admiration. “If the Imperial Intelligence Agency is established, I need a reliable right-hand man to participate in this work. At that time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Colonial Affairs, and the Ministers of the Army and Navy will all place their personnel in the new department, and the most crucial thing is a qualified leader.”

"Why me?" Viscount Pearl asked sincerely.

"You're from White Rock Island, aren't you? Governor Cochin Ancher often writes to me, hoping I can do you a favor. This is an opportunity, Viscount, you're currently a favorite of His Majesty. Don't waste this favor, because it may be fleeting. And you and I are both victims of this leak. You must hate those who steal secrets... well, criminals, just as much as I do."

“Yes, I completely agree.” Viscount Pearl nodded solemnly with a stern face.

"So, it's settled then?"

"Yes, Minister."

Viren Pearl bowed in thanks, took his leave, and walked out of the palace. A cold wind blew in his face, carrying a few drops of cold rain. He looked up and saw a flock of molting seagulls flying over the maple forest in the upper city of Hongdu.

Winter is coming to the Sail Islands.

There are three days left until the [Giant's Fallen Field] dungeon refreshes.

Lin Bo's self-made submarine was completed at dawn. He held a fire-offering divination ceremony on the beach. In two more days, this skill would be upgraded to Lv3, and the proficiency of his Flow Control Technique had exceeded 80%.

After the temperature drops, the underfloor heating at the East Cliff Grottoes begins to provide warmth, and seagulls and mushrooms spend the winter there.

The two alien saplings planted in the courtyard are growing stronger and stronger. One can produce hemostatic gel and the other can produce foam gel. Now they have each grown leaves.

Lin Bo picked a leaf and put it in his mouth to chew, savoring its medicinal properties.

The pharmacist's tongue-reading proficiency has reached Lv4, unlocking the unique "Tongue-Based Elixir Furnace." This allows the practitioner to store medicinal power in the blood pool within the tongue, fusing and gathering it to refine simple potions.

In addition, another use is to directly store the drug components, which can be released directly into the body through saliva or blood vessels when needed.

He took out the whale oil potion and held it in his mouth, waiting for the blood pool in his tongue to absorb the medicinal power little by little. After taking five doses, the blood pool reached its maximum capacity. Lin Bo used seawater to condense a mirror to examine his tongue coating. The Juquan acupoint in the depression in the middle of his tongue was slightly blue, indicating that the medicinal power was hidden there.

The effects of the medicine released from the tongue-bottom alchemy furnace are faster than those of normal ingestion, which can be considered as improving the recovery speed of whale oil medicine.

However, for Lin Bo now, it takes two doses of the drug to recover from exhaustion to full energy, so he needs to prepare a more powerful mental drug.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Toad Gazing at the Moon technique is about to be upgraded, and he needs to prepare new, more potent eye drops.

(End of this chapter)