The Shadow of Great Britain

499: Chapter 266: Pretending to be Confused (4K7)_2 499: Chapter 266: Pretending to be Confused (4K7)_2 Louis listened and removed his hat, scratching his head as he asked, “But, isn’t this a bit exaggerated?

The Criminal Investigation Department has indeed cracked quite a number of cases this year, but those with significant social impact…

the former MP Harrison’s case?”

“No, don’t mention Harrison—he brought us nothing but trouble, and the Home Office wouldn’t like that statement either.

Besides, Mr.

Harrison is currently under investigation, and that turmoil was hard enough to calm down.

There’s absolutely no need to bring up the past.”

Arthur sipped his tea and said, “Louis, I think you could mention yourself more.

Hmm…

I mean, while the Criminal Investigation Department was solving cases this year, they also took the initiative to discover talents like you through those cases.”

Upon hearing this, Louis, with a bemused expression, said, “Would the Home Office appreciate that statement?”

“I don’t know.

Regardless of whether they like it or not, you can start creating that atmosphere for the department.”

Arthur feigned ignorance, “But I think they would be interested in your surname, Louis.

You understand, sometimes the amount of funding depends entirely on a whim of those lazy bums at the Home Office.

Besides being negligent in their duties, these lazy bums have quite diverse interests—from ladies and misses’ boudoir gossip to all sorts of bizarre and mysterious street secrets, or even the latest serial in ‘The Times.’ Louis, you’ve made it into ‘The Times’ several times this year; you can definitely be confident in this aspect.”

Left without options, Louis could only rub his temples in resignation, “Alright…

if this could indeed encourage the Home Office to grant us more funds, like for replacing our pistols with Colt Revolvers, I am quite willing to try.

Arthur, by the way, are your pistols available for purchase in the market?”

Arthur replied, “They definitely aren’t available on the market yet.

But if Scotland Yard’s application to switch to Colt Revolvers is approved by the Home Office, then Mr.

Samuel Colt will have the funds to establish his first production line starting next fiscal year.

By then, you’ll be able to find those pistols in the market.”

Louis shook his head, “No, I’m not talking about mass-produced models.

What if I want Mr.

Colt to make a custom version like yours?”

Arthur responded, “Then you’ll probably need to wait in line.

Although Samuel has been working overtime, ever since the duel ended, he’s been swamped with custom orders.

However, seeing how willing you are to sacrifice for the department and to request funding from Scotland Yard and the Home Office, I might be able to ask Samuel to bump you up the queue.”

Louis, upon hearing this, just widened his eyes and gasped: “Arthur.”

Arthur took a sip of his tea, “What’s the matter?”

Leaning on the table with one hand supporting his head, Louis said, “Mr.

Wheatstone was right about you.

You can be quite manipulative sometimes.

But compared to Fouche of France, your mischiefs somehow seem endearing.

How do you manage to do wrong without being as despicable as Fouche?”

“It’s quite simple,” Arthur put down his teacup, “just play within the rules allowed.

In Britain, exploiting loopholes is quite normal, and no one will fault you for such actions; in fact, some loopholes are specifically left open for exploitation.

The potential harm from exploiting them is also foreseeable, so people just scold such exploiters and let it be.

However, if someone like Fouche plays out of turn, doing something radical like flipping the table, that’s not something you can simply scold away.”

“Alright,” Louis pulled out several recorded records from his briefcase and placed them on the table, “The loopholes you ordered, I brought all of them today, made by Mr.

Wheatstone over several nights and days.

I hope the equipment we set up in advance in the Astley Theatre box can help with next year’s funding application, or…

at least add a few more cases to our work report.”

A smile deepened on Arthur’s face at the sight of the records.

In that duel at the Astley Theatre, he was indifferent to the outcome or whether Chopin’s London debut was successful; nor did he care about the King’s ceremonial sword which was completely out of his plans.

What he was most concerned about were these records.

The enormous publicity prior to the duel had drawn numerous important figures, and although Arthur didn’t know what they had discussed, even ordinary family matters would significantly enrich the Police Intelligence Department’s archival files.

After all, Arthur had always hoped to enhance his ‘understanding’ of these influential figures who could sway Britain’s policies, though unfortunately this understanding was usually one-sided.

Louis stood up and stretched, leaning against the window looking out as he said, “Speaking of which, Arthur, why did you rent this room as a contact point?

The rent in the Mayfair District isn’t cheap, and we’ve spent a lot of money for just this small room; isn’t that a bit cost-ineffective?”

Arthur lifted the stylus from the phonograph and placed the record on the turntable, “If you’re referring to living comfort, then yes, it is indeed cost-ineffective.

But the Police Intelligence Department rented this room not for living purposes.

Haven’t you noticed what can be seen through the window?

The Speaker’s Corner of Hyde Park—that’s why the department rented it.”