The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 800: Chapter 375: It’s Raining in London (6K2)_2

“Of course, as you wish.”

The carriage jolted violently, and Arthur struck a light, took a fierce drag, and his tense face relaxed as he savored the aftertaste, raising an eyebrow he said, “So strong? Do you have a lot of pressure at work? Is that why you need this level of stuff to help you cope?”

Upon hearing this, the officers hastily waved their hands and said, “Not at all, we’re used to it. It’s all part of the job, no helping it.”

Arthur, seeing their blood-stained uniforms and their battered, woeful appearances, simply shook his head and said, “I’m not trying to criticize you, quite the opposite, I think your superiors are irresponsible. If he expects just the four of you to quell a riot, then he should’ve armed you with guns. And if not guns, then enough manpower should have been assigned. Don’t tell me there are only the four of you on this beat.”

“Of course not, sir. You… You’ve misunderstood. It’s not like this normally, but today was an emergency. Most of the team had been called to assemble at headquarters, leaving just the four of us on duty. We were unlucky, the main force had barely left when the rabble started to attack the station, and the four of us couldn’t hold them off, so we were forced to flee out onto Oxford Street, but there were violent protesters here, too, so… so what you just saw happened.”

“Attacked the station?” Arthur frowned, then asked, “Did you lose any guns?”

The officer spoke, “Please rest assured, all of the station’s guns were taken by the main force when they assembled. However, if those rioters search diligently, they might find some of the spare Civilization Canes we left behind in the station.”

Arthur nodded upon hearing this, patted the young officer on the shoulder and said, “Well done, you’ve truly done justice to the uniform you wear. Once things settle down, I will go to the department to apply for a special commendation for you.”

The young officer grimaced from Arthur’s pat but still stiffly straightened his arm and replied loudly, “Thank you for the kind offer, sir. But we were beaten so badly today that we’d be too ashamed to accept a reward.”

“That’s okay.”

Arthur took another puff of his cigarette, “If you feel disgraced, then make up for it with your actions later. Officer, prove to everyone with your real actions that you deserve a bonus and an official commendation.”

…

In front of Scotland Yard at 4 Whitehall, Police Superintendent Ledley King paced anxiously.

In the past hour, one police inspector after another had already led their assigned teams out.

The normally crowded offices on the third floor of the Greater London Police Department were now devoid of any senior officer of higher rank than Ledley.

What was worse, staff was so scarce at the Greater London Police Department that not only had all the inspectors received their assignments, but even Rowan, the head of the department, and Sir Richard Mayne, the Deputy Commissioner, had set out personally.

Just fifteen minutes ago, these two retired Army Colonels each mounted a pure white English thoroughbred and, leading the last reserve force left at Scotland Yard—50 Bow Street mounted police—rushed to the Woolwich Arsenal in Greenwich for reinforcement.

They were deeply concerned about the consequences should the armory fall into the rioters’ hands, as to their knowledge, there were at least over fifty thousand firearms and more than sixty cannons of various calibers, ready to be delivered to the Army Ordnance Department, and the Royal Navy’s 74-gun third-rate ship of the line, HMS Achilles, was currently undergoing maintenance in the dockyard.

Should the rioters get their hands on these, the consequences would be self-evident. The riot would inevitably escalate into a large-scale armed insurgency. This was also why, upon receiving the news that the instigator from Bristol was spotted in Greenwich, both Rowan and Sir Mayne decided to lead teams out immediately.

Before leaving, they entrusted Ledley with the task of informing him that, until they returned from the Woolwich Arsenal, Assistant Commissioner Arthur Hastings would be in temporary charge of all ongoing work at the Greater London Police Department.

Unexpectedly, as if it were raining on an already leaky house, just minutes after the two Commissioners left, more bad news came from the London Financial City.

A messenger from the London Financial City Police rushed to Scotland Yard asking for urgent assistance. The messenger informed Ledley that the scene inside the London Stock Exchange was nothing short of hellish. According to regular trading hours, the Stock Exchange should have already closed.

However, the stockbrokers and investors, having somehow received information about the agitator appearing in Greenwich and the current fires breaking out all over London, along with sporadic fireworks lighting up the sky and fears that the Woolwich Arsenal might fall at any moment, were causing widespread panic within the Financial City.

The influx of traders and public debt holders was so frenetic that they nearly trampled the steps of the Exchange flat. In their craze, they sold off British Public Debt and the stocks they usually treasured, and in just a few minutes, the price of British Public Debt plummeted by five points.

Furthermore, these investors were even resorting to violence to stop the Stock Exchange from closing because they feared that, by tomorrow, the stocks and bonds they held might become worthless.

The importance of the London Stock Exchange to the nation of Britain is common knowledge. Should it collapse entirely, the throne itself might be jeopardized as a result.