The Shadow of Great Britain

242: Chapter 163: Media Empire and the Bare Pole Commander (5K)_3 242: Chapter 163: Media Empire and the Bare Pole Commander (5K)_3 Wheatstone was so cooperative, and Arthur naturally couldn’t let him be disappointed; he smiled and reminded him,

“Speaking of which, Mr.

Wheatstone, you haven’t submitted a patent application to the Home Office yet, have you?

Forgive my frankness, the principles of the phonograph aren’t actually that complex, and if others figure it out, I’m afraid similar imitation products will appear very soon.

Maybe you can establish your competitive advantage through technological upgrades, but seeking legal protection is also essential.”

Upon hearing Arthur bring up the matter of the patent, Wheatstone could not help but sigh, “Of course, I know I need to apply for a patent, but even if the approval process for the patent is expedited, it would still take at least a year and a half.

I haven’t even completed the patent process for my previous device, the ‘all sound conduit,’ and it looks like the phonograph will have to wait its turn.”

Arthur, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Is the patent application process that complicated?”

Wheatstone nodded slightly, “Yes, according to procedure, I first need to prepare an application and submit it to the Home Office, along with a patent declaration that meets strict standards.

After the Home Office approves the review, they will issue a certificate that the Secretary of State has obtained the application, and send it to the Attorney General.

Afterward, either the Home Office or the Lord Chancellor’s office will issue a patent report to His Majesty the King.

After His Majesty the King signs the warrant, the Attorney General is instructed to prepare the patent petition and make two copies.

Upon receiving the warrant, the ‘King’s petition’ is formulated and kept in the Seal Office.

One of the duplicates is stamped with the Seal of the Secretary of State, becoming the ‘Seal petition,’ and the other copy is turned into the ‘Signet petition.’ Finally, the ‘Signet petition,’ along with the corresponding patent model, is submitted to the House of Lords for the approval of the Royal High Chancellor.

Only then is the entire process completed.

This process is time-consuming, laborious, costly, and requires a lot of connections, after all, as you should know, applying for a patent goes through two or three dozen legal procedures.

If you want everything to go smoothly, you must be meticulous.”

Wheatstone had just finished speaking when suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

The Great Dumas leaned back in his chair, reached back and opened the doorknob, poked his head out to look, and called out to Arthur, “Arthur, someone is looking for you.”

“Looking for me?”

Arthur stood up and walked to the door, and before he could clearly see the person’s face, he heard an anxious voice.

Charles Field, who had just been promoted to Chief Inspector by Arthur not long ago, stood at the door holding a brand-new document: “Inspector Hastings, something terrible has happened!”

Arthur asked with a frown, “What is it?”

Field let out a sigh and stuffed the document into Arthur’s hands, “Please have a look.”

Arthur took the document, and with just a glance, he froze on the spot.

“Decision Regarding the Adjustment of Chief Inspector Arthur Hastings’ Jurisdiction in the East London Division of the Greater London Police Department”

He hurriedly flipped to the next page of the document.

Just like the title of the document, the content was not complicated either.

Arthur only skimmed it briefly and quickly summarized the gist of the document—the dismissal of all Chief Inspector Arthur Hastings’ regional supervisory duties in the East London Division, to be reassigned as head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Greater London Police Department.

Although on the surface, it seemed like a promotion, if one considered the perspective of a senior Scotland Yard officer, it was a clear shunt to a marginal department.

Because up until this Saturday, Arthur had not heard anything about Scotland Yard having any specialized Criminal Investigation Department.

In other words, this department might not have even been established for a full day yet.

Arthur continued reading down until he turned to the last page of the document; that was when he sorted out exactly what was going on.

—To cope with the increasingly severe malignant crimes, upon application by the Commissioner of the Greater London Police Department, Charles Rowan, the Home Office has formally approved the establishment of a specialized Criminal Investigation Department composed of elite police forces above the rank of Chief Inspector.

—After reorganization, the Criminal Investigation Department will be led by Inspector Arthur Hastings, with Chief Inspectors Charles Field, Tony Eckhart, and Tom Flanders under his command, specifically responsible for the investigation of major cases.

The Red Devil stood beside Arthur, took one glance at the document, and could not help bursting into laughter, his big mouth wide open, his spit-covered red tongue hanging out as he teased Arthur with a calm face.

“Oh!

Look who it is?

My dear Arthur!

Have you just like I, the once mighty Duke of Hell, been reduced to a mere figurehead?

Rowan really played hardball, stripping you clean from head to toe.”

Arthur did not reply to Agares, just gave the Red Devil a glance, and then casually, with Chief Inspector Field’s shoulder under his arm, laughed lightly, “It’s no big deal, Charles.

At least the four of us are still together.

Such ups and downs are common in life.

It’s quite cold outside, wouldn’t you like to come in for a cup of tea?”

Field, still feeling uneasy, asked, “Inspector Hastings, shouldn’t we prepare in advance?

To tell the truth, I’ve only just received this document myself; many people probably don’t even know about it yet.

For example, should we let Jones, the Chief Inspector of Whitechapel, know in advance?”

“Jones?”

Upon hearing this name, Arthur suddenly raised his head to look at the stars in the sky outside.

He blinked his eyes, which glowed with a red light, and simply smiled, “I think he’d better understand the situation.”