The Shadow of Great Britain

500: Chapter 266: Pretend to Be Confused (4K7)_3 500: Chapter 266: Pretend to Be Confused (4K7)_3 The Criminal Investigation Department survives on solving cases, whereas the Police Intelligence Department survives on gathering intelligence.

I definitely cannot submit the record as an achievement of the Police Intelligence Department to the Home Office, so I must produce something that I can show them.

You’ve been living in London for some time now, you must know who typically gathers around Speaker’s Corner, right?”

Louis, sitting by the window, read aloud, “I’ve heard some about it.

I hear that place changes its face every moment, perhaps praising the Government in the morning, only to mock and deride it at noon, and by afternoon, they almost can’t wait to raise torches and set Westminster Palace aflame.”

“It’s more than that.

If you spend too much time there, you’ll surely go mad.”

“How so?”

Arthur began, “The merchants’ representative from the east says our Government is held by greedy nobility and decadent priests, it’s a shameful nation that embodies feudalism and backwardness.

The workers’ representative from the west claims the Government is manipulated by financial city bankers and factory owners, it’s an evil kingdom representing the interests of big bankers and businessmen.

The small-town citizens’ representative from the south clings to Malthus’s theory on population, attacking Government policies for yielding to the lazy folks trying to get something for nothing, arguing that the nearly 8.6 million British Pounds of Poor Relief Tax collected annually to aid these loafers only produces more impoverished population, undermining the working morale of the upright people proud of having a job.

The priests from the north insist it’s the low moral standard of society that has led to all disorders, calling for people to return to church, to pray, confess, and chant ‘the Bible’ daily, at times like these, only the merciful God can save Britain.”

Louis looked out the window and said, “It seems today is unlucky, it’s raining, there’s no audience, so the representatives from all cardinal points are also absent.”

Arthur shook his head, “Not all are absent, the night’s representatives are usually undeterred by wind or rain, and their followers are even more steadfast than those of the cardinal points.

No matter the weather, as soon as dusk falls and the moon climbs the branches, this place always becomes lively.”

Louis asked curiously, “Whom are you talking about?”

Arthur, holding a teacup by the window, said, “What else?

Naturally, I’m talking about the nightingales.

Hyde Park is also a key area for their business.

All the parks in London are pretty much the same, and with Scotland Yard recently clamping down on morals, these girls have fewer places to go.

As a result, the number of people around Hyde Park has surged several times more than usual.”

“Ah…” Louis realized and said, “But…

if we all know this, why not make Hyde Park a key surveillance area too?”

Arthur raised an eyebrow and said, “It’s simple, Hyde Park is in the West District, and it’s a prosperous area within the West District.

From the perspective of an upright gentleman, although Scotland Yard wants to clean up the morals, we can’t completely cut off the girls’ livelihoods.

London can’t suddenly create tens of thousands of jobs, after all, they need to eat too.

From a less upright perspective, Hyde Park surrounds many influential figures concerning Britain’s politics, and quite a few of them aren’t exactly proper gentlemen.

We have to leave a little room for them.

If we blocked off every place, Scotland Yard doesn’t have the resolute will to trouble them unless those chaps take the initiative.

At least until the next financial year’s budget is approved by Parliament, we are planning on coexisting peacefully with them.

After all, it’s the clergy who are dissatisfied with the nightingales everywhere, and although they also possess significant social influence, the approval or rejection of the proposals mainly depends on the nobility and businessmen who make up the majority in Parliament.”

Louis asked with a smile, “So, do you agree with the opinion that Britain is an evil nation representing the interests of big bankers and businessmen?”

Arthur shrugged, “I don’t know, I just know that whoever makes the policies, it’s who they represent.

Moreover, the members of the British Parliament change all the time, so who knows?”

As Arthur was speaking, suddenly, there was a knock on the room’s door.

Louis opened the door, standing outside was a lady he had never seen before, dressed in a white floral dress.

“Please…

is Mr.

Arthur Hastings here?

I…

I am here for the position of a maidservant.”