The Shadow of Great Britain

This civil group, established in 1802, has been committed to curbing the spread of public vices and immoral behavior since its inception, particularly focusing on protecting the minds of young people from the erosion of obscene materials.

However, although it’s just a civil group, the Punishment Association, with an annual operating budget of less than 500 Pounds, has delivered an impressive performance. Each year, the obscene prints, pictures, snuffboxes, books, pamphlets, and other materials seized and destroyed by this association amount to at least several tons. Since its establishment, the Punishment Association has maintained an undefeated record of prosecutions.

The reason they are so invincible in court, besides comprehensive evidence collection, is partly due to the fact that among their members are elite lawyers who often willingly represent the association’s cases pro bono. Their office is even directly located at No. 28, Lincoln Lawyer College Square.

If you ask those underground publishers whether they fear Imperial Publishing more or the Punishment Association more, they would probably choose the latter.

Because offending Imperial Publishing at least leaves room for negotiation.

There is no room for compromise between the Punishment Association and the underground publishers who frequently print obscene publications.

If the Punishment Association doesn’t prosecute you, it’s not because they plan to let you go, but because they haven’t gathered evidence that could ruin you forever.

In order to gain more support for the Police Bill, Arthur certainly needs to cater to these civil groups from all aspects, especially influential ones like the Punishment Association.

And to please them, a large-scale anti-obscenity operation is absolutely essential.

Although Arthur was not sure whether today’s reader’s letter was a stroke of genius from Lewis or the Punishment Association’s facilitating, or if it was merely the deep concern of ”a father with a daughter,” in any case, Arthur saw an opportunity for the police department.

If there was some departmental power expansion involved in previously pushing the Police Bill, now he could justifiably change the rhetoric.

This is the call of the Greater London citizens, it’s for the protection of helpless impoverished children, it’s a duty bestowed upon the Government by heaven, it’s the moral order’s summons to the national apparatus.

From expanding power for personal reasons to aligning with public opinion, it only took a reader’s letter in The Times to make the difference.

Making people think you were forced to take responsibility, instead of seizing an opportunity sharply, is the underlying logic of politics.

Arthur deliberately took a deep breath before speaking, making himself appear deeply shaken by this reader’s letter.

”Your Majesty...” he spoke steadily, ”I’m afraid the situation this letter depicts is even less severe than the actual condition in many London neighborhoods.”

”Worse than this?”

Arthur did not answer immediately, instead opting to remain silent for a moment as was his usual tactic.

Only when Victoria pressed further did he hesitantly confirm.

”Yes, Your Majesty.”

Victoria’s chest heaved violently twice, ”But why... why hasn’t anyone stopped it? Do the police not even have the authority to reprimand an old chap?”

”According to current laws...” he began slowly, ”the police indeed have no authority to intervene ’before a clear guilty verdict is reached.’

”So!” Victoria was flushed with anger, ”They must wait, wait till the child is really taken into that house, until the crime has already happened... to take action?”

Arthur glanced at her.

He did not answer.

The silence itself was the answer.

”This is too cruel! Too absurd! Is this how London operates? Can’t we change that? Can’t we stop such crimes?”

Arthur looked at her anger, her shock, and could not help but lower his head, as if forced to admit his own powerlessness: ”If the Police Bill could pass smoothly... but, Your Majesty, as you know, with the current attitude of Parliament, that’s impossible.”

Victoria stared straight at him, ”Why not? Shouldn’t police have the right to reprimand an inappropriate old scoundrel in clear impropriety?”

Arthur shook his head, ”Your Majesty, this issue... is far more complex than reprimanding a scoundrel.”

Victoria frowned, ”Complex how? Does Parliament not see London’s degradation today?”

”Because, once police are given the power to intervene prematurely, in the eyes of the parliament members, the significance changes completely.” Arthur sighed, ”In their view, it’s not about reprimanding a lewd old scoundrel but about allowing police to question, stop, and scrutinize any innocent English person.

Victoria froze in her breath.

”The parliament members believe...” Arthur continued, ”compared to letting a group of lewd old scoundrels flaunt, setting a precedent ’that might impact freedom’ is far more serious.”

Victoria’s heart raced, she hadn’t even realized that her hand had clenched into a fist.

For some reason, today’s reader’s letter in The Times kept reminding her of her feelings when facing Conroy.

”But... but this is absurd... Is there no room for maneuver? Is there no way to protect freedom and children at the same time?”

Arthur just quietly gazed at her, then slowly shook his head, ”Your Majesty... in this world, nothing is perfect. The establishment of any system is a trade-off between giving and taking; there’s no arrangement that can fulfill all desires simultaneously.”