Beating Instances through Words Left by the Dead

Chapter 864: Chapter 373: Another Extraordinary Steam Engine

On the small steamship heading to the South Shore of Hills River, Raventon was introducing the South Shore Textile District to Wu Chang.

The South Shore Textile District is the largest textile factory settlement in Grimland and the second largest in the entire Stilan.

According to official records, there are over five hundred textile factories clustered in the South Shore.

If we were to infiltrate and investigate each factory one by one, not to mention whether it would alarm the targets during the investigation, the time alone it would take is unknown.

To find where the anomaly lies, we must be quick and precise, without any delays.

The congregation of textile factories has drawn a large number of textile workers to the surrounding area, forming a factory district around the Textile District, much like the mining villages around Pine Tree Coal Mine.

The factory district residents are predominantly textile worker families, and mentioning the textile factory district inevitably brings up the composition of the Stilan Empire.

Setting aside the numerous colonies Stilan has around the world, the home territory of Stilan is not large, merely an island nation.

The first King of Stilan annexed three surrounding kingdoms to form what is now Stilan.

Geographically, Stilan is divided into two parts: Stilan Island and Gael Island.

Due to historical issues, Gael Island is quite isolated, with an economy far inferior to that of Stilan Island. As Stilan became the world’s strongest empire, the disparity between the two islands grew.

Many Gael people immigrated to Stilan Island for work. These Gael immigrants were willing to accept lower wages and worse working conditions, making them the favored workers of textile factories.

But their presence affected the local wage rates in Stilan, making an already competitive market even more so.

This caused the locals of Stilan to harbor great resentment towards these newcomers from Gael Island, derisively calling them ”wage wreckers.”

In Stilan, it’s hard to find a more insulting curse than ”your parents are from Gael Island.”

This discrimination led the Gael people to become extremely xenophobic, especially in the textile factory districts predominantly settled by them.

Raventon cleared his throat and spoke again, his voice accentuated by swallowed consonants and a more pronounced rolled tongue, with a slight upward inflection.

”To enter the territory of the Gael people, first you need a Gael accent.”

He then lightly tugged at the chest of his police uniform, saying, ”Secondly, you need an appropriate appearance that they would find intimidating.”

”Those guys at the Bright Lamp Report clearly don’t understand the Gael people well enough. I’ll bet more than half of the journalists they sent got eliminated by the Gael gangs before they even started investigating.”

Wu Chang shrugged and asked, ”Is this part of your detective skills?”

Raventon replied proudly, ”Of course, as a detective, you must learn to interact with all sorts of people.”

As the steamship docked, Raventon led Wu Chang towards the textile factory district.

”Yesterday, I went to the Police Hall and found that there were two reports in this area claiming mysterious deaths of neighbors.”

”Once inside, remember that I’m the sheriff and you’re my subordinate officer. Follow my lead.” 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

Two strangers in police uniforms entering the textile industrial district quickly drew the attention of the residents there.

In Stilan, it’s not an exaggeration to say that police are the bane of workers.

After all, this is Stilan, set in the era of steam.

The presence of police isn’t about maintaining peace and justice but about helping the nobles and factory owners out of trouble.

Especially now, with the rise of worker movements, the police have become increasingly rough in their treatment of workers.

Anything could cause trouble with the police, leading to a roundup on charges like participating in violent gatherings or being suspected of theft or crime, allowing them to take workers in for a ”24-hour silky smooth special” at the precinct.

Among the workers, there’s even a saying: ”When the police arrive, trouble follows.”

Although the residents of the factory district feared the two men, they couldn’t just allow two strangers to act wantonly in their territory.

Four or five young men in worn-out cotton clothes, their faces dusted with dirt and wood shavings, bearing the standard look of laborers, were staring menacingly at the pair.

”Hey, I’m the person in charge here. You can call me Jimmy. What are you here for?”

Jimmy’s accent was so thick that many townsfolk from Stilan might not understand him.

Raventon adjusted his hat, squinted hard as he looked around, and replied in the same accent:

”Damn it, am I hearing things? How come I hear someone claiming to be in charge here?”

He turned to ask Wu Chang, ”Have you seen anyone in charge here?”

Wu Chang shook his head expressionlessly.

Raventon tilted his head slightly, ”Guess it’s not my problem.”

Upon realizing the other was also a Gael, Jimmy found his usual strategy against outside police ineffective, as causing conflict with his own kind wouldn’t earn him support from other residents.

His aggressive expression softened as he spoke again, ”I’m Jimmy. Is there anything the two officers need my help with?”

Raventon wrinkled his nose and said:

”Damn lazybone, why is it that while I’m working, you get to stand there doing nothing and point fingers at me?”

”Since I’m in a good mood, get your trash crew and scram. If you interfere with official duties again, I’ll haul you all back to the station.”

Jimmy pursed his lips, clenched his fists, but dared not say a word, only stepping aside with his men.

”Apologies.”

As Wu Chang and Raventon passed by, a gang member muttered softly:

”Which idiot summoned these watchdogs here?”