Volume 2: Empire Chapter 143: The Chief's Ambition
Herculin was waiting in the agreed cafe. He was wearing a loose windbreaker, which made him look a little bloated. The brim of his top hat was pulled down so low that only his chin could be seen.
The cup of coffee in front of him had gone cold, but he had no appetite to taste it.
A short but very important private gathering was held at the Hot Spring Manor yesterday. According to the limited information obtained, Luke was entrusted with the important task of being responsible for the subsequent development of Titan I.
Moreover, according to other intelligence channels of the Ice Cave, the "Titan Project" is just the beginning. As long as Luke's steam laboratory produces results, there will be many cutting-edge research and development waiting for Luke to participate.
All the financial groups in the Art County Alliance are keeping a close eye on Luke, and before any attempts to win him over have been implemented, there has already been an intensified competition.
Luke, who masters the two-phase steam engine of water molecules, is now a dark horse in Dongdu, and his future is truly limitless.
Hulkkin found that as a veteran agent, he should have seen a lot of ups and downs, but when he received Luke's appointment this time, why couldn't he help but feel a little nervous?
This is an opportunity. Whether I can get rid of my status as an ice cave and truly enter the upper class circle in the future depends on this interview.
Luke and Darikova walked into the cafe together, and then they found that there was no customer in the cafe except Helkkin.
Darikova whispered, "It must be that Herkekin has booked the entire cafe. What would you like to eat? I'll go and order for you."
"A cup of coffee, two bagels, a sausage, and an omelette. Order whatever you want, and it'll be on my bill." Luke asked Darikova to order the food, and he walked over to sit in front of Helkkin. "General, why make such a simple meeting so mysterious?"
Helkkin said: "If you meet with the Ice Cave people in private, it will be very damaging to your reputation. The big guys need us, but they all hate us.
Sometimes I really envy my peers in the Golden Shield Empire."
Luke smiled and said, "Words like that shouldn't come out of your mouth."
"I know Mr. Luke is an upright man and will not spread my complaints. Darikova has already told me the purpose of your meeting with me. Do you need the ice cave to protect you?"
Getting to the point, Luke said, "Yesterday's party was beyond my expectations. You should be aware of the 'Titan Project'."
Helkkin looked at Darikova who was ordering food, and whispered to Luke: "'Titan Project' is the key protection target of the Ice Cave. There is a team of Ice Cave agents on guard in the dark 24 hours a day, and there is also Major Elro's guard team. The security issue can be assured.
For your personal security...
In addition to the security team that serves you openly, Harut Heavy Industries has a more powerful force in the dark, guarding you at all times. If we send someone to protect you again, Mr. Elvis will be unhappy. "
Hercules' words were consistent with Luke's own perception. Since accepting the interview with Steam Weekly, there have been many followers around him. And their positions were not like surveillance, but protection.
It can now be confirmed that these people belong to Harut Heavy Industries.
"If I hadn't heard you, I wouldn't have noticed them."
Helkkin smiled and said, “You are an inestimable asset to Harut Heavy Industries. How could Mr. Elvis entrust your safety to a team of ordinary security guards?
Even our meeting was under their surveillance, and if I showed any hostility towards you, they would stop me immediately."
"Looks very powerful." Luke turned his head to look outside, as if looking for someone who was secretly protecting him. "But being monitored like this makes me very uncomfortable, as if I am a criminal suspect."
“This is the frustration of being famous, and as your status and reputation increase, your protection will only become more stringent.
unless……"
Luke asked, "Unless what?"
"Unless you can prove to Mr. Elvis that you will always belong to Harut Heavy Industries and will not be poached by any other consortium."
“That doesn’t seem easy to prove.”
"It's easy to prove." Helkkin said to Luke mysteriously, "Mr. Elvis has a daughter. As long as you marry his daughter, you will be Harut Heavy Industries's own. Not only will you get a large number of Harut Heavy Industries' shares, but you will also be able to do whatever you want in the future smoothly."
Luke looked at Darikova who was still ordering food, and said to Helkkin, "I haven't even met Mr. Elvis' daughter, how can I just marry her so easily?"
Hulkkin persuaded: “Marriages in large families are all for the benefit of the family, and Mr. Elvis must be very willing to marry his daughter to you .
Of course, you don't need to be bound by marriage... As long as you don't go too far, Mr. Elvis won't interfere too much in your private life."
In Helkkin's opinion, Luke has met all the conditions for a meteoric rise: he has talent, has the favor of Morsong, and is in charge of the development of important national projects. The only thing he lacks now is the full support of a large consortium.
As long as Luke entered the Elvis family, the dust would be enough to carry him away.
For Luke, this meeting with Hulking was surprisingly smooth. He didn't need to guide him, as this guy was already on the path he wanted him to take.
One has to sigh at how much Helkkin despises his Ice Cave identity and how strong his obsession is to climb up.
"That's a good suggestion! But isn't it too abrupt to propose to Mr. Elvis all of a sudden?"
Seeing that Luke was willing to marry the daughter of the Elvis family, Helkkin was happier than getting married himself: "Of course it is too abrupt to propose marriage suddenly, and it will give the outside world the stain of you clinging to the consortium.
Leave this matter to me, I will talk to Mr. Elvis in secret. First, arrange a banquet for you and Miss Angelia to meet, and then a vigorous love will unfold.
When you develop the water molecule dual-phase steam engine, no one will dare to talk nonsense when you propose to Mr. Elvis. "
Luke pretended to think for a while, then replied to Helkkin, “Okay, you arrange it.
Thank you for your invitation.”
Hearing that Luke was about to end these meetings, Helkkin immediately stated the purpose of his visit: "Mr. Luke, I have some personal matters that I would like to ask for your help."
Luke said, "You are the chief of the ice cave. If you find it difficult, I am afraid I can't provide you with any help."
"No, no, no, only you can help me with this." Helkkin looked at Darikova again. She was very tactful and did not come over, giving the two space to talk secretly. Then Helkkin said to Luke like a devout apprentice: "Mr. Luke, you know that I have a very strong interest in steam technology. I buy every issue of Steam Weekly and read it carefully. I also bought a lot of steam books to study by myself, but...
Don't worry if you laugh at me, I have secretly taken the steam engineer qualification examination many times, but I fell short every time.
I have thought over and over again that my repeated failures are due to the lack of guidance from famous teachers. You are a Level 4 member of the Society of Steam Engineers, have published many high-quality papers in Steam Weekly, and have been interviewed by Editor-in-Chief Morsong.
If...if you are willing to take me as an apprentice and teach me how to learn steam technology, I will definitely be able to pass the exam to become a steam engineer next time."
As an "actuary", Hulkkin makes careful calculations.
The normal way to take the steam engineer exam requires real talent and knowledge. Helkkin knew that his talent in this area was indeed very average, and he would definitely not pass the normal exam. But with a well-known steam engineer as a mentor, it was very different. With Luke's current status in the Steam Engineers Association, he could just guess the questions and make some concessions in the final defense. Wouldn't he be able to get the certificate smoothly?
Moreover, Luke agreed to marry into the Elvis family. As his first apprentice, I have this relationship, and he will definitely help me no matter what position he gets promoted to.
As long as Luke nods, the future can be said to be bright.
Although Luke guessed Hulkkin's little trick, he still showed surprise: "I thought that you liked steam technology just as a hobby, but I didn't expect you to take the steam engineer qualification exam.
That kind of difficulty is not something that can be easily passed by self-study.”
"Yes! For example, I have never been able to figure out the steam flow value in parallel dense pipelines; and the changes in the pressure vortex formula."
Luke said: “This is indeed a point where errors are easy to make, and it requires not only complex factors to be considered, but also a lot of calculations.
Since you like steam science so much, I can teach you. But as an apprentice... I need to examine your talent in steam science. Let's pass the exam to become a steam engineer first."
Helkkin knew that he wanted to be Master Luke's apprentice, and this request was a bit too much. But fortunately, Master Luke did not completely refuse, and there would still be opportunities in the future.
Get a steam engineer qualification certificate first.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Luke!" Hercules stood up and saluted Luke as a disciple.
Luke said, "The teaching location will be in my steam lab. Titan-1 is a very good teaching tool. If you can learn 15% of it, it will be enough to get a steam engineer qualification certificate."
This was definitely another surprise for Hulking.
With Master Luke's guidance and the Titan-1 for practice, I can probably pass the steam engineer exam... with my eyes closed.
"Thank you again. I won't disturb you and Miss Darikova from having breakfast together." Helkkin saluted Luke again and whispered, "Please rest assured that all of Darikova's files in the Ice Cave have been destroyed. She is a free person and has nothing to do with the Ice Cave anymore."
Having achieved his goal, Helkkin left very tactfully.
Darikova walked over with the dinner tray and sat down opposite Luke: "From the look on Helkkin's face, you guys definitely aren't talking about protection."
Luke picked up the knife and fork and cut the fried eggs and ate them: "Helkkin asked me to marry Mr. Elvis' daughter. Her name seems to be Angelia. Do you know her?"
Hearing that Luke was going to marry a lady from the Elvis family, Darikova was dazed for a moment, but quickly adjusted her emotions: “Yes… Only a lady from a consortium family is worthy of you.
As for Angelica, she has a bad reputation, a bad temper, and a chaotic private life, but she looks good.
If you need her family background, this would be a marriage that many people would be happy with.
Do you agree?"
"Promised." Luke said casually while eating breakfast.
Darikova said with a bad look: "This...is not like the you I know."
"What can I do?" Luke pointed outside. "You must know that someone from Harut Heavy Industries is following me around the clock to prevent me from joining other financial groups. If I didn't have the protection of Editor-in-Chief Morsong, they might have gone even further."
Darikova did not refute it, that was the fact.
And marrying Elvis' daughter would be a great help to Luke's future.
“We all have to bow down to the conglomerates and the oligarchs.”
"Let's not talk about such unhappy things! Eat quickly and then go to work... You go to my steam laboratory first to report and experience the new weapon. I will go back after checking the lines I need to check today."
Darikova asked: "What new weapon is it?"
"You'll know when you get there."
…
Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy.
Clear Sky receives the visiting Engineer Davrion.
After listening to Davrion's intention, Qingkong said: "There is indeed a secret technique in the Neronia Mysticism and Ancient Witchcraft Notes that can make a water pipeline without thermal expansion and contraction, but it is far from enough to realize the convection hood air wall.
I can add the development of this secret technique to my schedule, and I will send someone to inform you of any progress."
Engineer Davrion didn't expect Qingkong to agree to his request so easily. He said gratefully, "The secret technique may be the final solution to the convection shield air wall. Thank you Professor Qingkong for your selfless help. Is there anything I can do for you?"
Qingkong smiled and said, "Academia knows no national boundaries, and this is not free help. If the secret technique is successfully developed, I will charge patent fees.
I heard that Editor-in-Chief Morsson is not in good health. I am very sorry that I cannot see him during this winter visit."
Engineer Davrion shook his head helplessly: "You can't leave the Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy, and Editor-in-Chief Morson can't come here. Maybe you will really miss it this time."
Qingkong asked knowingly, "Wasn't Editor-in-Chief Morsong the dean of the Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy? Why can't he come here?"
Davrion replied: "This is not a secret. The Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy used to be two schools, the Magic Academy and the Steam Academy. Later, under the mediation of Morsong, the two academies were merged into one.
When the two schools merged, they argued over which school came first, Magic or Steam. In Winter City, Steam has a very high status, but the mainstream of the world is that Magic is higher than Steam.
When Morson was the dean, the 'magic' and 'steam' factions were relatively peaceful, but after Morson stepped down, the contradictions between the two sides emerged again. If Editor-in-Chief Morson came here, someone would definitely suggest to him that the Winter Capital Magic Steam Academy be changed to the Winter Capital Steam Magic Academy.
Editor-in-Chief Morshon is no longer physically fit to deal with this kind of dispute."
