The aroma of tea and the misty smoke filled the whole room, and the gramophone played soft music. Outside the closed windows, there was heavy snow falling in the strong wind. This was the biggest snowfall in the winter capital since the beginning of winter.

It's snowing.

The peace was broken by the knocking on the door. Through the rhythm of the knocking, one could hear that the person outside was a little anxious, but he still restrained himself and maintained the proper etiquette.

"Come in, the door is unlocked..."

Luke set out the tea cups, picked up the teapot and poured tea.

The door was pushed open with a "squeak", and in came Hulkkin, who was wearing the uniform of the chief of the ice cave. He turned around and asked the subordinates he had brought to wait outside, then closed the door and walked to Luke.

"I'm very surprised that you didn't run away!"

Hulkkin looked at Luke with a very complicated expression. Although he had thought that this talented steam engineer was a secret agent from the Golden Shield Empire, it was just an idea, and he rejected it.

Now the battlefield situation in Snow City has deteriorated irreparably, and the Yate County Alliance's troops have suffered extremely heavy losses. The strategic idea of ​​quickly defeating the Golden Shield Empire has been completely shattered, and the County Alliance has to fight a protracted war.

The reason for all these consequences is that the Snow City battlefield heating system was precisely destroyed by agents of the Golden Shield Empire.

The blueprints for the Snow City War Heating System were definitely stolen by spies from the Golden Shield Empire Secret Intelligence Service lurking in the Winter Capital. This was an extremely serious intelligence leak. Congress has issued a strict order requiring the Ice Cave to investigate the source of the intelligence leak.

In the process, the intelligence station established by the Golden Shield Empire's Secret Intelligence Bureau in Dongdu was destroyed.

But probably no one thought that such important information would leak out from the hands of the director of the ice cave.

"If I ran away, wouldn't there be no one to answer the many questions in your mind?" Luke smiled and invited Hulkkin: "Sit down... I don't have coffee from the Imperial Secret Service here, only coffee from the Imperial Secret Service.

The imperial court tribute tea. Even if you are the director of the Ice Cave, you probably won’t be able to drink such good tea.”

Hulkkin did have too many questions in his mind. Seeing that Luke had no intention of running away and didn't seem to want to resist, he sat down opposite.

"You admit that you are a secret agent of the Golden Shield Empire!"

Luke picked up the tea and drank: "Yes, there is no need to hide it anymore. I am a secret agent of the Golden Shield Empire. I restored the Snow City battlefield heating system through your paper and gave it to the eldest princess of the empire.

Gaza.

Judging from your appearance...the Battle of Snow City should be over."

Hulkkin did not drink tea. When facing Luke, he was extremely cautious: "Although the battle of Snow City is not completely over yet, the defeat of the County Alliance is already certain.

If you can go back alive, the empire will definitely award you a medal. You saved Queen Christina and delayed the battlefield until after winter.

Actually I feel very sorry for you!

Originally, you did not need to reveal your identity. With the title of genius steam engineer, with the support of the Elvis family, you would gradually become a powerful politician who could influence the Art County League. Even becoming the president of the County League was not impossible.

possible things.

At that time, the political core of the County League included spies from the Golden Shield Empire, and all secrets were not secrets... What a terrible thing it was.

The County League failed in Snow City, but in the long run, the failure was well worth it.

There's just one thing I can't figure out, why you? Your talent and knowledge should be heavily protected. In my opinion... your value far exceeds that of Queen Christina."

"Thank you for taking me so seriously. How should I answer your question..." Luke thought for a moment and said, "Actually, everything was an accident. I didn't intend to make myself so eye-catching.

, it was Enoch who found me. In order to prevent Ice Cave from touching me, I had no choice but to change my original plan. As a result, things were out of my control.

This accident allowed me to contribute to the empire's Snow City battle."

Accident!

If Luke's real purpose is not to enter the Congress of Yate County League, why did he come to winter?

Thinking of the dead Enoch and the case he was investigating.

Hulkkin asked: "You are Mr. Bai Ye. Behind the underground resistance is indeed the Imperial Secret Intelligence Service."

Luke said helplessly: "Actually, it was an accident. I said something and Mina told her father, and then Mina's father made up the name of 'Mr. White Night' for me to form a group."

The Resistance Army and the Imperial Secret Service’s funding of the Resistance Army came later.”

This is also a surprise!

Hulkkin asked forcefully: "What exactly do you want to do in the winter capital?"

"I won't answer this question yet." Luke put down the tea cup and asked Helkin: "If you catch me, what will you do with me? After all, I obtained the information from you, and your joint charges are not light.

.”

Hulkkin, who had already thought of a way out for himself, replied: "This is why I came to see you alone. I will personally investigate your criminal evidence, and your source of information is naturally the Steam Engineers Association.

If Mr. Elvis knew that you were a secret agent of the Golden Shield Empire, he would definitely not let this matter become a scandal to the Elvis family. You would die in an accident, and everyone would be saddened by your death.

and regret.”

Luke praised: "Very professional!"

"We are professionals! Now tell me, the real purpose of your coming to the winter capital!"

Luke poured tea for himself: "Would you like to get another job, working for the Imperial Secret Service?"

Hulkkin sneered: "Is this your last resort to survive? To be honest, I am very disappointed!"

"Don't be too busy to refuse. Let me explain it to you. Your plan is completely based on catching me. If you don't catch me, the leak will be a small handle for you."

Hulkkin snorted: "This is a smaller excuse than working for the Imperial Secret Service, and even if I am exposed, my merits outweigh my faults. Let me tell you, don't think about unrealistic things, you can't escape today.

.”

Luke picked up the tea cup again: "If I were the special cabinet minister of the Golden Shield Empire and the governor of Raging Waves City, Meteor, and you had such a close relationship with me, how many people in the Art County Federation Council do you think would believe your self-defense?"

Seeing Luke drinking tea slowly, Hulkkin laughed and said: "You are the fallen star of the Golden Shield Empire? His status is so noble, how could he take the risk of coming to the Winter Capital!"

"A talented steam engineer who should be heavily protected is here, why can't the meteorite come?

Besides...aren't you curious as to why Qingkong came to the Winter Capital at this time?"

The smile on Hulkkin's face suddenly stopped, the muscles in his body tensed, and the magic power could not help but leak out of his body.

yes!

Why Qingkong came to Dongdu at this time is a question that Ice Cave has never found an answer to.

Hulkkin remembered that Enoch once said that Qingkong might have come to protect the meteorite. However, after his death, no one mentioned this absurd speculation again.

"You, you are really a meteor!"

Luke took off his glasses, looked at Hulkkin and said, "This requires your judgment."

Hulkkin looked at Luke and compared the meteorite information collected in the ice cave.

No separate portrait of Meteor has been circulated, but he is a frequent guest in major newspapers in Raging Waves City and Saint-Lun City, and some of his magical images can be collected. Although the magical images are not clear, they can still be spliced ​​together to give a general picture of him.

Appearance.

I had never thought of Luke as a meteorite before, but now when Luke took off his glasses, Hulkkin discovered that he really looked very similar to a meteorite.

At this time Luke activated the Thunder Fire Eyes.

With such unique eyes, Hulkkin no longer had any doubts.

"You are really a meteor! How dare you come to Dongdu!"

Luke lifted the Thunder Fire Eyes and put his glasses back on: "I'm already here, why are you asking if you dare? Now, you understand your situation."

Hulkkin's heart was beating violently.

The meteor is right in front of him, which means that Elf Qingkong has not left the winter capital, she is nearby. Moreover, the identity of the meteor determines that he is not a dead soldier who can sacrifice his life for the mission. Even if he faces a tight siege, he will definitely have a way to escape.

These days, I go to Luke's steam laboratory every day, and even go so far as to advertise that I am learning steam technology from Master Luke.

If Luke was just an ace agent sent by the Golden Shield Empire Secret Service, he could explain that he had long suspected his identity and all he did was to uncover his disguise.

But Luke is a meteorite.

What he did in the three months since he came to the Winter Capital... Just guessing is enough to cause a major purge within the Yate County League.

And I am definitely among those who would rather kill by mistake than let go.

"Governor Meteor, I really don't know how to express my feelings at this moment. But please don't question my loyalty to the country. Your value is enough for Ice Cave to make any sacrifice."

Luke smiled and said: "Helkkin, I know you much better than you know yourself. In order to catch me, Ice Cave will make any sacrifice, but it will definitely not include you.

You just want to rely on a steam engineer qualification certificate to get rid of the identity of an ice cave agent that prevents you from climbing up. This is a recommendation letter I wrote for you as Luke, and I used the underground steam system of the Winter Capital as the subject.

The paper I wrote is signed by your and my names.

With these two things, the doors of the Institute of Steam Engineers are open for you."

Luke picked up the two documents that had been placed beside him for a long time and pushed them to Hulkkin on the table.

Hulkkin picked up the document and looked at it. With these two things, the other exams were basically just a formality.

But Hulkkin threw the document on the table: "You want to bribe me with this, you look down on me so much!"

"After I leave, all the materials for the water molecule two-phase steam engine will be left to you. You have a single line of contact with me, and you can come to me for any problems you encounter in research. In the end, I proposed the water molecule two-phase steam engine and you invented it.

You will become a late-blooming star steam engineer and reap the fame and fortune brought by the introduction of the new steam engine in my place."

Hulkkin couldn't calm down anymore.

"The dual-phase steam engine of water molecules can really be built. It is not a scam designed by you to hide your identity."
To be continued...