Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1225 594: Corpses Strewn Everywhere (Part 4)

Li Banfeng turned back and said: "Having a place to stay means, as long as you don't tear down your own house."

...

Back in Qi Qiu City, Li Banfeng went to the laboratory.

The phonograph was moving around the room, with Zhao Xiaowan's puppet beside it.

Portable Residence had checked this puppet, confirmed there were no tricks inside before letting the phonograph bring her out.

Some equipment was suitable for phonograph operation, while other equipment was more conveniently operated by a puppet; wife had been busy in the lab for several days, amazingly never showing any sign of exhaustion.

"Husband, let Little Servant research for two more days, Little Servant can find out quite a few things this time!" Wife entered the puppet, turning into the breathtaking Zhao Xiaowan.

Clock Pendulum advised: "Lady, go home and rest, you've truly been working too hard these days."

The phonograph swung a board and said: "Is it you who's tired or me who's tired, you cheap hoof, is it you who can't hold up?"

Clock Pendulum dared not talk back, she was indeed unable to bear it.

What was the make of the phonograph? What was the background of Clock Pendulum? Days and nights, studying without sleep or rest, Clock Pendulum was already on the brink of collapse.

Meng De was better at talking than Clock Pendulum, she approached the phonograph, lowering her voice, "Lady, master has been working hard these past two days as well, since he's back, he should be rewarded."

The phonograph didn't understand: "How to reward? Make him a good meal?"

Meng De smiled: "Lady, you shouldn't just make some food and drink for him, master is hungry, not just in the stomach."

This time the phonograph understood, angrily hit Meng De with a board: "You cheap hoof, have you learned to be bad from Hong Ying?"

Meng De rubbed for a long time, looking aggrieved, "Couples should be so loving, it's human nature."

The phonograph thought it made sense, but being halfway through the experiment was hard to give up.

Meng De couldn't bear the fatigue anymore, advised again: "Lady, master won't take much time."

The phonograph just put down the equipment, seeing Li Banfeng packing up, ready to go out.

"Husband, where are you going?" The phonograph thought Li Banfeng was angry.

"Wife continues experimenting here, I'm going to change the battery." Though many battery packs had been prepared, after several days of experimentation, about seventy to eighty percent of the power was used, Li Banfeng had to go to the power station for new batteries.

The phonograph hastily apologized: "Husband, it's Little Servant who was ignorant, Little Servant will soon go home to serve husband."

"Who said wife is ignorant, where to find such a good wife? Wife need not worry about me, I'll be back soon!" Li Banfeng happily went to change batteries, leaving Meng De and Clock Pendulum sighing deeply.

After two more days, the wife indeed achieved results: "Husband, Little Servant is still lacking a magnetic instrument here, with this equipment, Little Servant can create something good for you."

Li Banfeng looked at the photo of the magnetic instrument, wife found the introduction to this magnetic instrument in Teacher Song and Yu Yaoming's notes.

But why wasn't this magnetic instrument found in Yu Yaoming's laboratory at the time?

Not only Yu Yaoming's lab didn't have it, but Du Wenming's replica lab didn't have it either.

Wife said: "According to Little Servant's conjecture, this device should be new, Yu Yaoming and Du Wenming hadn't had time to purchase it."

Where could Li Banfeng go to buy such a new device?

Certainly can't buy it in Puluo State, if going to Outside Provinces, who to find?

Find Lin Fojiao?

Li Banfeng himself found it absurd, how can one go to the black market to buy research equipment?

But if not going to the black market, where else can go?

...

Yuezhou, Dark Star Bureau.

Shen Jingye was drinking tea, looking at the day's schedule.

Today's schedule was still packed, Shen Jingye was lamenting, time was so hard to allocate, whether considering to not hold the meeting this afternoon.

But it's almost the end of the year, this meeting had been dragged since the beginning of the year, if not held, the annual summary seems hard to write.

But thinking again, even if the meeting is not held, the secretary can still write the summary as if the meeting was held, in fact, the secretary may have already written the annual summary, whether the meeting is held or not doesn't affect him much.

But if there's not enough trace left, leaving a handle during subsequent inspection work, it still has quite an impact on Shen Jingye's image.

While struggling, the phone rang.

"Little Shen, come to my office."

Shen Jingye sniffed, and instantly felt less conflicted.

He canceled the afternoon meeting, went to the door of Li Qi's office, pinched both corners of his mouth with his thumb and forefinger to form a sincere smile, and then entered Li Qi's office.

"Bureau Chief Li, you're finally back! While you were away, a lot of work didn't go smoothly at all."

"Little Shen, have a seat first. During this time, what progress has the bureau's key projects made?"

He had a meeting with the higher-ups tomorrow, and Shen Jingye had just finished writing the report; now it was useful.

During this period, the Dark Star Bureau made quite a bit of progress. The influence of the Birch Tree Hermit Society in Huan Country was basically eradicated. Their key personnel were arrested, and many spies planted in key areas were also cleared out.

Li Banfeng gave high praise to Shen Jingye's work: "Little Shen, well done. I've called you here this time because I want you to help me find some clues,

During my time in Puluo State, I conducted substantial research on Du Wenming and discovered that he had extensive interactions with various research institutions both domestically and abroad."

Shen Jingye nodded: "I also investigated this matter. Yu Yaoming's research equipment was taken by Du Wenming, and during his tenure, Du Wenming frequently participated in the procurement of research equipment, which does raise suspicions."

Shen Jingye made two phone calls, first asking someone to shut off the surveillance in Li Qi's office and then calling for the secretary.

The secretary brought two boxes of documents and handed them to Shen Jingye.

Shen Jingye handed the boxes to Li Banfeng: "We investigated several research units that had connections with Du Wenming; the relevant documents are inside."

Li Banfeng looked at the data on these enterprises, which included addresses, contact persons, and contact numbers.

"Little Shen, you did well."

With this data, it was clear who the magnetic instrument should be bought from.

Another document box was there, and Li Banfeng asked, "What are these for?"

"These are the investigative results on the Birch Tree Hermit Society. I asked the secretary to bring over some important materials for you to see."

Li Banfeng opened the document box, and at the top of the box was a USB drive.

"What is this?"

"This is a segment of audio material. The original material was a record, and this copy was recorded; you should listen to it first."

Li Banfeng plugged it into the computer for a moment, and a man was speaking in a foreign language.

Going by the pronunciation, it should be Ravsha Language, and from the tone, the man seemed very agitated.

Li Banfeng frowned: "The noise is too loud, and many details are inaudible."

Shen Jingye shook his head: "Old records, over the years, would surely have sound quality deterioration."

Li Banfeng listened for a while longer and couldn't help but shake his head: "Why wasn't it processed during the recording? In many parts, the sound is blurry."

Shen Jingye snorted: "Even if the sound wasn't blurry, could you understand Ravsha Language?"

Li Banfeng turned off the audio: "Then why are you having me listen to this?"

"There's a translation in the document box; you can listen to it and follow along."

Li Banfeng found the translation and read through it:

"Brave warriors, do not lower your heads, do not weep, do not cry, do not lose your fighting spirit because of fear. Perhaps we will sacrifice here today, but the final victory will certainly belong to us,

Do not ask where the elders have gone; they have safely left here. Do not ask where the deacons have gone; they have also safely left here. Do not ask why we must stay here, because someone must make sacrifices,

I smell the scent of smoke, that piercing song has risen again, it's that woman, that woman named Huang, that singer from Hell, she's reappearing,

she is singing opera, that disgusting Puluo State opera. Such a thing is unworthy of being called an opera; to someone with normal hearing, it's an unbearable torture and ravage,

Do not fear, warriors, we can overcome fear, we can defeat this demon from Hell, we can send it back to Hell, we will surely achieve the final victory."

"Is this his last words?"

Shen Jingye nodded: "This person did not see the victory he wanted. In fact, they failed to win."

"Who is this person?"

"Nie Liaishefu, an early member of the Birch Tree Hermit Society, a witness of the Second Puluo War."

Li Banfeng frowned: "What is the Second Puluo War?"

Shen Jingye was startled, quickly lowering his voice: "That's classified information; I thought you knew. You might have a different name for it. We refer to the war that happened over forty years ago as the Second Puluo War."

PS: Could there have been a First Puluo War?