Mystery: A Spark

Lunch was finished quickly.

After Arthur finished washing the dishes and came out, the bell hanging on the front door suddenly started ringing.

Arthur went to the door, opened it, and welcomed Hugh inside.

"Oh, you're a little late. We just finished lunch," Arthur said to Hugh with a smile.

"Why are you eating so late?" Hugh asked, somewhat surprised.

It's already past one in the afternoon. She had lunch and traveled for quite a while by carriage to get here.

When they arrived, they discovered that Arthur had just finished lunch.

"Sigh, since I slept until noon, I had to combine breakfast and lunch." Arthur led Hugh to the living room.

The two sat down on the sofa, and Hugh pouted and said:

"You dumped all this on me and now you're living a life of sleeping in until you naturally wake up. I'm always running around and working hard, and I don't even have time to rest."

Hearing this resentful remark, Arthur could only force a smile and say:

"The capable should do more work, that's what it means."

Xiu sighed softly and said:

"Sigh, I don't know what kind of luck I have. My best friend is a complete lazybones, and he got a boss who's the same way."

Fors, who was taking a nap at home, unconsciously turned over and felt a chill on her undershirt.

"Uh... well, how's the formation of the security team going lately?" Arthur quickly changed the subject, sensing the situation was turning sour.

Hugh stopped complaining and said seriously:

"The momentum is not bad. With money paving the way, there are still many people responding. However, some of them have a history of dishonesty and always like to cheat and shirk their duties. I didn't want such people. I only wanted some honest, hardworking and reliable people."

“Yes, after we bring them into our ranks, we need to strengthen their ideological education, establish clear reward and punishment measures, and let them know that following us is a promising career path,” Arthur nodded.

“I’m already doing these things. The security team now has several dozen people, and I gather them together every few days to give a lecture. However, there are some things in that booklet that I don’t really understand yet,” Hugh said, frowning.

“If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anytime,” Arthur said, unsurprised.

“I will, but I’m here mainly to find out what the next step is after the security team is formed,” Hugh asked with some curiosity.

“The next step, the next step is to get the workers started and establish an organization,” Arthur said, leaning back on the sofa.

"An organization?" Hugh was somewhat surprised.

"Yes, let's call it the Workers' Mutual Aid Association. The main goal of this organization is to fight for the reasonable rights of the workers who join it in a legal way, such as shortening working hours, and if they are injured at work, we can also help them fight for reasonable compensation."

Arthur paused, then continued:

"However, I think that the most important work this organization will do after it is established will be helping those workers get their wages."

"Demanding unpaid wages? Many people in the East District only earn a few pennies a day. Would anyone really refuse to pay that?" Hugh said, somewhat incredulously.

A cold smile crept across Arthur's lips as he said:

"Hugh, don't underestimate the greed of those vampires. For them, unpaid wages are a common occurrence and a matter of course."

"Let alone a few pennies, they wish there were a creature in the world that would never get tired, could work indefinitely without needing to eat or drink, so they would have labor at no cost."

Arthur glanced at Hugh, who was staring blankly at him, and said with a smile:

"Capital's greed is endless. However, capital has not yet developed to the point of being too prosperous in the world today. Power in most countries is still mainly held by landed aristocrats. Therefore, under the suppression and exclusion of those traditional aristocrats, these guys have not yet developed many skills."

"Once capital truly overthrows the landed aristocracy and develops and prospers, you will see what it means that as long as there is a 300% profit, they will dare to trample on all the laws of the world."

After a long pause, Xiu finally came to his senses and said:

"Aren't they already thriving?"

"Of course not. How can a country be considered prosperous if it can't even control its own leader? These people are just newbies in the game of capital," Arthur said with a sneer.

Hugh understood somewhat:

"You mean something like the Republic of Intis? I've heard that the country is no longer controlled by nobles, but rather by a parliament that decides the direction of the country, and many members of the parliament are actually high-ranking people like capitalists and lawyers."

Arthur stroked his chin and said:

"Intis, they are in a way, but if capital develops to its extreme, it can completely control the entire country. At that time, capital will have to change its name and become a chaebol."

"It's hard to imagine such a scene," Hugh exclaimed in amazement.

After thinking for a moment, she immediately asked:

"You just said that the main task of the Workers' Mutual Aid Association after its establishment will be to help workers recover their unpaid wages. What means will you use to recover those wages?"

Arthur smiled slightly and said:

"Of course, it's strikes and marches. Their goal is to make money, but how can they make money after we unite the workers to strike and march?"

"Without workers, it means their factories are losing money every day. Once they realize the consequences, they will naturally not dare to suffer such losses for such a small amount of wages."

Arthur changed the subject and said:

"Of course, there will definitely be some people who are not so sensible and want to resort to underhanded tactics. At that time, it is natural to need the security team to step in. This is called armed demand for unpaid wages."

Xiu was dumbfounded and hurriedly said:

"But didn't you just say that you wanted to fight for your rights in a legal way? Armed protests can't possibly be considered..."

“Hugh, how can the law be such an inconvenient thing? You are a judge, you must know how to use the law.”

"You mean..."

“What’s most prevalent in the East District? Gangs, of course. If two gangs fight outside a factory, how can you say it’s related to us? There are many similar tactics, like throwing feces or something. It doesn’t have to be straightforward,” Arthur said persuasively.

“You’re so dark-skinned,” Hugh couldn’t help but say.

“How can you call this black? This should be called wisdom,” Arthur said shamelessly.

He was speechless for a moment.

She thought for a moment, then changed the subject and said:

"But there's still a question: how do our people survive?"

“Since it’s a workers’ mutual aid society, members will naturally have to pay membership fees regularly, but not too much. We’ll definitely lose some money in the early stages, and I’ll contribute some of that. Once it’s developed, it will be able to generate its own revenue,” Arthur replied.

Hugh nodded, indicating that he understood.

"And one more thing."

Arthur called to Hugh, who was about to leave, and took a stack of papers from his badge, handing them to her and saying:

“The security team needs to have uniforms. I’ve designed one. What do you think?”

"A uniform?" Hugh took it curiously, opened it, and was immediately attracted by the uniform design drawn on it.

This is a black overcoat-style uniform with sharp, clean lines and a red armband on the right arm.

"Isn't there a design on this armband?" Hugh asked, pointing to a blank armband.

“It’s too early to draw anything on it. Let’s just write the words ‘security team’ on it for now,” Arthur said after a moment’s hesitation.

"Hmm, that's fine too." Hugh nodded in agreement.

……

Wednesday afternoon, Queens Backlund, Earl Hall.

Inside the bedroom, Audrey looked at the little white dog reading intently, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

After a while, she smiled demurely and said:

"Little Arthas, um... do you have any books similar to the one from last time? I feel like there's something special about that book, but I can never quite put my finger on it."

"So I was thinking of seeing if you had any similar ones. I think if I read enough, I should be able to understand the meaning of this book."

"Sigh, why is it crawling into the net all by itself..." Arthas sighed inwardly, and obediently said:

"Yes, Miss Audrey, would you like to see it?"

Although he knew in his heart that Arthur was doing this for a serious reason, Arthas always felt that this kind of seduction was like enticing an underage girl.

This left the puppy with a strange feeling.

“If you have any, could I borrow it to take a look? I can trade you some books from my house, like last time. By the way, Arthas, what kind of story do you think was in that book last time?” Audrey asked curiously.

"Well, my master once said that there are a thousand different interpretations of Emperor Rosell in the eyes of a thousand people, so it's best to savor the book yourself and gain your own insights," Arthas replied, twitching his ears.

"There are a thousand different interpretations of Roselle in a thousand people's eyes. That's a truly philosophical statement. Your master must be a very wise person." Audrey wasn't angry at being rejected; instead, she became curious about the little white dog's owner.

"Yes, I also think he is a very wise person."

"Being cunning and treacherous can also be considered wisdom..." Arthas silently added to himself.

It opened its mouth and spat out a book that was much thicker than the last one, then pushed the book toward Audrey.

“Miss Audrey, I’ll borrow this book then,” Arthas said, pointing to the book he had just been reading.

After getting Audrey's permission, the puppy picked up the book and ran away.

Audrey picked up the book on the table, which was much thicker than the last one, and noticed these words written on the cover:

How Steel Was Tempered

She turned to the first page and saw these two paragraphs:

A person's life should be lived in such a way that when he looks back on his past, he will not regret wasting his years, nor be ashamed of having accomplished nothing.

In this way, when he is dying, he can say: "My whole life and all my energy have been dedicated to the most magnificent cause in the world—the struggle for the liberation of mankind."

……

7 Townsend Street, Queens.

Arthur was bent over his desk, intently drawing comics.

The current storyline has progressed to the point where Rebecca shrinks, joins the Junior Detective Club, and embarks on numerous adventures with the fake child and the three real children.

The Sherlock Holmes comics are now quite popular, bringing Arthur a decent amount of money every month.

People are very interested in this novel creative method, feeling that comics are easier for readers to understand the plot than novels.

Because images can better present the characters' actions, appearance, form, and the environment in which they are, readers hardly need to use their imagination, which reduces the energy consumption of readers and makes it easier for them to understand and analyze the plot.

As a result, many imitators have emerged, leading to the appearance of some new comic works on the market.