Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1471 The Civil Service Group (Second Update)

Mycroft Holmes tried to remain calm, but his footsteps betrayed his thoughts; the dull thud of his sturdy leather heels on the expensive dark wooden floor drew considerable displeasure from an elderly man with old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses sitting at the round table, holding a teacup. "My ears aren't so old that I can't hear what Yugoslavia is up to, but I didn't expect anyone to ignore the NATO forces' buildup over the past few months. I admit, even if Yugoslavia's decision to start the war on Saturday prevented NATO forces from responding, Yugoslavia still had to bear the consequences. NATO's previous inaction was entirely due to the US halting things… or because that speech at the UN headquarters terrified the elected politicians."

"We are humble vessels of the public will, Sir Holmes." The old man, his skin loose and sagging like a pug's due to aging, maintained his usual calm demeanor. "We should guide the process before the Queen and the Prime Minister make their decisions. This is Her Majesty's government, and Her Majesty, not the President of the United States, should make the decisions. At least ostensibly." He said, "Calm down, you are the head of the civil service, not a minister. You should seize this opportunity to influence the Brexit process and prevent untrained elected officials from harming the long-term interests of the country. Of course, I won't criticize you for that, after all, I don't know the inside story, but interventionism has penetrated every aspect of the system, which inevitably raises doubts about your reliability."

"This is the greatest insult, Sir Abingson!" Mycroft Holmes said. "I believe the Freedom of Information Movement Committee has enough information to prove the Prime Minister's tough stance."

"If this is the Prime Minister's wish, then the Cabinet Secretary can only reluctantly comply." Sir Arnold Abingson smacked his lips and put down his teacup, his eyes filled with disappointment in Mycroft Holmes. The Brexit referendum had put politicians under immense pressure, and civil servants were also having a tough time. The reason wasn't simply that Mycroft Holmes couldn't organize a Brexit referendum. The previous Prime Minister, seemingly an idiot who had ruined electoral politics, was actually a scoundrel supported by capitalists in London's financial industry seeking tax avoidance, manipulating public opinion using online tools (how could he not have prepared before the referendum?). After all, that Prime Minister was an Eton and Oxford insider, and the Brexit bill brought benefits to many. What truly disappointed him was that Mycroft Holmes couldn't influence this Prime Minister, couldn't come up with a Brexit plan that only accepted rights without bearing responsibility, and could only keep delaying.

"If the Prime Minister is smart enough, he will realize how to get the most votes. If he chooses to concede to the opposition, it will undoubtedly be a huge blow to the civil service. We should help the Prime Minister, not hinder him. After all, the European Council has many problems to solve, such as who should repay the Greek debt, and whether the new government will recognize the IMF's debts..." said Sir Arnold Abingson. As one of the victims of the EU's tax avoidance laws, he was not against the Brexit referendum. He hoped Mycroft Holmes would also know this, and more importantly, a large group of people he represented also supported Brexit. To be precise, they wanted the benefits of Brexit but wanted to avoid its drawbacks. "A longer Brexit timetable is beneficial to the Empire. You need to get a similar consensus in the House of Commons, such as regaining British judicial power."

Mycroft Holmes took a deep breath.

"So, what were the referendum results...?"

"EU membership is just a title; it doesn't matter whether we have it or not. The Prime Minister's proposal is currently in the best interest of the Empire. This isn't a matter for the House of Commons to consider; only we civil servants are responsible for perpetuating the Empire's system." Sir Arnold Abingson, leaning on his cane, struggled to his feet and quickly changed the subject. "I've heard that a gene therapy is quite popular lately, and many Americans I know have already tried it. Do you know former Security Council President Gideon Malik? I heard that old fellow has recently started playing golf again! However, there's a slight problem now—the place where this technology originated isn't exactly popular…"

"I don't think Britain needs to get involved in the Greek war, and NATO won't get much support either," Mycroft Holmes said. He knew perfectly well what his predecessor was up to. As a recipient of the Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George (God Calls Me God), a Senior Lord Victoria, chairman of the Freedom of Information Movement, chairman of the Western Bank, director of BP, chairman of the Royal Theatre Foundation, honorary chancellor of Oxford University, deputy governor of the Bank of England, chairman of the National Security Council, president of the Anglo-Caribbean Society, and former secretary general of the Commonwealth, all he craved now was his life.

“Very good.” Sir Arnold Abingson raised an eyebrow. He guessed that Mycroft Holmes knew his purpose, but Sir Arnold Abingson didn’t care at all. This was an open secret among certain powerful and aging groups, which was why the efforts to win over, sanction, and spy on the Yugoslav Federation had never ceased, and the Freedom of Information Movement was one of the investors in those operations. “I believe the House of Commons will reach a consensus on the Prime Minister’s new proposal, at least temporarily,” he said. “I hope you can persuade the Prime Minister to accept more suggestions. Perhaps you wouldn’t mind going on vacation to the Caribbean in a few days?”

As the heavy footsteps faded at the bottom of the stairs and the black sedan slowly drove away, Mycroft Holmes immediately pulled out a prepaid phone and made a call. "He can't waste any more time on the other side of the world. Only you can persuade him to come back, Watson," he said. "I've arranged your flight; please leave as soon as possible. The British Empire needs him, Her Majesty the Queen needs him."

To avoid disrupting the pleasant atmosphere, Diana didn't present Him directly with the newly completed surveillance report. Instead, she tucked the sheet of paper filled with transcribed conversations and timestamps into the wine list and personally delivered it to the table. As soon as He opened the wine list, He saw the conversation the agents had overheard a dozen minutes earlier. A scannable electronic emblem allowed authorized personnel to access the database, enabling them to listen more clearly and directly to the confidential conversations between cabinet secretaries, ensuring the automated transcription program hadn't missed any information. "I've always liked Pinot Noir," He said to the witch, setting down the wine list. "Next time we come to the restaurant, we should have the selected wines delivered first."

"Don't be so shy, boy." Bayonetta glanced at him, narrowing her eyes. Dinah's little tricks didn't escape her notice. To be precise, everyone except Laura Crawford knew what was hidden in the wine list; the moment he opened it, countless celestial eyes swept over him from behind. This technique had won him large sums of money in Las Vegas more than once in the early days of his career, only now he had better ways to launder money and evade taxes. "You've booked this restaurant, so enjoy the wines they offer. Dinah… I hope he won't bring up things like security procedures again."

"I'm sure he's checked every single bottle of wine in the restaurant," Athena said. "That's what I saw on the bill. By the time the meal is over, the estate's cellar will probably be overflowing with wine again. Do you have enough shelves in your cellar?"

(End of this chapter)