"The process of obtaining this box is actually very complicated."
Shade said slowly, and opened the locks on both sides of the suitcase with a snap. He was not afraid that there was a self-destruction device in the suitcase, and at worst, he could use [Breath of Time] to backtrack.
"I guess this must be a very, very important item. For example, the troop distribution map on the southern border of Delarion."
"For example, the construction drawings of the kingdom's most advanced warships or the smelting methods of special alloys."
Agelina also guessed.
"For example, the personal privacy of the kingdom's political leaders or the detailed list of bribes received by civil servants in various departments..."
Lesia said casually, and the three of them looked at the black leather suitcase on Shade's lap.
"In this era, there should be nothing more important than these, worthy of so many top agents stealing it, right?"
Shade thought in his mind.
【Outlander, do you really think these are the most important?】
"She" asked softly. It was a strange feeling to hear someone talking in my ears behind the slightly narrow carriage.
"Civilization is the most important thing, but how can civilization be packed into a suitcase?"
Shade responded in his mind, and then opened the lid of the box. Just as he thought, it was full of paper materials, file bags, official papers, letters, drawings and other messy things piled together, and there were even two books.
.
This makes the suitcase less like a secret and more like the luggage of an old professor on a business trip.
"What's this?"
He murmured curiously, picked up the first document, and read the title of the document under the gas light beside the bridge outside the window:
"The design principle and schematic diagram of the second generation simple mechanical integral calculator - the data storage area part"
Lecia and Agelina both looked at Shade curiously, because Shade's eyes suddenly widened, and even the two palms holding the document trembled.
"Huh? This is."
He held the document in his hand and hesitated for a while, then hurriedly rummaged through the other documents in the suitcase, rummaged through the schematic diagrams and theoretical books, and finally threw all the paper back into the box, quite a bit.
Somewhat disbelieving, he slapped his cheek with his hand.
"Oh, I know the kingdom is studying this. I heard it is a confidential project."
Lesia asked.
"Sister, is this a more important document than army distribution, ship parameters and political secrets?"
Agelina asked curiously while holding the cat.
"Yes, it's all important. This is the prototype structure diagram of the Difference Engine. The Difference Engine is the name I gave it. It should be a large mechanized gear calculator."
Shade nodded and looked out the window at the night scene. After mobilizing so much manpower and material resources, this layout had been going on since at least the spring of 1853. He finally understood what Kasenrik was planning.
I originally thought that no matter what was in the box, this operation had killed so many people and exposed so many secrets to MI6 that the operation itself would be considered a failure.
But now he understands, completely understands, that Kasenrik doesn't care about the losses of this operation at all, because as long as this box successfully falls into the hands of the Anjou royal family, it will be considered a victory.
"This is."
He took a deep breath:
"The Progress of Civilization."
The starlight outside the window shone on Shade's face. The well-informed outsider understood better what the information in his hand meant to this civilization that followed the path of machinery and steam:
"This is the prototype of the next generation of civilization"
He couldn't help but want to praise Gray Gloves and the kingdom located in the south of the Old World. This box was worth any cost to capture.
"I don't understand, this is just a calculator. Now there are calculators that can quickly perform addition and subtraction, but they are only used to assist calculations."
Agelina shook her head, and the cat looked at Shade curiously. It had never seen Shade show such an expression.
"No, Agelina, no, it's not like that."
He carefully closed the box, placed his arms on it, and said softly:
"Think about it, when the calculator implements multiplication, division and integration, and then implements more complex operations and control instructions, what can the 0 and 1 that represent on and off become?"
An extremely small steam engine has already appeared here, which cannot be realized by the technological level of the foreigner's hometown. He does not mind using his richer imagination to imagine what this civilization that has embarked on another technological path can develop to.
degree.
"What does it mean?"
Lesia asked curiously.
"Represents the beginning of the next industrial wave."
He narrowed his eyes slightly and realized that the value of the suitcase in his hand was far beyond the 200 pounds he paid.
A brief look through it already made him understand that the prototype of this advanced computing auxiliary machine has actually been designed. Although it is only the most basic computing machine, when people discovered the qualitative changes brought about by miniaturization and integration, this
The information in the box will become a priceless treasure.
"Imagine that on the assembly line of a steam factory, the results of mechanical output are calculated, pushing levers and gripping arms, replacing workers to perform repetitive pressing work. Imagine that when the steam network spreads around the world and connects this machinery, it will input
The steam pressure is converted into input numbers, and through reasonable distribution of calculation machinery, the output numbers are then converted into thrust control valves using mechanical principles; imagine this."
"Wait, Shade, is this really possible?"
Lesia frowned and asked, Shade nodded seriously:
"That's simpler. Compared with simple mechanical computers that can only add and subtract, this kind of mechanical computer that can perform multiplication, division and even integration will make the development speed of metallurgy, machinery manufacturing, shipbuilding, weapons design and other industries more and more faster.
A level. Of course, the premise is that a large steam computer can be manufactured."
What he had in his hands were only principles and prototypes. Although they looked very decent, the titles of those documents also said that these were only temporary ideas and models.
"Oh yes, great value!"
Larousse III, the Fire Jumper, attaches great importance to the education of the Cavendish family. Lecia and Agelina are also girls who have received higher systematic education. Although they still don’t quite understand Shade’s “madness” at the beginning.
"Imagine", but they all understand the meaning of large-scale computing-assisted machinery.
"You are really discerning. The people of Kasenlik are really discerning."
Shade couldn't help but praise, but he also knew his position:
"So what are you going to do with this suitcase? This time, don't throw it in my basement."
"of course not."
Lecia said, thinking about it and asking again;
"Since you got it from Gray Gloves, can you still give it back?"
"sure."
Shade nodded. The "last words" left by Professor Higgins' soul mentioned the handover method tomorrow.
So Lesia took the suitcase over:
"Tonight I will organize people to copy all the information in this suitcase. After that, I will ask people to find out the specific source of these information. It is impossible for this kind of information to be lost without any trace. As for the original documents in the box
, Shade, please return Gray Gloves."
"Huh? Why?"
Shade asked in surprise.
"I have heard that this research is a joint project between the Kingdom and the Creation Church. At the same time, the Creation Church is also cooperating with Kasenlik on a similar subject. Now it seems that this cooperation is not completely shared, and Delrayon
The progress is a little faster.”
Lesia raised the corners of her mouth:
"After the people I hired have authenticated these documents, I will extract the key one or two from them, and then replace them with other contents. Since you gave it the name 'Difference Engine', I will forge a few more letters to
In the name of Delrayon's secret mechanical expert 'John Watson', Carson Rick was really convinced that this was the Difference Engine. This would be very interesting. In this way, this box of documents could both help Carson Rick
My research can also confuse them. This is not considered a bad thing, but a good deed. It is good for both countries."
Shade nodded, he didn't care in whose hands these documents fell:
"What about the transcripts? You want to stay and do your own research?"
"Of course not. How can I compete with the research progress of the church and the kingdom? Since I have found important documents lost by the kingdom, I naturally want Father Wang to know that this is my credit."
Although this was brought by Shade, Shade didn't want to get involved in such a dangerous matter, so it was better to leave it to Lesia.
"I'll take care of it, it's valuable."
The princess smiled, and then suddenly looked at Shade. Her look was very familiar to Shade.
Sure enough, the red-haired princess reached out and hooked Shade's chin, then leaned in and kissed him:
"very nice."
"Sister, can you use this credit in exchange for me not having to marry someone I don't like?"
The little princess holding the cat asked cautiously, Lesia looked at her, and Agelina seemed a little scared in her eyes.
"Don't worry, Agelina, as long as you are always willing to listen to me, you will not be used as a political tool to marry anyone."
Lesia turned her head slightly to look at her sister, her tone less gentle than when talking to Shade. Shade could only see half of her face illuminated by the gas lamp beside the bridge outside the window, and had to admit that if not
Counting those witches, Lesia should be one of the most exquisite-looking girls Shade has ever encountered.
"Okay sister."
The sixteen-year-old princess nodded and glanced at Shade again:
"Detective, you will help me too, right?"
"Yes."
Shade smiled and nodded. Compared with the dangers and troubles he faced, the little princess's troubles were not difficult:
"Lecia, I need to deliver the suitcase tomorrow morning."
"No problem, I will send someone to return the suitcase to you tomorrow morning. Shade, you really brought something good this time."
Shade shook his head and said nothing more. However, he really felt that he had touched the process of civilization at this moment. In this world with steam gears and mystical elements, ring warlocks were running and fighting for different goals.
And the civilization of ordinary people has not stopped because of this.
This era is more dynamic and interesting than he thought.
PS: Someone guessed it early in the morning, so let’s just add an update. Please vote.