“I remember it was meowing, three short and one long, repeated twice.”
It was hard to say whether being discovered as a secret agent or being seen meowing was more embarrassing. Xia De pondered, returning to the auditorium along the path.
After climbing through the window at the end of the corridor, he wrote a note in the corridor, indicating the bomb's location and time, then pursed his lips and tried his best to imitate a cat's meow.
Because he lived with a cat, he believed his imitation was quite good.
Although cat meows in a building were uncommon, they could be attributed to a stray cat. After meowing, Xia De quickly dropped the note on the ground and then left from the other side of the corridor.
Soon, hearing the meow, a guard who had come alone to investigate saw Xia De walking from the direction of the washroom. Together, they discovered the note. After picking it up and reading its contents, the guard's eyes widened sharply.
“Sir, whether this is true or false, you need to inform your superiors as soon as possible.”
Xia De, however, remained calm in the face of danger and informed the other party of his identity:
“I am Hamilton of Leijiede. Quickly, tell your superior about this. Who is in charge here now? I will take responsibility; please evacuate the crowd as soon as possible.”
Saying that, he adjusted his tie, making his image appear more dignified.
The two quickly returned to the entrance of Report Hall No. 3. Xia De’s identity indeed proved effective, and the note received attention. At this time, Princess Margaret had also dispatched her personal maid to check the situation at the entrance of the report hall. After inquiring about the situation from the guards at the door, the maid immediately lifted her skirt and returned to the princess in a panic.
“Excuse me, I think I must rudely interrupt.”
Thus, as the gentleman on the podium was calculating the conduction formula with chalk, Princess Margaret stood up amidst everyone’s astonished gazes:
“Now, everyone leave here. Yes, immediately.”
Although they didn't know what had happened, since the princess had spoken, people quickly and orderly evacuated. Fortunately, including the visiting delegation, envoys, dignitaries from Tobesk City Hall, and accompanying professors from the school, there weren't too many people in the report hall to begin with, so everyone was evacuated to the corridor in just two or three minutes.
It was only then that the matter of the note with the bomb information finally became known. Princess Margaret requested the note, and her whole body trembled after seeing it.
Her sharp eyes looked at Xia De, her mouth open with countless questions she wanted to ask, but at this moment, the muffled explosion from the report hall and the subsequent screams also prevented the princess from speaking to Xia De. She was protected by guards and quickly passed through the corridor to leave, as no one could guarantee there were no other bombs.
The planted time bomb was a small one made by a handicraft workshop, and it only destroyed four tables, front and back; its power was not great. But the bomb's explosion still caused great panic, so much so that the morning's academy visit was directly canceled.
All personnel present, including Xia De, who had returned from the washroom, were subjected to searches and interrogations. Even Xia De and that guard, because they were the first to discover the note, were questioned separately. At this time, Princess Margaret's carriage had already left, and those gentlemen who had planned to play rhode cards with Xia De also had to give up their plans, dispersing with the startling news.
“Any findings?”
At 12:10 PM, Chief Anlos brought Xia De out of Leedweich Field. This matter was transferred from the police to MI6, and Xia De, being under suspicion, was naturally released immediately.
He could have thrown the note himself and made a sound to attract attention to the bomb, but after attracting Princess Margaret's attention through Gray Headed Eagle's secret signal, MI6, as expected, suspected Gray Gloves, never thinking that this matter was related to the loyal “Hamilton of Leijiede.”
Xia De nodded and, at the entrance of Leedweich Field, boarded the carriage home with Chief Anlos. As the carriage slowly moved forward, Xia De recounted the facts he had fabricated:
“Before discovering the note, I also heard a cat meow. However, when I saw the note, there was no one else in the corridor except that young guard.”
Dak Anlos, who was usually emotionally stable, now had a somewhat gloomy expression:
“That guard is a Royal Guard; his family history for three generations can be traced, so he’s not a problem. The note stated the bomb’s location, that the person who planted the bomb belonged to the Lamia Principality, and that there was a murdered doorman opposite. That note is key, but Margaret Anjou took it. There is strong reason to believe that the note was written by someone from ‘Gray Gloves’.”
Xia De controlled himself to keep a smile from appearing at the corner of his mouth; his colleagues had indeed suspected the wrong direction, suspecting his other colleagues.
Chief Anlos's displeasure at this time was partly due to the assassination attempt on Margaret Anjou, but more so because the Gray Gloves had discovered the matter earlier than MI6:
“There was no one else in the corridor at the time. I think that fellow must have escaped through the window. Did you see anyone suspicious after that?”
Xia De thought for a moment:
“When I was bustling out of the auditorium with the other visitors, speaking of it, I did see an unfamiliar stranger mixed in with the crowd at that time—”
He described the specific appearance of “the other party”:
“It was a man, probably in his twenties, at least he looked to be in his twenties. His build was similar to mine, and his clothes were also similar, but I didn’t get a clear look at his face. At the time, I was curious who it was, but he quickly disappeared into the crowd.”
“That agent must have escaped during the chaos.”
Chief Anlos took a deep breath:
“This matter cannot be suppressed. Tomorrow’s front-page headline will probably be about that report hall where the explosion occurred.”
He rubbed his forehead, and Xia De asked curiously:
“The relevant personnel for this assassination should be caught very soon, right?”
“I'm not worried about that; the rebel organization of the Lamia Principality won't escape this time. I'm worried about Gray Gloves. It's clear that their influence in Tobesk exceeds our original expectations. Although they indirectly did a good deed this time, we still can't let our guard down. If it weren't for the lack of evidence, I'd even suspect that damned Gray Headed Eagle had reappeared.”
The carriage stopped, and Chief Anlos prepared to alight. Xia De looked out the window; they had already reached the intersection of Saint Delan Square. Chief Anlos would likely go directly to Yodel Palace to report to Larus III, and he would probably receive a scolding.
“Xia De, for the next few days, you need to follow Margaret Anjou as closely as possible. I suspect this matter is not over yet. I will arrange for people to be responsible for her safety; you need to pay attention to who she is in contact with. I heard you have a good relationship with her? If possible, it would be best to get that note back.”
Chief Anlos instructed Xia De from the carriage window as Xia De alighted:
“Once Margaret Anjou and her party leave, I will arrange for your promotion.”
Xia De had no reaction to the promise of “promotion,” but instead asked:
“Will Her Highness continue her tour this afternoon?”
“No, all itineraries will undergo re-examination. If a similar incident happens again, it will be an international scandal.”
But in fact, with the power of today's bomb, it could not harm Princess Margaret, who was five rows away from the seventh row. Not to mention, as a Four-Ring Warlock, even if a bomb of that power exploded at her feet, the injury would certainly not be fatal. It's just that people didn't know the princess's power, and they wouldn't care about the bomb's specific parameters, only about the connection between “princess” and “bomb attack.”
“Tonight, as usual, everyone present today will be invited to a banquet. Margaret Anjou needs to appease those who were unfortunately caught up in the incident because of her.”
Chief Anlos said:
“Xia De, will you go?”
“Of course, I will. I think that princess probably wants to talk to me too.”
Xia De nodded, and Chief Anlos smiled:
“I originally promised Miss Jialinna to let you join Six Divisions to allow you... I will personally apologize to the Duke, but you are truly outstanding, young man, truly outstanding.”
The steam bomb attack at the auditorium of the Third National Mechanical College, in this era of undeveloped communication, spread throughout the city in just a few hours. Dorothy naturally learned the news from Xia De upon his return home, and then exchanged souls, letting Leia, who had been handling matters at Yodel Palace all morning, know the specific situation.
Among his current friends, only Doctor Schneider clearly knew that Xia De had inherited the title of “Gray Headed Eagle”; even Leia only knew that Xia De was working for MI6.
Actually, given Xia De and Leia's relationship, there was no harm in telling her about “Gray Headed Eagle,” but Xia De had made up his mind to protect the princess during Princess Margaret's visit to repay Sparrow Detective's kindness, and then abandon this identity. And once he told Leia about the “Gray Headed Eagle” identity, Leia would definitely use this identity to do something.
Rather than tell Leia the truth and make her choose between him and her ambition, it was better to say nothing, just as he promised Sparrow Detective, to let this middle-aged man sleeping in a foreign land find peace.
So, Xia De decided to be the bad guy himself.
But even while thinking of repaying Sparrow Detective's kindness, Xia De did not lie to Leia. He recounted the incident from an observer's perspective, telling Leia everything he had learned by touching souls and reliving memories.
Her Highness the Princess, of course, could tell that Xia De's “I saw someone” actually referred to himself.
The Golden-haired girl propped her face, tilting her head as she looked at Xia De:
“It seems you have some little secrets you don't want me to know.”
“I want to protect another person’s reputation.”
Xia De said, hesitating for a moment, then added:
“After Princess Margaret leaves, I will tell you what I've hidden this time. I just hope you won't be too surprised... Well, you will definitely be surprised.”
“As long as your secret isn't that you're actually a woman, nothing will surprise me.”
Leia said with a smile, her hand reaching down, her eyes looking at Xia De, and she said softly:
“Hiding secrets from your princess is improper conduct for a knight. I will punish you.”