blueteamnovel Chapter 28 The Death of Isaac Finch
Chapter 28 The Death of Isaac Finch
Winston rubbed his throbbing temples, closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long sigh.
After reading the popular science booklet specifically aimed at cult members, his existing questions were not resolved; in fact, they multiplied.
There is more than one ancient god in this world, and there are more than just ancient gods hiding in the shadows!
Strictly speaking, the ancient gods didn't hide at all; they descended to Earth openly and honestly, unlike other timid and shadowy creatures.
"The Emperors" is John Halwick's term for the ancient gods, which is easy to understand. Queen Victoria was one of the "Emperors," and whether from a mystical or secular perspective, she was undoubtedly "Her Majesty."
Below Him are "Princes" and "various dukes"... Their existence should have little to do with secular titles. Winston had just met Sir Wilson of the Trade Commission today, and he was certain that the old man was completely unrelated to "the high-ranking figures in the hidden crevice".
"Prince" and "various titles" are distinctive British titles. John Halwick is probably a native British person, as he mentions in his article that "some regions prefer to use numbers and letters to distinguish between them"...
Isn't that just something like "SCP-001", "Sequence 9", or "SSR"?
These regions must be outside the British Isles.
What has become of the mainland across the English Channel and the Dover Strait?
By the way, I was saying I wanted to meet with the Minister of Foreign Territories to see what exactly the so-called "Foreign Territories" refers to, but I've been too busy these past few days and haven't been able to find the time. Moreover, Martin Grayling said that anyone, including the Prime Minister, who wants to meet with members of the "Ministry of Foreign Territories" needs to apply for and obtain approval in advance.
The reason given was "national security".
How strange and wonderful!
Winston had Martin file the application for him last time; he doesn't know how long it will take to get the results.
Another aspect is the selection of the objects of sacrifice.
Winston was genuinely considering the feasibility of the sacrifice option. Although even the author of *The Natural Anomaly Chronicle* felt that normal people (and mutants) shouldn't be seeking the Emperor's attention, he had arrived here, and some "faith" was innate…
On the other hand, he only occasionally has a flexible moral bottom line; he is not a perpetually inhumane and utterly depraved individual. He would not do something like using the entire city of London as a sacrificial altar. Therefore, the selection of the sacrifice must be made with utmost care.
As Winston closed his eyes to think, V1888 flew over and landed on his shoulder, mocking him:
[What did I say again? You're capable of creating a scenario in a brainwashing room, aren't you?]
Winston paused for a moment before realizing that it referred to Martin's fabricated memory of a young Winston "killing" the "reformers" at school.
"Sacrifice is like execution, just one of the methods. I would certainly consider it if necessary."
After speaking calmly, Winston paused, then suddenly hissed and asked:
Did that reformist from back then really exist? What happened to him afterward?
"I don't know," v1888 said, feigning ignorance. "Wasn't this something you did?"
"Were you a toilet in your past life? You're so skilled at putting a potty on someone's head!"
Without waiting for a reply, Winston rang a bell to summon Eileen.
"Send a telegram to Scotland Yard for me, and ask them to investigate a man for me."
This job can't be given to Martin. If it turns out that the reformist doesn't even exist, things could get really messed up.
However, Winston didn't even know the name of this person in the system's fictional memories; he only knew that he went to Cambridge University to give a speech on a certain date.
The client was so stingy with information that he could hardly expect Scotland Yard, as the contractor, to provide any clues.
The result was beyond his expectations.
After hearing the time and place he gave, Eileen paused for a moment, then said:
"Are you referring to the death of Isaac Finch?"
It was as if a thunderbolt had exploded in Winston's heart! He used all his self-control to prevent himself from showing any unusual expression, but his eyebrows twitched involuntarily as he asked:
"Isaac Finch? He's dead? How did he die? You knew him?"
Oops, I've said too much.
"I don't know him," Eileen replied calmly under Winston's sharp gaze. "I prefer to pay attention to unusual deaths around me, so although Isaac Finch's death didn't cause much of a stir at the time, I still vaguely remember it—why do you ask?"
She shouldn't have asked back; that's not the attitude one should have towards someone powerful. However, Winston's gaze had a kind of magic, as if he knew everything and could see through everything. Eileen was momentarily flustered and eager to take control, so she asked the question.
Fortunately, the person in front of her was a transmigrator who was not sensitive to class distinctions, so she didn't pay any attention and said, "I'm just curious."
"I see..." Eileen seemed to recall briefly, but actually composed herself. "Isaac Finch, as a representative of the 'reformists,' gave a speech at Cambridge University. The content of his speech was 'to bring all abnormal and occult matters under official control, establish a unified system, and have the government centrally handle and manage them'... After the speech, he seemed a little unwell and did not attend the subsequent banquet and small-scale Q&A session held by the university. Instead, he went straight home."
Three days later, when Isaac Finch's landlord found him in his house, he was already dead, his body was abnormally shriveled, with only loose skin covering the bones, and all the blood in his body had been drained.
"The police concluded it was an unnatural death—that much is obvious. The killer is one of those...mysterious beings Finch mentioned, who are retaliating against him for his words."
The "reformers" died under mysterious circumstances... The cause of death was their proposal to unify and control the occult? Isn't that exactly what Winston was planning to do?
Am I the reformer?
Wait, don't panic. From what Eileen said, the police closed the case hastily, and their deductions were unreliable to begin with. In addition, she only heard it from others. Maybe there are other hidden reasons for Isaac Finch's death?
v1888: [For example, did you kill him?]
Winston: "..."
Why does this filth pot keep following me around like a shadow?
He ignored the black eagle hiding on the bookshelf pretending to be a specimen, so Eileen didn't need to send a telegram to Scotland Yard.
In cases like this, where the perpetrator is either the killer or an accomplice of the victim, the investigation still ultimately has to be conducted independently.
Eileen bowed and left, but returned after a short walk, saying, "Detective Inspector McLeod Angus is waiting downstairs."
"I'm such a busy man!" Winston replied. "Come in!"
Inspector Angus immediately pushed his way through the layers of guards and maids, cheerfully pushing open the study door and saying, "Good news, Prime Minister! We've confirmed the date for Viscount Hammond's upcoming reading salon!"