On the way back to the inn, Lex habitually reviewed and summarized.
'According to the route provided by the employer, I found that one section of the road was very likely to be an attack site.
I have a premonition that if someone really wanted to kill Helen, they would probably do it there.'
'I designed a plan where the housemaid would disguise herself as Helen and take her place in the car.
Helen, on the other hand, would disguise herself as an assistant and sit in the front seat with me, who would be disguised as the coachman.'
'This was to prevent anyone from secretly monitoring Helen.
I believe that even if there were Watchers, they would only be able to conduct fixed-point surveillance, because tailing and tracking are too obvious and easily detected by experienced protectors.'
'Furthermore, considering that the employer is just a garment merchant, there shouldn't be a need to mobilize a large amount of manpower and resources to target her.'
'Next, during the journey, shortly after entering the South District, I had the housemaid get off the car first to avoid any accidents to her.'
'This way, I only needed to protect the employer, which greatly reduced the difficulty.'
'Finally, the killer did appear, and as I predicted, he was just an ordinary person.
He happened to provide me with material to practice Provocation.
I used words and actions to make him gradually lose his mind, letting him be consumed by anger.'
'Overall, this practice was quite successful.
It's just that the traces of acting were still a bit too heavy, not natural enough, and some tones, expressions, and movements were still slightly exaggerated.'
'If it could be more natural, the effect should be better.
Also, Provocation itself is indeed a form of acting.'
'After the incident, I noticed that a little bit of the potion residue had been digested.
Although not much, it proved that the method was correct.'
'That is to say, in the coming days, as long as I continue to provoke opponents, I will be able to continuously digest the potion.
Hmm, logically speaking, Mr. Kyle's potion should have been fully digested.'
'The reason he didn't advance, was it because of his reclusive lifestyle, or because he couldn't find the next stage's potion formula?'
'No, there's no need to consider these now.
Currently, I should focus on digesting the potion, and during this process, I can inquire about the potion formula for the next Sequence.'
'Provocation shouldn't be limited to just words and actions, right?'
Unknowingly, the Violet Hotel arrived.
The next morning, Lex was listening to Matthew and Gru's work reports from the previous day.
"...Sir Deville is a regular on newspaper and magazine covers, and one of Tingen's prominent wealthy individuals.
His business empire is very extensive, starting with lead and porcelain factories, and now spanning multiple industries."
Matthew poured a cup of black tea for Lex, who had just finished breakfast, then stepped back and continued his report.
"Yesterday, I spoke with several workers from the porcelain factory, and they spoke of Sir Deville with great respect.
They told me that just last month, a female worker at the factory died, and Sir Deville even received the worker's parents at his home."
"They speculated that Sir Deville was probably comforting the parents because of the female worker's death, and perhaps even offered compensation.
This would be absolutely impossible in other factories."
"Additionally, in last week's newspaper, Sir Deville used his own name to publicize the dangers of lead, calling on relevant industries to take it seriously and try to make reforms.
The charity fund he established also specifically set up a project to help workers who suffered damage due to lead poisoning."
Lex put down his teacup and nodded in agreement: "This is what a gentleman does."
At this moment, a knock on the door came.
Lex glanced at Gru, and the bodyguard moved to the door and opened it.
Outside the door, a vibrant voice immediately rang out: "Excuse me, does Mr. Lex live here?"
Lex quickly stood up.
This was the voice of Luke Bruce, a major shareholder of the Pigeon Telegraph Company.
At the banquet the night before last, this gentleman had said he would visit in a few days, but he came today unexpectedly!
"Good morning, Mr. Luke."
Lex proactively greeted him, inviting the major shareholder, who was wearing a formal suit, a top hat, and carrying a cane, inside.
After some pleasantries, Luke, who wasn't wearing his gold-rimmed glasses today, said mysteriously: "Mr. Lex, are you free this morning?
I'd like to invite you to visit a place."
Lex readily agreed, asked him to wait a moment, then, with Matthew's assistance, put on his formal suit and left the inn with Luke.
When the carriage stopped, Lex saw a university.
Tingen University!
Here, a river flowed through, with cypress and maple trees lining both banks, and the air was fresh and intoxicating.
Luke, who had also gotten out of the carriage, introduced: "Across the river, there's also Khoy University, but that's not where we're going today."
The major shareholder, holding his cane, walked along the paved road towards the university gate.
Lex followed him with his valet, and at the university entrance, a gentleman was waiting.
Seeing Luke, this middle-aged man, wearing a white shirt and black tailcoat, with a Bearded Man, walked up.
"Welcome to our school, Mr. Luke."
"Good morning, Mr. Stone.
Allow me to introduce, this is Mr. Lex Disraeli."
Luke then introduced the middle-aged man: "This is Instructor Haven Stone.
Today, he is responsible for taking us to the Electromagnetic Laboratory of Tingen University."
Electromagnetic Laboratory?
Lex's eyes lit up; this must be related to the communication upgrade technology!
So, Luke has already started experimenting in this area?
After exchanging pleasantries with Lex, the middle-aged instructor invited everyone into the school, saying as they walked: "Our school is still on summer vacation, but the laboratory has a mentor leading a team of students every day, conducting electromagnetic transmission experiments."
"And today, a team from the Steam and Machinery Department of Tingen Technical School has also joined our laboratory to jointly research this project."
"They have already arrived and should be in the laboratory now."
The laboratory was located deep within the school, a two-story building made of brick and stone.
Instructor Haven pushed open the laboratory door, and Lex saw busy figures.
Various instruments were placed here, and cables on the floor were in disarray, requiring careful walking to avoid tripping.
Luke said softly and with a smile: "Before, I wanted to find a way to improve the efficiency of telegraph transmission, so I commissioned the laboratory of Tingen University to conduct research in this area."
"I have already invested a certain amount of funds in this.
After hearing Mr. Lex's idea that night, I was very impressed, and yesterday I met with the project leader of the laboratory, who believes that your idea will be a groundbreaking technological revolution!"
Lex listened with a smile, and suddenly, a familiar shadow flashed before his eyes.
A young girl, dressed in simple clothes, with long black hair casually draped, a thin face, and eyes shining as she stared at a set of instruments, thus entered Lex's view.
Lex almost turned around and left.
Because she was Melissa.
Because she was Klein's sister!