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Volume 4 Leviathan Chapter 1 The Thief

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    It boasts strong scales, which are tightly closed and sealed tightly.  These scales are connected one by one, and even air is not allowed to penetrate between them. They are all interconnected, cemented, and cannot be separated.  It emits light when it sneezes.  Its eyes are like the morning rays.  From its mouth issued burning torches and flying sparks.  Smoke came out of its nostrils like a boiling pot or a lit reed.  Its breath ignited the coals, and flames came from its mouth.  There is strength in its neck.  Those in front of it are frightened and jump. Its pieces of flesh are connected with each other, close to its body and cannot be shaken.  Its heart is as solid as a stone, as solid as a millstone.  When it came, the warriors were frightened, confused, and even fell into a coma.  If one uses a knife, a spear, a javelin, or a sharp spear to pierce it, it will be useless.  It uses iron as hay and copper as rotten wood.  The arrow cannot scare it into escaping.  The slings look like straw to it.  Sticks are counted as straw.  It sneered at the whizzing of the musket.  It is like a pointed tile under its belly, and it is like a rake passing through the mud.  It makes the abyss boil like a cauldron, and the oceans boil like oil in a cauldron.  The path it takes then shines brightly, making people think of the abyss as white hair.  There is nothing on earth like it was created to be without fear.  It despises everyone who is tall and tall.  It reigns supreme over the proud water tribe.  "The Bible."  Job Chapter 41 "When the sixth bell struck on the ship, Gillings's eyes opened. He sat up from the warm and comfortable bed and began to do gymnastics to move himself according to the habits he had developed over the years.  After half an hour of exercise on his joints and muscles, he had completed his homework. With the help of the servant, he finished washing, put on his shirt and coat, and walked onto the deck.  According to the captain yesterday, the ship will arrive at its destination, Shanghai, in twenty minutes. Gillings plans to use his own eyes to see the pearl of the Far East - Dashun, which is also the largest port and commercial city in the entire Far East.  When Gillings walked onto the top deck, the sun was slowly rising from the sea level. Under the dazzling morning light, Gillings could clearly see many small fishing boats heading towards the shore. The catches on those boats were  It needs to be sold in the morning market.  Farther away, Gillings could even see the spire slowly rising on the horizon, which was the lighthouse on the shore. Thinking of the purpose and responsibility of his trip, Gillings couldn't help but get a little excited.  "Mr. Gillings, you got up so early!" At this moment, a voice came from behind. Gillings turned around and saw Duncan walking towards him. He was wearing a jacket over a white shirt.  , holding a wooden pipe in his right hand, wearing a peaked cap, and looking like a wealthy British businessman, which was very common in Shanghai at that time.  "Duncan, have you forgotten? In twenty minutes, our trip will reach the end! I want to see this city with my own eyes!" "Oh, that's right!" Duncan walked to the side of the ship and pulled himself  His upper body was pressed against the railing, and he looked at a few seagulls gliding over the stern of the ship for a while, and suddenly asked: "Mr. Gillings, I want to ask you a question? Why do you have to choose me as your choice this time?"  Where are the traveling companions? " Gillings did not answer the other party's question immediately. After a while, he whispered: "Duncan, do you believe in fate? I have a premonition on the ship these days that we will be in China this time.  Travel is very important to me and to the entire empire. For such an important trip, I need a partner who has experienced danger with me and proven himself worthy of trust!" Duncan's rude face showed a touched expression.  He lowered his head: "I'm very grateful that you chose me, otherwise I would have to work as a mercenary for some Southeast Asian prince-" "You don't need to say thank you!" Gillings interrupted Duncan: "This is what you have been doing all these years.  In exchange for your loyal service to the empire, I can't find anyone more suitable for this mission than you." At this point, Gillings lowered his voice: "A loyal officer like you should not be in default of taxes.  "You will lose your farm!" At this time, there was a whistle, and Gillings and Duncan immediately felt that the speed of the ship had slowed down significantly. Gillings put a hand on Duncan's shoulder and said with a smile: "Let's go to our respective cabins to prepare.  Well, it¡¯s coming!¡± Compared to most cities in Dashun at that time, Shanghai¡¯s history was very short. Although it was said that a county had been established there as early as the Yuan Dynasty, its real development was the establishment of Songjiang Prefecture in the previous dynasty.  After that, the southern Zhili area where Songjiang Prefecture was located at that time was economically prosperous, especially the textile industry in Songjiang.?¡°The world is covered with clothes and quilts¡±.  Later, during the decades of war in the late Ming Dynasty and early Shun Dynasty, the Jiangnan area was almost determined by rumors and did not suffer much damage from the war.  After this dynasty established the Ding Dynasty, it did not impose a sea ban like the previous dynasty and limited foreign trade to a few ports around Guangzhou. Instead, it opened a large sea ban. As a result, Shanghai developed rapidly by virtue of its unique geographical advantages.  By the end of the 19th century, Shanghai had actually become the richest, most populous, and most modern city in China at that time.  When Gillings and Duncan walked down the gangway, this was the scene before them.  "Master, please take my car!" "Please take my car. My car is clean and cheap!" "Master Western, please buy some pancakes, hot pancakes!" "Here are fried steamed buns.  , piping hot fried steamed buns!¡± When Gillings and Duncan finished the formalities and walked out of the pier, a large group of bus drivers and vendors gathered around them, shouting loudly in broken English, which made Gillings and Duncan a little confused.  Fortunately, two inspectors wielding short sticks ran over and yelled and cursed, so the coachmen dispersed.  "Mr. Gillings, where are we going now? The embassy or¡ª¡ª" Duncan asked, holding on to the crooked cap on his head and breathing heavily.  "No, Duncan, have you forgotten the purpose of our trip?" Gillings smiled and reached into his wallet to find something.  We need to really dig in and observe what people from all walks of life in this country eat?  What's the difference between them?" At this point, the smile on Gillings' face suddenly froze.  "What's the matter, Mr. Gillis?" Duncan suddenly asked after noticing something unusual.  Gillings cursed in frustration: "Damn it, the thief stole my wallet. It must have been done by one of the group of coachmen just now!" At the Inspection Office, a man wearing a soap-colored short coat was lazing around.  Gillings asked: "So you lost twenty pounds in the wallet, your passport, and a few other items?" "Yes!" Gillings patiently listened to the translator on the side.  He replied: "Mr. Inspector, I hope to find my belongings as soon as possible. These are very important for my future travels!" The man opposite him still looked weak, just lowering his head and writing something to thank on the paper.  After a while, he handed over the piece of paper he had finished writing: "Leave your address in Shanghai. If I find it, I will notify you!" Gillings wrote the address of the consulate on the paper: "Then when can we find it? These  The thing is very important to me!" The man took the paper and stuffed it into a pile of papers casually, saying: "Then I don't know, maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe never!" "  How is this possible?" When Gillings heard the other party's answer, he stood up: "The things inside are very important, very important!" "It's very important, why did you let the thief steal it?" The inspector sneered:  "Thousands of things are lost here every day. How can it be that all the inspectors in Shanghai have nothing to do but look for your wallet? You are a foreigner. It's amazing. There are at least 70,000 or 80,000 foreigners in Shanghai, unless you are the prefect."  Not bad, next one!" Gillings was so angry that he was dragged out by Duncan. While the two were angry, they heard someone behind them say in English: "Two gentlemen, if you are willing to pay a sum of money.  , I can help you find your wallet and its contents. Of course, the money inside can¡¯t be recovered!¡± Gillings looked back, and it was the translator who spoke just now. He frowned and asked.  "How do you know you can find my wallet?" The translator smiled confidently and said, "If your wallet is really lost on the pier, I will definitely be able to help you find it. Please rest assured.  !" Gillings looked at the other party's confident smile and understood what was going on.  Duncan on the side suddenly sneered, put his right hand deep into his pocket, and asked: "Then how do I know that you are not also a cunning villain who wants to use this opportunity to deceive us two strangers into a corner, and then  "How about making a fortune?" "Sir, please don't worry, this is impossible!" The translator replied calmly: "Even if you don't consider the pistol in your right pocket, it's not worth it.  If theft is still tolerated, it would be foolish to rob the lives of two noble gentlemen just for the little money they have. This will only lead to a big manhunt. ¡±   Duncan snorted coldly and released the handle of the gun in his wallet with his right hand: "So how much does it cost? Do you want to get your wallet back?" "No, it's not much. The price I want is very cheap! Especially compared to two  A noble gentleman." The translator chattered while observing the expressions on the faces of Duncan and Gillings.  Finally, Gillings asked impatiently: "Well, don't waste our time, tell us a definite amount!" "Then forty pounds!" "Forty pounds? You are really a robber!" Even for Jilin  This is also a quite astonishing number. You must know that at the end of the 19th century when the British Empire still maintained the gold standard, a maid in Manchester only earned forty to fifty pounds a year, which was enough to keep her there.  I was living a very comfortable life and even had a certain amount of savings, but the other party actually dared to ask for such a figure.  "Sir!" The translator took a step back: "There is a reason why I gave this price. You have twenty pounds in your wallet, but you don't care about the money and want the remaining things. This only shows that the remaining  The things are more important to you than the money. It¡¯s not too much for me to offer double the price for these things!¡± ¡°This is my thing!¡± Gillins finally couldn¡¯t hold himself back and shouted loudly.  "It was in the past, but it is no longer!" the translator retorted: "Now that it is no longer in your hands, it no longer belongs to you!" Gillings stared at the translator fiercely, but in the end he lowered his head.  "Forty pounds, I promise you, but you must bring the things back to me intact!" "As you wish!" The translator deftly bowed to Gillings and said with a smile: "Please come with me.  !¡±
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