Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 547 - Forty-Three Advancement

"Sir, take a look at this."

Liang Hui had someone open a large iron box, inside which there were a dozen or so red steel gauntlets, the joints connected leather and metal parts with steel pins, with golden dials fitted at the elbows, and two steam pipes running through the entire arm, embedded into the bracelet-style armor at the wrist. They exuded an industrial metallic feel.

The workers used a carving tool to pry open the case, gesturing to Liang Hui and Li Yan the operation of the tri-orb device and steam engine inside.

"This is a part of the Steam Guard’s currently active hand equipment, aged to look old but functioning independently if not inspected carefully. Not a single arms dealer in San Francisco would sell complete individual soldier equipment, so we had to piece it together, one shop at a time. It’s been a long process, but we’re nearly ready."

Li Yan picked up one of the gauntlets and tried it on.

Liang Hui’s eyes narrowed, and he quickly stepped forward to add, "Although this gauntlet is not equipped with any firepower, it’s extremely sturdy, and once the steam orb is activated, it will greatly enhance the user’s arm strength."

"What do you intend to do with these purchases?"

"In the short two days since the new bill was enacted, Hesheng has taken in at least over a thousand homeless compatriots from all over. They had lived law-abiding lives building railroads, mining, farming crops, and running small businesses. Now, though, they’re being evicted, laid off, and even killed without reason. Chinatown, where Hesheng has its stronghold, is the largest Chinese community in San Francisco, and has already seen two massive riots and fires. We need to defend ourselves."

Li Yan nodded, "A very reasonable concern. So, what do you need me for?"

Liang Hui cast a glance at Li Yan’s expression, "I’ve joined forces with other factions, as well as businessmen from the Chinese General Association, to organize a large-scale boycott. And we’re planning strikes against the railroad companies and major factories. I wanted to seek your advice in advance."

"That’s not my place to interfere, after all, this is your home."

Liang Hui blinked, somehow feeling that Li Yan’s words carried a hint of sarcasm, though not directed at himself.

"However..." Li Yan changed the subject, "you may be in trouble."

Liang Hui frowned, "What?"

Suddenly, the urgent wail of sirens resounded in the street, with several wind-up flying spheres leading the way, followed closely by a loud and formidable steam car, charging towards Liang Hui’s doorstep with great momentum.

Li Yan, seemingly amused, rubbed the gauntlet on his right hand, while Liang Hui’s face turned grim.

Heavy footsteps followed, and several Pinkerton agents, dressed in Steam Guard outfits with steam boxes on their shoulders, spewed clouds of smoke, raising the temperature of the entire room.

"If you don’t have a warrant, this is trespassing."

The braided maid tried to stop the agents from entering.

Duke Weilang bowed his head and spoke in a low voice to the maid, "I’m not city police, and I’m sure I’m more qualified to interpret the laws of this land than you are."

"Just let them in."

Liang Hui called out, then quickly lowered his voice, "Sir, perhaps you should rest in the inner yard in the meantime?"

"Proceed with your tasks."

Li Yan did not even look up.

Liang Hui’s face bore a look of concern; while he had faith in the divine power of the Emperor in Blue, he had not forgotten that he was in an era where steam thrived.

If things truly escalated, Hesheng, with its extensive operations, would inevitably be affected.

Detective Duke smiled at the maid, then approached Liang Hui, "You’re Liang Hui of Hesheng, the Dragon Head? Even younger looking than in the pictures, I can hardly believe you’re an old man halfway into the grave. I’m Detective Duke from Pinkerton, and I suspect you’re harboring opium and illegal weapons here. I’ve come to search the premises, haha." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Detective Duke’s eyes lit up when he saw the gauntlet in Li Yan’s hand and the iron box standing on the floor.

"Let me catch someone red-handed."

He walked briskly forward, but as if compelled by some unseen force, he did not trouble Li Yan, who stood beside Liang Hui, fiddling with the gauntlet, and instead took a similar piece of equipment from the iron box and gestured to Liang Hui.

"What is this?"

"My boys have to move thousands of tons of fruits, vegetables, meats, and various daily necessities onto trains and ships every day. We’ve been so busy these days that I bought some devices to improve work efficiency. These are just civilian models. They don’t contain explosives, perfectly legal, Mr. Agent."

Liang Hui remained composed.

"Whether it’s legal or not, your word doesn’t make it so."

Duke snickered coldly and signaled his detectives to search Liang Hui’s yard.

"Please wait a moment."

Liang Hui interrupted Detective Duke.

"Are you also going to discuss with me the issues of the search warrant and judicial procedure?"

"No, not that. I’ve heard plenty about Pinkerton’s deeds, and since the new act, the police department hardly processes our cases anymore. What I’m saying is, you didn’t bring enough men."

Detective Duke Weilang looked at Liang Hui with considerable surprise.

Liang Hui sized up the detectives behind Duke Weilang: "One, two, three... fifteen people? My house is only this big, but I assure you won’t find anything. Think about it, if you wanted to find something..."

Liang Hui pointed his cane toward the entrance.

Suddenly, the street was teeming with people, from performers to barbers to vendors, all grouped together, looking to be in the hundreds, and they were closing in on Duke Weilang’s steam carriage parked at the door, with more people continuously joining from afar.

A few detectives inside the carriage aimed their guns and cursed loudly, but to little effect.

"You should have sent more detectives, to search each house for the prohibited weapons and opium you speak of. Maybe then you would find something."

Click.

Next to him, Li Yan accidentally disassembled the entire mini Tri-Orb Device from his armguard and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Duke leaned in close to Liang Hui’s face, his expression dark: "My visit this time is just to give you a heads-up, San Francisco is not a place for you bugs to run wild."

"Tsk, tsk..." Liang Hui shook his head: "I’ve been hearing this kind of talk since the days of building the sea railway over a decade ago, and to this day I still don’t understand, where exactly do we ’run wild’?"

Duke spat out, shouting: "Move all these steam components out of here."

The thugs from Hesheng glared angrily, struggling to contain their temper. These components were quite valuable, and it hurt Hesheng to have spent the money on them.

"Cough cough cough~"

Liang Hui suddenly started coughing. He pulled out a handkerchief to cover his mouth and subtly shook his head at his own men.

Several detectives emotionlessly began moving around the iron boxes filled with steam components.

"And you, take that thing off your arm."

Duke said, reaching for Li Yan’s armguard, startling Liang Hui out of his wits.

"I believe you have no right to do that, Mr. Pinkerton Detective."

Just as Duke’s hand was about to touch Li Yan, a voice came from outside the door.

A well-dressed man, carrying a briefcase, walked in: "I’m Frederick, hired by Miss Dorothy to represent all the evicted Chinese residents in suing City Hall for losses incurred during the ’Forced Eviction,’ for damage to homes and shops as well as personal property loss. If you insist on what you were just doing, I wouldn’t mind adding your name and the name of the commercial company that employs you to the list of defendants."

"Dorothy? That stage actress, Dorothy?"

Duke asked in disbelief. He didn’t notice the way Li Yan was looking at him, as if seeing a pig that had luckily escaped slaughter.

"Thank heavens."

Dorothy stepped off the trolley and into Liang Hui’s house, and only after seeing Li Yan did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"I was really scared you’d play another disappearing act before the show, or be late again."