Not so long ago, after returning from the library of the University of Paris, it has not been a while.

And the last time she met Professor Pascal on West Street, Bella wanted to ask how the blank book was going. But since everyone was focused on the recent tightening of the Paris garrison, there was no chance to ask.

Today, Bella and Elena are back at the University of Paris.

It's early autumn, and the fallen leaves on the roadside have drifted a lot. The banks of the Seine add a bit of a sad atmosphere.

Before the weather cools down, Parisian residents often take advantage of the remaining warmth of summer to go out for walks.

Although the sky was still as clear as ever, there was less enthusiasm and more tranquility.

As Professor Pascal points out, there are more security guards at the University of Paris than elsewhere.

This kind of tight scale can even be compared to the king's military parade.

The most heavily guarded place was Mr. Frida's laboratory.

"Isn't Mr. Frida a student of pyrotechnics?" Elena asked curiously, "Is something wrong?"

"You're kidding, fireworks are just a casual sport." Mr. Frida was a little embarrassed, "At the time, they did it to help me. Actually, our main work is related to gunpowder research."

At that time, in order to celebrate his wife's birthday, Mr. Frida mobilized all the colleagues in the laboratory who had a good relationship with him.

"Huh? Do you study gunpowder?" Elena asked.

"That's right, because the advantages of rifling in the barrel have already been demonstrated, so the front-loading flintlock pistol is more cumbersome." Mr. Frida explains, "However, traditional buckshot is difficult to use for breech loading. As a result, there was an urgent need to develop a new type of bullet. Old-fashioned gunpowder is difficult to detonate from flint, so a safer and more effective method must be found first. Today, the UK and Germany have made breakthroughs in this area."

"Looking at the tight defense work here, has there been any major technological breakthrough?"

"Well, what do you say...... My colleague, Mr. Dresser, came up with a method of firing the pin, which he wanted to detonate with a powerful collision. However, I tried many times without success." There was also a hint of regret in Mr. Frida's tone, "And what is more troublesome is that the design report on the new firearm was stolen a few days ago."

"Was the design report stolen?"

That is, the results of research were stolen.

If it is a technically critical research report, it will definitely have a great impact. It is even possible to change the political situation in Europe as a whole.

Just like the missing arms in Austria, Mr. Holder went all out to recover them because it could lead to a large-scale war.

The technology and resources that each country has in its hands also determine its status in the diplomatic arena.

Weaponry is the most direct part of this, and it influences the judgment of the rulers of countries when they weigh the costs of war.

"Yes, the Paris police department has been mobilized for this." Mr. Frida continued.

"I see." Elena seemed to understand something, "So it seems that the so-called smuggling case is actually a leak of confidential documents?"

"I'm afraid so." Bella also agreed, "Maybe the matter is more serious, so the news is blocked, and the people below are only ordered to search, and they don't know the specific situation."

At least it has a deterrent effect, so that the other party does not dare to act rashly.

Now that I think about it, it seems that it was at that time that the activities of the Paris police began to become more frequent.

"But why would anyone come to a university lab to steal?" Elena asked, "This isn't an arsenal, and most people only think of it as academic or conference materials, right?"

Moreover, there are so many research laboratories here, how can they steal the relevant information on firearms so accurately?

"You mean, the people inside?" Mr. Frida frowned.

He hadn't really considered that possibility before.

If that's the case, it's a problem, and a lot of confidential documents could be leaked.

"Don't be so nervous, it doesn't have to be someone in the research lab, it could be around here. Think about it, there must be a lot of people who know what you do, right?" Elena added.

If you ask around at the University of Paris, you will know the distance between the various laboratories. As for the progress of the research, you can read it roughly through the bulletin board on the side of the road.

"This ...... That makes sense." Mr. Frida nodded thoughtfully, "We really didn't do anything deliberate to keep it secret."

If it is a secret study, the message should be appropriately blocked. Perhaps it was the open academic atmosphere of the University of Paris that made them naturally relaxed.

Now that so many guards have been dispatched from above, it also shows the seriousness of the matter.

"Don't bother you, we're going to find Professor Pascal." Elena said, "It's okay, you can go back to spend more time with your wife. Work is important, but family can't ignore it!"

"That's what you're teaching." Mr. Frida said ashamedly.

Bella and Elena said goodbye to Mr. Frida and continued to Professor Pascal's office.

Speaking of Professor Bryce Pascal, he's a celebrity here!

Not only is he very accomplished in mathematics and physics, but he is also very fond of literature, and I heard that he often chats about poetry and prose with several colleagues in the Faculty of Letters.

When Bella and Elena arrived in his office that morning, there was no professor in it.

According to other students, the professor usually goes out for a walk at this time, and he doesn't know when he will come back.

So, the two of them asked around the campus, and fortunately everyone was familiar with Professor Pascal.

Finally, he was found next to the fountain in the garden.

After a brief pleasantries, Professor Pascal told them with deep regret that there was no news about the "strange book".

"yes, it turned out that the design report was stolen." After listening to Elena's description, Professor Pascal said earnestly, "I think there must be a spy in the school."

"Do you think so?" Elena asked.

"If it's not someone inside, how can you know about it? Even if you look at the announcement, you can't know so clearly, and you can find the exact location of the information, and you won't leave any traces after stealing it." Professor Pascal replied, "If the key technology is stolen, it will have a great impact on the future situation in Europe. However, only if Mr. Dresser has made considerable progress."

"Why do you say that?"

It sounds like Professor Pascal is not very optimistic about Mr. Dresser's research.

"Although Monsieur Dresser himself is very intelligent, this kind of thing does not necessarily succeed with intelligence. A lot of times, it's a little bit of luck." Professor Pascal explained, "But it's rare to see that he has tried so many times and failed, and still has the perseverance to carry it on."

"Huh? Have you failed many times?" Elena asked.

"yes, I almost blew my hand once." Professor Pascal replied.

"It's dangerous!"

"Still, if he can persevere, I believe," Professor Pascal continued, "that God will be moved by his efforts."

"But firearms are lethal things after all, right?" Elena said, "Will God allow more people to suffer misfortune?"

"That's not what I said!" Professor Pascal said with a serious expression, "You know, guns are just tools, and people kill people. Like swords and axes, there was nothing inherently sinful in their birth. But isn't it the human beings themselves who use them to harm others?"

The tools are innocent, and the hands are human.

"But isn't the purpose of this firearm to be used in warfare?"

If it weren't for the war, who would study this "weapon"?

"Maybe that's what the ruler intended. After all, that's the way the money comes from, and the capitalists don't pay for charity." "But for scientists, there is no such thing as good or evil. In other words, even without guns and explosives, the war would have taken place. Human greed is not satisfied by technological obstacles. Ever since humans first learned to walk upright and their hands were freed, the seeds of war have been planted. At first with sticks and stones, then with swords and axes, now with guns and artillery, and with the possibility of more advanced things in the future. Although wars may occur in cycles, it has to be said that these technological developments have also improved people's lives to a certain extent. I don't know when humanity will realize that its sins have defiled the gifts of nature."

Professor Pascal spoke eloquently, making Bella and Elena feel as if they were taking a philosophy lesson.

"So, although I hate war, I am not against technological progress." Professor Pascal concluded, "Perhaps one day humanity will create weapons that even we fear and can destroy the whole world in an instant. I don't know how the rulers will feel when that time comes."

"You can really see it."

"What else would you do? What should come will always come, and it is useless to worry about some things. When the time comes, God will show the way." Professor Pascal said, "Don't talk about that. I've heard that Pierre has made something interesting in the library, so let's go check it out, shall we?"