Herkkin waited at the agreed café, he looked a little bloated in a wide trench coat, and the brim of his top hat was pressed so low that only his chin could be seen.

The cup of coffee in front of him had cooled, but he didn't have the heart to taste it.

Yesterday there was a brief but very important private gathering at the Hot Spring Manor, and according to the limited information received, Luke was entrusted with the subsequent development of the Titan I.

And according to other intelligence channels in the Ice Cave, the "Titan Project" is just the beginning, as long as Luke's steam laboratory produces results, there are still many high-end research and development waiting for Luke to participate.

All the consortia of the Atlantshire Union are keeping an eye on Luke, and various co-optation actions have not yet been implemented, and there is already competition for each other.

Luke, who has the two-phase steam engine of water molecules, is now a dark horse in the winter capital, and the future is really limitless.

Herkin found that as a veteran agent, he should have seen too much wind and waves, but when he received Luke's appointment this time, why couldn't he help but be a little nervous?

This is an opportunity, whether you can get rid of the identity of the ice cave in the future and really enter the upper circle, it depends on this interview.

Luke and Darikova walk into the café together, only to find that there is not a single customer in the café except for Helmkin.

Darikova whispered, "Hurkin must have taken over the whole café. Craving something? I'll order something for you."

"A cup of coffee, two bagels, a sausage, an omelette. Whatever you eat, count it on my account." Luke asked Darikova to order food, and walked over to Herkkin and sat down: "Chief, what are you doing with such a mysterious meeting in an ordinary meeting?"

Herkkin said, "Meeting privately with the people of the Ice Cave would be very damaging to your reputation if it were to get out. The big guys need us, but they all hate us.

Sometimes I really envy my peers in the Golden Shield Empire."

Luke laughed and said, "Such words should not come out of your mouth."

"I know that Mr. Luke is a man of integrity and will not spread my grumbling. The purpose of your appointment with me, Darikova has already told me, that you need an ice cave to protect you?"

Getting to the point, Luke said, "Yesterday's meeting was very unexpected, you should know about the Titan Project."

Herkin looked at Darikova, who was ordering, and replied in a low voice to Luke: "The Titan Project is the key protection object of the ice cave, there is a team of ice cave agents who are on guard in the dark 24 hours a day, and there is also the escort team of Major Ellro, so the safety is safe.

For your personal security......

In addition to the security team that serves you on the surface, Harut Heavy Industries has a more powerful force in the shadows, always guarding you. If we send someone to protect you again, it will upset Mr. Elvis."

Herkkin's words are consistent with Luke's own perception, since his interview with Steamweek, he has been surrounded by a lot of stalkers. And their position is not like surveillance, but protection.

It is now certain that these people belong to Harut Heavy Industries.

"If I hadn't heard from you, I wouldn't have found them."

Herkin smiled and said, "You are an immeasurable asset to Harut Heavy Industries, how could Mr. Elvis entrust your safety on an ordinary team of security guards.

Even this meeting of ours is under their surveillance, and if I make any hostile moves towards you, they will stop me immediately."

"It looks amazing." Luke turned his head to look outside, as if looking for someone who was secretly protecting him, "But it makes me very uncomfortable to be watched like this, as if I was a criminal suspect."

"This is the helplessness of fame, and as your status and prestige increase, you will only be protected more closely.

Unless ......"

Luke asked, "Unless what?"

"Unless you can prove to Mr. Elvis that you belong to Harut Heavy Industries forever, no

poached by any other consortium."

"It doesn't seem like a good proof."

"Good proof." Herkkin said mysteriously to Luke, "Mr. Elvis has a daughter. As long as you marry his daughter, you are your own person in Harut Heavy Industries. Not only will you get a large share of Harut Heavy Industries, but you will also be able to do whatever you want in the future."

Luke looked at Darikova, who was still ordering, and said to Herkkin, "I haven't seen Mr. Elvis's daughter, so how can I marry her casually?"

Herkkin advised, "Marriages in large families are in the service of family interests, and Mr. Elvis must be more than willing to marry his daughter to you.

Of course, you don't need to be tied down by marriage...... As long as you don't overdo it, Mr. Elvis won't interfere too much in your private life."

In Herkekin's view, all the conditions for Luke's meteoric rise have been met, talented, favored by Morson, responsible for the development of important national projects, and the only thing that is lacking now is the full support of big conglomerates.

As long as Luke enters the Elvis family, the smoke and dust will be enough to carry himself away.

For Luke, this meeting with Herkekin was surprisingly smooth, and without having to guide himself, this guy was already on the path that wanted him to go.

I have to feel how disgusted Helkin is for his identity in the ice cave, and how obsessed he is with climbing up.

"That's a good suggestion! It's just that it is too abrupt to suddenly propose to Mr. Elvis?"

Seeing that Luke was willing to marry the young lady of the Elvis family, Herkekin was happier than he was married: "Of course, the sudden proposal is too abrupt, and it will leave the outside world with the stain of your clinging to the consortium.

Leave this matter to me, and I'll talk to Mr. Elvis in secret. Arrange a banquet for you to meet Miss Angelia, and then a vigorous love affair unfolds.

When you develop a two-phase steam engine for water molecules, and you propose to Mr. Elvis, no one will dare to talk nonsense anymore."

Luke pretended to think for a moment, and replied to Herkkin, "Okay, you can arrange it.

Thank you for being invited."

Hearing that Luke was about to end these meetings, Herkkin immediately stated his intentions for this visit: "Mr. Luke, I have some personal matters that I would like your help with."

Luke said, "You're the chief of the ice cave, and if you're having a hard time, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you."

"No, no, no, only you can help me with this." Herkin looked at Darikova again, she was very knowledgeable and did not come, giving the two of them space to talk secretly. Then, like a devout apprentice, Herkkin said to Luke, "Mr. Luke, you know that I have a very strong interest in steam technology. I buy every issue of Steam Weekly and read it carefully, and I also buy a lot of steam books for self-study, but ......

I'm not afraid of your jokes, I've quietly taken the steam engineer qualification exam several times, but each time it's a little bit off.

I have repeatedly thought that my repeated failures are due to the lack of guidance from famous teachers. You are a Level 4 member of the Society of Steam Engineers, have published several high-quality papers in Steam Weekly, and have been interviewed by the editor-in-chief of Morsson.

If...... If you're willing to take me as an apprentice and teach me steam technology, I'll be able to become a steam engineer next time."

As an "actuary", Herkekin played his own small abacus very carefully.

The normal way to take the steam engineer exam requires real talent, and Herkkin knows that his talent in this area is indeed very average, and he will definitely not pass the normal exam. But with a well-known steam engineer as a mentor, it's a big difference. With Luke's current status in the Society of Steam Engineers, just guess the question, and then be accommodating in the final defense link, won't the certificate be successfully obtained?

And Luke promised to join the Elvis family and be his first apprentice, with this relationship, he will definitely pull himself up wherever he rises.

As long as Luke nods, the future can be said to be bright.

Although Luke guessed Herkekin's little ninety-nine, he still performed

A look of surprise came out: "I think you like steam technology just as a hobby, but I didn't expect you to take the steam engineer qualification exam.

That kind of difficulty is not something that can be passed by self-study."

"Yes! For example, I have been unable to figure out the value of steam flow in a parallel dense pipeline; There is also a change in the formula for air pressure vortex."

"It's a real error-prone point, and it's not only complicated to consider, but also a lot of calculations.

Since you like steam science so much, I can teach you. But as an apprentice...... I need to examine your talent in steam science, and then talk about it after you get into the steam engineer."

Herkkin knew he wanted to be Master Luke's apprentice, and that request was a bit excessive. But fortunately, Master Luke did not completely refuse, and there will still be a chance in the future.

First get the steam engineer qualification certificate.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Luke!" Herkkin stood up and saluted Luke.

Luke said, "The place to teach is in my steam lab. The Titan I is a very good teaching tool, and you can learn 15 percent to get the Steam Engineer certificate."

It was definitely another surprise for Herkekin.

Under the guidance of Master Luke, I will practice with the Titan Type 1 and take the Steam Engineer exam...... You can live with your eyes closed.

"Thank you again, I won't disturb you and Miss Darikova for breakfast." Herkegin saluted Luke again and whispered, "Please rest assured, Darikova's files in the ice cave have been completely destroyed, and she is a free person and has nothing to do with the ice cave."

Herkekin, who had achieved his goal, left with great interest.

Darikova walked over to Luke with a plate and sat down, "Look at Herkekin, you must not be talking about protection."

Luke picked up a knife and fork and cut the fried egg and ate it, "Herkegin asked me to marry Mr. Elvis's daughter, whose name seems to be Angelia, do you know her?"

Hearing that Luke was going to marry the young lady of the Elvis family, Darikova was in a trance at first, but quickly adjusted her emotions: "Yes...... Only the young lady of the consortium is worthy of you.

As for Angelia, she doesn't have a very good reputation, she has a short temper and a chaotic private life, but she is very good-looking.

If you need her family history, this will be a marriage that many people will be satisfied with.

Did you say yes?"

"Promised." Luke ate his breakfast and said casually.

Darikova said with a very bad face, "This ...... It's not like you I know."

"What can I do?" Luke pointed outside, "You must know that Harut Heavy Industries has someone who follows me around the clock to prevent me from throwing myself into other consortia. If I hadn't had the patronage of Editor-in-Chief Morson, they would have gone even further."

Darikova did not refute, and this is what it is.

And marrying Elvis's daughter will help Luke too much in the future.

"We all had to succumb to the corporations and the oligarchs."

"Don't talk about such unhappy things! Hurry up and eat and go to work...... You report to my steam lab first, try out the new weapons, and I'll go back after checking the line I'm going to check today."

Darikova asked, "What kind of new weapon?"

"You'll know when you arrive."

……

Winter Capital Magical Steam Academy.

Clear Sky greets the visiting engineer Davrion.

After hearing Davrion's intentions, Sunny Sky said, "The Nylonian Mystic and Ancient Sorcery Codex does have a secret technique that can create a water pipeline without thermal expansion and contraction, but it is not enough to achieve the air wall of the convection hood.

I can add the development of this secret technique to my schedule, and I'll send someone to inform you of any progress."

Engineer Davrion didn't expect Clear Sky to agree to his request so easily, and he said gratefully, "The secret technique may be the last resort to solve the convection mask air wall, thank you Professor Clear Sky for your selfless help, is there anything I can do for you?"

Sunny Sky smiled and said, "Academia knows no borders, and this is not a free help, if the secret art is successfully developed, I will charge royalties.

I heard that the editor-in-chief of Molson is in some bad health. I feel very sorry that I can't see him this time."

Engineer Davrion shook his head helplessly, "You can't leave the Winter Capital Magical Steam Academy, and the editor-in-chief of Morzon can't come here, maybe you really have to miss it this time."

Clearsky asked knowingly, "Wasn't Editor-in-Chief Morson the dean of the Winter Capital Magical Steam Academy before? Why can't you come here?"

Davrion replied, "It's not a secret. The Winter Capital Magical Steam Academy used to be two schools, the School of Magic and the Steam Academy, and later, under the mediation of Morson, the two academies merged into one academy.

At the time of the merger, the two academies quarreled over who was in front and who was behind "magic" and "steam". In the winter capital, the "steam" faction has a very high status, but the mainstream of the world is that "magic" is higher than "steam".

When Morson was the dean, the "magical" and "steam" factions were relatively peaceful, but after Morsson stepped down, the contradictions between the two sides were revealed. If the editor-in-chief of Morson were to come here, someone would definitely propose to him that the Winter Capital Steam Academy be changed to the Winter Capital Steam Academy.

Editor-in-chief Morson is no longer fit to deal with this kind of dispute."