Chapter 63: The Tide of the Times

“Mr. Levi, what do you think of this?”

Irene eagerly lifted her head from the workbench and showed Levi the little bird in her hands.

It looked about the size of a pigeon, with a metal skeleton, wings and body made of fabric, somewhat resembling a kite.

Irene moved its wings for Levi, then twisted it lightly with both hands.

Right after, the “bird’s” tail spread outward, forming a brim, while its body gradually swelled into the crown of a hat.

Its two wings and tiny head flattened, and in the blink of an eye, what had been a bird-kite turned into a black top hat, decorated with wing-like ornaments.

Levi took it, placed it on his head, and nodded in satisfaction.

“Not bad, not bad. I didn’t expect your needlework to be this good, Irene.”

“I didn’t like this sort of thing before, but my mother forced me to learn.”

Clearly proud, Irene lifted her head with a beaming smile.

“She said that when a girl gets married in the future, she must learn sewing and cooking… she also said…”

At this point, Irene’s expression grew faintly melancholic.

“She also said that one day, at my wedding, she would give me her best embroidery…”

“………………………”

For a moment, the atmosphere grew somewhat heavy.

Fortunately, the bell of the elevator broke the awkward silence.

“Hello, Mr. Levi.”

Inspector Lestrade stepped out of the elevator with a grin, and Irene quickly adjusted her mood, hurrying forward to take his hat and coat.

“Hello, Mr. Lestrade.”

“Mm, hello, Miss Irene…”

Inspector Lestrade nodded toward Irene, who obediently went off to do her duties.

He, however, chuckled while staring at the girl’s retreating back.

“Seems this young lady is doing well.”

“She’s indeed excellent.”

Levi was also very satisfied with Irene.

She was obedient, smart, capable, and hardworking.

He had already decided to keep her on.

Just her skill in creating steam-powered toys alone made Levi unwilling to let her go.

After all, what was a toy in Irene’s hands could easily become a deadly weapon in Levi’s.

“Speaking of which, you look rather free these days?”

“I’d like to be, but it’s not easy.”

Inspector Lestrade sighed helplessly, his face clouded with worry.

“Have you seen today’s Daily Times?”

“Not yet.”

“Take a look.”

Inspector Lestrade placed the newspaper before Levi.

Levi opened it and scanned briefly.

“A new criminal investigation method?”

“That’s right.

This fellow called Galton solved a theft case using fingerprint identification.

Public opinion is in an uproar.

Everyone thinks we should rely more on scientific methods to solve crimes.

In short, they’re demanding we start arresting people by their fingerprints.”

Inspector Lestrade grew visibly agitated as he spoke.

“It’s sheer nonsense! Solving crimes requires reasoning and evidence! What’s this business about catching people with just fingerprints? And what if two people share the same fingerprint? What then? If we find Her Majesty the Queen’s fingerprint at a crime scene, are we supposed to arrest Her Majesty as well?”

Hearing his complaint, Levi couldn’t help but laugh softly.

In Levi’s own era, fingerprints, footprints, DNA—these were all indispensable tools for solving cases.

But in this world, investigations relied on far more classical methods—reasoning, deduction, and evidence.

Court trials were more like storytelling—prosecution and defense each told the jury a story.

Whoever told the more convincing story, backed by evidence, won.

It was just like a detective animation: as long as the detective told the audience who the culprit was, why, what evidence proved it, and how the crime was carried out—if the audience believed it was reasonable, then that was how it was.

If they thought it was nonsense, then it wasn’t.

Forensics already existed, but was mainly used to determine cause of death, sometimes comparing footprints—since shoe prints were relatively easy to match.

But fingerprints? To old-fashioned policemen like Inspector Lestrade, it felt like pure fantasy.

Could the lines on skin really prove someone’s identity?

Couldn’t two people have the same patterns?

How were these things even to be examined? Learned?

In this age of rapid technological development, the police were extremely sensitive to new science—just like pastoral weavers suddenly overwhelmed by the automatic loom, unable to understand how it could outwork them.

To the police, these bizarre new methods were always suspect.

For example, say in a murder case, you find a fingerprint at the scene and identify the person—but how do you prove he committed the crime?

In the recent theft case, suspicion had already fallen on an insider.

Fingerprint comparisons pointed to him, and stolen goods were later found in his room.

That was why the press made such a fuss.

But for old-school policemen like Lestrade, they could have solved it without fingerprints.

No signs of forced entry, no strangers reported entering or leaving—clearly an inside job.

Interrogate every employee, and eventually the culprit would slip up.

So why rely on fingerprints at all?

If fingerprints became required in investigations, wouldn’t that mean that even if they caught a suspect, without fingerprints they couldn’t prosecute?

Naturally, Inspector Lestrade disliked this notion, even suspecting those cheering for “fingerprint investigations.”

It was like modern times—if someone opposed surveillance cameras, suspicion immediately arose that they had something to hide.

If you weren’t afraid of being caught committing crimes, why oppose monitoring? Freedom? A freedom to commit crimes?

To Inspector Lestrade, these “supporters of fingerprint investigations” looked like potential criminals.

Were they already preparing ways to exploit it, which was why they pushed so hard? Did they think that as long as fingerprints weren’t present, they could escape justice?

Levi couldn’t deny, since arriving in this world, he found such clashes between eras fascinating.

Things taken for granted in his own time were heretical here, while unimaginable things here were natural.

For instance, the subway—Mist City, as the birthplace of the Steam Revolution, had long been covered in subways.

Yet respectable ladies never took the subway.

In this era, they only traveled by carriage or steam car.

Only courtesans, women of lowly status, rode the subway.

If an ordinary woman were seen doing so, she would be criticized and scorned.

Of course, Levi also felt the police’s current methods weren’t without problems.

This era relied on witnesses, testimony, and physical evidence.

Witnesses had to swear before the Holy Lord not to lie—but of course, everyone knew that was nonsense.

Even if you lied, the Holy Lord wouldn’t strike you dead with lightning.

Testimonies could be fabricated.

Evidence could be forged.

And witnesses—when a knife pressed against their throat, or a bag of gold pressed into their hand—how many would uphold justice unwaveringly?

“Actually, I think this could work.”

As a modern man, Levi knew the advantages of scientific investigation.

He also understood why the public supported fingerprints—police methods here were too crude.

Forced confessions were hardly uncommon, and likely routine in many places.

Who would want their fate decided by flimsy testimony? Witnesses and evidence could be altered—but fingerprints could at least be compared.

If it wasn’t yours, then it proved your innocence.

“I think it’s rather good.”

Thus, in response to Inspector Lestrade’s complaints, Levi could only reassure him.

“As long as the police maintain consistency, even if there’s no other evidence, the public will accept that fingerprints prove guilt.”

“Easier said than done. Isn’t this just asking for trouble?”

Inspector Lestrade was clearly unhappy.

Who wanted extra work for no reason? Besides, at his age, learning new things was hard.

It was like giving someone used to a landline a mobile app—utterly incomprehensible.

“The times are changing. So must investigation.”

Levi toyed with his hat, then an idea struck him.

“I think you could turn this to your advantage.”

“Oh? How so?”

“You could use this as a reason to form a scientific investigation unit—a special team dedicated to using science in solving cases.”

“How’s that different from a regular investigation unit?”

“The difference is, they’d focus on applying science to assist in investigations.”

Levi explained further.

“For instance, fingerprint comparison would be one. But beyond that, you could consult entomologists, botanists…”

“What for?”

“Say, traces of certain plants on a body could show where the victim was killed. Or the larvae on a corpse could reveal how many days they’ve been dead…”

Levi shrugged.

“You could even partner with the Royal Master Academy.

I doubt the scholars would refuse to work with the police.

Give them especially tough cases to study—see how science can be applied.

If it works, you solve crimes, satisfy the press, and gain new investigative tools.

Isn’t that three benefits in one?”

“And if it fails?”

Inspector Lestrade wasn’t the optimistic sort, but Levi was prepared.

“Then it just proves the methods still lack something, stopping the public from worshiping science as a cure-all. And in the end, if science fails, don’t we still have our own ways?”

“Oh… that makes sense…”

This was why Levi encouraged Lestrade to form a scientific investigation team.

On one hand, it was the natural course of history.

On the other, it conveniently allowed MI7 to sift through cases.

After all, if science couldn’t solve a case, then it was time for non-scientific methods.

“Good, I get it! I’ll do it as soon as I get back!”

Lestrade wasn’t versed in science, but he was no fool.

With Levi’s reminder, he immediately grasped the value.

Grinning, he downed the tea Irene had just brought, then grabbed his hat and coat and strode toward the elevator.

Levi watched Inspector Lestrade step into the elevator—

—and then step out again.

“By the way, I came to see you about Alexander.”

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