Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Freedom from the Law

This is the letter to the US government.No one saw who dropped the letter in the mailbox. Throughout the night, the aisles in front of our office couldn't be empty: from sunrise to sunset, people pass by in a hurry, eagerly or curiously.Of course, even so, the person carrying the letter can easily sneak in without being seen.It was so dark that even from one side of the street it was difficult to see the other. As I have said, the letter was published in a government-linked newspaper as a photocopy of the original.Perhaps, one would expect, the public's first reaction to this would be, "This is the work of some good joker." Five weeks ago, I received a letter from Airy Kyoho in exactly the same way.

However, not everyone, whether in Washington or elsewhere in the United States, shares this view of the letter.To the few who thought the letter unfussy, the overwhelming majority would reply: "This letter has nothing of the kind of prose a joker is accustomed to. Only one person could have written it." Letter (Avicenna). Arab philosopher, medical scientist, natural scientist, writer, and none other than the inventor himself of that untraceable monster.” To some people the above conclusion seems irrefutable, because it can be easily explained away as curiosity.Moreover, there is still a lack of convincing explanations for all the strange events that have occurred. Hui Shih, Deng Xi, etc., a view generally accepted by the public: the inventor is only temporarily hidden, just to reappear at some point in a new and more surprising way.He hadn't been killed in an incident at all, he must have been hiding in a secret place where the police couldn't find him.He wrote that letter in order to clearly express his attitude towards the governments concerned in the world, and he did not send the letter in any area because it might lead to the danger of tracking his hiding place; so he went to Washington to personally Post the letter at the contact point indicated in the government notice: Police Station.

Apparently, if this extraordinary fellow thought that this new evidence of his existence would cause an uproar in both continents, he was quite right.On this very day, thousands of ordinary people read, and have read more than once, the local papers—to quote an extremely popular phrase—hardly able to believe their own eyes. As for me, I have carefully thought over every word of this letter, in a heavy handwriting that a handwriting expert would have recognized from the writing as a violent, cruel, and withdrawn individual.Suddenly, I couldn't help exclaiming--fortunately, my steward did not hear--"Why didn't I notice at once the similarity between this letter and the one I received from Morganton."

In addition, there is a more important coincidence. Doesn't the initials "M.O.W" on the letter sent to me just represent "Master of the World"? Where did the second letter come from? "On board the Terror," undoubtedly the name of the three-in-one monster piloted by the mysterious captain who signed the letter to me who threatened me if I dared Re-enter the giant peak of Airi. I got up and took out the June 13th letter from the table.Compare this letter with the copy of the second letter in the newspaper.There is no doubt that the handwriting of both is extremely peculiar.

My heart was beating eagerly.I was trying to draw some possible conclusion from this remarkable fact known only to myself.The man who threatened me was the pilot of the Terror--a frightening name indeed!I can't help but ask myself if our probing can be carried out without knowing everything about it.How could we allow our agents to take risks without being fully sure of their success!That is, what connection existed between the Terror and Mount Airi?What is the connection between the phenomenon in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the appearance of the weird car and boat? I knew what to do first, put the letter in my coat pocket, I went straight to the police station, I asked if Mr. Ward was there, and when I got an affirmative answer, I went straight to his office, using the unusual, Perhaps it was unnecessary effort to knock on the door.I got permission to stride into the office.

The letter in the newspaper had been placed before the chief, but it was not a copy of the original, but the original letter which had been dropped in the mailbox of the police station. "Strack, you seem to have something important to tell me?" "Mr. Ward, please decide for yourself." I took the letter with my initials from my pocket. He took the letter, looked at the letter paper, and asked, "What is this?" "You have read it, a letter with only initials." "Where did it come from?" "Morganton, North Carolina." "When did you receive it?"

"January ago, June 13th." "The way the letter was written was sort of a joke." "Listen to me—Strack, what's on your mind right now?" "Mr. Ward, I wonder what you think of this letter?" He read the letter again, carefully this time. "The signature is the initials," he said. "Yes, Mr. Ward, these initials stand for the 'world master' of the replica of the original." "You're pretty sure of that," Mr. Ward replied. "It is quite obvious," I said, "that the two letters are from the same hand."

"It seems so." "Look at the threats I've had to find out the truth about what happened to Mount Airi." "Yes, the danger to your life! But, Strack, it's been a month since you had this letter, and why haven't you shown it to me?" "Because, I don't think it's important. After receiving the letter from the 'Horror' today, I think it must be taken seriously." "Exactly. I think this letter is very important. I even hope that it can provide clues to find this strange fellow." "I hope so, Mr. Ward." "The question remains—is there any possible connection between the Terror and Mount Airy?"

"I don't understand yet, I can't even imagine—" "There can only be one explanation for the link between the two," continued Mr Ward, "although that is hardly acceptable, if not impossible." "You mean?" "The Mount of Airy is the refuge chosen by the inventor, where his machine is hidden." "Impossible!" I exclaimed. "How is he going to get the machine up the hill? How is he going to get it out? Mr. Ward, your idea doesn't seem to me right." "Strack, unless—" "Unless what?" I asked.

"Unless the ruler of the world has wings, which is why he chose the Mount Airi as his hiding place." If it is speculated according to this line of thinking, the "Terror" in the depths of the sea can also compete with vultures and eagles.I found the idea so unbelievable that I couldn't help shrugging.Even Mr. Ward, who made this bold assumption, found it inconceivable. Shrugging his shoulders, he compared the two letters again, looked at them under the microscope, paid special attention to the initials, and tried to find the most noteworthy similarities between the two letters. Sex, not just from the same hand, but from the same pen.

After a moment of thought, Mr. Ward said: "I must leave your letter, Strack. It seems to me that you are clearly destined to play an important part in this strange incident, or two. I am not sure what the connection is between the two, but I am sure that there must be a connection. The first matter is related to you, and it is not surprising if you are related to the second event, " "Mr. Ward, I hope so. I'm an inquisitive man, you know." "Strack, me too. Needless to say. Look, I'm still repeating my previous order to be ready to leave Washington at any time if ordered to do so." The public agitation caused by this defiant letter continued to grow to this day.Both the White House and Congress are aware of the public consensus that something must be done about it.Of course, it is difficult to take any action.Where is this self-proclaimed master of the world to be found?Even if found, how to catch him?Not only does he have the extraordinary powers he has shown, but also, apparently, potentials that are still unknown.How did he cross the precipice and perilous peak to reach Lake Carjal?And how did he escape from there?And if he did show up in Lake Superior again, how did he get through all the land in between without anyone knowing about it? All this is simply puzzling!Letting the truth of this matter come to light is naturally the top priority.Because this guy has refused to accept hundreds of millions of dollars, force must be used.Inventors and their inventions can no longer be bought with money.How supercilious and aggressive were the terms of his refusal!That being the case, he should be regarded as the enemy of society.To deal with such a madman, every means is justified, that is, he must be deprived of the power to injure others.The idea that he no longer exists, is now completely abandoned.He was alive and still alive; his presence was a constant danger to the public. Influenced by these public opinions, the government issued the following statement: "Since the Terror has categorically refused to make his invention public at any price; and since the use of the machines he created poses a danger to the public which the Government cannot ignore, the manipulation of the Terror The author is therefore not yet protected by the law. Any measures taken to this end, whether by apprehending or destroying him and his machine, are to be encouraged and to be rewarded." This is tantamount to a declaration of war, a declaration of war on the death of the "master of the world", who is trying to threaten and despise the people of the country and the world! Before night fell, great prizes were promised to anyone who could uncover the hideout of this dangerous inventor, or prove his identity, or deport him. This is what happened in the last two encounters in July.All are willing to take risks for this huge reward.Should the outlaw appear again, he must be watched and signaled; he should be arrested at the first opportunity, but there is nothing one can do when he appears on land in his car or on water in his boat .This kind of situation must never be allowed to happen. He must be arrested suddenly when he is off guard, so that he has no chance to escape at a speed that cannot be matched by any other means of transportation. I am also extremely vigilant.Waiting for Mr. Ward's order at any time so that my assistant and I can start immediately.However, the order was delayed because the guy has not been found so far.Fast forward to July, and newspapers continue to fuel the public restlessness.Rumors are constantly being published, and newer leads are constantly being announced.But all this is nonsense.From all over the United States, telegrams were sent to the police department, but these cables contradicted and canceled their authenticity, and the huge reward was not only helpless, but also led to blame, mistakes and confusion.Sometimes, according to eyewitnesses, they saw a cloud and the car was hidden in the cloud.Submarines were sometimes seen in any swell that rolled up in the thousands of lakes in the United States.In fact, hallucinations or phantoms haunt us from every corner, in the frenzy stirred up by the public imagination. At last, on July 29th, I received a telegram from Mr. Ward that day, and I went immediately to his office. "Stark, leave in an hour," he said. "destination?" "Toledo." "That guy has been found?" "Yes, you will receive your final orders as soon as you arrive in Toledo." "In an hour, I will be on the road with my assistant." "Good job, Strucker. Now, I give you a formal order." "Mr. Ward, what order?" "Success—only this time."