Chapter 263: Deterrence

Chapter 263: Deterrence

Stanton initially thought that by carefully reviewing the evidence and verifying the timing of the incident, he would be able to identify the suspects. However, as he investigated, he discovered that nearly all the peripheral members of the "Torpedo Research Group" could provide alibis confirming that they had not spent extended periods alone with technical data.

As for those who couldn't establish their alibis, Stanton asked Hilbert for guidance, to which Hilbert replied, "You don't need to investigate this person, you understand."

Stanton immediately understood that this individual might have indeed passed on information to the outside, but the direction of the leak was not towards France. Thus, there was no need to investigate him.

Following the general logic, the potential mole could only be among the core research personnel. If these individuals were French spies, obtaining critical technology would be relatively straightforward. They frequently interacted with this technical data, and they often authored the technical materials themselves. If they wanted to leak critical information, they wouldn't need to steal it; they could simply write it down when they returned home.

Stanton began to focus his scrutiny on these research personnel. He looked for any recent financial anomalies, such as receiving a sudden windfall or experiencing financial difficulties for some reason. However, this line of inquiry proved fruitless.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Royal Counterintelligence Investigation Unit hadn't managed to uncover any reliable, useful information. Conventional methods seemed to be increasingly ineffective.

But the pressure on Stanton from the Prime Minister was mounting. With the consent of the Prime Minister's secretary, Stanton was forced to employ less conventional methods. Of course, Stanton assured the Prime Minister that these methods wouldn't leave any physical marks or evidence.

Once these methods were employed, results started to emerge. All the research personnel, from the group leader to the members, without exception, confessed to being French spies.

As for the peripheral individuals, aside from the informant in Downing Street, the others also admitted to being French spies.

Regarding the more critical task of implicating certain individuals, this was not an issue at all. If the Prime Minister required it, even if these individuals claimed they were in contact with Jesus, that could be arranged.

However, King George III miscalculated. Since the Prince of Wales' position was unassailable, and he was not only younger but also healthier than the king, it was widely known that one day George III's reign would come to an end, and the Prince of Wales would ascend to the throne.

Knowing that the Prince of Wales would eventually become king, many were willing to lend him money, even if the king refused to give him a single penny. So, the Prince of Wales had accumulated substantial debts but could still borrow money continually without resorting to Jewish moneylenders.

Of course, relying on loans was far from ideal. Having one's own wealth was a desirable prospect. Moreover, the New Tory Party was seeking to secure its position, and the Prince of Wales aligned himself with these New Tory figures.

As for the outcome of the case, after a secret trial by a military tribunal, most members of the "Torpedo Research Group" were taken out for target practice. Those individuals implicated in the case files provided by Stanton mostly emerged unscathed. Similarly, those implicated by the Royal Counterintelligence Investigation Unit's findings faced no consequences. It was reported that both sides had reached some consensus on certain matters, successfully ushering in a "Deterrence Era."

While this event held significant importance, it mostly unfolded behind the scenes, leaving the majority of the British population unaware. At this time, the primary concern for most Britons remained the "Bath Exhibition" orchestrated by the French "Seven-Penny Union."

Under the onslaught of the "Seven-Penny Union's" advertising campaign, the "Bath Exhibition" had become the foremost interest of British merchants. However, it wasn't just the merchants who were intrigued by the "Bath Exhibition." For instance, Figgins' faction was keenly interested in a specific medical commodity featured in the advertisements—a steel forceps. Women, on the other hand, were captivated by various French accessories.

Even the rural landowners had their eyes on the "Bath Exhibition." They cursed the French for the information that suggested their grain prices were relatively low. At the same time, they began scrutinizing the prices of woolen fabric and contemplating whether to convert more of their farmland into pastures, possibly evicting their tenants.

After some calculations, these landowners reached a common conclusion: if the actual transaction prices at the "Bath Exhibition" were in line with the advertised estimates, then sheep farming would undoubtedly be more profitable than wheat cultivation.

Some prudent landowners decided to wait until after the "Bath Exhibition" to make their decisions, while others, eager and impatient, began evicting their tenants and placing sheep in their fields. Fortunately, now that the "respectable folks" engaged in trade knew that Britain would not initiate war in the short term, the textile industry resumed its expansion, creating a high demand for urban laborers. These evicted tenants wouldn't starve immediately, although they might end up working themselves to death beside the textile machines within a few years.