The Shadow of Great Britain-Chapter 714 - 343 Scotland Yard Joint University Construction_3

Arthur asked with a smile, "Which newspaper do you represent?"

"The Guardian from Manchester."

"So, you’re heading to Manchester?"

"Of course."

"Then no matter how much money you offer, I’m not going."

"Why?" the reporter asked with a laugh. "Are you trying to say that you intend to refuse money and stay at Scotland Yard to dedicate yourself to the citizens?"

"No, sir, I am not that noble," Arthur replied with a smile. "I’m just worried that I won’t be able to handle the dock thugs in Manchester, even the local ones in London give me enough trouble. Look, didn’t I get shot last time I went to Liverpool? Liverpool is bad enough; I fear I might lose my life in Manchester."

As soon as Arthur finished, another burst of laughter came from the lecture hall.

Principal Horner took out his pocket watch, looked at it, and announced with a smile as he stood up, "Gentlemen, time is almost up. Let’s conclude the interview here; your work today has been quite successful."

"Goodbye, Mr. Horner. It indeed was a successful interview today, and I believe we will write a good article," said the reporter.

The reporters gradually dispersed, and when Horner saw that most had left, he turned to Arthur with a smile and said, "Arthur, my good lad, when I presented you with the scholarship a few years ago, I knew you would have a bright future. At that time, I also thought maybe one day you’d give back to your alma mater, but I truly didn’t expect that day to come so quickly."

While standing up and organizing his documents, Arthur replied with a smile: "Mr. Principal, it’s not about giving back to the alma mater, but in my view, the University of London is currently the best option. ’Giving back’ is too heavy a word for what you are suggesting. If I really had the capacity to give back to the school, I would have brought a contract from the East India Company, not from Scotland Yard."

"Hahaha! So you still remember that, huh?" Horner exclaimed. "Back then, what your batch of students envied the most was Balliol College, Oxford, or rather, all students across Britain did. After all, Balliol is the only place in the country where one could enter into the civil service of the East India Company through the normal recruitment process. Graduates from other schools who wanted to join the East India Company had to employ some tactics."

At this point, Horner suddenly shifted the topic: "However, these days Lord William Bentinck, the Governor of India, seems to be pushing for reforms within the East India Company. He’s even permitted Indians to hold positions within the company. If this trend continues, who knows, maybe one day our students might also proudly enter the East India Company."

"I’ve read about it in the newspapers," Arthur quipped. "But more than Lord Bentinck’s reforms in recruitment, I’m more intrigued by the prohibition against the Indian practice of Sati. The words spoken by General Charles Napier, the commander of the British Army in India to the Indians, were quite interesting."

"What did he say?"

Arthur recalled: "General Napier told the Indians, ’You claim that burning widows is your custom; that’s fine. But we Britons have our customs, too! In Britain, when a man burns a live woman, we place a rope around their neck and hang them until they are dead. You go ahead and set up your pyres, but alongside, my carpenters will construct a gallows for you. You follow your customs, and we’ll follow ours!’"

After hearing this, Horner commented, "Perhaps General Napier’s management style is a bit rough, but his intentions are noble, and we shouldn’t blame him too much. But... come to think of it, why have you suddenly taken an interest in India? Are you considering a position with the East India Company as well?"

Laughing, Arthur shook his head: "I’m past the age of job hunting. I’m not particularly concerned about India; I’ve just taken an interest in General Napier because, while I was in Liverpool recently, I happened to meet his brother, Charles Napier of the Royal Navy. Oh... perhaps I shouldn’t be calling him that, as he hasn’t been reinstated to active duty."

"Charles Napier?" Horner asked. "What was he doing in Liverpool? With the cholera outbreak there, it’s hardly a vacation spot, is it?"

Arthur replied with a smile, "But he could take a ship out to sea and find a sunny resort to relax in."

"Those retired generals do live comfortably, after all, they have their pensions," Horner sighed. Then, turning to Arthur, he said, "Let’s not dwell on that. Mr. Chopin is practicing in the music room, and you said you had something to discuss with him, right?"

Arthur nodded, "Alright, then please lead the way. After all, when I was a student, the school didn’t even have a music room."

Horner replied with a gentle smile, "Perhaps you should find more time to walk around the school. We’ve built so much more since we received our royal charter."