Curiosity During Travel

The train rattles beneath me as I make my way from Birmingham back to London. Three weeks of travel has left me exhausted but fulfilled. The English countryside blurs past my window—all muted greens and browns under a perpetually gray sky - a perfect mirror of my current mood, I would say.

Six months earlier, I came to UK ostensibly to complete my postgraduate work on modern Chinese history, with a particular focus on Hong Kong's transformation through the late 20th century. My department supervisor thinks I'm simply documenting the post-colonial transition and economic development. He'd likely be rather confused by the actual contents of my research journals.

The truth, as those of you on this forum understand, runs deeper. The ripples of the Grand War touched every corner of the world, and the Secret History that unfolded behind the veil of conventional events has shaped our reality in ways the unenlightened can never comprehend. China and Hong Kong stand at fascinating crossroads of Aspects' influence - particularly as the Weight of Triumvirate sought to consolidate power, as he always tries.

This current research trip has taken me through Coventry, Birmingham, and several smaller towns with significant connections to both conventional war history and, more importantly, sites where the boundaries between planes thinned during periods of mass suffering. The Nazi bombing campaigns, I've discovered, were not simply military strategy but deliberate attempts of breaching through. Several of my rubbings from memorial plaques reveal emblematic patterns commonly seen in the rituals of the Mansions.

I've filled pages with observations. My official university research will reflect none of this, of course, but my true work progresses well. However, I'm not writing today about my research.

Several weeks ago, in my apartment, scrolling through news, I came across a story that has left me deeply unsettled. A PhD student from China, studying in UCL, has been arrested for dozens of sexual assaults. At that time I was not aware of this guy until several former classmates messaged me about it, pointing out that he was in the same high school of ours. I didn't know him, thankfully, but the connection has opened old social circles I'd rather leave closed at this point. Some have even joked about our school "producing interesting characters" - clearly unaware of the true nature of his crimes. but the methods described triggered immediate recognition of substances connected to the Secret History, as scholars here continue their researches.

I've documented my formal analysis elsewhere for those with proper clearance, but here I need to express something more personal.

I'm not here to cause laughters but I always believe that relationship was built on mutual respect, shared interests, and genuine affection. I remembered in my previous experience I spend hours talking about everything and nothing with a girl, simply comfortable in each other's presence. Though we eventually parted ways when our career paths diverged, those years remain precious to me.

The thought that someone would violate another person's autonomy so completely - not just physically but spiritually forcing their soul into the Crop Field without protection or guidance - fills me with a visceral disgust. I know that the spiritual one is not conducted on his purpose, but it makes no differences in both his motivation and result. That he comes from the same educational background as me somehow makes it worse, as though it creates some distant association I want no part of.

I found myself wondering how someone becomes so disconnected from basic human empathy but later I got the answer. If you have looked into that cases, you will get to know that his family is background is too... strong to free him from the possibility of not doing such things. It is quite intersting to find non-believers and non-enlightened to be trapped in corruption once they get used to power and fortune. However, I feel a strange sense of shame anyway—irrational, perhaps, but present nonetheless.

For those of you planning to be in London next month, Perhaps I will be there before my departure, and perhaps I will be willing to share somthing more interesting.

Until then, stay vigilant.

Edited to add: Thank you to those who sent private messages of support. And yes, Mr. Brian, I did manage to visit that bookshop in Coventry you recommended. You were right about the proprietor—extremely knowledgeable about local history and surprisingly forthcoming about certain "unusual occurrences" during the Blitz. I acquired two volumes that I'm eager to discuss when we meet.

Original Author: Mr. CheesePuddingKnight

2025/4/9