Chapter Six: Subjugation

  When Liu Qi finished listening to the introduction about Kechi, he also had an intuitive understanding of this Kechi in his heart.

  This guy is absolutely a ruthless and cunning fellow in the way he deals with Nest. His mental quality is super hard, and it has a bit of the flavor of Dr. Hannibal Lecter. However, in this era of war and chaos, it's also normal for such a character to emerge. Think about those Nazi officers in the concentration camps who played music while killing thousands of Jews at the same time. Kaji is just a small-time version of them.

  However, sometimes war requires just such a cold-blooded and ruthless person who can ignore even his own life for the sake of a goal.

  "Go get that K?the, I want to see her." K?the said to the SS guard next to him.

  Not long after, two guards walked in with a young man. Liu Qi sat on the chair and looked at the young man who was brought before him. Under his brown hair, he had a standard Italian-style narrow face, a straight nose bridge, and small eyes. He couldn't be considered handsome. But his firm facial expression revealed a hint of youthful arrogance. Coupled with his calm demeanor, it gave people a feeling. This feeling was very special, Liu Qi didn't know why, but in short, it was an unknown, mysterious, and inexplicable emotion.

  "Even the appearance is so cool, it's simply a born magician. If it were in the 21st century, there would be no need to perform, just putting it out would make it popular. What David, Copperfield, Liu Qian and others would probably have to get plastic surgery. If he went to Hollywood to act in movies, that would also be an instant hit, still a absolute power player." Liu Qi thought to himself as he looked at Kechi.

  Liu Qi was also a magic enthusiast in later generations and had done some research on magic.

  "You all go out first and let me be with Kaito for a while." Liu Qi said to several SS soldiers.

  "But, Zhongxiao, what about your safety? This guy is very dangerous." Several SS officers said hastily.

  "Don't worry, I won't have any trouble with Mr. Kaito. You can rest assured. Everyone get out, that's an order."

  Several SS guards listened to Liu Qi's impatience and carefully checked the handcuffs and shackles on both sides of Keiji. Then they all withdrew from the room, closing the door behind them.

  "Mr. Kaito, I know you're no stranger to handcuffs and leg irons. Opening them should be a piece of cake for a magician, especially an escape artist like yourself. You can get out of them, go ahead."

  After finishing speaking, Liu Qi turned his body around and slowly said in a low voice: "A successful magic performance is generally divided into three parts. The first part is 'using the false to replace the real', where the magician takes out something real, such as a deck of cards, a bird, a car, an airplane, a pyramid, or even a canal."

  Just as he said that, Liu Qi heard a sound of iron chains colliding behind him. What was strange was that from the moment Keqi entered the house and sat down, Liu Qi had not heard any sound of the iron chains on Keqi's body colliding with the floor. It was as if the iron chains were growing out of Keqi's body.

  Liu Qi didn't pay attention to it and continued to speak in that tone, "The magician will take out this thing and ask you to check the authenticity of the item. Of course, you won't be able to see anything. But there must be something fake."

  "The second step is 'stealing the show'. The magician uses this ordinary thing to create an unexpected performance. Now you really want to find out the secret. But absolutely can't find it. Because you didn't actually look. And you're not even thinking about knowing the answer. You want to be deceived, but you won't applaud yet. Because making something disappear is not enough. You also have to make this thing reappear."

  "So the third step of magic, which is also the most difficult part. Is to transform decay into wonder. To restore something that originally existed." After finishing speaking, Liu Qi turned around.

  Only Keiji's shackles and handcuffs were gone, but his originally calm face revealed a hint of sadness. His eyes showed a bewildered gaze.

  "What do you want to do, Zhong Xiao?" Kaito asked aloud.

  "I want to know who is the greatest magician in the world," said Liu Qi. "Can you tell me?"

  When Liu Qi said the greatest magician, Kaito's eyes lit up. "I don't know, Colonel," Kaito replied.

  Liu Qi took a glance at Kaito and said, "As far as I know, the greatest magician in the world right now is Jasper Maskelyne from Britain."

  "Why is it Jasper Masklyn? I also know this person and have seen his magic show. But I don't think he's the greatest magician in the world right now." Kaito said, somewhat disagreeing when he heard that the greatest magician was Jasper Masklyn.

  "Hehe, I knew you'd ask. Now what I'm going to tell you is top secret."

  Liu Qi continued, "In the files of the GSD, it was mentioned that in previous battles in North Africa, Germany had gained an absolute advantage under Rommel's command. Under Rommel's relentless offensive, the British army couldn't even get supplies. In May 1941, the German army planned to launch a large-scale air raid on the British army's important supply base, Alexandria Port, to cut off their last maritime artery. Upon learning of this ominous news, Jasper volunteered to the British high command - he could use magic to "clone" Alexandria Port and make it escape the bombing. His bold creativity was unanimously recognized by the commanders."

  Soon, Jasper found a place called Mayotte Bay several kilometers away from Alexandria. The local area was desolate and uninhabited, but its terrain and appearance were extremely similar to those of Alexandria. There, Jasper ordered his men to set up lights that were exactly the same as those in the port and city, and at night he had them shine brightly all night long, while at the same time ordering the residents of Alexandria not to turn on their lights.

  Thus, the German military, hoodwinked, mistook Maupertuis Bay for Alexandria. The commander of the German air fleet executing the mission did not know whether to believe the wireless indications or his own eyes. In the end, he ordered a continuous 8-night bombardment of that desolate island, wasting bombs and firepower. Meanwhile, Alexandria remained unscathed.

  The second was in early September 1941, when the German air force attempted to bomb the Suez Canal, cutting off the British army's dependence on the canal for logistical support.

  At that time, some sections of the river had already been laid with anti-submarine nets, but the British army still hoped to have a better way to ensure the safety of this important lifeline, the Suez Canal. After repeated discussions, the British army finally decided to "hide the Suez Canal" and this arduous task fell on Jasper's head.

  How could the 175-kilometer-long Suez Canal be hidden from north to south? Jasper racked his brains. Finally, he thought of himself often using sudden sprays and flames on stage to cover up objects. Jasper made 24 giant fans, installed on the searchlights along the canal, and the fan blades were all made of glass mirrors. When the fan blades rotated, each searchlight formed 24 separate strong light beams. This modified light strip was extremely bright, it could shoot into the air for 9 miles, making it impossible for people in the plane to open their eyes, and naturally they couldn't see the ground targets, so it's hard to carry out effective bombing.

  The work of guarding was then carried out in a tight and secretive manner, with dozens of modified searchlights almost covering the entire Suez Canal, and everything was ready.

  On the evening of October 5, when German planes entered the sky above the Suez Canal, Jasper gave an order, and suddenly, all the "special searchlights" were turned on. The German pilots were blinded by the sudden intense white light that made it impossible for them to open their eyes, and these extremely bright beams also tightly "wrapped" around the German planes. The German bombers tried to penetrate this dazzling screen of light but ended in failure, finally having to hastily and aimlessly drop bombs into places they themselves did not know.

  The German pilots returned to the base and reported in distress: "The vast canal has been completely 'hidden' by the British." The person in charge of the German military was so angry that he stomped his feet and sighed.

  Liu Qi said, "Germany suffered the consequences of these two failures. A magician can change the outcome of a bombing raid and even alter the fate of a battle. That's why I say that Jasper Masklin is now the greatest magician in the world."

  As Liu Qi spoke up to this point, Keji's eyes began to shine with light.

  Liu Qi continued, "And you, Kechi, are indeed a criminal now. Even if you can escape, you'll just be a nameless, anonymous magician. No matter how great your magical abilities are, you won't be called the greatest magician."

  "What do you want me to do, Commander?" Kaito asked bluntly.

  "Hehe, I'm making it very simple for you. Defeat Jasper Masklin on the battlefield. Then after the war is over, I'll sign a document to release your file. And I'll take good care of your family, and give your two sisters a large dowry when they get married."

  "Alright, deal." Katchi's brief response came without a hint of the hesitation and verbosity typical of Italians.

  Liu Qi pressed the electric bell on the desk, and the door opened. Several SS officers walked in.

  "I now announce to everyone that Mr. Nicolas Cage is our battlefield technical advisor, with the rank of lieutenant. Lieutenant Cage's orders are my orders. Everyone will follow Lieutenant Cage's requirements."

  Several SS officers looked at Liu Qi and Kaito with puzzled eyes, but said nothing.

  "I'm saying it again, Mr. Katch is now our battlefield technical advisor, lieutenant rank. Lieutenant Katch's orders are my orders. Everyone will do as Lieutenant Katch requires."

  "Yes, Central School." This time several SS officers did not hesitate and answered directly.

  "Now, all of you go gather all the prisoners and guards. I have something to say." Liu Qi finally declared.