Chapter 21, Chapter 8: The First Case Ends
Chapter 08 The First Case Ends
As the bank holiday came to a complete end, the first episode of "Food Life and Death" officially premiered on the channel.
Albert carefully read the briefing on the show's reception, his fingertips lightly tapping the name "CAME".
He understood the significance of this step better than anyone else.
Since its emergence, CAME has maintained the airs of a serious media outlet.
Its main focus is on news, science documentaries, and in-depth commentary, with a style reminiscent of The Economist magazine. It advocates seriousness, power, rationality, and depth while also maintaining a sense of humor. Its meticulously crafted writing combined with a global perspective clearly positions it as an elite media outlet.
In this era of economic downturn, amidst the chaos and confusion of information and the growing information anxiety among the masses, CAME is regarded as one of the "few trustworthy institutions," and its international influence has expanded rapidly during this period.
Now, without any warning, the launch of an entertainment-oriented food reality show has caused quite a stir, not only because CAME has poured all its publicity efforts into it, but also because it has caused an uproar within the industry.
On that day, not only CAME's internal publicity team, but also other media outlets that had caught wind of this hot topic joined in the commentary.
Online encyclopedias openly state that "the program's production standards are comparable to Amazon Prime and Netflix."
In fact, no one really knows what content CAME will release at this point.
Industry leaders and veterans are particularly cautious. They are dealing with Milverton, a maverick who can turn chaos into a resource and silence into a weapon, and they remain instinctively vigilant.
Despite possessing firsthand information about the Baker Street robbery, which could have significantly boosted global attention, he didn't fully utilize that hot topic.
Instead, he chose the last day of the bank holiday, a time when media traffic is most unpredictable, and instead of involving any related information, he presented a food program.
In Albert's view, this was Milverton's extremely arrogant and confident declaration.
"I don't need to ride the wave; I can create a bigger wave myself."
It's worth noting that the UK is one of the countries with the most developed food programs in the world.
Late August and early September is the time when food programs compete to launch new content.
From mainstream television stations like the BBC and Channel 4 to streaming services like Netflix and Amazon, a plethora of cooking competitions, celebrity chef documentaries, and food exploration programs have emerged.
Therefore, Milwaukee's actions left the entire media industry baffled.
It cannot be denied that they may have initially underestimated CAME's ambitions.
Just like The Economist itself, which spans research, consulting, summits and blogs.
CAME's foray into streaming, producing this professional-looking food reality show, clearly reveals its expansionist intentions.
Within 24 hours of its release, "Food Death" climbed into the top three on all online platforms, with viewership approaching that of the UK's most popular food show, and surpassing 1.35 million views.
The next day, the comments section became even more lively, gradually evolving from initial curiosity into widespread discussion.
The show garnered 7.5 million views in its first week, topping the platform's weekly charts. It also dominated food and mystery topics on UK Twitter, demonstrating its unprecedented popularity.
The official Instagram account gained 530,000 followers in a week, and media reports have been continuous – The Guardian, The Independent, and others have all been covering the new program.
Searches for CAME's programs increased by 35%, and five British food companies even expressed interest in collaborating with them.
Beyond the data, the industry was shaken; no one expected this seemingly low-key program to have such an impact.
Undoubtedly, the first week's performance of "Food Death" far exceeded expectations, like a silent bomb that quietly exploded in the industry.
However, dazzling success is often accompanied by even more glaring controversy and resentment.
This show not only drove British viewers crazy, but also drove those who hated Milwaukee to the point of madness.
People often say that the tragedy in life is not knowing that your relatives and friends are not doing well, or that your friends have already left you far behind.
This self-inflicted suffering largely stems from the sense of loss and shame of feeling inferior, which makes their lives unsatisfying and may even lead to resentment and jealousy towards others.
But there is a deeper kind of misery, far exceeding the happiness of one's friends: watching helplessly as one's rival, someone one despises from the bottom of one's heart, not only does not fail when trying unfamiliar fields, but instead thrives and becomes complacent.
This is even a breakdown of values.
Universal values often say that "good and evil are rewarded accordingly."
The most desperate moment is when someone you despise and loathe not only doesn't fall into the abyss, but instead climbs to the peak you've always dreamed of.
Because they discovered that what they were fighting against was not just Milverton alone, but the operating logic of the whole world, which made them both shocked, afraid, hateful, and regretful.
What's astonishing is that the world has been so incredibly helpful to him, allowing him to thrive.
What I fear is how he will treat me, his competitor, once he regains power.
What I hate is that this world is so unfair, allowing such evil people to get away with it and run rampant, without giving me any more opportunities.
His regret was that he hadn't nipped it in the bud when it was still weak in Britain. This regret became the sharpest counterattack, leaving him nowhere to escape.
Within the industry, because the show's viewership remained consistently high for several episodes, opinions quickly split into two camps: one praising "Food Death Tribulation" and the other criticizing and smearing it.
The former even claimed it was a boon and a survival guide for British street food.
The latter said that this was an exaggeration of the suffering or misery of low-level businesses in the food industry in order to attract attention, not to mention that it just so happened to coincide with the news of the bank robbery in the first episode.
I've heard that Milverton is a man who will stop at nothing, and this news about the bank robbery might have been orchestrated by him.
Are you crazy? Who would rob a bank just to make the show popular? Thirty million pounds is no small sum; do you think he would dare to do that?
[That's not quite right. "Food Survival" is currently number one online, and the viewership for these past few episodes just won't drop. This has even caused CAME's stock to rise significantly. People I know who own some shares haven't been able to stop smiling these past few days.]
If that capitalist could earn this much money from a TV show, I doubt he'd actually dare to do something crazy.
[Come on, even for capitalists, robbing a bank is way too outrageous! Making the show famous only to end up in jail—is that something a human would think of?]
[You guys are too busy gossiping, my friend is doing data analysis. "Gourmet Food: A Food Story" is not only seeing a surge in viewership, but new subscriptions have also increased by 30% compared to the same period last quarter, and advertisers are scrambling to place ads. CAME really struck gold this time.]
The show is entertaining, but it puts immense pressure on small businesses. A friend of mine works as a temporary worker in one of the shops featured on the show, and he's incredibly busy all day. Meanwhile, customers who come specifically for the show line up all the way to the street corner, constantly complaining about the long wait.
I actually think the show is quite authentic. It's a relief that these struggling little shops are finally receiving support; it's much better than those over-the-top food shows.
Have you ever thought that those shop owners with low ratings are acting far too pitiful? Doesn't anyone suspect they're just playing the victim?
[Playing the victim? This show filmed people preparing goods at 3 AM; I don't think that's playing the victim, that's reality.]
Honestly, this show's style is so much more hardcore than traditional British food programs; I've learned a lot myself. This is a good sign for the entire food industry.
[Wasn't the main selling point of the first episode the major bank case? Don't you guys really think it's too much of a coincidence that the first episode clashed with a major bank case?]
[What a coincidence! If it really was him who arranged it, then Milvolton's actions were nothing short of divine.]
I'd believe it if you called him Satan. I have a friend who works at CAME, and he says Milvolton is known as the "Great Demon King" because he never shows his emotions and never plays by the rules.
[The "Big Boss"? He's alright. He just made one hit show. Can he really earn more than established companies? Look at Disneyland. During peak season, they can have up to 90,000 visitors a day, earning ten million dollars a day from tickets and merchandise.]
"I can earn a thousand pounds a day, I'm ecstatic! Are you saying Milworth isn't earning enough?"
[...I have to admit, they make money incredibly fast.]
[But this show is really addictive. At first, I thought it was just a food show, but the attention to detail is amazing. I had to stop and watch their analysis several times. Now I watch every day for each new episode.]
[I'm one of those...evil capitalists. That's how my money was swindled away.]
This show is absolutely amazing!!! It's so good!!! It's the perfect show to watch while eating!
[By the way, it seems someone on the show circled a moment in time that Milwald himself appeared.]
[I heard about it too. They tricked me into going to see it for a long time, but it turned out to be just a reflection in a shop window. I couldn't see the face or age clearly, but the person was quite tall and thin.]
[Someone used software to separate the colors of the reflection and said they could see fairly distinct facial features, making it look like a young person. It couldn't possibly be Milverton, could it? That person would be at least fifty or sixty years old, right?]
I've heard that Milverton himself is a very handsome man who looks very young, and he wouldn't be out of place standing next to movie stars.
Is the wealthy and handsome boss married? Does he have a partner?
The comment section was like a boiling oil pan, with new comments constantly flooding in.
Albert stared at the screen, watching the comments turn the entire public discourse upside down.
"Brother, are you still busy?"
Louis's voice pulled him out of the comments section.
This is Albert's youngest brother.
He bore a striking resemblance to Professor William, though despite sharing the same features and hair color, Louis possessed a more persistent and unwavering personality compared to William's relaxed and composed demeanor. The clear burn scar on his left cheek made Louis's persistence appear even more silent and stubborn.
Albert listened to the sound and realized that he had been sitting in front of the computer for most of the day.
The real world is far more chaotic than the comments section.
This case was full of thrills and twists and turns.
No one expected that Milwaukee would buy the corrupt cops' ledgers first, forcing them to rearrange all the clues they had laid out.
Fortunately, Milwalton seemed to be inherently at odds with the corrupt police and also intended to expose them, so the ledgers were recovered more smoothly than expected.
They also successfully retrieved the film and television footage of the royal princess, thus fulfilling Mycroft Holmes's mandate.
Perhaps it was all too easy, because Albert's feelings were particularly complicated when the case was closed.
A feeling of unease, like a thorn in my side, lingered.
Did Milvolton already foresee their plans?
There was no evidence, only intuition, and that intuition itself was the most unsettling evidence.
But Albert couldn't very well offer himself up to that person and test the waters.
If the other party is really just after money, then everything seems much easier.
Albert's thoughts were like an unfinished game of chess, with enemy and friendly pieces intertwined, and seemingly clear situations concealing inexplicable gaps.
He could review every move, yet he could never see the invisible hand opposite him, nor where the next piece would land. This feeling of lacking a solid logical foothold made him uneasy.
After a short while, he decisively closed the webpage.
The screen went dark, revealing Louis, who had been standing quietly behind him for a moment.
Albert's hand paused almost imperceptibly on the table, then naturally withdrew. "Louis,"
His tone was calm, revealing no emotion. "Is there something you need?"
Louis did not notice Albert's subtle change in mood.
He came because Louis knew that even though the case had been successfully closed, Albert was still in contact with Milverton.
“I was thinking, is there something we haven’t finished dealing with yet?” Louis’s gaze was calm, and his tone carried the usual straightforwardness of clearing obstacles for his brother. “If Milverton is in the way, it would save us trouble by getting rid of him.”
“It’s not that bad yet.” Albert genuinely felt it wasn’t necessary. “Milwald’s influence is greater than I imagined.”
Because of Milverton's program, the dark secrets of Scotland Yard were revealed faster than expected.
This is a great convenience for them.
Louis didn't see it that way.
He also watched the food shows and read the comments section. His biggest takeaway was that if he didn't know that they were behind this, Louis would also think that Milverton was very likely behind it.
Because the biggest beneficiary throughout the entire process was Milverton.
This pervasive yet elusive sense of control made Louis uncomfortable.
What role did Milwaukee play in this case? Was he also planning something?
But if Louis were to ask Albert these questions, it would seem as if he didn't trust Albert's abilities and was interfering in his case.
"So, are you still contacting Milverton because you have some other plans?"
“He’s still very useful…” Albert looked up, his gaze deep and emotionless, yet impossible to read. “Although dangerous, he’s quite interesting.”
Louis was stunned.
In his view, "dangerous" and "interesting" are never words that Albert would use in the same sentence.
Albert, however, seemed to have already placed his bet and had no intention of changing it.
The two remained silent for a moment, and Louis couldn't help but ponder the name "Milwaldton" in his mind, his mind becoming increasingly uneasy.
—The first case, "The Baker Street Heist," is complete.
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