‘Second Great Pollution’

Eurostar,near Calais,France. 8:20 a.m.

Song Jie burst into laughter upon hearing this. "You figured it out. Officer Herzog, I suppose someone like you, who lives in the 'Great Lakes Region,' hasn't had British artificial fish meat before."

Eva Herzog was taken aback. "Artificial fish meat?"

Song Jie explained, "It's a kind of synthetic fish meat made by using soy protein to replace fish protein, coconut oil to mimic fat, and starch to simulate the texture and chewiness of real meat. How does it taste?"

Eva Herzog took another bite and thought it over. "No wonder it has the texture of meat, but none of the flavor. The difference is obvious—it doesn't taste good."

Song Jie chuckled and said, "You're being polite. I think it tastes awful, like chewing wax. But there's no choice—ordinary Brits don't have access to real fish anymore and have to eat this most of the time."

Eva Herzog asked, "Is it because of the 'Second Great Pollution'?"

Song Jie sighed and said, "Yes. In 2026, Japan discharged all its remaining highly radioactive nuclear wastewater into the ocean. The volume of wastewater released was dozens of times greater than their first discharge in 2023, causing irreparable damage to the global marine ecosystem. This event became known as the 'Second Great Pollution.' It led to the near-extinction of marine flora and fauna, and the few surviving marine creatures were found to be highly radioactive, making them banned from consumption and trade worldwide. Coastal cities around the world were also affected by the contaminated waters. Many coastal areas became uninhabitable, forcing residents to migrate inland. Since then, coastal cities across the globe have declined, never regaining their former prosperity. This event could be described as a turning point that completely transformed the global geopolitical landscape."

"So that's why Britain ended up like this?" Herzog asked.

"It's not just Britain. Nearly all island nations suffered catastrophic losses. In Europe alone, it was devastating, but even more distant places like Australia, New Zealand,Indonesien and Singapore experienced severe economic collapse, industrial stagnation, currency devaluation, and brain drain. Britain stands out because it's in Europe and closer to you, making the impact particularly palpable."

"No wonder over the past five years, all the wealthy and powerful people in Europe have been migrating to Lake Constance, settling down there for both living and leisure. During holidays, the lakesides are packed with crowds, as if the entire population of Europe had gathered there. It kept us police officers on duty so busy, we were like ants on a hot pan." Herzog frowned as he recalled those stressful days.

"Actually, it's not just Lake Constance. Russia's Lake Baikal, Italy's Lake Maggiore, the Caspian Sea in Central Asia, and Canada's Five Great Lakes have all become precious and scarce strategic resources, which is why they are so sought after.

People only realize the value of something after they've lost it. Now that seaside vacations are no longer an option, those who want to enjoy sunshine, water, and beaches have no choice but to visit the vast inland lakes. Only by these great lakes can people still experience something reminiscent of the former seas—endless expanses of clean water, beaches as white as those by the sea, and various aquatic animals and plants," Song Jie explained, while spearing another piece of artificial fish with his fork, chewing hard before swallowing.

"There are many large lakes around the world, but it seems like only the area around Lake Constance is referred to as the 'Great Lakes Region'?" Herzog asked.

"'Great Lakes Region' is not just a mere name, but more of a prestigious title," Song Jie explained. "Lake Constance is located at the tri-border area of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with France and Italy nearby. It holds a geographically advantageous position at the heart of Europe, nestled in the Alps, and surrounded by traditionally wealthy countries with high living standards. Naturally, it has become a highly coveted vacation destination. The overwhelming influx of visitors has further boosted the economy and culture of the surrounding areas. The combination of favorable timing, location, and human efforts has created today's unique 'Great Lakes Region.'

In fact, those with insight can see that, with the decline of coastal nations, the 'Great Lakes Region' will become the true center of Europe in the future. That's why countless people have been investing here early, hoping to catch this wave and reap the benefits of its rise," Song Jie continued.

"I've heard that these countries around the 'Great Lakes Region' have been heavily developing the area, building museums and commercial centers on one hand, and hotels and residential facilities on the other," Herzog added.

"Historically, although there are many cities around the lake—be it Lindau and Friedrichshafen in Germany, Bregenz in Austria, or St. Gallen in Switzerland—none of them have reached a population of a million. The closest large cities to the 'Great Lakes Region' are Munich in Germany, Innsbruck in Austria, and Zurich in Switzerland, but they're still several hours away by car. Therefore, these countries are seizing this opportunity to fill the gap and establish a new 'national landmark' around the 'Great Lakes Region,' aiming to replace the prominence once held by London and Paris and become Europe's new cultural center.

Of course, the region doesn't lack chances anymore, and with museums already under construction, the only thing missing is the art to fill them. To fuel their cultural ambitions, these countries have launched a global race for art collections," Song Jie said with a serious expression.

"No wonder there's been a surge in art-related crimes in recent years, along with the rise of a widespread black market network for art transactions across Europe. Even the director of the British Museum admitted that corruption and theft within public institutions have become so rampant that it's beyond control," Herzog said, suddenly understanding the situation better.

"You're absolutely right. This is also one of the main reasons we've been working so hard to recover Chinese cultural relics lost overseas. On one hand, with the coastal countries in economic decline and their currencies devalued, only gold and art remain as reliable assets. On the other hand, many artworks are being frantically snatched up due to the rise of the 'Great Lakes Region.' Both factors have contributed to the surge in crime, making our mission more urgent and necessary," Song Jie said, clenching his fists involuntarily as he finished speaking.

Hearing this, Herzog silently lowered her head and finished the last fry on her plate. When she first met Song Jie, she didn't fully understand the gravity of this case, and was annoyed that the sudden operation had disrupted her vacation. Now, she was gradually beginning to realize the importance, complexity, and seriousness of the matter. On one hand, she felt ashamed of her earlier ignorance; on the other, she felt apologetic for her poor attitude toward Song Jie.

So, Herzog asked, "By the way, you clearly know Director Horden of the British Museum well, but you deliberately didn't tell me. What was your previous collaboration with her about?"

"That was three years ago, when I was in charge of the 'Wanbi Project.' I went to her to negotiate the return of Chinese cultural relics from the British Museum back to China. Initially, Director Horden was very uncooperative, doing everything she could to obstruct us because she didn't want those relics to be taken away. But later, she realized that even if they didn't leave the museum, those artifacts were continuously disappearing right under her nose, slipping out beyond her control. In the end, she had no choice but to agree to the 'Wanbi Project.' 

Of course, as part of the deal, the Chinese and British governments, along with the British Museum, signed a comprehensive compensation agreement. And there was one particular condition in the deal that you probably wouldn't expect—a condition that the British couldn't refuse." As he said this last sentence, Song Jie mimicked the tone of the Godfather from the famous movie, stroking his chin and putting on a deliberately theatrical expression.

"A condition the British couldn't refuse? What was it?" Herzog tilted her head, curious.

"Guess. It has something to do with what's on our table," Song Jie said with a smile.

"Stop teasing me and just say it." Herzog was getting a little anxious, her fair cheeks puffing up as she lightly tapped the table.

"Food is the most basic necessity of life. As part of the trade agreement between China and the UK, one key provision was that China would supply Britain annually with large quantities of pollution-free, eco-friendly, and real seafood at favorable prices. This includes species like cod, flounder, and pollock—the kinds used for making fish and chips. This way, the British people won't have to rely solely on this bland artificial fish meat anymore."

"Wait a second. Where did you get so much unpolluted seafood? You're so close to Japan. Wasn't your sea contaminated too?" Herzog asked, puzzled.

"That's a huge secret, and I'm not going to tell you… for now. But trust me, we have it." With that, Song Jie burst into a hearty laugh.

"Come on, just tell me already," Herzog said, pretending to be angry.

" if we find the Buddha head, I'll tell you," Song Jie replied with a grin.

Seeing Song Jie stop just when things got interesting, Herzog felt a little annoyed. However, since this matter involved a confidential agreement between two countries, and Song Jie clearly chose not to divulge further, Herzog knew it wasn't appropriate to press him any more. She had no choice but to let it go.

Suddenly, Herzog raised her head and said, "Dr. Song, can we stop using formal titles when addressing each other? You can call me Eva—E-V-A. What's your name again?"

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Song Jie answered stiffly, "Sure. You can call me Jie—J-I-E."

Herzog repeated, "J-i-e, Ji."

Song Jie froze for a moment. He was well aware that in German, the letter combination "ie" is pronounced as a short "i," which made his name "Jie" sound like the German word for "chicken." Every time a German called his name, he couldn't help but feel a little awkward. Still, he always comforted himself by thinking, "A name is just a name. Let it be." This time was no different. He smiled, nodded, and said nothing.

Eva glanced at her watch and said, "There's still an hour before we reach Paris. Ji, about that exhibition Director Horden mentioned—the one the British Museum held in the 1930s. Do you know the details? I want to understand how those Chinese artifacts, including the Buddha head we're now after, made their way across the sea from China to Europe."

"Eva, didn't you say yesterday on the plane that you weren't interested in this? Did you forget?" Song Jie teased.

"Come on, Ji, stop joking. I'm serious now—I really want to know," Herzog said, her tone turning soft and endearing, almost as if she were pleading.

"Alright then. It's a very long story."