Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 155 The Inquiry Begins

In fact, according to Li Wei, this case seems very simple: a home invasion robbery and murder. Someone coveted the man's money, killed him, and stole it—it's that simple.

However, the information provided by Anthony complicated the situation. It was possible that the spy killed the man, took something, and then staged it as a robbery and murder scene to cover up the crime.

This possibility cannot be ruled out.

According to the autopsy results, the time of death was half an hour before the body was discovered, which means there was enough time to set up the scene... Well... In short, we still need to ask the questions that need to be asked.

So Li Wei explained the situation to the train conductor, then requisitioned the Salon carriage and began to question everyone.

As Li Wei said, his target was the passengers in the two first-class carriages.

First, let's talk about the overall layout of the Dongfang train.

[Locomotive] — [Supplies Car] — [First Class Baggage Car] — [First Class Car A] — [First Class Car B] — [Salon Car] — [Dining Car] — [Ordinary Baggage Car] — [Second Class Car] — [Third Class Car].

Originally, there were no three carriages after the "Salon Carriage," but as everyone knows, the Steam Machinery Exposition was about to begin, and in order to make more money, the railway company added three carriages.

Of course, to avoid upsetting the first-class passengers, people in the back carriages are strictly prohibited from going to the first-class carriage. Considering that the first-class and second-class carriages are separated by the ordinary baggage car and the salon car, apart from "professionals" like Anthony, it's unlikely that ordinary people would be so bored as to go and invite trouble.

The most luxurious First Class Carriage A has three rooms, and the occupants are as follows:

101 — Li Wei

102 — Olivia Baskerville

103 — The Hardmans (the same couple who went on their honeymoon far away from Levi)
First Class Carriage B is slightly inferior to First Class Carriage A, with 6 rooms.

201 — Robert Hadment (the victim)
202 — Joanna Bedric (that very eloquent lady)

203 — Lisa Bedric (Mrs. Bedric's daughter)

204 — Anna Louise (Olivia's maid)
205 — Anthony Carest (the Iberian man in the plaid coat)

206 — Chris Blanche (the lady Anthony flirted with earlier)

As an aside, First Class Carriage A actually has beds for servants, while the master sleeps in a large bed. So, strictly speaking, although First Class Carriage A has three rooms, it's equivalent to having six beds. However, compared to the evenly divided First Class Carriage B, the servants' beds in First Class Carriage A are noticeably smaller.

However, Olivia left the maid's bed for her little puppy and then spent money to buy her maid a room in First Class Carriage B.

Wow, this is what it means to be rich and willful.

Levi sat on the sofa in the salon carriage, with Anthony as his assistant beside him. Although Levi thought the guy was unreliable, he had no choice but to sit there.

The first one to enter was, naturally, Olivia.

"Hello, Miss Olivia, please have a seat."

Li Wei stood up and gestured, inviting Olivia to sit opposite him.

"It was just a routine inquiry."

"I understand... I heard that gentleman died? Why? Wasn't it an accident?"

"Based on the current assessment, it appears to be murder. The other party robbed him of his money and then killed him?"

"Would you kill someone for that little bit of money?"

Olivia frowned and asked in confusion.

As expected of an old aristocratic family, his opening line was something like "Why don't they eat meat porridge?" How impressive.

Li Wei silently gave Olivia a thumbs up in his heart.

“That amount of money is a lot for ordinary people, enough to make them take risks.”

"I can't understand... Do they think money is more important than life?"

Olivia looked on incredulously.

"Sometimes, money itself is just the trigger, but that's not important..."

Li Wei decisively decided to get the topic back on track.

"Although we all know what happened, I would still like you to tell me again what you did this afternoon from beginning to end."

"Um……………"

Olivia held up a finger to her chin, thinking for a moment.

“I was planning to go to lunch, but Anna said she forgot to bring something, so I went to her room with her, and then bumped into that gentleman on the way out.”

"Ah, that's it."

Li Wei nodded. He had been wondering why Olivia had come out of the First Class Carriage B, and now he knew.

"Then I had lunch with you, Mr. Li Wei, and then went back to my room to rest. I slept for about two hours. After I woke up, I played with Xiao Hei for a while... Then I heard a commotion outside, so I went out to check what was going on, and then I heard that someone had an accident."

"So, you've been in your room since after lunch?"

"Yes."

Where is Miss Louise?

"I told her to go back to her room and rest."

Have you met the victim before?

I saw him once in the salon carriage, and then I never saw him again.

"Did you hear or encounter anything strange while you were in the room?"

"No."

As she spoke, Olivia patted the puppy's head.

"Little Black doesn't have any either."

Well, I guess this three-headed dog grandpa has absolutely no interest in human disputes.

"OK, thanks."

After Li Wei finished asking his questions, he asked Olivia to leave. Then he saw Anthony staring at him and smiling.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Boss, you and Miss Baskerville are quite close, aren't you? You even call her by her first name?"

"how?"

"Oh dear, what would happen if I told Miss Katie about this?"

"…………………"

Upon hearing Anthony's words, Li Wei raised an eyebrow.

"Did you know that detective novels are very dramatic?"

"...?"

"For example, if the detective's assistant is actually the murderer, wouldn't that be a dramatic and unexpected ending?"

"Uh... Boss?"

Anthony's eye twitched slightly.

"I already said I didn't do it..."

"Hmm, but you're a prime suspect, aren't you? Believe me or not, I'll send you to the police station for a few days."

"……………I was wrong."

"Go and call someone."

"yes……………"

Anthony left dejectedly, and a moment later returned with a man. The latter, his face grim, glared at Levi with obvious displeasure. "We didn't do anything!"

Before Li Wei could even ask a question, the man couldn't help but shout.

"My wife and I are resting and have no idea what's going on outside! You're wasting our time by calling us here. Why don't you go and catch the real murderer instead?"

"Please calm down, sir."

Li Wei waved his hand, gesturing for the other person to sit down.

"This is just a routine inquiry."

The latter plopped down on the sofa angrily, still glaring at Li Wei.

"First, your name."

"Anrenes Hardman".

"May I ask what your occupation is...?"

"I am a designer."

"Designer?"

Upon hearing this, Li Wei raised an eyebrow.

"Then you must be very famous?"

There's no need to mock me!

Mr. Hardman glared fiercely at Levi.

"That's right, I'm just a nobody! I have no reputation! The reason I'm able to sit in first class is because I recently inherited a fortune. How about that? Are you satisfied now?"

"I see."

Li Wei nodded.

Do you know the victim?

"I don't know him. I never expected to find such a neurotic guy in the first-class carriage. My wife and I aren't interested in this kind of person and don't want to deal with him."

"So what did you do this afternoon?"

“As I said, my wife and I went to lunch and then went back to our room to rest until we heard a commotion outside. When I got up to check, I found that someone was dead.”

"Did you see or encounter anything unusual?"

"If we don't count the dead, there aren't any."

"Okay, thank you. Now, please let your wife come in."

Why do you have to ask her?

Mr. Hardman stood up and stared at Levi with a displeased expression.

“I am her husband, and as I said, we've always been together. You're just wasting your time! Or are you suspecting I killed her?”

"Whether it's a waste of time or not is up to me, not you. Okay, please leave."

Mr. Hardman stared at Levi, gritted his teeth, and finally turned and walked out of the salon carriage. At that moment, Anthony also came over again.

"Haha, he inherited a huge fortune... Boss, want to guess whether he married that beauty before or after this?"

"Unless it's him who's dead, there's nothing to guess."

Li Wei waved his hand, showing absolutely no interest in it.

"Go and call someone in."

"okay."

Soon, Mrs. Hardman entered, and it must be admitted that she was indeed pitiful and very moving. Although in terms of pure looks, she was slightly less beautiful than Olivia, her temperament made up for it. Her large, watery eyes gave her a pitiful, delicate, and shy appearance. Compared to the proud, self-satisfied, and assertive Olivia, this type of woman was obviously more likely to attract men.

"Hello, Detective."

Mrs. Hardman bowed her head and greeted Levi, who in turn extended her hand to gesture for her to sit down.

"Hello, Mrs. Hardman, would you mind if I asked you a few questions?"

"of course."

Mrs. Hardman blinked, her dark green eyes gazing at Levi like pools of water.

"First, what is your name?"

"Elena Hardman".

What did you do this afternoon?

"My husband and I finished lunch and then went back to our room to rest. It was my first time traveling by train, and I was a little tired."

"Ah, I understand."

Li Wei nodded.

"I always feel mentally exhausted in unfamiliar places, and I sometimes feel that way too."

"Is the detective the same?"

Upon hearing Li Wei's answer, Mrs. Hardman immediately perked up.

"Well, so most of the time I actually prefer staying at home rather than going out... So, are you two always together?"

"Um...I don't know."

"You do not know?"

“I went back to my room and fell asleep quickly. When I woke up later, I found that my husband was not beside me. He came back a while later.”

Did he say where he went?

“I asked him, and he said he went outside to smoke.”

Does your husband smoke frequently?

"It's alright, I didn't smoke too much."

Just then, the door to the salon carriage suddenly opened, and Mr. Hardman walked in with a gloomy expression. He glanced at his wife, then turned to Levi.

"Are you done asking questions? Can we leave now?"

"Of course, that's all for now."

Levi was unconcerned about Mr. Hardman's lack of cooperation, simply nodding and then giving Mrs. Hardman a slight smile.

"Thank you for your assistance, Mrs. Hardman."

"You're welcome, Mr. Li Wei. It's what I should do."

In response to Li Wei's words, Mrs. Hardman smiled and spoke up, while Mr. Hardman's expression darkened. He stepped aside to block the two of them, then helped his wife up, and the two of them left the carriage.

"really interesting."

Anthony chuckled as he watched the two leave.

"Boss, you are truly guilty of a grave sin."

"What does this have to do with me? It's not my business."

Li Wei rolled his eyes.

"Call the train conductor."

(End of this chapter)