Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 237 Southern Town
Clover is located in the heart of Westshire in the Southern Territory. It is a very ordinary town, like other imperial towns, where the residents live day after day, bored and listless.

That's why when a luxurious carriage drove into the town, it quickly attracted the curious attention of the residents.

The carriage stopped in front of the inn in the town, then the door opened, and Li Wei, holding his cane, stepped out of the carriage.

"The Empire really should implement a road construction project to connect every village; I've had enough of these damn roads."

As soon as Levi got out of the carriage, he complained unhappily. Then he turned around and stretched out his right hand into the carriage. Katie then took Levi's hand and got out.

The last one to step off the carriage was the rider, who was also the most energetic of the three.

"I think it's alright..."

"That's right, you specialize in riding horses, unlike us."

Li Wei stretched his body; arriving in this small town had been quite an ordeal. He first took an airship to the capital of West Territory—things went relatively smoothly there, but things were about to get complicated.

Levi then had to take a four-hour train ride to Chrysler, the closest town to Clover, and from there take a horse-drawn carriage to Clover…

Yes, this is practically torture.

Li Wei recalled that it was the same in his own world. First, he would take a plane, then a train, then a long-distance bus... In places where there were no long-distance buses, he could only take a donkey cart... The more remote the place, the more so.

But that was in the past. As the saying goes, "To get rich, build roads first." Now there are roads everywhere.

However, the empire clearly did not yet have the necessary conditions. The three hours it had taken from Chrysler to now had nearly shaken Levi to pieces on this rough dirt road.

Levi grumbled as he looked around; it was already afternoon. Fortunately, after arriving in Chrysler by train the day before, Levi had promptly booked a hotel, taken a shower, rested overnight, and recharged before setting off the next day after breakfast.

This was also Li Wei's habit; he didn't mind taking a day or two off. In Li Wei's view, one needed to be well-rested to get things done. So no matter where he went or what work he did, Li Wei would arrive a day early, rest overnight at a local hotel, and then get up the next day to do his work.

It's the same now.

Li Wei looked at the town; it seemed rather deserted. Normally, this would be the time when people were going home from get off work. And since this was a hotel, there should have been many people. But the town looked desolate; only a few children or elderly people walking their dogs could be seen on the streets.

However, this is the norm in such small towns. In general, young people go to work in the city, leaving only the elderly and children behind.

“Let’s go in, Sir Levi.”

"Ah."

Hearing the rider's words, Levi nodded, then turned around and walked into the hotel in front of them with Katie.

The inn, known as the Ox Horn Inn, wasn't particularly luxurious; it was more like an ordinary country tavern. However, Li Wei didn't care about such trivialities. He pushed open the door and entered the inn, then saw a man behind the counter checking accounts. Hearing the bell on the door ring, the man looked up and smiled at the three of them.

"Ah, hello, you three. Welcome to the Ox-Horn Inn. How can I help you?"

"Hey!"

Upon seeing the man, the rider's eyes lit up, and he walked towards him with a smile.

"Long time no see, do you still recognize me, Mr. David?"

"You are... "

Faced with the enthusiastic rider, the man squinted, then took out his glasses, put them on, and looked at them more closely.

"Ah, Mr. Dunn, it's been a long time! I never expected to see you here again."

The two greeted each other warmly, and then the rider introduced Li Wei to the man. Upon learning Li Wei's name, the man's expression immediately became solemn, and he bowed respectfully.

"I never expected Your Excellency to grace my inn with your presence. It is truly impolite of you..."

"It's alright, I need three guest rooms, you should have them here."

"of course."

The hotel owner nodded.

"I will prepare the best rooms for the three of you!"

The hotel owner kept his word. Of course, his so-called best room was just a regular guest room, but at least the floor was clean, the sheets were clean, the blankets were clean, the room was clean, the windows were intact, there was no draft in the walls, and there was no water leakage in the ceiling.

Well, that's enough.

"I never expected to see him here."

After the boss said he was going to prepare dinner for them and left, the rider came to Levi and Katie's side and whispered something.

"Do you know?"

“Didn’t I say that after they found my sister, they brought her to the town? My sister stayed at this hotel for a while, so I’m somewhat acquainted with the owner. But he didn’t know much about my sister back then.”

"That's alright, we can ask around about this town and Death Valley."

After putting down their luggage, the three rested for a while, and then heard the owner call out that dinner was ready. So the three went downstairs to the restaurant on the first floor.

The restaurant wasn't big, and there were only the three of them there. The chef's skills were decent, at least edible.

"Business here doesn't seem to be going very well, Mr. David?"

This rider was a naturally lively and outgoing person; Li Wei noticed that he seemed to be able to strike up a conversation with people wherever he went.

"Haha, that's how it is now."

The shop owner, who was acting as a servant serving the riders, could only manage a wry smile upon hearing the riders' teasing.

"The young people in town have all gone to work in the city, and they only come back on Sundays and during the Chinese New Year. Besides, there aren't any local specialties here, so of course the hotel business isn't very good."

"But you guys are very serious."

Li Wei put down his teacup.

"The guest rooms were all very clean, and the beds had been washed; I could even smell the sunshine..."

"After all, we have nothing else to do."

The innkeeper shook his head with a wry smile.

"But at least, this is our home and our property. We don't have many guests, and we don't employ any servants. It's just my wife and I who are in charge. By the way, my wife cooked dinner for everyone. After all, she's just a country woman, so please forgive her if there's anything she didn't do well."

"It tastes good, I have no complaints."

Li Wei did not continue discussing this issue but changed the subject.

"Are you local?"

"Of course, always. My father and grandfather have lived here for generations, and this hotel can be considered our family heirloom."

"Then you must know this place very well?" "I wouldn't say that, but apart from the old folks, I am indeed the person who knows this place best."

"If you don't mind, could you talk to us about Death Valley?"

The innkeeper, who had been talking non-stop, suddenly stopped, as if an invisible hand had gripped his throat. He stared at Li Wei, then at the rider.

"Why are we talking about this? Has your sister disappeared again? You don't think she......"

"In short, we want to investigate this matter."

The rider didn't give a direct answer, but instead gave a vague response.

"You're a local, so you must know the situation there very well."

"this…………………"

The innkeeper hesitated for a moment, and just then, Li Wei reached out and flicked the table lightly, and a gold coin landed on the table.

"Perhaps you could give us some pointers?"

"………………………"

The innkeeper looked at the gold coins on the table and hesitated for a moment.

"Actually, I don't know if I should tell you about that place... I really don't know much about it, or rather, the people here want to forget that place intentionally or unintentionally, as if it never existed. It's been like this since I was a child. Maybe my grandfather knew what happened there, but we never heard any details. He just told us to stay far away from there, and that children shouldn't go there... and so on."

"Is everyone so obedient? They just decide not to go?"

"Of course not, some people did go, but they disappeared afterwards."

The innkeeper said, glancing around.

“I mean… if you really want to know about Death Valley, why don’t you ask Old Man Roger, or Mr. Dunn, whom you know as well.”

"Oh, that eccentric old man?"

The rider seemed to recognize the name.

"Is he still alive?"

"My health isn't as robust as it used to be, but it's still okay."

The rider seemed to notice that Levi and Katie were looking at him curiously, so he explained to them.

“Didn’t I say before that my sister was found in the mountains? It was Old Man Roger who found her. He was old, but he still made a living by hunting in the mountains.”

"How old is that old man?"

Katie asked curiously.

"She's almost ninety, anyway, she's quite old."

"Wow, so he can still go hunting in the mountains?"

"The old man is in very good health."

The hotel owner then joined their conversation with a smile.

“He climbs mountains more nimbly than some young people. As far back as I can remember, he goes up the mountain every day, rain or shine, without ever missing a single day.”

"Rain or shine?"

Upon hearing this, Li Wei's expression shifted.

"Then he must really enjoy hunting?"

"I don't know that."

After chatting for a few more minutes, the innkeeper tactfully took the gold coins and left, leaving the three of them at the dining table.

"What do you think, Sir Levi?"

"Hmm... now it does seem a bit strange."

Li Wei stroked his chin, deep in thought.

Didn't you ask where he found your sister?

"Well... I didn't actually ask at the time."

When Li Wei asked him a question, the rider scratched his head sheepishly.

"After all, my sister was heavily pregnant at the time and had a persistent fever. I was more worried about her health. Of course, to thank him for finding my sister, I also gave him some money, but..."

"but?"

"The old gentleman refused outright, saying he didn't save my sister for money. I did feel ashamed at the time, but besides money, I had no other way to repay him..."

"Um……………"

I didn't save people for money.

This does sound like something a kind-hearted person would say, but the question is, was that old man really kind-hearted?
Given Alice's disappearance, Levi had to think one more step ahead.

Where exactly did that old man find Alice's mother?
After all, the forest is so big...

Thinking of this, Li Wei stood up.

"Shall we go back and rest now, Mr. Li Wei?"

Katie saw Levi get up and asked him curiously, but Levi shook his head.

"No, we'll go see that old man now."

"Huh? Now?"

To be honest, Katie and the rider were both taken aback by Levi's answer. Logically speaking, it was already dinnertime, and it shouldn't be too much of a bother to disturb others.

"Yes, right now."

Li Wei picked up his coat and looked at the rider.

"You should know where that old man lives, right?"

(End of this chapter)