Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 266 Preliminary Investigation
The road to the Great Salt Lake is not easy to travel.

There's a reason why the Northwest is so vast and sparsely populated; it's mostly wilderness, making travel between places extremely difficult. Even the railway only connects to a few major cities—which is why Li Wei chose the Phantom II.

When going to Clover Town, Li Wei only needs to take an airship and then transfer to a horse-drawn carriage for a few hours.

But to get to the Great Salt Lake, he would have to take a train and then a horse-drawn carriage for more than ten days.

It's better to drive there yourself.

Thank goodness, this era doesn't need such troublesome things as gasoline. A box of coal ore is enough to sustain the entire journey. As for water, that's not a problem either. Since the beginning of the steam industrial revolution, the empire has built roads as close to water sources as possible, so even if there's no water, you can find some for emergencies nearby.

This explains why the Northwest region is sparsely populated; most areas are arid wastelands with virtually no water. Without sufficient water, steam engines would lose power and become useless scrap metal.

On a side note, although there are no gas stations in this world, there are water stations. These stations are responsible for refilling water for steam trains and steam cars.

The device used to add water to steam trains is called a water roc. It looks like a number 7 standing upright on the ground. When the train needs water, the head of the roc is moved onto the water tank of the steam locomotive. Then someone climbs up, opens the cover, aligns the water roc's nozzle with the water tank, and opens the valve to fill the tank with water.

The steam engine was easier to fill with water by using a method similar to that of a fire hydrant with a pipe.

Some might ask, if I can just draw water from ponds, rivers, or wells, why bother spending money to fill up at a water station? Isn't that just wasting money?

Oh, you're underestimating capitalism.

Li Wei had once seen an advertisement for a water station in the newspaper. The station claimed to use various technologies to precipitate and filter the collected water, producing highly pure water.

Hmm, this is somewhat similar to the advertising tactics used for bottled water.

But if drinking mineral water is beneficial for humans, what benefits would it bring to a steam engine?

Let me tell you, sir/madam, natural water contains mud and particles. Over time, scale builds up in the water tank, potentially damaging other parts of the steam locomotive. However, using the purified water from our water station greatly reduces the rate of scale formation. Using our water means a lower probability of vehicle malfunctions, and the water tank won't accumulate scale, lasting much longer…

Well, I have to say, capitalists really know how to operate. I've never heard of a gas station daring to say that adding their gasoline will reduce the failure rate of cars.

And you have to admit, there's some truth to that. After all, more scale means a higher concentration of water in the boiler, hindering steam rise, wasting coal, and easily causing steam-water merging. This can indeed cause equipment problems, and even lead to the steam engine stopping altogether…

Well... rich people can take it easy, while those without money should always be ready to fix their cars.

Incidentally, Li Wei's car also contained two cases of "pure water".

After all, I have a lot of money, so I might as well just burn it.

Wherever he went, Li Wei would inquire about the Great Salt Lake. After all, MI7's intelligence was from many years ago, and nobody knew the current situation of the Great Salt Lake. Most people didn't even know the Great Salt Lake existed; they'd only heard the name.

It wasn't until they arrived at a village on the outskirts of the Great Salt Lake region that they learned what had happened.

"The Great Salt Lake?"

Upon hearing Li Wei's question, the old man frowned.

"Why do young people these days all go to those kinds of places? Are they really that fun?"

“We’re not going there for fun, sir.”

Li Wei agreed with the old man; the journey had indeed been anything but fun. Especially after leaving the villages and towns, all they could see was a vast expanse of Gobi Desert, nothing but barren land. At first, Katie was excitedly looking at the scenery, but later she simply lay down on the bed like a corpse.

She's currently staring blankly at the sheep in the nearby pen, bleating away, and is incredibly bored.

but……………

"You said 'all', does that mean people have been to the Great Salt Lake before?"

"Yes."

The old man nodded.

"About two months ago, a silly little girl came to the village and asked how to get to the Great Salt Lake, and whether there was a bus to the Great Salt Lake..."

"Oh? What then?"

"And then? Then she stayed here for a few days, probably looking for a way to get to the Great Salt Lake. I haven't seen her since, she's probably gone."

Is the Great Salt Lake dangerous?

"To say it's dangerous is an understatement; it's more like eerie."

The old man took a puff of his cigarette and looked at Li Wei.

"Of course, you might not be afraid of that weird iron thing you're sitting in. But if you're riding in a horse-drawn carriage or something, that would be dangerous."

Are there wild animals?

"Heh heh, you beast."

Upon hearing this, the old man chuckled.

"I don't know if that counts as a wild animal, but some people say that in the heart of the Great Salt Lake region, there are some madmen who live there. They will rob anyone they see and tear them to pieces... and in the wilderness at night, eerie and terrifying monsters also roam there, eager to devour the flesh and souls of the innocent..."

As he spoke, the old man took a breath.

"However, these are mostly just hearsay and rumors. After all, that place is desolate and uninhabited. Nobody would go there. I heard that someone used to live in the Great Salt Lake, but that was a long time ago, leaving only some strange rumors..."

"What kind of rumor is it?"

"I can't say for sure, but I remember someone saying that the former lord of the Great Salt Lake awakened a demon, and then the demon cast a curse, turning the entire Great Salt Lake into a barren wasteland. Those pitiful souls are still imprisoned by the demon, and whenever the wind howls and the yellow sand rages, their wails can still be heard in the wind..."

The old man coughed as he finished speaking.

"Have you heard of it?"

"No, sandstorms often blow here. For me, that howling wind has been like this since I was born. As for whether someone is crying or shouting, I can't tell either, haha."

"Thank you for your guidance."

Li Wei took out a shilling from his hand and handed it over.

"I've heard an interesting story, and there's one last question..."

"Oh? What's the problem?"

"Do you know where that lady stayed when she was here?"

"This is not a problem at all. There is only one hotel in our town, the Horseshoe Hotel at the crossroads over there. All the people coming and going stay there."

The old man took the silver coin, smiled, and stretched out his hand, pointing the way to Li Wei.

"Look, it's over there."

"Thank you."

Li Wei nodded to the old man, then turned and left. Following the old man's directions, he quickly found the only hotel in the small town.

"Ah, you mean that lady who went to the Great Salt Lake? I remember her."

The proprietress behind the counter was initially a little impatient, but after seeing Li Wei clearly, she immediately became incredibly enthusiastic, even brewing him a pot of tea, and then launched into a rapid-fire monologue.

“There aren’t many outsiders coming and going here. Most of them go to the Duro Mountains. No one has been to the Great Salt Lake for many years. So when she came to stay here and asked if there was any way to get to the Great Salt Lake, I was quite surprised.”

What kind of person is she?

"Hmm... Just an ordinary city dweller? He doesn't seem to have much money, he's staying in the cheapest room, carrying a suitcase, and saying he's going to the Great Salt Lake. He doesn't seem like one of those businessmen, but rather like the kind of person who works as a secretary."

Although the proprietress's tone was rather vulgar, as a merchant who traveled from all over the country, she was quite good at judging people.

"So what was your answer?"

"Where can I find a ride to the Great Salt Lake? Who goes to that godforsaken place these days? There's nothing there, just a vast desert. You people from the inland might not understand, but sandstorms are frequent here, and they're especially devastating around the Great Salt Lake. When a sandstorm hits, you can't even see your own fingers when you stretch out your hand. Go to the Great Salt Lake? That's practically suicide! I don't know anyone willing to take her there."

"Did she interact with anyone while she was living here?"

"Hmm...you know what, someone actually came looking for her, a man, quite old. I initially thought he was some kind of family member of the child, but he said he was looking for Sophia Krant, so I took him to the room. We talked for a while, and then the next morning, before dawn, the child left with her luggage. Of course, she didn't forget to pay the room fee." "What did the man look like?"

"Hmm... Let me think, he's tall, probably a head taller than you. His hair is very messy, and his beard is tangled up, looking like he hasn't taken care of it at all. He gives me a slightly dangerous feeling."

Do you know the exact date that lady left?

"Let me check..."

The proprietress shifted her body slightly and took out an account book from behind the counter, flipping through it.

"Ah, found it, March 12th."

"Thank you."

Li Wei nodded, stood up, placed a shilling on the table, then turned and walked out of the inn.

"What's going on, Mr. Li Wei?"

At this moment, Katie, who had been following Li Wei, finally couldn't help but speak up.

"According to them, there's no one here who could possibly take that lady to the Great Salt Lake."

"indeed so."

Li Wei nodded.

"But that's perfect, I also have some things I need to investigate, you can help me with that."

"What is it? What is it?"

Upon hearing Li Wei's words, Katie's eyes lit up. She had been so bored lately, and now that Li Wei offered to help, her interest was piqued.

“Go to the carriage parking area in this town and ask if there was a carriage heading to the Great Salt Lake in the early morning of March 12th.”

"Okay, I'll go right away!"

Upon hearing Levi's request, Katie nodded, then quickly turned and left excitedly. Levi watched her leave before heading towards the post office on the other side of town.

If there's anything modern about this remote town, it's the post office. At least they have electric lights and telegraphs... On the huge counter, only a man in a somewhat worn post office uniform was dozing off, leaning back in his chair. Li Wei walked over and tapped the table with his finger.

"Wow."

Hearing the knocking sound, the man who had been dozing off in his chair was startled and opened his eyes. Upon seeing Li Wei, he frowned, looking displeased.

"What do you need? If you want to send a letter, there are stamps over there. Just stick them on and drop it in the mailbox. If you want to send a telegram, it's one penny per word. Pay first!"

"I have something I want to ask you."

Li Wei flicked his finger, and the shilling rolled across the table, spun around, and fell to the ground in front of the post office clerk. Looking at the silver coin before him, the clerk swallowed hard, then reached out and slowly took it.

"Excuse me... what would you like to know?"

"This letter was sent from here, wasn't it?"

Li Wei took out the letter from the reader that the old butler had given him and placed it on the table. The post office clerk took the envelope and looked at the postmark.

"Ah, that's right, it was sent from here."

"Do you remember who sent this letter?"

"Hmm... Hmm... Ah, right, I remember now!"

The post office clerk thought for a moment before clapping his hands loudly.

"It was an old man. It was very late, and the post office was closed. He kept banging on the door, which scared me so much that I thought it was a robber. But then he rushed in and said he wanted to send a letter... urgent, express."

It turned out to be the case.

"and then?"

"He watched me finish processing the letter, paid the money, and then turned and left."

Do you know exactly what he looks like?

"He was wearing a big hat, so I couldn't see him clearly, but he had a huge beard and was very tall..."

How did he get there? By carriage?

"No, he rode a horse. I saw him ride away on a horse, and he seemed to be in a hurry."

"Thank you."

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Levi smiled and nodded at the post office clerk, then left the post office and returned to the Phantom II. Phillips and Anna were currently conducting final resupply operations, and Katie hadn't returned yet, so Levi leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes.

After an unknown amount of time, accompanied by a series of rapid footsteps, Li Wei opened his eyes and saw the car door open, with Katie rushing in excitedly.

"Mr. Li Wei, I'm back!"

"Oh, judging from your expression, you've found some information?"

"Ok!"

Katie nodded vigorously.

“I asked the people at the mooring yard, and then one of them told me that when he got up in the early morning to prepare the carriage, he saw an unfamiliar carriage leave. He said he had never seen that carriage before, and it didn’t look like a carriage from the town… but rather like a carriage that nobles used to ride in.”

Have you seen the coachman?

"Yeah, they say he's a tall, strange guy."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing Katie's report, Levi raised an eyebrow.

"This is going to be interesting."

"interesting?"

"Yes."

As Li Wei spoke, he told Katie about the information he had gathered, and Katie frowned.

"Hmm, so that bearded old man was the coachman who came to pick up that young lady? And he was the one who sent the letter? That's strange, why did he send the letter instead of having the young lady send it? Could she have been kidnapped?"

"Should we ask the editorial department for a ransom?"

Li Wei made a sarcastic remark, and Katie, knowing her idea was unreliable, stuck out her tongue sheepishly.

"I was just saying... What do you think, Mr. Li Wei?"

"Hmm, but your question makes a lot of sense. Why was it the old man who sent the letter, and not the young lady? I think it's not that she didn't want to come, but that she couldn't."

"cannot?"

"It's hard to say right now, but I think it's very likely that something happened that caused the young lady to be trapped inside. She couldn't leave, so she had to use this method to call for help."

Of course, based on Li Wei's game experience, it's very likely that his ancestor broke some kind of seal, and then needed blood from the same clan to reseal it. So he summoned his descendant and sent someone close to him to bring him over. But something went wrong, the ritual failed, or something, and not only did he fail to solve the problem, he also lost his own life.

Therefore, the young lady had to write to the editorial department for help.

The problem now is that so much time has passed, and we don't know if that lady is still alive.

In short…

"No matter what, we'll only know once we get there."

(End of this chapter)