Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 275 is well-structured and appropriately detailed.
After a series of investigations, Li Wei also obtained the most basic intelligence information.

First, this is a boarding school with complete enclosure; students only go home on Saturdays and return on Sunday afternoons. It is surrounded by brick walls four or five meters high, making it impossible to climb over. There is only one main gate; there is no back gate.

The school's schedule is as follows.

7:00-7:30: Get up, wash up, and tidy up the room.

7:30-8:00: Go to church for morning prayers.

8:00-9:00: Go to the cafeteria for breakfast
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Morning Class Time

12:00-2:00: Lunch break
2 PM - 5 PM: Afternoon Class Time

5 PM - 7 PM: Dinner
7:00-10:00 PM: Evening class time
10:00 AM: Return to the dormitory and rest.
The entire college is divided into three main building complexes: academic buildings, dormitories, and a chapel. The exhibition hall is located in the academic buildings and opens at 9:00 AM when classes begin, closing at 6:00 PM after afternoon classes. It mainly displays honors received by students and some donated items, primarily serving to showcase the school's history and culture to students.

According to the elderly woman—who was also the supervisor (similar to a current dean of students)—she patrolled the entire school building last night and visited the exhibition hall around midnight. She patrolled so late because occasionally mischievous children would hide in the school to play games, and some children would hide because they were being bullied.

At the time, the inspectors and school security guards patrolled the entire teaching building, and when they arrived at the exhibition hall, they saw the sacred stone disc still in its original place.

However, when the inspector opened the door at nine o'clock this morning after breakfast, he found that the sacred stone plate was missing and the glass cabinet used to store it was smashed to pieces.

There were no signs of forced entry on the exhibition hall doors. According to the inspectors, the key to the cabinets was kept by the principal, while the key to the exhibition hall doors was kept in the gatehouse.

Of course, Li Wei also investigated the traces left at the crime scene. It was obvious that the perpetrator did not have any counter-surveillance methods or awareness. When she smashed the glass, she not only injured her own hand, smearing blood everywhere, but also left clear fingerprints on the glass and footprints on the ground.

That's right, based on Li Wei's examination of the footprints, the other party should be a girl around 14 years old, 1.6 meters tall, with her left hand as her dominant hand, and her dominant hand was injured as a result.

In Li Wei's view, this case was far too easy to solve. If they could just follow these clues and find the girl, wouldn't the problem be solved?

However……………

"A 14-year-old girl who is 1.6 meters tall and whose dominant hand is her left hand?"

The inspector looked somewhat puzzled when Li Wei asked him the question.

"How did you know that...?"

"Of course I have my methods, but do you know any students like this?"

"this……………"

The inspector's tone was somewhat ambiguous, but Li Wei did not miss the fleeting shift and hesitation in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure. After all, there are hundreds of students in this school. Perhaps you could ask the teachers."

"ok, I get it."

Li Wei glanced at the inspector, said nothing more, simply nodded, and then turned and left the exhibition hall.

"I thought it would be simple, but it seems things are getting a bit complicated now."

Although Li Wei didn't initially believe this was just a simple theft case, judging from the inspector's demeanor, there was clearly more to it than met the eye.

Well, since that's the case, let's ask around and see if we can find any clues, whether they're students or teachers.

Li Wei first went to the teachers' office to inquire about the student's situation. However, the teachers, like the supervisors, were evasive, either saying they didn't know or that there was no such person at the school.

Then Li Wei realized... he seemed to have found something he shouldn't have.

He really hoped this was just a simple theft.

After realizing he couldn't extract information from the faculty, Levi had to change his approach. He stopped asking questions and instead spent the entire day attending classes with the students.

It must be said that the school's facilities and benefits are quite good. Li Wei could tell that the school provides very generous meals for the students; both lunch and dinner are quite plentiful, even including roasted meat and fish. The children seemed quite satisfied with these meals.

On the surface, this school doesn't seem to have anything special about it...

When evening classes started, Li Wei strolled alone in the corridor, watching the students having evening self-study in the classroom next door, while pondering a question.

Why was the sacred stone disc stolen? Based on the information revealed so far, the theft of the sacred stone disc likely occurred before the city completely fell. Is this a coincidence?

No, it doesn't seem like a coincidence.

Li Wei recalled his discovery in the fishing village, before the city fell, when Deans induced the villagers to worship an evil god, turning the village into a gathering place for monsters.

Why did he do this?
The strange man's explanation is that Deans needs more money to uncover the secrets underground, which is why he resorts to this method to raise funds, even at the cost of sacrificing his own people. Indeed, logically speaking, this makes sense. But what about the Academy? As things stand, the Academy itself has no vested interest in Deans.

However, if this incident was also orchestrated by Deans, then the reason becomes quite clear. It's obvious that Deans doesn't want anyone else to obtain the sacred stone disc.

Even now, Li Wei still doesn't understand what the sacred stone disc is... Oh right.

With this thought in mind, Li Wei made a mental leap, and then he walked through the corridor and arrived at the library.

The school naturally has a library. At this moment, the supervisor was busy organizing books on the bookshelves. When he saw Li Wei arrive, the supervisor's expression was somewhat surprised.

"What can I do for you, officer?"

"I'd like to investigate the situation regarding the Sacred Stone Disc; perhaps I can find some clues. Does the academy have any records of the Sacred Stone Disc?"

Indeed, Li Wei suddenly realized that this was an academy, a place for learning and research, and the sacred stone disc must have been investigated by the academy as well. Although he could ask the strange man, Li Wei didn't believe his nonsense. On the contrary, if he could obtain the investigation data about the sacred stone disc from the academy, he might be able to figure out what that strange man was up to.

"Regarding the sacred stone disc... Ah, it does exist."

To Li Wei's relief, the supervisory body quickly provided an answer.

"The headmaster once personally investigated the origin and history of the sacred stone disc and even wrote a book about it. It is for this reason that the Krant family was willing to entrust the sacred stone disc to us. After all, it also represents the history of the Great Salt Lake."

I knew it!

Upon hearing the supervisor's reply, Li Wei's heart stirred.

"Then, may I see that book?"

"Of course... Please wait a moment while I look for it... Hmm, the book is here."

The inspector went to another bookshelf, searched for a moment, and then took out a book titled "Legends and Beliefs: A Historical Exploration of the Great Salt Lake."

Li Wei took the book, then flipped through it and glanced at it.

"Can I read this book?"

"of course."

"Then you're welcome."

Li Wei found a place to sit down and then opened a book to read.

The book, as its title suggests, tells the legends and history of the Great Salt Lake. However, the version of the legend differs somewhat from what the strange man told Li Wei and his companions.

The strange man said that the ancestors of the Krant family were exploring the area around the Great Salt Lake when they discovered a meteor falling. Following the meteor's path, they found the lake. The Krant ancestors believed this to be a blessing from God, so they stayed by the lake and began developing the land.

However, the story of the Krant family legend recorded in this book is slightly different.

According to the book, the meteor did indeed fall from the sky, and when the ancestors of the Krant family went to see it, the account remained consistent.

But things changed after that.

According to the book, when the ancestor of the Crant family arrived at the site of the meteor's fall, he witnessed an unimaginable horror and terrifying creatures resembling demons. Such beings, even a single glance, would be enough to drive one mad. However, the Crant ancestor, driven by his faith in the Holy Lord, loudly invoked the Holy Lord's name.

Then a beam of light descended from the sky and landed on the ancestor of the Crant family, granting him boundless power. In the end, the ancestor of the Crant family defeated the demon from beyond the sky and, with the help of the Holy Lord, sealed it eternally underground. In return for the loyalty of the ancestor of the Crant family, the Holy Lord bestowed upon him a lake as calm and beautiful as a mirror, teeming with countless fish.

So the ancestors of the Krant family settled on the edge of this lake, serving as guardians of the Holy Lord, and permanently watching over the sealed extraterrestrial demon.

After that, because the ancestors of the Krant family used the lake water to build salt ponds and make lake salt, the place was also known as the Great Salt Lake.

Well, how should I put it... Goodness, recalling the strange man's introduction, Li Wei couldn't help but sigh, it was truly "well-proportioned in detail and brevity."

It's true that our ancestors discovered the meteor, and it's also true that the lake was a gift from the Holy Lord, but you didn't mention a single thing about what happened in between!
Was he unaware? Or was he deliberately concealing it?

However, this makes it clear what the sacred stone disc actually is.

After all, according to the book, the ancestors of the Krant family used the power of the Holy Lord to seal the demon from outer space underground.

And coincidentally, what's needed to break the seal right now is a sacred artifact with the All-Seeing Eye… um…

Li Wei stared at the records in the book, his brows furrowing slightly.

Now it seems the situation is actually quite tricky.

(End of this chapter)