Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 328 is nothing

When Li Wei went to the hospital to see Mobis, before he even entered the ward, he heard angry roars coming from inside. A moment later, a nurse came out, covering her face, and ran away crying.

Li Wei glanced at the other person before looking away and walking into the ward.

In the ward, Mobis lay on the bed with both legs in casts, his face grim. Hearing footsteps, he turned his head, looked at Li Wei, and was slightly taken aback.

"who are you?"

"Hello, Mr. Mobis, my name is Levi, and I am a detective."

Li Wei removed his hat and nodded slightly to Mobis in greeting.

"I've come here on behalf of the commander to investigate the accident you encountered. Could you please explain what happened?"

"Hmph, nothing to say!"

Upon hearing Li Wei's words, Mobis snorted coldly, turned his head to look out the window, and remained silent.

Li Wei simply shrugged at this.

"Oh, alright, I've disturbed you, I'll take my leave now."

After saying this, Li Wei turned around and went out. However, just as Li Wei stepped out the door, Mobis's voice rang out again.

"and many more!"

"What else?"

Li Wei turned his head and looked at Mobis, who was staring at him.

"You don't... intend to ask any more questions? Why are you just leaving like this?"

“You are the victim, Mr. Mobis.”

Li Wei looked at him as if he were mentally challenged.

"If you yourself feel there's nothing to say, then naturally I have nothing to say either. Do whatever you like."

"This, this won't do!"

Upon hearing Li Wei's words, Mobiston became agitated. He stared wide-eyed at Li Wei, unable to comprehend why he was treating him with such calmness and indifference.

You see, when he was in the theater troupe, if he was unhappy, everyone, from the troupe leader to the other actors, had to appease him! And the audience members all idolized him!

Why is this man so cold to him?

"I was attacked! Aren't you a detective? Shouldn't you protect me from harm?"

Mobis started shouting and yelling too. Although he had looked grumpy earlier, he was actually quite pleased that the old commander still cared about his safety. In Mobis's mind, even if the detective didn't speak to him, just being there was enough. Besides, he had just faced such great danger, and naturally had no time to talk about unexpected events.

But Mobis didn't expect the other party to be so indifferent, turning around and leaving immediately.

This is wrong!

"I'm here to investigate the incident, not to act as a bodyguard, sir."

Li Wei stood there, looking at him indifferently.

"Since you don't intend to say anything, then I'll have to take my leave."

"But, but I might die!"

Mobis screamed again, his face pale and his eyes wide open.

"The troupe leader said I'm a once-in-a-century genius actor! If I die, wouldn't it be a loss for the entire empire?"

"Oh...it's okay."

"It doesn't matter?"

"Yes."

Looking at Mobis, Levi chuckled.

"After all, you're just an actor. Even if you really die, it won't have much of an impact."

"………………………"

Upon hearing Li Wei's answer, Mobis was dumbfounded, as if struck by lightning, standing there speechless.

Li Wei was telling the truth. The entertainment industry is an industry that takes the pursuit of idealism to the extreme. Whether it's singing or acting, people often have the illusion that they are incredibly powerful and influential, like emperors, because of the countless audiences who go crazy for them and cheer for them.

However, in reality, these are all castles in the air, mirages, in short, all illusions.

Michael Jackson, the King of Rock and Roll, was ultimately defeated by capital and could not recover.

Takuya Kimura was known as the most handsome man in Asia and was the dream lover of countless girls. However, he had a falling out with the capital and was suddenly sidelined.

There are many similar examples. They are very famous, some even world-renowned. On stage, they seem to truly control the world and manipulate everything.

However, when reality hit them hard, those dreams vanished like bubbles.

Those audience members who cheer for them at concerts and on the red carpet won't actually fight tooth and nail for them. They won't even receive the same treatment as Dr. Franco, even though Dr. Franco is far less famous than them.

But can fame be considered a part of ability?
No.

Money, power, knowledge, and strength are all tangible, while fame is ephemeral and intangible.

So what Li Wei said is true. Even if he were a once-in-a-century or once-in-ten-thousand-years phenomenon, he would still just be an actor, a performer. He could neither contribute to the empire's technological development, nor fight on the front lines with a gun, nor create many jobs for the empire.

If he honestly pays his taxes, he will have made a contribution to the empire.

But this makes them no different from ordinary civilians.

Therefore, when Li Wei learned that Dr. Franco and Qi Ya were in danger, he would definitely rush to rescue them without even having dinner.

As for this one?

Oh, it would be better if we could investigate. Since the person was unwilling, they are dead. In fact, for Li Wei, it's easier to investigate dead people.

Because the dead don't lie.

If the police did that, they would get complaints, but detectives wouldn't.

Since this guy is acting all high and mighty and refuses to cooperate, Li Wei is naturally just going to watch him die.

You chose it.

That's what Li Wei thought, but Mobis didn't.

Since joining the troupe, he had always been the center of attention, treated like royalty by everyone. Even the old troupe leader and the senior actors were the same. Within the Goddess of Beauty troupe, Mobis felt like a supreme king; his every move, every joy and anger, affected the entire troupe.

Everyone has to consider their mood; there are no exceptions!
But, but how dare this man do that?

"You, you can't do this! If I die, the audience will be heartbroken. By the way, you don't know, but I have thousands of people watching my performances every time. If they find out I'm dead..."

However, before Mobis could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Levi.

"They'll just be sad for a bit, then they'll go back to what they were doing. What? Did you think they'd die with you?"

"………………………"

Faced with Li Wei's question, Mobis was speechless for a moment, then he immediately spoke again.

“Yes, right, the troupe! The troupe relies entirely on me to attract customers! Once I die, the troupe…” “The income may also decrease, but it won’t be for too long. After all, the Goddess Troupe existed before you were born, and it won’t disappear after you die.”

Li Wei stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the doorway, smiling as he looked at Mobis.

"No...why..."

Upon hearing Li Wei's answer, Mobis looked utterly dejected. He had always considered himself the most important and indispensable person in the entire troupe. Even within the entire empire, he should have been a superstar, but…

"Some people's deaths are indeed worthy of being remembered by the world, but unfortunately, you are not worthy."

After saying this, Li Wei turned and left.

The next time we meet will probably be in the morgue.

"wait wait wait!"

But just then, Mobis called him a second time. This time, Mobis's face no longer held its previous arrogance, but was filled with unease and panic.

It was just like a little child who had been left alone in a primeval forest, completely helpless.

"What...what do you want to know? You can ask anything, just don't leave..."

"……………………"

Levi walked back to the bedside, while Mobis stared at him.

"Please tell the whole story from the beginning, starting from when you received the threatening letter."

"You were aware of the threatening letter?"

Mobis was startled when Li Wei mentioned the threatening letter.

"How did you know...?"

"I found it in your room; there was only one sentence written on it."

“That’s right, it’s that one…”

Mobis sighed.

“Okay, I’ll tell you. I saw that letter this morning. I had just gotten up and saw it slipped under the door. At first, I thought it was a love letter from my admirer, but when I picked it up, all I saw was one sentence: ‘Don’t play the role of Nuoan, or you will die.’”

As he spoke, Mobis frowned.

"I was quite annoyed at the time. Who would write this for me? Besides, I didn't want the role of Nuoan. It was the old troupe leader who assigned it to me. What did he want from me? Did he think I could just say I wouldn't act anymore? Is there such a thing as a free lunch?"

"Were all the roles assigned by the old guild leader?"

Li Wei suddenly asked, and Mobis shook his head.

"That's not necessarily true. If it's a famous play, everyone is familiar with the characters, so there's a chance to compete for the role. But for new plays, the veteran troupe leader usually selects the actors to perform."

"Was the script written by the old troupe leader?"

"The old troupe leader used to be in charge of writing the scripts, but he's getting old now..."

Mobis scratched his head.

"Oh, by the way, it seems like he commissioned someone to write this script."

"Who?"

“Call her Matilda or something…”

"…………………"

Thinking back to that bizarre and terrifying "love" story about a man and a woman entangled in a complicated relationship, Li Wei suddenly felt that it was perfectly normal for Matilda to write such a bizarre script.

Who do you think would write this letter?

Li Wei asked again.

"Could someone in the theater troupe want to play this role?"

"I don't know."

Mobis shook his head again.

"I only focus on playing the role I'm supposed to play well. That's what I've always been doing. Aside from acting, beautiful women, and alcohol, I don't care about anything else."

He is indeed a person of strong emotions.

"Go on."

"Oh, I read that letter, and I was really annoyed, so I tore it up and threw it away. At the time, I thought it was probably some incompetent guy who was jealous that I was going to be the main character again, so he deliberately messed with me... But later, I felt that something was wrong."

"Something's not right?"

"Yes, when I left my room, went to the cafeteria, and walked around the theater, I felt like someone was watching me, but when I turned around, I couldn't find anyone. Then I started to panic. Could someone really want to kill me? Then it was practice time. I usually practiced on the main stage because it was quiet and less crowded there..."

"But you went to the third stage today."

"Yes."

Mobis nodded.

“At first, I thought the first stage was better, since there were no people there and it was quiet. But when I went to the first stage today, looking at the empty hall and stage, I suddenly felt a chill all over my body, and then I felt that gaze again! I don’t know if I’m being paranoid, but being alone on the first stage was really creepy, so after thinking it over, I finally decided to go to the third stage.”

"How did you explain this to the other people?"

I didn't explain.

Mobis snorted and turned his head away.

"I can practice wherever I want, it's none of their business!"

"continue."

"Then I practiced, but even while practicing, I was restless, always feeling like something bad was going to happen. Then, when I got to the part where I had to pick the flower, I squatted down and suddenly heard a 'whoosh' from above... and I quickly jumped to the side..."

As he spoke, Mobis looked coldly at his legs, which were in casts.

"And then it turned out like this."

So that's how it is. No wonder he was able to dodge; it was pretty much exactly what I expected. Moreover, Li Wei discovered that this Mobis was actually a bit neurotic, meaning he might be more sensitive than the average person.

"Before and after that, did I see anyone appear backstage?"

"I didn't pay much attention."

Mobis shook his head.

"I was so engrossed in looking at the script that I didn't even notice if anyone was around."

"alright, I got it."

Upon hearing this, Li Wei shrugged and then fell into deep thought.

It seems that this is all we have to get from Mobis. Next... should we go and talk to Matilda?

(End of this chapter)