Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 330 The Third Person

After reading the original story through Matilda, Levi finally found a suspect.

That's the actor who played Otto!

Li Wei hadn't been able to find a suspect before because, on the one hand, Mobis had offended a lot of people, and many disliked him. On the other hand, from an actor's perspective, it seemed like no one would want to take the role.

However, after reading the original work, things are not like that.

Otto and Noan were originally played by one person, but the old troupe leader split them into two actors, which changed the core plot. According to Matilda, she also disliked the script, but since they didn't use her original title, she didn't want to interfere anymore.

Therefore, Li Wei had to ask others for information again.

What are the opinions of everyone in the theater troupe about this script?

Hearing Li Wei's question, Qiong, who was rehearsing with the troupe, was somewhat surprised.

"Is this related to the attack on Mr. Mobis?"

"Maybe, maybe not, but could you tell me? For example, what are your thoughts on the script? Did you know it was adapted from the novel 'Persona'?"

"...At first I didn't know either, but later I found out, and how should I put it...I also watched 'The Mask,' and I felt it was very different from 'Moonlight Flower'..."

At this point, Joan sighed.

"Actually, I want to apologize to Miss Matilda. I had no idea when the captain went to see her. If I had known, I definitely wouldn't have let Miss Matilda face the captain alone. She's really not good at communicating with others..."

"Doesn't she have an agent or anything?"

Li Wei also felt that with Matilda's personality, if she went to talk about publishing, the publisher would just do whatever they wanted, and she would have been devoured long ago.

“Miss Matilda’s father owned the Dawn Publishing House, and all of Miss Matilda’s books were published through her father’s publishing house.”

"I see."

No wonder, Matilda doesn't need to worry about these problems at all.

"Let's find an opportunity to get Miss Matilda an agent. She's really not suited to discuss these business matters."

I will find an opportunity to persuade her.

Joan agreed with this.

"Speaking of which, it seems Mr. Mobis won't be able to play the role of Noan now..."

Li Wei stared at Qiong and got down to business.

"What are the theater troupe planning to do? Didn't they say the performance was in a week?"

"I don't know what the leader is thinking either, but for now... I'm afraid the only option is to follow the original story."

"You mean the actor who plays Otto is playing two roles?"

"Ah."

Joan nodded.

"Although it's an adapted script, most of the interpersonal relationships and lines are from the original work. The only difference is that Noan and Ott are separated, and the two characters from one person are now two people. Now we just need to revise the script again, remove some of the characters that were brought out from Noan's storyline, and focus the main drama on Anna and Ott."

"Speaking of which, I haven't asked yet, what role do you play in this play? Anna?"

"Hahaha... I play the second female lead, Anna's good friend Jasmine."

"Um…………………"

Hearing this, Li Wei nodded, then looked at Qiong again.

"So who is the actor who plays Otto?"

"Mr. Corent Hann, he is also an outstanding actor in The Eyes of the Goddess, and the star of our troupe."

Joan quickly gave an introduction.

"Although he's almost forty, he still looks like a young man, and he's full of passion for every project he undertakes..."

According to Joan, Mr. Colent and Mobis were completely different people. The former was a true star actor with superb acting skills, dazzling and respectful of every work he appeared in. In every performance, he would do his best to play his role to the best of his ability.

This is why, unlike Mobis, who is hated by both gods and dogs, Corent is the most popular in the troupe. Even Mobis dares not complain when he sees him.

"Yes, I'd like to talk to him."

After listening to Qiong's explanation, Li Wei put forward his conditions.

"And Mr. Corent?"

"Yes, isn't he acting opposite Mobis? I think we should be able to learn some things about Mr. Mobis that we don't know from him."

"Um... okay."

Joan didn't doubt him; she simply nodded.

“I’ll take you to Mr. Corrent’s lounge.”

Big-name actors all have their own private dressing rooms, no matter how big, which they can enjoy all to themselves. This is a perk for many famous actors, and Corent is no exception. Joan knocked on the door and then led Levi inside. In the room, a man was sitting on the sofa, staring at the script in his hands.

Although Joan said that Corente was over forty, whether it was due to good maintenance or makeup, in Levi's eyes Corente looked only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. Her figure was still in good shape, and her hair was neatly combed back. If it weren't for the wrinkles around her eyes, you really wouldn't be able to tell that she was forty years old.

"Ah, hello, Miss Joan."

Seeing Joan walk in, Corent put down his script, smiled and nodded at her, then looked at Levi.

"This is..."

“Hello, Mr. Corent.” Levi removed his hat and bowed to him.

"I am Levi, a detective, and I am currently investigating the attack on Mr. Mobis."

"Ah, so it was... Mr. Mobis was really attacked? Wasn't it supposed to be an accident?"

Upon hearing Levi introduce himself, Corent quickly rose to return the greeting and asked with a puzzled expression. Levi didn't answer Corent's question; he simply smiled slightly and looked at Joan.

"Then, Miss Joan, may I speak with Mr. Corent alone?"

"Ah, of course, please make yourselves at home."

Joan didn't seem puzzled. She simply nodded to Levi and Corente, then turned and left the room. Levi then walked over to Corente's side, sat down on another sofa, and looked at the table in front of him. The table was very clean and tidy, and the items on it were arranged very neatly, showing the meticulous nature of its owner.

Next to it were scripts, dictionaries, and even newspapers, all neatly folded and placed to the side, along with a novel…

Mask

Li Wei glanced at the book cover, then looked away.

“Mr. Corent, I would like to ask you some questions about the attack on Mr. Mobis.”

As he spoke, Li Wei took out his notebook.

"Of course, that's no problem."

"Where were you when Mr. Mobis was attacked?"

"At that time... let me think, I should have been in the bathroom, because I didn't know what was going on until I came out of the bathroom and heard everyone arguing, and that's when I found out what happened."

"Can anyone prove this?"

"This... Sir Levi, going to the restroom is such a private matter, how could anyone possibly prove it?"

In response to Li Wei's question, Corent gave a wry smile.

"That's true. So, what's your opinion of Mr. Mobis?"

"Why…………………"

Upon hearing this question, Corent sighed deeply.

"Mobis is very talented, extremely talented, but his personality is definitely a problem. Even so, I admit that on stage, he is almost unmatched."

At this point, Corent paused for a moment.

"That's how it is on stage."

"So you mean it's different offstage?"

"Of course, actors don't survive alone."

Corent smiled.

“We need the cooperation of other actors and the help of the backstage staff. It’s meaningless to just perform a one-man show on stage. But Mobis doesn’t understand this yet. I think this might be an opportunity for him to think about it.”

So what are your thoughts on this play?

"It's a great story, and I will do my best to play the role of Otto well."

"But now that Mobis is injured, there's no one to play the role of Noah. What do you think we should do?"

“I…I think the troupe leader should be able to solve this problem. As an actor, I just need to do what I can.”

"That's true..."

Li Wei nodded, then asked a few more questions, including how popular Mobis was and whether anyone would try to steal the role. However, Corent's answers were fairly standard, similar to what Joan had said. As for the casting of Noan, Corent said that everyone was actually afraid to play Noan because it was a lead role and not easy to portray; otherwise, the old commander wouldn't have specifically chosen Mobis for the role.

Although this guy has a terrible temper, his acting skills are truly top-notch; the others... are somewhat lacking.

"Uh-huh………………"

After listening to Corent's story, Levi nodded, wrote something in his notebook, tore it out, and handed it to Corent.

"Mr. Corent, please take a look. If you confirm that it is correct, please sign in the lower right corner and write that I have confirmed that the record is correct."

"What does it mean?"

“A program, that way, can prove that these words were said by you, and not made up by me.”

"………………………"

Corent hesitated for a moment, took the paper, looked it over carefully, then picked up a pen... signed his name at the bottom corner, and wrote that sentence.

"Thank you."

Li Wei took back the paper and then put away the pen as well.

"Then I have one last question."

"what is the problem?"

"You initially said you were in the bathroom and didn't know what was happening on stage..."

Li Wei chuckled as he finished speaking.

"Then why are there your footprints backstage? There's no restroom there."

(End of this chapter)