Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 345 Before Bed (Day 1)
The first room we went to... well, that's Gladys's room. Let's see what he's up to.

Li Wei manipulated his twin-tailed reconnaissance unit to slip through the crack in the door next to him, then quietly hid in the corner. He then saw Gladys sitting at the table rummaging through his luggage, seemingly looking for something.

"I remember it being around here, but where did I put it... Oh, I found it!"

Gladys said in a low voice, then cheered, and then Levi saw him take a bottle of beer out of his bag.

Do you want more?
Gladys was clearly unaware of Levi's inner turmoil. He picked up the bottle, leaned back on the sofa, opened the cap, and gulped it down in one go.

"Phew... This is definitely the best way to drink it."

Oh, I see. So this person is the type who likes to drink beer.

Li Wei remembered his butler saying that beer was something ordinary people drank, and it wasn't served when entertaining nobles. Come to think of it, even in modern times, he'd never seen a banquet with a large case of beer; it was always either white or red…

"But speaking of which, Sir Levi's presence is quite interesting. Hehehe, I wonder if the old man invited him to investigate that bastard Herman. I really want to see his expression right now."

Gladys sipped his drink and muttered to himself.

"Anyway, I think that Brother Andre's death is definitely related to this bastard. It's a pity that he died too young, otherwise we should have invited Sir Levi back then. Maybe he could have found the real culprit. Instead, like these incompetent policemen, they've been messing around for so long and it turns out to be an accident..."

It seems that Gladys still maintains that Herman killed Andrei, but unfortunately, because so much time has passed, there is no evidence to prove it.

After listening to Gladys grumble a few more times, Levi felt there was nothing more to gather, so he manipulated the twin tails and left his room.

Next time, we should have Eileen have someone build a few more, and put one in each room. When needed, we can switch between them like a surveillance camera…

Next up are Ms. Ava and Ms. Bianca? I don't think they'll have any information... Hmm, let's go check it out.

The ladies' room was similar to the gentlemen's room, except it had two single beds and a screen in the corner. Li Wei's guest room also had one; according to the butler, the ladies mainly changed clothes behind the screen.

Hmm... If this were in the anime, the protagonist wouldn't have the lucky pervert moment when he went to the wrong door, and we wouldn't see the naked heroine giving out fan service.

As expected, reality is not as wonderful as the world of anime.

Ms. Ava and Bianca were already in bed, with only the firelight still burning in the fireplace. Bianca was clearly excited and was talking incessantly to Ms. Ava.

"...I never expected Sir Levi to attend this birthday party, Grandmother. Why didn't I invite Sir Levi when I made my social debut?"

"That's because he wasn't a knight back then, and we didn't know him..."

"That's true! Ahhh, I wish I could debut again!"

"Hehehe, what's up, Bianca? Do you like Sir Levi?"

"Of course, Grandmother, Sir Levi is young and handsome, a detective, and a knight. He's the perfect marriage prospect."

"Hehe...Should I, this old woman, go and talk to him?"

"Um... this... hahaha... let's not do it, I feel a little embarrassed..."

These two really are here to have fun.

After listening for a while, Li Wei decisively decided to retreat. It seemed that, just as he had thought, these two had come here to visit relatives and had no interest in who was in charge of the household.

Richard hasn't returned yet, so let's go to the West Wing and check on the Herman family.

After all, they are the main suspects.

So Li Wei carefully maneuvered her twin ponytails through the corridor, arrived at the door of the guest room in the west wing, and then slipped through the crack in the door.

"Snapped!"

However, the next moment, a cup smashed on the floor not far away, startling Levi. Immediately afterward, Hermann's angry roar rang out.

"Don't be ridiculous! You're saying you have no idea?"

"I...I really don't know..."

Marilyn sat on the edge of the bed, trembling. Herman stood before her, his earlier friendly smile gone; his face was ashen, and he glared at Marilyn with a ferocious expression.

"You didn't say anything you shouldn't have in front of that old man, did you?"

“I really didn’t say anything, believe me, Herman…”

Marilyn looked up at Herman uneasily, and Herman, seeing the fear and sorrow on her face, suddenly changed his expression. His previous ferocious and angry look vanished instantly, replaced by a gentle and affectionate one.

Herman came to Marilyn's side, knelt down, looked at her, and reached out to embrace her.

“Of course, I believe you, Marilyn. Who else can I trust besides you? You are the woman I love most in this world. But I’m really worried, you know? Sir Levi is the Empire’s famous detective. His coming here… I’m afraid it might be your father’s idea. Maybe he wants Sir Levi to investigate us.”

You guessed right, or rather, it wasn't hard to guess at all.

Li Wei silently rolled his eyes. His title of Imperial Detective was useful in some ways, but not so useful in others. At least, the first thing people thought of when they heard his name was that title. Even though Li Wei was a count, as a detective, wherever he went, people's first reaction would definitely be to guess what he was there to investigate.

This is especially true for those who have a guilty conscience…

"Really? Hermann? What should I do then?"

"Don't worry, Marilyn, you just need to do as I say..."

As he spoke, Herman held Marilyn tightly in his arms, whispering intimately in her ear. Marilyn closed her eyes, listening to Herman's words, and then her expression gradually relaxed.

“Okay, Hermann, I’ll do as you say…”

"???"

What are they talking about?
Li Wei wanted to manipulate the twin ponytails to go over and find out what was going on, but the couple was very cautious, whispering in each other's ears even in their own room.

Then again, judging from how skilled they are, this probably isn't the first time they've done this.

How many secrets does this couple hold?

Seeing that the two went back to bed after exchanging a few words, and that there wasn't much to hear, Li Wei left the room.

Finally, there's... Sophie, I guess.

Although Li Wei felt that the girl probably didn't have any secrets to gather, he still squeezed under the door at the far end of the west wing, since he was already there.

There were no lights in the room, only the glow of the fireplace; it seemed the young lady was asleep.
Let's go then...

Just as Li Wei was manipulating his twin ponytails, preparing to head home, he suddenly heard a soft moan coming from the bed.

"Mmm... Waaah... Waaah..."

What? Are you sick?
Hearing the sound that sounded like pain, Li Wei's curiosity was piqued, so he manipulated the twin tails to turn around again and came to the bedside, looking at Sophie who was lying on the bed.

The latter was curled up in the blankets, trembling uncontrollably. Perhaps because of the firelight, a blush appeared on the girl's fair skin. She stared blankly at the ceiling with her eyes half-open.

A cold? A fever? It doesn't look like it...

Just as Li Wei was observing curiously, he saw Sophie turn her body slightly and then open her mouth.

"Ah... Lord Li Wei..."

Huh? Are you calling me?

To be honest, Levi was quite surprised to hear Sophie call out his name. He and this girl had barely spoken; at least he had played cards with Bianca. But after dinner, Sophie went straight to her room, and Levi had only greeted her briefly.

"Lord Li Wei..."

Although Li Wei thought so, the girl in front of him seemed to think otherwise. She tilted her head back again and whispered Li Wei's name. At the same time, she put a finger in her mouth, as if trying to suppress her voice.

“Ugh… Lord Li Wei… please… as usual…” As usual what? Miss? This is our first time meeting, okay?

ah……………

Speaking of which, I once heard Adele say that at her school, the girls really liked collecting news articles and photos about themselves.

If the genders were reversed, Li Wei could probably guess what was going on. It's like a teenager looking at photo models in magazines to vent his frustrations; he'd probably feel the same way if he met them in person someday. But who would have thought… women would do this too?
It's true that men and women are the same.

Having figured out the crux of the matter, Li Wei had nothing more to say. He never imagined that he would one day be treated like a side dish by a woman... Staying here probably wouldn't yield any useful information, so he decided to make a move.

After that, Isaac and Richard returned, but the two seemed to have drunk quite a bit. They went back to their rooms and fell asleep immediately. Levi didn't manage to gather any useful information and had to give up.

Just like that, the night passed.

"Dong dong dong."

The next morning, when Li Wei woke up, he heard a knock on the door.

"Sir Levi, please proceed to the restaurant for breakfast at eight o'clock."

"Okay, I know."

Upon hearing the servant's message, Li Wei replied, then dressed, washed up, and left the room, heading to the dining room on the first floor.

"Ah, good morning, Sir Levi."

In the restaurant, Ms. Ava and Bianca were already seated. When they saw Levi arrive, Bianca greeted him happily.

Good morning, you two are up early.

"Hehe, I'm old, I can't sleep for long anymore."

Ms. Ava chuckled as she answered, and Bianca chuckled in return.

"Early to bed and early to rise makes you healthy. Sir Levi also gets up very early."

"well enough."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Richard and the Gladys brothers arrived at the restaurant. Richard was as taciturn as ever, while the Gladys looked unlucky, as if he had been hit on the head.

"Ugh... my head hurts so much... a hangover is awful..."

"That's why I told you to drink less."

Richard dragged Gladys down to the seat like a dead dog, while Gladys held her head and spoke to the maid beside her.

"Excuse me, could you please have a glass of water... These days are really tough..."

"OK, just a second."

Upon hearing Gladys's request, the maid nodded and turned to leave.

A moment later, Marilyn and Herman's family also arrived at the restaurant and sat down opposite them.

Only the old count remained.

"Where's the old man? Is he still sleeping?"

Gladys took a sip of water, which helped him recover, and then looked at the empty main seat and asked a question.

"It should be here soon?"

Just as everyone was talking, the old butler hurriedly walked over. Seeing that the old butler was alone, the others also looked at him curiously.

"Where's the old man?"

"I knocked on the door just now, but there was no response from inside."

"Hey?"

It has to be said that everyone was stunned when they heard this.

"what happened?"

"Could something have happened to the old man?"

Gladys hurriedly stood up, and Richard followed suit.

"Let's go check on him. The old man is getting on in years and has difficulty walking. It would be a real problem if something happened to him and no one found him!"

"Ah."

Li Wei nodded, and then Isaac stood up. The group followed the old butler out of the restaurant and arrived at the old count's bedroom on the third floor.

A maid is knocking on the bedroom door.

"My lord, my lord, are you awake?"

"How about it?"

The old butler looked at the maid and asked her a question, but she shook her head.

"There's absolutely no sound coming from inside..."

"Where's the key?"

"There's only one, and it's on the master."

"Then there's nothing we can do."

Gladys spoke up upon hearing this.

"Let's just break down the door!"

No one objected, and soon everyone got ready and slammed the bedroom door shut.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

It must be said that the door was quite sturdy; Levi, Richard, and Gladys managed to ram it several times. Then they rammed it again with all their might…!
"Boom!"

The bedroom door was finally forced open, and everyone looked up into the room. The old count was lying motionless on the bed, seemingly asleep. But even such a commotion hadn't woken him?

"Old man—!"

Seeing this, Gladys hurriedly tried to step forward, but was stopped by Levi.

"Everyone stay here and don't move."

As he gave the order, Li Wei walked into the room. He went to the old count's bedside, looked at the old man in his pajamas with his eyes closed, and then reached out and touched his nose.

"Sir Levy, how is the old man?"

Gladys stood at the doorway, looked at Levi, and asked him a question, while Levi turned his head and looked at everyone.

"The Earl of Cromwell has died."

Then, he spoke.

(End of this chapter)