Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 347 Midday

Chapter 347 Midday (The Second Day)

When everyone learned that the road to the outside world was blocked by a mudslide, they were all taken aback.

"Huh? So that means we can't get out?"

Bianca stared wide-eyed in surprise, while Ms. Ava simply patted her head in silence.

However, Marilyn was considering a different issue.

"What about tomorrow's banquet? The guests..."

"They probably won't be able to come either; at least until the rain stops, no one has a way to clear the roads."

Gladys coldly interrupted Marilyn.

Therefore, this banquet can only be postponed or delayed.

"This, like this..."

After being rebuked by Gladys, Marilyn didn't know what to say. She glanced at Sophie, who was sitting silently with her head down, and sat back down in her chair.

"Is there a problem with the food?"

Richard turned to the old butler and asked, and the old butler nodded.

"Please rest assured, everyone. We have already purchased a large amount of food in advance and stored it in the storage room for tomorrow's banquet. It is enough for all of us."

Does it rain this heavily often here?

Li Wei asked.

"It is common at this time of year, but it is rare to see it raining this heavily."

The old butler thought for a moment.

“In the more than 50 years since I started working here, there have only been about two times when it rained this heavily.”

"I had no idea such a thing existed?"

Gladys looked at the old butler in surprise, who chuckled.

“You weren’t even born then, Mr. Gladys, so of course you wouldn’t know. Actually, I was a little worried this time too, but this kind of rain won’t last long. Generally speaking, it will subside in about three or four days, and at most a week.”

Upon hearing the old butler's reply, Li Wei pondered for a moment.

"We'd better check our food reserves; it's always better to be prepared."

"No problem, Lord Li Wei, please follow me."

"I'll go too."

As before, Gladys and Isaac followed Levi, while Herman remained invisible. Perhaps he knew he was completely unpopular in this family, so he simply made his son his agent.
Unlike Levy's Tower, Cromwell's Crescent House is a typical large Western-style building where many people work and live. As a result, most of the food and drinks here are stored in the cellar.

We usually go out shopping once a week.

The old butler led the three into the cellar and spoke at the same time.

"But we spent a lot of time shopping for this banquet. The carriages traveled back and forth for three days to bring all the supplies needed for the banquet. Oh, of course, I know there is a brand new type of cabinet that can be used to store food at a very low temperature. We have used it, but it is too small, so we can only put meat in it. As for the rest, we can only put it here."

"By the way, what else are you planning to put in there?"

Li Wei asked curiously.

"The person who sold me the freezer said it could hold any kind of food. Of course, if I could, I would even like to put things like flour in it."

"Ah, um..."

Li Wei fell silent, while the old butler casually pushed open the door and turned on the light.

Then, the dim light illuminated the previously pitch-black basement. Under the light, one could see wooden barrels and boxes placed nearby, as well as some cured meats and hams hanging from the ceiling.

"Everything is here."

As the old butler walked around, he introduced the food to everyone.

"Look, these are all what we purchased back then: meat, vegetables, flour, sugar, honey, cheese..."

"Ah, there's also this wine!"

Upon seeing the wine next to him, Gladys exclaimed in surprise.

"You guys actually managed to get your hands on a 30-year-old Fürth vintage? Good heavens, and you didn't tell me?"

“This is what the master brought to entertain guests; he specifically told me not to tell you.”

The old butler looked calmly at Gladys, who showed a displeased expression.

"That old man is really something, did he really think I could finish all of this? But it's perfect, now..."

As he spoke, Gladys picked up the bottle, fiddled with it for a while, and then put it down listlessly.

"Forget it, I'm not in the mood for drinking right now."

As for why I'm not in the mood, everyone knows the answer.

"what is that?"

Just then, Li Wei stopped and looked at a bag placed in the corner of a pile of wooden crates not far away. The bag looked very ordinary and would not normally attract anyone's attention.

Unfortunately, as a detective, Li Wei is best at noticing things that ordinary people don't.

"what?"

Upon hearing Li Wei's question, the old butler also looked over in confusion, and upon seeing the pocket, he clearly showed a puzzled expression.

“I think… it might be spices? No, the spice pouch shouldn’t be here, it’ll get damp…”

"What exactly is it? We'll find out if we just take a look."

Gladys reached out and grabbed the bag, which had been in the cellar for some time and was starting to feel damp at the bottom. He reached into the bag and pulled out a stack of… letters.

"My God, what is this?"

Gladys stared in disbelief at the letter in his hand, while the old butler was speechless for a moment. Only Isaac stared at the letter, and after a while, he also reached out and took out another letter from his pocket, which he then tore open.

"Hey, you just tore it apart? This is a letter addressed to someone!"

"I know."

Isaac spoke without looking up as he opened the letter.

"I know exactly what's written in here!"

"?"

Everyone was taken aback when they heard Isaac speak. Just then, Isaac tore open the letter and took out an invitation.

Gladys leaned closer and read the message aloud. "Dear Sir/Madam... we cordially invite you to a banquet to be held at the Crescent Moon Pavilion on the 18th of this month..."

As Gladys read on, he also froze.

"Wait, isn't this the banquet invitation we sent out?"

"Yes."

Aysaka nodded, his expression angry and serious.

"I remember this envelope; I wrote every single invitation by hand and put it inside..."

"That doesn't include mine, does it?"

Li Wei took out his invitation and waved it in front of him.

"Yes, your invitation is...?"

"It must have been written by Earl Cromwell himself, which is quite interesting."

Li Wei squinted at the pocket in front of him.

"You didn't send out these invitations? Who sent them? And who sent mine?"

"If I'm not mistaken, I was the one who sent your invitation."

The old butler then stepped forward and spoke.

"you?"

“Yes, when the master asked us to prepare the supplies for the banquet, he gave me a letter addressed to No. 312, White Oak District, Fog City, Feller Street…”

"Oh, that's definitely me."

Levi nodded, then looked at Isaac.

"So where are your invitations? With so many invitations, it can't all be sent by one person."

Faced with Li Wei's question, Aisaka frowned and tried to recall carefully.

“I remember…I remember…we should have given it to the postman.”

"The postman is here?"

"Yes, he comes once a week to deliver our mail and also helps collect it."

Are you sure you gave him the invitation?

"I am very sure."

Isaac nodded, then looked closely at the bag in front of him.

"Judging from this, it does look like the kind of parcel that postman often uses."

"That's very interesting."

Li Wei examined the package carefully, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"A package that shouldn't be here, yet it is. Hmm... very interesting. Who gave the invitation to the postman? Mr. Aysaka? Was it you?"

"it's me."

Isaac nodded.

"Could you please describe in detail what happened at that time?"

“Let me think… This happened more than a week ago. Oh, right, it was in the afternoon when the postman came to deliver the mail, and I handed him all the invitations we were going to send.”

"Be specific."

“Yes, the servants were unloading the goods, and I was watching. Then the postman came; he always rode an old horse, very slowly. He handed us the letter and then asked us curiously what we were doing. Since it didn't seem like today was a day for shopping, I told him that the Cromwells were having a party. Then I said, ‘We have some invitations to mail; I’ll go get them now.’ I went back to my room, gathered the invitations, and took them to the postman. He was quite surprised when he saw them and said to me, ‘That’s sure to be a very lively party.’ I replied with a few words…”

"You saw him put the invitations in the package with your own eyes?"

"Of course, Sir Levi."

Isaac nodded vigorously.

"I won't make a mistake in this regard."

"So when did he leave?"

"this………"

Isaac frowned and thought carefully for a moment.

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember. I only remember that I was talking to him when I suddenly heard my sister calling my name in the garden outside. I was worried that something had happened to her, so I rushed to check. Luckily, she was just frightened by a small bug. When I came back, the postman was gone. I think he must have left after that.”

"Oh...so what do you think this means? A little prank?"

“I don’t think this is a prank at all, Sir Levi!”

At this point, Isaac suddenly raised his voice, then stared at Gladys.

“I think someone is deliberately trying to ruin our family’s reputation because this banquet is for my sister. If none of our invited guests show up, it will undoubtedly be our fault, and then we will naturally be disqualified from inheriting the Cromwell family!”

"Go ahead and shout, why are you looking at me like that?"

Gladys was completely baffled when he saw Isaac staring at him, but then he seemed to understand something and his eyes widened.

"Wait, you're not saying I did this, are you? That I hid these invitations?"

“I didn’t say that, but you could certainly do it, Uncle Gladys.”

"you……………!"

"Alright, you two, stop arguing."

Li Wei interrupted their conversation, then looked at the package again.

"Hmm, I must say, this is a very interesting question. Perhaps we can try to investigate and solve this mystery..."

As he spoke, Levi glanced at Gladys and Isaac.

"I think none of you have any objections to this."

Both of them nodded in agreement.

"Then it's settled."