Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 403 Strange Existence

When Levi arrived at Lord Klopp's house, it was in complete disarray. Outside, servants were tidying up and packing, as if they were moving out.

"What happened?"

Li Wei curiously walked up to a servant and asked him a question, while the servant, who was tidying up his things with his head down, complained.

"The owner has gone mad; he wants to fire us all and even sell this house..."

As he spoke, the servant looked up and saw Li Wei. He was immediately taken aback and quickly stood up.

"Sir Li, Sir Levi!"

"Please tell Lord Klopp that I need to speak with him."

Li Wei said something to his servant, who quickly nodded.

"Yes, sir, I'll go right away..."

As he spoke, the servant rushed through the gate in a flustered manner. A moment later, Li Wei saw a man dressed as a steward running out, drenched in sweat.

"Welcome, sir. I am so sorry for not greeting you sooner..."

The butler wiped the sweat from his brow while looking at Li Wei with unease.

"May I ask, what brings you here today...?"

"I have some things I'd like to discuss with Lord Klopp in person."

"this……………"

The butler seemed somewhat embarrassed by Li Wei's answer.

"Please forgive my bluntness, but right now the master is probably in a bit...inconvenient..."

"That's exactly why I came here."

"you…………?"

The butler paused for a moment, then immediately looked like he had just realized something.

"So, is the master really possessed? He's been saying strange things these past few days, and he's even going to fire us all and sell the house... saying he wants to advise His Majesty..."

"May I see him?"

"Of course, please follow me!"

If Li Wei were just an ordinary nobleman, the steward probably wouldn't have let him in no matter what. But Li Wei is a specialist in solving mysterious cases, not to mention he even killed a giant dragon. His fame is widespread throughout the empire. Right now, the only people who don't know him are probably newborn babies.

More importantly, Li Wei is specifically designed to deal with these kinds of guys, so his coming here... must be to help his master exorcise evil spirits!
Thinking of this, the butler hurriedly led Li Wei into the house and onto the second floor. As soon as they reached the corridor, Li Wei heard arguing.

"My God, Father, what are you trying to do? Are you even thinking straight?"

"I'm perfectly normal! I've already thought it through. It's because of us bureaucrats that the empire has become what it is today! As subjects, we should advise His Majesty; only in this way can we ensure that the empire doesn't get bogged down in war! If His Majesty continues to act so stubbornly..."

"My God, Father, do you even know what you're saying? Didn't you just praise the Empire's system as very good?"

"That was before! Now I know that the people are the most important foundation of this country. Only their choices are the true choices of this country! It is wrong to let the will of a few people govern the country! These brutal dictatorships!"

"Oh my god, Father, please shut up..."

Leaning on his cane with one hand and taking off his hat with the other, Li Wei walked forward following the sound of the argument. He then saw an old man arguing with a middle-aged man in the second-floor lounge, the latter's face flushed red as he stared intently at his father.

"You previously said that uneducated people are simply incapable of making judgments on matters of national importance!"

"But that's their choice! For better or for worse, we must respect their choice! That's the right thing to do!"

"What are you talking about? What's gotten into you? How can you say such irresponsible things?"

"Why won't you listen to me? If you just come to one gathering with me, you'll understand how terrible the Empire's situation is right now!"

"Father!"

"Ahem... Sorry."

At this moment, the butler coughed twice, interrupting their conversation.

"Sir Levi has arrived."

Sir Levi?

Upon hearing the butler's announcement, the middle-aged man was taken aback. Then, he turned around and saw Li Wei standing at the door of the lounge, and his expression changed drastically.

"Sir Levy, this...this isn't true! My father has simply gone mad..."

"I'm very good!"

However, Lord Klopp interrupted his son's explanation abruptly, then turned to look at Levi.

"Sir Levy, I have long admired your name. May I ask what brings you here?"

"I have some things I'd like to discuss with you, Sir Klopp... For example, what you just said was quite interesting."

Li Wei chuckled and walked into the lounge.

"You just said that people have the right to make their own choices, whether good or bad?"

"That's right!"

Lord Klopp nodded vigorously.

"This is a country for everyone, so it must be ruled by the people together!"

"What if they make the wrong choice?"

"Then they will get what they deserve."

"So, suppose there's a proposal that 51% of people agree with and 49% oppose. Even if it passes, does it represent the opinions of the people?"

"this……………"

Lord Klopp paused for a moment when faced with Li Wei's question.

"I think... it should be considered..."

"So, will those 49 percent agree?"

"This... I think... they'll agree, right? After all, it's the will of the people!" "And if they don't want to accept it?"

"What can they do if they don't want to accept it?"

"It's very simple."

Li Wei shrugged.

"All we need to do is reduce the number of people who support the issue, from 51% to 48%."

"What nonsense are you spouting? Sir Levi? Such a thing is absolutely impossible!"

"terribly sorry."

Li Wei spread his hands.

“I’ve seen idiots who tried to kill their entire family to inherit their fortune. You want me to believe in human self-control? I don’t.”

If you were to ask who is least likely to believe in the inherent goodness of human nature, it would be the police and detectives. After all, they've witnessed too many evil deeds people are capable of for profit. If you tell them that people can resolve all conflicts peacefully, they'd definitely think you're telling a fairy tale.

Some people are even willing to kill for ten pence, and you're talking to me about this?
"No, that's not how it is..."

However, Lord Klopp was at a loss for words at this moment, but even so, he was still trembling all over, as if he was on the verge of a conflict.

"That's not true! That's all just sophistry! You're just trying to uphold the existing system! You're our enemy! I'm going to kill you!"

As he spoke, Lord Klopp grabbed the fire hook from the fireplace and hurled it at Levi!

Seeing this, Lord Klopp's son and butler were shocked and rushed forward to grab him tightly.

"Father, have you gone mad? That's Sir Levi! What are you doing?!"

"Master, wake up! Don't go crazy!"

"Let me go, let me go!"

Even though he was being held by the two men, Lord Klopp struggled desperately, but instead of backing down, Levi walked up to him and looked him up and down.

"Hmm, once they can't answer a question, they want to get rid of the person who asked it. Just as I thought."

"Sir Levy, please, please leave for a while. My father is currently somewhat delirious..."

Clutching Lord Klopp tightly, his son spoke to Levi, who shook his head.

"No need, I've already figured out the problem your father had... Hmm, maybe I can solve it."

As he spoke, Levi kept his eyes fixed on Lord Klopp.

In fact, upon seeing Lord Klopp, Levi immediately used [Soul Vision] on him, and then Levi discovered that inside Lord Klopp's head was a strange, insect-like thing. It seemed to be on Lord Klopp's brain, controlling his every move.

So Li Wei suggested asking some questions, and then he noticed that every time Lord Klopp tried to answer, the insect would twitch. When it finally couldn't answer, the insect seemed to swell up, and then Lord Klopp, in a fit of rage, tried to attack him.

By the way, this thing is red.

"Let me try."

With that, Levi walked up to Lord Klopp, reached out, and snapped his fingers near his ear.

[Reality Anchored]!
"Snapped!"

"Whoosh—!"

In that instant, Lord Klopp suddenly clutched his head and groaned in pain, swaying from side to side. Seeing this, his son and butler quickly steadied him. However, the next moment, Lord Klopp abruptly knelt down and opened his mouth, vomiting painfully.

The next moment...

"Whoa—!"

Accompanied by a nauseating vomiting sound, a translucent worm mixed with saliva was spat out of Lord Klopp's mouth. It looked like a caterpillar, except that its body had thin, sharp spines on both sides, and it was as long as a centipede.

Yeah, it looks disgusting.

After spitting out the worm, Lord Klopp's eyes rolled back and he fainted.

"Father!"

Upon seeing Lord Klopp suddenly faint, his son hurriedly reached out and touched Lord Klopp's nose.

"He's still breathing... he should be alright, right?"

"Maybe it's nothing."

Levi walked to the puddle of filth that Lord Klopp had vomited, carefully picked up the translucent worm with a fire hook, and then put it into a bottle next to him and sealed it.

The worm remained motionless, and the red aura on it disappeared.

Using [Reality Anchoring] to deal with this thing only consumed a minimum of my lifespan, which means it's not very strong.

It's just that it's very well concealed.

If Li Wei hadn't possessed the "Soul Vision," he probably wouldn't have noticed anything unusual.

"Woo..."

Just then, Lord Klopp let out a painful groan, and then slowly opened his eyes.

"Owner!"

"Father, are you alright?"

Upon seeing Lord Klopp awaken again, his butler and son hurriedly inquired, and the latter blinked and looked at the two of them.

"What are you doing here? Where am I...?"

Muttering to himself, Lord Klopp turned his head and saw Levi, looking even more confused.

"Sir Levi? What brings you to my house?"

"I'm here for a reason, of course."

When Lord Klopp asked him a question, Levi smiled slightly and put the jar in his pocket.

"Would you mind if I spoke with you, Sir Klopp?"

(End of this chapter)