Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 413 Continued Investigation
Mission "Destroy the Node" Completed

[Time consumed: s]

Survey efficiency: S

[Impact/Effect: S]

Overall Rating: SSS

[Lifespan +150, additional +50]

The overall task difficulty is not high.

Li Wei carefully examined the system task settlement report and sighed silently.

Ever since he obtained the [Reality Anchor], these types of tasks have become easier and the rewards have decreased.

This is normal, since the system won't give you the opportunity to exploit bugs to farm rewards.

Incidentally, that weakened node was dealt with by [Reality Anchoring], which cost it... fifty days of its lifespan.

Okay, let's just call it MP.

Li Wei remembered that when he first used [Reality Anchoring] to deal with the missing person rumor at the Royal Academy, it cost thirty units of energy; this node, however, cost fifty. In other words, from [Reality Anchoring]'s perspective, the node is stronger than the rumor. So the question is, how is this strength determined?
If Li Wei were to compare this node with the previous disappearance rumors, the biggest difference is that the node has a physical form, while the disappearance rumors only attach themselves to Etina, who is a ghost. Furthermore, the rumors have regional limitations, while the node does not… Hmm, it seems that whether or not something is materialized is also a major characteristic of strength.

In supernatural novels, ghosts would be easier to deal with than zombies, right?
In short, these are just speculations at the moment, and the specifics can only be determined through experimentation.

Looking at the notebook in his hand, Li Wei felt like he was back when he was writing his thesis. The problem was that he couldn't even find a literature review to copy now; he had to try them out one by one...

[Bonus: Mental Resistance +10%]

Ah, another new resistance. Is this some kind of system from RPG games, where increasing mental resistance grants immunity to control effects like sleep and confusion? Different elemental resistances mean you have to find different elemental weaknesses to successfully attack a boss, like a boss immune to fire only being able to be attacked with water magic… This kind of situation happens quite often in games.

However, this did serve as a reminder to Li Wei that [Mystic Resistance] could only resist mystical forces; it couldn't resist physical forces from reality. For example, Li Wei could resist the strange mental attacks from nodes because they themselves belonged to mystical forces.

If Li Wei takes sleeping pills or other drugs that produce similar psychoactive effects, then [Mystic Resistance] will be useless, because it does not belong to mystical powers.

Hmm? Thinking about it carefully, could I get immunity to all kinds of elements like wind, water, fire, and earth in the future? Wouldn't that make me invincible?

However, it seems that to get this immunity, you need to find a quest with a boss of the same attribute... which doesn't seem that easy.

In short, we can talk about that later. What Li Wei needs to do now is to find out who transported this thing to the botanical garden.

This task is neither particularly difficult nor particularly simple.

As mentioned before, the staff here were all controlled by insects, and when Li Wei expelled the insects from their minds, these people had no memory of the period when they were controlled by the insects — but Li Wei soon discovered that there was a benefit to everything.

Indeed, these people lost their memories of the time they were manipulated by the insects, but for them, the memories of the time before they were manipulated by the insects were as clear as if they happened yesterday!
Indeed, this is true for these people. After being manipulated by the insects, their consciousness falls into a deep sleep. As long as they are alive, their memories before falling asleep are clear to them!
Especially those that have been going on for several years!
For ordinary people, they might not remember exactly what happened on a certain day a few years ago. But for these staff members, in their minds, these events didn't happen a few years ago, but just a few days ago!
That makes it easy to find out.

Through questioning these staff members, Li Wei quickly obtained a clue—on the eve of the botanical garden's opening, they received a package from the East Linden Company containing several plant samples, donated by a nobleman. The staff weren't surprised at the time, because of the Marquis of Carrent; when his botanical garden opened, everyone would give him some face.

Therefore, many nobles or botanists from all over the empire, and even some who were traveling abroad, would send plant samples or seeds. After all, the Rare Botanical Garden was known for collecting plants from all over the empire, and given the Marquis of Calent's reputation, everyone was happy to have the opportunity to build a relationship with such an important figure, get closer to him, and increase their goodwill.

The staff were not surprised by the donation package from Donglinden Company, but when they opened it, they found that the plant inside was very special—a sapling that looked like it was made of flesh and blood, and even emitted a foul odor.

This plant also gave the botanical garden staff pause. On one hand, some believed that such a rare plant was perfect for display in the garden. On the other hand, others felt that while this disgusting plant was rare, the botanical garden was open to the public, and displaying it might cause the public to question the Marquis of Calente's and the botanical garden's standards.

Although everyone had doubts at the time, they didn't think about it too much. After all, it was indeed a rare plant, and even if it wasn't publicly displayed, it could be kept privately. So, following the instructions, they soaked the sapling in the filter storage tank of the water room.

Most people's memories end there. As for others, they only remember that after arriving at the botanical garden, they were told to go to the water room, so they went to the water room, and then—their memories end there.

Well, based on what happened to Marquis Calent with that tree, Levi had pretty much guessed the whole process.

The botanical garden certainly needs a complete overhaul, but that doesn't require Levi's intervention. The furious Marquis Carrent has vowed to find out why the botanical garden has been closed for years without anyone notifying him. He doesn't believe the absurd notion that everyone is controlled; otherwise, wouldn't he have already taken control?

Li Wei agreed, saying that it was obvious that someone in the Calente family responsible for handling the botanical garden had run into trouble.

As for who it is, that's a matter for the Calent family.

What Li Wei needs to do now is to investigate Donglindeng Trading Company.

However, this was not an easy task, because the first problem facing Li Wei was that... the Donglinden Trading Company had been burned down.

That's right, a fire a week ago.

"This is really interesting."

Standing before the ruins of the burned-down trading company building, Li Wei's lips curled slightly as he stared at the collapsed, blackened ruins before him.

A week ago, when Li Wei began investigating this case, could that tree be so powerful that it even thought of something like destroying a body to cover up the crime?

Donglinden Trading Company is located on the edge of a dock on the west side of the port area. There are many such trading companies in the port area. Although they are called trading companies, they often do similar work to courier companies: loading goods from A onto ships and delivering goods from the ships to B.

Of course, real trading companies have their own commercial fleets, while small trading companies like this can only operate as courier services.

The Donglinden Trading Company was located in a two-story building by the sea. Of course, now only remnants and half a signboard remain. According to what Li Wei had learned, the building suddenly caught fire one night a week ago, and then nothing happened.

"...That's what happened, Lord Li Wei. I was on night patrol when I saw a small flame in the distance. It puzzled me, but I knew some sailors would have bonfires on the beach at night. So I went to check it out, and found the entire Donglinden Company on fire! Good heavens! I rushed to the fire department and called for help from nearby people, but the fire was just too big..."

"You were the one who investigated this case later? What was the conclusion?" Faced with Li Wei's question, the old police officer shook his head.

"The fire is the main cause, as it stands. I asked the firefighters, and they said there were bottles of alcohol everywhere in the house, and they even suspected that someone was an alcoholic. But with so much alcohol, it was only a matter of time before it caught fire."

Have you noticed anything strange?

"Indeed."

The veteran police officer thought for a moment and then gave his answer.

“After this incident, I went to inform the boss of Donglindeng Company about the fire, but I couldn’t find him. His room was empty, and the landlord said he had gone on a business trip the day before.”

Do you have any information about the boss?

"Peter Esgarth, 32 years old, single, unmarried. The landlord didn't know him very well, saying he only came back to rest at night. He left with a briefcase, and the room was so clean it looked like no one had ever lived there."

"Didn't you try hiring other employees?"

"That's what I find strange. Generally, when employees of companies find that their companies have been burned down, they will definitely come to the police station to inquire about the situation. But after that, not a single person came to the police station to find me. It's as if what was burned down was just an empty house, and there was no one there at all."

Who knows that company best?

"Perhaps you could try talking to people at other companies nearby. Small companies like theirs are always very attentive to each other's business."

That's right, competitors are rivals.

So Li Wei went to the dock and found another "Wonderful Diamonds" trading company not far away.

"You mean Donglindeng Trading Company?"

The owner of Wonderful Diamonds was a burly man with tattoos on his arms. Although he dressed like a businessman, he had the demeanor of a sailor.

"So they really were doing some shady business, weren't they? I knew it! What were they doing? Selling illegal drugs? Or smuggling slaves?"

“Now it’s my turn to ask you questions, sir.”

Li Wei silently watched the sailor boss in front of him, who grinned and chuckled.

“Ah, of course, of course… Haha, excuse me, Sir Levi. Hmm, East Linden Trading Company, right? I found it quite suspicious from the start. You see, trading companies usually try to choose a good location, but those guys secretly set up their company at that remote dock. It just doesn’t seem right.”

"How to say?"

"There are no warehouses there. It used to be just a fishing dock, but now even fishermen don't go there anymore, and it can't hold any large ships. Do you think this is a place for legitimate business people? Besides, the employees there are strange. I've only seen one old man and one young man—just the two of them. How can they run a trading company? Look at our Wonderful Diamonds; every single one of our employees is incredibly proactive and enthusiastic in serving our customers..."

As he spoke, the sailor boss pointed to the workers who were using handcarts to move goods in and out.

"They were once the finest men at sea, and now they can work just as well on land! Wonderful Diamonds' reputation is as steadfast as that of sailors on the high seas! If you have any needs, feel free to contact us anytime; Wonderful Diamonds is dedicated to serving you!"

Have you ever seen them transporting goods?

Li Wei silently watched the other party launch an advertisement, then asked a question, while the sailor boss pondered for a moment.

"No, they rarely transport goods during the day, or rather, I've almost never seen them transport goods during the day. But I've seen them secretly transporting goods at night in horse-drawn carriages a few times... Hey, I've always suspected they might be doing some kind of illegal business, and I've anonymously reported them a few times."

"It seems you didn't get the result you wanted?"

"Anyway, I don't think the police found anything."

The sailor boss pursed his lips in dissatisfaction.

"I guess the mastermind behind that guy is too powerful, so the police are unwilling to investigate further."

"Oh? Why do you see it?"

"Because I once saw that old man delivering goods at night."

The sailor boss lowered his voice as he finished speaking.

"He was driving a carriage at the time, and I wanted to catch him red-handed, so I secretly followed him. Then I saw him go to the warehouse district and switch carriages with another one. That carriage had a strange coat of arms—aren't carriages with coats of arms usually owned by nobles? So I guessed that trading company might be a privately run operation by some noble for illegal business."

"And then you just stopped caring about it, right?"

Li Wei glanced at the sailor boss, who had a particularly honest smile.

"What are you saying, Sir Levi? You see, I'm just a sailor trying to make a living. After being kicked ashore by my boss, I started this small company just to get by. How could I possibly have the ability to cause trouble for nobles..."

Li Wei stared at the sailor's boss, remaining silent for a moment.

"What does that emblem you mentioned look like?"

Then, Li Wei asked.

　Let me tell you about my itinerary so you can imagine how exhausted I was. My flight was at 5 AM on the 23rd, arriving at 1 AM. I stayed in a hotel for one night, then got up at 8 AM the next morning, had breakfast, and rushed to Baoting by taxi, which took over an hour. Once there, I had to clean the room I hadn't been to in five years (imagine how terrifying that was!), throwing away what needed to be thrown away and packing up what needed to be packed. I slept in the apartment for another night. On the third day, I went to transfer the property ownership at 2 PM, everything went smoothly, and it was finished around 4 PM. Then at 5 PM, I did a final tidying up, took a taxi back to Sanya, booked a hotel and flight, and arrived in Sanya that evening, staying in a hotel for one night. Then, on the fourth day, I got up at 5:30 AM, finished packing, took a car to the airport to catch my 8 AM flight, and arrived home at 4 PM… I was almost constantly busy or running around… I was exhausted.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)