Beating Instances through Words Left by the Dead
Chapter 804 - 353: The Anti-Corn Law and the Coal Mine Explosion Case
Wu Chang looked at all the evidence on Raventon’s wall, and it seemed that even the infertility of stray dogs by the roadside in Grimland could be somehow related to Prime Minister Ron.
"Our Prime Minister seems to be really busy, doesn’t he?"
Raventon took two puffs from his pipe, pointed at the wall with his cane, and said:
"That means you’ve spent too much time in the New World. If you had lived in Stilan these years, you’d know how energetic our Prime Minister is."
"If Randy is called the Iron Face Minister, then Prime Minister Ron is an Iron Man."
"He once slept only one hour a day for two months straight and was still able to give invigorating speeches in Parliament. Even a Secret Magic Knight would drop dead under such workload."
Wu Chang realized something and said, "So the official information released to cover up the news is that he dropped dead from exhaustion?"
Raventon rolled his eyes, "I’ve said so much, not for you to figure out those things."
He moved his cane, the tip stopped at a news report on the Anti-Corn Law.
The news date is November 27th, when Prime Minister Ron made a speech in the Lower House declaring that lowering food prices could effectively improve the living standards of the lower class, promote industrial development, and push for free trade.
Raventon said, "Four days ago, Prime Minister Ron’s speech sparked widespread social debate, boosting enthusiasm against the Corn Law to new heights."
"Many parliamentarians who originally supported the Corn Law began to compromise under public pressure."
"But the next morning, the Prime Minister was found dead in his room by a servant who was cleaning the study."
Wu Chang frowned, "Four days ago?"
He received a paper letter in the New World, and according to the Steam Phantom Plane steamship’s sailing speed, it would take at least ten days from Stilan to the New World.
Considering the delivery of the letter and his return to Stilan, that’s a month’s round trip.
He initially thought the Prime Minister had been assassinated long ago and that secret consolidation was in place using a stand-in. Meanwhile, calling him back as external help to handle this affair.
Unexpectedly, the Prime Minister’s death date was so recent.
Then, why did Olivia and Julie call him back? Was it because they anticipated the situation spiraling out of control, or was it something else?
Raventon withdrew his cane, looked at Wu Chang, and asked:
"So, Captain, are you interested in taking on this case?"
Wu Chang patted the Lake Light Holy Sword on his waist and replied defiantly:
"As Secret Magic Knights, we must act as the Queen’s Sword and alleviate her burdens."
Raventon gave Wu Chang a sly smile, then picked up his wool jacket from the seat, flung the black felt hat off the coat rack with his cane, caught it mid-air, and flipped it onto his head.
"In that case, there’s no time to waste; let’s go to the Prime Minister’s Residence to check the scene."
Wu Chang was stunned for a moment and asked:
"Are we just going like this?"
Raventon proudly replied:
"Though I’m merely a private detective, when the police encounter cases they can’t solve, they consult me as an advisor."
"It’s difficult for others to enter the Prime Minister’s Residence at this time, but my assistant and I can access the crime scene anytime to look for further evidence."
Wu Chang asked curiously, "Where is your assistant?"
Raventon said nothing, naturally looking at him.
Wu Chang pointed at himself and asked, "Me?"
Raventon shrugged, "Mind you, I don’t frequently take on different roles just out of hobby. It simply makes my actions easier."
"Your current status can’t see the light of day. If you weren’t my assistant, you’d have to break into the Prime Minister’s Residence like a thief."
"Trust me, even the recently troublesome flying bandits in Grimland wouldn’t choose to break into the Prime Minister’s Residence, let alone one now heavily guarded."
Wu Chang reached out to grab Erin’s hand and said, "Alright, but what about my wife?"
Raventon took a puff from his pipe and said, "Assistant’s assistant."
Wu Chang frowned slightly, but seeing Raventon didn’t seem to be joking, he didn’t say anything further.
He removed the Lake Light Holy Sword from his waist, storing it back in his personal space, and said:
"Then what’s there to wait for? Let’s go."
Raventon didn’t move, his gaze fixed on Wu Chang, asking:
"I meant to ask earlier—such a big sword appearing and disappearing out of thin air—how did you do it?"
Wu Chang replied, "Do you want to learn? I’ll teach you."
An hour later, the rental carriage stopped near the Prime Minister’s Residence. Raventon looked at Wu Chang and Erin emerging from the carriage, dissatisfied:
"You don’t grasp the essence of role-playing. I’ve never seen a detective driving a car for their assistant."
Wu Chang said, "You didn’t say where to start playing."
Under Raventon’s lead, the trio proceeded toward the Prime Minister’s Residence.
Although rumors of the Prime Minister’s assassination were widespread among the public, his official cause of death was publicly announced as an illness, so the area around the Prime Minister’s Residence wasn’t treated like a crime scene with strict precautionary lines.
As the trio approached ten meters from the Prime Minister’s Residence, two policemen emerged from the shadows, blocking their path.
The two policemen possessed Extraordinary Energy; both were Secret Police cultivated by the Police Hall.
The two recognized Raventon. Upon hearing him say, "They are my assistants," they didn’t even check identities and immediately let them pass.
Raventon took the two directly to the Prime Minister’s study, where the door faced directly toward the Prime Minister’s desk.
The entire desk area was circled with white writing, as if everything there was a corpse outline.