Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength
Chapter 44 Inquiry Investigation

Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Inquiry Investigation

"Mr. Ronald, we meet again."

The train began to slowly accelerate on the track, and Swift walked up to Ronald in the dining car.

"I have verified the matter I asked you about previously with the train guards, thank you very much for your honest response."

Ronald nodded:

"Of course."

"Good, now let me ask you another question."

Swift shifted his gaze from Ronald’s face and, while observing the movements of others, he said:

"This morning, while you were washing up by the sink."

"Did you see anyone else pass by?"

"Others..."

Ronald thought carefully, then replied:

"Not only during washing up but also on my way to and from the sink, I didn’t see any strangers. It was very early, and no one was out in the corridor."

Swift continued to ask:

"Did you hear any noise during that time?"

Ronald shook his head:

"No."

"Thank you very much."

Swift nodded toward Ronald and then turned to look at Aliada, who was tightly holding Ronald’s arm.

"Miss Aliada, today..."

"This morning, I did indeed walk along the corridor and saw a fleeting figure," Aliada answered before Swift could finish, "The figure was a man, and he wore a dark coat."

Swift’s expression deepened:

"A dark coat?"

"Yes, a dark coat," Aliada affirmed with a nod, then continued uncertainly, "It might have been teal or another dark color."

"Due to the early hour, the carriage was quite dark."

"Although I didn’t see clearly, based on my experience, that piece of clothing definitely wasn’t anything fancy."

After a moment of ponderation, Swift continued: "Did you notice his shoes, or perhaps his height?"

"I’m sorry."

Aliada thought for a second while lowering her head, then let go of Ronald’s arm, stood up, and gestured against the interior wall of the train: "I didn’t get a clear view of his shoes, but as for his height, it was about at this level in the train carriage."

Aliada gestured at a spot near the top of the carriage window.

"Alright, thank you."

Expressing his gratitude to Aliada, Swift turned his gaze to several other people.

This time, his gaze was sharper than before.

"Next, Mr. Cole."

"Do you... do you have any questions?" The merchant dressed man, who was nearby and recognized by Swift, immediately stood up, explaining somewhat uneasily, "I only got up this noon. Everyone else can vouch for me, as we were playing together till late last night!"

While he spoke, the merchant pointed to a table behind him.

The two men sitting there immediately nodded and agreed:

"Yes, we were together playing cards last night!"

"We got up very late this morning."

"..."

"That’s not what I’m asking."

Somewhat helplessly shaking his head, Swift continued:

"I had already confirmed that you played till late last night."

"What I want to know is, around what time in the middle of the night did you hear noises coming from the roof?"

"Three... around three or four?"

Upon Swift’s inquiry, the merchant who previously answered timidly confirmed the time, but his wavering gaze suggested that even he wasn’t sure of his own answer.

It was Ronald and Aryida standing behind Swift.

Upon hearing this, their bodies almost simultaneously stiffened.

Others, and the detective investigating the case, weren’t aware of this.

But the two of them were well aware that the noise heard by the three who were playing cards the previous night was most likely caused by them.

This kind of information, bound to mislead, wouldn’t mess up Swift’s clever schemes, would it!

"..."

The detective didn’t really show any reaction.

It was probably because he had encountered many such situations in his career as a detective.

Swift didn’t spend much time questioning the businessman, and swiftly turned his eyes to the remaining five tables.

From here, people’s clothes were no longer thick.

At the first table sat two men, one robust and one regular, dressed like typical corporate employees.

At the second table were a young couple, male and female, and when targeted by Swift’s gaze, the boyfriend, a sturdy lad, didn’t forget to tightly hold his girlfriend’s hand.

The last three tables were a bit more complicated.

Several thinly dressed men and women, both old and young, huddled around three tables.

It was evident that these people came from the poorest carriages.

Even the division of seats in the compartments seemed blurry on them.

Except for a little girl, who was eagerly gazing at Aryida’s beautiful appearance, the others didn’t even dare to look up at Swift.

Faced with these people, Swift still proceeded to question them in order, starting with the two men:

"Gentlemen..."

"Mr. Swift, we already explained this before!"

Before the detective could finish, the thinner of the men got agitated:

"Though we didn’t board at the same station, this was the itinerary arranged by our company! Once you reach Greenwich, you’re free to go and inquire with the company!"

"And besides, didn’t those three guys admit it?"

"There was someone walking on the train roof late last night, and at that time Lama hadn’t even boarded yet!"

"..."

Swift didn’t even bother to engage with the agitated man.

Calmly, he took a small notebook out of his coat pocket, opened it, and began making marks with an ink pen:

"Sir, please calm yourself."

"I can tell you plainly that an incognito passenger on the Eastern Wind met with mishap this morning."

"Moreover, it is a targeted and premeditated homicide."

"If we don’t get the answers we want, never mind your company."

"Even just with these few behind me, we will not let you leave the Eastern Wind easily."

"..."

Suddenly, the poor people seated at the last table stirred a bit, as Swift’s threatening words had the best effect on them.

In front of Mr. Detective, the skinny man was thus silenced.

The confidence brought by his company disappeared in an instant.

"Ahem—"

After coughing lightly twice, Swift continued:

"Now, can we calmly proceed with my questions?"

The skinny man nodded timidly:

"Yes... yes."

"Please continue."

"..."

Seeing that Mr. Detective’s inquiry was progressing smoothly, Ronald looked outside through the train window.

The train had reached its normal operating speed.

They were approaching Greenwich.