Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 609: Section 424: Roman Holiday (Part 2)

Chapter 609: Section 424: Roman Holiday (Part 2)

Calling it Rongma’s new district, Malin, with Jason’s help, confirmed that the location was in Tivoli to the east of Rome, about 26 kilometers east of Farol Principality’s palace. The terrain in this era was hilly, Malin had used spell formations to survey the hills, ensuring there were no cavities or anything else. Since the Steel Fist Dwarf clan had come, they were allowed to dig a Dwarven city beneath the hills and then construct a workshop area on the surface. This was to be the central zone of the new district; in the northern, eastern, and southern regions, three small ringed sectors would be expanded: a residential area, a defense area, and a wall area—walls were still useful in this era, whether against Spirits, Chaos, or something else. As long as they moved on foot, walls would be an issue they had to contend with. Moreover, walls could have platforms built atop them to place heavy long-range artillery, with a range far surpassing trebuchets, and the second-generation Blooming Bullets currently in development. The Elves suffered a high incidence of color blindness and weakness due to inbreeding on Eternal Night Island, but their natural talent for explosives moved Malin.

They had already mastered the use of IEDs on their own, their proficiency giving Malin a headache.

At the same time, he lamented: this world always harbored all sorts of madmen and lunatics, constantly challenging the patience of every sane person.

Of course, aside from the Elves’ problems, Malin felt relatively assured about the Dwarves; although quick to anger, once they accepted a principle, communication became much easier.

Just like the Steel Fist clan, they faithfully executed Malin’s arrangements, all issues resolved without Malin needing to explain—until these folks dug in the wrong place near the east, and Malin had to tell them they must leave enough of the structural framework so that Mages could later turn those load-bearing structures to stone.

At the top of the eastern hill, Malin planned to construct an observatory tower and a Mage Tower; the former would serve as his stronghold in Rongma, while the latter would be utilized by members of his own Mage Tower system.

For now, the hilltop and the Underground City below were entrusted to the Dwarves; the eastern and northern sections were managed by local human engineering teams, while the southern part was put on hold—for word from Lady Anna was that the Elves couldn’t bear it anymore, so they planned to send some of their members to leave the island first.

Malin welcomed this; after all, the so-called High Elves had lived on that island for many generations. Malin felt that if they continued in isolation, one day they would become estranged from the various Elven sub-species mingling in the human world.

Of course, Malin didn’t mean to say that they would develop diplomatic issues, but rather that he believed if they kept going this way, reproductive isolation might emerge.

It was already very difficult for High Elves and humans to have Half-blood children.

Otherwise, Lady Anna and Goethe of the Mowish family wouldn’t have had only a daughter after so many years, who, due to her mixed heritage, was frail and frequently ill. Had it not been for Malin, whether their daughter could have lived to adulthood, or even if she could have had any quality of life afterwards, was a question.

Of course, if the Elves wanted to change, it had to be of their own free will; Malin wouldn’t force them at gunpoint. In Malin’s eyes, the life or death of the Elves wasn’t important because there would always be people who stupidly led themselves to death. Malin had already advised them; what happened next depended on their own actions.

After getting things in order, Malin made another inspection of the residential area in the north.

A small block of houses had already been completed, with white plaster, stone bricks, and spell formations allowing the construction of double-story buildings at the fastest speed. Malin noticed several households had already moved in, one of which caught his attention.

"Who’s that?" Malin turned and asked the young steward in charge—Casale Tovan’s grandson, Hibian Tovan, a young man brimming with energy. Hearing Malin’s question, he immediately glanced at the roster in his hands, "Sir, her name is Clover, she’s a standard Half-blood Elf."

"Is that so," Malin nodded, affirming one thing in his mind—that this Elf must be using an Illusion Technique. To Malin, she looked like a standard High Elf with blond hair, fair skin, and upturned eye corners.

Why she would conceal her identity and pose as a Half-blood was not what Malin wanted to know. "How did she buy the house, with cash?" he asked.

"Yes, sir, she bought it herself. According to the records, she’s a wealthy young widow who just lost her husband three months ago." Hibian consulted the roster he held to answer Malin’s question, "The Elf embassy has no information about her; she’s likely a descendant of the High Elves who didn’t go to the island back then."

That’s excellent, young, wealthy, dead husband—parallel to getting a promotion, a pay rise, or a dead wife.

Malin sighed—this young widow really was a fascinating existence. Malin admitted he was indeed interested. Why did she pretend to be a widow? Who was she serving?

Or perhaps, was she just serving her own interests?

Or perhaps, this was nothing more than an elf’s insurance—Malin’s relationship with the elves involved cooperation, but also precaution and suspicion. Neither side fully trusted the other, so... Was she the elves’ way of recording his words and actions?

That shouldn’t be it either, though. This location in the northern district is a full three blocks away from the core area that Malin himself planned. There would be numerous spell detection systems. They couldn’t possibly observe with the naked eye across three blocks.

"Find your people and check out the situation that this lady left behind. Where is her hometown?" Malin asked.

"She lived in the Eastern Kingdom, which is quite ordinary. She has a very standard accent of the Eastern Kingdom. Her hometown is in the western province of Trudo in the Eastern Kingdom, born in the city of Saludo Trudo. But that place experienced a chaos siege three years ago, and the entire city was burned down. I’m afraid we won’t find any useful leads."

"No, Hibern, this is already a clue." Malin said, smiling as he patted the young man’s shoulder. "To be a detective, you must learn to doubt. And such a girl is enough to make you question whether her identity is real. Arrange someone to follow her. Make sure she is watched closely whenever she steps out. Let us see what doubts and confusions might exist in the eyes of a widow."

"Doubts? Confusion?" Hibern was thoroughly puzzled.

Malin smiled, "Doubt arises because she just became a widow. Look at her, her face calm, neither happy nor sorrowful. Instead, she looked at us curiously. Why do you think that is? What could be more important to her than missing her deceased husband or lamenting a newly met lover?"

"Do you mean she’s a fake?"

"Reasonable suspicion is the key to survival. So, keep a close eye. If she slips away, start a city-wide manhunt immediately." Having said that, Malin hopped onto the carriage that had driven up beside him. "Hibern, take good care of this place."

"Yes, sir."

"You suspect that girl?" Clovis, sitting in the front row, turned around. She looked at Malin: "How old is she? To me, she’s just like a child."

"Hibern’s list of flowers states she is a widow." Malin made a well-reasoned rebuttal.

"Humans are truly frightening." As a Toby rabbit orc, Clovis sighed.

"Yes, humans are truly frightening." As a Leipzig sheep-person, Lillim agreed with Clovis’s opinion.

Malin chose to pull out a piece of jerky to silence Rewo, lest this Domestic Fairy turn into a repeat machine at this very moment.

As for Malin himself... well, being a Half-blood Elf of prairie Elf and Frost Giant descent, Malin stated it had nothing to do with him.

"But why did you have Hibern watch her? Does she really have an issue?" Clovis turned and leaned on the backrest.

"Think about it, an elf, whose husband died three months ago and is now a widow, yet stands at the doorway watching others construct buildings. Don’t you think there’s a problem?"

"...Alright." Clovis frowned slightly as she spoke. "You’re not wrong, I remember her. When I saw her, there was no sorrow on her face, which is abnormal."

"That’s why I have someone following this lady, hoping to gain something. But if it can be proven that she is a normal widow, I would be happier actually." Malin did not like for his suspicions to come true, so he still hoped there was really no issue.

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