bookbashuk Chapter 6 is full of doubts.
Chapter 6 is full of doubts.
After leaving Cyril's room, the two went to the garden and found the butler, where they inquired about his services.
The latter was very cooperative and told them everything he knew.
As a member of the upper echelons of Fog Harbor, Baron Jesper is not only a municipal councilor but also owns two large factories in the city's industrial district with a percentage stake.
One was a textile factory, and the other was a caustic soda factory.
These two factories bring in at least tens of thousands of gold pounds in revenue for Baron Jesper each year.
In addition to a mansion in the western district of Foggy Harbor, Baron Jesper also owned an estate outside the city for vacations and leisure.
What's odd is that the Fletcher family has no shortage of connections, money, and political influence, yet Cyril, the sole heir, has a fiancée who is just a commoner.
Rean, naturally curious, inquired further about this.
But the butler's response was standard and reasonable.
do not know.
Besides, although the Fletcher family was very wealthy, they were remarkably frugal in the number of servants they employed.
According to the butler, besides the master, there was only one laundry maid, one gardening maid, one personal male servant, one cook, and himself, making a total of only five people in the entire mansion.
Such a small number of servants is really not in line with the dignity of a nobleman.
"If I were that rich, I'd need at least ten maids to serve me!"
Watching the butler's departing figure, Kent couldn't help but curl his lip. "So much money and he doesn't know how to enjoy it? Isn't all that money just wasted?"
"Alright, you can save your dreams for tonight. It's still working hours now."
Rean adjusted his hat brim. "Same as always, split up. I'll continue investigating this mansion, and you go to the housekeeping market to investigate the past records and specific backgrounds of these five people."
According to the butler, all the servants employed by the Fletcher family, including himself, came from the legitimate employment market in Fog Harbor and were not illegal traded goods.
If you want to investigate these people, you certainly can't just ask them directly.
"No problem, I'll go right now."
"etc."
Just as Kent was about to turn and leave, Rean called out to him, saying in a deep voice:
"After you finish investigating the servants' information, remember to go to Old Henry at the Hound Tavern for another commission. Ask him to gather information on Baron Jesper for me."
The world is not just black and white, but also the gray area in between.
And the Hound Tavern is just such a place.
As long as you have money in your pocket, you can get a lot of illegal or legal things from here, such as intelligence gathering and accepting bounties, which is a piece of cake.
"Find old Henry?" Kent looked troubled. "That old man's asking price isn't low. Maybe I should just..."
"The commission will be deducted from my share."
"That's fine then."
Kent immediately dropped the subject, instead lowering his voice: "You suspect this nobleman is also involved?"
"Until the truth comes out, everyone in this mansion is a suspect." Rean nodded noncommittally. "As a detective, suspicion is an essential quality."
"I understand, I'll go now."
After watching Kent's figure disappear around the corner, Rean turned and walked back into the mansion.
During the investigation, he had the right to freely enter and leave the mansion, and to stay overnight.
This was also one of the permissions that Baron Jesper personally granted to him and Kent.
Rean slowed his pace as he walked down the corridor that led to the study, his gaze sweeping over the strange artifacts one by one.
"The entrails of a ventriloquist..."
"The skeleton of an adult plague rat..."
"The head of the Mist Wolf..."
"..."
This time, he looked very carefully.
As a detective, Rean has a decent knowledge of the occult, and he can recognize most of the artifacts in front of him at a glance.
Most of these were extraordinary creatures from the Western Continent, which were artificially made into specimens and then circulated in the market, becoming the collections of nobles.
According to the merchants involved in the trade, such collectibles were quite popular in the upper circles of the Bernard Kingdom, almost becoming a trend.
Thus, driven by the demands of the nobles, these specimens made from extraordinary creatures became one of the specialty goods of the Western Continent.
These specimens travel from the western continent, across the ocean, to the port of Fog Harbor, and most of them will eventually be transported to the capital of the Kingdom of Bernard.
That is where the main consumer market for these valuable items is located.
However, most of these specimens are intact.
The craftsmen who make specimens try their best to restore the appearance and posture of the extraordinary creatures when they were alive. The more realistic they are, the higher the price will be.
Baron Jesper's collection of specimens consisted entirely of mutilated body parts and various internal organs.
This strange and bizarre collecting tendency was something Rean had never seen before.
Normally, almost no craftsman would make such a specimen, since making a specimen of a head alone would mean discarding the entire body.
The losses involved are absolutely unacceptable to shrewd traders.
Of course, there's nothing that money can't solve, for example—
Custom-made.
According to the butler, these were gifts from Baron Jesper's business partners.
If that's the reason, then spending a lot of money to cater to their preferences in order to establish a good business relationship makes sense.
only……
Rean scanned each specimen and obtained an accurate number.
32.
A total of 32 specimens.
What kind of business partner could gather so many exotic collectibles?
Extraordinary creatures aren't like cabbages; their lethality and rarity are undeniable. A complete ventriloquist specimen is worth at least £300, let alone a custom-made specimen like this, which would only be more expensive.
In business, profit is the key.
So, just how much benefit would it take for that business partner to be so willing to go to such lengths to befriend him?
It is highly unlikely that Baron Jesper's two factories alone could support such extravagant business dealings.
If nothing unexpected happens, this nobleman has other businesses in secret.
This is one of the reasons why Rean asked Kent to investigate Jesper's background.
In his experience, such clandestine businesses are mostly illegal, yet their profit margins are incredibly high.
If the Fletcher family were truly involved in such illegal business, it would be only natural to have enemies and competitors.
These people had every motive to kill Cyril.
As for whether Baron Jesper would blame him afterward, Rean didn't care.
All he cared about was the truth, and the exhilarating, trembling pleasure of peeling back the layers of mystery.
This is why he chose to become a detective after coming into this world.
Exciting and free.
"Excuse me... who are you?"
Just then, a questioning voice came from behind.
Rean turned around and saw a young lady in a light green dress looking him up and down.
She was around twenty years old, with regular features and a somewhat melancholy expression. She was wearing an engagement ring on the middle finger of her left hand...
If nothing unexpected happens, this should be Cyril's fiancée, Miss Willow Carter.
With just one glance, Rean made a deduction in his mind.
According to what I learned in my past life, this type should be called... a widow?
"gentlemen?"
Willow took a half step back, her eyes filled with a hint of wariness.
"Rean Knight, a detective." Rean politely removed the brim of his hat and bowed slightly.
"detective?"
Willow was taken aback at first, then took two steps forward with delight: "You're here to investigate Cyril's death, right? You don't believe he committed suicide either, do you? Have you found any clues?"
After a barrage of questions, before Rean could even speak...
The commoner lady then realized that she had been somewhat out of line, and her expression became a little flustered.
"I'm sorry, I... I got too excited just now. My name is Willow Carter, and I'm Cyril's fiancée."
I understand how you feel.
Rean smiled nonchalantly and said gently, "After all, you're already engaged. Nobody wants to see something like this happen."
Thank you for your understanding.
Willow breathed a sigh of relief and asked expectantly, "Mr. Rean, may I ask if you've uncovered any leads so far?"
Not yet.
"I see..." Willow bit her lip and said earnestly, "If you find any clues, please let me know as soon as possible. I absolutely do not believe Cyril would commit suicide; someone must have harmed him!"
"I will let you know if I have any leads."
Rean looked at her and smiled, "But before that, I have a few questions that I need Miss Willow to answer."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Rean."
Willow hesitated for a moment before saying, "I... I need to go out right now. There's something very important I need to do. Can we do it another day?"
"sure."
Rean nodded slightly and made way for him in the corridor.
"Thank you again for your understanding, I'm really sorry."
Willow smiled apologetically, walked past Rean, and headed towards the entrance of the mansion.
Watching her figure disappear around the corner, Rean suddenly clicked his tongue meaningfully.
"A hidden superhuman..."