Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 28: Mysterious Figure

Levi only skimmed through Edwards’ earlier diaries, focusing on his relationship with Emilia and some academic matters.

Of course, they also recorded the things Edwards had confessed during the Courtesan Killer case, which basically matched what he had said before.

After that, for a long time, Edwards had been plagued by nightmares.

But it wasn’t because he feared Emilia would crawl out of her grave to seek revenge—it was because he worried that Doctor Doolittle would cause him trouble, or even sue him.

After all, strictly speaking, that instrument had not been legitimate, so providing it to Emilia was indeed an illegal act.

Although Doctor Doolittle had asked him at the time not to tell anyone about it, Edwards still feared betrayal.

For a while, he even dreamed of policemen knocking on his door to haul him off to prison.

Hmm, very much in line with a young man of his age.

All the more so since Edwards was a top student of the Royal Master Academy.

If this matter were ever exposed, even if he didn’t go to jail, it would certainly affect his graduation assignment.

He might well have been sent off to some remote region in the mountains and countryside.

It wasn’t until after the Courtesan Killer case was solved that he finally breathed a little easier.

Clearly, the dead could not file a complaint.

And since the police had never come looking for him, it meant he had successfully dodged disaster.

Edwards then shifted his focus and began putting most of his energy into his graduation thesis.

Only, after just a few days, the diary shifted from academic writing into something resembling a romance novel.

【………I truly never thought, in such circumstances, that I could still meet her. She is so beautiful, so gentle, so intelligent. It is as though the Holy Lord prepared an angel just for me. Not even when facing Emilia did I ever feel my heart beat like this. I could even give up everything, surrender all I have—even my life———!】

【………I confessed everything to her, the sins I once committed, but she accepted me. My God, I never imagined there would be a day when my soul could be redeemed. This is the greatest blessing of my life. Her heart is as beautiful as her appearance. What virtue or merit do I have, to deserve such a partner………】

The following entries were much the same, filled with Edwards’ adoration for his lover.

Yet whether because he was a blockheaded man lacking artistic sensibility, or for some other special reason, Levi noticed that nowhere in the diary was there any description of the woman’s features.

Her hair color, eye color, place of origin—none of these were mentioned.

From Edwards’ diary, the only impression one could piece together was that she was a beautiful, gentle, and kind woman, the ideal partner any man could dream of.

Edwards even wrote about the life he longed for after graduation.

【Never have I been so full of hope for life. I have already decided: I will strive to secure a good job, to earn money. Then, I will buy that ring, propose to her, and build a family of our own. She loves that ring………】

A beautiful dream—but one with no chance of ever being realized.

After finishing the diary in his hand, Levi sighed, then opened it again.

Although at first glance Edwards’ diary seemed to hold no clues, Levi caught onto one detail.

“That ring.”

“She loves it”!

Which meant that Edwards had once gone out shopping with that woman—and even visited a jewelry store!

In Mist City, there were only a handful of jewelry shops.

Too expensive or too far, and Edwards surely would not have gone.

Narrowing it down like that made things much easier.

He could ask around at the jewelry stores, see if he could find any leads.

With that thought, Levi made his decision.

After carefully checking the room once more to make sure there were no clues left, he opened the door and left.

As he stepped out of Edwards’ room and headed toward the stairs, footsteps sounded from below.

A young girl with curly brown hair and freckles on her face came up the staircase.

She walked to the door of one of the rooms, took out a key, and unlocked it.

It was none other than Maggie.

Maggie opened her door, and at once noticed a note lying on the floor before it.

She bent down, picked it up, and read what was written.

【I came to have tea with you, but you weren’t home. Were you out on an errand? You haven’t been well lately, and I’m a bit worried———Betty】

Reading the note, Maggie’s expression turned somewhat downcast.

She put it away and sighed.

“I’m sorry, Betty……….”

Muttering this, Maggie closed her door.

“Click.”

The slightly worn wooden door let out a creak as it shut.

Only then did Levi descend from the third floor, gazing thoughtfully at that door.

He had already been suspicious back when he met Betty here.

Now Maggie’s reaction only confirmed his guess.

She had lied!

Betty might not have known Edwards, but Maggie definitely did! They lived in the same building, even as neighbors!

This was not some future concrete jungle where people barely knew who lived across the hall.

In this era, everyone in the same building was at least somewhat familiar, and neighbors often visited each other.

For Maggie to say she didn’t know Edwards—she was absolutely lying!

And Edwards’ body falling just as she was entering school was probably no coincidence either!

If not for the fact that Maggie didn’t fit the description of that “beautiful woman,” Levi might have suspected her to be the mysterious woman herself.

It wasn’t that Maggie was ugly—just plain.

If Levi had to put it in numbers, with 100 points as perfection, then Katie all dressed up for the Splendor Club party might score around 80, while Betty—with her babyish roundness, blonde hair, and blue eyes making her quite endearing—was around 60–70.

Maggie, on the other hand, was about 50.

Not especially pretty, not particularly cute, ordinary figure—just a very average girl.

In any case, she was nothing like the kind of woman who could enchant a man so utterly that all he remembered was the word “beautiful.”

Even with Katie, Levi could at least describe her features—her hair, eyes, height, and build.

So Levi judged that the mysterious woman was likely not Maggie, and very possibly———not even human.

Should he speak with Maggie now?

Levi stared at the door, thought for a moment, then decided against disturbing her for the time being.

After all, the Madam Clattie incident had made him cautious.

If Maggie was involved in any of this, then perhaps after he questioned her, she might turn up dead the very next day………

In short, better to stick to the original plan.

Levi left the apartment and went to the only jewelry store in the district.

He chose it because he knew Edwards couldn’t afford the very expensive places—he would have gone to the cheaper ones.

Jewelry shops were still rare in this era, a “luxury” that only existed in middle- to upper-class neighborhoods.

Of course—if one opened a jewelry shop in the Lower City, it would probably be smashed to rubble the next day.

Levi pushed the door open and stepped inside.

“Ding-ling.”

“Welcome.”

At the sound of the bell, the clerk behind the counter quickly straightened up, smiling warmly at the customer.

Then she saw a tall, handsome gentleman enter.

With a smile, he removed his top hat and nodded politely to her.

“Good afternoon.”

“G-Good afternoon, sir, welcome to Moonlight Jewelry.”

The clerk was nearly thirty, already a mother of two, but even so, under the gaze of this handsome gentleman, her heart pounded, her face flushed red, and she felt like a young girl in love for the first time.

She forced herself to suppress the fluttering in her chest and stepped forward warmly.

“May I help you? Are you looking to purchase a token of lifelong commitment for your beloved?”

As she said this, a faint pang of regret stirred inside her.

“No, madam.”

Levi shook his head, then produced his credentials and opened them before her.

“I have a few questions to ask. May I take a bit of your time?”

“Eh?”

The clerk blinked at the credentials, then quickly nodded.

“Of course, please sit……… I’ll prepare some tea and refreshments right away……….”

“No need for the trouble. I just need to ask a few questions.”

Seeing her fuss, Levi quickly stopped her, then took out a photograph of Edwards and handed it to her.

“Has this man ever been here?”

The clerk picked up the photo and examined it carefully.

“Ah, yes, I remember him. He came several times, and seemed very taken with one particular ring. But he appeared rather short on funds—he even asked if he could pay in installments……….”

“Did he come alone?”

“Of course.”

She nodded.

“No gentleman would let his beloved see him in such a sorry state. I imagine he was no different.”

“And the first time? Do you recall the circumstances of his first visit?”

“Hmm……………”

Had anyone else asked, she might have brushed it off with, “I can’t remember.” But faced with Levi, she closed her eyes, trying hard to recall.

After a moment, she opened them.

“Ah, yes, now I remember. The first time, that gentleman was indeed accompanied by a young lady. They seemed to just be passing by and decided to come in. He looked so blissfully happy then—it was obvious they were in love. It made one envious……….”

“And then? What did they do?”

Levi’s gaze urged her to continue.

“Hmm……… They looked at the rings, and that young lady seemed very interested in the ‘Crimson Temptation.’”

“Crimson Temptation?”

“Yes.”

She nodded, went to the counter, and took out a small box containing a ring—something she normally would never show casually.

Normally.

“This one. Please have a look.”

She handed Levi a magnifying glass with great respect.

“Hmm……………”

Levi peered through the glass at the ring.

It was set with a ruby, and under the light it seemed less like a solid gem than like flowing blood trapped within stone.

It reminded Levi of certain artworks from his own time.

But clearly, such craftsmanship should not have existed in this era.

As Levi stared at the ring, his vision suddenly blurred.

The jewelry clerk vanished.

His surroundings changed.

Cold, damp air pressed against him.

He stood on a cobblestone street.

A scarlet full moon hung above, the streets deserted, the night pitch black……… He lifted his gaze.

Under the moonlight stood a tall clock tower.

Then the bells tolled.

“DONG—DONG—DONG—”

The next moment, everything vanished.

Reality returned.

“…………………”

Levi lowered the magnifying glass and looked at the clerk.

“Does this ring have any history?”

“I’m not sure. It has been here a long time, never sold.”

She too looked puzzled.

“That’s why I remembered those two customers so clearly. Normally, no one even notices this ring.”

“And the young lady—do you recall what she looked like?”

“This……………”

The clerk hesitated, then shook her head.

“Sorry, I only remember she was very beautiful and refined. The details of her face, I honestly can’t recall.”

“………………………”

Levi gazed at the ring in silence, then put it back into the box.

“Thank you for your help.”