Chapter 74

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Although I told him that Bernook and I had heard everything, why does this person still have such a relaxed expression? If he realizes that the barrier has been completely removed, he might become wary... That’s why I only opened a small hole in it and eavesdropped. Is he still at ease because he thinks, "The barrier should still be up"?

The barrier to prevent eavesdropping was indeed there, but it was of such poor quality that if you shouted, it would leak a little to the outside. In fact, it was easily partially invalidated from the outside.

"You can't talk your way out of this. I said we heard everything, didn't I? More importantly, that alchemist's notebook and the design plans for the magical devices! You know very well that if you hadn't stolen them, they wouldn't be here!"

"…Well, do you have any proof that I stole this? Didn't Morick say that the alchemist who received funding brought this in, claiming it was his own invention? It’s impossible to show unpublished inventions, right? If I let you confirm it, it might be stolen."

"You're just being unreasonable..."

"If, hypothetically, this notebook was really stolen, maybe the alchemist who received the funding did it. I’m just an unrelated third party, right? Or are you going to forcibly take it without being part of the patrol team? I’d like you to get a proper warrant from the appropriate authorities first. We can talk after that."

Bernook and Gord... No, there are two people named Gord here, which is confusing. While listening to the conversation between Bernook and Duke, I couldn’t help but be impressed.

Amazing, to come up with such a well-crafted response on the spot. Whether it’s effective or not is another matter... I knew from my investigation that he was good with words, but this is the kind of thing he would say.

With such a smooth tongue and quick thinking, he could have used his talents in a better direction. I felt a bit disappointed as I looked at him.

Indeed, the patrol team is not officially involved. There is enough circumstantial evidence for a civilian to arrest a current criminal... but it might cause problems later.

Duke’s father is just a caretaker of the public servants' dormitory in Lindemen, but he has noble relatives who have protected him multiple times.

That smug smile, as if to say, "You can’t touch me, can you?" His arguments are quite far-fetched, but he’s managed to get away with it so far.

His words, tinged with resentment, have influenced the town quite a bit. The last time... when I caught him at the mine, he was arrested based on the video records from the magical devices I recovered. He was the main culprit in a blackmail case, but he was released before anyone else at the scene.

I don’t know exactly what he did... but I’m sure it wasn’t anything legitimate. It’s a nasty story, but this level of injustice isn’t uncommon.

---

It’s not just the patrol team. The adventurer guild and the alchemist guild also know about the interactions with the viscount. I felt that everything was gradually leaking out, but I couldn’t pinpoint who was helping them. Therefore, I didn’t officially report it to the public authorities and conducted a sting operation.

There are patrol team members who are helping, but Fred’s friend, who was off-duty, is just consulting me personally.

---

We might be accused of illegal entry, but since I have Bernook’s permission as the caretaker of the public servants' dormitory, I think it’s fine. They don’t seem to have the leisure to point that out.

I judged that it couldn’t be conveyed, but not everyone in the patrol team was involved with the Gord family. Most of them are serious about their work.

However, if even a tiny bit of this plan is known by the enemy side, it will fail, so I couldn’t officially report it.

---

I have prepared solid evidence, so such excuses won’t work. The coat and bag worn during the crime were discarded, but I left a magical trace on the bag when it was taken, which can be used for tracking. The notebook has a cover that records sound from the moment it’s touched. Playing back their conversation will be irrefutable evidence. There’s a lot more.

But even if he realizes this, he must think that if he can escape this situation, he can somehow get away. He probably planned to escape tonight or tomorrow. It was worth rushing.

He will let go of the stolen items by tonight... there might be a bigger catch.

---

"But... if you say you got the stolen items without knowing, I, a mere deputy caretaker, can’t do anything... I need to talk to the viscount and call the patrol team..."

"Huh"

"But the stolen notebook and magical circuit diagrams are apparently all nonsense. It’s a good thing, as there was no actual damage."

"...What? What are you... you..."

Duke, with a stunned face, was frozen for a moment before finally reacting. He looked at me with despair and then a strong glare.

As for me... indeed, the notebook is a fake, and I had talked about the sting operation, but I was surprised by Bernook’s sudden provocative words.

"Yes, so, the stolen notebook and magical circuit diagrams... the design plans for the magical devices needed to create artificial magic stones, were fakes prepared by Riana. It was a trap set to find the mastermind behind the break-in at the workshop, so of course, we wouldn’t use the real ones. But, for Duke and Gord, who are unrelated third parties and obtained the notebook without malice... it’s irrelevant, right?"

"...!!"

Duke’s face twisted in frustration. His father, standing behind him, had a very resentful expression, as if to say, "You failed." He seems to have a lot of debt, and if he doesn’t get this, he’s in real trouble.

While he wouldn’t make a slip of the tongue here and be caught, I would like to submit his attitude and conversation as evidence.

But... this wasn’t part of the plan. I didn’t specify the details, but I was supposed to confront them with solid evidence. I don’t understand why Bernook suddenly started this.

"The real one is safely in my pocket as evidence."

"!! Give it to me!"

No way. The real one is in the expansion bag at the hotel where Anna and the others are.

But in this situation, did he not have time to think? When Bernook showed something like a notebook from his inner pocket, Duke lunged at him.

Even I, for a moment, thought, "?? ...No, I didn’t give it to him, right?" It was such a convincing act that I couldn’t help but think that way.

In any case, I was too slow to react and couldn’t stop Duke’s attack.

"Are you okay, Bernook!"

"Ugh... Riana! Now! Arrest him for assault!"

I was thinking about protecting Bernook, who was being grabbed, and then I heard his lively voice, which made me stop.

...Could this have been for that... the deliberate provocation earlier?! He had been speaking with a deep hatred for the Gord family, who had escaped punishment using their connection to the lord. I didn’t think he would go so far as to put his body on the line.

Indeed, this made it impossible for them to escape, but it was too dangerous to provoke violence.

---

Anyway, I need to do what I need to do. If Duke were a noble, it would be difficult for me, just an adventurer, but he and his father are commoners. As a current criminal, a civilian can arrest him without issues.

I followed Bernook’s instructions and securely tied him up.

"I’m... I’m not involved! That’s right, Duke! He did it on his own!"

"Huh?! You damn old man! The idea to steal the method for making artificial magic stones was yours, wasn’t it!"

"I don’t know! I’m not involved!"

---

Next, I turned to the father, who started to evade responsibility before I could say anything. He looked like he wanted to escape, leaving his tied-up son behind. Of course, the entrance is blocked by us, and this is the third floor, so he can’t escape through the window. There were no secret escape routes either.

"Hey, Morick... We’ve known each other for over ten years, right? You’ve always been helpful. James will probably speak up for you again, so just look the other way this time."

Realizing he couldn’t escape, he tried to charm us. His determination to never give up is impressive. I don’t have that, so I’m a bit impressed.

This time, it’s a big case that’s hard to cover up, so I don’t think it’s possible. Bernook also has a "I won’t let it go" look on his face.

To avoid unexpected events, I’ll suggest a constructive solution.

"...Gord, you were planning to sell the method for making artificial magic stones to someone who would pay a lot of money, right? I think it’s a foreign noble or a country. The transaction is probably tonight, and you’ve already received the payment."

"Why do you know that?"

I just deduced it from the situation. Now, how I deduced it isn’t important, so I’ll move on.

"Is the person you’re dealing with someone very dangerous? Someone you had to go to such lengths to get the method for, even though the plan failed. Are they the kind of people who would let you off?"

"That... is..."

Since you didn’t get the method, would they let you escape, knowing the information you have?

As I asked, both of their faces turned pale. They were red with anger earlier, but now they look drained.

"So, I think it’s better to be captured by the patrol team and be properly guarded in prison, using the viscount’s influence."

After much hesitation, Duke’s father chose to be quietly tied up. "I wanted to add a clear crime to Dredon’s charges," Bernook said regretfully, but I told him not to do such dangerous things anymore.

But, I felt sorry for him... He must have been really frustrated by the viscount’s strange protection.

"There are enough charges... Dredon is probably the head of a criminal organization that has been active in this city for a long time."

"What? Did he kidnap James’ son?!"

"Yes, he was the main culprit in that kidnapping."

I realized this during the conversation. The man I saw among the kidnappers... the one with the hat. His hair color was different and he didn’t have a beard, so it was hard to recognize. I drew such a detailed sketch that I might have narrowed down the investigation too much. I need to reflect on that.

I heard that the main culprit hasn’t been caught yet, but the perpetrators who haven’t talked might reveal more information.

"That he tried to kill James’ son...! This will really cut off the viscount’s relatives’ sympathy!"

Bernook said this, looking down at them with a heavy breath. ...Phew, I guess this case is settled.

---

While waiting for the patrol team to arrive, I monitored the two tied up men, looking around the room.

"Will this save us? Will they protect us properly?"

He seems very concerned about his own safety. I ignored him to avoid getting tired, but Bernook happily responded. ...He must have been under a lot of stress...

The room, which is too luxurious to be called a caretaker’s residence, was filled with expensive furnishings, which made me think about various things.

It looks like an office... but I heard that Dredon Gord, who is related to the viscount, got this position just because of that connection and doesn’t do any work. Does he need an office if he doesn’t work?

Bernook, who does all the actual work, usually works in the caretaker’s office of the public servants' dormitory, so there’s no need for an office in this house.

I saw a gemstone, decorated with gold, that seemed to be only a paperweight. ...Is this a paperweight? I didn’t know people actually buy such things... but since he doesn’t do any work, he doesn’t need a paperweight, right?

---

I explained the situation to the arriving patrol team and handed over the two men. The evidence and witnesses were solid, and everyone was quite surprised. "I thought he was just a nasty man who used his connections, but he’s a big criminal."

I took a proper statement and was released in the evening, returning to the hotel where Anna and the others were waiting.

Of course, Anna was very angry when I told her about the sting operation. "Even if there were reasons, why did Riana do such a dangerous thing?!" She was so angry that even Amber, who wasn’t being scolded, was hiding under the table, shaking.

"Even if it was necessary...! Then a patrol team member could have disguised as me!"

"There was a risk that the plan would leak from the patrol team... and it was necessary to act without being noticed, so I made sure it was safe... Look, I’m not even hurt."

---

It would be difficult for the mostly male patrol team to disguise as Anna... but that’s not the point. I put aside the fact that Bernook went to get hurt himself.

"Alright... I’ll stop scolding you for today since Riana is tired, but don’t do it again."

"Okay, I understand. I’m sorry for worrying you, Anna."

After that, when I was discovered to have a scrape on my palm from falling on the cobblestones, "You’re hurt!!" Anna got even angrier and made me promise, "No matter what, I won’t do such dangerous things again."