Inspector Chikafu, with his murky dark red eyeballs, stared at Richard who had turned around, not immediately voicing his question, but speaking in a hoarse voice.
"Wizard Richard! Did you know, as an inspector, among my colleagues, I have a nickname, which is Hound. This name may not sound very pleasant, but I quite like it, because it fully reflects one of my characteristics—keen ’sense of smell’.
For some unknown things, I have an astonishing ability to judge, able to determine in advance what their truth is. Therefore, before this, I had identified major vulnerabilities six times that some branches of our organization overlooked, thoroughly eliminating them before causing serious damage.
Previously, when exploring your mine, this ability of mine began to take effect. Although I didn’t find direct evidence of you endangering the organization, just walking on the land of the mine, breathing the air within it, I can be sure you are definitely problematic. It was the same the previous six times, and it definitely won’t go wrong this seventh time.
Just now I asked you two questions, and you answered them very well, showing no flaws, even leaving me speechless. I admit, you are excellent, you might have even anticipated today’s situation early and have done some preparations.
But, this is where it all ends. Even if you answered my many doubts and explained all the suspicious points, there is still one thing you owe an answer to. That is, why do you value this miner powder?"
Chikafu forcefully slammed the lead box on the table twice, making a dull sound.
"You say you don’t know what this miner powder is? Fine, I believe you. But, since you don’t know what it is, or what it’s specifically used for, then why guard it so tightly? Why go to such lengths to mine so much of it, and store it in a secret underground warehouse?
If you were only in it for profit, then mining ordinary ores would be enough. With your ’fire bomb’ and ’railway mine cart’, in due time, controlling most of the ore circulation in the Southern Free Federation would also be possible.
Under such circumstances, why do you still engage in such a thankless task, mining ore whose particulars you don’t understand? Under such circumstances, why do you continue to do this unreasonable thing?"
Chikafu pressed both hands on the table, slowly arching his back, leaning his body forward, his gaze locked onto Richard, like a real hound locking onto its prey.
Hot murky air gushed out from his mouth, and a voice with a stern tone echoed in the conference room.
"Wizard Richard, I believe there is only one explanation for this matter: you actually know what this ore is, you actually know what it’s used for. All of your previous words were indeed not lies, but you hid the most crucial point. And this point is enough to reverse the entire event.
Isn’t it! I’m not wrong, am I! Actually, you do know what this ore is used for, so now tell me, what exactly is it used for!"
After hearing Chikafu’s words, Long Mei’er touched his chin, remained silent, and looked at Richard with an inscrutable expression.
Canon, upon hearing Chikafu’s words, frowned and fell into thought, not revealing much on his face, and, following Long Mei’er, looked toward Richard.
The wizards, who were about to exit the conference room, all stopped and looked towards Richard, waiting for his response. Some of them had already shaken their previous thoughts, beginning to think that Richard was suspect.
Richard, after being called to turn around, stood still. He quietly listened to Chikafu’s long speech, nodded slightly, quickly swept his gaze over Supervisor Long Mei’er, and Steward Canon, finally landing on the somewhat grim Chikafu, suddenly let out a light laugh.
Opening and closing his lips, he spoke, "Inspector Chikafu, I must say, you are quite perceptive. I have to admit, you are right; I do know what the ore is used for. Its greatest use is that it can be used to create a powerful and deadly weapon capable of unleashing terrifying power.
I plan to use this weapon to destroy a city, killing 270,000 people living within it, 132 nobles, and... one fourteen-year-old pregnant girl."
Everyone in the conference room was taken aback by Richard’s response, their eyebrows raised, including the steward Long Mei’er.
Because what Richard said was too shocking, too exaggerated, even too nonsensical.
"A fourteen-year-old pregnant girl?" Chikafu asked with a frown, "What relation does this have with a fourteen-year-old pregnant girl?"
In a sense, this question articulated the doubt in everyone’s heart.
Upon hearing that, Richard smiled again, his smile seemed a little wanton.
Seeing Richard’s smile, Chikafu frowned deeply, instinctively sensing something was wrong, feeling like he had fallen into some trap. But he couldn’t figure out what this trap was, he couldn’t help asking, "What are you laughing at?!"
At this time, Richard stopped laughing, slowly retracted his smile, and his expression became unusually serious.
Richard stared into Chikafu’s eyes, and said in a cold voice, "Inspector Chikafu, you ask why am I laughing? I want to kill as many as 270,000 people, you don’t care why, instead, when I say I want to kill a fourteen-year-old pregnant girl, you become curious. Is it, in your eyes, a fourteen-year-old pregnant girl more important than 270,000 people? Is it, in your eyes, the affair of a fourteen-year-old pregnant girl more worthy of concern than the life and death of 270,000 people?"
"Nonsense, that’s not what I meant!" Chikafu shouted, "I’m just puzzled as to why you are saying such things. Anyone, pulling out a fourteen-year-old pregnant girl independently among 132 nobles and 270,000 people, would feel surprised, wouldn’t they?"
The conference room was silent, but many people, in their hearts, nodded in agreement with Chikafu’s statement.
They were really a bit curious about how a fourteen-year-old pregnant girl had provoked Richard, how she had provoked him to such an extent that he would go to such lengths to kill her, even at the cost of destroying a city.
Could it be said that the fourteen-year-old pregnant girl and Richard had some particularly special relationship, leading to Richard’s love-hate entanglement...?
Thinking and thinking, everyone thought too much, shared a look with each other, exchanged glances, their expressions peculiar.
At this moment, Richard spoke.
"Alright, Inspector Chikafu, let me tell you why I said so. Did you know, my mine is just like a city. Currently, in my mine, the warehouse stores a total of 270,000 pounds of ore, divided into 132 different types. And the ore you’re always pestering about is just one among them. Yes, just one!"
The people in the conference room suddenly showed expressions of sudden realization. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel·fıre·net
Supervisor Long Mei’er blinked, Steward Canon turned to look at Chikafu, just catching Chikafu’s expression turning sullen.