“Heavyweights?” Luo Wei showed a curious expression. “Who are they?”
Sheriff Raymond began counting on his fingers. “Let me think… There’s the terrifying black sorcerer who once massacred a city, the leader of a cult, the former head of the Special Affairs Department, and… well, those are the ones I can think of for now…”
Luo Wei rolled his eyes dramatically. “So, should I feel honored?”
“Of course!” Evelyn covered her mouth as she giggled. “Being locked in a room with people whose names alone could make others cry—doesn’t that prove how formidable you are?”
“You’re really flattering me, teacher…” Luo Wei gave her a silent glance.
“Hmph! Don’t make fun of my brother!” Helena glared at Evelyn, who was laughing heartily.
Lately, this woman had been getting more and more out of hand.
And it seemed like she was growing closer to Luo Wei too…
Helena watched sourly as Luo Wei took a big bite out of half an apple, then snatched it away in a huff.
She replaced it with a soft bread roll she had bought herself.
“Here, brother, eat this!”
“Uh…” Luo Wei looked at her helplessly. “I’m not hungry…”
Seeing Helena’s expression darken, he had no choice but to take the freshly baked bread.
“Alright, I’m hungry…”
He began nibbling on it, thinking to himself how much she loved bread… even though he had just eaten lunch not long ago.
Helena finally showed a satisfied smile.
“Tch!” Evelyn rolled her eyes, never expecting Helena to get jealous over something like this.
Luo Wei awkwardly ate the bread, feeling the atmosphere in the hospital room grow increasingly strange.
But the person with the strangest expression was actually Sheriff Raymond.
Watching the odd dynamic between the two women and Luo Wei, he looked both surprised and puzzled.
The relationship in Luo Wei’s family seemed a bit complicated…
This sister was practically declaring her dominance—she didn’t act like a sister at all. In fact, she was more domineering than a proper girlfriend…
And then, the sheriff suddenly thought of the Fifth Princess who had been exerting pressure.
Luo Wei’s recent confinement seemed to be because of her. Did that mean there was something going on between them too?
Sheriff Raymond scratched his head in confusion. He couldn’t make sense of the relationships between these people.
All he felt was…
utter astonishment.
…
As the atmosphere in the room became increasingly awkward, Sheriff Raymond put on his hat and stood up to leave.
“Well, you three can chat. I have other matters to attend to…”
“Thank you for your hard work, Sheriff. You’ve been so busy lately, yet you still made time to check on us,” Evelyn said with a polite and grateful smile.
“It’s nothing. Just doing my job,” the sheriff sighed.
Luo Wei noticed the exhaustion on Raymond’s face and asked curiously, “Is it still because of that case?”
“Yes, but it’s not just the case.” Sheriff Raymond gazed out the window.
Luo Wei followed his gaze.
The mental hospital was located in a less bustling part of the East District, but even so, the streets outside were eerily quiet.
This was something that had puzzled him for the past few days.
The empty streets had no pedestrians, no carriages, and not a single magitech vehicle in sight. Even in the distance, the atmosphere of Saint Callen City felt strange.
The towering chimneys that once spewed black smoke day and night were now silent, and because of this, the air quality had improved significantly.
This meant that most of the factories in Saint Callen had shut down.
It was highly unusual, especially since this was the “Steam Capital,” a city with immense industrial capacity. The endless factories were the source of all wealth, functioning like a money-printing machine for the empire.
As Sheriff Raymond explained, Luo Wei’s brow furrowed.
Everything was still the aftermath of the “Royal Capital Airship Explosion.”
People in the capital and other major cities had grown fearful of magitech industries, and the entire nation was in a state of panic, afraid that such a catastrophe could suddenly strike them.
The sheriff sighed. “A lot has happened in Saint Callen while you were away…”
“Schools have been forced to close, there are public protests, the Imperial Council is in chaos, and even the factory owners are causing trouble…”
“The city is almost in a state of constant unrest…” He pressed his fingers to his temples, looking exhausted. “The situation is getting worse, and the police force is stretched thin…”
Listening to Sheriff Raymond’s complaints, Luo Wei instinctively glanced at Evelyn beside him.
Coming from a noble family, she should have some insight into the current situation.
Evelyn’s expression turned serious. “I heard that this morning, the Imperial Council was in complete disarray, even resorting to physical fights…”
Seeing Luo Wei’s attentive expression, she continued, “With the factories shut down, the nouveau riche, represented by the factory owners, are demanding a swift restoration of order and calling for the military and police to suppress the unrest forcefully.”
Luo Wei nodded. After all, their wealth was entirely tied to the magitech industry. If things continued this way, their fortunes would undoubtedly shrink, and not making money was akin to a death sentence for them.
“What about the other side?” Luo Wei asked.
Evelyn replied, “On the other side are the empire’s old nobility. They’ve long been left behind in the new industries, but they have their estates and centuries of accumulated wealth. They’re indifferent to the situation, even pleased by it.”
Luo Wei pondered for a moment. “It seems like the outside world has really turned upside down these past few days…”
This once prosperous and stable Steam Capital seemed to have descended into chaos overnight, and at the root of it all…
Everything stemmed from that massive explosion.
Luo Wei sensed a whiff of conspiracy. Whoever was behind this must have had a strong motive.
Evelyn also picked up on something. Her emerald-green eyes shifted back to Luo Wei after seeing Sheriff Raymond off.
“The Third Prince?”
Both of them thought of the Third Prince, who had orchestrated the massive explosion to kill Ophelia.
Luo Wei met her gaze, but they both shook their heads simultaneously.
“He doesn’t seem like the type to have such cunning…”
“Could it be that he was also being used? Is there more to this conspiracy?”
Evelyn’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. She had met the Third Prince before, but her most vivid impression was from last week, when they rescued Luo Wei.
That guy was sinister and ruthless, but he still seemed too inexperienced…
If he truly intended to use this nationwide chaos to push forward some grand scheme, Evelyn would have to give him more credit.
“He really doesn’t seem like the kind of person who could pull this off.”
Luo Wei agreed with Evelyn’s assessment. From the perspective of who stood to benefit, the Third Prince didn’t fit the profile of the mastermind.
And besides…
[Chapter Two: The Wegener Terror Incident]
[Save Point Updated: Bedlam Mental Hospital.]
[Remaining Save Slots: 5/5]
With the new save point appearing, Luo Wei felt that this chapter was likely coming to an end soon, given the circumstances.
There was one more thing…
Luo Wei had to admit that he somewhat looked down on the Third Prince…
That arrogant and domineering guy didn’t seem like the final boss at all…
It couldn’t be helped. This was his player’s intuition, based on his experience with this kind of game.
After chatting with the two of them for a while longer, the visiting time quietly came to an end.
Helena looked at Luo Wei reluctantly. She hadn’t had much time to spend with her brother, and even during this short visit, he had been analyzing the case with Evelyn, barely paying attention to her…
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway, and soon, the heavy iron door opened again.
But to Luo Wei’s surprise, it wasn’t the expressionless guard who entered.
Instead, it was…
Ophelia, smiling as she looked at him.
And behind her, the head maid Caroline, carrying an exquisite fruit basket and various precious tonics.
The moment these two appeared, Helena and Evelyn immediately stood up.
"Luo Wei!" Ophelia approached with concern and urgency. "How has your recovery been these past few days..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Helena stepped directly in front of her, her eyes filled with anger and hostility.
"How dare you, you wicked woman!"
"You still have the audacity to come and harass my brother!!"