Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam-Chapter 31: Buying Out Life (Thanks to Alliance Leader "Be a Commoner 0723"!)
Chapter 31 - 31: Buying Out Life (Thanks to Alliance Leader "Be a Commoner 0723"!)
Ethan held a gas lamp in his left hand and a detector in his right, exploring every room. The pointer on the detector remained in the blue zone at all times, without making any harsh noises, which indicated that everything in the house was normal.
Based on the information sent from the Reception Bureau, Luoxang didn't seem like the type to turn into a ghost seeking vengeance.
The attack in the neighboring Riverside Town made everyone anxious, so the staff at the Imperial Reserve, upon discovering the body, immediately sent the corpse along with the clown costume and mask Luoxang usually wore for cremation, accompanied by three professional Demon Hunters from the Guild who conducted the entire process with the ceremony used for deceased comrades.
The ceremony could allow the soul of the deceased to rest in peace and not become a vengeful ghost.
Ethan had been in the haunted house for nearly an hour when the sound of a key being inserted into the lock came from the door.
It was Ave who entered, looking somewhat tired.
"It rained. Mr. Marshall said that on that day there was a social gathering at the Ximu Town branch which invited Luoxang to liven up the atmosphere. The staff said he was soaked in rain upon arrival, and seemed absent-minded. He messed up his performance at the party, knocking over a bottle of expensive red wine during a juggling act and got reprimanded."
Ave tried to summarize the information Mr. Marshall conveyed to her in brief language.
After Ethan left, Mr. Marshall was still upset, so his wording wasn't so... gentle.
He considered Luoxang a waste, a coward, unable to even manage the most basic performances, and that after just getting reprimanded and drenched in rain, he was driven to suicide.
Marshall was indifferent to Luoxang's death. After Ethan left, he complained to Ave that these scums at the bottom of society only cause trouble for them.
They provided Luoxang with a job and a means of livelihood, and what was the result?
This ungrateful clown was still causing mischief in the apartment after his death, severely delaying their work progress.
Ethan expressed his judgment, "He wouldn't commit suicide over such a trivial matter."
Ave mentioned that Luoxang made mistakes at work that day, which likely indicated abnormalities beforehand, and now, they only knew Luoxang ended his life in this apartment, unable to determine whether his death was influenced by a cursed object.
Ave seemed surprised, "You knew him?"
"Sort of. During the Guild's annual meeting, I took over his work, and in my impression, he was a cheerful and dedicated person."
To be honest, Ethan admired Luoxang.
Luoxang's existence allowed Ethan to witness an entirely different kind of life. If, when he first arrived in Ximu Town, he hadn't found a place to stay without paying at the Guild and instead took a large loan from the Imperial Reserve to buy a house, he might also be living under enormous debt every day now.
For those unable to repay their debts, the Imperial Reserve kindly provided jobs.
Luoxang, being cheerful and good at making people happy, became Ximu Town's "designated" clown, but in reality, every job he had was arranged by the Imperial Reserve. Where to go, who to entertain, and even daily working hours were decided by others.
There was a popular saying in the Guild.
Once you owe money to the Imperial Reserve, your life is practically bought out by them.
Before clearing your debt, your physical strength, brain, and freedom would be controlled by the Lofic Consortium.
And in this era, there is no labor law to speak of.
Ethan later learned that those without specialized skills would be sent to work physical labor in the mines near Ximu Town. When Gear City was extensively building new military factories, a batch was sent away too, with daily working hours starting at ten. Those who left never returned, and soon no one talked about them.
A clown's role is far from easy. Besides high-intensity performances, Luoxang had to constantly rack his brains during breaks on how to entertain everyone.
The life force of a joke only lasts once, so he had to continuously replenish his reserve.
These were insights learned after the Guild's annual meeting when the two had a conversation.
At the time, they sat in front of the fireplace on the Guild's first floor, with beer for the celebration on the table, and Luoxang shared many new jokes he thought of with Ethan, asking him to evaluate them as the audience.
Luoxang enjoyed it. He relished in others being happy because of him.
Ethan also witnessed Luoxang being picked on during performances. In people's eyes, the identity of a clown was inferior, and the staff from the Imperial Reserve spoke of him with undisguised disdain in their eyes.
This clown, who always brought joy and laughter, reminded Ethan of a saying – true heroism is recognizing the reality of life and yet still loving it.
Ethan considered that if he and Luoxang swapped life trajectories, it was highly possible that Mr. Marshall, the big banker, would have encountered the Fireball Skill on his way to work one day.
Now it seems, even heroes have days when they can't hold on.
Ave finished investigating with the detector and said, "There's nothing unusual in the apartment. It's possible some action by Marshall triggered a curse, or it might be the work of a witch."
"Or it could be time-related, like the curse activates at a specific point in time," Ethan added.
Ave was unaware that Becky and her seven old stewards had been buried in the dirt outside a cabin in the woods; she was constantly on guard against the witch and her minions infiltrating the town.
Unfortunately, the Imperial Reserve had incinerated Luoxang's body; otherwise, the Dead Revival Scroll could have helped them understand what happened in the days leading up to his death.
"Yes, exactly."
Ave paused for a moment, realizing this was probably why detectives always needed an assistant. Working with Ethan made her feel like she had grown another brain, making case handling much more efficient.
Just like now, Ethan had already devised an investigation plan, "Miss Keroy and I will stay in the apartment. You go investigate where the deceased had been in the three days prior and check for any anomalies, considering your other role as the town's sheriff, residents are more willing to provide you with information."
Ave didn't object, "I'll bring you food tomorrow morning. I won't forget this time."
After that, she thought for a moment and added, "Hope you and Miss Keroy don't dig up any bodies this time."
"I will do my best."
Ethan had to emphasize this was a world full of peril, and this case involved some kind of unknown cursed object, indicating a high degree of danger.
The only promise he could make to Ave was not to proactively create bodies.
But if a body attempted to attack him while he was asleep, the outcome wouldn't be in his control.
Currently, as an E-level investigator of the Reception Bureau, having witnessed a familiar name commit suicide by hanging in this apartment, he naturally formed an instinctive reaction.
He wanted to know why Luoxang died.
This case is full of bewildering twists and turns, leaving Ethan without any clues at the moment. Perhaps he should try solving the problem through elimination.
First, Miss Becky and her seven old stewards can be ruled out.
They have solid alibis.
