Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 24: Pretty Young Lady

Now, Levi was almost certain that the so-called “pretty lady” must have been the key figure behind Edwards’ death.

Or rather, to put it bluntly———she was the murderer!

The entry restrictions of the Royal Master Academy were not very strict.

Although not just anyone could come and go, as long as there was a reasonable request, most people could.

Last time, when Levi came here to find Edwards and investigate Emilia’s situation, he only had to register briefly at the gate.

However, based on his investigation into Edwards’ teachers, classmates, and research group colleagues, Levi learned that Edwards lived a very regular life.

It was basically a cycle of classroom, library, and laboratory.

If outsiders approached him, it would be very easy to notice.

So, the killer was most likely a member of the Royal Master Academy itself.

If Levi could stake out here long-term, he might even discover some clues.

Unfortunately, this was the Royal Master Academy.

It was not a place he could casually stay.

But coming here every day would also be quite troublesome………

Just as Levi was considering what to do next, he stepped out of the Academy’s gates.

And there, at the entrance, he saw a young girl who was looking toward him with nervousness and unease.

The moment she saw Levi, the girl broke into an excited smile, quickly straightened up, and hurried toward him.

“Hello, Mr. Detective.”

“Ah, hello, Miss Betty.”

Looking at the blonde, blue-eyed, lovely girl before him, Levi pressed the brim of his hat and nodded slightly in greeting.

In the days following the incident, Betty and her friend had not attended school.

They had stayed home on leave to rest.

This did not surprise Levi.

Anyone who experienced something like that would want a few days to recover their spirit.

Now it seemed Miss Betty had recovered quite well.

“Are you still investigating the case? Have you made progress? Ah……… I’m sorry, that’s not a question I should ask………”

Betty was clearly a bit excited.

She spoke a whole string of words to Levi before realizing it, then lowered her head in embarrassment.

As Levi looked at Betty, however, an idea came to him.

Perhaps……… this was also a way?

“I’m still investigating. I do have some clues, but not enough. By the way, I have a question.”

“A question?”

“Yes. I heard that in the Royal Master Academy, there is a pretty lady. Do you know who she is?”

“A pretty lady? How pretty?”

“That I don’t know. I only heard others mention it, so I wanted to ask.”

“I see……………”

Betty thought for a moment after hearing Levi’s answer.

“Hmm, Miss Eliza of the Literature Department, and Miss Clast of the Physics Department, are both women who are quite admired and welcomed by men……………”

“I see. I was just asking casually.”

At this, Levi paused for a moment in thought.

“If possible, I’d like to ask you for a favor, Miss Betty. Would you be willing?”

“Ask me for a favor?”

Hearing Levi’s words, Betty instantly looked up in surprise, staring at him.

“O-of course, I’d be glad to……… May I ask what you would like me to do?”

“Nothing especially dangerous.”

Levi waved his hand, signaling for her to calm down.

“I’d like you to help record some things that happen in the Academy.”

“Some things?”

“Yes. I can’t come to the Academy every day to investigate. That would also interfere with the teaching schedule. So I hope someone can help me keep a record. For example, what happened today in the Academy, or what rumors are going around. For the sake of your own safety, I don’t recommend you actively snooping around. You just need to attend classes as usual, listen to what happens at school each day, and then write it down.”

“I see……… In that case, I don’t have a problem.”

Hearing this, Betty let out a sigh of relief.

She had been afraid Levi might assign her a difficult task, and she would fail and embarrass herself.

But now, it really didn’t seem strange at all.

She already wrote a diary every night about what happened that day.

Now it was just making an extra copy……

“Whether or not anything happens, you must write a letter every day. That way I’ll not only know what’s going on here, but also whether you are safe.”

“O-okay, Mr. Detective………”

Hearing Levi’s words, Betty felt her heart pounding fiercely again.

This famous detective was so handsome, gentle, and gentlemanly—he was exactly the white-horse prince from her dreams!

“You only need to send it by courier at the post office, to this address.”

As he spoke, Levi handed her a card.

He had already subscribed to a year’s worth of courier service from the post office.

Because of the pressurized-tube transmission system, mail delivery within Mist City was actually quite fast.

Ordinary mail was usually next-day delivery.

Courier, however, was same-day delivery.

Simply put, when Betty sent her letter at the post office, the staff would see the address and put it on the courier list.

Then the post office staff would take the letter into the distribution box deep inside the post office, transmit it through the pipeline to the branch near Levi’s street, and then through a second transmission, the letter would be delivered straight to Levi’s home.

Of course, this service was expensive.

But for Levi, in detective work, information and time were life.

Ordinary mail might be cheap, but if by the time the letter arrived the person was already dead, what was the point?

“Remember, don’t go out of your way to investigate. Just tell me what happens in school every day. Even if something strange occurs, absolutely do not try to investigate, understand?”

Levi gave her one more warning.

From his experience, if he didn’t say this, the other party would most likely go and do exactly what they shouldn’t.

“This is a very serious and dangerous matter, not a game.”

“O-okay, Mr. Detective.”

When Levi’s warm, gentle smile disappeared and turned into a serious and stern expression, Betty’s heart skipped a beat.

She quickly nodded, took the card carefully, and tucked it into her purse.

“Good.”

Seeing Betty nod obediently, Levi gave a faint smile.

“This is a secret between just the two of us. Don’t tell anyone else.”

“O-okay……………”

With Betty’s reply, Levi gave her a small bow, then turned and left.

Betty just stood there, staring at his back for a long time without speaking.

After a day of investigation, Levi returned to the clock tower.

As expected, Katie was there.

So he told Katie about the results of today’s investigation at the Royal Master Academy.

When she heard his detailed description of the woman suspected of being the killer, Katie’s eyes instantly lit up.

“A pretty lady? How pretty?”

“………………………”

Betty had asked the same.

Women, ah………

“I don’t know. The people I asked couldn’t describe her either. They couldn’t even say her hair color or her clothing. All they could say was that she was a pretty lady. That is indeed strange.”

“So, the killer is a vampire? The legend is real? The people she bites also become vampires?”

“Who knows……………”

Levi sighed again.

After all, those were just myths and legends.

Who knew if they matched reality?

“Jingle-ling-ling………!”

At that moment, the communicator rang.

Levi set down his teacup, walked over, and picked up the receiver.

Then, the panicked voice of Officer Fletcher came through.

“Is this Mr. Levi?”

“Yes, it’s me. What’s wrong?”

“There’s a bit of trouble……… Edwards’ body is missing!”

“……………Huh?”

Hearing this, Levi frowned.

On the other end, Officer Fletcher quickly explained.

“We were planning to return Edwards’ body to his relatives tomorrow, so tonight we did the final examination. Everything was fine. But right after we finished checking and went to get the coffin to place him inside, we came back and discovered the body was gone!”

“…………I understand. I’ll be right there.”

Levi hung up the phone and glanced at Katie, who was nibbling on snacks.

Noticing his gaze, she tilted her head slightly.

“What is it?”

“You guessed it. The body disappeared.”

Levi gestured for Irene to bring his coat, then strode toward the lift.

“Eh? Then did he turn into a vampire?”

Katie jumped up in excitement.

“I don’t know. But we’ll find out once we get there!”

When Levi and Katie took the carriage to the police station, it was already late at night.

Inside, only a few staff were on duty.

Judging by their calm expressions, they didn’t seem to know anything was wrong.

Levi nodded to the guard at the door, then entered with Katie.

There, he saw Officer Fletcher pacing anxiously in the hall.

Seeing Levi arrive, Officer Fletcher finally let out a sigh of relief.

He hurried over to them, gestured, and said:

“Come with me.”

As he spoke, he quickly led them across the hall to another lift.

He pressed the button for the third basement level.

When the lift doors closed, Officer Fletcher finally spoke nervously.

“It’s really strange. We have no idea why the body disappeared. Logically speaking, this should have been impossible……….”

“We? Who else is down there?”

“Doctor Coren, the coroner………”

“Ding.”

While they spoke, the lift stopped.

With a loud clatter, the chain gate opened.

A wave of icy cold air rushed in, making Katie shiver.

Under the pale light, the hallway was completely empty.

Only a long trail of blood led deeper inside.

“………This……….”

Seeing this, Officer Fletcher’s face turned deathly pale.

Levi, however, reached out and gripped his pistol tightly.