Detective Guide to the Steam World

Chapter 22 Jesper's Investigation Report

The black and white photo shows a boy holding a rugby ball, grinning at the camera.

Although his face was still very youthful, one could vaguely see Jesper's features.

"Jesper? Or Cyril?"

After examining the photo for a while, Rean put it aside and pulled out the thick file.

This is an extremely detailed investigation report, containing all the noteworthy events in Jesper's life from birth to the present.

As mentioned above, although the Fletcher family was once a noble family, it had long since declined.

At one point, they even reached the point where they couldn't afford servants and were unable to maintain the most basic aristocratic dignity.

Until ten years ago, when the Fletcher family was on the verge of complete ruin, fate brought a turning point.

After inheriting his father's title of Baron, Jesper immediately used his ruthless methods to defy public opinion and sell all the family's valuables, resolutely embarking on the path of commerce and opening a textile factory in the factory district.

Although the Fletcher family, as nobles, had declined, their network of connections and resources far surpassed those of ordinary merchants.

Therefore, Jesper's textile factory easily solved the most troublesome problems of orders and sales channels, and quickly became profitable with almost no setbacks.

Three months later that year, he opened his second caustic soda factory.

The circumstances were different then than they are now. The proud nobles disdained to engage in commerce themselves, believing that it was something only lowly commoners would do, and that it would damage the dignity of the nobility.

These nobles would only keep a few white gloves to amass wealth for them, thus supporting their extravagant lifestyles.

However, after seeing Jesper amassing huge sums of money, the nobles were naturally tempted as well.

For a time, nobles personally engaging in commerce quickly became a gold rush.

Leveraging their power and connections, the nobles quickly secured prime locations, controlling the best suppliers and the most convenient distribution channels...

As for the factories run by ordinary people within this ecosystem, they began to disappear rapidly, one by one.

No one knows where these people went, and there is no record of it in the newspapers.

The residents of Fog Harbor only knew that during that period, corpses would constantly emerge from the sewers, causing them endless annoyance.

"Ten years ago..."

Looking at the investigation report in his hand, Rean keenly grasped the key information within it.

According to his previous investigation, the Fletcher family's butler and personal servants had only started working for the family ten years ago, and both were connected to the Western Continent.

and so……

Ten years ago, Jesper had already come into contact with people from the Church of Life and Truth.

And then I became one of them?

Setting up a textile factory was a pretense; the real purpose was to provide cover for future human trafficking.

"That should be it..."

Rean propped his head up with his left hand and gently tapped the armrest of the sofa with his right.

He had just visited the Fletcher family's textile factory yesterday. Although it was still operating normally, its size was almost identical to that described in the investigation report.

In other words, this textile factory did not develop at all for a full ten years.

He hadn't been to the caustic soda factory yet, but judging from this, it was probably similar to the textile factory.

This ten-year cover-up demonstrates that Jesper's human trafficking operation had been going on for a full decade.

"Wow, that's quite an astonishing number."

Rean clicked his tongue and continued flipping through the investigation report.

According to records, after Jesper achieved commercial success, he completely shed the Fletcher family's reputation as a fallen aristocrat and began to frequently attend various social balls in high society, constantly cultivating relationships with important figures and preparing to move into politics.

Through a combination of financial incentives and exceptional interpersonal skills, Jesper rose through the ranks within two years, eventually becoming a municipal councilor in Foggy Harbor.

What's strange is that since becoming a municipal councilor, Jesper seems to have suddenly lost interest in politics, and has remained in that position for eight years.

During this period, he didn't even participate in the mayoral election, nor did he pursue a higher position.

Even in the business world, there has been no activity whatsoever.

This rather strange practice naturally aroused confusion and doubt from the outside world.

Jesper has also given a public explanation for this.

He declared that what he wanted more than greater power and more money was a stable life, and that everything the Fletcher family now possessed was more than enough for him and the entire family.

As soon as these remarks were made, Baron Jesper's reputation in Fog Harbor soared, and he was widely praised by the nobles.

After all, for other nobles, someone who does not compete with them in business or politics will naturally receive plenty of praise.

And so, nothing major happened to the Fletcher family again, and they have continued to develop peacefully to this day.

It must be said that the contents of this investigation report are quite detailed, and old Henry's ability to collect information is worthy of the high price of 4 pounds.

However, this information is basically all out in the open.

For Rean, aside from confirming some of his original speculations, it didn't help him much in completing the commission.

For example, the most crucial question right now—Cyril's cause of death—remains shrouded in mystery.

Based on the available information, the Sicily Company, Willow, and even Cyril's father, Baron Jesper, all had a motive for murder.

After all, in the Church of Life and Truth, sacrificing the lives of one's own blood relatives is all too common.

The closer the blood ties, the deeper the connection between their lives, which can significantly increase the success rate and effectiveness of various rituals.

This kind of argument is considered absolute "truth" within the Life and Truth cult!

As for the effect...

Rean had personally observed it up close once, with a pragmatic attitude.

It's not that it has no effect at all, but it's also completely useless.

Turn to the bottom of this document, and there is another page of investigation report about Cyril, but the content is very brief.

This is also a common sales tactic used by old Henry, implying to Rean that he can also help investigate this person if needed.

The report contained little information, but it was exceptionally interesting.

For example, Cyril attended schools funded by the Twilight Church from childhood to adulthood, and even during his university years, he attended St. Melvin University, which was a standard church theological university.

In addition, this young nobleman would go to the church in Fog Harbor every Saturday without fail, rain or shine.

Unlike his father, Baron Jesper, who used money to exchange for benefits and the title of believer.

Cyril's upbringing, his interactions with peers, and his daily habits all demonstrate that he is a genuine and devout follower of the Twilight Church.

He is a devout believer in the Twilight Church, but his father is a cultist in the Church of Life and Truth. His fiancée is a hidden superhuman. His family's real business is human trafficking... no, to be precise, it should be human sacrifice.

Isn't it interesting to see all of these things come together?

After confirming that he had flipped through the entire report and had not missed anything, Rean put down the investigation report in his hand.

"Finished reading? Any clues?"

Kent, who had been observing Rean's movements, quickly asked.

"I gained some insights, though not much, but enough for me to understand some things."

Rean responded with a smile, then carefully put the investigation report back into the brown paper bag and whistled.

"Put this on my desk."

The words fell.

"Meow~!"

A black cat suddenly darted out of the shadows, wagged its tail at Rean, then picked up the brown paper bag, turned around, and ran away quickly.

"No way, cats can be tamed?!"

Kent stared wide-eyed, completely stunned, and instinctively asked, "How did you do that?"

"Just feed it regularly, satisfy its desires, and let it know who its owner is. It's that easy."

Rean casually replied, then stood up with a smile and walked towards the door. "Let's go, Kent, we should get to work."

"Where are we going?"

"Let's go and have a chat with Miss Willow first."