Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 131: Continental Congress (It’s the end of the month, please give me a monthly ticket, meow)

What a surprise. This really was one hell of a surprise.

To be honest, the victory over the Phantom Killer had come so unexpectedly that even Levi had been caught off guard. If the system hadn't notified him that the mission had been completed, he would have thought the other party had merely feinted before escaping.

Seriously? Seriously? Did someone actually get scared to death after watching a few movie clips?

Although Levi was frantically complaining inwardly, the system paid no attention and silently continued displaying its notifications.

【Mission “Shadow Blade” Complete】

【Time Consumed: S】

【Investigation Efficiency: S】

【Impact: S】

【Overall Evaluation: SSS】

【Lifespan Reward +200, Bonus +100】

If Levi had to say it, judging purely by the result, this enemy hardly seemed worthy of such a high-difficulty reward. It was like thinking you were about to defeat Bowser, only to step on a Goomba instead... Though strictly speaking, this had been more of a mechanics-based boss. Once you figured out the mechanic, it was easy to kill. Fail to understand it, and you'd simply be toyed with until you died.

【Special Ability Reward】

【Nightmare / Soul Manifestation / Unconscious Control】

【Nightmare】was the Phantom Killer's ability against Levi. Simply put, it dragged its target into a nightmare and killed them there. It was rather similar to the ability of a certain horror movie protagonist. However, after taking a look at it, Levi immediately gave up on choosing it.

The reason was simple.

Just look at the Phantom Killer itself.

This ability was a double-edged sword. If you managed to scare someone to death, then you won.

But if someone managed to scare you to death...

Then you were finished.

Besides, Levi was a detective, not an assassin. This ability was practically useless to him.

【Soul Manifestation】was the ability Levi had witnessed during his battle against the Phantom Killer—the power to render one's body intangible for a short period of time.

It was certainly useful.

But Levi already possessed 【Shadow Step】.

One of two similar abilities was enough. There was no need to keep both.

To Levi, the most useful ability was actually 【Unconscious Control】.

【Unconscious Control: The ability to manipulate another person's state of awareness, allowing one to act without being noticed in the slightest. Consumption: 1 minute of lifespan per second.】

In Levi's opinion, this was by far the most useful ability.

To put it simply, 【Unconscious Control】made other people fail to notice his existence. As long as he wasn't directly within someone's field of vision, he had virtually no presence at all. Even if he entered their sight, he would be as inconspicuous as a small pebble. Once he left their line of sight, they would immediately forget about him.

Unless he actively interfered with the other person—for example, by attacking them—he would remain someone they would never consciously pay attention to.

It was rather like those moments when someone suddenly wanted to find their glasses or a book. It was clearly sitting on the desk right in front of them, yet they searched the entire room without ever noticing it.

For the Phantom Killer, this ability might not have been especially useful.

According to its description, the moment the user interfered with the target, the target would immediately recognize their existence.

In other words, if the Phantom Killer wanted to use this ability to assassinate someone, it simply wouldn't work.

That had been exactly what happened during the Battle of Lexington.

Those soldiers had never sensed the Phantom Killer's presence.

But the instant the Phantom Killer attacked Levi, Levi reacted immediately.

From an assassin's perspective, this ability was obviously far less practical than 【Nightmare】.

But for Levi...

【Unconscious Control】was vastly superior to 【Nightmare】.

Because he was a detective, not an assassin!

【Unconscious Control】was practically the ultimate gossiping ability!

If he wanted to, even if a husband and wife were getting intimate in private, all he had to do was activate 【Unconscious Control】, squat quietly in a corner, and enjoy the show with sunflower seeds, soda, and a little stool.

He could even stand beside the leader of some evil organization while they discussed sinister conspiracies and simply eavesdrop.

Even if someone was chasing him, he could activate the skill and quietly stand off to one side.

If they couldn't find him, then they simply couldn't find him.

Wasn't that better than anything else?

Its consumption was also very low, roughly on the same level as 【Soul Sight】.

Thus, Levi quickly made his decision.

This was the one!

Levi reached out and selected 【Unconscious Control】.

Then he saw the skill placed under the skill tree for the 【Willpower】 attribute.

So this belonged under the Willpower attribute?

Interesting.

After confirming the skill's effects once more, Levi nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand, closing the system.

His mission was complete.

There was now only one thing left for him to do.

A night passed.

For Adams and Hancock, it had been a sleepless night.

Even so, they forced themselves to stay composed. After washing up, they headed to the City Hall of Fehart City to attend the Continental Congress being held there.

At this conference, they would determine the future relationship between the Melisia Region and the Empire, as well as whether further resistance should be carried out.

"Remember, Adams. Our mission this time is extremely important."

Looking at Adams before him, Hancock lowered his voice.

"We must persuade the moderates to stand on our side."

"That won't be easy."

Adams clearly lacked confidence.

After all, what had happened at Lexington had cost them the moral high ground.

No matter how one looked at it, the Imperial Army had merely arrested the militia, which was indeed the duty of the Imperial military.

Moreover, in the eyes of the Empire's people, the law was meant to be obeyed.

So there had been nothing wrong with what the Imperial Army had done.

The problem was that the militia had attacked the Imperial Army.

And an even bigger problem was...

They had lost.

That was the greatest issue of all.

The representatives attending the Continental Congress came from twelve cities.

Each representative was a political leader from their respective city.

They came from every walk of life: lawyers, doctors, teachers, scholars, merchants, priests, plantation owners, small farmers, artisans, and more.

Most belonged to the middle class, while a small number were wealthy members of the upper class.

Many among them were moderates who advocated maintaining good relations with the Empire.

A small minority were radicals who swore to resist the Empire to the very end.

The remainder were centrists, believing that a compromise should be sought.

At present, the radicals and moderates were nearly equal in number.

The key was winning over the centrists.

This conference was Adams' attempt to secure their support.

As for whether he would succeed...

Even he couldn't say.

"That detective..."

"Don't worry, Adams."

Hancock patted him on the shoulder.

"I've already ordered everyone to seal all entrances and exits once the conference begins. No one will be allowed to leave or enter without authorization. As for the train station, I've already bribed the stationmaster. He'll conduct a thorough inspection of the Explorer, delaying it as much as possible. But I believe that as long as that assassin..."

At this point, Hancock paused, clearly unwilling to utter the other's name.

"If he succeeds, then this will no longer be a problem."

"..."

"All right, let's go in."

Hancock patted Adams on the shoulder again and led him into the conference hall.

Accompanied by the crisp strike of a gavel, the Continental Congress officially began.

The two men temporarily set aside the doubts in their hearts and focused entirely on the proceedings.

The meeting proved difficult from the very beginning.

Hancock realized this immediately.

From the moment it started, quite a few representatives directed their criticism at them.

They argued that the militia had acted too rashly by provoking a conflict with the Imperial Army.

They simply were not prepared.

Compared to the Empire, Melisia was still far too weak.

They needed more time.

And far more preparation.

Faced with the accusations, Adams knew that if he failed to defend himself, they would suffer complete defeat.

So he stood, looked around at the assembly, and spoke.

"You say we are too weak to resist such a mighty enemy. But when will we become strong? Next week? Next year? Must we wait until we have been completely disarmed, until every household is occupied by Imperial soldiers? Do you truly believe that by hesitating, wavering, and doing nothing, we can somehow gather strength?!"

Adams spread his arms wide.

His voice rang through the conference hall like a great bell, echoing overhead.

"Gentlemen! So long as we properly use the strength bestowed upon us by the Holy Lord, we are not weak! Once the people of Melisia take up arms upon their own land for the sacred cause of freedom, no enemy shall be able to defeat us! And we do not fight alone! The Holy Lord governs the destiny of this continent and shall call upon our friends to fight alongside us!"

Adams was not merely making empty boasts.

In truth, during the Empire's decline, the Holy Lord Church had secretly encouraged and supported the independence of most territories that had broken away from Imperial rule.

"Gentlemen! Victory in war does not belong solely to the strong! It belongs to those who are vigilant, proactive, and courageous! Besides, we no longer have a choice! Even if we wished to withdraw from this conflict, it is already too late! Our road of retreat has been cut off, unless we are willing to accept humiliation and slavery! The chains that imprison us have already been forged! The clanking of shackles already echoes above our heads! War is now unavoidable—let it come! I repeat, gentlemen, let it come!"

Adams clenched both fists and raised them high.

His passionate speech left the assembled delegates trembling with emotion.

"Gentlemen may cry out: Peace! Peace! Peace! But there is no peace! The battle has already begun! Our brothers have already marched to the battlefield! Why then should we continue sitting here doing nothing? Is life so precious, is peace so sweet, that they are worth purchasing with chains and slavery? I do not know what others will choose, but as for me..."

At this point, Adams drew a deep breath.

"—————Give me liberty, or give me death!"

"OHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

At Adams' furious roar, the delegates below erupted into cheers.

They pounded their desks, applauded without end, and shouted in excitement.

The atmosphere became so heated that the chairman had to strike the gavel repeatedly to restore order.

However...

"Clap clap clap clap clap..."

Just as the cheers finally subsided, an untimely round of applause echoed through the hall.

Everyone looked toward its source in confusion.

Then they saw a young man stand up and walk calmly into the center of the chamber.

A cane hung from his arm as he continued applauding.

He wore a top hat and a perfectly tailored three-piece suit, looking every bit like a refined gentleman of status.

"And who might you be, sir?"

The chairman stared at the young man as he spoke.

"It is not yet your turn to address the assembly."

"Ah, my apologies for interrupting your meeting, Mr. Chairman."

The young man smiled faintly and nodded politely to the audience.

He then turned toward Adams, who stood upon the podium, as well as Hancock beside him.

"May I ask whether the two of you are Mr. Samuel Adams and Mr. John Hancock?"

"..."

Gripping the railing of the podium tightly, Adams stared fixedly at the young man before him.

He had never met him before.

But he knew exactly who he was.

And he also knew why he had appeared here.

But why?

Why?!

"...Yes..."

Adams answered in a hoarse, low voice.

The passionate enthusiasm from moments earlier had vanished completely.

Then he watched as the man nodded, reached into his coat...

And took out an arrest warrant.

"I am Detective Levi. I hereby officially inform you, in the name of Her Majesty the Queen..."

"You are under arrest."

(End of Chapter)