Chapter 207 : Chapter 207
Chapter 207. The Culprit is Inside Here (2)
While Radel stayed still, the Imperial Hound opened his mouth.
“I won't be the only one with a purpose, will I?”
At his words, Iron Arm and the Knight Commander flinched.
It was the appearance of people who clearly had a purpose to anyone’s eyes.
To think they would reveal everything like that even while wearing masks.
The Imperial Hound clicked his tongue inwardly.
By the looks of it, they were hot-tempered people who had no intention of hiding their personalities.
People who would readily spill everything if provoked just a little.
The reason they came here was obvious.
It must be to become followers of the 8th Prince.
As expected, the Knight Commander flared up on his own.
“Who are you saying has a purpose? Of course, we came to enjoy the party!”
As he got angry, the Knight Commander’s forearms swelled as if they were about to burst.
“I am a party maniac! I am crazy about parties being fun!”
The Vice Commander put a hand to his forehead at the words of the person who looked least suited for a party to anyone’s eyes.
The reaction of the people was the same.
Maybe a battlefield stained with blood and sweat, but a peaceful banquet hall didn't come to mind.
Anyone would think so seeing his behavior.
However, there was someone who agreed with the Knight Commander’s words.
“You too. Me as well! We Dwarves love feasts very much.”
It was Iron Arm.
He stroked his beard and subtly asserted his innocence.
“I was just curious about human parties when this opportunity arose. I absolutely didn't come to see if there were any valuable items. Coming to the House of the Undead was a tremendous coincidence.”
“You make quite some sense, Iron Arm!”
“You too, Knight Commander!”
Iron Arm and the Knight Commander, who had been listing unasked words, hit it off among themselves.
“I heard something interesting appeared in Marcellent these days! So I came to see, and it turns out the shop next door was holding an event?”
“You were like that too. Indeed, even humans find it interesting; is there any reason why a Dwarf cannot come?”
“Of course not!”
While they were chattering away hitting it off, the Imperial Hound was watching the Owner of the Flower Garden beyond his mask.
From the beginning, he wasn't curious about their purposes.
What he was curious about was the Owner of the Flower Garden.
‘He is definitely not an ordinary figure. Who is that person?’
As if he didn't care that the Imperial Hound was looking at him with eyes full of suspicion, the Owner of the Flower Garden opened his mouth ambiguously.
“I have been observing everyone since I entered the party. I didn't have any uncomfortable intentions. As I said earlier, it was just my small hobby.”
A small hobby, huh.
The Imperial Hound snorted inwardly.
Observing people openly.
Isn't that a sufficiently suspicious hobby?
“However, there was someone doing noticeably suspicious actions. Someone couldn't take their eyes off the Countess’s brooch.”
At the Owner of the Flower Garden’s words, someone stammered in surprise.
“M, me?”
It was Iron Arm.
He felt guilty inwardly because he had bought suspicion while praising the Countess’s pink diamond brooch earlier.
However, the Owner of the Flower Garden shook his head.
“Regrettably, no. Because it is not a recent thing for a Dwarf like you to look greedily at a magnificent brooch.”
Greedily!
Wasn't he treating him like a greed-filled Dwarf whose eyes roll back just by looking at beautiful crafted goods?
Iron Arm trembled his beard.
“Wh, what?”
It was the first time he had received such a sudden insult.
But the Owner of the Flower Garden didn't care and stared at the opposite side, saying.
“Imperial Hound. You couldn't take your eyes off the Countess’s brooch as soon as you entered the party venue.”
There sat a man wearing a hunting dog mask.
Imperial Hound.
He didn't show any expression from the beginning.
No matter if one wears a mask, minute facial muscles are bound to move.
Where is a person without emotions?
However, he was a person who controlled himself enough not to show even that.
That was why the Owner of the Flower Garden was more curious about him.
Anyone who knew the 2nd Vice Minister of the Administration would be the same.
Why that person, who was so stiff that not even a knife tip would penetrate, visited here.
“Why on earth is that?”
* * *
‘Everyone is amazing.’
Radel was admiring while watching the guests.
Although it was Radel who invited the follower candidates here, they were the ones who dragged the situation to this point.
Guessing each other’s identities to find the culprit of the theft case, proving alibis, overturning the opponent’s statements.
It was impeccable even as the introduction to a mystery movie.
According to the information Radel received from the Dice Shop employees, the follower candidates had never met each other.
It meant they were complete strangers.
‘If it is the Chief Editor of that ‘Blue Rose,’ it might be different.’
Radel quietly looked at the Owner of the Flower Garden.
The one leading the atmosphere of this place right now was the Owner of the Flower Garden.
Roud Frencia.
The Chief Editor of ‘Blue Rose’ whose real face no one had ever seen.
He was a person who dug up the secrets of countless famous figures.
Secret scandals, hidden children, slush funds enough to make a family stagger, and shameful private lives.
The content published in Blue Rose was always provocative and unrivaled.
As a result, the Chief Editor had to suffer from frequent threats and threats to his personal safety. Considering his job, it was natural.
Roud was famous for hiding his identity using various techniques to avoid unsavory incidents.
There was a high probability that even the name known to the public wasn't his real name.
Even the Dice Shop employees said they hadn't seen his real face.
‘To the extent that those from the Black Fang failed.......’
It was a concealment technique superior to an assassin.
Radel felt strong curiosity toward the Owner of the Flower Garden.
‘How much information did he go around finding out with that technique?’
Especially regarding the private lives of nobles, there would probably be no informant in the Empire who could follow Roud.
Since he would know not only information about the core figures of the Empire but also about the royals.
Perhaps the Owner of the Flower Garden was guessing the Imperial Hound’s identity.
And going further, it seemed he wanted to know his intentions.
“Is there a reason I have to say that?”
The Imperial Hound cut him off firmly.
It was true that he looked closely at the Countess’s brooch, but saying he only paid attention to that throughout the party was a severe speculation.
He probably said it exaggeratedly on purpose to provoke him.
However, the parties who lost the brooch were here.
It was content that could sufficiently arouse suspicion.
The Count, who had been staying quiet, opened his mouth.
“I wish you would tell us. Didn't we swear to speak only the truth here? ......Even for the sake of my wife’s honor, I ask you.”
The Imperial Hound was speechless for a moment.
Indeed, if he said he kept looking at the brooch at the party, anyone would be suspicious.
It was suspicious even if he said he was looking at the brooch, and it was equally suspicious even if he said he was looking at the Countess.
From the Count’s position, it was understandable to be bothered.
The Imperial Hound spat out as if sighing.
“I swear I didn't look because I had other intentions toward the Countess. I just looked because I thought I had seen that brooch somewhere.”
Then the Knight Commander scoffed as if dumbfounded.
“Huh? Are you telling us to believe that now?”
“Whether you believe it or not is your freedom. I only said it because you asked me to tell the reason.”
“Then where did you see the brooch?”
“......That is, my memory is not certain.”
As the Imperial Hound trailed off, the excited Knight Commander shouted.
“Hey, that’s too suspicious!”
THUCK!
The moment the Knight Commander was about to list more words, the Vice Commander’s elbow struck his side.
It meant to just shut his mouth.
Seizing that gap, Rabbit Mask looked around at the people and said.
“It seems we have heard enough stories. Now let’s take turns making the final statement. Each person states why they are not the culprit.”
Everyone agreed.
The final statement to find the culprit began.
* * *
“It is not me. Is there any reason for me to steal my family’s treasure? It is true that I asked people how about playing a card game with betting money at the party, but.......”
The Count claimed his innocence first.
He said he usually liked poker bets.
The explanation was that although he knew he shouldn't, betting games often took place under his lead.
“Even so, it is not to the extent that I would sell off the brooch passed down from my ancestors because I was blinded by betting. I swear on my family.”
“Me too. I speak on the honor of my ancestors. There might be someone who thinks I lost the brooch on purpose, but it is absolutely not true.”
When the Count and Countess finished speaking, other people also opened their mouths in turn.
Iron Arm shouted loudly.
“I absolutely! I swear to the God of Dwarves that I absolutely did not steal it! I would rather mine it directly from a diamond mine; why would I covet someone else’s item!”
His companion, Warrior of the Iron Anvil, also nodded.
“That’s right. If one is a Dwarf, one must be like that. We Dwarves do not envy the skills of other artisans. I also swear my innocence to the God of Dwarves.”
Following that, the Owner of the Flower Garden’s words continued.
“Then I will swear to the Supreme Deity. The Nameless God will know my innocence.”
The Knight Commander also shouted.
“I will stake the honor of our knight order! If you want, I will even stake my wrist. If I really stole it, that is!”
At the Knight Commander’s words, the Vice Commander also added.
“The same goes for me. I think you all know what a Knight’s Vow means. Especially staking the honor of the knight order one belongs to.”
The Imperial Hound also staked his honor.
Finally, Rabbit Mask smiled broadly and said.
“Of course, it is not me either. Then, since we heard the final statements, let’s point out the culprit.”
Paper and pens were placed in front of the guests.
They instinctively realized that defending themselves until now was for this moment.
“Please write the alias of the person you think is the culprit on the paper distributed to everyone. Since there is no detective among us, we become detectives for each other.”
Then someone asked.
“What do we do if the person we pointed out isn't the culprit?”
Rabbit Mask answered as if it were natural.
“That is for me, the host, to take responsibility for. I trust that you will make a wise choice.”
There was a strange persuasiveness in his confident answer.
Anyway, the authority to handle the incident that occurred in this place lay with the host of the party.
Rabbit Mask naturally picked up a pen.
And he started writing someone’s alias on the paper first.
Seeing that, other guests also picked up their pens.
Everyone had a cautious expression.
After a short time passed, the papers with aliases written on them were gathered.
Rabbit Mask, who checked the papers without omission, opened his mouth slowly.
Soon, the name of the person who received the most votes was called from his mouth.