Chapter 124 - 124 The Truth of the Incident
Lord Brennan was contacted, and a verification of the mosquito coils was to be conducted with both parties present. The location was the lecture hall of the Royal Research Institute. Because there was a possibility of toxic gas components, a wide area was chosen considering the danger of poisoning.Lord Brennan had summoned His Highness Alex and Count Cutter to witness. He had asked the leaders of the factions to stand by.His Highness Alex and Count Cutter had been pressed by Lord Brennan to remain strictly neutral. They accepted on the calculation that if they could find a weakness in Steve, it would be a profit, and even if Lord Brennan lost, showing a neutral stance would mean they would not be hated by Steve.On the other hand, Steve had brought Aurora and Eton.The Royal Research Institute side had Director Holiday attending as the moderator.The Director made the opening remarks to start the verification.
"Then, we shall now proceed with the verification of poisoning death caused by mosquito coils. I declare this to be fair, swearing by God."
If it were fair, swearing by God, it would be strange for Eton, a bishop of the church, to be on Steve's side, but Lord Brennan raised no particular objections.
"Then, the mosquito coils provided by Lord Brennan are here."
At the Director's instruction, staff brought the evidence, the mosquito coils.
"We purchased these from the Emmanuel Trading Company, but when used in the mansion, a servant died."
Lord Brennan pleaded thus.Steve looked at the mosquito coils and realized they were not products from his place.
"These are not our products, were they really purchased from the Emmanuel Trading Company?"
"Of course. There should be receipts left at the Emmanuel Trading Company."Lord Brennan had indeed purchased mosquito coils from the Emmanuel Trading Company. That was, of course, for fabricating evidence. Steve did not think he would tell such a lie that would be exposed at such a place, so he did not discuss that point for now.Lord Brennan ranted.
"It is strange to say that these were not made in Your Excellency's territory when receipts remain. Are you claiming this as evidence?"
"Of course."Saying that, Steve pointed to the outer circumference of the mosquito coils.
"The maximum outer diameter of these mosquito coils is 150.971 millimeters."
"And that?"
"The process capability for the maximum outer diameter of our products is 2.73. Against a standard median of 150 millimeters, when viewed at 6σ, theoretically it should fall within the range of 149.758 millimeters to 150.316 millimeters."
What Steve explained was the range of variation in product dimensions. Even for products made with molds, they do not always have the exact same dimensions every time. Steve measured that variation and applied it to a formula to calculate the theoretical upper and lower limits.The concept of process capability was also shared at the Royal Research Institute.However, Lord Brennan did not know this.
"What does that mean?"
"It means that, compared to the theoretical variation, this product is impossible."The Director explained thus.Lord Brennan sneered at it.
"Hmph. I don't care about theory, but the object exists right here in reality. Was there some abnormality during manufacturing?"
Hearing that, Steve smiled slightly.
"That is right. Theory is merely logic on paper. In reality, many things happen differently. So, there is a mechanism to confirm where the abnormality occurred."
Steve took out the mosquito coils he had brought from his factory and showed them to everyone. Nick nodded with a hum-hum.
"At our factory, we use eight molds to produce sixteen products at once. To check which mold is causing the malfunction, all products are engraved."
Since production is simultaneous with eight molds, numbers are attached to the molds so one can see where the malfunction occurred, and these are reversed onto the products. Engravings go up to 8-2, such as 1-1, 1-2, 2-1.The evidence lacked those engravings.When shown this, Lord Brennan panicked and his voice grew loud.
"Is it not possible that they were not engraved?"
"That is not the case. Since they are made with molds, there is no way they would not be engraved."Steve took out a spare mold and showed it to everyone. The extrusion molds had numbers, and it was clear they could not be removed.Lord Brennan saw this and could not retort.Now it was Steve's turn to attack.
"Pyrethrin, the component with insecticidal effects, has a lethal dose of 5 grams for adults (※Setting in the work's world). This is the amount for direct ingestion. If one tried to ingest this via mosquito coils, based on the content, it would be like when the warehouse of our factory caught fire. Most likely, though, one would have burned to death in the fire at that time."
"Some other components must have been mixed in."
"Yes. The evidence contained sulfur and phosphorus that are not originally used. If these burn and conditions align, lethal toxic gas would be generated. However, we cannot burn it here."
Steve reported the results of his own investigation into the components.Lord Brennan smiled as if triumphant.
"See? I did not lie."
"That is not yet clear. With the content of this evidence, inhaling the smoke from burning one or two coils will not kill you. Assuming sulfur dioxide gas is generated, the lethal dose varies by type, but is roughly around 500 PPM. In contrast, the ratio of sulfur contained is 5000 PPM. When this becomes smoke and mixes into the air, it will dilute further to about 2.5 PPM. It may cause health damage, but to kill someone, one would have to eat it directly."Lord Brennan clicked his tongue at the conditions Steve presented. Then, he glanced at His Highness Alex, panicked to see the Prince looking at him with disappointment. He tried to open up the situation somehow.
"However, it is true that the servant died. An autopsy report should have come out as well."
"Yes. She did not die from these mosquito coils, but it is a fact that she died. If we could hear the circumstances of her death, we might understand the criminal's intent. Perhaps there was a possibility that the killer was targeting the Lord's life. If I were in the Lord's position, before doing anything about the manufacturer of the mosquito coils, I would investigate the possibility that I was targeted. Judging by the autopsy report, the only evidence secured at the time was the mosquito coils, wasn't it?"
"That is true. I was careless. If that servant had lived, we could have asked about the situation in more detail."Lord Brennan tried to patch things up somehow. In the noble society swarming with conspiracies, the danger of assassination always lurks. Especially if the princes are fighting for the throne of the next king, one must keep in mind the possibility of assassination aimed at weakening each faction.Steve pointed out that Lord Brennan had neglected this.
"Then, shall we ask the person themselves?"
Steve asked Lord Brennan. Lord Brennan dismissed it with a laugh.
"My, my. Is Your Excellency the Dragon Head Medal holder losing his mind? How do you ask a dead person? If such a thing were possible, I would like to meet you."
"Very well."Steve gave a signal, and Eton went out of the lecture hall. Then he returned with church officials. Carrying a coffin.Lord Brennan frowned upon seeing the coffin.
"What is this?"
"It is the coffin containing the dead servant. I asked Bishop Eton to bring it."This was a real coffin. Steve had asked Eton to prepare it.
"Come, let us hear her story."
When Steve said that, the lid of the coffin moved. The person inside had moved. Then, a young woman in white funeral attire came out. Her face had no blood, was pure white. However, it was not a rotting body with eyes lost to reason as if manipulated by the Sect Master of the Fries Holy Church with necromancy; except for her complexion, she looked like an ordinary woman.Everyone present was speechless upon seeing this.
"Well, can you tell us the circumstances of when you were killed?"
"It was painful. Locked in a smelly room, the door was closed. When I asked for help, I was told to die because it was the Lord's order. Why did I have to die?"
Saying that, she slowly walked toward the Lord.Here, Alex's Highness's guard drew his sword and slashed at the woman. The sword pierced her torso, but her walk did not stop. Then, with terrifying strength, she shook off the soldier.Fearing danger, His Highness Alex and Count Cutter immediately fled the lecture hall. However, Lord Brennan's legs trembled, and he could not move.Her hand reached for Lord Brennan's neck.
"Why?"
"H-help me."Lord Brennan looked at Steve while crying. Steve shrugged his shoulders.
"If you tell the truth, you might survive."
Hearing that, Lord Brennan cried and spoke the truth.
"I... I could not forgive the father of Archibalt who killed my son from becoming a Lord. So, I had fake mosquito coils made, mixed toxic gas components into them. And I planned to accuse them by having someone die from the same gas. This is the truth. Help me."
"I cannot forgive you."Her eyes were filled with anger, and the hand around his neck tightened.Then, Lord Brennan fainted and soiled himself. Excrement flowed on the floor.Steve stopped the woman there.
"Alright, alright, that's enough."
When told by Steve, the woman's hand lost its strength. Lord Brennan fell to the floor, covered in feces and urine.Aurora had not received an explanation from Steve about this and asked what it was.
"Is this an illusion?"
"No. It is the deceased herself, for real."
"You were able to bring back a dead human?"
"No, we cannot bring them back to life. We merely called back the soul with necromancy and temporarily placed it in the body. I am using my magic power to stop the body's decay and maintain her reason. It uses quite a lot of magic power, so she must return to heaven soon."Steve had grasped the mechanism of the necromancy he had learned and could maintain a state where reason was preserved. The price was magic power, so he could not keep her in this world forever.With Eton's cooperation, they had dug up the grave of the deceased servant and temporarily summoned her; this was the current situation.The servant bowed her head to Steve.
"It wasn't quite revenge, but I am glad I could confirm the truth of my death."
"I will settle this. It seems I can no longer keep you in this world, so the report will be made at your grave."
"I wish Your Excellency had been my master. There were still so many things I wanted to do —"Saying up to that point, the woman stopped moving.
"That is all. I wanted to let her speak a bit more, but it seems the magic power for the return is running out."
Steve looked sadly at the woman lying on the floor.Seeing this, the church officials, including Eton, offered prayers to Steve.Even if only temporarily, they had been shown the miracle of calling back a dead soul. Thus, once again, Steve's legend was carved into the church's scriptures.His Highness Alex and Count Cutter were not present at the scene, but when the Director, Aurora, and Eton conveyed Lord Brennan's testimony, Lord Brennan's guilt was admitted without much objection.As a result, Lord Brennan was stripped of his title. It was for the crime of trying to frame other nobles. Regarding the matter of killing the servant, only those in the mansion involved in it were executed; being ordered by a noble to kill a commoner was not charged as a crime.And, since the death accident caused by the mosquito coils was a false accusation, Brian's elevation in title proceeded as planned.After the ceremony, Aurora and Steve spoke alone in a corner of the venue.
"Regarding the reward for Lord Sowell, is it correct that it will be Lord Brennan's assets?"
"You are always so mean. You don't need to give a reward."Lord Brennan became a commoner, and the privileges and assets he held were confiscated. And, as compensation, the assets were transferred to House Archibalt. Steve, having obtained Brian's permission, decided to give everything to Aurora, who had cooperated this time.
"Then, you are declining?"
"If you say such unkind things, women will dislike you."
"If more women show affection, I do not know what my wives will say. No, I am grateful. Thank you very much."
After crushing Lord Brennan, Aurora had investigated and identified the criminal guild selling the toxic gas components and had destroyed it. For Steve, the toxic gas was not scary, but if his family were targeted, there was nothing he could do. This time, it was good that Lord Brennan had targeted Steve directly, but thinking about what would have happened if his family had been targeted, he could not fully express his gratitude to Aurora.Furthermore, the rumor that Steve could use resurrection magic had been erased. If such a rumor spread, a long line of people asking to bring back the dead would form.This transfer of assets was also in repayment for that.Incidentally, what Aurora obtained was not just these assets. Before the criminal guild was crushed by Steve, she had obtained the manufacturing method for the toxic gas. She passed the information to Steve after finishing that.
"We could not touch the church, though."
"Ah, I would have liked you to handle that as well."Because Eton reported Steve's necromancy to Julia, Steve was about to be promoted from Apostle to Child of God. Because of this, Julia and Camilla were pressing him more than ever before. They wanted him to conceive a child of the Child of God and have it given to the church. Seeing this, Christina and Nancy did not look pleased.Aurora was also consulted on that matter, but she could not touch the church, as expected.
"At least this time, no new women came around, didn't they?"
Aurora said with irony, and Steve shook his head.
"That is the orphan Amber, who was the trigger for this incident. It seems she says she will marry me when she grows up, so if she becomes an adult as is, she will be a future headache."
"You are popular."Aurora chuckled.
On the other hand, His Highness Alex and Count Cutter, having lost Lord Brennan who was a member of the faction, were holding a secret meeting in another place.
"Count Cutter, can we not get our hands on that?"
"What is that?"
"Lord Archibalt. He can even resurrect the dead. If we get him, I, not my brother, could become king."Count Cutter was confused by Alex's offer. Although he had been temporarily evacuated and did not see the details, it was certain that the servant moving was Steve's magic.If he made that an ally and a piece on the board, the throne would naturally be within reach, but how could he draw such a Steve to his side?Even if he tried to lure him with money or women, he would not take the bait. On the other hand, if he tried to threaten him, the past defeated nobles would teach him the outcome.
"Your Highness, that is a drastic medicine. While your body might be strengthened if you drink it, if you cannot endure the intense pain, you will die."
"I know that. However, if we do nothing, the throne will belong to my brother. Then we have no choice but to gamble."Alex's thinking was the idea of a desperate person making a last-ditch counterattack. To put it in perspective, it was the mindset of someone who had been losing in every race at the racetrack from the first race and was betting on a long shot in the final race to regain everything.Count Cutter was troubled. The Count was not pushed to that extent, so he did not want to cross such a dangerous bridge.
"It cannot be done with a single rope, so may I have some time to think?"That was all he could say.
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