Chapter 159 - 159 Suspicion
Steve also came to know about Gaster's disappearance.
It was because he could use teleportation magic, so an interview investigation was conducted. After the investigation, he ended up chatting with the investigator and grasped the circumstances of the incident.
An investigator visited Steve in the Royal Capital, and it was decided to check his alibi for the day of the incident. And, that suspicion was cleared.
"I am sorry for doing something like suspecting Your Excellency."
"That is your job, so it cannot be helped. Besides, if I were uncooperative here, I would be suspected of involvement. It is good that I have an alibi for that day."
On the day Gaster went missing, Steve was telling ghost stories in the Royal Capital. So, he has an alibi. However, since he can teleport in an instant, it cannot be said to be perfect.
"So, what do you intend to do regarding the future investigation?"
"It is divided into the mainland and the southern region, but as for me on the mainland, I will continue investigating the teleportation mage."
"What about the southern region?"
"That is..."
"Oh, can't you say the investigation contents?"
There, Steve remembered that the investigator also had a duty of confidentiality. Although Steve, being a high-ranking noble, could order the investigator to speak, since it was a direct order from the King, he could not lightly talk about the investigation contents.
Steve understood such circumstances and decided not to ask any further.
Then, the investigator asked Steve a question.
"If it were Your Excellency, how would you search for the missing researcher Gaster?"
"It would be based on the premise that he is alive, but I would look for whether he has purchased a large amount of the substances used in his research. If there were research results, he would likely purchase such things in large quantities and enter mass production of weapons. However, if this research is not going well, he would not purchase them in large quantities. First, I think I would investigate from the remaining records what he purchased and what kind of research he was doing."
"Thank you. I will take it as a reference."
The investigator bowed his head.
What Steve said was already being implemented of course. But, he deliberately did not say that and showed gratitude to Steve. This was not an adult response, but rather because the investigator had not yet completely recognized Steve as innocent, so he deliberately asked for a method to find the culprit here.
If he had been misled here, he would have thought to suspect Steve and investigate further, but seeing him answer without any sign of agitation, the suspicion was completely cleared.
After the investigator left, Bella spoke to Steve.
"Do you think Gaster will be found?"
"I think he will be found if research results come out. After all, next time they will want to try using it in actual combat."
"I understand that feeling."
"You do?"
"When you learn a new technique, you want to use it in actual combat, don't you?"
Bella was training with Nancy and Daphne, and in the process she was acquiring new techniques. And, she was always wanting to use them. Such a person could understand the feeling of a researcher wanting to use a new weapon.
And, Steve also heard Bella's explanation and understood, ah, that is how it is.
"I don't know if Gaster hid his whereabouts on his own, or if he was taken to some country, but if a new weapon is developed, it will be troublesome."
"Steve will manage somehow, won't he?"
"It's not like that. I am not immortal either. If I am used to something that burns the whole area in an instant, I will die."
What Steve was imagining was a nuclear bomb. He does not think such a thing can be made without basic research, but if research advances and technology catches up, such things will eventually be created.
He was thinking that if such a weapon were used, even his own life would be in danger.
Bella felt that what Steve was saying was not a joke.
"Then, before the enemy uses it, if Steve makes it and uses it, won't he win?"
"That might be so, but if I don't have to do it, I don't want to. There are means to neutralize the enemy's combat power without burning the whole area into a wasteland."
"That is true. So, will you do something before the other party develops a new weapon?"
Bella realized that if she talked about weapons any further, Steve's mood would worsen, so she changed the subject.
"It is difficult for me to search for that researcher. I cannot do an investigation like the country does as an individual."
"But, Lord Sowell might know something. If you ask him, it might be a little different."
"That is true. If the country is moving this much, Lord Sowell will definitely be searching for information."
Deciding that, Steve and Bella returned to their territory once and decided to make an appointment with Aurora. Upon returning to the territory, they also talked to Christina and Nancy about Gaster's disappearance.
Christina and Nancy's faces also became grim upon hearing the circumstances.
Christina asked Steve.
"Is it possible to create a flame stronger than Match? Without magic, that is."
"It is possible. I should be able to make something with enough power to blow up this entire mansion in an instant."
Nancy became interested in Steve's answer.
"Master, if that is put into practical use, the way of war will change."
"That is true. At least, the current mass formation tactics like this cannot be used. It is more effective when people gather."
"If such a weapon is really completed, the doctrines of each country will be rewritten greatly."
"That will happen. Besides, traps using such things will likely be set on the advance routes, so we will have to deal with that as well."
While explaining like that, landmines floated in Steve's mind. If landmines are buried on the advance routes, the enemy will step on them. With the current technological level of the Kingdom of Cascade or the continent, devices to detect landmines cannot be made. Therefore, it becomes a considerable threat. At least, the advance speed should slow down considerably.
However, Steve was thinking that if they made slaves walk ahead and step on the landmines, it might not be that different. It is a method unique to a world without words like humanitarianism, but there was a high possibility it would be adopted.
"Will the era of swords also come to an end?"
"Not necessarily. For example, in situations where it is extremely hard to be discovered like in dense forests, even if the other party has the latest weapons, it will become close-quarters combat, hand-to-hand combat."
In the Vietnam War, Americans with guns were killed by bamboo spears. Depending on the situation, guns are not necessarily strong. Besides, if one gets close before a bomb explodes, it is fully conceivable to be cut down with a sword.
"The appearance of new weapons means there are more options in combat. The range of tactics the other party takes expands between a battlefield with only infantry and a battlefield with infantry, cavalry, archers, and mages. That expands even further. Since the possibilities to deal with increase, commanders and soldiers will have a hard time."
"Just having mages of multiple attributes makes things quite troublesome, and if that increases further, combat will become quite complex. If the commander is incompetent, the disadvantage of numbers could be turned around in an instant."
"That is true. However, the side using new weapons will not be able to operate them well without gaining actual combat experience."
Weapons are things used in harsh battlefields. Just as guns became unusable when soaked in muddy water and countermeasures were sought, just as musketeers were arranged in multiple stages at the Battle of Nagashino, further improvements are required depending on the battlefield used and the opponent's movements.
Christina, listening to the conversation between Steve and Nancy, felt her anxiety increase.
"Steve-sama, after meeting Lord Sowell and obtaining information on that researcher, what will you do? Will you stop the development of such a terrible weapon?"
"I haven't thought that far. Besides, if weapon technology is converted for civilian use, life will improve."
The Internet, GPS, and microwave ovens were born from research for military purposes. These have brought great benefits to the lives of people on modern Earth. Therefore, he had no intention of stopping the research itself. Besides, even if Gaster went abroad to another country and was developing weapons there, forcibly stopping it would be a violation of sovereignty.
"Does that mean you also accept the birth of new weapons?"
"That is true. However, we will also possess weapons beyond that and make it known to maintain military balance and prevent war."
Steve thought that peace without weapons was a sham. However, he was also opposed to waging war by exercising those weapons. He thought that agreeing to stop fighting because both sides would get hurt if they fought with weapons was the realistic approach.
"So first, I want to meet Lord Sowell and learn about Gaster's research contents. If we know the weapon he was researching, it will be easier to think of weapons and means to counter it."
Christina swallowed the words "Then, why doesn't Steve-sama make a new weapon right now?" She did not need to wait until the other party finished developing weapons. However, she knew that if she made that proposal to Steve, who hated war, he would become irritable, so she did not say it.
After finishing the conversation with his wives, Steve went to report to Brian.
Hearing the report from Steve, Brian made a face like he had chewed on bitter vinegar.
"I know that a researcher who resigned from the Royal Research Institute has gone missing. But, is there a reason for you to stick your nose into it?"
"The disappearance is right next to the Kingdom of Merda. If the researcher is taken to a foreign country and continues research there, it might be disadvantageous for Onee-sama. Besides, since the situation is that a teleportation mage is suspected, I also want to find the real culprit early."
If the Kingdom of Meizack were involved, there was a possibility they would move to recover lost territory. Steve was worried about that. And, the suspicious eyes directed at himself. Although the investigator did not ask for further investigation, he did not know what the King or the Chancellor was thinking, so he wanted to find the real culprit early to clear the suspicion against himself.
Brian looked at Steve with a sharp eye.
"Are you not bringing some big trouble again?"
"The fact that a researcher who was developing weapons has disappeared is already big trouble."
"That is so, but in your case, you make the commotion even bigger on top of that."
"I am confident that I am not as bad as Onee-sama."
"Both are the same."
Brian was dumbfounded by Steve's confidence.
For Brian, both Sherry and Steve were a headache.
Since the troubles they brought in were matters that should be dealt with on a national scale, it was difficult for a local lord to respond to such situations. When asked if he was used to bringing trouble every time, he had the confidence to shout back that there was no way one could get used to this.
"So, if you find the researcher, what do you intend to do?"
"First, a report to His Majesty the King. Since it is a matter of this nature, moving further with my own judgment carries too much risk."
"That is right. You know that, don't you?"
"However, if at the time of discovery we are already preparing to invade the Kingdom of Merda, and it is a situation where we are stuck. I will destroy the enemy with my own judgment."
"I suddenly got a bad feeling."
Brian put his hand to his forehead.
"But, if we let go of an enemy preparing to attack, the damage later will be immense."
"I understand that too. All the things up to now were also responses to the other party attacking in terms of circumstances."
"Yes. In other words, it is not caused by me."
Just as murder cases come with famous detectives, Steve wanted to say it was the same. Although the Kingdom of Cascade still does not have the genre of mystery novels.
"Can we only pray to God that nothing happens?"
"If the Father of the Apostles, your father, prays to God, the Church will cry tears of joy."
"I think I will pray to a different God who burdened me with such a fate. A different one from what the Fries Holy Church preaches."
"It is a rare sight that the Father of the Apostles will be subjected to heresy trials. I think he will be engraved in history. But, I also hate the God preached by the Fries Holy Church, so that might be good."
It was an opinion typical of Steve, who still hated religion. He was half-seriously agreeing with Brian.
"I understand the circumstances, so please do your best so I don't worry."
"I will do my best."
Thus, Steve finished reporting to Brian and waited for a reply from Aurora.
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