Chapter 282 – Speculation!?
Now that we had captured the culprit who had attempted to assassinate Bisto, we rushed back to the base while remaining concealed.
Due to the smoke, there was somewhat of an uproar, with guards and fire fighter carriages heading to the Arubal Company. Not only that, but the city folk were also gathering around to see what was happening.
Still, it was thanks to that that we were able to return to the base without anyone seeing us.
Mappa threw the tied up culprit into a room.
It was a room with no windows, and the walls, ceiling and door were made of metal.
Mappa then put on a gag, handcuffs and blindfold with practiced swiftness. Then he closed the iron door and sighed.
He really was used to doing this…
In any case, I was relieved. There was no need to worry about Number 15, who we had left behind. He would surely return after finishing talks with Bisto.
Rienna also wiped the sweat from her forehead and spoke.
“That was a surprise… I thought that Lord Balpas was the only one in this country who could become invisible.”
“Indeed…”
Judging by the voice and frame, it was not Balpas. But perhaps it could be a subordinate of Balpas…
However, I did not think there would be so many people with magic tools, such as the teleportation device, in this country. Though, I suppose they had always been here, and I just didn’t notice it before I was exiled.
In that case, my father and the others could be in danger…
Fule looked through a small window into the room and said,
“He seems very skilled. If we were not there, then Bisto would have been killed.”
“I’m sure that there were reasons for it, regarding Mr. Bisto. But still…”
The mastermind was quite merciless.
That being said, there were too many people like that in this country, including my own father. So it wasn’t much of a clue.
“In any case, let us consider what we already know. The person we captured is still invisible. So it is very likely that they are using some kind of tool, rather it being the effect of magic or some crest.”
Fule nodded.
“They are able to use a teleportation device. So it would not be strange for them to have something like that.”
“Aye. We will be able to tell if we search his belongings. However, he does not appear to be a good spy.”
Rienna said as if remembering something.
“Just like Mr. Perido on Nostor Mountain, he would likely try to take his own life if there is a secret he must not reveal… However, when capturing this one, he did not show any signs of doing that.”
“Yes. Not only that, he seemed quite annoyed when the attacks did not hit.”
“Perhaps he is not even a spy.”
“Aye. I would expect more from a subordinate of Balpas. But there was some skill there, so perhaps he is a hired assassin.”
Fule said,
“In any case, should we search him? We might learn something.”
“Indeed. I will do… Huh?”
Mappa had already opened the iron door and was peeling away the culprit’s equipment.
As the man did not resist, either the paralysis was still in effect, or he was unconscious.
Eventually, Mappa took out something that looked like a stone, and then the invisibility effect was deactivated.
A young man with black clothes and blonde hair was there. He had an ordinary face that I did not recognize at all.
Perhaps Balpas would know him… But he could not be trusted. Besides, he or father might try to become involved in this matter. For Rish’s sake, I wanted to solve this without them.
Mappa then put all of the attacker’s items on a nearby desk. There was the pouch with the needles from earlier. A vial of poison. Also, the rock that Mappa was carrying.
“It’s definitely the equipment of an assassin… So this rock is what made him invisible.”
While carrying the rock, Mappa went back and forth between being invisible and visible. When turning invisible, I could no longer detect magic energy. So there was no doubt that it was the stone.
I then took it from Mappa.
It was more of a crystal than a rock. Would it go into my inventory…? It did.
Transparent Magic Crystal… Repels magic energy and can render its surroundings transparent.
“This stone is what made him invisible. And it blocks magic energy, so you cannot detect it. On the other hand, you can’t use magic if you have it…”
“I see. Since it is a stone and not a device, perhaps the others have them as well.”
“Indeed…we must be more cautious.”
I said, and then Mappa began to scatter some stone and woodschips across the hallway and surrounding area. This was from some of the trash that resulted from cleaning the place up yesterday.
Like this, we would notice if there was someone else here who was invisible. I hated to admit it, but Mappa was rather sharp.
It was as I thought of such things that the man suddenly began to groan and shake.
“He’s waking up… Everyone, cover your faces.”
We all put on our ryukin masks. While he was blindfolded, this was an extra precaution.
“!?”
The man stirred and tried to speak. But he could not, as he was gagged. His limbs were also bound, so he could not get up.
I suppose it was time for some simple threats.
“…Your life is in our hands now. But if you answer my questions truthfully, then we may spare you.”
I said. The man nodded.
So he was not ready to sacrifice his own life. He must be hired after all
Mappa approached the man and removed the gag so that he could talk.
“I-I’ll answer you! So please don’t kill me!!”
“That depends on your answer. Who gave you the order?”
I asked. The man shook his head.
“I-I don’t know! I just received the request and the money and tried to kill the head of that company!! They let me borrow the stone so I could do it in secret!”
“No, that’s not right. The assassination was just a bonus. You were supposed to make a report to someone about the device.”
“I-I don’t know about that!! That wasn’t the request!!”
“Then why did you wait for those two to talk before trying to kill him? If it was merely an assassination, you could have attacked him in his sleep.”
“…”
The man fell silent. Perhaps he was trying desperately to think of an excuse.
“After confirming that the device was safe, you meant to report to someone. Is that right?”
“…Heh. You must be someone important to know that. Then the device must already be…”
It was not safe. It was in our hands. He realized it now.
“Who knows? But more importantly, are you going to answer my question?”
“Sorry, but the part about being hired is true. I was just to place the report in a certain spot…that’s all my job was.”
It was likely true that he was being contacted through letters. I hadn’t looked into it yet, but the mastermind was likely writing to Bisto as well.
The man continued.
“If you wish, I could tell you the place. And in exchange, you must release me.”
If we knew where he was to drop off the letter, we might be able to trace the person behind all of this…
…Or was that too convenient?
I wondered about this because of the crystal.
When it came to lending the device to Bisto, it would be difficult for him to steal and hide it. It was too big, and Bisto was well known in the political and business world. And so he would be exposed and assassinated quickly.
But what about this transparency crystal?
As you could turn invisible, it would not be difficult to steal it. Every assassin would want such a thing, and it would make thievery easier. If you were scared of your employer, you could just run to a different country.
In other words, there was a reason he could not do that.
“Pl-please! I have a poor child! I cannot die!!”
A hostage…that would be a good reason he did not leave.
However, something was strange.
He had failed the mission and lost a valuable item.
Shouldn’t he be more scared of the mastermind killing him if he was released…?
If anything, if he was so scared for his life, wouldn’t it make more sense for him to try and ally with us, since we had proved to be much stronger?
He was not hired.
Was he pretending to be lower than he was? He could actually be working directly under the mastermind.
In that case, we could not release him.
But we did not want to give the mastermind too much time either.
“We will not release you. Now, tell me where you were going to leave the letter.”
“No-not unless you release me!! Besides, they will not accept it from anyone but me! Let me go!! You can follow me from behind. I am sure you are capable enough to prevent me from getting away?”
He saw how capable we were. And yet he clearly had some reason to believe that he could beat us.
This was dangerous… But it would be such a waste to draw back now. And Rish would still be worried.
At words, we could escape with the teleportation stone. And so…perhaps we should go and meet the enemy.
I said to the man,
“…If you betray us, you will die.”
“Of-of course! I promise!!”
And like that, we decided to release the culprit for a while.
