Eroge: I can Travel To The Ancient World

269  Gathering The Clues of Murder

" Lord Jiu had just finished a meeting with merchants of far. However, just after they left, he was ambushed."

" Lord Jiu managed to repel them, However, his wounds were too heavy. Before we could call the pharmacist, he died."

What about the merchants? Did you investigate them?" Ye Kong asked with a frown.

" When the attack happened, they were all outside of the estate. So, they got a solid alibi." The guard of Jiu Liang replied.

" However, there was a strange thing." The guard thought for a moment and spoke. " Before he died, he looked very angry. However, he couldn't speak any words properly at all."

" But I think he said-"

"Outsiders…did...it."

" The outsiders?" Ye Kong was surprised. " So, have you checked everyone who came from the outside in past week?"

" A lot of came and a lot of went. However, after Lord Jiu's death, we sealed both the gates." The guard sighed.

" And even if we interrogated a lot of them, we couldn't find any clue."

While Ye Kong was gathering clues, Jia Hao and Luo Qiang were looking at the crime scene.

" It must be an ambush. There should be… Three attackers or more?" Luo Qiang speculated. " They should have come from…Here! From this way."

" But that's strange. If the assassins came from this way, the guards of the manor should have seen them." " Your reasoning is very good, Brother Luo." Jia Hao chuckled. " I guess you did well by coming here with Brother Luo."

" Heizz, What's the point of good reasoning if it's not plausible?" Luo Qiang sighed.

" Two, There were two people. I can say that because the corpse of Jiu Liang had two different types of stab wounds. One was a bit deeper than the other, making a difference in dagger sizes."

" Now, most assassins who wields twin daggers, they use a pair of identical daggers. However, by this difference, we can assume that there were two ambushers."

" As for how they managed to get away…"

Jia Hao looked outside of the window and jumped down. Since it was the first floor, he could easily jump to the ground. Using his Sage's Divine Eyes, he could see footsteps crushing the flower bed beneath.

' As expected, there were two sets of footprints. Alas, looks like its faded too much.'

[ Footprints: Made by Steel Plated Boots]

' Wait, Steel plated boots?' Jia Hao's mind reeled as he thought of something.

" I need to ask something." Jia Hao rushed to Ye Kong and the leader of guards. " The merchants who came here, what kind of boots they wore?" " Shoes?" The guard was surprised. " Uhh. The usual leather ones? It looked fairly expensive though?"

" What about steel boots? Do anyone here wear steel boots?"

" Steel boots are only worn by the soldiers. But according to uniform of the guards stationed in this manor, they wear something like this…"

Jia Hao looked at the guard's feet and saw that he was wearing deep brown leather shoes.

" But now you spoke…There were three bodyguards came with the merchants. Maybe they wore it?"

" There were guards who came with the merchants?" Ye Kong's eyes narrowed.

" Brother Ye, let's go and ask the guards who stationed outside. He surely had kept records of their arrival and leaving, yes?" Jia Hao thought for a moment and spoke.

" Very well, Let's go there…"

" Ah, the merchants who came here? Yes, It was me on the duty that day." Ye Kong and Jia Hao talked with another guard.

" They were very talkative and polite, you know? As they were to leave, they showed me a treasure. It was a sparkling crystal pendant that he toiled too much to get it."

" So, you are saying, they didn't left immedietly but took time here?" Ye Kong understood the crux of the matter.

" I mean, yes? They took some time and chatted with us." The guard replied.

" What about his guards? Were they here?"

" Now you say…There were three of them who entered with them." The guard's eyes sparkled as he remembered something. " But when they were chatting with us, I didn't see two of them."

" They said they went to toilet to relieve themselves. They returned pretty quickly, so I didn't suspect them."

" Only after an incense stick of time they left, we discovered the body of lord."

" Looks like we have gotten our clue, huh?" Ye Kong looked at Jia Hao.

" A minor clue. But we need to confirm it." Jia Hao beckoned Ye Kong to inside the manor.

" So, You are saying they both entered the toilet?"

" Yes, My lord. I have seen them." The servant nodded hurriedly. " They left their spears with me and went inside."

" This…Damn it! Is this for nothing?" Ye Kong cursed out. But Jia Hao's expression remained playful.

" Oh, They both went inside?"

" Yes?"

*PA! PAA!"

Two crisp slap clapped swollen the cheeks of the servant. Jia Hao clenched his neck and spoke coolly.

" You really think you are going to get that money tonight?" Jia Hao grinned. " What's the point of getting it if you won't be alive to enjoy it?"

" KH-KHUKH! HO-HOW DO YOU-"

The servant's face turned purple as Jia Hao kept his neck clamped.

" I won't repeat my question." The servant's eyes were horrified as he tried to nod hurriedly. *THUMP!*

" HAAH! HAAAAA!"

Slumping on the ground, the servant gasped for air. Kneeling before Jia Hao, he pleaded, " It-It's my fault, My Lord! I lied! I didn't saw them entering the toilet!"

" Three days ago, I was approached by an unknown man. He…He gave me fifty taels of gold and asked me to lie about it."

" I found it suspicious, but he gave me another fifty taels. Also, after the matter was solved, he promised me that I would be given another hundred taels of gold."

" I was greedy and accepted it." Tears streamed from his eyes as the servant confessed. " I didn't know Lord Jiu would be killed! I was too scared, so I just did as he told me to do!"

" Well? Looks like we got our suspects." Jia Hao looked at Ye Kong.

" Let's go to the residence of merchants. They brought the bodyguards, so it might be possible that they are also embroiled in this."

" I already sent people to search." Luo Qiang hurried there as he spoke. Standing before Jia Hao and Ye Kong, he panted a bit.

" I heard your conversation earlier and sent guards to the inn the merchants were staying. They should be returning shortly."

Not long after, the guards who left for the merchants returned.

" My Lord, We got some bad news."

Ye Kong's face flinched as he nodded. " Speak."

" We questioned the merchants. It looks like they don't know the origin of those two bodyguards at all. Both of them joined the caravan five days ago."

" The merchant caravan accepted them because they were short in manpower and those two didn't ask much in return."

" These bastards. I swear if they are lying, I am going to break their legs." Ye Kong snarled.

" They might be telling the truth. Else, they would have tried to escape by now." Jia Hao probed. " Besides, if a merchant caravan gets a bad name, they won't be able to do business properly."

" Then? What should we do now?" Luo Qiang was tensed.

" Brother Ye, Care to come with me?"

Ye Kong was surprised as he followed Jia Hao to the corner.

" What's the real reason you came to Qingyang County? I need to know the potential reason why Jiu Liang was silenced." Jia Hao stared at Ye Kong.

" This…Haah…"

Rubbing his face, Ye Kong sighed. " You also know about this matter, because the clue was found from you."

" Remember you said something to Elder Wu of Divine Martial Hall?"