Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World-Chapter 436: Framing

TL: Etude Translations

As they passed by Liszt, the carriage slowed down, likely for a rest ahead.

Liszt glanced at the coachman and couldn’t help but feel surprised.

The coachman also noticed him.

“Kebur, I didn’t expect to meet you here,” he called out from a distance.

“Mr. Liszt, I didn’t expect to encounter you on the road either,” Liszt replied as he approached the carriage.

“What’s the matter? Are you in a hurry for something?”

“I… uh, my mother and I are planning to visit relatives in the Horn Bay Alliance.”

Kebur’s eyes darted around as he spoke, his face betraying his anxiety.

Liszt, experienced in countless business negotiations, immediately sensed that Kebur was lying.

However, he didn’t intend to expose him. “That’s great, we’re headed the same way. So, your mother is safely back home, congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Kebur replied, then remembered his mother in the carriage. He opened the door and helped an elderly woman out.

“Mom, let’s rest here for a bit. I want to introduce you to a friend I made recently — Mr. Friedrich Liszt, from the Kingdom of Ordo.”

“Ah, Kebur, you almost jolted my insides out. Hello, sir from Ordo,” the old woman greeted, a bit shaken.

Liszt bowed respectfully. “Hello, ma’am, pleased to meet you and congratulations on clearing your name.”

The old woman waved her hand dismissively. “Ah, what’s there to be happy about? Just escaped the lion’s mouth only to enter a hyena’s den.”

“Mom!” Kebur sharply interrupted her.

Realizing her slip, the old woman immediately fell silent.

“What happened? Can you tell me about it?” Liszt asked, feeling obligated to show concern for his new friend.

“Ah, how do I explain this… I can’t say now, can we talk about it when we reach the Horn Bay Alliance?”

Liszt nodded, “Okay, Kebur, I won’t force my friend to do anything he’s unwilling. We haven’t known each other long, but if you’re in trouble, feel free to ask for help. I’ll assist within my capabilities.”

“Thank you, my friend,” Kebur gratefully responded.

Thus, Liszt, Kebur, and his mother traveled together towards the Horn Bay Alliance.

…

Kebur still remembered the sheriff’s cold, detestable face.

The sheriff sat behind a large desk, replying to him with a formulaic tone and words.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Kebur, you’ve lost a great teacher, and the king has lost a loyal subject. But this doesn’t change the facts.”

Kebur, suppressing his rage, retorted, “What facts? I don’t recognize these so-called ‘facts.’ They are nothing but shameful rumors fabricated by someone with ulterior motives.” 𝙧ά₦O͍BÈṥ

The sheriff, poker-faced, remained indifferent to Kebur’s anger. “The fact is, your teacher — Viscount Degu Brar — died from a ruptured bladder.”

“I won’t accept such…” Kebur interrupted.

“Do I need to be more explicit? He died from holding in his urine!” the sheriff suddenly raised his voice, almost growling to regain control of the conversation.

Kebur, agitated, argued back: “That’s impossible! How can a living person die from holding in urine! My teacher was a nobleman, the king’s astrologer. He couldn’t have died such a dishonorable death.”

“The fact remains the same, even the royal family has accepted this explanation,” the sheriff said, seemingly with reluctance, his poker face slightly changing.

“There must be a conspiracy!” Kebur persisted. “Everyone knows my teacher was an anti-war advocate. He always used his influence in front of His Majesty to prevent the country from sliding into the abyss. He was hated by those high and mighty lunatics. We can’t rule out their involvement…”

The sheriff’s eyelid twitched. He pointed a finger at Kebur and spoke a bit faster: “One must be responsible for their words. What do you mean by ‘high and mighty lunatics’? Don’t blame me for not warning you, Mr. Kebur. Remember your place – a civilian, an ungraduated apprentice astrologer. Do you think that after a few years of studying under a viscount, you can mingle in the kingdom’s high society and participate in the games of the powerful? Discussing conspiracies and justice? In the eyes of some, you’re still an ant that can be crushed at will.”

This seemed like a wake-up call for Kebur.

He stood there, stunned, his face a mix of fear, anger, and humiliation.

Finally, he took a deep breath.

“Even so, I still insist on a re-investigation into my teacher’s death. I know a few alchemists who can check for toxic substances on my teacher’s body. Viscount Degu Brar had no relatives, and as his only student, I believe I have the right.”

His teacher’s body was still in the city guard’s morgue. Perhaps due to his huge doubts about the cause of death, or maybe the sheriff’s nearly humiliating description, he was determined.

“Fine! I agree to your request,” the sheriff sighed. “But young man, don’t blame me for not warning you. Impulsive anger and immaturity can ruin you.”

Afterward, Kebur returned home, pondering over which alchemists could help him with the independent investigation.

As he decided to leave again, he found a small note that had fallen through the door slit.

It read in red ink, “Leave Collins immediately!” The few words felt like a bucket of cold water poured over him, engulfing him with a sense of immense danger.

In fact, since leaving the sheriff’s office, he had regretted his impulsiveness.

His recently released mother was still at home; he had to consider her, if not himself.

Without hesitation, Kebur quickly packed the essentials and, under his mother’s bewildered gaze, hurried out of the city in a carriage.

That was when he met Liszt on the road.

…

After a tiring journey, Liszt and Kebur finally arrived within the territories of the Horn Bay Alliance.

Liszt noticed Kebur’s visible sigh of relief.

“My friend, can you now tell me what happened?”

“Alright, Mr. Liszt, I’ll be frank with you,” Kebur confessed everything that had happened in Collins.

He felt a bit ashamed because, before leaving Collins, he was afraid that Liszt would rush back and reveal his whereabouts to certain people after hearing his ordeal.

After all, they had only known each other for a few days. Who knew what he might do?

“I see. Don’t feel ashamed, my friend. If I were in your place, I would have been just as cautious, not just for myself but for my loved ones,” Liszt comforted him. “I extend my sympathies to your mentor once again.”

After entering the Horn Bay Alliance’s territory, they eventually reached Fort Ness.

With Liszt’s help, Kebur and his mother settled down temporarily.

Within a few days, they learned news from Collins through adventurers and merchants.

The court astrologer of Collins had been murdered, and the culprit was his own student. The motive was the student’s greed for his mentor’s years of stargazing records. When denied, he committed this heinous crime.