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Chapter 84: Greed is the Enemy of Life
🕑 Added 2025-01-09 23:35:00 +0000 UTCThe short gun had been used in the assassination of Grand Duke Ferdinand. Within the Empire, it was regarded as an ill omen. If someone were caught stealing this object, there was a high chance they would end up on the gallows.
If Charlot turned hostile, Homonsa would be left with no way out but death.
If Charlot wished to monopolize this extraordinary weapon, he would also find himself in a dead end.
Charlot pondered for a long time before sighing and saying, “You never picked up anything. Do not bring up this matter again, or no one will be able to protect you.”
“As for your promotion to a knight, I will do my utmost to help.”
Charlot offered Homonsa nothing more than a promise.
For the time being, he had nothing else to give.
Whether Homonsa accepted this outcome or not was no longer his concern.
The short gun, which had killed Grand Duke Ferdinand, was a deadly thing. If given a choice, Charlot would never have touched it.
But since Homonsa had brought it out, Charlot couldn’t let her take it back. She would surely try to sell the extraordinary weapon. Once this short gun appeared on any black market, it would draw attention, and Charlot would undoubtedly be implicated. After all, Homonsa was now under his command. Moreover, he had already been dragged into this matter before.
To be honest, if Menielman hadn’t protected him, Charlot wouldn’t have been able to regain his position or earn a double promotion. In fact, it would have been questionable whether he could even stay alive. The probability of being silenced was quite high.
After all, this incident involved the risk of two great empires going to war.
Homonsa seemed like she wanted to say something, but in the end, her expression darkened, and she prepared to leave the office.
Charlot hesitated for a moment and said, “Don’t mention this to Mason or the others, or you will get them killed.”
Homonsa trembled slightly before quickly bowing her head and exiting the office.
Half an hour later, Mrs. Nancy arrived, accompanied by Annie Bretagne, Sylvie Martin, and the cat elf detective Venie Arsenault.
The three ladies had met up at 58 Elysée Avenue, abandoning their own carriages to follow Mrs. Nancy.
Venie Arsenault, as the witness to the duel, naturally had to attend. As for Annie and Sylvie, one was a “half-girlfriend” and the other a “cousin.” Both had suitable identities and reasons to observe the duel.
Charlot had nothing to say and simply took the extraordinary short gun, following the three ladies on their journey.
He placed the short gun, which had been used to kill Grand Duke Ferdinand, alongside the Diary, hoping that the power of the two evil gods might cause certain divination-based transcendents to make mistakes in their calculations.
Once they reached Machubi, Charlot intended to leave the weapon in the Machubi Fortress Labyrinth.
The anti-space long-range rifle that Lord Leo had given him was large, sturdy, and capable of firing anti-magic armor-piercing rounds, granting it the power to kill high-ranking transcendents.
For this short gun to possess such power—enough to kill Grand Duke Ferdinand—it clearly wasn’t ordinary. Yet Charlot had no desire to check its quality. He feared that he wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to keep it.
Greed is the enemy of life.
Just as money is the root of all evil.
Throughout the journey, Miss Annie remained unusually silent. Her expression was one of determination, as though she had made up her mind about something.
Sylvie, on the other hand, was full of worry and repeatedly urged Charlot to exercise caution. “If you fall into a disadvantageous position, just surrender and admit defeat,” she said.
In general, gentlemen’s duels allowed for surrendering parties to be spared...
Of course, Charlot believed that “Mr. Big Alva” would not let him go. After all, what gentlemanly honor could compare to avenging one’s younger brother?
Venie Arsenault, for her part, remained calm and quiet throughout the trip, gazing thoughtfully at the scenery outside the window.
Strasbourg was more than two hundred kilometers from Machubi, though converting this world’s units of measurement was a hassle. As a mathematics teacher, Charlot greatly disliked the Old Continent’s systems of weights and measures.
The Brabant draft horse Charlot had purchased for two gold écus was a strong and robust two-year-old—large for its kind. Its coat was a mix of gray and black, giving it a patchy appearance that made it less visually appealing. However, it was hardy and capable of pulling a four-wheeled carriage with ease, able to sprint at speeds of twenty kilometers per hour for over an hour.
If they traveled at a slower, energy-efficient pace of eight to ten kilometers per hour, the horse could run for four or five hours.
The draft horses of the Old Continent were far superior in strength and stamina compared to those on Earth. However, they were still flesh and blood and could not run endlessly. With sufficient rest along the way, they would reach Machubi on time the following day.
Charlot was well-prepared. After leaving Strasbourg, he opened a cask of ale and offered drinks to the three ladies.
Venie Arsenault was particularly bold, happily drinking a few cups with Charlot. Annie, however, was too tense to drink anything.
Sylvie initially refused to drink but quickly succumbed and drank more than she should have.
As evening approached, Charlot asked Mrs. Nancy to stop the carriage. They hadn’t passed any villages suitable for rest, but Charlot didn’t intend to press on. The horse needed rest, and traveling at night was far too dangerous.
He gave the carriage’s front compartment to the three ladies and planned to sleep in the back. The Old Continent had no tents—its wilderness was filled with danger, and no one would choose to sleep in a tool that offered no protection or mobility during an escape.
As Charlot stepped down from the carriage, he saw a lady standing ahead. She appeared to be in her forties or fifties, elegant and dignified. Her clothing made it clear that she wasn’t a noblewoman but rather a housekeeper.
Charlot was shocked and instinctively reached for his vampiric axe, but the housekeeper curtsied in a formal manner and said, “Mr. Mecklenburg, I am here to escort Miss Annie home.”
Charlot returned an Imperial bow and asked, “And you are?”
The housekeeper raised her voice slightly and said, “Annie, the outing is over!”
Annie Bretagne stepped down from the carriage, looking distressed. “Karen Granny, can I not go back?” she pleaded.
The woman addressed as Karen Granny shook her head indulgently yet firmly. “Annie, I can allow that item to be missing for three days. That is already my greatest compromise.”
“The count will absolutely not allow his daughter to remain out overnight.”
Annie struggled for a moment before finally conceding. “I will go with you!”
She pulled out an object wrapped in newspaper from under her skirt and handed it to Charlot. “Use this weapon when the duel begins,” she whispered.
“I will wait for you tomorrow and the day after at 58 Elysée Avenue.”
Karen Granny nodded toward the two ladies who had also stepped down from the carriage. Turning to Charlot, she said, “Do not lose this. The consequences would be severe.”
Then her entire body radiated a dazzling light. With a gentle touch on Annie’s shoulder, they rose into the air and disappeared...
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