Shirou and the Old Chinese Gentleman

Caules nodded.

"If you could, could you tell me if anyone passed through the passageway outside the door between the train leaving Romania and you parting ways with the colonel to go to your room to sleep?"

Caules frowned.

"I think one time a train conductor walked by," he said, "Coming from the dining car. Another time, a woman walked by the door, coming from another direction, heading towards the dining car."

"Oh, which lady is it?"

"I can't say. Actually, I didn't notice. You know, I was having a heated debate with the US Colonel when I happened to see a person wearing a long, bright red cape walk past the door. I didn't see the person's face clearly. You know, my room faces one end of the dining car, so this woman walking along the aisle towards the dining car must have had her back to me."

Shirou nodded.

"I think she went to the restroom?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Did you see her when she came back?"

"No, not really. But if she went to the restroom, she would have come back by now. I wasn't really paying attention to the person outside the door, since we were having a great conversation. The only reason I saw the woman was because a gust of cold wind blew in from outside, and the colonel and I both shivered, which is when we noticed someone had passed by."

"A cold wind? Is it only when that woman passes by?" Shirou frowned and asked.

"Hmm, I'm not sure, but it felt really damp and cold. I even looked back and saw that the windows were closed. But it was definitely cold last night. Even with the protective barrier outside, it doesn't seem to have any insulation function."

Now that you mention it, looking back, it probably wasn't cold, but some kind of chill.

"One more question, Mr. Caules, do you smoke cigarettes?"

"No, I rarely smoke. If I do smoke, it's a cigarette."

Shirou nodded thoughtfully, then spoke:

"Let's leave it at that for now. I'd like to see Old John's servant first. By the way, when you and that servant accompanied Old John on his overseas trips, did you always travel in first class?"

"No, he travels in second class, while I usually travel in first class. However, it depends on whether Old John can buy consecutive tickets. Generally, Old John stores most of his luggage in my room. This makes it much more convenient when he needs to call me or ask me to help him find something."

However, all the first-class sleeper berths were sold out this time, and he was the only one who managed to pre-order one.

"I understand, thank you for your cooperation, Caules."

Shirou shook hands with Caules and then let him leave.

After he left, a pale-faced, expressionless, short, thin Englishman with gray hair, probably in his sixties or seventies, came in, looking like a well-trained English servant.

Shirou had noticed him the day before. He stood there respectfully. Shirou gestured for him to sit down.

"As far as I know, you are Mr. Old John's servant, aren't you?"

"Yes, sir."

What's your name?

"Edward Masteus."

As was customary, Shirou asked him for his surname, first name, and home address, and had him write them down on a piece of paper.

"Your master has been murdered. Can you hear this news?"

"I heard that, this is really unexpected."

"Could you tell us when was the last time you saw Old John?"

The British servant thought for a while.

"Sir, it was most likely after nine o'clock last night, or perhaps even later."

Can you tell me what you were doing at the time?

"As usual, I went to serve Mr. John."

What exactly does your job involve?

"Fold his clothes or hang them up; put his dentures in the water; and see if he needs anything else before bedtime?"

Was his behavior the same as usual?

The maid thought for a while.

"Hmm... basically the same as usual, but I think he was quite annoyed at the time, he was just holding it in."

"Oh, how is it bothersome?"

"He was talking about a letter. He questioned whether I had taken it to his room. I told him I hadn't done anything like that. But he still didn't believe me and gave me a good scolding."

Isn't this unusual?

"No, sir. My master, though a generous gentleman, is a little different with those around him. He is actually quite short-tempered, especially when things don't go his way. As I said, if something annoys him, that's how he is."

Shirou suddenly changed the subject and asked:

Has your owner taken sleeping pills or other medications to help him sleep?

Chapter 1231 Shirou and the Chinese old man

When the topic of sleeping pills came up, Waver, who had been observing from the sidelines, looked up. He could smell the medicinal liquor in the empty glass in the deceased's room.

"Sir, my master has always had trouble sleeping. For example, when he travels by train, he likes to drink wine laced with magic potions. Otherwise, he can't fall asleep."

Do you know what kind of potions he usually takes?

"Sir, I didn't know. He mixed the potion himself and then gave it to me. I just added a few drops when I poured him wine. Oh, by the way, he also bought some potions from that prop vendor on the train."

Did he take any last night?

"He's had it, sir. I poured the medicine into a cup and placed it on the table so he could drink it."

"You saw him drink it with your own eyes?"

"No, sir. He usually drinks right before bed, and he wasn't asleep when I left."

"And then what?"

"I asked him if there was anything else, and what time I should come the next morning. He said I didn't need to come if I didn't ring the bell."

"Has it always been like this?"

"Yes, sir. It's always like that. If he needs to get up, he rings the bell to call the train conductor, and then the conductor comes to wake me."

"Does he usually wake up early or late?"

"It depends on his mood. Sometimes he'll get up for breakfast, and sometimes he'll sleep until lunchtime."

"So you're not surprised that no one called you all morning?"

"Yes, sir."

"What enemies does your master have? Have you heard of any?"

"Yes, sir."

His words were devoid of emotion.

How did you know?

"I heard him speak with my own ears about several letters he exchanged with Mr. Caules, sir."

"So, the next question is, do you like your owner?"

Upon hearing this, the elderly British man's expression turned even colder than usual.

"I wouldn't say I like him, sir. But he is very generous."

"You don't like him, do you?"

"To be more precise, I don't really have any affection for Magecraft. I'm just a well-trained servant who serves Magecraft. If someone needs my service and chooses me, I'll serve them. As long as I'm paid, I never complain about my master."

"Oh, so you're saying that while you're not loyal to Old John, you're loyal to your profession, even though he's a notorious villain?"

"Yes. Rather, from an ordinary person's perspective, most Magecraft are eccentric and dangerous individuals. This is the most basic requirement for serving them."

"Do you know that your master, Mr. Old John, is none other than Darnic, the founder of the Thousand Tree Family and the initiator of the Sub-species Holy Grail War?"

"No, sir, I really don't know his identity. It's quite surprising. If I had known it was him, I think I would have refused." The servant showed a different expression for the first time; surprise appeared in his eyes, and he quickly shook his head.

"Oh, so it seems you're not picky about employers after all. Now, let's talk about your activities last night. You should know, it was just routine. What have you been doing since leaving Old John?"

"Sir, I went to tell Mr. Caules that the master wanted to see him. Then I went back to my room and read."

"Which is your private room?"

"The very last compartment of the second-class carriage, sir, next to the dining car."

Shirou looked at the picture.

"I know that. Do you sleep on the top or bottom bunk?"

"Lower bunk, sir."

"You mean shop number four?"

"Yes, sir."

Does anyone live with you?

"Yes, sir, he's a red-haired Italian."

Does he speak English?

"Yes, sir. He speaks one form of English." There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "I've heard him say he's lived in a big city in America."

Do you often chat with him?

"No, sir, I'd rather read some books."

Shirou smiled slightly. He could imagine what the scene would be like: a boisterous, lively, and talkative Italian meeting a cold, aloof Englishman who was more gentlemanly than any gentleman.

"Let's continue our conversation. Go back to the private room, and how long will you read?"

"Around 10:30, sir, the Italian man wanted to sleep, so the train conductor came to make up his bed."

So you went to bed too.

"I went to bed, but Snow Spirit went berserk again last night, and there were people walking around outside, so I couldn't fall asleep."

Where is your companion?

"That Italian guy? He's always snoring."

"He didn't leave the private room at night?"

"No, sir."

"And you?"

"No, sir."

"Did you hear any noises at night?"

"I think no, sir. I mean, I didn't hear anything unusual. You know, after the train stopped, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop."

The English butler, regaining his usual composure, answered Shirou meticulously, making one think that if he were hired as a butler, everything in the house would surely be in perfect order.

Shirou was silent for a moment, then said:

"I think there are still some issues that need to be clarified. You know nothing about this case?"

"I think so, sir. I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do to help."

"Did your master have any disputes with Caules? Or is there any grudge between them?"

"Oh, sir, no, Mr. Caules is a very modest and polite young man."

"Where did you work before you worked for Mr. Old John?"

"With Lord Makiri Zolgen Makiri, sir, in Russia. Although that gentleman is no longer with us, I believe his descendants would be willing to testify on my behalf. I served the Zolgen family for many years."

Shirou raised an eyebrow. It was another familiar name. The reason the Matou family wasn't in this world was because that monster old man Mage of the Insects hadn't integrated into Japanese culture.

Shirou inwardly gasped in surprise, but didn't show it, and continued speaking:

"Ah, so... how long have you been with Old John?"

"Only ten months, sir."

"Thank you. By the way, do you smoke a pipe?"

"No, sir, I only smoke cigarettes, the cheap kind, sir."