Justice Need Not Be Late; We Shall Claim It Ourselves / The "Shady Merchant" Closure

He glanced at the signature on the record, then walked aside and contacted the Rhodes Island main ship.

After he hung up the call, Suika came over and asked, "Do you think that security guard named Anthony isn't dead?"

"It's obvious that guy discovered the situation at the mine, reported it, and then ran away because he was afraid something would happen if operations weren't stopped!"

Scout pointed to the notes and said, "Look at these notes. From the first few, you can tell that this person is a bit flashy and narcissistic. He likes to add some fancy touches at the end of his strokes to show off his status."

But his notes from the last few days were hasty and chaotic, clearly indicating that he was not in a calm state of mind, and his hand was trembling as he wrote.

Although it's clear that it's the same person's handwriting, the difference in just a few days indirectly proves one thing: he's afraid.

Others might not understand, but he knew perfectly well that the mine was a super bomb that could explode at any moment. Who wouldn't be terrified sleeping next to a bomb?

So in the end, it's quite obvious that he fled after confirming that the mine wouldn't shut down..."

At this moment, the convoy carrying the wounded began to set off towards the edge of town.

Many people poured out of the town; they all had family members working in the mines, and they looked on with hope at the returning convoy.

At this moment, another group of soldiers and police officers walked out of the town, but this time it was not the police chief they had just met, but another smiling man.

"Sheriff Potter, who is also one of the town's senators, has an Infected son. He played a significant role in Rhodes Island's ability to land here."

After Scout finished speaking, Suika nodded. This person is a pro- Rhodes Island faction. It is because of the existence of people like this that Rhodes Island has the opportunity to make a temporary stop and rest here.

Faced with a large number of infected wounded, it was clearly better for him, the sheriff who was close to the Infected, to handle the situation than for the guy Infected.

The man approached Dr. Anto.

"Dr. Anto, hello... On behalf of the town, we thank Rhodes Island for their help in this time of crisis."

I've already heard about what's going on here...

"What do you think would be a better way to handle this?"

Anto looked up at the people being stopped by the military and police not far away and pursed his lips.

"There are too many people. Letting all of them in would not only be detrimental to the patients' recovery but could also easily cause a disturbance."

Several people with milder symptoms have already regained consciousness. We asked them to help make a list of everyone here. Sheriff, you just need to let their family members in according to the list... But there can't be too many people, a maximum of two per family, otherwise we won't be able to accommodate everyone here."

Potter nodded after listening. With so many people dead this time, if they were all let in, and no one found their family members, many people would probably cause trouble.

If riots break out, even more people could die.

Therefore, the best approach is, as Dr. Anto suggested, to only allow the families of the living to enter.

Those who weren't included should understand what this means.

Even if they cause a disturbance outside the camp later, it won't affect the treatment inside the camp.

The list of over twenty people was quickly delivered to the sheriff, who took the list and walked out.

As he called out names one by one, more and more people were let in. When he finished calling out the last name and stopped, desperate cries came from the crowd. Then, some agitated people tried to storm the camp, but were stopped by the military police who were prepared in advance.

"What are you doing standing here?" Scout found Suika standing on a small hill, from where she could see everything happening outside.

"This scene is truly heartbreaking... Although I keep trying to convince myself that this kind of thing never stops on this damned land, but..." Suika looked at her hands; even her powerful strength couldn't bring back the lives that had been lost at this moment.

Chapter 159 Justice may not be delayed, we will surely prevail.

Scout reached out and patted Suika's head.

"We've done our best, haven't we... Even if there was a mistake, it's not your fault or mine..."

After letting out a breath, Suika pointed to a very conspicuous large tree at the town gate and asked...

What do you think of that tree?

"Huh?" Scout looked down at her, puzzled.

"Is that enough to hang all those heartless bastards up there?" Suika grinned, but her eyes were icy cold.

Even Scout, standing to the side, felt a chill run down his spine.

If the Gensokyo were to see her current appearance, she would likely say with satisfaction, "Eika is like me," because now she truly resembles a demon.

"Don't be impulsive, Suika." Scout pressed down on her shoulder, afraid that she would act rashly and run into the town to commit massacres.

"I've just contacted Rhodes Island, and they should have sent people into the city to look for that security guard named Anthony by now."

Moreover, they would likely inform the local lord that the mine accident was not accidental. With such a major incident, the local lord would certainly have to find someone to take the blame, and the mine owner would not be able to escape responsibility.

I expect news from them will come back soon.

After Scout finished speaking, Suika said "Oh" and then turned and walked into the camp.

After she left, Scout wiped the sweat from his brow. He was a renowned expert in the Sarkaz, having seen all sorts of storms, yet today he was almost frightened by a little girl. He absolutely couldn't let those old guys on Rhodes Island find out about this, or he'd lose all face.

Although she didn't trust the local lord, she did agree that with such a major incident, the lord definitely needed someone to take the blame.

The mine owner and the safety inspector who knowingly concealed the dangers of the mine will definitely not escape punishment.

Soon news spread throughout the city that the security inspector, Anthony, had been found dead in his home, having committed suicide. Before his death, he had written a letter detailing how he had been threatened by Viscount Scott, the mine owner, not to reveal any problems with the mine, and how he had received a substantial sum of hush money in return.

He's been staying home in fear these past few days, terrified that something might happen at the mine.

After the explosion at the mine, he felt utterly desperate. He felt that he was responsible for the accident, but he was afraid to face the trial that was to come, so he chose to commit suicide.

As for Viscount Scott, he had taken his family to visit relatives in Londinium two days ago, leaving only an elderly butler at home.

One of the individuals involved in the case committed suicide out of fear of punishment, while the other fled to another location.

According to the Victoria Convention, this small town, which belongs to the Gaodoting Duchy, cannot use its local laws to hold a nobleman who is not based there accountable.

Therefore, unless Viscount Scott himself returns to confess, local law cannot convict him even if his spouse or children openly appear in the city.

After hearing this news, everyone fell silent.

If that viscount still had any sense, he would never show up here again; instead, he would have hired a lawyer to sell his local assets.

Since the viscount had not yet been tried in court, he was nominally innocent, and therefore the local authorities had no right to seize his property.

So the result was that after selling off his property here, he could still live a carefree life as a viscount in Londinium.

As long as he doesn't set foot on Gaodoting's territory again, he is innocent under current law.

Furthermore, since he is not here, the lawyer appointed by him can refuse to compensate anyone.

Without the compensation from Viscount Scott, the mine owner, the meager amount of state reparations was undoubtedly another devastating blow to families who had lost their breadwinners (mining workers were mostly young and strong men).

Suika clenched her fists. She knew very well that the guy who dared to conceal the dangers of the mine and make the miners continue working when the mine could explode at any moment was absolutely capable of doing something that wouldn't cost him a penny.

So she looked in the direction of Londinium.

"Um, could you tell Amiya that something came up at home and I have to go?" Suika asked Scout, looking at him with a straight face as she rambled on.

Everyone present knew what she was planning to do.

"I'll go with you!" Scout said with a sigh after seeing Suika's determined look.

Do you know Viscount Scott?

Londinium is so big, how can you find it all by yourself? And if you find the Viscount, how do you get the money out of him, and how do you bring it back here?

I happen to know a little bit about all of what I just mentioned.

Scout straightened his clothes and looked at Suika seriously.

"Are you sure?" Suika asked Scout.

Scout showed a somewhat honest smile

"Of course, if you can't tolerate this, neither can I."

"I'm really anxious about when we're leaving. The thought of letting that guy live even a minute longer makes me feel awful."

Scout looked up at the sun.

"Give me an hour to go back and get some equipment and supplies, then we'll head to Londinium. What do you think?"

Since Scout had already said so, Suika naturally wouldn't refuse.

"Alright, I don't have anything on Rhodes Island anyway, so I won't go up. I'll wait for you at the North Gate!"

In front of the other operators, the two brazenly engaged in a "secret plot," after which Scout turned and walked out of the camp, while Suika withdrew her clone to prepare to go to town to resupply some seasonings.

After all, anything is possible in the wilderness, but if the food isn't good, you'll feel terrible.

"Suika!" Anto's voice came from behind.

Suika turned to look at the other person, Anto patted Suika on the shoulder.

"Londinium is not like this small rural town; we must be extremely careful in everything we do."

Suika blinked.

"Don't worry, although I might not be a professional fighter, I can run. Catching me won't be that easy."

After leaving the camp Suika walked into the town.

Because she was not Infected, she was released into the town after the basic tests were completed.

Walking down the street, she could clearly feel the somber atmosphere in the town.

The town isn't very big, with a population of only tens of thousands. As an important industry in the town, the mine itself is also a very famous place.

The person who died in the mine was also connected to other people in the town in some way.

With so many people dying, the fact that the town didn't erupt into a larger riot is a testament to the local lord's skillful management...

Chapter 160 "The Shady Merchant" Closure

For the people of the town, the mine explosion was still fresh in their minds.

The terrifying sound still lingers in my memory, and the smoke from the explosion still hasn't dissipated in the sky.

At this point, everyone had long lost interest in work and life; they were focused on two things—

First, what happened at the mine? Are there any survivors after such a horrific explosion?

Secondly, there's the question of whether the massive amount of dust raised after the Originium mine explosion will drift into the town and affect its residents.

After all, that was Originium, and Oripathy is an incurable disease that almost every Terra person fears.

Sensing the gloomy atmosphere in the town, Suika's anger towards that damned Viscount Scott intensified.

After casually picking a shop and buying the seasonings she needed, Suika walked to the north gate of the town.

She found a spot to sit down and waited for her companions to arrive.

Half an hour later, two figures walked over from the other side. Suika looked at Scout, then at the "girl" next to him, and raised an eyebrow.

"Hello, just say you're Suika! I'm Closure from the Engineering Department. I'm also going to Londinium to order some tools, and I heard you're going there too. How about we team up?"

The girl greeted Suika warmly as she entered.

Scout nodded to Suika, indicating that Closure hadn't lied to her.

"Of course, no problem... but compared to that Bloodfiend in the Medical Department, you're nothing like Bloodfiend... Sniff, you smell like engine oil all over you, do you drink engine oil all the time?"

Suika certainly recognized this "shady businessman" from the Engineering Department.

This guy is quite something. He managed to build a second-hand system on his own after the original Rhodes Island system was shut down, and he could almost perfectly control all of Rhodes Island's equipment, carrying his whole family around Terra.

Although she was betrayed by her "partner" later on, it must be admitted that she was indeed a genius in mechanical engineering.

"Ah! I remember I took a shower..."

"Is the smell really that strong?" Closure asked Scout.

Although she doesn't mind the smell when she's working and even quite likes it, she still pays attention to it in her daily life, since what she likes may not be liked by others.

For example, a certain germaphobic penguin on Rhodes Island has criticized her more than once for not being meticulous enough in terms of cleanliness and hygiene.

"It's alright... not too strong, but since you're in the Engineering Department all year round, it's not so easy to completely get rid of this engine oil smell."

Scout spoke casually, but his meaning was clear: Closure had been thoroughly marinated in engine oil.

"Ahaha... Oh right, I have some things here for Suika."

This is a bank card from Victoria Bank. It contains the reward Rhodes Island is giving you for participating in this emergency mission. Any future rewards or bonuses will be deposited into this card.

Normally, the operator would deposit the money into the work account, but considering that you, as Catastrophe Messenger, probably won't be stationed permanently on the Rhodes Island main ship, and you probably won't be able to use the internal procurement vouchers, so we specially prepared this for you."

Closure an awkward smile, then hurriedly pulled a bank card from her pocket and handed it to Suika.