Chapter 112: Secret Letters (Part 2)
Chapter 112: Secret Letters (Part 2)
Hanjun said, "I still suspect that Mayor Herman might know the truth about the quarry. He might have even been involved with it."
Father Barry paused, understanding why Hanjun brought this up now.
"Did Mayor Herman do something?" he asked.
Hanjun didn't confirm or deny it.
Father Barry figured this would happen.
After spending so much time together, he had come to understand Hanjun a little better.
Hanjun didn't seem like the high and mighty god that was described in the holy scriptures.
In fact, his personality was just like an ordinary person's, with emotions of his own.
This made Father Barry believe in Hanjun even more because only someone who understands humans would consider things from a human perspective.
Hanjun hadn't mentioned anything like this before, but after everyone returned, he suddenly started talking about Mayor Herman.
It was clear something that Mayor Herman did have caused Hanjun to become suspicious.
Father Barry began to recall some details about what happened at the quarry back then, "At that time, it was the mayor who received Viscount Hereford's men, and he was the one who oversaw the quarry.
Later, when the quarry workers disappeared, it was also the mayor who led a group, claiming they found the bodies of the missing workers and saw a pack of wolves tearing at the bodies, concluding that the quarry had been attacked by wolves."
Thinking about it now, it seems that Viscount Hereford was just having the quarry mined, and most of the later matters were handled by Mayor Herman.
Since the events back then weren't what they seemed, Mayor Herman does seem very suspicious.
Hanjun said to Father Barry, "I've already sent the players to investigate the truth and find evidence."
Father Barry understood what Hanjun wanted to do, "I'll talk to everyone about this tonight. I just hope the heroes can find solid evidence."
Hanjun replied, "They definitely will."
~•~
Meanwhile, Mayor Herman, who they were discussing, sneezed while earning a sharp glare from his wife.
"What kind of trouble have you been getting into now?" she scolded.
Mayor Herman was given a sharp look for no reason, and he said innocently, "I just ran into a wolf outside, and its fur made me allergic."
It was true that Mayor Herman was usually allergic to fur, so his wife's expression softened a bit.
She said, "Stop standing around and help me clean up the room. It's been gathering dust for days."
Mayor Herman glanced around, then quietly moved closer to her, complaining, "Forget about that. Maybe we should leave while no one's watching."
His wife gave him a look like he was out of his mind and rolled her eyes, "Are you crazy? The demons have been defeated by the heroes, and we barely survived from the bandits. Where would we go now?"
Mayor Herman grew more anxious, "This has nothing to do with that. You don't know what I've found out."
"Then tell me, what did you find out?"
Mayor Herman hesitated for a long time, struggling to get the words out, mumbling incoherently.
His wife was getting frustrated, wishing she could just shake him and make him speak clearly.
Finally, Mayor Herman swallowed his saliva hard and blurted out, "They seem to have discovered the truth about the quarry!"
Mayor Herman's wife narrowed her eyes, and her tone changed, "Who exactly are you talking about when you say 'they'?"
Mayor Herman pointed to the east, "Over there, where Father Barry's relative lives. He tamed the giant white wolf that was causing trouble at the quarry back then. He even asked if I was involved in what happened all those years ago. He must have figured out the truth."
Mayor Herman anxiously paced back and forth like a rolling ball.
His wife smacked him to stop him, "Why are you so nervous? Explain it to me. Who is this relative of Father Barry's? It sounds like nonsense. Even if he talks, no one will believe him. Why are you so scared?"
Mayor Herman still seemed uneasy, "But he's Father Barry's relative, and now that Father Barry has saved the town, everyone listens to him. What if that kid tells Father Barry, and Father Barry exposes everything to everyone?"
Mayor Herman's wife asked, "Why would they want to go after you? The incident back then has nothing to do with him. What reason would he have to do that?"
This question made Mayor Herman pause.
He couldn't figure out why Father Barry would act against him unless Father Barry wanted to replace him as the mayor.
His wife who is feeling frustrated with his lack of sense, asked, "When you were walking around, did you notice anything different?"
Mayor Herman perked up, "Yes!"
He started talking about the small house that suddenly appeared on the Eastern Plains and the strange stone walls, but none of this was what his wife was hoping to hear.
Having such a foolish husband, Mrs. Herman couldn't take it anymore and snapped, "Is that all?"
Mayor Herman, having lived with his wife for many years, knew that her tone meant she was upset.
He lowered his voice, "N-no more."
Mrs. Herman sighed and rubbed her forehead, "We don't have much information right now, so we'll just have to take it one step at a time. By the way, did you burn the letters that the Viscount sent to you?"
Mayor Herman shook his head, realizing what she meant, and quickly added, "I'll go and do it right now."
Mrs. Herman said harshly, "How could you even think of keeping those letters?"
Mayor Herman mumbled, "I just thought that if we ended up fleeing to Lindblum City, the Viscount might not take us in, so I kept them just in case."
Mrs. Herman remembered that she had been the one who suggested keeping the letters in the first place.
After all, she was just a distant relative to Viscount Hereford.
The task that the Viscount gave to them had always left a thorn in their hearts, and they kept the letters just in case something bad happened.