Chapter 146 The Case of the Poisonous Weeds Solved

This case involved so many people. Yet, they had only managed to capture a single suspect with a suspicious background. The true mastermind behind the scenes had not yet been thoroughly caught. The whole affair was becoming increasingly convoluted.

"Brother Han, you surely don't think the case should just be hastily closed like this?"

"But this is already the best evidence we have. Furthermore, can you really investigate those people from the Southern Frontier?" Han Qing asked back bluntly.

Things were indeed not that simple. However, they lacked any legitimate reason to prolong it.

"You can continue investigating in private, but on the surface, this case will definitely be closed. That way, those evildoers will let down their guard, and perhaps we can sweep them all up in one go when the time comes." Han Qing offered him this suggestion.

At the very least, it would momentarily lift some of the suspicion. Moreover, many matters were not as simple as they had conjectured. The person behind the scenes would surely make some other provocative move.

"Alright."

As expected, those people had not settled down yet. In fact, a brief investigation made it clear: among the traveling merchants coming and going, there were indeed agents from the Southern Frontier. Their purpose in staying here was glaringly obvious.

"According to some crucial clues extracted from these merchants, this group might appear near the Qianye Restaurant tonight, and another faction will be around the Wang Family Pawnshop."

Oh? Hitting both of these locations simultaneously—their audacity was truly boundless.

"Isn't this a bit too arrogant? Could someone be shielding them?" Han Qing asked rhetorically.

"I hear there is."

Even so, both places had to be dispatched with search parties. The continuous dumping of corpses at Qianye Restaurant felt exceedingly strange. It was very likely a deliberate frame-up or an ambush set up in advance.

That very night, corpses ceased to appear at those two locations. This was because Chen Tianwei had rounded all of them up.

Her methods were rather heavy-handed. With so many complications arising, it had caused certain individuals immense dissatisfaction. Rather than waiting, it was better to take matters directly into her own hands.

After interrogating these people, it turned out that apart from throwing the corpses near the restaurant at the appointed locations, they merely collected their pay. They had never even laid eyes on the actual perpetrator.

In that case, they would have to cast a long line to catch a big fish. Let's see if this bait would prove effective.

Once those individuals were located, they were swiftly apprehended. Indeed, several bizarre discoveries were made. Beneath the Qianye Restaurant, there was actually a large underground space where more than thirty servants were tied up. A portion of them had already been brainwashed, destined to be smuggled back to the Southern Frontier after a period of time. Their minds were entirely muddled, devoid of any independent thoughts.

This development was clearly beyond their expectations.

"We've rounded them all up. It was indeed planned by someone from the Southern Frontier, motivated by his desire to expand his territory," Chen Tianwei said after the interrogation.

The outcome was precisely as surmised: nothing more than a quest to annex more cities and plunder greater resources.

"Did he act on anyone's instructions?"

"Just as we reached that question, he took poison and committed suicide," Chen Tianwei said with a hint of regret.

No one had anticipated such a turn of events. Just when they thought the matter was nailed down, the trail to the mastermind was abruptly severed.

"Let's close the case."

Prefect Gao considered the matter concluded on his end. The official at the imperial court had undoubtedly been framed, but he had merely lost his title; it was not a capital offense. Besides, the case had consumed far too much time.

The only loose end was the elusive blacksmith who had yet to be found.

After busy days of searching, they finally managed to track down a somewhat renowned blacksmith named Wang Dahai. He had an honest, simple-minded appearance and seemed quite loyal and reliable. He asked them directly about the specifications of what they required.

"Looking at this blueprint, can you understand it?" Han Qing asked him calmly.

The man thought it over carefully and quickly pointed out several key points. It seemed he had a clear head, especially displaying his own insights regarding professional craftsmanship.

"I have never seen tools like these before. Furthermore, you want me to incorporate a sharp end—could this be used to attack others?"

Wang Dahai was quite clever. He figured out the nature of the tool immediately.

"Yes, it is a weapon by design, and one meant to incapacitate and kill."

"Won't the other officials object to this?"

Han Qing shook his head. "It will by no means violate the current laws. Rest assured on that account."

Hearing that there was money to be made without risking punishment, Wang Dahai immediately grew excited.

"See if there is anything inappropriate, or if any part needs modification. Feel free to bring it up," Han Qing said calmly.

After all, a professional artisan needed to adapt designs based on currently available tools rather than mere verbal descriptions.

"I might not be familiar with some of the materials required here. I can forge the exterior, but as for the internal mechanisms..." Wang Dahai explained meticulously.

"I will arrange for people to handle the specialized materials internally. You only need to build the exterior and the internal structure," Han Qing stated coldly. They were overthinking things.

"Alright! Once I take on a task, I work very quickly. I can definitely finish it for you in two or three days," the man replied sincerely.

Now, all they had to do was quietly await the outcome. There was nothing else to worry about.

However, young master Zhu remained hesitant.

"Brother Han, I trust you, but are you certain we should really be manufacturing these weapons?"

After all, the emperor's intentions were sometimes not expressed in such specific terms.

"Are you prepared to sit by and watch the soldiers of Qing Kingdom suffer defeat?" Han Qing asked unperturbedly, secretly thinking the man was rather foolish.

"But this thing you're talking about is a bit too outlandish. I've never heard of it, let alone seen it before." Young Master Zhu grew increasingly conflicted, unable to afford any mishaps.

"You will see it once it is finished."

Roughly a week later, Wang Dahai indeed appeared before them carrying a primitive firearm. It looked like an ordinary spear, but the rear half of the shaft was fitted with a matchlock mechanism capable of discharging a lethal projectile.

Young Master Zhu touched it with a look of utter astonishment. He had truly never laid eyes on such a contraption and was consumed with curiosity. What he had previously dismissed as utter nonsense had actually materialized before his eyes.