Detective Guide to the Steam World

Chapter 18 Fletcher Textile Mill

The factory's name is quite straightforward, clearly indicating that it belongs to the Fletcher family and is one of those two factories.

In a sense, this factory can also be considered Willow's "own" property.

Rean and Kent both frowned when they saw her enter the factory.

This is completely unreasonable.

The world today, while relatively open-minded, also has its limitations and is far from reaching the point where we should be advocating for gender equality.

While women can work and don't have to be full-time housewives, the jobs they might do are limited to clerical work, sales assistants, salespersons, and textile factories that require female workers...

There are so many jobs that you can count them on two hands.

Given Willow's status, it was impossible for her to work as a textile worker, let alone manage a factory.

Even if she changed her last name to Fletcher, it wouldn't work, not even if she and Cyril weren't officially married yet.

Not to mention that in aristocratic circles, women going out to work has always been seen as a sign of their husbands' incompetence and a disgrace to the family. Unless Baron Jesper was insane, he would not allow her to manage the factory.

Therefore, Willow had absolutely no legitimate reason to enter the textile factory.

But when she entered the factory, the security guard at the main gate didn't stop her...

"Rean, should we continue following them?" Kent asked in a low voice.

"Let's go take a look."

Rean grunted in agreement and walked with Kent toward the Fletcher Textile Factory.

As soon as they arrived at the gate, they were stopped by the security guard.

"Gentlemen, we do not receive outsiders here."

Perhaps because Rean and Kent were dressed reasonably well, the doorman was very respectful. "If you gentlemen are here to discuss business, you can contact Baron Jesper in the West End. He is the owner of this place."

"Hey, buddy, don't be so old-fashioned," Kent said. "We're just looking around and will be leaving soon."

"A visit also requires permission, sir."

Seeing that the other party still maintained this attitude, Kent's face immediately darkened: "Then why were others allowed to go in, but we weren't?"

"other people?"

The gatekeeper was taken aback, then frowned. "I'm sorry, sir, I don't understand what you're talking about. In fact, you are the first visitors to arrive here today."

"Are you playing dumb? I clearly saw a woman in a green dress go in!"

"You must have seen wrong, sir."

The security guard remained calm and said sincerely, "I swear to Goddess, sir! Our factory will absolutely not discriminate!"

Seeing his expression, Kent couldn't help but look suspicious.

Having served as a detective's assistant for so long, although his reasoning ability is still terrible, he still has the ability to read people's expressions.

Kent could tell that the doorman's tone and expression did not seem like he was lying.

But he clearly saw Willow go in; there's no way to fake that.

"you……"

Just as Kent was about to say something, Rean tugged at his arm and gave him a wink.

He immediately understood and stopped arguing with the guard. He followed Rean to the side of the textile factory, out of the guard's sight, and then the two stopped.

"The security guard wasn't lying."

"I noticed that too."

Kent nodded, then said with a puzzled look, "But we both clearly saw Willow go in just now. Could it be that we were both hallucinating?"

"It wasn't us who were hallucinating, it was the security guard."

Looking at the still puzzled Kent, Rean reminded him, "Have you forgotten that Miss Willow is also a superhuman?"

"That's true."

Kent suddenly realized and guessed, "So her Stigmata's ability is to create illusions?"

"The abilities of the Stigmata are incredibly diverse; perhaps only she herself can answer this for you."

Rean casually replied, staring at the wall in front of him, "But since Miss Willow has demonstrated her abilities in front of us, it means there must be some secret inside this factory."

"Secret? What secret?"

"You'll know once you go in and take a look."

……

Since the main gate was blocked, the two had no choice but to use unconventional methods to enter the factory.

Fortunately, unlike the heavily guarded Sissippi Company warehouse, this textile factory was practically unguarded.

After Rean and Kent successfully scaled the wall and entered without alerting anyone, their reconnaissance went exceptionally smoothly.

Dozens of female workers were working diligently inside the factory. The noise from the spinning and washing machines provided good cover for them. In the dyeing room, which was filled with a pungent smell, there were also more than a dozen female workers.

Inside the two warehouses, one was filled with raw materials needed for textile production, while the other contained finished products such as wool blankets, linen, and woolen fabrics.

Apart from not seeing Willow again, everything in the textile factory was normal, without the slightest abnormality.

"Rean, are you really sure there's a secret here?" Kent asked skeptically.

They had almost searched the entire textile factory, but still found nothing.

"I believe that the young lady wouldn't have led us here for no reason, and I also believe my deduction."

After saying that, Rean looked at the two-story building in front of him, adjusted his hat brim, and went inside.

This is the last building in the textile factory that they haven't yet investigated.

Judging from the building's exterior, it appears to be a place used by the factory owner to receive guests and conduct business.

The building's layout confirms this, with the first floor featuring a standard reception room layout.

After searching and finding nothing, Rean and Kent, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings, climbed the stairs to the second floor.

There are three rooms on the second floor. Two of the rooms were filled with various odds and ends, but nothing was found in them.

The last room was locked.

Rean listened intently, and after confirming that no one was inside, he turned to look at Kent.

The latter immediately understood, took out a thin wire from his pocket, inserted it into the keyhole, and skillfully twisted and manipulated it.

After a while.

A soft "click" sound rang out, and Kent turned the doorknob, opening the heavy iron door silently.

"Not bad craftsmanship."

Rean smiled and praised him before pushing open the door and going inside.

The room is laid out like a study, with oak bookshelves on both sides filled with ancient books and scrolls.

A large wooden table was placed by the window, on which were a quill pen, an ink bottle, and an open copy of the "Foggy Harbor Daily".

If you pull back the heavy curtains by the window and look out, you can get a complete view of the entire textile factory.

Clearly, this is where Baron Jesper usually works.

However, judging from the date on the newspaper on the desk, this nobleman hadn't been here for three days.

"Tsk, those noble gentlemen really know how to enjoy life. I'd like to experience three days without working too."

Looking at the luxuriously decorated study, Kent couldn't help but click his tongue, his face full of envy.

"That day will come when you've saved enough money."

Rean casually replied, walked to the bookshelf on the left, randomly picked out a book, and prepared to flip through it to see if there were any clues hidden inside.

But when he turned the book cover and saw a line of writing on the title page, his gaze immediately froze.

"The Words of the Souls," written by the Life and Truth Sect.