༺ Policeman’s Hell – (Part 2) ༻
When Evian returned to Edelphite, he received profuse hospitality from the villagers. The policeman, who had quickly brought back the runaway children, seemed like a miracle worker. After all, the children had even taken an automaton carriage with them.
The adults, who had been glaring at Elly and Dev, waited for Evian to release them. It seemed they planned to give the two rascals a harsh flailing today.
However, Evian spoke up first.
“Wait a moment. I have found the whereabouts of the alchemic fabric.”
“Didn’t they steal it?”
“No. Someone else pocketed the alchemic fabric.”
Having pulled in their attention, Evian immediately headed towards Bern’s house. Bern, who had been silently following, hurriedly asked.
“Wait. Why are we going to my house?”
“There was a tip-off. I am going there to verify it. Please accompany me.”
“…Hooo. I see.”
Bern let out a sigh and followed Evian, looking as if resigned to his fate.
Elly’s direct testimony was not even necessary. The traces she unearthed last night were clear and the attempts to cover them were poorly done. Evian brought a shovel and dug up the pit.
And there, he found bones. While fiddling with them. Evian examined the traces.
The villagers murmured around him.
“Good heavens…. There really are bone fragments in Mr. Bern’s field…”
“Was there a recent death…?”
“If so, there is no way we wouldn’t know. Everyone was cremated, weren’t they?”
Evian, who was scrutinizing the bones with a serious expression, then spoke with a hardened voice. At the same time, the frightened villagers all fell silent at once.
“These aren’t recent. Approximately 30 years old…. It’s a body buried back then.”
After finishing his observation, Evian slowly stood up. His eyes shone piercingly.
“And as far as I know, there’s only one person who disappeared around that time. One person, who was known to have run away from the village, leaving my mother to her lonesome before I was even born. Everyone believed this was the case because Bern himself testified to it.”
Evian glared at Bern and announced the victim’s identity.
“My father.”
Bern closed his eyes, a look of utter resignation on his face. Evian returned to his role of a heartless and ruthless policeman, scowling terrifyingly at him.
“Bern. You are under arrest for murder and criminal disposal of a dead body.”
The village became noisy with whispers. This buzz was unlike any before.
A nephew was arresting his uncle. The policeman was dragging away the village chief. Bern was being escorted away, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
One of the adults in the village muttered.
“T-Then, what will happen to Mr. Bern now…?”
Evian retorted back.
“I am not the one to make the verdict. I do not have that authority. However, if the criminal confesses and the facts are clear, a summary judgment can be made by a military judge.”
“Verdict? The verdict for murder is….”
“For planned homicide, it is the death penalty.”
Evian spoke coldly and the murmur spread even further throughout the village. Someone exclaimed.
“Evian! He’s your uncle!”
“What does that matter! In the face of a policeman, there are only criminals!”
Evian shouted, looking around at his surroundings.
“Interfering with the execution of official duties can result in up to 3 years of labor, depending on the severity of the crime. Everyone, step back!”
The gravity of a labor sentence was no small matter.
Factories, mines, educational camps, quartermaster corps.
It meant being assigned to such places, working like a dog the entire day except for sleep. It was so brutal that a 6-month labor sentence was said to result in 3 years of deep-rooted illness.
Now, having somewhat realized Evian’s authority, the villagers backed away with a groan. Evian, befitting of a Police Inspector of the Military State, pushed through the crowd with an imposing aura.
However, in the face of a certain woman who blocked his path, Evian could not maintain his demeanor as an Inspector.
“…Evian.”
“Mother?”
Evian’s mother approached while sobbing and grabbed onto him. Her hands, gripping his clothes, were weakly trembling.
“Me…Arrest me.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“…It’s me. It’s my fault. All of it. It’s all because of me….”
“What is?”
Even for Evian, it was impossible to push away his weeping mother. His barely established authority seemed irrelevant as he stood there, not knowing what to do.
Meanwhile, his mother’s hidden truth spilled out.
“…Your father used to erratically beat me, who had come from afar to get married to him. No one could stop him, the eldest son of the then village chief….”
“What?”
“His violence did not stop, slapping and beating me even when I was pregnant with you. Then one day, when Bern returned, they got into a quarrel and eventually fought. And in the end….”
“What?”
“I buried that body myself. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…. I couldn’t even tell you the truth and lied that he ran away from the village….”
The revelation from his mother was shocking.
Evian’s father was notoriously violent, so he was not very popular with the other residents. Thus, everyone found it understandable that he ran away from the village.
In fact, there was no need to even suspect otherwise. After all, his absence brought no harm to anyone.
In addition, the onset of military governance further confused an already chaotic situation.
“I didn’t want to disappoint you, who missed your father so much… I made him out to be a great man and I couldn’t tell you the truth. I’m sorry….”
Evian’s mother was also an accomplice. Evian looked at her wrinkled face, his own expression blank and lifeless.
The Military State was merciless. No matter the circumstance, it did not tolerate any violations of the law. Evian knew this better than anyone.
However, Evian could not bring himself to imprison them with his own hands. After pondering in the police station, he soon stood up.
“They said the Captain is staying at the inn….”
Since he was facing an unsolvable problem for him. Evian knew he had to report it to his superiors. As such, he helplessly headed to the inn.
“…That was what had occurred.”
After taking the liberty to visit, Police Inspector Evian reported to the Captain.
The blonde commissioned officer, a bandage wrapped around her head, listened to the story before responding in a dull voice. It was a voice Evian felt he had heard somewhere before.
“I have confirmed your story. However.”
Evian closed his eyes, awaiting the verdict.
Although Evian’s rank wasn’t inferior, it only applied when it came to ‘civilians’. From the rank of Captain and upwards, it was a status far beyond his own.
The ‘soldiers’ running the Military State were monsters who had an entirely different set of rules applied to them. Their authority and even the strength they possessed were in a completely different plane of existence when compared to Evian.
｢What will happen now? Perhaps I’ll be scorned by the higher-ups.｣
But the following words surprised Evian.
“Cases that occurred 25 years ago, before military governance, are left to the discretion of the investigator in charge.”
“Excuse me?”
It was a murder case, yet it was left to discretion? Evian asked back, utterly stunned.
“Is there perhaps a statute of limitations?”
“There is no statute of limitations in the Military State. Only discretion.”
The Captain spoke in a rigid voice, as if this was the only duty she needed to uphold.
“The application needs to be flexible for easy execution. However, for incidents that occurred before martial law, you are not held accountable even if you do not apprehend them. After all, there was an administrative vacuum during that period of time.”
The Military State obviously benefited from an increase in laborers; there were many tasks but not enough hands.
Therefore, it did not set a statute of limitations. Moreover, considerable discretion was given so that, if arrested, they could be immediately put to labor.
Even retrospective application of laws was possible. Crimes committed before a law’s creation could still lead to arrest if the verdict felt unsatisfactory.
However, because incidents that occurred before martial law were not questioned, whether to bury or pursue cases from back then was up to Evian’s discretion.
“How is it that I did not know this?”
“Elements such as statutes of limitations are better left unannounced. It eases the tension of those who have committed crimes. Therefore, even though such guidelines exist, the authorities do not publicize them. Even to investigators.”
Arresting less people was problematic, but there was no harm in arresting more. Truly a move befitting a militaristic nation.
Understanding this, Evian saluted the Captain in haste and retreated.
“Salute. Apologies for interrupting your rest. I shall take my leave now!”
Through the closing door, a small sigh from the Captain was heard.
“…What in the world have you been doing?”
“…The Military State does not question crimes from the kingdom era. You are lucky, Mr. Bern.”
The real lucky one was Evian, who did not have to arrest his mother, but he did not show his relief. Instead, he released Bern in front of everyone.
After removing the handcuff packet, Bern rubbed his wrists and spoke somberly.
“…I’m sorry. No matter what I say, I killed your f….”
“Hold your tongue.”
Evian replied curtly.
In truth, there was another reason why Evian disliked Bern.
His widowed mother and Bern would always whisper together while excluding Evian. Moreover, they often showed guilt-ridden expressions toward him.
Young Evian felt an ignorant jealousy towards Bern, but if it was actually about his father….
“Thank you for your hard work. Police Inspector Evian.”
Right then, Administrative Supply Officer Bero approached. Evian greeted him warmly.
“Staff Sergeant Bero. Thank you for your assistance. Without the Captain, I would have been in a predicament.”
“It was the Captain’s decision.”
“I’m just thankful to everyone. Phew. Anyway, with this, it’s now settled.”
“Settled?”
It was an ominous voice that implied the problem was far from over. Bero tilted his head and brought up his matter.
“…So, where is the recovered alchemic fabric? I need to organize the inventory in an hour.”
Evian immediately kicked off the ground, dashing off.
The village was small and having just searched here and there, he quickly found the culprit. Mrs. Malpot, a neighbor in need of quick cash, confessed.
When asked why, apparently, among those of the inn faction, it had become customary to cut and divert small amounts of the alchemic fabric. However, the situation escalated due to Elly running away and this practice had now come to light.
With no room to imprison the dozens of small and large accomplices involved, Inspector Eviann ordered house arrest. Exhausted, Evian collapsed in the chair at the police station after concluding his work. His entire body was drenched in sweat.
“Phew. It feels like a decades’ worth of events happened in a single day….”
-And there I was, leaning against the wall of the police station, inwardly smiling as I overheard his soliloquy.
Of course I was. After all, I had stirred everything up.
In such a quiet rural village, there were always a few veiled incidents; I sequentially read the memories of those around him and prepared a stage just for him. Then, I scattered dozens of clues all over the village.
Not many were actually used, but since the biggest case was dredged up, I was quite satisfied.
“That was the worst day of my life…It really was like hell.”
That was the Policeman’s Hell I had prepared just for you.
Anyway, you endured it quite well, Police Inspector Evian. You know, it was a present I had prepared with quite a bit of effort.
“Heh, take good care of that epaulet until I pass by next time, okay?”
This time, I didn’t have enough time to prepare, so I could only touch on the big issues. There were still cases like the affair and the identity of the field’s pumpkin thief.
And, truthfully, about the relationship between your mother and Bern…. Hmmm. Let’s leave it at that.
Well, anyway. This is enough. If I happen to pass near Edelphite again, I will show you another hell. Hahaha!
I was internally laughing as I passed in front of the police station.
｢…What’s this? That man…His silhouette is unfamiliar.｣
Inspector Evian, who was in an exhausted state, suddenly grabbed his steel baton and strode out.
No, wait. Wait a minute. Hold up. Why are you like this?
I was just Person 1 walking by, doing nothing wrong. Why are you suddenly coming after me with a steel baton? There’s no evidence or anything, right?
However, fleeing in fear would be the act of a third-rate criminal. As a first-rate criminal, I would act calmly even under suspicion. I walked steady steps, paying no heed.
Without evidence or charges, he would likely give up after adequately suspecting me….
“You. Stop right there.”
What in the world? Why did he pinpoint me so accurately?
Normally, I should stop here; I had to respond calmly and avoid suspicion. Running away like a novice would practically be admitting that I was guilty.
But why? What is this strange certainty I feel from Inspector Evian…!
｢He resembles a criminal I saw before. There is no way I am mistaken. I don’t know about other things, but my instincts are never wrong.｣
No, I mean you could be wrong sometimes, couldn’t you?
Sure, you’re not wrong this time! But being so certain could lead to catching the wrong person! I see that the Military State’s motto to create a hundred innocent victims rather than let one criminal escape is…!
Being upheld well. Huh. It’s amazing how professionally you’re sticking to it.
｢I’ll apprehend him for now before starting.｣
Alrighty then. Time to run.
I took off running.
“Stop right there!”
Evian bellowed at the top of his lungs, spinning the steel baton over his head.
The setting sun was red, shining an evening glow. After having its long-kept secrets unraveled in just one day, darkness fell over Edelphite once again.
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