Obviously, It's My Child - Chapter 141
『Herman Ludendorff』
This one can be discarded.
Just as Erich decided, Claire’s hand reached out and snatched the letter away.
“I’ll read it to you, so don’t worry and hand it over.”
Erich frowned slightly.
“You seem to be misunderstanding something. I’m not exactly…”
“You’re jealous, aren’t you? Unnecessarily so.”
Claire casually said and placed that letter on top of the pile on the table.
Gustav smiled. There had been debates among the guests at the engagement party and wedding about whether it was a real love marriage or not, and he wished they could see this scene.
“I won’t bother you any further and will ask just one thing. The young master mentioned that the Madam wanted to have charcoal-grilled for dinner?”
“Ah, I just mentioned it on a whim, but it works out! I was thinking of using a small brazier with a grill in the room.”
“What?”
It was when Erich scowled.
The sound of boots hastily running across the stone corridor approached.
Gustav, surprised, went out to greet them first. It was a messenger.
“Walter Mayer has sent an urgent message for you.”
“Bring him in. What’s the matter?”
The messenger glanced at Claire, wondering if it was appropriate to discuss such matters in front of the newly arrived Madam.
Erich gestured for him to speak. The messenger took out Walter’s letter from his bag and handed it to Erich while explaining.
“There was a blasting accident at the Kolberg mine.”
“Were people buried?”
If a report had come to Erich, it likely meant that was the case. If the human casualties were minor or it didn’t require much effort for additional measures, they wouldn’t report every detail.
“No, it wasn’t in the mine itself but at the lodging. A miner who sneaked out explosives lit a cigarette in front of it,” the messenger said.
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.
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- Explosive Accident
Erich and Claire immediately departed from Baden Castle. Elliott looked disappointed, but they couldn’t take the child with them.
They couldn’t just continue their honeymoon leisurely while an accident had occurred, either.
They stopped at Salzgitter and then took a train to Kolberg mine from there. It was a time when the train wouldn’t normally operate, but Erich made an effort to have it run.
Walter Mayer, who managed the city and mine of Kolberg, was overwhelmed by the presence of the Duke and Duchess.
“I didn’t expect you to come all the way here.”
“If I were in the capital, maybe not, but being so close, it’s only natural that I would come.”
Erich said that, prompting Walter to bow even deeper to Claire.
“I apologize, Duchess. It’s unfortunate this happened during your honeymoon.”
“It’s okay. If I had a man who only had eyes for me, accident or not, I would have stabbed him with the red flag of revolution in the middle of the night.”
Walter blinked, not quite understanding her comment.
“How’s the situation?”
“The lodging has been destroyed. Fortunately, the fire wasn’t big and was quickly put under control.”
“Any casualties?”
“Few. It was daytime, so the lodging was almost empty, except for a few people resting. Including the person who caused the accident, there are two fatalities and two minor injuries.”
“Any missing?”
“There are three who did not appear on the roll call. Two of them were on leave, so it’s presumed they went down to the city.”
He then led them to the site of the accident.
The lodging was completely destroyed. Claire was shocked.
“The explosives used in mines are almost like bombs, aren’t they? They’re used to break rocks.”
Though the current level of technology might not guarantee complete safety, it was unlikely that the mine would neglect development. A collapse would lead to the greatest financial loss for the mine owner.
Money speaks the loudest. It was improbable that explosives powerful enough to demolish a lodging like this were used inside the mine.
Walter said with an awkward face.
“It seems a significant amount was involved. At least ten boxes.”
Erich’s gaze fell on Walter. Even without a word of reprimand, the icy stare made Walter bow even lower in apology.
“I’m sorry. It’s my negligence.”
One leftover box could be negligence.
But ten boxes meant they were deliberately taken. Only ten confirmed, but upon rechecking the inventory and warehouse, there could be more.
They were likely sold off secretly. The explosives used in the Kolberg mine came exclusively from a factory owned by Klausener and were intended solely for their use. In addition, they were of very high quality.
“Quickly find those three who were missing from the roll call. And continue the search on the site, just in case.”
“Yes.”
Fortunately, the mine was well-equipped with lighting for use inside the tunnels. As soon as the Duke’s orders were given, all available gas lamps and candles were lit, and miners who had been on standby rushed to clear the debris from the collapsed lodging.
While Erich oversaw the site work and conversed with the overseers, Claire was led to the office area.
Being an outsider in the urgent search operation, there was nothing much she could do. If anything, her presence only served to distract the workers from focusing on their task.
Acknowledging this, Claire decided to leave the site first.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Baron Delford.”
In the absence of the adults busy with accident management, Walter Mayer’s son, a boy who appeared to be just about twelve years old and as cute as a button, was assigned to guide her.
His tense, eager-to-please demeanor was both endearing and pitiable, so Claire engaged him with a smile.
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