Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 506: Volume 6 Chapter 11 - Casano

The two men stared at each other for a long time before the rigid smile on Fatty’s face suddenly came to life. He scratched the back of his head honestly and laughed, ”I was just casually asking.”

Bernadotte shifted his gaze with a peculiar expression. He knew very well what kind of person this seemingly honest and easily bullied Fatty truly was.

For example, if Fatty had a gun to his head, he would definitely beg for mercy, crying and looking as despicable as possible. But if he knew the gun wouldn’t fire or was confident he could disarm you before you shot, he would proudly beat you to a pulp.

As long as he didn’t feel threatened, this guy was an unreasonable rogue in the worst way, never letting anyone off. He wouldn’t give anyone face or follow any rules, and there was nothing he wouldn’t dare do!

And this was precisely what troubled the Supreme Command Department the most.

No one knew what a cornered Fatty might do or how he might do it! Such a person was uncontrollable. Just like when they sent him to Little Pyrenees, who could have expected he would recklessly capture Emperor James of the Empire!

If this kind of thing happened to a high-ranking Allied leader, it would be enough to make anyone’s heart race. The Command Department had hesitated over this a bit when considering this matter. In the end, everyone unanimously decided that Fatty needed to be tightly controlled. Chuckna was not the same as Gazalin; they couldn’t let Fatty run wild.

Bernadotte ignored Fatty’s sycophantic smile, saying sternly, ”You should understand, this matter isn’t simple. There may be a background of big power struggles behind it. Especially under the current circumstances, we cannot easily start conflicts. One misstep, and the entire Federation would be implicated.”

Fatty’s expression was a bit vague, and it was unclear whether he understood. He just kept nodding like a pecking chicken.

”To avoid unnecessary troubles, we hope you maintain objectivity and calm throughout the investigation process. The unit cooperating with you will assess your requests. If anything you do threatens the Federation’s safety, you will be immediately called back for review,” Bernadotte said more sternly.

”Then what kind of authority is that?” Fatty muttered to himself sarcastically but smiled obsequiously, ”Those words... Am I that kind of person who doesn’t know the importance? I’ve survived twenty years without a father or mother, a few more days won’t make a difference.”

Bernadotte was made helpless by Fatty’s sudden non-resistance policy. Even though he knew Fatty’s words were highly discounted, there was no better way. He glared at Fatty, momentarily unsure how to reprimand him.

Russell coughed, taking over the conversation, ”In fact, we don’t believe Fei Alliance played any disgraceful role in the spacecraft accident. Onboard that ship, besides your parents, there were over thirty others, all from Fei Alliance. Considering the Light Society’s rules of sharing results, their being alive benefits Fei Alliance far more than their death.”

Fatty nodded thoughtfully and listened as Russell continued, ”I’ve repeatedly scrutinized the event. The most promising angle is that mechanic named Casano. Why did the spacecraft go off-track, hit an asteroid, and why did he just happen to leave the ship and then disappear? There must be a connection.”

”What was his identity before joining the exploration team?” Fatty asked.

”Technical Director at Chuckna Dragon Mecha Company,” Russell replied, ”Before joining the exploration team, he was highly renowned in Chuckna’s mechanics community. He made an outstanding contribution to Dragon Mecha Company, ranked fifth worldwide in private mecha manufacturing. Even now, twenty years later, those who received his guidance refuse to believe he committed any crime! Besides official records, we don’t have any info on him. Maybe you can start there.”

”Are the people who interacted with him still around?” Fatty asked incredulously. Given the high turnover in corporations, it seemed unlikely after twenty years.

”Yes!” Russell frowned, ”And they are senior mechanics and management at Dragon Mecha Company. It’s said their current success is largely attributed to Casano’s teachings back then! Later, Dragon Mecha became a supplier to the Chuckna Military because of this elite talent pool. You’ll interact with some of them while developing new mecha.”

”Can I beat them up?” Fatty cracked his knuckles loudly, raising one eyebrow and lowering the other, looking very earnestly.

Bernadotte frowned.

”Just kidding, forget I asked.” Fatty quickly shifted the topic, ”What if we can’t find Casano?”

”Investigate the pirate organization called Horror Knight,” Russell replied, ”Though their leaders have vanished, you should find some low-ranking members from back then for clues.”

”Pirates?!” Fatty frowned deeply. These unpredictable, death-defying rogues in the vast cosmos weren’t easily approached.

”No matter how you investigate.” Russell exchanged a glance with Bernadotte and told Fatty, ”The entire event is just our speculation based on historical data accidentally found during new space jump technology research! Until we have concrete evidence, you must avoid conflicts with our allies.”

”I’ll think of ways to investigate. I also have a shortcut the Intelligence Bureau might try,” Fatty’s hands subconsciously played with the sofa armrest.

”Shortcut?” Russell was puzzled. He had scrutinized the entire event thoroughly and discussed it with Bernadotte and even Mihailovich but couldn’t think of any shortcuts aside from the two obvious angles.

”It’s a simple logical deduction,” Fatty’s fingers rapped lightly on the leather sofa, producing a crisp sound. ”The exploration mission of the Light Society’s ship isn’t a secret. If we know about it, there’s no reason Binart Empire, Feiyang Republic, or Chuckna Republic wouldn’t know.”

”New space jump technology is critically significant to any nation,” Fatty analyzed, ”This leads to a logical arrangement. First, Fei Alliance and Western Alliance have been absolute rivals for a century. Second, the culprit behind the spacecraft accident can only be one of them. Lastly, the non-culprit would inevitably investigate the whole incident!”

Russell and Bernadotte’s eyes lit up. Fatty’s simple arrangement highlighted an overlooked issue.

Fatty’s timely voice continued, ”Regardless of why their investigation yielded no results or wasn’t disclosed, such a report must exist. Our task is to obtain the twenty-year-old investigation report to save time and effort.”

”But...” Boswell questioned, ”How can we get such top-secret data?”

”That’s the Intelligence Bureau’s job,” Fatty glanced at Bernadotte, ”It’s almost impossible for adversarial sides not to use evidence against each other if they had it. The only possibility is that the investigation results weren’t enough for an indictment. If so, such records may be secret but only to a limited extent.” He pursed his lips at Bernadotte and sarcastically remarked, ”Failing to get a twenty-year-old file. The Intelligence Bureau must be really incompetent.”

Bernadotte glared fiercely at Fatty. Though annoyed, he had to admit Fatty always pinpointed the crucial aspects. This trait was showcased vividly whether analyzing Russell’s battle strategies or capturing James and killing Stephen in Gazalin.

This was Fatty’s biggest strength.

”I don’t control the Intelligence Bureau,” Bernadotte said, ”But I can discuss this with General Mihailovich. Using special means to obtain the data should be feasible.”

”Alright,” seeing Fatty’s smug look, Boswell coughed twice, ”Fatty, come with me to the lab. I have some questions about your mecha.”

”Okay,” Fatty nodded, agreeing and saying goodbye to Russell and Bernadotte.

”I wonder if our decision to send him is right or wrong,” Bernadotte said, looking at Fatty’s departing figure with a headache. This Fatty evidently didn’t realize his influence and status in Leray. If he knew he was a hero, he might reveal a different side.

”Actually,” Russell said earnestly to Bernadotte, ”You should understand him. A naturally timid person who risks his life for comrades is absolutely trustworthy. He loves life and this country more than anyone.”

”Hey!” came Fatty’s frivolous voice from afar, ”Old man, look, there’s a big-breasted beauty over there!”

********

Fatty was just a vulgar man, extremely crude, and his favorite was ogling women’s chests. He could never get enough.

Let’s not make him refined. Let’s not have him admiring a woman’s delicate feet and ivory skin. I’m just a vulgar man. Bite me!

.(To be continued, for the full story, log on to www.qidian.com, more Chapters are available, support the author, support legitimate reading!)