| Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Epilogue | |
| A Sudden Commission | Investigation Notes | ||||||
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Circulating Rumors[]
2-1 Ambush[]
| "Let's talk about today's story..." | |
| Lady Truth never goes anywhere these days without that radio. | |
| Even the cat on Mr. Iridescence's shoulder seems curious about the noisy gadget in my hand, poking its head out for a look. | |
| After hearing what Mr. Story Enthusiast said, I just had to try out that crosswalk he mentioned... If it's all about luck, then I'll just keep trying! But even if luck isn't on our side, it's okay. I don't believe those thieves could've wiped out every evidence. With careful observation and some good investigating, I'm sure we'll catch those thieves and get the gem back! | |
| I have faith in your skills and professionalism, Lady Truth. No need to keep proving yourself. | |
| Oh... It's just that a lot of first-time clients start to worry when there's no progress. I was hoping to set your mind at ease! People like Mr. Iridescence are pretty rare. | |
| It's really not a big deal. I'd never doubt the detective I hired. | |
| S-sorry for being late... | |
| Just as I was touched by Mr. Iridescence's trust, Mr. Nether Pact found us. He'd also noticed the radio that wouldn't stop crackling. | |
| Listening to stories, Lady Truth? | |
| Actually, I'm trying to find the frequency the thieves used to communicate. Haven't had much luck, but hey, the stories are fun to listen to anyway! | |
| Maybe... try tuning between 3 and 8. Lots of underground dwellers use those frequencies to talk. | |
| That's still a huge range... I'm not a fan of just randomly trying things and hoping for the best. It feels like there's nothing I can really do. Well, at least Mr. Story Enthusiast's channel is playing detective stories lately. I guess I'm getting a little inspired by them, too. | |
| "...Then, as the danger crept closer, the brave and clever Frey made her choice... kzzzt..." | |
| Lady Truth, when we get close to the Market, you might want to turn that off... or switch frequencies. Folks around here aren't too fond of detectives. | |
| (Mr. Iridescence's comments about "outsiders" come to mind, and I get why Mr. Nether Pact is worried.) Got it! Better safe than to sorry, right? | |
| "...She decided... kzzzt... to meet at the Market today, don't forget." | |
| Wait, there's a different voice coming through the radio now! | |
| "Yeah, just waiting to move the goods today..." | |
| The signal's a little distorted, but it's definitely not the story channel host. Did I actually pick up the thieves' frequency? | |
| If it really is them, it sounds like they're planning to unload the stolen goods today. We have to move fast! | |
| Exactly! Mr. Nether Pact, please don't worry about us—just hurry! | |
| Alright. If we're in a rush, I know a shortcut... | |
| Mr. Nether Pact knows the underground like the back of his hand. The layout is a real maze, and in some places, there's not even a real "path." He didn't seem lost for a second, leading us through the gaps in the rubble until we entered a long, shadowy tunnel. | |
| It's pitch dark here, and the air is really thick... | |
| Most people living down here don't have the means or energy to improve their surroundings, so most areas are just left abandoned like this. It feels like the forgotten edge of the world, the ruins of civilization... but to me, it's peaceful. But the Market is actually kept in great shape by Mr. Gold Foil and his group. | |
| Mr. Gold Foil? Is he someone important? | |
| Yeah, Mr. Gold Foil is the leader of "Hermes," the largest intelligence network underground. Besides trading information, they also make sure supplies flow smoothly. Even the Market is run and kept in order by them. He's got a direct way of making sure everyone follows his rules: "No fighting in or near the Market—break the rule, and you'll never be allowed to trade with any of his organizations again." He's set up a whole new way of surviving down here, and everyone knows exactly what they risk if they challenge him. | |
| And since he controls such a huge network, his threats actually mean something. | |
| Mr. Iridescence, you've heard of him too? | |
| Only a little. | |
| I really admire Mr. Gold Foil. He didn't just set up the rules—he sent people to patrol the Market, too. He's stopped a lot of fights before they could start. Without someone like him, this place would be pure chaos. | |
| So, does that mean there aren't any other big organizations or stable marketplaces underground? | |
| That's right. Sometimes people barter, but the scales are usually tiny and just within tight-knit groups. Once the transactions get bigger, it's hard to keep control. | |
| Monopoly makes a fortune for whoever is in charge. As a businessman, it makes sense he'd go that route. You can't really survive in this kind of underground chaos by being a "good guy," at least no in the usual sense. | |
| But honestly, he doesn't sound like a typical villain, either! If I ever get the chance, I'd love to meet him. Oh, is the tunnel getting wider? Are we almost there? | |
| Watch out! | |
| Just as we were about to round a corner at the tunnel entrance, Mr. Iridescence suddenly pulled me behind him. Mr. Nether Pact was a split-second slower, but he quickly raised his shovel. A dark figure jumped out of nowhere and launched a quick attack on Mr. Iridescence. The blade gleamed in the dim tunnel. Mr. Iridescence barely blocked the blow with his suitcase, but I could feel how hard he was hit. The attacker was covered head to toe in a black cloak, making it impossible to spot any clues about who they were. Suddenly, Mr. Iridescence pushed me away. | |
| You two go ahead. Head for the Market and find whoever is in charge. | |
| (The attacker was ruthless and didn't hold back. I was really worried about Mr. Iridescence, but I knew what I had to do.) (I had no idea if the attacker had backup, and staying here wouldn't help.) (Even if I hesitated, the smartest move was to get to the Market as fast as possible and find help!) Mr. Nether Pact, let's get going! (According to what Mr. Nether Pact before, fights like this aren't supposed to happen near the Market!) | |
| Alright... follow me! | |
| (But now all the pressure is on Mr. Iridescence...) (The attacker seemed ready to go after all of us, but when we ran, Mr. Iridescence blocked their way.) (Now, Mr. Iridescence's suitcase was open, and he'd pulled out a few glass vials to hold in his hand.) (The cat he'd been carrying was now set down a safe distance away, but it was still baring its claws at the attacker.) | |
2-2 A Familiar Face[]
| Phew... We finally made it! (Maybe it was the long walk through the tunnels, but stepping into the bright marketplace made the light feel almost blinding for a second.) (Even though it's not really that bright here...) (Before I could catch my breath, I scanned the area, looking for the help we desperately needed.) | ||||||
| Stall There were stalls everywhere, selling all kinds of goods, most of them clearly secondhand. Pedestrian Everyone in the Market—buyers and sellers alike—gave us a wide berth. | ||||||
| ||||||
| (I could feel people watching us, but it's unimportant! I found what I needed!) Excuse me, sir—there was an attack outside the Market! Our friend stayed behind to cover us and is still fighting the attacker! | ||||||
| The tall guard turned slowly, his heavy weapon scraping against the ground with a chilling sound. | ||||||
| (What made me relax a little was that he didn't question my story at all.) | ||||||
| Where is it? | ||||||
| It's... this way, please follow me! | ||||||
| ...... | ||||||
| So, all things considered, Lady Truth, your side of things went pretty smoothly. | ||||||
| It wasn't much, really. Luckily, as soon as the attacker saw the guard, they ran off. I was so worried that if I'd been any later, your wounds might have been much worse. Letting a client cover our retreat is a detective's failure—and if you got hurt because of that... | ||||||
| It was my choice. I hired a detective not a bodyguard. All you need to do is find the truth and recover the gem. | ||||||
| That's not true! Even if that's how you see it, I can't accept it. As a detective, I have my own sense of responsibility— I can't believe I let my client get hurt protecting me... | ||||||
| No, it's just a little scratch, and I was protecting myself, too. | ||||||
| (That's not how I see it! I protest silently.) (But even though we haven't known each other long, it's clear Mr. Iridescence is stubborn. People like him aren't easy to persuade with words.) (I decide not to argue with him—it doesn't matter. There are more important things to focus on now.) Excuse me, sir, is there a doctor here? My friend is injured and needs medical attention. | ||||||
| Come with me. | ||||||
| The guard led us through the market, and it was only then that I finally had a chance to look around. Most of the stalls were put together with whatever was on hand—a table here, a blanket spread out there, and business was up and running. At first glance, it didn't seem much different from any regular flea market. The biggest difference was that both vendors and shoppers were bundled up tight, making sure not to reveal anything personal. Their conversations were quick and hushed, and they all seemed completely indifferent to everything around them. | ||||||
| (They were deliberately ignoring me and Mr. Iridescence, but kept sneaking glances at Mr. Nether Pact.) (Is it because of how we're dressed? Maybe Mr. Iridescence and I don't look like we belong underground?) | ||||||
| This is the doctor. I'll leave you to it. | ||||||
| Oh! Thank you, sir! (I snapped out of my thoughts, waved goodbye as the guard left, and turned to meet the doctor's gaze.) (She was leaning against a table, toying with a syringe.) | ||||||
| Hat Her hat and clothes were made of fine fabric, with barely a scratch or stain on them. Face She smiled gently, but her dark makeup gave her a slightly distant, intimidating aura. Waist The syringe looked sharp—probably her tool of choice. | ||||||
| ||||||
| (Huh? Weird... why does this doctor look familiar? Have we met somewhere before?) | ||||||
| Call me Antimony. Is this the patient? Just so you know, I only brought the basics—if it's a big wound, you'll have to tough it out for now. | ||||||
| It's just a surface wound. I know a bit about first aid, so just some bandaging and topping the bleeding should do. | ||||||
| Mr. Iridescence quickly rolled up his sleeve to show the injury. The dark red gash ran almost the length of his arm, but he looked unfazed, even adjusting to Snowball on his shoulder. | ||||||
| Looks like you weren't exaggerating. You could probably handle this yourself. | ||||||
| Still, I'd rather leave it to a pro. | ||||||
| Heh, you're a straight arrow, huh? I heard you guys got attacked nearby? I'll just send the bill to Gold Foil. Come here, I'll take care of it. No painkillers here, so just grit your teeth. | ||||||
| Wait, Mr. Gold Foil's group covers medical bills, too? I thought they just kept the peace and helped people find doctors. | ||||||
| Of course. And if they catch whoever caused the trouble, all their assets get "confiscated." That money goes to pay for the victims' medical bills first. But even if they can't catch the culprit or there's not enough money, they'll still cover the costs upfront. Doctors and medicine are hard to come by down here. That's why people actually follow their rules. Especially medicine for treating wounds—everyone's after it. You're lucky, not just ant doctor has this stuff. | ||||||
| So, Miss Antimony, you must be pretty busy as a doctor here, right? | ||||||
| You could say that. There aren't many doctors around who are both skilled and trustworthy, and "Hermes" even brings patients straight to me sometimes. There's never really a slow day. But I won't cut into my own rest time—if someone's unlucky enough with their timing, they just have to wait. | ||||||
| (With medical resources so tight down here, maybe I can ask Antimony about a lead before checking with the real intel brokers.) | ||||||
| Verify with Miss Antimony | ||||||
| ||||||
| Bloodstains in the Corner | ||||||
| (The only ones who could've left blood in the vault are the robbers. Maybe they fought among themselves, or someone got hurt by accident.) (But judging the blood left behind, it wasn't just a little scrape you could ignore.) Miss Antimony, have you treated anyone with heavy blood loss in the past week? | ||||||
| That happens all the time around here. If you're trying to track someone down, don't waste your time looking for shortcuts. Just buy the info from Gold Foil. Judging by your friend's style, money's not a problem. At least if you pay Gold Foil, you know the info is legit. After all, no patient wants to get patched up just to be sold out by their doctor, right? Sometimes, hiring a third party really is the easiest way. | ||||||
| Ah, I get it! So, how do I get in touch with Mr. Gold Foil or his group? | ||||||
| You know his name and came here today, but don't know where he is? The most eye-catching building— | ||||||
| I followed Antimony's finger and saw a neat, well-lit building. It looked like it used to be a ticket booth, but now the front desk was covered in stacks of documents. A tall man was sitting inside, looking sharp and perfectly at ease. Even from a distance, he seemed to notice me staring, looking up slightly, and met my gaze. | ||||||
| Hat His hat was pulled low, hiding most of his face, making him look a little mysterious. Face He had sharp features and a scar over his right eye that nearly crossed the eyeball. Body He sat with a quiet confidence, like someone well-educated. | ||||||
2-3 Code of Exchange[]
| |
| (I could sense Mr. Iridescence and Mr. Nether Pact were both a little tense for some reason, so I decided to introduce myself first.) Excuse me, sir, are you Mr. Gold Foil? | |
| He nodded, calmly rolled up the paper he'd been writing on, and slipped it into a strange cylindrical case. | |
| That's me. How can I help you, miss? | |
| I'd like to buy some information from you. | |
| A new customer, I see. Go ahead—what do you want to know? "Hermes" always offers fair prices. | |
| How much do you know about the crew responsible for the Wightlow bank heist a week ago? (I kept a close eye on Mr. Gold Foil's expression.) (Guys like him are usually hard to read—you never know if they're telling the truth.) | |
| I do know who pulled that job, but it was a spur-of-the-moment thing, so there isn't much info. You're new here, so maybe you don't know the rules. Even if we know someone's identity, "Hermes" doesn't just hand that over. Too many people come here looking for answers, and just as many want to keep secrets. We only provide info that helps you get closer to the truth, and we guarantee it's accurate. | |
| So the rest... is up to the customer to piece together? | |
| That's one way to put it. Most people just call it finding their "target." But you've got the right idea, detective. So you'll have to ask a different way. | |
| (So I need to ask about traits or clues that could point to the robbers, not directly about their identities.) (But Mr. Gold Foil already dropped a hint...) (If it was a spur-of-the-moment heist, they'd need special tools to dig out that hole in the vault.) Mr. Gold Foil, then... do you know if anyone has bought a lot of drilling equipment recently? | |
| A lot of people down here need that sort of thing, but usually it's just for personal use. I get what you're after. Sorry you had such a rough first visit—it's our fault for not keeping things safer. To make up for it, I'll give you this answer for free, miss... | |
| Truth! Please call me Lady Truth! | |
| This address had a bunch of drilling equipment delivered recently. Hope it helps your investigation, Lady Truth. | |
| (Mr. Gold Foil scribbled down an address and slid the paper over to me.) (I should've just thanked him and left, but another question popped into my mind.) You must have figured out I'm a detective. Aren't you worried I might catch those robbers if you give me this info? | |
| You've got me wrong. I'm just a businessman. I care only about keeping the Market stable. I have no stake or interest in anyone's private affairs. If someone gets outplayed, that's on them. Besides, that heist caused quite a stir. Honestly, I'd rather not draw too much outside attention down here. | |
| Is that why you chased off the Ulliel family's investigators before? But if you stop them, won't the police get involved later? Wouldn't that be an even bigger headache? | |
| Not really. Sometimes, the people desperate to get their stuff back are the most reckless. And I know they'll never go to the cops. | |
| Mr. Gold Foil's words seem to carry extra meaning, and just then, Mr. Iridescence, who'd been quietly listening, cut in. | |
| Let's go, Lady Truth. We've got the address, and time's ticking. | |
| Right! Thanks for your help, Mr. Gold Foil! We'll be off! | |
| We walked away, and only when we were a safe distance did Mr. Nether Pact finally breathe easy and peek at the address. | |
| Mr. Nether Pact, you look a little nervous around Mr. Gold Foil. Didn't you say he was a good guy? | |
| He is, but knowing his reputation and how he operates, it's hard not to get a little anxious. Ah! I-I know this address! | |
| Wait, is it someone famous? I thought it'd be some secret hideout we'd have to hunt for! | |
| Well... he's pretty well-known. The guy who lives here is a bit of a rogue...... He only steals things that interest him, just for the challenge. He does whatever he wants—hard to pin down. I've run into him a few times since he lives nearby. He's a real wildcard. If he's in a good mood, he's easy to deal with. I'll take you to him. | |
