Blizzardous Threads of Red Main Story 3-3: Hidden Door
Overview
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards:
Astral Memory x50
- Note - During its initial limited run, this stage's first clear reward was:
Holly Stationery x300
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
Villa Study
There were many clues in the study. Tell Vyn the investigation result as soon as possible.
Luke: We got a match. The fingerprint on the security door in the study is confirmed to belong to Sam Zhang.
You collect all the clues, then compare the lifted fingerprint with Sam Zhang's after Vyn comes back.
The fingerprint on the security door belong to Sam Zhang.
Then it all makes sense.
Marius: Let's sort out our clues.
Marius: A short while back, Ashley Zhang found her brother, Sam, missing...
You: Later, Sam Zhang's body was found in the study. Dr. Richter's examination concluded that he may have suffocated.
Artem: We found allergy-inducing cedar pollen on the study's security door, as well as Sam Zhang's own fingerprint.
You: That means...
You: Sam Zhang must have come in close contact with the security door and inhaled the pollen as a result.
Luke: Yes, because of his prior medical condition, the small amount of pollen was enough to trigger an acute asthma attack.
Marius: Additionally, the killer tampered with Sam Zhang's inhaler, making it impossible for him to use it in an emergency.
You: After suffering from an asthma attack, without the inhaler, he...
Vyn: The killer knew that Sam Zhang would touch the security door and made sure that he had no way out.
Vyn: He was doomed the moment he stepped into the study.
Luke: So the question arises... Why did Sam Zhang come to the study?
You: Was it because of what's behind the security door? I remember you said it was similar to a security door of a bank vault.
You: So there must be a lot of valuable items behind it.
You: He might have speculated that his family heirloom was stored behind it... so he wanted to take a look?
Marius: I don't think it was speculation. I think someone might have told him that what he wanted was behind the door.
Marius: Otherwise, why was he in such a hurry to act when he had not done anything in the few days prior?
Luke: Perhaps he didn't know a few days ago. And today, he got some information that he found believable.
You: Unfortunately, Sam Zhang fell for it.
Artem: The killer left some bait in a trap that took a man's life.
Elijah Yin, Mevis Zeng... Sam Zhang.
People connected to the Zeng family are getting killed off one by one. No one is safe here.
They are like prey in an enclosure, waiting to be picked off by the killer...
Vyn: This is the very epitome of encircling and killing.
Luke: Now what? We have all these questions. Where do we start?
You: Yeah... I think we should investigate the secret of the mountain first, before we can solve the riddle.
You: The Zeng family has too many secrets, such as the pathological reports we found and the abnormal transaction records...
You: I don't think we can easily solve the case until we know what's up with the Zeng family.
Marius: I agree. At the very least, we need to know what's behind this security door and why Sam Zhang was so concerned about it.
Luke: It seems necessary to see what's behind this door.
After deciding on a course of action, you contact Butler Winters to ask if there is a way to open the security door.
But when Winters heard of your plans to open the door, he shakes his head.
Winters: O-open the door?
Winters: No, that won't do. It doesn't matter even if I agreed...
Winters: Mr. Zeng never let us touch the security door. Only the master has the key. We can't open it.
You: Well...
It's hard to imagine opening this security door without a key.
Usually, a door like this has a special safety device...
Triggering the safety device is likely to make it harder to open.
Luke: Butler Winters, with your permission, I can try to open the door.
Winters: Eh!? You...
Luke: I've learned a little about picking locks. I could give it a shot.
Winters: But...
You: Butler Winters, we have no intention of prying into the villa's valuable items.
You: But people keep dying at the villa. As an attorney, I have the responsibility to investigate the truth as soon as possible.
Winters: ...
Winters hesitates for a long time before nodding reluctantly.
Winters: Feel free to give it a shot then.
Winters: Our master died unjustly. If... we can find the killer, then maybe he can rest in peace...
After Winters is barely convinced, it's all up to Luke now.
He takes a lot of unfamiliar tools from his small bag, lining them up on the floor.
You: Luke...
Luke: Don't worry, I can do it.
You: Yeah.
Whenever Luke makes a promise, it is worth believing in him.
Seeing how calm he looks, the uneasiness in your heart also calms down.
Luke's movements are swift. He takes a stethoscope-like instrument and places it on the security door.
Then, he turns the lock plate on the security door from time to time...
Luke: It's open.
You: ???
You: Already?
Luke: Yeah, I got lucky this time while trying to figure out the structure of the lock. That's why I was able to open it so easily.
Luke stands up after putting away his tools. Then, he holds the door handle and rotates it.
*click* A dull sound originates from the metal security door before it slowly opens to reveal a deep narrow gap...
You: You're incredible!
Vyn: It seems luck is a part of strength.
Artem: We don't know what's inside, so let's all be careful.
Luke: [Player], be careful. Stay close to me.
You: I'll be careful.
Marius: Miss, don't worry. I'll shield you from the front.
You: ...Yeah, I know. Let's go inside?
Your team is good at everything, except... some things happen once in a while that you don't quite know how to deal with.
Like this moment right now.
Collection Room
Enter the closed security door in the study to investigate what's inside.
With Butler Winters' permission, you all walk into the room hidden behind the security door of the study.
You: This...
Artem: It's the collection room.
Hidden behind the security door is a modern collection room, very much different from the rest of the villa.
Instead of the antique decorations in the hall, there is a dark and strange atmosphere surrounding it...
Marius: We were right. This is where the Zeng family houses their collection.
Marius: If the auction proceeded as usual... I'm sure they would have all been sold.
Luke: Look at the stuff piled up on the shelf over there...
Luke: That isn't part of the collection, right?
Looking in the direction of where Luke is pointing, there are things piled on a wooden cabinet in the north part of the room.
Some are neatly arranged, while others are thrown together haphazardly.
These items are clearly not part of the collection, but rather, unnecessary clutter in people's lives.
You: ...Let's go take a look?
Vyn: [Player], how about we get everyone inside to investigate the collection?
You: Hmm?
Vyn: The people waiting in the hall are anxious to get in.
Vyn: If we tell people that there is something strange in the collection room...
Vyn: I wonder how the guilty would react?
You: I'm guessing they would be scared or upset...
Vyn: Yes. We can use this opportunity to determine our next step.
Marius: I like Vyn's plan.
Marius: Didn't Tony say there was something up with Dr. Lee? Let's try him first.
Vyn: It is rare for you to say that.
Marius: Don't misunderstand. I'm not complimenting you, I just acknowledge your plan.
These two... A few more words in the conversation and the tension escalates.
You quickly interrupt their conversation by changing the subject.
You: All right, let's notify everyone to come in so we can observe them.
After confirming the plan, Artem invites the guests into the collection room.
As everyone enters the collection room in twos and threes, your investigation formally starts...
Collection Room
Many secrets are hidden in the collection room. Look around to see if there is anything noteworthy.
Vyn: This red enamel vase... I think I have seen it before.
You: Eh?
Vyn: I remember now. I saw it at an auction in Svart.
Vyn: I did not think it was the Zeng family who bought it.
You: Wow, the collection even has pieces from abroad...
You: (Every piece in the Zeng family's collection looks priceless.)
You: (How much would everything here be worth?)
You: (Forget it, this question is beyond the scope of my consideration...)
You: !!!
You: There's another security door!
You: It looks like the same security door as before. Will it open the same way?
You: What could be hidden behind this door?
You: Forget it, I won't get an answer even if I try. I need to wait to discuss this with the others.
You: As expected, there's a lot of junk.
You: Backpack, notebooks, and... clothes?
Artem: ...There is a lot of writing in this notebook. The handwriting indicates it belonged to a child.
You: "Travel notes: I'm happy I got to go mushroom picking with Mimi today."
You: It looks like a child's diary for practicing handwriting.
You: Huh? Wait... Mimi...?
Mimi: Did you call me?
A young girl replies to you. Somehow, the local Yuchen Town girl, Mimi, comes up to you.
Mimi: Wait. Is this...!?
Mimi grabs the notebook in your hands. She quickly flips through the pages, tears welling up in her eyes.
You: What's wrong? You...
Mimi: It's... It's my-
You: Slow down, slow down.
Mimi: This belonged to my neighbor! It's his diary!
Mimi: And that backpack... Yeah, the one at the bottom of the shelf...
Mimi: That's also his backpack. I know it is!
Artem: Can you elaborate for us?
Mimi: When I was young, there was a big brother in the neighborhood who was very kind to me.
Mimi: Then one day, he suddenly disappeared. I couldn't find him anywhere.
Mimi: They told me that he had gone abroad to study. I was sad for a long time...
Mimi: But, why are his things here? *sobs*... What's going on?
You: (The personal belongings of someone who was supposed to have gone abroad have ended up here in the Zeng family's collection.)
You: (Everything about this is odd...)
Luke: ...
You: Luke, what is it?
Luke: Look at this: brooches, handkerchiefs, and watches... These things don't have any collection value.
Luke: I don't understand. Why would the Zengs keep these things as part of their collection?
Brooches, handkerchiefs, and watches... There is a huge question mark in your head.
You: Have you noticed that these personal effects don't belong to the same person?
Luke: The differences are obvious. Some items are even from different eras and it's unlikely that they belong to the same person.
You: Yeah...
Looking at these objects, bad associations arise in your mind.
You: Marius, what's wrong?
Marius: ...
He stands by a collection box, silent and gloomy.
You: Marius?
He only comes to his senses after you go over and tap him on the shoulder.
Marius: Nothing. I just... I found something.
You: Hey, this looks like the metal ornament we found earlier.
Then, you notice him holding something in his hand.
It is similar in shape to the metal twig you found on the carpet under Mevis Zeng's desk.
The material looks ancient, with metal branches decorated with leaves and fruit, like it was imitating a plant.
Marius: It's a brooch. A holly brooch.
Marius falls silent, then gently turns over his hand to show it to you.
On the back of the metal branch is a small pin.
You: A holly brooch... Could it be...
Marius: Yeah, it's hers.
Marius: This is the first brooch that Payton ever made.
You: ...
For the holly brooch to appear in the villa, it proves that Marius' speculation wasn't groundless.
Something must have happened here. Something that has to do with Payton's old lover, Holly.
But what really happened? You don't dare to guess. You don't want to guess...
(Obtain evidence: Rusted Holly Brooch)
Summary
Character(s)
Evidence
Rusted Holly Brooch (3D)
A rusted holly fruit brooch found in the storage room behind the Zeng's study. This is probably from decades ago. Despite its dull appearance, it carries a touching memory.
