Lost Gold Vyn Investigation 02-05
Overview
- "There is a saying... One cannot see the forest for the trees."
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards:
Astral Memory x20
- Unlock Condition:
Emergency Medicine x280, 
Lumber x70, 
MRE x210, 
Drinking Water x140 - Note - During its initial limited run, this stage's first clear reward was:
Hunter's Badge x50 - Note - During its initial limited run, this stage's unlock condition was: Emergency Medicine x320, Lumber x80, MRE x240, Drinking Water x160
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
Mountain
Now that his lies have been exposed, Zachary looks somewhat dejected.
You all have to keep going forward to make it to the camp by nightfall.
Along the way, Zachary tells you just how he found the gold riddle.
Zachary Clarke: Actually, I already knew that the gold was on the island the first time I came.
Zachary Clarke: It all started when Joshua asked me to bring him a book.
Prison Meeting Room
Joshua Ott: Dr. Clarke, I recently read a book about ancient Egypt.
Joshua Ott: I found it quite interesting. Could you borrow a book from the public library for me?
Zachary Clarke: What book? The prison's electronic library doesn't have it?
Zachary Clarke: Unless you're talking about a banned book...
Joshua Ott: It's not exactly banned. It's just quite rare, and pretty old.
Joshua Ott: I only found the name of it in the prison's library. I can't find the book itself.
Zachary Clarke: You've piqued my curiosity. Which book is it?
Joshua Ott: The Book of the Dead. I know that the public library has a physical copy of it.
Joshua Ott: Dr. Clarke, you'll help me, right?
Joshua signals with his eyes; both men are now on the same page.
Zachary Clarke: It's good that you enjoy studying.
Zachary Clarke: If the other prisoners were more like you, then they could all shorten their sentences.
Zachary Clarke: They could find nice jobs after being released and start their lives anew.
Joshua Ott: Such profound words. One look and you're nothing like us rabble.
Zachary Clarke: I'll borrow the book for you, but you have to remember to return it on time.
Zachary Clarke: If the book becomes overdue, it'll affect my credit record.
Joshua Ott: Don't worry, I won't cause you any trouble.
You: You were already thinking about Nosta's legends of gold when Joshua asked you to borrow a book for him?
Zachary Clarke: Of course not. I didn't think much about it then.
Zachary Clarke: It was only when Joshua returned the book to me that I thought about Nosta's gold.
Zachary Clarke: When Joshua returned the Book of the Dead to me, I found a handwritten note inside.
Zachary Clarke: On the note was a simple map of Nosta along with a few lines of poetry.
Vyn: You connected it to why Joshua was imprisoned, and you suspected that the poem was related to the gold, so you came to Nosta...
Vyn: You were trying to find the gold for yourself back then, were you not?
Vyn: At that time, Joshua was not malicious towards you and had not threatened you to assist in his commutation?
Zachary Clarke: Right. Our relationship was fine back then.
Zachary Clarke: After I got the note, I immediately made time to visit Nosta.
Zachary Clarke: After spending days on the island, I found a cave that matched the riddle, but there was nothing inside.
Zachary Clarke: I only learned after we parted ways this time around that his old fellows had died in that same cave.
Zachary Clarke: It's where he will go to pay his respects.
Zachary Clarke: The riddle on the note was him mimicking the real riddle for fun.
Vyn: Do you still remember the "false" riddle?
Zachary Clarke: No, I don't. That riddle didn't flow well, so it was hard to remember.
Vyn: Then, when did Joshua give you the parchment currently in your possession?
Zachary Clarke: Before we landed on the island this time.
Zachary Clarke: I already explored the marsh and the nearby environment the last time I was here, so I'm familiar with it all.
You: You went to ask Joshua after your first failed attempt to find the gold?
You: Did you ever consider that there's no gold on this island at all?
Zachary Clarke: There must be gold on the island.
Zachary's certainty surprises you.
You: Why?
Zachary Clarke: If there's no gold, then why would Joshua want to borrow the Book of the Dead?
Zachary Clarke: I checked his prison borrowing records. He never read anything about ancient Egypt during his imprisonment.
Zachary Clarke: He borrowed that book specifically to find the answer to the riddle left by the second-in-charge.
Zachary Clarke: He was eager to get out after hearing that Pax had bought the island's development rights. This also confirms the legend of the gold.
Zachary Clarke: Otherwise, he was due to be released in two years. There's no other reason why he would be so eager to get out.
Zachary Clarke: He was afraid that Pax would dig out his gold.
Vyn: Zachary, do you know if Joshua is close to anyone other than you?
Interestingly, Vyn asks a question unrelated to the gold.
Zachary Clarke: I don't think so. Even if there are such people, they'd just be inmates.
Vyn: ...
While talking, you all arrive at the Night River.
Standing on top of a hill, you see a simple pier by the river that the organizers had constructed.
Zachary impatiently jumps down from the hill and runs towards the pier.
You: Vyn, do you really think there's gold on the island?
You: Why do I have a feeling that Joshua was lying to Zachary?
Vyn: If I have to provide an answer, then I believe that there is certainly something precious hidden on the island.
Vyn: As for whether it is gold or not, I am uncertain.
You: Why?
Vyn: Putting aside our current conversation, why do you think Luke came here?
Vyn: We may not be in a position to ask, but that does not mean something is not happening.
You: Hmm... Makes sense.
Vyn: As for Joshua...
Zachary is waving at you from a short distance away. He has already untied the boat at the jetty.
Zachary Clarke: Hey! Hurry up, you two!
You: If I'm not mistaken, didn't we force him to come with us...
You: Isn't he a bit too energetic for a hostage?
Vyn: Before he finds the gold and leaves Nosta safely, he will not leave us and act on his own.
You: Why?
Vyn: Zachary is unable to deal with Joshua alone.
Vyn: Theoretically, Joshua cannot transport 100 kilograms of gold by himself...
Vyn: However, Zachary still needs to maintain vigilance in case Joshua decides to murder him.
Vyn: If he is with us, he has safety in numbers and his odds of success will be higher.
You: He's quite thorough with his calculations.
You open the tracking app. Joshua's position is very close to Luke's.
And it looks like they aren't moving towards you.
Vyn: Zachary is not a fool. There is a saying... One cannot see the forest for the trees.
Vyn: The trees that are blinding Zachary must be made of gold.
