Marius' Sweet Chapter 03-05: Difference between revisions

From Tears of Themis Wiki
(Marius' Sweet Chapter 03-05)
 
(Moved chapter)
Line 11: Line 11:
===Script===
===Script===
{{Script
{{Script
|scriptHeader=Darkness Approaches (1)
|scriptHeader=Reconsolidation (1)
|characterLinks=You!Main Character,Marius!Marius von Hagen
|characterLinks=You!Main Character,Marius!Marius von Hagen,Vincent Kim!Vincent Kim
|script=
|script=
{{Float|{{Background location|name=President's Office|location=Pax Group|image=Pax Group - President's Office (Day).png}}}}
{{Float|{{Background location|name=Marius' Bedroom|location=Von Hagen Estate|image=Von Hagen Estate - Marius' Room (Day).png}}}}
''Return to the office for a meeting''
''Progress the story''


After returning to the office, you bring up the question regarding the culprit once again.
After a few days of rest, Marius is nearly fully recovered.


{{SL|You|Were the damages to the North Stellis counterfeit companies really that severe...?}}
Of course, that includes both the exterior injuries and...
{{SL|Marius|Yup. Actually, it's probably a lot more than what you've imagined.}}
It's pretty clear that the counterfeit companies are the ones responsible based on the information gathered from before.


However, there's still one question that continues to bother you.
{{SL|You|Your temperature and wounds are... both fine.}}
{{SL|You|Do you still feel dizzy?}}
{{SL|Marius|...}}
{{SL|You|What is it...? Why aren't you responding?}}
Marius doesn't reply. Instead, he looks at you with a bitter look.


Why would they need to go so far out of their way and invest so many resources into targeting Pax employees?
{{SL|Marius|I feel dizzy, very... dizzy.}}
He moves the hand you've placed on his hair down to his cheek, as if to prove what he just said.


{{SL|Marius|On the surface, the products sold by the counterfeit companies are cheap, low-quality goods.}}
{{SL|Marius|See? I can't even sit properly without you helping me.}}
{{SL|Marius|Although they did have to pay Pax a large sum of money after losing the case, it's still not enough to warrant such severe retaliation.}}
{{SL|You|...Really?}}
{{SL|You|So, in reality, their losses must've been much more significant after Pax defeated them in court.}}
{{SL|Marius|I really am dizzy... I need at least five... no, six company reports to feel better.}}
{{SL|You|Did you go after them from a different angle as well?}}
{{SL|You|...}}
{{SL|Marius|Yeah, you guessed right.}}
You let out a long breath and suppress the explosive impulse inside of you. You put away your phone, look at him, and take back the hand he's holding onto.
Marius smiles. He pours a glass of warm water and brings it up to your lips.


{{SL|Marius|As for the reason for going after them... Do you still remember the Xbone II's product motto?}}
You then pinch his cheeks and pull them in opposite directions.
{{SL|You|I think it was "Inexpensive and High-quality"?}}
{{SL|Marius|Yes. The manufacturing cost for the Xbone was actually very high, making it difficult for the average person to afford one.}}
{{SL|Marius|That's why the second-generation product started development so quickly. One of our goals is to expand our target users, and the other...}}
{{SL|You|Is it to quickly purge the market of cheap and low-quality counterfeit products...?}}
{{SL|Marius|Yep. It'd be fine if all they were trying to do was make money off counterfeit goods. In that case, Pax's PR and legal departments would just take care of them.}}
{{SL|Marius|But previously, there were many cases stating that people were getting repeat injuries from using counterfeit Xbone products.}}
{{SL|Marius|I can't let them ruin Pax's brand like that. The purpose for the Xbone's development is not so they can fill their pockets with blood-stained money.}}
{{SL|You|So not only did you sue and cause the companies to go bankrupt, you even worked with the police to upend an entire illegal counterfeit pharmaceutical industry, am I right?}}
{{SL|Marius|Yup. After the lawsuits that month, I met many of the distributors and cut off their sales channels.}}
{{SL|You|(He's quick and resolute when it comes to things like this...)}}
{{SL|You|Yeah... I would say you really backed them into a corner.}}
{{SL|You|It'd be likely that they'd want revenge after something like that.}}
{{SL|You|But... this still doesn't explain why they would start with your employees.}}
The best part about revenge is getting an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.


The ultimate goal of dispersing Pax's employees is to ruin the Xbone II's launch... but what if Pax was able to find suitable replacements?
{{SL|Marius|Wahh! It hurts!}}
{{SL|You|Are you still feeling dizzy?}}
{{SL|Marius|I'm good now! I'm cured of everything. I'm in perfect shape.}}
After playing around for a while, he grabs your hands and holds you in his arms.


{{SL|Marius|Miss, think about it, what kind of people would use threatening and intimidating tactics like these?}}
{{SL|Marius|I'm just messing with you... See how wound up you are every day?}}
{{SL|Marius|They could simply use money to break apart my team or even get a lobbyist to do the job. Those methods would leave no traces.}}
{{SL|Marius|I would be really sad if you were to collapse as I got better.}}
{{SL|Marius|So why did they elect to use a method that would eventually catch the Police's attention...? Why would they do something like that?}}
{{SL|You|Yeah, but that's all because of you! Have you heard of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"?}}
{{SL|You|Because...}}
{{SL|Marius|I'm sorry... I won't do it again.}}
{{SL|You|...}}


{{SC
{{Float|{{Background location|name=Hospital Ward|location=Hospital Ward|image=Hospital - Patient Room (Night).png}}}}
|choice1=It needs to be quick and obvious
Three days ago at the hospital...
|script1=
A feeling of disgust rises up inside you as you think about the unethical methods that counterfeit companies use to make money.


However, at the same time, you begin to get an idea of what kind of people they are.
After watching the doctor leave, you sit by the bed as Marius clenches on to your hand. He is immersed in the joy of not having been dumped.


{{SL|You|Because they want to be quick and obvious. They want to use defeating you and Xbone as the foundation for their status in the industry.}}
{{SL|You|...Do you want some water? I'll go get some for you.}}
{{SL|You|They've always been after a quick buck. After being weeded out by you so quickly, they definitely want to shame you as much as possible.}}
{{SL|Marius|No, just stay right here and let me look at you a little longer.}}
{{SL|Marius|Yes, that's what I think as well. They won't be satisfied unless my reputation is completely ruined.}}
{{SL|You|You'll have all the time in the world to look at me. I told you - I'll always be by your side.}}
{{SL|Marius|However, there's something even more important-they're working against the clock as well.}}
{{SL|Marius|Forever and ever?}}
{{SL|Marius|The most important thing for the Xbone II recently is the press release in a couple of days.}}
{{SL|You|Yes, forever and ever.}}
|choice2=They want to retaliate in a more severe way
{{SL|Marius|Then can you take a few more days off and go on a vacation with me? You know, get some fresh air?}}
|script2=
{{SL|You|Of course.}}
There are clearly more convenient and covert ways of handling it, but they chose to take the long route and use even more despicable methods...
{{SL|Marius|Oh, and I heard that many restaurants are introducing new dishes. How about we try one out every day starting next week?}}
{{SL|You|Next week... But we have to wait until you're recovered.}}
{{SL|Marius|You just said that you'd be by my side forever and ever...}}
Seeing the disappointed look on his face, you have no choice but to give in.


If that's the case, their most obvious goal would be to...
{{SL|You|Fine...}}
The hospital room door suddenly opens, and a man walks in with fast strides.


{{SL|You|They want to intensify their retaliation toward you?}}
Before the two of you can react, he comes to a quick stop and turns around to leave the room.
{{SL|Marius|You mean to say... that their goal is no longer just me, but also Pax and the other employees?}}
{{SL|You|After all, most of their factories have been shut down. They don't really have a way out.}}
{{SL|You|It's possible that they're taking it out on the Pax employees as well?}}
{{SL|Marius|You're right. It is possible.}}
{{SL|Marius|But after taking such a hard blow, they won't be able to regain their strength in such a short period of time and handle prolonged conflict with Pax.}}
{{SL|Marius|So, I think if revenge is what they're after, their goal is probably something clear that will cripple us for good.}}
{{SL|You|A goal that is clear and will cripple you... You mean they want to ruin the development of the second-generation product?}}
{{SL|Marius|Yes. We can even assume that their goal has a specific target - the upcoming press release, for example.}}
}}


{{SL|Marius|If they wait until after the press release to make my employees leave, then everything they've done would be pointless.}}
{{SL|Vincent Kim|Sorry, I forgot to knock...}}
{{SL|Marius|After the press release, the product will naturally enter its next stage of development, the date for hitting the market will be set, and we'll have more than enough time to rehire.}}
{{SL|You|It's fine! Come in!}}
{{SL|You|But if the core employees resign before the press release, Pax will naturally experience instability.}}
Vincent seems to be burdened with hesitation. As he turns back around, he behaves as if his feet have been nailed to the floor.
{{SL|You|Even if you were able to hold things together, the board of directors may not be fully supportive of you.}}
{{SL|You|But if you think about it that way...}}
The core employees have already resigned prior to the press release and during Pax's key development period.


Although things are happening exactly as you speculated, they're also moving along as the opponent expected.
{{SL|Marius|It's fine. Come on in.}}
{{SL|Vincent Kim|Yes, Master Marius.}}
{{SL|You|(Oh, I should speak to Vincent about what we have to do next...)}}
{{SL|You|(In Marius' current state, he's definitely not going to be able to make the press release in a few days, let alone deal with those shrewd geezers on the board of directors.)}}
{{SL|You|(His father and brother aren't here either. What should we do...?)}}
{{SL|Marius|Vincent, how are things outside?}}
{{SL|You|?}}
You aren't able to react fast enough at first. You can't help but come to a pause as you hear the calm words coming from his mouth.


{{SL|You|Isn't this... a dead end? How can we fix this...?}}
The disappointment, sadness, and weakness that just filled the hospital room is suddenly nowhere to be found.
Stress and frustration take over you. Your emotions are all over the place.


A glass of warm water is shoved in your hand amidst your chaotic thoughts.
A strange cloud of suspicion slowly rises.


{{SL|Marius|You must be thirsty after talking for so long. Drink some water or your lips are going to start chapping.}}
{{SL|Vincent Kim|Yes, the person eavesdropping outside has already left.}}
He smiles with confidence. It's as if everything's been taken care of and there is no need for further worries.
{{SL|You|Eavesdropping? What are you talking about?}}
{{SL|Marius|The bad guys eavesdropping on our conversation.}}
You look at Marius in total shock. He looks to be back with his casual, cocky smile. The depression and disappointment from earlier were seemingly just an act.


{{SL|You|Why are you suddenly so relaxed?}}
{{SL|Marius|But don't worry, both of us were very convincing.}}
{{SL|You|Or... was my analysis off just now?}}
{{SL|Marius|Pax CEO is suffering from mental trauma and just rescued his relationship with his loved one... I'm guessing whoever's eavesdropping should be satisfied with that.}}
{{SL|Marius|No, you were right. You were so on point that it made me feel a little uncomfortable.}}
Marius walks over with a warm glass of water of his own and gently touches yours with it. His tone is light and gentle, seemingly trying to comfort your emotions.
 
{{SL|Marius|I'm just saying, your business sense is obviously just as good, if not better, than the old geezers on the board of directors.}}
{{SL|Marius|Are you sure you don't want to join me? We can rule the business world together. Do you really have to continue being a little attorney?}}
{{SL|Marius|Or you could be my personal assistant. That'll work too.}}
{{SL|You|You just said that I was a big-shot attorney just now... Besides, I'm quite satisfied with my job as an attorney.}}
{{SL|Marius|*Sigh*... Looks like I've been given all the luck in the world to have you by my side, but it's seemingly still not enough...}}
{{SL|You|There you go trying to make me smile again.}}
You are well aware that Marius is trying to lighten your mood, but the light tone in his voice and the steam from the water glass are already enough to slowly comfort your emotions.
 
You calm down after taking a sip of the warm water. You unleash your mind once again to quickly catch up to Marius' train of thought.
 
{{SL|You|So, what should we do next? Should we share the information with the police?}}
{{SL|Marius|Notifying the police is a must. Besides, if the other employees also contacted the police, it won't take long before they discover the overlapping clues.}}
{{SL|Marius|The problem right now is time.}}
{{SL|Marius|The press release is just around the corner. Aside from sharing information with the police, we have to move as fast as we can to calm the employees and convince the board of directors.}}
{{SL|You|That's... going to be hard, isn't it?}}
{{SL|Marius|Don't worry, with you running around by my side for an entire day, I'm more motivated than ever to deal with the situation.}}
{{SL|Marius|Besides, it's just a race for time. I'm great at that.}}
Marius' phone vibrates as he is speaking.
 
{{SL|Marius|...}}
{{SL|Marius|Looks like Christmas came early this year.}}
{{SL|You|What is it?}}
{{SL|Marius|A copy of the North Stellis factory's ledger.}}
{{SL|You|Their ledger!? How did you get your hands on something like that!?}}
You heard about this from your seniors when you first entered the industry.
 
Ledgers are like lifelines for factories with tainted backgrounds.
 
Not only does the "ledger" record all of their cash flow, but it also includes the factory's entire network.
 
{{SL|Marius|The boss and legal representatives of one of these counterfeit companies were thrown in jail, but their accountant wasn't charged.}}
{{SL|Marius|I've met him a couple of times before. When I asked him about how things are in North Stellis, he mentioned that he would like me to give his boss' ledger to the police.}}
{{SL|You|With the ledger, we'll have proof of the employees being targeted and hurt.}}
{{SL|You|Why don't I come with you?}}
{{SL|Marius|Just wait for me here.}}
Marius quickly finds his car key in the drawer and walks over to kiss you on the cheek.
 
{{SL|Marius|The accountant doesn't want any unnecessary exposure. He asked to meet me alone.}}
{{SL|Marius|I've already agreed to his request. I should keep my word - we might be able to work together again in the future, right?}}
{{SL|You|But what if you run into danger...? You'd be all alone. North Stellis isn't a safe place...}}
{{SL|Marius|Don't worry. We're not meeting in North Stellis - we're meeting at Southeast Stellis Street.}}
{{SL|Marius|It'll take an hour and a half at most. I promise you I'll be back. I'll be looking forward to your thoughts when I get back.}}
{{SL|You|What thoughts?}}
{{SL|Marius|Your thoughts on an hour and a half of missing me?}}
{{SL|You|...}}
{{SL|You|...}}
{{SL|You|I might have some thoughts on how it only takes an hour and a half to break up.}}
You immediately understand what just happened.
{{SL|Marius|You really don't baby me anymore... You're even starting to hurt me on purpose now!}}
{{SL|Marius|Are you really the Miss that I know? The one that loves and cares for me the most? I'm starting to suspect that you've developed an alternate personality...}}
Before he can finish, the unspoken complaints are silenced as you hold his cheeks and seal his lips with yours.
 
As you look into his eyes with a smiling gaze, your breaths and gazes become tenderly entwined.


When you let go of him and begin to back away, the tender entanglement suddenly pulls the two of you closer again.
The breakup, memory loss, and the strange lottery number...


He presses down on your shoulders as the warm and moist sensation moves from the center to the edge of your lips and back again.
{{SL|You|Marius von Hagen!}}


Before letting go, he sucks on your lower lip in retaliation.
{{Float|{{Background location|name=Marius' Bedroom|location=Von Hagen Estate|image=Von Hagen Estate - Marius' Room (Day).png}}}}
{{SL|You|Good thing you weren't seriously injured or lost your memories...}}
Obviously, at first, you're angry that you were kept in the dark.


{{SL|You|You... Have you had enough...?}}
But after Marius and the police explain all the details to you, your anger completely turns into worry.
{{SL|Marius|You seduced me first.}}
He smirks and quickly pulls closer to you once again.


You thought he wanted more. As you're about to back away, he simply grabs your wrist and gently pecks you on the edge of your lips.
You sit back down on the bedside after handing Marius a glass of warm water and his medication.


{{SL|Marius|Everything will be taken care of when I return.}}
{{SL|You|So, you and the police put on a show to catch the person who attacked us?}}
{{SL|You|Okay, fine, I'll be here counting the seconds and waiting for you. If you're even late by just one minute...}}
{{SL|Marius|Yep. After all, we were lacking evidence to back up our previous theory. We didn't have a way of finding the bad guy behind it all either.}}
{{SL|Marius|Then you can do whatever you want to me. It's all up to you.}}
{{SL|Marius|After talking to the police, I decided to use the ledger to lure them out of their caves.}}
{{SL|You|Ahh, hurry up and go!}}
{{SL|Marius|However, not everything went according to plan... They were able to pin me down due to a blind spot in our plan.}}
He nods and waves at you with a smile on his face before finally leaving the office.
He swallows the medicine with force, as if to swallow his dissatisfaction and anger.


{{SL|You|(Things will... finally come to an end, right?)}}
He must find it frustrating for someone to find a vulnerability in his plan.
However, for some reason, a feeling of unease creeps up inside of you.


You're feeling flustered as you reach for the glass next to you, hoping to suppress your anxiety.
But even so, his tone remains calm and kind when he speaks to you.


However, you accidentally knock over the glass instead. The leftover water inside of the glass spills across Marius' desk.
{{SL|You|But your plan worked in the end. The police were able to capture the attacker, and we got the ledger.}}
{{SL|You|But... I'm actually worried about the eavesdropper. Is it really okay not to catch him right here and now?}}
{{SL|Marius|Yep. Besides, it's not time to capture him yet.}}
After putting down the glass, Marius leans in and holds you with one arm. He then grabs your hand and interlocks his fingers with yours.


{{SL|You|!}}
After a slight pause, your fingers become tightly entwined.
You quickly locate the tissues in the room and dry up the spilled water. However, the feeling of unease remains and slowly begins to grow.


{{SL|Marius|I told Vincent at the very beginning that if the other side isn't showing clear signs of aggression, and if we're unable to ensure total security in a hospital...}}
{{SL|Marius|Then we should avoid conflict in a place like this. We need to avoid injuring innocent people.}}
{{SL|Marius|Besides... We've been thinking of ways to deal with their punches, instead of going directly after them. This is why they feel like they can do whatever they want.}}
{{SL|Marius|Now, it's our turn to catch the big fish.}}
{{SL|You|Catch the big fish...?}}
}}
}}
{{Script
{{Script
|scriptHeader=Darkness Approaches (2)
|scriptHeader=Reconsolidation (2)
|characterLinks=You!Main Character,Marius!Marius von Hagen
|characterLinks=You!Main Character,Marius!Marius von Hagen,Payton Way!Payton Way
|script=
|script=
{{Float|{{Background location|name=President's Office|location=Pax Group|image=Pax Group - President's Office (Day).png}}}}
{{Float|{{Background location|name=Marius' Bedroom|location=Von Hagen Estate|image=Von Hagen Estate - Marius' Room (Day).png}}}}
''Call Marius''
''Chat with Marius''
 
Time continues to pass.


It was supposed to be an hour and a half. By the time you realize it, it's already been twenty minutes past the agreed time.
{{SL|You|By catching the big fish... Do you mean to find the person behind everything through the person who was eavesdropping?}}
{{SL|Marius|Yes.}}
He lets go of your hand and reaches for the cell phone on the nightstand.


{{SL|You|(I hope nothing's gone wrong.)}}
{{SL|Marius|Captain Morgan got me up to speed on everything just a few days ago.}}
{{SL|You|(I should give him a call...)}}
{{SL|Marius|He said that although the attacker gave up his employer, there were no records of communication between them, and the money never arrived either.}}
You take out your phone and call Marius. It takes nearly half a minute before Marius picks up the phone.
{{SL|Marius|Even though the person is his employer, he's nothing but a low-level grunt from the North Stellis Pharmaceutical Industrial Park.}}
{{SL|Marius|Always going after the little guys will only make things even more complicated...}}
{{SL|Marius|So, the police decided that they were going to let the eavesdropper go this time and use him to lure out the person responsible for all of this.}}
{{SL|You|And you guys decided to put on a show in front of him as misdirection for when he relays what he heard to the others?}}
You finally understand what he's trying to do - you think back on Marius telling everyone that he was ill and wasn't seeing anyone, when he actually only suffered minor injuries.


{{Script
{{SL|You|You didn't leave the room at all for the following few days either, even skipping out on returning to the company to take care of things after such a big commotion...}}
|scriptHeader=Call script
{{SL|You|What you intended on doing was to make your "illness" a reality?}}
|characterLinks=You!Main Character,Marius!Marius von Hagen
{{SL|Marius|You nailed it. I told the police a while ago that there was no need to keep you out of the loop on an operation like this.}}
|script=
{{SL|Marius|If someone with your clear sense of logic was around, maybe the plan would've been even more perfect.}}
{{SL|Marius|Hello? What's up?}}
{{SL|Marius|By now, they should be convinced that their plan has worked. They should be getting ready to wrap things up.}}
{{SL|You|What do you mean by what's up...? We said an hour and a half, it has been almost two hours.}}
He opens the trending news on his phone and shows it to you.
{{SL|Marius|Oh, sorry. Because of everything that's been happening, I spoke to him about a couple more things than I originally planned.}}
{{SL|Marius|Don't worry, I already got the ledger. I'm heading to the car to come back now.}}
{{SL|You|Okay, that's good. Drive safe, okay?}}
{{SL|Marius|Don't worry, everything is perfectly...}}
He is suddenly interrupted. All you can hear is a heavy gasp from the other side of the call.


{{SL|You|Marius...?}}
{{SL|You|"Pax's Xbone II Press Release in Danger of Cancellation"...}}
{{SL|Marius|Ugh-!}}
{{SL|You|"Xbone II's Skyrocketing Price"?}}
{{SL|You|Marius!!}}
{{SL|You|Are they starting their smear campaign against Pax!?}}
After a muffled thud, Marius seems to have fallen to the ground.
{{SL|Marius|Yes. After getting rid of the counterfeit products, lower-priced Xbone products basically vanished from the market.}}
{{SL|Marius|Ordinary people don't have access to the counterfeit versions and aren't offered lower-priced second-generation products. They will naturally start to criticize Pax and accuse us of earning money through unethical means.}}
{{SL|Marius|All they have to do is pay for a few trending news slots and the public opinion will begin to sway.}}
{{SL|You|Umm... It's already starting to cause quite an effect.}}
{{SL|You|These two trending topics are still getting more popular... It's going to be hard to salvage the situation from here, right?}}
{{SL|Marius|This kind of speculation isn't big enough to affect Pax too much yet.}}
{{SL|Marius|All these problems will take care of themselves if we're able to resolve the main issue in the next couple of days.}}
He smiles with great confidence and swipes his finger twice across his phone. He then shows you a series of video conference records.


The call falls silent.
{{SL|Marius|The first day after returning home, I had a series of meetings with the board of directors.}}
{{SL|Marius|It did take quite a bit to convince them... But the good news is that no one was against me this time.}}
{{SL|Marius|The press release preparations are also still proceeding in near complete secrecy.}}
{{SL|You|You... did all that in secret these past couple of days?}}
Although you were taking care of Marius the whole time, he was only able to look at various materials in bed due to how weak he was from his injury.


}}
You didn't expect he was able to organize so much work while you weren't paying attention...


You yell with every fiber in your body into the receiver of the phone multiple times, but there is no response.
{{SL|You|(He always makes it sound so easy when he talks about stuff like this...)}}
{{SL|You|(He's never willing to let people around him see the amount of work he really puts in.)}}
{{SL|You|Well then, it would seem that most of the company stuff that needs to be taken care of recently has all been done, right?}}
{{SL|You|You haven't fully recovered yet, and we need to make sure you get enough rest.}}
{{SL|Marius|It's... not time for that yet.}}
Marius' phone suddenly vibrates. A look of realization appears on his face as he looks down at the notification on the screen.


{{SL|You|What do I do...}}
{{SL|Marius|None of their retaliation against Pax or me would be a problem. Anything goes when it comes to business.}}
{{SL|You|No, I have to think of a way to find him.}}
{{SL|Marius|But they dared to set their eyes on you...}}
}}
Marius clenches his jaw as he utters the last few words.
{{Script
|scriptHeader=Darkness Approaches (3)
|characterLinks=You!Main Character,Marius!Marius von Hagen,Vincent Kim!Vincent Kim
|script=
{{Float|{{Background location|name=Parking Lot|location=Southeast Stellis Street|image=Misc Locations - Parking Lot.png}}}}
''Go find Marius''


After getting in touch with Vincent, the two of you bring along a few security guards and head to Southeast Stellis Street as fast as you possibly can.
{{SL|You|...}}
At that moment, you shudder from the fear you felt when you were pinned down on the hood of the car with the metal pipe raised above your head.


{{SL|Vincent Kim|It's all my fault... I was going to come with Master Marius, but he declined my request. I should've been more insistent...}}
Marius quickly notices your behavior and holds you even tighter.
{{SL|You|There's no time for that right now. We have to hurry and find Marius.}}
{{SL|You|Vincent, you and the security guards split up into two groups and search for him. I'll wait right here.}}
{{SL|You|Call me immediately when either of you finds him. I'll then notify the others to meet up.}}
There's barely anyone in the quiet parking lot. It isn't until Vincent and the security guards begin to scour the place does it finally fills with a bit of life.


{{SL|You|(Marius, please be all right...)}}
The burning sensation of his breath sears your skin. You wet your dry lips and reach out to touch Marius' face that's buried in your neck.
You pray as you nervously look around, hoping for a cheer from one of the people looking for Marius to signal that he's been found.


However, after just a few seconds, a thud of something heavy hitting the ground can be heard not far behind you.
You both know that their attack on Marius was for retaliation and to retrieve the ledger that could be used as evidence.


{{SL|You|?}}
However, the attack on you was... not in the original plan. It just so happens that Marius was on the phone with you at the time.
You turn around and look closely at the narrow spaces between the cars.


It doesn't take long for you to notice someone lying on the ground between two cars on the third row.
After learning about the phone call, they included you as a part of their revenge.


{{SL|You|Is that...!?}}
{{SL|You|These thugs... they really are despicable...}}
Although it's still a slight distance away, you do your best to identify the clothes the fallen person is wearing. It's the same color as what Marius was wearing when he left.
{{SL|Marius|At the time, I saw you when I regained a part of my senses...}}
{{SL|Marius|The only thought in my mind at the time was that if the pipe had hit you, that moment would've been the end of my life.}}
{{SL|Marius|I regret... that I wasn't harsh enough from the very beginning. I should've been thinking of how I was going to get rid of them from the very start.}}
{{SL|Marius|I knew from the jump that they were scum. They don't care about other people's lives and are only after money. But even then, I didn't finish the job.}}
{{SL|You|But... aren't we working on bringing all of them to justice right now?}}
You reach out and press your hand against Marius' neck, closing the distance between the two of you while letting him feel the determination in your heart.


Your speeding thoughts and pain urge you to charge toward him without any consideration.
{{SL|You|We're exposed, while they hide in the dark. If their plans have no boundaries, and we're going after them, it's expected for certain issues to take place.}}
{{SL|You|Now, we need to return the pain and suffering they've brought upon all of us and make them think it over in jail.}}
{{SL|You|So... stop blaming yourself, okay? We still have very, very important things to do.}}
{{SL|Marius|...}}
The violent heartbeat resonating from his back softens. You can feel Marius finally calming back down.


However, just as you take the first step, the sliver of rational thought remaining in your mind pushes you back.
He then slowly lets go of you.


{{SL|You|Could that sound just now... be a trap?}}
{{SL|Marius|You're right. We do have important things to take care of soon.}}
{{SL|You|But if that really is Marius... I can't just stand here and wait.}}
{{SL|Marius|If we can take care of what comes next... We will be able to bring all of them to justice.}}
After evaluating all the possibilities, you call Vincent and tell him your location before slowly making your approach.
{{SL|You|What comes... next?}}
A knock comes from the door before you can finish your question.


You quickly make your way through the cars, looking for one that has the unique color of Marius' car. However, after running for just a few meters, you suddenly slow down.
{{SL|Payton Way|Master Marius, Captain Morgan is here and waiting for you in the living room downstairs.}}
{{SL|Marius|Okay, I'll be right there.}}
{{SL|You|Why is Captain Morgan... Did he find something new?}}
{{SL|Marius|Yes.}}
Marius shows you the message he just received on his phone.


{{SL|You|...}}
{{SL|Marius|From the group of indicted counterfeit companies, they've narrowed the suspects that are capable of getting to me and harassing my employees to a very small range.}}
You stop, and the sound of footsteps behind you also stops.
{{SL|Marius|I sent the police the most recent batch of leads this morning. They should be able to pinpoint the culprit in no time.}}
{{SL|Marius|Let's go talk to Captain Morgan and find out what's new.}}
}}
{{Script
|scriptHeader=Reconsolidation (3)
|characterLinks=You!Main Character,Marius!Marius von Hagen,Darius Morgan!Darius Morgan
|script=
{{Float|{{Background location|name=The von Hagen Living Room|location=Von Hagen Estate|image=Von Hagen Estate - Sitting Room (Day).png}}}}
''Chat with Darius Morgan''


After a few more steps, the sound of footsteps begins to quickly close in again.
Darius Morgan is waiting for the two of you as you arrive in the living room.


{{SL|You|!}}
{{SL|Marius|Thanks for making the trip, Captain Morgan.}}
You quickly turn around but find no one in the long and empty lane.
{{SL|Darius Morgan|It's fine. How are you? How are your injuries?}}
Darius Morgan raises his head slightly, gesturing to the wound on Marius' head.


{{SL|You|(No... I'm sure I heard right. Someone's here.)}}
{{SL|Marius|I'm okay. I should be thanking them for allowing me to survive the attack.}}
You hesitate whether to run or call for security for no more than just half a second.
{{SL|Darius Morgan|Good.}}
After a short chat, Darius Morgan shares the reason for his visit.


However, in that half a second, a heavy and coarse breath approaches you from behind.
{{SL|Darius Morgan|The criminal who attacked you shared some more information with us yesterday during the interrogation.}}
{{SL|Darius Morgan|After further investigation, we discovered a key person involved is also related to the counterfeit case that we worked on last time.}}
Darius Morgan takes out a file from the satchel placed on the sofa. He flips it open and shows the two of you the first page.


{{SL|You|Who's there... Ughh!}}
{{SL|Marius|Troy Canes...?}}
<nowiki>*Bang*</nowiki> A strong man wearing a black baseball cap and a facemask covers your mouth and presses you on the hood of the car next to you.
{{SL|You|Do you know this person?}}
Marius remains silent for a moment and shakes his head.


{{SL|Criminal|Shh...}}
{{SL|Marius|I have an idea of all the core personnel and legal representation in the factories, but I don't recall this person being involved with the case.}}
{{SL|You|Ugh...!}}
{{SL|Darius Morgan|That's true, but only from the surface. It's also true that we didn't have to process him in the incident.}}
He doesn't seem to plan on talking to you. All he does is signal for you to be quiet in an eerie way.
{{SL|Darius Morgan|However, based on our investigations, we've recently discovered that Troy Canes is the core individual behind the group of counterfeit pharmaceutical factories.}}
{{SL|Marius|No wonder our lawsuit went so smoothly...}}
{{SL|Marius|It's because the real culprit cut his losses and ran.}}
{{SL|You|Seems like this Troy Canes person... really knows how to protect himself.}}
{{SL|Darius Morgan|That's right. Troy Canes is not a person with a grand vision. So even though he operates from the shadows, the success of his businesses can only be seen as mediocre at best.}}
{{SL|Darius Morgan|However, he does have some tricks of his own when it comes to self-preservation.}}
{{SL|You|The police have probably been investigating someone like Troy Canes since the very beginning, right?}}
{{SL|You|But with the counterfeit products and everything that's been going on at Pax, you haven't had a way to arrest him.}}
{{SL|You|Could it be that... he's never slipped up even with all that's happened?}}
{{SL|Darius Morgan|Not entirely so.}}
Darius Morgan takes out another file from the satchel. He doesn't open it, but shows you the words on the cover - "Financial Investigation."


{{SL|You|Ahh!!}}
{{SL|Darius Morgan|Something will eventually surface if there are any illegal or non-compliance activities connected to the money that he has earned.}}
You try to fight back with everything you've got, but you're unable to break free from his tight grip.
{{SL|Darius Morgan|The investigative team has actually been on his tail for quite some time. They've also gathered a large amount of evidence.}}
{{SL|Darius Morgan|However, we're still waiting for key evidence that will put him away for the rest of his life.}}
{{SL|Marius|So... the key to the problem... is still time.}}
{{SL|You|(It's true... Whether it's the employees, Pax's product, or the citizens who are faced with danger at any time.)}}
{{SL|You|(No one can afford to wait any longer.)}}
Darius Morgan doesn't respond immediately.


In the chaos, the sound of a loud yell can be heard in the distance. You're so flustered that you're unable to determine where the sound came from or what it meant.
However, a confident smile appears on Marius' face after a brief moment of thought.


{{SL|Criminal|...}}
{{SL|Marius|So, it would seem like I need to work with the police and "make some moves" of my own.}}
{{SL|You|...}}
The dark and cold smile in his eyes chills you to the bone.
 
The yelling from afar sounds again. You are able to hear the voices better this time. It seems to be coming from the security guards.
 
However, your nerves are wound up so tight that no extra information can be processed. All you can see is the chilling gaze in the eyes of the person in front of you.
 
...
 
He lifts up the metal pipe in his hand.
 
You shiver and shut your eyes. The suffocating fear at this moment is more frightening than anything.
 
As his hand that is covering your mouth grips tighter, you know that swing of the metal pipe is coming your way...
 
Suddenly, fumbling footsteps can be heard charging your way with the fury of a storm.
 
{{SL|Criminal|...Ack!}}
{{SL|You|...Huh?}}
{{SL|You|...Huh?}}
The metal pipe falls to the ground and makes a crisp sound. Fresh air enters your lungs once again. After a brief moment of dizziness, you finally make out the figure before you.
{{SL|Darius Morgan|Cases often require the cooperation of multiple parties.}}
 
{{SL|Marius|Don't worry - an upstanding citizen like me will definitely do everything I can to cooperate with the police.}}
He's bleeding from his head and wearing a ferocious expression that you've never seen before.
{{SL|You|Does this mean... you guys are going to work together?}}
 
Darius Morgan nods and looks at you with a stern expression.
However, he seems to have used up all his remaining strength as he tackled the culprit.
 
{{SL|Marius|...}}
{{SL|You|Marius!? Marius, are you okay? You...}}
Marius' body gives in and he falls into your arms.
 
He tries his best to lift up his head after hearing your voice.
 
After a brief look at your face, he seems to have finally relaxed. The ferocious look on his face dissolves into a relieved smile.
 
{{SL|Marius|I promised you that I'd... do everything to protect... you...}}
{{SL|Marius|I always do... what I promise... I was really cool... Wasn't I?}}
His head then tilts to the side and he loses consciousness.
 
{{SL|Security Guard|Miss [Player], Master Marius!}}
The atmosphere begins to fill with noise as the first security guard arrives.
 
Vincent runs frantically toward the two of you. The police are also here and have detained the culprit that attacked you.
 
However, none of the commotion around you seems to grab hold of your attention. All you're concerned about is Marius, who's bleeding from the head and unconscious right now.


{{SL|You|Marius... Marius!}}
{{SL|Darius Morgan|I'm very sorry, but that would mean I can only discuss what comes next with Marius alone.}}
{{SL|You|Oh, okay... I'll go back to the law firm then.}}
}}
}}
|summary=
|summary=
Line 345: Line 298:
{{Character|name=Marius von Hagen|image=Marius character icon 1.png}}
{{Character|name=Marius von Hagen|image=Marius character icon 1.png}}
{{Character|name=Vincent Kim|image=Vincent Kim character icon.png}}
{{Character|name=Vincent Kim|image=Vincent Kim character icon.png}}
{{Character|name=Criminal|image=Passerby M1 character icon.png|nolink=true}}
{{Character|name=Payton Way|image=Payton Way character icon.png}}
{{Character|name=Security Guard|image=Security Guard character icon.png|nolink=true}}
{{Character|name=Darius Morgan|image=Darius Morgan character icon.png}}
}}
}}

Revision as of 06:12, 25 February 2024

Overview

  • Stage Cost: None
  • First Clear Rewards: None


Guide

  • Hover to view spoiler content.

Script

Reconsolidation (1)
Von Hagen Estate
Marius' Bedroom
Von Hagen Estate - Marius' Room (Day).png

Progress the story

After a few days of rest, Marius is nearly fully recovered.

Of course, that includes both the exterior injuries and...

You: Your temperature and wounds are... both fine.

You: Do you still feel dizzy?

Marius: ...

You: What is it...? Why aren't you responding?

Marius doesn't reply. Instead, he looks at you with a bitter look.

Marius: I feel dizzy, very... dizzy.

He moves the hand you've placed on his hair down to his cheek, as if to prove what he just said.

Marius: See? I can't even sit properly without you helping me.

You: ...Really?

Marius: I really am dizzy... I need at least five... no, six company reports to feel better.

You: ...

You let out a long breath and suppress the explosive impulse inside of you. You put away your phone, look at him, and take back the hand he's holding onto.

You then pinch his cheeks and pull them in opposite directions.

Marius: Wahh! It hurts!

You: Are you still feeling dizzy?

Marius: I'm good now! I'm cured of everything. I'm in perfect shape.

After playing around for a while, he grabs your hands and holds you in his arms.

Marius: I'm just messing with you... See how wound up you are every day?

Marius: I would be really sad if you were to collapse as I got better.

You: Yeah, but that's all because of you! Have you heard of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"?

Marius: I'm sorry... I won't do it again.

You: ...


Hospital Ward

Hospital - Patient Room (Night).png

Three days ago at the hospital...

After watching the doctor leave, you sit by the bed as Marius clenches on to your hand. He is immersed in the joy of not having been dumped.

You: ...Do you want some water? I'll go get some for you.

Marius: No, just stay right here and let me look at you a little longer.

You: You'll have all the time in the world to look at me. I told you - I'll always be by your side.

Marius: Forever and ever?

You: Yes, forever and ever.

Marius: Then can you take a few more days off and go on a vacation with me? You know, get some fresh air?

You: Of course.

Marius: Oh, and I heard that many restaurants are introducing new dishes. How about we try one out every day starting next week?

You: Next week... But we have to wait until you're recovered.

Marius: You just said that you'd be by my side forever and ever...

Seeing the disappointed look on his face, you have no choice but to give in.

You: Fine...

The hospital room door suddenly opens, and a man walks in with fast strides.

Before the two of you can react, he comes to a quick stop and turns around to leave the room.

Vincent Kim: Sorry, I forgot to knock...

You: It's fine! Come in!

Vincent seems to be burdened with hesitation. As he turns back around, he behaves as if his feet have been nailed to the floor.

Marius: It's fine. Come on in.

Vincent Kim: Yes, Master Marius.

You: (Oh, I should speak to Vincent about what we have to do next...)

You: (In Marius' current state, he's definitely not going to be able to make the press release in a few days, let alone deal with those shrewd geezers on the board of directors.)

You: (His father and brother aren't here either. What should we do...?)

Marius: Vincent, how are things outside?

You: ?

You aren't able to react fast enough at first. You can't help but come to a pause as you hear the calm words coming from his mouth.

The disappointment, sadness, and weakness that just filled the hospital room is suddenly nowhere to be found.

A strange cloud of suspicion slowly rises.

Vincent Kim: Yes, the person eavesdropping outside has already left.

You: Eavesdropping? What are you talking about?

Marius: The bad guys eavesdropping on our conversation.

You look at Marius in total shock. He looks to be back with his casual, cocky smile. The depression and disappointment from earlier were seemingly just an act.

Marius: But don't worry, both of us were very convincing.

Marius: Pax CEO is suffering from mental trauma and just rescued his relationship with his loved one... I'm guessing whoever's eavesdropping should be satisfied with that.

You: ...

You immediately understand what just happened.

The breakup, memory loss, and the strange lottery number...

You: Marius von Hagen!


Von Hagen Estate
Marius' Bedroom
Von Hagen Estate - Marius' Room (Day).png

You: Good thing you weren't seriously injured or lost your memories...

Obviously, at first, you're angry that you were kept in the dark.

But after Marius and the police explain all the details to you, your anger completely turns into worry.

You sit back down on the bedside after handing Marius a glass of warm water and his medication.

You: So, you and the police put on a show to catch the person who attacked us?

Marius: Yep. After all, we were lacking evidence to back up our previous theory. We didn't have a way of finding the bad guy behind it all either.

Marius: After talking to the police, I decided to use the ledger to lure them out of their caves.

Marius: However, not everything went according to plan... They were able to pin me down due to a blind spot in our plan.

He swallows the medicine with force, as if to swallow his dissatisfaction and anger.

He must find it frustrating for someone to find a vulnerability in his plan.

But even so, his tone remains calm and kind when he speaks to you.

You: But your plan worked in the end. The police were able to capture the attacker, and we got the ledger.

You: But... I'm actually worried about the eavesdropper. Is it really okay not to catch him right here and now?

Marius: Yep. Besides, it's not time to capture him yet.

After putting down the glass, Marius leans in and holds you with one arm. He then grabs your hand and interlocks his fingers with yours.

After a slight pause, your fingers become tightly entwined.

Marius: I told Vincent at the very beginning that if the other side isn't showing clear signs of aggression, and if we're unable to ensure total security in a hospital...

Marius: Then we should avoid conflict in a place like this. We need to avoid injuring innocent people.

Marius: Besides... We've been thinking of ways to deal with their punches, instead of going directly after them. This is why they feel like they can do whatever they want.

Marius: Now, it's our turn to catch the big fish.

You: Catch the big fish...?

Reconsolidation (2)
Von Hagen Estate
Marius' Bedroom
Von Hagen Estate - Marius' Room (Day).png

Chat with Marius

You: By catching the big fish... Do you mean to find the person behind everything through the person who was eavesdropping?

Marius: Yes.

He lets go of your hand and reaches for the cell phone on the nightstand.

Marius: Captain Morgan got me up to speed on everything just a few days ago.

Marius: He said that although the attacker gave up his employer, there were no records of communication between them, and the money never arrived either.

Marius: Even though the person is his employer, he's nothing but a low-level grunt from the North Stellis Pharmaceutical Industrial Park.

Marius: Always going after the little guys will only make things even more complicated...

Marius: So, the police decided that they were going to let the eavesdropper go this time and use him to lure out the person responsible for all of this.

You: And you guys decided to put on a show in front of him as misdirection for when he relays what he heard to the others?

You finally understand what he's trying to do - you think back on Marius telling everyone that he was ill and wasn't seeing anyone, when he actually only suffered minor injuries.

You: You didn't leave the room at all for the following few days either, even skipping out on returning to the company to take care of things after such a big commotion...

You: What you intended on doing was to make your "illness" a reality?

Marius: You nailed it. I told the police a while ago that there was no need to keep you out of the loop on an operation like this.

Marius: If someone with your clear sense of logic was around, maybe the plan would've been even more perfect.

Marius: By now, they should be convinced that their plan has worked. They should be getting ready to wrap things up.

He opens the trending news on his phone and shows it to you.

You: "Pax's Xbone II Press Release in Danger of Cancellation"...

You: "Xbone II's Skyrocketing Price"?

You: Are they starting their smear campaign against Pax!?

Marius: Yes. After getting rid of the counterfeit products, lower-priced Xbone products basically vanished from the market.

Marius: Ordinary people don't have access to the counterfeit versions and aren't offered lower-priced second-generation products. They will naturally start to criticize Pax and accuse us of earning money through unethical means.

Marius: All they have to do is pay for a few trending news slots and the public opinion will begin to sway.

You: Umm... It's already starting to cause quite an effect.

You: These two trending topics are still getting more popular... It's going to be hard to salvage the situation from here, right?

Marius: This kind of speculation isn't big enough to affect Pax too much yet.

Marius: All these problems will take care of themselves if we're able to resolve the main issue in the next couple of days.

He smiles with great confidence and swipes his finger twice across his phone. He then shows you a series of video conference records.

Marius: The first day after returning home, I had a series of meetings with the board of directors.

Marius: It did take quite a bit to convince them... But the good news is that no one was against me this time.

Marius: The press release preparations are also still proceeding in near complete secrecy.

You: You... did all that in secret these past couple of days?

Although you were taking care of Marius the whole time, he was only able to look at various materials in bed due to how weak he was from his injury.

You didn't expect he was able to organize so much work while you weren't paying attention...

You: (He always makes it sound so easy when he talks about stuff like this...)

You: (He's never willing to let people around him see the amount of work he really puts in.)

You: Well then, it would seem that most of the company stuff that needs to be taken care of recently has all been done, right?

You: You haven't fully recovered yet, and we need to make sure you get enough rest.

Marius: It's... not time for that yet.

Marius' phone suddenly vibrates. A look of realization appears on his face as he looks down at the notification on the screen.

Marius: None of their retaliation against Pax or me would be a problem. Anything goes when it comes to business.

Marius: But they dared to set their eyes on you...

Marius clenches his jaw as he utters the last few words.

You: ...

At that moment, you shudder from the fear you felt when you were pinned down on the hood of the car with the metal pipe raised above your head.

Marius quickly notices your behavior and holds you even tighter.

The burning sensation of his breath sears your skin. You wet your dry lips and reach out to touch Marius' face that's buried in your neck.

You both know that their attack on Marius was for retaliation and to retrieve the ledger that could be used as evidence.

However, the attack on you was... not in the original plan. It just so happens that Marius was on the phone with you at the time.

After learning about the phone call, they included you as a part of their revenge.

You: These thugs... they really are despicable...

Marius: At the time, I saw you when I regained a part of my senses...

Marius: The only thought in my mind at the time was that if the pipe had hit you, that moment would've been the end of my life.

Marius: I regret... that I wasn't harsh enough from the very beginning. I should've been thinking of how I was going to get rid of them from the very start.

Marius: I knew from the jump that they were scum. They don't care about other people's lives and are only after money. But even then, I didn't finish the job.

You: But... aren't we working on bringing all of them to justice right now?

You reach out and press your hand against Marius' neck, closing the distance between the two of you while letting him feel the determination in your heart.

You: We're exposed, while they hide in the dark. If their plans have no boundaries, and we're going after them, it's expected for certain issues to take place.

You: Now, we need to return the pain and suffering they've brought upon all of us and make them think it over in jail.

You: So... stop blaming yourself, okay? We still have very, very important things to do.

Marius: ...

The violent heartbeat resonating from his back softens. You can feel Marius finally calming back down.

He then slowly lets go of you.

Marius: You're right. We do have important things to take care of soon.

Marius: If we can take care of what comes next... We will be able to bring all of them to justice.

You: What comes... next?

A knock comes from the door before you can finish your question.

Payton Way: Master Marius, Captain Morgan is here and waiting for you in the living room downstairs.

Marius: Okay, I'll be right there.

You: Why is Captain Morgan... Did he find something new?

Marius: Yes.

Marius shows you the message he just received on his phone.

Marius: From the group of indicted counterfeit companies, they've narrowed the suspects that are capable of getting to me and harassing my employees to a very small range.

Marius: I sent the police the most recent batch of leads this morning. They should be able to pinpoint the culprit in no time.

Marius: Let's go talk to Captain Morgan and find out what's new.

Reconsolidation (3)
Von Hagen Estate
The von Hagen Living Room
Von Hagen Estate - Sitting Room (Day).png

Chat with Darius Morgan

Darius Morgan is waiting for the two of you as you arrive in the living room.

Marius: Thanks for making the trip, Captain Morgan.

Darius Morgan: It's fine. How are you? How are your injuries?

Darius Morgan raises his head slightly, gesturing to the wound on Marius' head.

Marius: I'm okay. I should be thanking them for allowing me to survive the attack.

Darius Morgan: Good.

After a short chat, Darius Morgan shares the reason for his visit.

Darius Morgan: The criminal who attacked you shared some more information with us yesterday during the interrogation.

Darius Morgan: After further investigation, we discovered a key person involved is also related to the counterfeit case that we worked on last time.

Darius Morgan takes out a file from the satchel placed on the sofa. He flips it open and shows the two of you the first page.

Marius: Troy Canes...?

You: Do you know this person?

Marius remains silent for a moment and shakes his head.

Marius: I have an idea of all the core personnel and legal representation in the factories, but I don't recall this person being involved with the case.

Darius Morgan: That's true, but only from the surface. It's also true that we didn't have to process him in the incident.

Darius Morgan: However, based on our investigations, we've recently discovered that Troy Canes is the core individual behind the group of counterfeit pharmaceutical factories.

Marius: No wonder our lawsuit went so smoothly...

Marius: It's because the real culprit cut his losses and ran.

You: Seems like this Troy Canes person... really knows how to protect himself.

Darius Morgan: That's right. Troy Canes is not a person with a grand vision. So even though he operates from the shadows, the success of his businesses can only be seen as mediocre at best.

Darius Morgan: However, he does have some tricks of his own when it comes to self-preservation.

You: The police have probably been investigating someone like Troy Canes since the very beginning, right?

You: But with the counterfeit products and everything that's been going on at Pax, you haven't had a way to arrest him.

You: Could it be that... he's never slipped up even with all that's happened?

Darius Morgan: Not entirely so.

Darius Morgan takes out another file from the satchel. He doesn't open it, but shows you the words on the cover - "Financial Investigation."

Darius Morgan: Something will eventually surface if there are any illegal or non-compliance activities connected to the money that he has earned.

Darius Morgan: The investigative team has actually been on his tail for quite some time. They've also gathered a large amount of evidence.

Darius Morgan: However, we're still waiting for key evidence that will put him away for the rest of his life.

Marius: So... the key to the problem... is still time.

You: (It's true... Whether it's the employees, Pax's product, or the citizens who are faced with danger at any time.)

You: (No one can afford to wait any longer.)

Darius Morgan doesn't respond immediately.

However, a confident smile appears on Marius' face after a brief moment of thought.

Marius: So, it would seem like I need to work with the police and "make some moves" of my own.

You: ...Huh?

Darius Morgan: Cases often require the cooperation of multiple parties.

Marius: Don't worry - an upstanding citizen like me will definitely do everything I can to cooperate with the police.

You: Does this mean... you guys are going to work together?

Darius Morgan nods and looks at you with a stern expression.

Darius Morgan: I'm very sorry, but that would mean I can only discuss what comes next with Marius alone.

You: Oh, okay... I'll go back to the law firm then.

Character(s)