Bakerlon Crystal Research: Peculiar Expert
Overview
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards:
White Bakerlon Crystal
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
Exhibition Room
Help Dr. Miller, who seems to be busy.
Dr. Miller: Hmm... the grain on this side of the ore is more special, which should be on display.
You: Do you need help, Dr. Miller?
Dr. Miller: Ahh, Miss [Player]. No need, I can handle it.
With that, Dr. Miller adjusts the ornament a bit, then smiles with satisfaction.
Dr. Miller: There we go.
You: (That does look better. Dr. Miller is so attentive to every detail of the exhibition.)
Dr. Miller: Speaking of which, Miss [Player], weren't you having trouble learning about Bakerlon crystals the last time you were here?
You: Yeah, I wanted to learn as much as I could and help you with your research...
You: However, I couldn't find any information on the train, so I would like to consult you about the background of Bakerlon crystals.
Dr. Miller nods and strokes his chin.
Dr. Miller: I see. Unfortunately, I must stay in the exhibition to receive visitors, so I cannot give you a detailed explanation.
Dr. Miller: But perhaps you could find my old friend, Davy. He is an expert on the history of Bakerlon crystals.
Dr. Miller: Hmm... he should be enjoying himself in the dining carriage at this hour.
Dr. Miller: You'd best get a move on. Offer him a cherry brew with half a pint of apple cider vinegar, and he'll gladly answer your questions.
Dr. Miller: He has never been able to resist the temptations of that drink.
You: Okay, understood.
You: (Cherry brew and apple cider vinegar? The bar should have those...)
Food Truck
Go to the bar to get a cherry brew with half a pint of apple cider vinegar.
Jonathan: Hello, Miss. What can I get for you?
You: Hello, I would like a cherry brew with half a pint of apple cider vinegar.
Jonathan: Yes, one moment please.
The crew member removes the tall glass, winking at you as he pours in the clear cherry-red liquid.
Jonathan: It seems this drink has been popular lately, huh?
You: Why do you say that?
Jonathan: Recently, there's a passenger who orders at least a quart of cherry brew with apple cider vinegar and drinks it by the window.
Jonathan: It's not a common combination to have. Were you influenced by him?
You: (I think he must be referring to Davy?)
You: Yeah, I'm curious about the flavor.
Jonathan: Please enjoy.
Jonathan layers the mixture in a glass and gently drops in a cherry, leaving it suspended in the pink liquid.
You: It smells so good...
Jonathan: Yes, this drink has a refreshing aroma, which makes it popular among young women.
You: Thanks!
You: (This drink isn't for me... but it looks like Davy has good taste in drinks.)
Find the Bakerlon Crystal historian in the dining carriage.
Jonathan points you to Davy, who is sitting by the window...
Davy: Mmm... mmm...
Davy: Hmm? I smell cherry brew and apple cider vinegar...
You: (He can smell it?)
The middle-aged man, who had been snoring while leaning against the window, seems to have a switch flipped inside of him as his eyes begin to search around.
A few seconds later, his gaze lands on the glass in your hands.
Davy: Hey, young lady, are you an enjoyer of cherry brew with apple cider vinegar as well?
You: Perhaps in the future... but this drink is for you.
Davy: For me...?
The middle-aged man pauses for a moment, then shakes his head awake.
Davy: I've only recently mentioned my love for cherry brew and apple cider vinegar when I ate with Dr. Miller...
Davy: Since then, he has used this as bait whenever he needed something from me.
Davy: Did he send you?
You: Yes, Dr. Miller said that you were an expert in the history of Bakerlon crystals, and suggested that I find you.
Davy: An expert... Mhm, he's right about that.
Davy: Well, you can ask any questions in the time it takes me to finish my drink.
Davy receives the glass from your hands and takes a small sip, revealing a confident smile.
Davy: I'll answer any questions until I finish my drink.
You: All right.
You: When were the Bakerlon crystals first discovered?
Davy: At the earliest, it must have been 150 years ago.
Davy: At the time, Ginnungagap Island possessed the most advanced mining technology.
Davy: I remember that there was a very famous Ginnungagap mining engineer who left his half-built mine and came to Bakerlon.
Davy: Kahn Corporation paid him one of the highest salaries of any mining engineer in the world to draw blueprints of how the Bakerlon crystals would be mined.
You: In that case, was the mine he was in charge of being abandoned?
You: He'd probably have to pay considerable damages...
Davy: Kahn Corporation hired someone to fight the case for him and found a loophole in the contract that reduced the compensation to a fraction of what it would've been.
Davy: Later, since no one was able to take over the mine, it collapsed after being abandoned for a long time.
Davy: This incident received widespread media attention, so it left an impression on me.
You: Were Bakerlon crystals also highly valued over a hundred years ago?
Davy: That's a great question, but we have to approach it from a different angle.
Mr. Davy takes a sip of his drink and looks at you with interest.
Davy: As you might know, the value of ore doesn't necessarily depend on its quality. The current state of the industry must also be taken into consideration.
Davy: Metal mines, which are directly linked to local exports, can often dominate the mining industry.
Davy: For example, the mining industry in Bakerlon was dominated by tin 150 years ago, and by silver 200 years ago.
Davy: But Bakerlon crystals were different. They didn't play much of a role in the mining industry, but they could be refined into a new material.
Davy: The discovery was a priceless treasure at a time of rapid industrial development.
Davy: So during that time, Bakerlon crystals were worth as much as silver.
You: I didn't know the value of Bakerlon crystals was that high.
You: What about the industries relevant to Bakerlon crystals?
Davy: Naturally, the rise and development of one industry will influence countless other related industries.
Davy: But the most obvious one is what's beneath our feet right now...
Davy stomps his foot lightly on the ground.
You: Do you mean the Mobius?
Davy: Not only that, but the railway line on which the train runs.
You: Kahn Corporation even built the railway line?
Davy: Yes. After all, there is heavy demand in the ore industry, not just for the sole purpose of collection.
Davy: When it comes to refining new materials, we're talking about tons of ore. Railway transport is just the tip of the iceberg.
You: This type of business knowledge... easily exceeds my expectations...
You want to press for more information, but Davy shakes the empty glass in front of you.
Davy: I'm sorry, Miss. I would love to tell you more stories, but I might have had enough for today.
Davy: I'm afraid I must go rest in my carriage.
You: Okay, thank you for answering my questions.
Davy: Of course. Speaking of which, are you going to see Dr. Miller later?
You: Yes, is there something I can help with?
Davy: He's been looking for a copy of the "Crystal Texture Research" as a reference. The librarian at the dining carriage bar has it.
Davy: If you can pick it up for him, I'm sure he'd appreciate it.
You: Okay, I'll go pick it up later.
Get "Crystal Texture Research" from the librarian near the bar.
You: Hello, I would like to retrieve the copy of "Crystal Texture Research" that Mr. Davy left behind.
Librarian: Sure, the book's right here. Let me get it for you.
Librarian: To be honest, he has left it with me for so long that I thought he didn't want it anymore.
A crew member takes out a stack of books. As he does, a letter falls out of one of them.
You: This is...?
You bend down to pick it up, realizing that the paper has yellowed. The writing on it is unclear from the passage of time.
The only thing you can recognize is the twifoil mark at the end.
You: I think this letter fell out of the stack of books.
Librarian: Oh? Hold on, let me see... Oh!
The crew member looks at the piece of paper, then smiles.
You: Do you... know the owner of this letter?
Librarian: Hahaha, not exactly, Miss, but this letter reminds me of a legend around these parts.
Librarian: Have you heard the story of an organization called Twifoil?
You: No...
Librarian: It is one of the most controversial civil organizations in the history of Bakerlon. It was rumored to have been created to protect civilians from being bullied.
Librarian: As for their actions... Some say it was for a righteous cause, others say it was bloody violence. Nowadays, it's almost impossible to trace.
Librarian: But in the end, I heard that it was the leader of the organization who disbanded Twifoil.
You: Eh? Why is that?
Librarian: No one knows. The leader hasn't been seen in Bakerlon since the disbandment of Twifoil.
Librarian: But there is now widespread speculation that he went into hiding with his loved ones.
Librarian: Before he left, he left one last threatening letter signed with a Twifoil seal, as a farewell to the organization and its past.
You: That sounds like a thrilling love story.
Librarian: Yes, Miss. As for the letter we have here...
The crew member puts the letter back into the book and carefully tucks it into the bottom shelf.
Librarian: It's part of a history long forgotten. Keeping it shelved is a good choice, don't you think?
You: You have a point.
Librarian: Here, the copy of the "Crystal Texture Research" you wanted.
The crew member hands you the "Crystal Texture Research" book.
You: ...Now, I should give this book to Dr. Miller.
Give "Crystal Texture Research" to the doctor.
You: Dr. Miller, I'm back.
You: And... this is a book that Mr. Davy asked me to give you.
You hand the "Crystal Texture Research" book over to the doctor.
Dr. Miller: Oh, thank you, Miss [Player].
Dr. Miller: From the looks of it, your conversation with Davy went pleasantly well. Did you learn everything you wanted to know?
You: Yes, it was very interesting. I wouldn't mind exploring the subject even further.
Dr. Miller: Haha, glad to hear it. I'm happy you're interested in this subject.
