Enduring Light: Exploration I
Overview
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards: None
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Hotel Exploration
Script
The door to the room on the second floor of the hotel is open. A distinct scent hits you upon your entrance.
You: (Is that the smell of blood?)
The most eye-catching piece of furniture is the sofa in the center of the room, next to which lies a middle-aged man covered in blood.
He is lying on his back with a gruesome cut across his neck, and the collar of his suit is clearly stained with blood.
Layer by layer, the blood soaks through the suit and onto the carpet...
You: (This dummy is so realistic...)
You: (If I wasn't aware that I was in a live-action game, I would've thought this was a real crime scene.)
Luke is the first to step forward. However, he doesn't touch the "body" and only observes it from a close distance.
Luke: It seems that there are multiple wounds on Boss Qian's body.
Luke: There's blood on the back of his head, consistent with blunt force trauma. There is bruising on his mandible, probably from having been struck.
Luke: But the wound on his neck... appears to be the fatal wound? It's a deep cut, like it was made by a sharp object...
Vyn: Under those circumstances, he would have lost a lot of blood and quickly lost consciousness.
You: Losing too much blood will cause the body to go into shock, then...
Marius: So, the slit on Boss Qian's throat was most likely what killed him?
Luke: Don't quote me on that, but that appears to be the case.
Artem: One thing is certain—it is evident... that Boss Qian was in an altercation with someone before his death.
Artem, who had been silent beside him, suddenly squats down. He uses a clean handkerchief to grasp Boss Qian's wrist.
Artem: Look here... Obvious signs of scratches and bruises.
[Obtain Intel: Boss Qian > Information about death]
From the angle he turned his wrist in, Boss Qian did have several dark red wounds on his wrist.
They look like they were caused by fingernails.
Vyn: Boss Qian's watch...
Vyn frowns, carefully inspecting Boss Qian's wrist.
The watch on his wrist is broken, looking as if it had been smashed by something sharp in a fierce altercation.
[Obtain Clue Card: Damaged Watch]
Vyn: The hands are stopped at about 5:00 PM... It is completely smashed, perhaps by something sharp during the altercation.
You: Since it stopped at 5:00 PM, does that mean the watch was smashed at around 5:00 PM?
Waiter: But, we didn't hear anything in the room after 5:00 PM... and Boss Qian never called for anyone...
Manager Duan: What if someone came here before 5:00 PM?
Waiter: I... don't know about that. We had a lot to prepare for in the afternoon, and everyone was busy...
Manager Duan: C-could it have been a robber? Oh, how terribl—
Before Manager Duan can even finish his thought, Marius snorts coldly.
Marius: Well, why would there be a robber? I bet someone was here to seek revenge.
Marius: Look at the wound on his neck... He was almost decapitated.
You: (It does seem horrifying at first glance.)
Manager Duan: Wh-who knows? Maybe the robber snuck into the hotel when nobody was looking...
Artem: No, the room Boss Qian booked was a VIP room with an enclosed lounge and closet in the back.
Artem looks at the closed glass window.
[Obtain Intel: Boss Qian's Room > Locked-room Murder]
Artem: The windows on either side of the room are sealed from the inside...
Artem: It is unlikely... that someone snuck into the hotel without alerting anyone.
Marius: Oh, what's this?
Marius bends down curiously to pick up something from under the sofa.
Waiter: It's a key! A key to the room!
[Obtain Clue Card: Room Key]
You: Is this the key given to Boss Qian?
[Obtain Intel: Room Key > In Boss Qian's possession]
The waiter nods repeatedly, confirming your doubts.
Vyn: I remember Manager Duan said the door was locked when he came earlier to check on Boss Qian.
Vyn: Due to that, he had to borrow the spare key from the reception.
Manager Duan: Ahh... yes, that's right.
Vyn: And since the room key is here, that rules out the possibility that someone stole Boss Qian's key and entered his room to commit the murder.
Luke: That means, at least until Manager Duan came in, the room was sealed.
Vyn: It also confirms what Consultant Wing said-that it is unlikely the murderer entered the guest room directly from outside the hotel.
You: (Doesn't that make this a locked-room murder?)
Marius: Oh? According to you guys, if the doors and windows were closed properly, and Boss Qian was murdered inside...
Marius: Are we dealing with ghosts now?
Marius is so immersed in his character that he leans on the side of the sofa, looking like he's enjoying the show.
Manager Duan: W-wait... is there a possibility that the killer is someone from the hotel?
Manager Duan: As the owner of the hotel, you have to give us an answer, Little Boss!
Somehow, Manager Duan has seized your hand and sounds very excited.
You: Please calm down, Manager Duan. We don't have the full picture yet, so it's too early to come to any conclusions.
Manager Duan: But, but... I don't care. You have to investigate this matter until the end!
He is very determined to put forth his demands. It seems a careful investigation cannot be avoided, so you can only nod.
You: Calm down. The Li Hotel will cooperate with the investigation.
Artem: We should split up and search the room again. Maybe the murderer left something behind.
You: Sure.
The closet is so messy that it's difficult to know where to start looking.
[Obtain Intel: Boss Qian's Room > Clutter]
You: It's so messy in here...
Marius: Careful not to step on anything.
Marius pushes the hangers and clothes on the ground to the sides, creating a path.
You: Did Boss Qian bring all these clothes? Why are they all on the floor...?
Marius: Boss Qian was probably going to change his outfit several times during the birthday banquet.
Marius: Little Boss, look here. The clothes appear to have been crumpled by something.
Marius gestures toward a stack of clothes on the floor.
Marius: Did someone fall over here and yank the clothes off the hangers for them to look like this?
You: (Could this... be the first crime scene?)
With that thought in mind, you can't help but look at Marius, who has stood up by now.
You: (Marius moved some clothes just now. Doesn't that count as tampering with the crime scene...?)
You: (Did he do it deliberately, or by accident?)
Marius: What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?
Marius' behavior seems more suspicious than the potential solid evidence present in the room.
You: It's nothing...
You: (I'm overthinking it. I can't determine the murderer on looks alone... *sigh*...)
You: (This...)
In the chaotic closet, there are fallen hangers and scattered clothes all over...
However, you find something that piques your interest.
You: (Why is this handkerchief so wrinkled...?)
You: (The other clothes have fewer wrinkles even though they're scattered on the ground...)
Judging by the pattern, this should be a man's handkerchief, but it is difficult to tell who the owner is.
You: (Was this handkerchief used to bind something?)
Countless possibilities race through your mind when you see the crease mark on the handkerchief.
You: (This is a phonograph... and the red stain on it... is blood!?)
A phonograph normally wouldn't be moved, but the dust mark on the cabinet seems to indicate it has been moved recently.
[Obtain Intel: Boss Qian's Room > Bloody phonograph]
You pick up the phonograph and inspect it carefully. There is a dark red mark on its base.
You: (Are these also bloodstains...? This angle matches the wound on the back of Boss Qian's head...)
You: (Is this phonograph the murder weapon...?)
You: Huh? Did someone open this drawer?
Looking at the drawer under the light, it's easy to tell that it's not closed properly.
Vyn: All these drawers are not closed properly. Did someone rummage through them?
You: What was that person looking for?
Vyn starts going through the drawer with you until a file folder catches your attention.
You: Is this... an investigation report of Li Hotel?
[Obtain Clue Card: Hotel Investigation Report]
You: (Was Boss Qian investigating the Li Hotel?)
The only person who can answer this question can no longer speak, so you and Vyn open the file folder.
You: Designer, completion date, number of rooms... This is a very detailed investigation.
[Obtain Intel: Hotel Investigation Report > All matters]
Vyn: Little Boss, did Boss Qian and Boss Li know each other?
You: I'm... not sure.
Vyn: You took over the hotel without knowing about Boss Li's past?
You: Yeah... I received a telegram from Uncle Li asking me to come and help him take care of the hotel. I don't know about anything else...
Vyn looks at you, the eyes behind his lenses unfathomable, as if pondering the credibility of your words.
Vyn: There is... a letter here.
You: A letter? Written to Boss Qian?
Vyn: No, it appears to be an internal letter from the Mayfly Association.
You: (The Mayfly Association!?)
You suppress your surprise, showing instead a confused expression, not wanting Vyn to notice anything unusual.
You: What's the Mayfly Association? Is it famous in Xuzhou Town?
Vyn: Little Boss, you are from out of town, so it is natural you do not know.
Vyn: The Mayfly Association is a civil organization with the motto of "making Xuzhou Town a better place." They do things to help people.
[Obtain Clue Card: Mayfly Association]
Vyn: But they keep a low profile... so people on the outside are unaware of how big they are.
Vyn runs his index finger smoothly over the folds of the paper, unfolding it with the same expression as before. It's hard to tell what he's thinking.
You: Then it sounds like... it's a force for the good of the community?
He neither confirms nor denies your question. Instead of answering, he simply hands you the letter.
Vyn: "There is a problem within the organization. An investigation has begun, but it may be too late to fix it..."
Vyn: "Your identity may have been exposed. Please be careful..."
You: !!!
You: (A warning letter from members of the Mayfly Association to other members... Why does Boss Qian have a copy...?)
[Obtain Clue Card: Warning Letter]
[Obtain Intel: Warning Letter > Internal warning]
Vyn: Mayfly Association... seems to have a mole problem... Interesting...
[Obtain Intel: Mayfly Association > Internal crisis]
Vyn looks at the contents of the letter. He falls into deep thought, then reads it several more times.
You: (His attitude toward Mayfly Association is also worth investigating. Is there more to this story?)
With the drawers searched, you walk over to Manager Duan, who has been cowering in a corner, to ask him some questions.
Approaching him, you can hear him muttering loudly while sighing.
Manager Duan: Poor Boss Qian, what a good man... Such a shame that he's gone...
Manager Duan: He was always kind to us. How could this happen to such a good person...?
Manager Duan: *Sigh*...
He seems to ramble incessantly, so you call out to him quickly.
You: Manager Duan...
Manager Duan: Ahh... yes... What is it, Little Boss?
He is startled, like a frightened bird.
You: There are some questions regarding Boss Qian that I would like to ask you.
Manager Duan: Oh... Yes... I'll tell you everything I know, if it will help find the murderer...
He looks ready to carry on lamenting, so you hurriedly take over the conversation once more.
You: What were the original arrangements for Boss Qian's birthday banquet?
Manager Duan: The birthday banquet? Nothing in particular. Just friends eating together, chatting...
You: That simple? Nothing special at all?
Manager Duan: Well... if I had to say...
Manager Duan: Boss Qian was about to announce the donation of a house to the relief hospital at his birthday banquet.
[Obtain Intel: Boss Qian > Donated house]
Manager Duan: The land deed was all ready, in the drawer of the cabinet over there...
[Obtain Clue Card: Land Deed]
Manager Duan: He was such a good man... How could something like this happen to him...
At this point, Manager Duan's emotions seem to get the better of him again, and he wipes the corners of his eyes with his sleeve.
You look in the direction he pointed and realize Marius is also staring over there.
He notices your gaze, his face expressionless, staring at you for a brief moment before looking away.
You: (Is there anything odd about this land deed? Does it have something to do with Marius?)
You: How were Boss Qian's interpersonal relationships? Did he have any enemies that wanted to retaliate against him?
At your speculation, Manager Duan shakes his head adamantly, not entertaining the idea in the slightest.
Manager Duan: I-Impossible!
Manager Duan: Boss Qian has always been kind to others, and he had multiple acts of charity under his belt. How could he have any enemies who wanted to retaliate...?
Manager Duan: I just can't believe the killer... targeted such a good man...
You: (He was kind to others and did good deeds?)
You look at the motionless body of Boss Qian as it lays on the ground, and find yourself deep in thought once more.
You: What time did Boss Qian get to the hotel, and what did he do before 5:00 PM?
Manager Duan: Um... he arrived at 1:00 PM...
You: 1:00 PM? Why did he come so early? Didn't the birthday banquet start at 5:00 PM?
Manager Duan: Yes. He originally planned to arrive at 4:00 PM. But he seemed to have a sudden change of plans and came over earlier.
You: Why did he arrive ahead of time?
Manager Duan: Let me think... Boss Qian was drinking tea and chatting with Consultant Wing in the lobby at 2:00 PM...
You: Consultant Wing?
Manager Duan: Right, and the two of them looked like they had set up the meeting in advance. Maybe Boss Qian came here early to talk with Consultant Wing...
[Obtain Intel: Consultant Wing > Good conversation, Boss Qian > Early arrival]
You: Eh!?
You: (An appointment with Consultant Wing? Did he make the appointment himself...?)
Your mind is suddenly filled with endless speculations as Manager Duan continues.
Manager Duan: They were having a pleasant chat. Um... I remember they talked until 3:00 PM, which was when I went into the kitchen to confirm the birthday banquet menu.
You: That long? What did they talk about?
Manager Duan: About the economy, I think. I'm not sure about the details...
Manager Duan: Then, around 3:30 PM, the head chef brought out a bowl of sweet lotus soup for Boss Qian. Not much else happened.
You: Sweet lotus soup? Did Boss Qian order it himself?
Manager Duan: Yes. Boss Qian believed that sweet lotus soup had positive effects on one's longevity, so he drank a bowl of it every day at 4:00 PM.
[Obtain Intel: Boss Qian > Likes to drink sweep lotus soup]
Manager Duan: It's no secret, really.
You: I see...
However, as you obtain more information, the mystery grows.
You: Yeah, that's all for my questions. Thank you for your help.
Manager Duan: No, I'm happy to help. Little Boss, you have to seek justice for Boss Qian...
Manager Duan: How terrible...
Manager Duan keeps mumbling and lamenting, up until you leave.
On the white carpet, the spilled blood has already formed what looks like frightening crimson flowers.
The juxtaposition of red and white makes one wonder what really happened in this room.
You: (Yeah... it's shut tightly...)
You once again look around the room, and strange feelings keep coming back to you.
You: (The scene clearly looks like a murder-robbery scene, so why did the murderer make it look like a locked-room murder?)
You: (Was it accidental or deliberate?)
Since the incident happened, the commotion in the lobby downstairs hasn't ceased.
Guest A: Tsk, life is like a box of chocolates... you never know what will happen next...
Guest A: Who could've known... The good ones never live long...
One of the other guests shakes his head, and his words are full of regret.
Guest B: It could happen to anyone! Such a shame it had to happen to a great man.
Guest A: Yeah, he even held a charity event at Yingxing Street this morning for his birthday.
Guest A: I went there for the event. At the time, the man seemed fine and was very courteous to me.
You: (A charity event?)
Upon hearing information about Boss Qian's schedule before coming to the hotel, you immediately stop everything you're doing and look at Luke.
But you see that he is frowning, his face solemn, and you do not know what's on his mind.
You: Journalist Pearce... Journalist Pearce!
Luke: Hmm... yeah? What is it?
You: No, it's nothing. I just overheard some guests talking about a charity event. I was gonna ask them about it and thought you might want to join me?
Luke nods, and the two of you walk up to the guests to ask them about the charity event.
You: Excuse me, were you talking about a charity event just now?
Guest A: Little Boss, you're new in town so you might not know.
Guest A: Boss Qian is the most famous philanthropist in Xuzhou Town. He's done countless charitable acts...
Guest A: The Renhui Relief Hospital, for example—Boss Qian has made multiple donations, both in terms of money and goods, and even visits the children at the hospital.
Guest A: He's such a kind person. On his birthday every year, he holds a charity event on Yingxing Street.
Guest A: Citizens can see doctors for free, receive free food, and even get job referrals...
Guest B: I was there. I saw it.
[Obtain Intel: Boss Qian > Patron of the relief hospital]
You: He was a reputable man...
Luke: That's because Boss Qian has gained fame over the years, and everyone trusts and loves him.
Luke: Those of us in the media also like to work alongside him and help him with promoting his work...
Luke, who has been silent for a while, suddenly speaks.
You: ...
You: (Luke has been acting strange ever since he heard about the charity event...)
You: (Could he be hiding something?)
The two guests are still reeling from the news of Boss Qian's death, but you didn't have the heart to listen to them anymore. Your mind is focused on Luke.
Not far from the body is the sofa. You glance at it casually, noticing suspicious dark spots on the burgundy cushion.
You put it up to your nostrils, and a rusty scent fills them.
You: (Blood, for sure. It's less evident because the sofa is burgundy...)
You: (If this blood belongs to Boss Qian, that means he was already injured on the couch...)
You: (If that's the case, why did the body end up on the floor...?)
You: (What exactly happened?)
You have so many doubts, yet you can only investigate the scene in detail, hoping to find more clues.
As you scan the room, something flashy under the sofa catches your attention.
You: Eh?
Artem: Did you find something, Little Boss?
You: Yeah, Consultant Wing, I think there's something under the sofa.
With that, you want to take a closer look, but your elbow is pulled back by Artem.
Artem: Allow me...
Before you can react, Artem kneels down, feeling under the sofa with his hand. He then takes out something wrapped in a handkerchief.
You: That's...
A narrow cut on his longer finger draws your attention almost immediately.
[Obtain Intel: Consultant Wing > Wound on hand]
You: Your finger...
You: (Is that a wound that was drawn on? Well, it looks realistic enough...)
Artem ignores your doubts completely and silently uses the other hand to show you what he found.
Artem: What do you think this is?
He changes the topic, and you don't pursue it either. After all, it's better to focus on the matter at hand.
You: This...
In the middle of the plain handkerchief is a ring with a silver glow, which must be the light you just saw.
The blood on the outside of the ring silently indicates its significance.
You: A ring blade? Could it be the murder weapon...
Your voice barely escapes your mouth when Manager Duan seems to latch onto the keywords you said.
Manager Duan: A ring blade! It's a ring blade!
You: Calm down. So what if it's a ring blade?
Manager Duan: The ring blade... is a weapon favored by the Xiangjin Gang.
Upon hearing what Manager Duan said, Artem's eyebrows frown for a fraction of a second. It was brief, but you still managed to catch it.
He seems to sense your gaze and clears his throat before speaking coldly.
Artem: This is a sharp blade. It's easily hidden and convenient, making it a very handy tool.
[Obtain Clue Card: Ring Blade]
[Obtain Intel: Ring Blade > Murder weapon]
Manager Duan: Right—if this is the murder weapon, it means the Xiangjin Gang is responsible.
You: The Xiangjin Gang? What is that?
You try to act like a newcomer, like you don't know anything at all.
Manager Duan: Little Boss, it's normal for you not to know since you're new in town.
Manager Duan: In Xuzhou Town, the Xiangjin Gang is famous... no, notorious even.
[Obtain Clue Card: Xiangjin Gang]
Manager Duan: These racketeers are mostly people without homes or jobs. They only engage in fights or scams.
Manager Duan: They have committed numerous crimes, and the people of our small town are deeply disgusted with them.
You nod, and Artem picks up where he left off.
Artem: As their power grows, they harass merchants and collect so-called "dues."
Artem: They're the local villains...
You: Even so, they wouldn't dare to provoke such a big company like Yingxing, right...?
You: Besides, Boss Qian seems to have a good reputation. Why would the Xiangjin Gang target him?
Manager Duan: It must be greed! Those poor scum coveted Boss Qian's wealth.
Manager Duan: No, I have to check to see if anything was stolen...
Before you can stop him, Manager Duan runs out of the room like a gust of wind.
You: Is it really as simple as Manager Duan said?
Artem: You don't believe him?
You: He has no reason to lie, but... the ring blade itself... is strange.
You: If the Xiangjin Gang was responsible... would they leave behind such obvious evidence?
Artem does not say anything, instead staring at the ring blade silently, as if pondering your question.
Looking at his hand that's been wrapped tightly, the shadow looming in your heart cannot be dispersed. [Obtain Intel: Xiangjin Gang loves to use]
Manager Duan holds a white porcelain bowl in both hands and frowns as if he has discovered something incredible.
You glance over, realizing that the bowl is filled with sweet lotus soup, already cold.
You: (Judging by the amount, Boss Qian never drank it?)
Yingxing Street Exploration
Script
You look at the quiet street, emotions rushing to your heart, until you hear a familiar sigh.
Following the sound, you see Manager Duan.
Manager Duan: Our poor Boss Qian...
Manager Duan: Why do the good ones get taken away so early...?
He seems to notice your stare. As the wails grow louder, you massage your temples.
You: Manager Duan, if you want to say something, just say it.
Manager Duan: Little Boss, you... how did you know... I...
You: It seems you've been hesitant... There must be something you can't talk about at the hotel, right?
Hearing your words, joy flickers in Manager Duan's eyes, and he quickly spins around.
Manager Duan: As expected of the Little Boss... then let me be frank with you.
Manager Duan: In fact, when you asked me what Boss Qian did at the hotel, there was one thing I didn't tell you.
You: What is it?
You are about to ask the reason why when it dawns on you.
The reason why Manager Duan is silent must be that this testimonial concerns someone present at the time.
And of all the people present at the time, the only one that he could be so afraid of...
Manager Duan: Judging by how clever you are, I'm sure you can make sense of it.
Manager Duan: In the afternoon, President von Hagen got into an argument with Boss Qian in the lobby...
You: (President von Hagen...)
Manager Duan: He has always been at odds with Boss Qian. But I didn't hear what their argument was over, except that Boss Qian was extremely angry after he left.
Manager Duan: They must have had a huge argument.
[Obtain Intel: President von Hagen > Argument]
You: (A huge argument? One that might lead to physical aggression...?)
You: If they don't get along with each other, as you claim, why would President von Hagen attend the birthday banquet?
Manager Duan: Yeah, I didn't think much of it at the time. But it's coming back to me after the tragedy.
Manager Duan: If Boss Qian was murdered by the Xiangjin Gang, then maybe... they only care about money, not people...
???: Who only cares about money, and not people?
A familiar voice sneers coldly into your ear, sending shivers down your spine.
Manager Duan: President von Hagen...?
Marius snorts, the smile on his lips colder than the moon.
Marius: Oh? You guys were talking about me...
Manager Duan: No... No, no... that's not what I meant...
Marius: Then what did you mean, Manager Duan?
He enunciated every word, as if he was going to break Manager Duan's bones.
Marius: As for me, I'm not afraid of a crooked shoe, unlike some people who only gossip behind others' backs.
Marius: Even if Boss Qian is still alive, I would dare confront him about anything. I'm not the one who's feeling guilty.
With that, he moves closer to your ear, speaking in a voice that only the two of you can hear.
Marius: Little Boss, I may not be a good guy, but I do not wrong others.
Then he gives a cold smirk while throwing a glance at Manager Duan. Seeing the man shiver, he walks away with a smirk.
You and Artem have just walked past a telephone booth when a dark shadow flashes by. Before you have time to react, Artem already has his hands out.
Like grabbing a chicken by the neck, Artem subdues a man dressed as a gangster.
Delinquent: Wh-What are you guys doing? It's against the law to hit someone... I'm calling the police!
He struggles to break free from Artem's grip, but he continues rambling on about something.
Artem: Please do. I'd like to see what reason would someone who's trying to cut and run have for the police.
Delinquent: Y... You...
Artem's words leave the delinquent desperate for a comeback. He soon stops struggling, defeat written all over his face.
Artem: Tell me. What were you doing sneaking around there?
Delinquent: Please spare me this time, kind strangers. I won't do it again.
You: We haven't even said anything yet, and you're begging us for mercy.
You: You have to tell us what you did first before we can decide whether or not to let you go, right?
Delinquent: *Sigh* I'm... starving... I'm at my wit's end...
The delinquent reaches into the inside pocket of his patched coat and pulls out a crumbled paper bag.
Delinquent: If the pastries aren't sold today, they'll just be thrown out tomorrow. I'm not stealing them... I'm doing them a favor...
Artem's eyes keep getting sharper and sharper, until the delinquent's voice lowers to a whisper.
You: You were stealing... food?
Delinquent: Yeah... How else am I supposed to survive?
Delinquent: I'm not afraid to say it—my family wasn't rich by any means, but at least we didn't have to worry about food or shelter. But the Xiangjin Gang...
Delinquent: For some reason, they started targeting our shop... They harassed my family every day, telling us to sell our shop.
Delinquent: My family was running a small business, and we couldn't deal with that every day. My shop is gone, and my parents died from an illness. I'm all alone...
[Obtain Intel: Xiangjin Gang > Disturbance for profit]
Delinquent: Well, at least I've only got one mouth to feed now. I can do whatever I want, and being a delinquent just felt like the right choice.
The delinquent starts going off on a tangent, and Artem clears his throat to get him back on track.
Delinquent: In fact, I haven't done anything too harmful. Compared to the Xiangjin Gang, I'm quite a pleasant man.
Delinquent: But those guys make it hard for us citizens to live. The more chaotic the world, the more arrogant they are, and the harder my life gets.
Artem: Just don't make a habit of it.
You: (The Xiangjin Gang is growing stronger because of the difficult times? Is there something else going on?)
Because he is honest with the two of you, you decide not to make things harder for him. You pay for his pastry, and he leaves after thanking you.
In the dark night, only the dim light of the street lamp reminds the passersby of the hustle and bustle of the day.
[Obtain Clue Card: Yingxing Street]
The quiet and desolate atmosphere makes the poster in the window of the department store stand out vividly.
You: *Sigh*...
Luke: It's a pity, isn't it?
The man in the poster smiles kindly at the camera with open hands as if to welcome everyone to participate in the charity event.
[Obtain Intel: Yingxing Street > Charity event location]
Yet in reality, that man is lying on the cold floor, unable to smile ever again.
Employee: How can I help you two? The department shop is closing.
A woman wearing a headscarf and an apron, dressed as a sales associate, comes out of the department store to greet the two of you.
You: Ahh... nothing...
You suddenly remember the charity event that you and Luke discussed earlier. This employee might know something.
So you call out to stop her, asking about the charity event during the day, which she seems hesitant about.
Luke: Hello, I'm a reporter for the Xuzhou News Media. I'm writing an article on the charity event that happened during the day. Can I trouble you with a few questions?
The store employee takes the business card, inspects it several times, then nods.
Employee: Okay, hurry and ask.
Luke: What was the overall process of the charity event?
Employee: Well... Boss Qian opened the event with a speech, then distributed food supplies and winter clothing to the people who came to attend.
[Obtain Intel: Charity event]
You: Did a lot of people attend?
Employee: More than I could count. Boss Qian prepared over a dozen boxes of supplies, which were all distributed quickly.
You: When did the event end?
Employee: Around noon, after the supplies were all distributed.
Employee: Some of the children didn't get any, so Boss Qian comforted them and told them to go to Renhui Relief Hospital.
You recall the guests in the hotel mentioning how much Boss Qian donates to the Renhui Relief Hospital. You nod, silently taking note of it.
You: Did anything special happen at the charity event?
Employee: Anything special?
You: Yes, anything at all.
You remember your conversation with Luke that day, when he mentioned Boss Qian leaving in the middle of the event — it's something that has been on your mind.
Employee: Well, there was an incident, but it wasn't anything special. The Xiangjin Gang is capable of anything.
You: The Xiangjin Gang? What happened?
Another familiar name — you quickly follow up with another question.
Employee: As you're well aware, the Xiangjin Gang only picks on the weak, while never daring to mess with the strong...
Employee: So they normally wouldn't dare mess with someone like Boss Qian. They probably woke up on the wrong side of the bed that day...
Employee: In front of so many people, they claimed that they came for the supplies, but they were clearly up to no good...
Luke: Did Boss Qian give them any supplies?
Employee: Of course not. How could he? We commoners may be afraid of the Xiangjin Gang, but not Boss Qian.
Employee: He gave them a scolding and drove them away.
Employee: When they scurried away in disgrace, the people at the event burst into applause. It was quite the spectacle!
As you recall, Manager Duan said the ring blade is the preferred weapon of the Xiangjin Gang. Your suspicion rises.
Employee: Any other questions?
Luke: No, that's all. Thanks for your help.
Employee: Um... if this interview is published in the newspaper, remember to mention the name of our shop...
While the store employee is chatting with Luke, you head over to the place where the event was held.
Some of the tables and chairs have not been put away, and the promotion banners are still blowing gently in the wind. You carefully look around.
You: Oh? Isn't this...
At the base of an inconspicuous wall, there is a mark that you knew all too well.
You: (Isn't this a Mayfly Association mark? What's it doing here?)
Luke: Little Boss... you don't look so well. Are you okay?
Just when you wanted to get a closer look...
Luke, who was chatting with the store employee moments ago, suddenly appears by your side.
You: Yeah, it's been a long day.
Luke: Yeah, we've been up for a long time... Little Boss, I'm going back to the hotel to rest. You should head back soon as well.
With a wink, he tells you, almost deliberately, what he is going to do next.
You: Thank you for your concern, Journalist Pearce.
The night envelops the town like a black fog, where light cannot permeate even the slightest of cracks. It's similar to your mood at the moment.
With a gust of wind, several posters pasted on the wall arc through the air like dead leaves, one of which you reach out to grab.
You: "Boss Qian, a well-known and charitable businessman in Xuzhou Town, has focused on charity activities for several years, and the scope of his work has continued to expand."
You: "Boss Qian rocketed to fame for his charity work, and his vision is to benefit all mankind."
You: It sounds like Boss Qian wanted to do even more charity work...
Vyn: The promotion was overwhelming, yet nothing has been done.
Vyn mocks coldly, his tone absent of emotion.
You: Unfortunately, before he could do anything, he...
Vyn: He did do something.
You: Eh?
Vyn: He came to me before and asked me to translate and proofread several foreign promotional articles for him.
You: Promotional articles? It seems like he cared about his reputation just as much as his charity work.
Vyn: For a man in his position with so much power, why would he not care about his reputation?
You: ...
Perhaps due to the darkness, Vyn's eyes seem much brighter than usual, but you can't tell what he is thinking.
Summary
Location(s)
Boss Qian's Room
Yingxing Street
Character(s)
