Enduring Light: Exploration III
Overview
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards: None
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Hotel Exploration
Script
You: Journalist Pearce, President von Hagen, should we take a look at the closet?
You formed a new theory after speaking to Luke and Marius individually.
Both of them are here, maybe talking to them both at once will reveal even more valuable information.
Marius: Sure, let's talk.
Luke: Okay, let's chat here.
After giving them a summary of what you know...
The three of you arrive in front of the closet that Luke said he hid in.
You: Is this where you hid, Journalist Pearce?
Luke: Yes.
Marius: Oh? It's a really tight space. It's amazing that you were able to stay in here for so long.
Marius teases Luke as he observes the marks inside the closet.
Marius: So, according to what you said, you were in the closet since 2:30 PM? So that means you heard my argument with Boss Qian?
Luke: Yeah, but I couldn't hear you two very clearly. However, Boss Qian was extremely upset after you left and somehow dirtied his clothes.
Marius: Oh, so he discovered you when he came for a change of clothes?
Marius continues to tease him. Luke frowns and looks to be a little upset.
Luke: Yeah, and I wonder who I have to thank for that...
He then looks at the window and scratches his head. It seems like there's something he's unsure of, but he doesn't speak.
Marius: What time did that happen?
Luke: President von Hagen, are you interrogating a suspect?
Marius: I'm just curious, Journalist Pearce. Why? Are you nervous?
Luke: Why would I be nervous? I already told her about it. I don't remember it anymore.
You: According to the clues provided by Journalist Pearce... I'm guessing he left after 3:30 PM.
Marius: Isn't that shortly after I left? You're pretty quick on your feet, Journalist Pearce.
Luke: Likewise.
Luke throws Marius' words back at him and looks out the window with a heavy expression on his face.
You: (Luke and Marius' timelines match, and they can vouch for each other. Luke most likely wouldn't lie about it either.)
You: (So, right now, we can at least conclude that Boss Qian was still alive before 3:30 PM. But...)
You: (The expression on Journalist Pearce's face suggests that there's something wrong. He seems to be avoiding Marius' questions.)
You walk to the sofa and get stopped by Manager Duan.
Manager Duan: Little Boss...
Vyn: Speak with your mouth, not your hands...
Manager Duan attempts to reach out and grab you but is suddenly stopped by someone.
Manager Duan: Okay... okay...
The manager seems to have something to say but is discouraged by Vyn's cold stare. Manager Duan gazes into your eyes.
Manager Duan: Little Boss, what are we going to do!?
Manager Duan: The people from the Guangjie Union have surrounded the hotel and are demanding a response. I'm so scared!
Vyn: You are not even the one they are looking for. What are you so afraid of?
Manager Duan: As part of the hotel staff, I will naturally be affected! We have to give them some sort of response.
You: Calm down, Manager Duan. Panicking won't solve the problem.
Manager Duan: *sigh*... I wonder if this is a bad year for me... First, my boss disappeared, and now, I'm trapped here...
He lets out an exaggerated cry of pain and collapses on the sofa while continuing to mutter complaints.
Manager Duan: Whoever leaked it must still be hiding somewhere, stirring things up.
Manager Duan: We've already called the police, but they're still outside the hotel without a care in the world. Who could have leaked it!?
Manager Duan: If I find out who it is... I'll definitely...
Vyn: You will definitely what?
Vyn glares at Manager Duan, and his mouth instantly clamps shut.
You: (Although Manager Duan seems to be on the verge of a breakdown, he is right about one thing...)
You: (Someone in this hotel definitely tipped off the Guangjie Union... but who?)
Unable to help yourself, you glance across the room and everyone in it. As you organize your thoughts, Artem begins to speak and interrupts you.
Artem: Are you thinking about what Manager Duan said?
Artem comes over. He must have heard the ruckus.
You: Yeah, what he said does make some sense...
You: The Guangjie Union wouldn't have gotten here so quickly if no one tipped them off. And they wouldn't be so bold about it, either.
Artem: Who do you think it might be?
"Consultant Wing" does not continue his analysis but poses a direct question to you. You're at a loss for words for a while.
You: I don't know... But if there really is someone tipping them off, then things just got a lot more complicated...
Artem: No matter who it is, let me know if you need help with anything, especially with the hotel. After all...
You: After all?
Artem: It's nothing...
He shakes his head and lets out an indiscernible sigh.
You: (Consultant Wing seems to have a special connection to the Li Hotel... What's going on...?)
You: It's a little stuffy in here...
The doors and windows are shut tight, the air is stagnant, and your thoughts become sluggish. You walk to the window and gently push on it.
You: (Ah, right... The windows are locked...)
You look at the window latch and move it around left and right, confirming that the window can only be locked from the inside.
You: (I remember Luke saying he left through the window... Doesn't that mean that it'd be impossible for him to lock it again afterward...?)
You: (However, the windows were all locked when we arrived at the crime scene.)
You: (That means... Someone else was here after Luke left...)
You: (And that person is most likely the murderer!)
After clearing that up, you feel the fog lifting from your mind.
You successfully open the other safe with the key Luke gave you.
There are quite a few things in this safe. The first to catch your attention is a health examination report.
[Obtain Clue Card: Relief Hospital Investigation Report]
You: So the Renhui Relief Hospital did a full physical examination on all the kids...
[Obtain Clue Card: Renhui Relief Hospital]
You: Hmm, most of the kids are healthy...
Your heart instantly sinks upon coming to this conclusion
You: If these are all healthy kids... then why would they be abandoned at the hospital in the first place...?
With that thought in mind, you open a well-organized file to the side.
You: This is the basic information on the kids at the Renhui Relief Hospital...
This file contains records of all the information on the kids. It includes their family situation, height, weight, and other details.
You: The signature... Nurse Ge...
[Obtain Intel: Relief Hospital Investigation Report > Signed report, Relief Hospital Investigation Report > Stored in private]
Each of the records was handled by Nurse Ge.
[Obtain Clue Card: Nurse Ge]
Vyn: Little Boss, do these remind you of anything?
Vyn removes some of the invoices from the box and places them in front of you. He then taps his finger on the time entries.
You: Ah... The time on these...
These invoices are all shipping manifests from Yuying Pier. There are tons of them.
[Obtain Clue Card: Shipping List]
[Obtain Intel: Shipping List > Staggering amount]
What's strange is the invoices don't include the contents or quantities of the shipments. It's obvious that they're trying to hide something.
Maybe the times weren't hidden as well for the purpose of preserving evidence. This is your opportunity for further investigation.
You: (These timestamps are identical and correspond to each of the poem entries!)
[Obtain Intel: Ledger > Recorded time]
You never expected the answer to the question you've been mulling over for so long to be right here. But what do these shipping manifests point to anyway?
You: (Could it be that... these suggest that Boss Qian took part in the Guangjie Union's illegal activities?)
[Obtain Intel: Boss Qian > Illegal activity]
You look at Vyn, recalling what he said previously.
You: Why? Isn't Boss Qian a member of the Mayfly Association? Why would they kill one of their own?
Vyn's theory is extremely bold. You can't help but question him about it.
However, he continues with his theory as if he knew you would react this way.
Vyn: Yes, but people change. After all, the Mayfly Association does not share the same interests as the merchants.
Vyn: If Boss Qian wanted to expand the Yingxing Trading Company, he would want to get rid of the obstacle known as the Mayfly Association, no?
You: Could it be that these shipping manifests... didn't carry cargo, but instead...
Vyn frowns as he hands you a stamp.
Vyn: There is no need to rush to conclusions. Take a look at this.
Vyn: This is the official stamp of the Renhui Relief Hospital. If I am not mistaken, Boss Qian made this seal illegally...
[Obtain Clue Card: Bellflower Seal]
[Obtain Intel: Boss Qian > Stolen seal]
You take the seal and discover that the pattern on the stamp is a bellflower. It's the logo of the Renhui Relief Hospital.
[Obtain Intel: Bellflower Seal > Seal pattern]
There is still half-dried ink on the seal. It was used not too long ago.
[Obtain Intel: Bellflower Seal > Frequent use]
You: Why... What does he want with the relief hospital's seal?
Vyn: Profit or power. There are really no other reasons for illegally obtaining someone else's seal.
You: ...
An answer forms in your mind but you are afraid to say it out loud.
You: Boss Qian, who everyone knows as a kind and generous person devoted to philanthropy... is actually just profiting off of them?
You: Then what role does the relief hospital play in all of this?
After hearing what you said, Vyn organizes the evidence in your hand and begins to speak slowly.
Vyn: I believe that you are the only one who truly knows the answer to that question.
You: Huh?
You watch as he turns and leaves. Some things remain confusing, but some have begun to make sense.
You: (Seems like I'll have to pay Renhui Relief Hospital a visit if I want to get to the bottom of this.)
Renhui Relief Hospital
Note: Some Enduring Light: Skeletons in the Closet III topics must be discussed before this becomes available.
Script
A breeze blows by, and a splash of water in the fountain catches your attention.
You: Huh? Isn't that Vyn?
There is a child next to him who clings close. His gentle smile looks warmer under the sunlight.
You: What are you guys talking about?
You walk over to them. The child looks to be a little timid, and hides behind Vyn, revealing only a pair of big round eyes.
Vyn: Go play with the others if you are feeling nervous. I will come find you later, okay?
The child nods and quickly runs away.
You: Wow, Interpreter Richter, you're great with that kid.
Vyn: Not at all... I come from the same background as them, after all.
You and Vyn chat as he watches the children play in the distance. There is a heaviness in his eyes.
You: (What's on his mind?)
A group of kids are sitting around the flowers, listening to the oldest in the group tell a story.
You walk over quietly so you don't disturb them.
Storytelling Child: It is a dark and eerie night... Footsteps suddenly begin to sound in the corridors of the relief hospital...
Storytelling Child: The sound varies in strength, but it never stops. The sound of the footsteps gets closer and closer to Ming...
Storytelling Child: Just as Ming climbs out of bed to open the door, the door handle begins to turn on its own...
The frightened children are holding onto each other and trembling. They're drawn to the story but terrified at the same time. It's an adorable sight.
Storytelling Child: Ming suddenly remembers the legends of the relief hospital and quickly climbs back beneath his blanket. He curls up and stays completely still, not daring to move.
Storytelling Child: The person at the door begins to speak. "Bad kids who don't go to sleep will be taken away!"
Storytelling Child: "Who!? Who's a bad kid!?"
The child telling the story suddenly raises her voice, as if she's directing the question to the kids in front of her.
All the other kids begin to shake their heads in a panic, all claiming to be good kids.
She seems happy with their responses and begins to laugh.
Storytelling Child: Of course, I know that you're all good kids, because bad kids aren't allowed to come out and play with the others.
Storytelling Child: But you have to stay good, or you'll end up like Ming...
The kids all nod vigorously and follow the oldest child elsewhere to play.
You: (Is that really just a legend? Is a story with a moral like that... something a child is capable of coming up with?)
You enter the relief hospital and see a kind-looking nurse standing off to the side.
Nurse: Hello, how can I help you?
You: Well... we're...
You briefly introduce yourself and tell her that you're here for a tour.
Nurse: Ah, the Little Boss of the Li Hotel. I apologize for our lack of hospitality.
Nurse Ge: I'm Ge—I run the relief hospital. I know a thing or two about medicine, so the people here call me Nurse Ge.
[Obtain Intel: Nurse Ge > Person responsible for relief hospital]
You: (So she's Nurse Ge!)
Nurse Ge: Is something wrong?
You: Oh, no, not at all... Can you give me a tour of the relief hospital?
You try your best to conceal your astonishment and redirect the conversation toward the adoption of children.
You: I don't see too many kids in the relief hospital. Have most of them been adopted?
Nurse Ge: Yes, although the relief hospital tries its best to take care of the children, what they really need is a complete family.
[Obtain Intel: Renhui Relief Hospital > Departed children]
Nurse Ge: However, we don't just send the kids off with random people. Each of the families that come to us for adoption...
Nurse Ge: Are rigorously screened and must go through the full legal procedures.
Nurse Ge answers so fluently, almost as if it is scripted into her mind from how often the question is asked.
Afterward, she is still afraid that you don't believe her.
Nurse Ge: You must know Boss Qian, right? He's the most generous person in all of Xuzhou Town.
You: Yes, I know of him.
She brings up Boss Qian before you even have to ask, saving you the trouble of having to explain everything.
Nurse Ge: Boss Qian is very devoted to the children of Renhui Relief Hospital. He occasionally comes here to follow up on the adoption process.
[Obtain Intel: Boss Qian > Cares about children]
You: So, Boss Qian would've known all about the information of the adopters?
Nurse Ge: Yes... I suppose you could say that...
You tour the relief hospital with Nurse Ge as your guide while observing their various facilities.
You: (Everyone says that Boss Qian donated large sums of money to the relief hospital, but the facilities and the infrastructure here...)
You: (They don't match up. This doesn't look to be a place with great financial backing... Or did all the funds go to helping the children...?)
You: (However, as a financer who frequents the place, Boss Qian would've definitely been unhappy with the rundown infrastructure here.)
Even as the sun shines bright, some places are still hidden beneath the shadows and remain out of reach.
Child C: Miss, when is Uncle Qian going to visit me again?
A child grabs hold of your sleeve. You have no idea how to answer the question coming from such an innocent face.
You: Do you miss Uncle Qian?
You kneel down, look into her eyes, and pat her on the head.
Child C: Yeah! Uncle Qian is great! I really miss him!
Child C: He gives me toys, snacks, and even protects me.
You: Protects you?
Child C: Yeah, bad guys were trying to take me away one night. It was Uncle Qian that saved me.
You: !?
You: (Boss Qian saved her? But...)
You thought Boss Qian was involved in shady business with the Renhui Relief Hospital. But, hearing what the child just said...
If it's true, then it would mean that your theory is wrong...
You: Why are you looking for him? Are the bad guys coming again?
Child C: Yeah, the bad guys are always around. I'm really scared. When is Uncle Qian coming again?
Although children's words aren't always the truth, it at least proves that there's something strange going on in the relief hospital.
Even if Boss Qian wasn't involved, he was definitely aware of what was going on.
You: Don't worry. The bad guys won't come again. I promise.
Child C: Really?
You: Yup, you can trust me.
The child nods and hugs you gently. You can feel the reliance and trust in her small arms.
You: Excuse me... What are you making?
A person dressed as a caregiver is sitting off to the side with a ball of yarn and a crochet hook in her hand.
Caregiver: Who are you?
You briefly introduce yourself and the caregiver responds with a nod. She relaxes after making sure that you mean the kids no harm.
Caregiver: I'm crocheting a bellflower. See?
She hands you a finished handmade bellflower with blue petals and pearls on the edge. It looks to be very delicate.
[Obtain Clue Card: Hand-woven Flower]
You: It's so beautiful...
You: Are these for the kids?
Caregiver: Yes... I make these flowers for them whenever a child is adopted.
[Obtain Intel: Hand-woven Flower > Farewell souvenir]
You: That's so nice of you. The children must really like it.
Caregiver: You think so? I don't have anything valuable to give them. These little crafts are all I can do in an attempt to leave them with some memories.
You: Why don't I help you?
Caregiver: Ahh! It's all right, but thank you anyways. I think it'd be best if I made them myself.
She returns to crocheting and doesn't speak again.
You: What's wrong, little boy?
Unlike the other children, a boy is sitting on a chair with his head down and a blank look on his face. He looks lonely.
Youth: I... It's nothing...
He quickly wipes his face, but it isn't enough to hide his red eyes.
You: Is someone bullying you?
Youth: You shouldn't be talking to me, Miss.
You: Hmm? Why is that?
Youth: You shouldn't talk to me... I... Nobody believes anything I say anyways.
You: You know that's not true. I believe you.
You sit next to him and pat his head.
Youth: Really?
You: Yeah, I'll believe anything you say.
Youth: Okay!
He quickly nods and his eyes fill with determination.
Youth: Not too long ago, I heard strange noises in the corridors one night when I couldn't sleep.
Youth: I thought I was hearing things, but the noises continued. I was curious, so I opened the door...
Youth: Then, I saw...
The boy hesitates before continuing.
Youth: I saw some people leave with a big box.
You: A big box?
Youth: Yeah. They even opened the box to check on the things inside. I saw a ton of money in there...
Youth: The box was full of money... I've never seen that much money before!
You: Did you see what they looked like?
Youth: Hmm... It was dark, so I didn't get a good look. But I remember that the man leading them was wearing a white shirt.
Youth: He looked like the boss. Everyone called him... Pres... something.
His description is vague, but someone immediately pops into your mind.
You: (It's not President von Hagen... is it? Was it his name that they were calling out?)
[Obtain Intel: President von Hagen > Shadows in the night]
Youth: I told my other friends about what happened, but none of them would believe me. They all think I'm lying.
Youth: I'm not lying! I really did see it!
You: I believe you. But you have to promise me one thing.
You: (The child most likely witnessed the secret behind the relief hospital... He may be in danger if he continues trying to tell others about it.)
You: Don't tell anyone about this from now on, all right? If anyone asks, tell them that it was all just a dream.
Youth: Huh? Why?
You: I'll explain it to you later. But let's just keep it a secret between you and me for now, okay?
You: We won't tell anyone. Whoever keeps the secret the longest wins.
You: What do you think? Are you up for the challenge?
Youth: Okay! I'm great with secrets! I'll definitely win!
You: Okay, it's a promise then. This is our secret.
Youth: Okay! It's a secret!
The boy smiles again and runs to the other children. He says something to them, and they begin to play together.
You: (I hope this will be enough to protect him... Wait, no!)
You: (We're within the immersive event facility... None of the actors are supposed to get hurt. Was I getting too into it?)
You: (Ahh, whatever the case, I did gather some information. Could President von Hagen really be the person that the child saw that night?)
Two kids are playing house by the bushes. An argument quickly breaks out.
Child A: I want to be Boss Qian! I want to be Boss Qian!
Child B: Why? You got to be Boss Qian last time. I was Manager Duan. It's my turn now.
Child A: I was only Boss Qian for a little bit before Uncle Qian showed up. That wasn't enough!
You: Hey, kids, what are you arguing about?
Child A: Who are you? Uncle Qian said to never talk to strangers.
You: I'm an acquaintance of his.
You: (Hmm... a white lie isn't a complete lie, right?)
Child A: Really?
You: Yeah, would you like me to have Manager Duan come and prove it?
Child B: Hmm, this lady knows Manager Duan too. She probably does know Uncle Qian...
The two kids mutter for a while before lowering their guard.
You: Seems like you guys both really like Uncle Qian.
Child A: Of course. Grandpa Qian is rich and really nice to us. We all really like him!
You: (Boss Qian seems to have been... really good to the children here.)
You: (Otherwise the children wouldn't like him so much...)
Child B: Ahh, did you already forget? Uncle Qian told us not to call him Grandpa!
Child A: Oh, right, right, right! Uncle Qian said he isn't that old yet and told us to call him Uncle instead.
You: I see, you guys seem really close to him.
Child A: Of course!
Child A: How about this? I'll play Boss Qian, and you can play the president that brings stuff to us.
Child B: Sure! that way, we won't have to play Manager Duan!
You: (Why do they hate Manager Duan so much...? But who is this president they're talking about is...?)
You want to ask more questions but the kids have already run out of sight to continue their game of house.
You: (The president that they're talking about... Could it be President von Hagen...?)
Summary
Location(s)
Boss Qian's Room
Renhui Relief Hospital
Character(s)
