Enduring Light: Skeletons in the Closet I
Overview
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards: None
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
Charity event
Luke: *Sigh* I wanted to write a special article for Boss Qian, but I didn't think this would happen...
You: Journalist Pearce, do you know Boss Qian?
Luke: Kind of. I know him, but he might not remember me.
Luke: I am an orphan. If it wasn't for Boss Qian's support, I wouldn't have been able to finish my education or get into the news agency.
Luke: All in all, he counts as my benefactor.
[Obtain Intel: Journalist Pearce > Benefactor]
You: (Boss Qian supported Journalist Pearce? Then before...)
You: So you'd also received help from Boss Qian before...
You: No wonder you had such a heavy expression when one of the guests mentioned Boss Qian doing a charity event at Yingxing Street in the morning.
Luke: Heavy?
Luke frowns, revealing a troubled expression.
Luke: Yeah, I was at the live event at Yingxing Street in the morning, taking photos.
Obtain Intel: Journalist Pearce > At the event venue]
Luke: In the afternoon, I was supposed to take more photos of Boss Qian at the Li Hotel, but he...
Luke sighs deeply, as if to confirm the sorrow in his words.
You: Did you say you were at the charity event in the morning!?
Luke: Yeah, I fought the news agency for a long time to get this opportunity.
Luke: After covering the story, I wanted the chance to thank Boss Qian for his help. I didn't expect...
You: That means you didn't get the chance all morning?
Luke: Yeah, Boss Qian is a well-known philanthropist in Xuzhou Town, and he frequently hosts charity events to help the less fortunate...
Luke: So, in any event where he is present, it's sure to attract a lot of participation.
Luke: There were so many people at the event that it took me a long time to find an angle to take photos.
Luke: But it's hard to get access to Boss Qian, let alone a chance to chat. But...
At this point, Luke stops for a moment. Then he frowns.
You: What is it!?
Luke: I remember... Boss Qian was absent for some time during the charity event.
Luke: He spoke a few words to someone in an alley, then returned to the live event.
You: Really? Are you sure you saw that right?
Luke: I'm sure. At the time, I was running out of film, so I ran out of the crowd to borrow some from a colleague.
Luke: When I was changing films, that's when I saw him.
Luke: Unfortunately, I didn't get it on camera... Otherwise, that probably would've been another big story.
[Obtain Intel: Boss Qian > Left halfway]
Luke's expression seems a little excited.
You: (Talking to someone alone... What would be so important that he would go out alone?)
You: (But if what Journalist Pearce said is true, wouldn't it be better to visit Yingxing Street for a look?)
You: (What if I come across more information?)
Past intel
You: Just now in front of the department store, you were giving me a look, Journalist Pearce... Is there something you wanted to tell me in private?
Luke: Yeah, I wanted an opportunity to talk to you in private.
Luke: We didn't have much of a chance back on Yingxing Street. Thankfully, you got my signal.
You: (That's thanks to our tacit understanding.)
You: So what did you want to say to me?
Luke was the one that gave you the signal, but he falls silent when you ask him about it.
He thinks for a moment, then looks up at you.
Luke: As you may have noticed, President von Hagen has a problem with Boss Qian.
You: (That's putting it lightly... He gets mad the moment he hears anyone complimenting Boss Qian...)
You hold back your inner thoughts and nod along to Luke's statement.
Luke: As far as I know, the two families haven't been on good terms for a long time, which started with the previous generation.
Luke: One is the president of the famous Business Association in Xuzhou Town, and the other is a highly respected philanthropist...
Luke: In fact, they've competed secretly many times, but neither has made a real impact on the other's forces.
You: You mean to say... Boss Qian is not the man Manager Duan claims him to be? That he is exceptionally tolerant of others?
Luke: I don't know about that, but Boss Qian is my benefactor, and it wouldn't be right of me to judge him based on what other people say.
Luke: But...
Luke hesitates for a moment, lowering his voice.
Luke: I had a colleague who tried to investigate the cause of the conflict between President von Hagen and Boss Qian, but the investigation was stopped halfway.
You: Stopped?
Luke: Yes, I only know that... our editor-in-chief has kept the contents of the investigation confidential. Nobody has ever touched it since then.
Luke: So that's all I can tell you.
[Obtain Intel: Journalist Pearce > Colleague investigation blocked]
You: Journalist Pearce, if you don't mind me asking... Why are you sharing this information with me?
You: According to you, wasn't the news agency responsible for silencing the discussion?
Luke: I wasn't part of the discussion—I was merely stating the facts. Reporters only need to report the facts. That's all.
Luke: Besides, if something happened to Boss Li in the Li Hotel...
Luke: It would be better for you to know more about the situation and make preparations accordingly, right?
His words don't leave any room for interpretation, making you wonder if he really wanted to share what he knew with you, or...
Did he want to cast doubt onto President von Hagen?
You: ...Thank you, Journalist Pearce. I'll make a note of it.
You: If the police come to investigate... I'll be truthful in my answers.
Luke: That's good to hear.
Luke nods approvingly.
You see the same familiar smile on a familiar face, but there seems to be a layer of haze transforming him into another person.
You: (This is difficult. It's the first time I've felt the need to be careful with what I say around Luke.)
You: (I guess this is part of the challenge...)
Wound on hand
You: Consultant Wing, how's the wound on your finger? Shouldn't you get it wrapped?
Artem: It doesn't bother me. I got cut by a sharp instrument when I was confirming the dishes for the birthday banquet with the chef in the back kitchen this afternoon.
Artem: I've already disinfected it. Thank you for your concern, Little Boss.
Artem's tone is calm, and his eyes betrayed nothing.
But you are able to pick up some anomalies in his calmness.
You: You went to confirm the dishes in the back kitchen? Isn't Manager Duan responsible for the banquet preparations?
Artem: I had nothing urgent to do after my conversation with Boss Qian this afternoon.
Artem: Manager Duan seemed frantic with the preparations. I was worried he might overlook something and offered to help.
Artem: Working in the same company, it's natural to help your colleagues.
Artem: Or did you think that... I was cut by the ring blade you found under the sofa?
You: !!!
You subconsciously look to Artem. The expression on his face is nothing special, but you are puzzled by how calm he is.
You have to admit, you had your doubts when you noticed the wound on Consultant Wing's finger and the somewhat unusual look in his eyes.
But you don't know what to say when he asks you something like this so directly.
You: I-I just thought that your expression got a little heavy when you saw that ring blade.
You: So, I thought I'd ask...
Shaking his head, Artem meets your eyes with a calmer smile in them.
Artem: Little Boss, you're quite sharp. At the time, my heart was indeed heavy.
Artem: I was wondering if the Xiangjin Gang left that weapon behind.
Artem: If so, what was Boss Qian's relationship with the Xiangjin Gang...?
You: Are you under the impression that the Yingxing Trading Company never crossed paths with the Xiangjin Gang?
Artem: I've never heard of such a thing, ever since I returned from abroad two years ago and became a financial consultant for Yingxing Trading Company.
[Obtain Intel: Consultant Wing > Return from studying abroad]
Artem: The power structure of the Xiangjin Gang is extremely complicated, and they engage in shady dealings...
Artem: If they set their eyes on Boss Qian, then it probably wasn't personal.
Artem: If there were some disputes over interests involved, it... would be difficult for Yingxing Trading Company in the future.
There is a tinge of worry in his tone, as if he is really thinking about the future of the Yingxing Trading Company.
You: Don't worry. Maybe it was just a misunderstanding on Manager Duan's part.
You: The murderer might have used a weapon that's favored by the Xiangjin Gang...
Artem nods in agreement.
Artem: Yes, there's nothing special about the ring blade. Anyone with the means to purchase one can use it.
Artem: Not long ago, I saw members of the Guangjie Union carry something similar for self-defense.
[Obtain Intel: Ring Blade > For Guangjie Union use]
He places heavy emphasis on "Guangjie Union."
You: The Guangjie Union?
You: (Why did he suddenly bring up the Guangjie Union? Is he trying to tell me something? Or...?)
Artem: Yes, the Guangjie Union has been operating in the town for decades, and they're a force to be reckoned with.
Artem: If Boss Qian offended someone in the Guangjie Union, the situation... is much more complicated than we originally thought.
The last two things Artem said felt too deliberate.
Thinking about it, his tone feels more like he is testing you.
You: (Is he telling me to be conscious of the Guangjie Union? Or... is he trying to muddy the waters?)
You are somewhat confused as to what his motives are.
Every word that comes out of Consultant Wing's mouth is airtight, just like his personal style of conduct. But it makes your imagination run wild.
So you put away the idea of probing the topic any further and end the conversation.
Xiangjin Gang
You: Consultant Wing, you seem concerned with news of the Xiangjin gang.
You: Before, on Yingxing Street, when the delinquent mentioned the Xiangjin gang, you... didn't look so good.
Artem gently sighs, but a faint smile can be seen in his eyes. It seems like your question is a form of affirmation for him.
Artem: I just never thought that the Xiangjin Gang would have expanded so drastically. It is news to me.
You: If those people continue to cause trouble in the streets, they will affect the lives of ordinary people.
You: I wonder if the police have caught on to this...
Artem: Even if the police knew about it, their hands are tied when it comes to Xuzhou Town.
You: What? Why!?
Artem: The Xiangjin Gang is nothing but a bunch of pitiful people that are being taken advantage of. The support they have behind them is why they are so bold.
Artem: As for the person backing them... I don't think the Xuzhou Town Police Department has enough evidence to dare to make something happen.
[Obtain Intel: Xuzhou Town > Intricacy]
His words are loaded. It's as if he's trying to lead you into forming some kind of idea.
"The person backing them"—that's such a broad concept. Many positions would qualify as a connection to these misfits... Although you do have some theories of your own.
You: Do you know something, Consultant Wing?
Artem: I've witnessed too many tragedies over these past couple of years.
Artem: There are either shops whose vendors suddenly stopped providing them with goods, or ones that are repeatedly harassed by the Xiangjin Gang.
Artem: They all eventually close down, declare bankruptcy, and end up selling the shop to another person.
Artem: After the cycle continues a few times, ownership of the shops always ends up in the hands of the "profiteers."
"Consultant Wing" does not directly answer your question. Instead, he changes the topic.
The profiteers? Shops that have changed hands?
You: (So is he saying that nothing is as simple as it seems...?)
You: (Or is he trying to say that the incident that happened at the charity event was also perpetrated by people who believed they could profit from it?)
Mayfly Association letter
You: Interpreter Richter... I notice you kept looking at the letter we found in the drawer. Is there something wrong with that letter?
Vyn: No... I am somewhat curious and hopeful when it comes to the Mayfly Association, so I read it a few more times.
Vyn adjusts his glasses. Through them, you can see a gentle smile in his eyes.
Vyn: In truth, even before I came to this town, people often talked about the Mayfly Association in my hometown.
Vyn: They said the Mayfly Association is a mysterious organization that dares to fight against evil forces and protect ordinary citizens.
Vyn: So, I am curious, are there really people who are so selfless and helpful?
Vyn: What do members of the Mayfly Association think about on a normal day...?
You: (Judging from his tone, he isn't just curious. Hmm...)
You: Well... I know even less about the Mayfly Association.
Vyn frowns thoughtfully, then nods again.
Vyn: Little Boss, you are new in Xuzhou Town, so it is normal for you not to know about the Mayfly Association.
Vyn: However, if you were a local, perhaps you would be the one telling me interesting stories about the Mayfly Association members.
Your heart suddenly jumps. Vyn's words sound like he's expressing regret, but what if he's suggesting that he knows something?
You: Now that you mention it, I'm starting to become interested in the Mayfly Association as well.
You: Unfortunately, Boss Qian is already... If we had the pleasure of talking to him face to face, we might have learned much more about the Mayfly Association.
You sigh half-heartedly and steer the conversation toward Boss Qian.
Vyn: Yes, I cannot believe Boss Qian may have been a member of the Mayfly Association.
Vyn: Had I known this, I would have come to the hotel earlier for a meeting with him.
Vyn: Everything is impermanent. What a pity.
You: Oh? Interpreter Richter, did you not come with the other people from Yingxing Trading Company?
Vyn: I teach classes at Xuzhou University during the day. I didn't get here until around 5:00 PM.
[Obtain Intel: Interpreter Richter > Day classes]
Vyn: After arriving, I wanted to meet with Boss Qian...
Vyn: But Manager Duan said Boss Qian was resting, so I waited in the lobby so as not to bother him.
You: You were waiting in the lobby until the banquet started?
Vyn nods to confirm, but doesn't say anything else.
You stare into his eyes, looking for any sliver of a clue.
But he just smiles, as if your suspicions are the products of your own delusions.
You: (Interpreter Richter is not a Xuzhou Town local, just like me. He's curious about the Mayfly Association, and only got to the hotel at 5:00 PM...)
You: (Everything is in perfect order, and nothing seems particularly suspicious.)
You: (That strange feeling just now... was it just me being paranoid?)
Charity event
You: Interpreter Richter, when you were on Yingxing Street, you seemed to be staring at that charity event poster...
Vyn: No, I was just feeling sentimental.
You were planning on asking him if he discovered any clues on the poster. However, his answer is different from what you were expecting
You: Sentimental? Does it have something to do with the poster?
Vyn: Yes. Even if the Mayfly Association is an organization that believes in helping ordinary civilians...
Vyn: What Boss Qian is doing is nothing more than buying "kind" compliments with money.
Even though he mentions Boss Qian, his words point to the Mayfly Association which he has been very "curious" about.
You: Interpreter Richter, are you saying that Boss Qian's charity events seem illogical?
Vyn: How should I put this...
Vyn: If all you are doing is giving money to save an ordinary person, does that count as really helping them?
Vyn: Or, would continuous donations to charity organizations or places like the relief hospital... really count as truly saving someone?
Vyn: Did he ever go out of his way to check if the people that came to request assistance really needed the help?
Vyn: Oftentimes, people believe that they are doing charity, but in reality, it is merely a way to comfort themselves.
Vyn: They are simply tending to their "urge to help others."
[Obtain Intel: Boss Qian > Solace]
Vyn's words are imbued with passion. You're unsure if he's acting, or if he really feels this way.
You: Yeah...
Before you can react, Vyn smiles again.
Vyn: So, Little Boss, what is your opinion on the charity event? Or, rather, what do you think of the people in the Mayfly Association?
Your heart skips a beat when you hear Vyn's words. Subconsciously, you think he may have already figured out your identity.
He has a genuine smile on his face as you gaze into his eyes. He seems to be sincerely waiting for your reply.
You: I've only just arrived in Xuzhou Town. I really don't know much about the Mayfly Association... or the Xiangjin Gang...
You: But if I had to form an opinion, I would say that... whatever the case, I think Boss Qian must have had good intentions for hosting the charity event.
Vyn: That is true...
Vyn: To be honest, I do not have the right to be commenting on the incident either.
You: Huh?
Vyn: I am actually a member of the Yingxing Trading Company.
Vyn: I helped with the preparations before the charity event took place. So, no matter how I try to explain myself...
Vyn: In reality, I am also one of the people that have received this "comfort."
You: So, you helped out with the event?
Vyn: Yes. A portion of the charity event's projects is to raise funds for donations to the sick children at the Renhui Relief Hospital.
Vyn: Most of the businessmen from outside of Xuzhou Town open shops on Yingxing Street...
Vyn: So Boss Qian asked me to make preparations for any possible questions they may ask.
Vyn: Although... I do not know if the preparations even came in handy.
After hearing Vyn talk about the charity event, questions and suspicions begin to gather in your mind.
You: (The relief hospital...)
You: (What he's trying to say is, although Boss Qian's charity event was hosted on Yingxing Street, Renhui Relief Hospital was actually also one of the beneficiaries?)
You look up and stare at Vyn, only to find a kind smile in his golden eyes.
Is it just you, or is he actually trying to take the opportunity to send you some kind of message...?
Deed donation
You: President von Hagen, you seem to care about the land deed that Boss Qian was donating to the Renhui Relief Hospital?
Marius: Oh? How did you figure that out?
You: Just a hunch.
You: When Manager Duan mentioned the landed just now, your expression seemed strange.
Marius: Very sharp, Little Boss... If everyone was like you, I'd have no place to hide in the business world.
There was a hint of self-deprecation in his words, but it also gave you an obvious hint.
You: So, you do care about that land deed?
Marius: Not exactly. That land deed originally belonged to the von Hagen Family.
Marius: It was Boss Qian who stole it from us and pretended to be a good man, hmph...
You: What!? Then why...
You are about to ask the reason, but Marius interrupts you.
Marius: I know it's not my business.
Marius: There's more to Boss Qian than meets the eye.
Marius: Those who put him on a pedestal don't know anything. You'd best be careful, Little Boss.
Marius: Don't be a sheep that will only follow others blindly and be vague about your stand.
His words feels like a warning. But the more you think about it, the more it sounds like a hint.
You: President von Hagen, aren't you being vague as well?
You: After all this time, you still haven't told me why you had a problem with Boss Qian.
Marius: ...
Marius: It's nothing, just an old grievance. It has nothing to do with what happened today.
He subconsciously turns the ring on his index finger, as if it was a gesture of unconscious thought.
But it's this gesture that brings your attention to the finger.
Its shape is not as round as a common jade ring, but its surface had bumps here and there.
You: (That index finger ring... Its bumpy shape makes it easy to leave a mark on someone else, right?)
You suddenly recall the abnormal red marks on Boss Qian's wrist, your heart wavering.
You: President von Hagen, that index finger ring is quite unique.
Marius: Eh?
Marius probably didn't expect you to change the topic so suddenly. He pauses for a moment before responding.
Marius: It's for my self-protection.
Marius: As you know, the days are not peaceful, and we will inevitably encounter unruly people in our business.
Marius: Without some means of defense, how can I get by?
You: I see. President von Hagen is a cautious man.
You: (Hmm... He was so comfortable talking about his index finger ring and what it's used for. Does he not mind what associations that could bring?)
You: (No, what if it's just a bluff? After all, the person who is the most suspicious is also the safest?)
You: (The situation is so complicated. I didn't expect everyone to be serious in this game.)
Personal grudge
You: President von Hagen, I'll be frank.
You: What exactly happened between you and Boss Qian?
Marius: What? Are you suspecting me now, Little Boss?
Marius smiles softly, his attitude as smooth as ever.
Marius: My attitude toward the old man has always been the same, and there's nothing to say.
You: Of course there is.
You won't let him beat around the bush any longer, so you get right to the point.
You: Just now, Manager Duan claimed that you and Boss Qian were having an argument this afternoon.
You: And you admitted it yourself, President von Hagen—you don't get along with Boss Qian...
You: It's natural for others to suspect you. Isn't that normal?
Marius: That doesn't matter. I'll take care of it.
You: Take care of what?
Marius: Take care... of the people who suspect me.
You: ...
Marius: Okay, I won't tease you anymore.
Marius: You just want to know why I hate the old guy so much, right...? I'll tell you.
Marius changes his teasing tone, and he wears a solemn expression on his face.
Marius: The old man's not who people say he is.
Marius: Do you think the house he's donating to the Renhui Relief Hospital is his own?
Marius: That's my ancestral home. Decades ago, Qian scammed my father, forcing him to use the house to pay off the debt.
[Obtain Intel: President von Hagen > Old grievances, Land Deed > Ancestral land deed]
You: You mean... Boss Qian hatched a scheme to steal your family's land deed?
You: So that was what Manager Duan witnessed you and Boss Qian arguing about?
Marius: In a sense. I've always wanted to confront Boss Qian about it...
Marius: I wish I could have asked him, "Why did you betray my father when he completely trusted you?" It's a pity... he will never give me that chance...
Marius: Before I could say what I wanted, he kicked me out.
Marius: Look—if I really was the murderer, wouldn't it be too obvious of me to wait in your hotel to be discovered?
You: Yeah...
It's a little difficult to judge with such an honest attitude.
You: Do you mind telling me... the details of what happened that year?
Marius shakes his head.
Marius: Little Boss, that would be too greedy of you to hear the entire story in one go.
Marius: I'll admit what I've done. As for what I didn't do, I won't let myself be slandered.
He looks at you, not seriously, but with an intriguing gaze.
You: I see.
It seems this topic will only go this far today. Even if you press him further, President von Hagen won't reveal any more information.
But because of this, the confusion accumulating in your heart snowballs.
You: (If President von Hagen really is the murderer... it would be too obvious, right?)
You: (It feels hard to make sense of the case...)
Summary
Location(s)
Li Hotel Lobby
