Enduring Light Investigation: Prologue
Overview
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards: None
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Li Hotel Entrance
You walk out of the Li Hotel to find the streets packed with people. The vendors in the alleys are having a shouting contest to promote their products. The streets are bustling with energy...
You gaze upon the scene in front of you and begin to zone out. It really feels like you've been living in Xuzhou Town for a very long time.
However, this is not the time to stop and smell the flowers—you have something important you must do...
You: (Besides cooperating to find out who really killed Boss Qian, I still have to...)
You mind drifts back to the memory of the first time you set foot in the Li Hotel comes to mind...
Study
You noticed a small line of words while checking the identity card. It instructed you to go to Uncle Li's study to find the letter left specially for you.
And so, after cooperating with the initial investigation regarding Boss Qian's incident, you made an excuse to come here...
From what you can see, the study is decorated in a classic and minimalist style. The bookshelves are filled with literature of all sizes. It's obvious that Uncle Li really liked this place.
You: I'm not sure why I suddenly have a feeling of unease... I feel like this hidden task is more complicated than I originally imagined.
You: But since I'm already here... I might as well get into it and immerse myself in the full experience.
You take a deep breath and get back into character.
You: Where would the letter Uncle Li left me be hidden...?
You look around the room and examine the decorations. You unintentionally glance at the bag in your hand, and a suspicion comes to mind.
You: Could the things in the bag be hints?
You look through the items in the bag again and discover a clue on Telegram 9988 that you didn't notice before.
There is a sentence at the end of the telegram that says, "And also, I recommend the seventh book on the second row of the tenth shelf."
You: I thought this was useless information... Looks like I was too quick to strike it off...
You: The letter is probably hidden in that book that Uncle Li likes so much.
You: Good thing I took a look in the purse, or it'd be impossible to find it...
Following the instructions on the telegram, you find the tenth bookshelf and open the seventh book on the second row.
It's just as the instructions entailed—a secret letter is resting in the pages of the book. The envelope is sealed and reads, "To the Little Boss."
After opening the envelope, a letter appears before your eyes...
[Obtain Clue Card: Mysterious Letter]
"Little Boss, I hope you are well. When you find this letter, it means you are ready to complete this secret task."
"I wanted to tell you this in person, but I am unable to leave Xuzhou Town right now—you can never expect the unexpected. That is why I have decided on this arrangement instead..."
"I left a big secret inside the Li Hotel. Your task is..."
It takes some time for you to finish reading the letter. However, the task the letter mentions casts a mysterious shroud over your trip to Xuzhou.
[Obtain Intel: Mysterious Letter > Collection task]
You: So, there's a great secret hidden in the hotel...
You: Uncle Li split the key guarding the secret into eight different pieces and hid them with people he trusted or in hard-to-discover places.
You: What I need to do is...to find the key and unravel the secrets hidden within the hotel.
You: Not only that, but Uncle Li already left me the first clue. He wants me to go find Supervisor Zhao at the Li Hotel on Yingxing Street...
???: Little Boss? What's on your mind?
Someone gently pats you on the shoulder and snaps you out of your daze. You turn around to find Luke standing next to you.
You: Journalist Pearce... You startled me. I-I wasn't thinking about anything.
Luke: But you've been standing here for a really long time.
You: Umm...
According to the letter Uncle Li left behind, you are not allowed to tell anyone about this before you retrieve the key.
You're still unable to determine who "your" identity will actually be siding with...
You look at Luke, not knowing how to respond to him. In the moment of awkwardness, Artem, Vyn, and Marius coincidentally all appear at the door of the Li Hotel.
Marius: Little Boss, Journalist Pearce? You two aren't... secretly talking about the case behind our backs, are you?
You: No, we just happened to run into each other.
Luke: I saw her standing by the door for a really long time. She looked like she had something on her mind. So I came over to see if she was all right.
Vyn: Something on your mind... Little Boss, are you worrying about the incident regarding Boss Qian?
You: No...
Vyn: Oh? Then what is it...?
After involuntarily answering Vyn... You realize you've dug a hole for yourself...
Artem speaks after seeing your long hesitation.
Artem: Little Boss, there is no need to be so tense. You can tell us about any troubles you're facing...
Artem: We can all help you solve your case.
Marius: Yeah, Little Boss. Go ask around, there's nothing that I, President von Hagen, can't take care of in Xuzhou Town.
You don't know what to do when faced with the passionate gazes before you.
Suddenly, a great idea comes to mind.
You: Fine, since you're all so eager to help, here it goes...
You: The Li family has an ancient heirloom that Uncle Li wants me to inherit.
You: I came to Xuzhou not only to take over the Li Hotel, but also for something else that's really important...
Luke: You're here for the heirloom?
You: That's right.
Marius: Did he tell you where he put it?
Marius: Is it in a bank or a pawnshop waiting to be retrieved by you in exchange for some kind of token?
You: *Sigh*... If only things were that simple...
You: Uncle Li said in a letter that the heirloom has always been desired by many... and this place hasn't been what you would call "peaceful" as of late.
You: He was afraid that something bad would happen before I made it to Xuzhou Town, and he hid the heirloom in a secret place.
You: He wants me to find it through a game that we would play when I was still a little girl...
Artem: A game when you were still a little girl?
You: Yeah... it's like a treasure hunt. I would go searching for something step by step based on the clues he left me.
Artem: ...
They all fall silent after hearing what you said. You're not sure what they're thinking about.
After a while, Luke looks up first and smiles at you.
Luke: I'll join you, Little Boss.
Luke: A treasure hunt for the Li Family heirloom... That'll definitely be a huge headline.
Vyn: I, too, am interested. I hope you will not refuse me.
Marius: Uh... you guys... I'm coming too then.
Marius: As a president, I should definitely see this through.
Marius winks at you. Artem gently clears his throat and chimes in.
Artem: Ahem... Since everyone is going, I suppose I will join in as well.
Artem: Little Boss, you mentioned that there are others with their eyes set on the heirloom. It would naturally be safer if we have more people looking after one another during the search.
After seeing the four of them using all kinds of excuses to join in on the "journey"... You can't help but feel as if you knew things would turn out this way all along.
Now, what was originally meant to be a solo secret task is a group "treasure hunt."
But maybe... this will bring on an all-new experience.
You: Sure, let's look for it together. Things will definitely be easier with more help.
You: But I do have one rule—No talking about Boss Qian during the search.
Marius: Agreed. Let's not get work and private life mixed up. It'd be tiring if we have to keep an eye on one another during the search.
Artem: I agree.
Vyn: I feel the same way as the Little Boss.
Luke: Great, I was just thinking the same thing.
You: Okay, then let's hurry and get moving.
You: The first clue that Uncle Li left me was to... find Supervisor Zhao at the Li Hotel on Yingxing Street.
Summary
