Lost Gold Artem Investigation 03-01
Overview
- "I give you my word on my honor as a senior attorney. I will have the law correct any injustice in this case."
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards:
Astral Memory x20
- Unlock Condition:
Emergency Medicine x70, 
Lumber x140, 
MRE x280, 
Drinking Water x210 - Note - During its initial limited run, this stage's first clear reward was:
Hunter's Badge x50 - Note - During its initial limited run, this stage's unlock condition was: Emergency Medicine x80, Lumber x160, MRE x320, Drinking Water x240
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
You: There's a torch here.
You: Whoever was here before us knew enough about fire prevention to extinguish the torch.
Artem: Torches are required to explore forests.
Artem: Heating, signaling, repelling wild animals. You can even use it to test the amount of ambient oxygen in a cave.
Artem: Let's take it with us. It may be useful later.
Outside the Cave
You: (Ahh!)
Artem: Relax, let me help.
Artem gently holds your shoulder as he uses a stick to remove the bug on your back.
Artem: All right, it's gone. You can relax now.
You: You saved me...
To avoid alerting Jack, you had been firmly covering your mouth with your hand. Now you can finally breathe.
You: That was the first time I saw a flying bug the size of a hand. I couldn't even tell what it was...
The image of the bug flying at you still haunts you. Who would've known that it would land on your back?
You: (I must look like an idiot. Mr. Wing's probably annoyed at me...)
Artem: Nosta's ecosystem is rich and diverse. It's not surprising to encounter an insect that we've never seen before.
Artem: I was also somewhat afraid when I saw that bug, but when I remembered you here with me...
Artem: It didn't seem as scary.
Artem: Anyway, we've chased it off. If you think about it this way, it doesn't seem so scary anymore, does it?
Hearing Artem's words, you feel much more relaxed and at ease.
Scared of bugs... He must be saying all of that to make you feel less embarrassed...
You: Good thing you're here. Come on, let's put on some insect repellent.
Before you can remove the repellent from your bag, Artem holds down your hand.
Artem: Don't move. Jack's doing something.
You: ...!
You quietly pick up your binoculars and observe Jack up ahead.
You: Is he... going into the cave?
After following Jack for some time, he arrives at the mountains.
You and Artem see him stop in front of a cave, so you two hide in the bushes and watch him.
When you and Artem were wrestling with the bug, Jack was resting on a large rock and looking at his tablet.
Now, Jack appears well rested. He puts his tablet away and resumes his trek.
You: What was he doing with the tablet? I couldn't see clearly with the binoculars.
Artem: For fairness during the event, all wireless signals are blocked on the island.
Artem: Jack doesn't have an encrypted channel like us, so his tablet can't connect to the Internet.
You: Ruling out communication... He can only look at materials saved in the tablet.
During your discussion, you look through your binoculars and see Jack taking out a long object wrapped in cloth.
He carefully unwraps the object, which emits a cold gleam under the sunlight.
You: A sword!
Artem: Stay right here and be prepared to alert reception at any time.
As soon as Artem finishes talking, he immediately dashes out.
Cave Entrance
Artem: Jack Barlow.
Jack turns around and is surprised to see Artem.
Jack Barlow: It's you...
Jack Barlow: I thought no one would be able to find me after I broke my watch.
Tightly holding his dagger, Jack sizes up Artem.
Jack Barlow: When we met earlier, you said you were here to investigate with that lady.
Jack Barlow: You're actually here to investigate me, aren't you?
Artem: We mean you no harm.
Artem: Jack, we can guess why you're here.
Artem: There are many solutions to a problem, but don't choose the option that harms you the most.
Jack Barlow: Heh, your beautiful speech sounds all too familiar.
Jack Barlow: Did Darius send you?
Artem: Yes. He views you as a brother, and he doesn't want to see you as a suspect in his interrogation room.
Artem: Jack, if you have doubts about the case, I can investigate for you.
Artem: I give you my word on my honor as a senior attorney. I will have the law correct any injustice in this case.
Jack Barlow: ...
Jack smiles bitterly and leans on his blade as he looks at Artem.
Jack Barlow: That year, my dad had just taken out a loan to buy a new fishing boat. Before he left, he promised that he'd definitely catch more fish this time.
Jack Barlow: But he never came back after going out to sea...
Jack Barlow: My mom was already sick. She died less than a year afterwards.
Artem: ...
Jack Barlow: To find out the truth, I stayed in contact with Joshua Ott for three years, using the documentary interview as an excuse.
Jack Barlow: I pretended to be a fan of his, flattering him, ingratiating him...
Jack Barlow: I finally gained his trust shortly before he was due for release. I learned the truth of my father's death straight from his lips.
Jack Barlow: Lawyer, did you know? He said murdering my father was his least memorable kill.
Jack Barlow: He wouldn't have even remembered my father if it weren't related to the gold.
Artem: ...
Jack Barlow: Lawyer, do you know how I felt at that moment? Heh, you probably don't.
Jack Barlow: Anyone can say reassuring words. You, Darius, you're all like that.
Artem: Jack, when I told you I came here to investigate, I wasn't lying.
Artem: Darius didn't mean that you should take an unjust verdict lying down. Now that Joshua has admitted—
Jack Barlow: ...It's useless.
Jack interrupts Artem with a cold smirk and hefts his long blade onto his shoulder.
Jack Barlow: Do you really think Joshua would admit for a second time that he murdered someone?
Jack Barlow: He won't. And he already said that there's no evidence against him left on the island.
Jack Barlow: That's one of the many things he brags about.
Artem: ...
Jack Barlow: So, I can only take revenge myself. I'm willing to accept any and all consequences.
Jack looks into the pitch-black abyss of the tunnel.
Jack Barlow: Joshua gave me the location of the gold after I gained his trust. He sent me here to retrieve it for him.
Jack Barlow: I'm going to meet him at the end of this tunnel.
Artem: Gold?! How do you know the gold's here?
Artem: Joshua didn’t even tell the police where the gold was hidden. Why would he share this secret with you?
Jack Barlow: You're worried that he lied to me? Don't be.
Jack Barlow: I'm sure the gold's inside and that Joshua will come.
As he speaks, Jack carefully analyzes Artem with a contemptuous smirk.
Jack Barlow: A white-collar worker like you can't beat me physically.
Jack Barlow: But if you're determined to stop me, I won't harm you. After all, Joshua's the one who wronged me.
Jack Barlow: He's a merciless criminal. To be honest, I'm not even sure if I can win against him.
Jack Barlow: But if you get in my way again, the one who'll die could be me.
Jack Barlow: Your choice, lawyer.
Leaving this difficult dilemma to Artem, Jack enters the darkness without looking back.
His steps are sprightly, as if he's heading to a long-anticipated event.
Artem touches his holster, sends a message in the encrypted channel, and follows Jack into the cave.
