Lost Gold Artem Investigation 03-04
Overview
- "Sometimes, the more you care about someone, the harder it is to remain calm and focused."
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards:
Astral Memory x20
- Unlock Condition:
Emergency Medicine x90, 
Lumber x180, 
MRE x360, 
Drinking Water x270 - 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 x95, Lumber x190, MRE x380, Drinking Water x285
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Inspection
Script
Temporary Camp
At the temporary mountain campsite, Artem absentmindedly stares into the distance.
You: Mr. Wing, what are you looking at?
Artem: It's you. Why aren’t you sleeping?
You: I can't sleep.
Artem: Are you still feeling guilty about the other day?
You: I should've gone inside the cave with you. If we had each other's backs, we wouldn't have let Zachary escape.
Yes, the person who attacked Jack was Zachary.
Both you and Artem were so shaken at the time that you had missed Vyn's message notification.
Only after you had returned to camp did you see Vyn's message stating that Zachary had escaped, but he was then captured in his injured state.
Artem: It was all thanks to you that Jack got to camp for immediate medical treatment.
On that day, after Zachary had left, you and Artem went back into the cave to retrieve Jack.
Artem: You can only see inside the cave with a flashlight, and Zachary had a gun. If you were there, it would've been difficult...
You: Huh?
Artem: Nothing... Sometimes, the more you care about someone, the harder it is to remain calm and focused.
You: ???
Artem: Don't blame yourself, and don't worry me.
You: Okay. I just wanted to be helpful...
Artem: Look at this.
Artem puts something in your hand. It looks like a knot.
You: What is it?
Artem: It's a copper coin necklace. Zachary left it behind in the cave.
You: Why does this sound so familiar?
Artem: This is the coin necklace that Jack's mother made for his father.
You: The knot is strong, but the color has faded a bit.
You: It's something from 10 years ago, after all.
You: Hmm? What's this?
Among the faded red strands, one black thread sticks out.
Artem: No idea. It doesn't look like silk thread.
Artem: It looks more like fabric.
You: Let's ask Jack when he wakes up.
You: Maybe it's an old fisherman's superstition?
Artem: Check this out. Don't you find the marking on this copper coin familiar?
You: This is...
You rack your brains for a similar marking. After a moment, the answer hits you.
You: Orson Barlow! Jack's father! I remember this marking from his autopsy report!
You: The indentation on Orson's neck is exactly the same as the marking on this copper coin!
Artem: Yes. This necklace must be the murder weapon.
You: There is a number on this wooden pendant. It says 17.
You: I bet it was carved with a knife. The workmanship is shoddy and the wood is run of the mill.
You: Does this number mean anything?
Artem: The wooden pendant was tied to the necklace with a different thread.
Artem: It probably wasn't included with the original necklace.
Although you can tentatively surmise that this necklace was the murder weapon used to strangle Orson, you can't identify the culprit from it.
You: I wonder how Jack will feel once he sees this necklace.
The camp doctor comes over to inform you and Artem that Jack has woken up.
He was unable to move due to his injury, so you weren't able to take him straight to the base camp.
The doctor said Jack urgently wants to see you two, so you and Artem immediately head to his tent.
Jack lies in the medical cot. His face is pale, but he's stable now.
Jack Barlow: Sorry, lawyer. I got you wrapped up in all of this.
Artem: Do you believe me now? Joshua used you.
Artem: Joshua wasn't even the person who attacked you. It was Zachary Clarke.
Jack Barlow: Zachary Clarke?! I know that guy — he's the one who helped Joshua with the commutation.
Jack Barlow: Joshua started planning the commutation after he heard that Nosta was acquired by Pax.
Jack Barlow: When I was negotiating with him about the riddle, he mentioned that he would be out very soon.
Jack Barlow: So, I specially asked around to find out who he was in contact with. That's why I know about Zachary.
Jack Barlow: But Zachary and I aren't enemies. Why would he attack me?
Artem: Maybe he's like you and also one of Joshua's pawns.
Jack Barlow: How... How's that possible!?
Jack Barlow: I heard that Zachary's a psychologist, and Joshua's just some uncultured criminal...
Artem: Someone who had survived a gang mutiny shouldn't be underestimated.
Jack Barlow: ...
Artem: Let's not talk about Zachary for now. He's under watch.
Artem hands the coin necklace to Jack.
Artem: Look at this. Is it your father's?
