Lost Gold Luke Investigation 03-01
Overview
- "Even though it's safe around here and there aren't any wild animals, look — it's almost night. She'll be afraid by herself."
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards:
Astral Memory x20
- Unlock Condition:
Emergency Medicine x210, 
Lumber x280, 
MRE x140, 
Drinking Water x70 - 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 x255, Lumber x340, MRE x170, Drinking Water x85
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
Mountain Forest
Luke's tranquilizer dart hit Joshua. The powerful anesthetic drops him instantly without a struggle.
You open Joshua's backpack and look through it, then you look at Joshua himself...
You: Luke, the way you picked him up out of the grass is like someone holding a chicken.
Luke: I'm already ashamed to have let him escape from surveillance for so long.
Luke: If my colleagues in the bureau find out, my reputation's ruined.
Luke: If somebody hadn't tried to suss out Zachary so much and put him on guard, then I wouldn't have let him get off the ship.
Luke: No one escapes under my watch.
Luke's words make him sound resentful, but he isn't being serious because...
This is just how things are at the NXX.
No matter how well they work together, they always like to have a go at each other.
You: ("Men will be teenagers until they die." Their cumulative age is six at most.)
Among the regular supplies in Joshua's belongings, you find a mobile phone, a knife, and a pistol.
You also find a used diving suit and a broken respirator.
You: He went underwater but didn't find the loot. Does he not know its exact location?
Luke: Judging from the fact that he asked about the tube, he must be certain that the loot's underwater.
Luke: He probably knows several likely places, but isn't sure which it is.
Luke: Either way, we'll ask him when he wakes up.
You: And this, a sheet of parchment. It's the only thing in Joshua's backpack with words on it.
The parchment looks quite old. It has gone soft and parts of it are dirty.
The words were written with fountain pen ink. It seems to be a poem.
Luke: "He walks in the day..."
Luke: "I am yesterday, today, and tomorrow..."
Luke: "To lead him who will open the door of ten millennia, I light his golden scepter."
You: Is this clue related to where the gold is?
Luke: If I remember correctly, this quote is adapted from the Book of the Dead. It's probably a clue to the loot's location.
Luke: Judging from how old the paper is, it's likely that this is from 10 years ago.
Why is a quote from the Book of the Dead related to where the loot is?
You try to understand, but Luke doesn't look like he's going to explain, so you just accept it as fact.
At this time, the anesthetic is gradually losing its effect, and Joshua is starting to come around.
Luke: It's almost dinner time.
Luke: There're some tasty fruits in this part of the forest. Can you go pick some for us?
You: Okay...
Obviously, picking wild fruit is just an excuse. Luke's trying to send you away.
Knowing that Luke's mission is confidential, you take out a small bag and go do as you're told.
Luke: Bring your terminal and your phone, keep in touch, and don't go too far away.
You: Okay. Call me on the encrypted channel if you need me. I'll be right back.
Seeing the girl leave, Luke's gentle expression gradually fades away.
He kicks the bound Joshua and coldly stares at him from above.
Joshua, who has just regained his consciousness, sees Luke and starts trembling out of fear.
Joshua Ott: Who are you? Why did you kidnap me? Let go of me!
Luke: Joshua Ott, 33 years old. Your mother died early and your father was imprisoned for robbery.
Luke: You dropped out of high school before you joined the gang called the Golden Lions.
Luke: I have to say, you've really inherited your father's profession. You're doing a much better job than he did.
Luke: You earned more after one job than you father did in half of his life.
Joshua Ott: You know me very well. Did you look me up?
Luke: In the Great Gold Heist 10 years ago, your entire gang died, and you were the only survivor.
Luke: Now you're using this treasure hunt as an opportunity to come to Nosta and retrieve the loot, right?
Joshua Ott: What are you talking about? I don't understand.
Joshua Ott: I was in the gang, but I'm not here to look for the loot. I don't know where the rest of the gold is.
Joshua Ott: If I knew, I would've told the police. My sentence might've been reduced by a few years.
Luke: Joshua, I can't keep my partner in the woods for very long.
Luke: Even though it's safe around here and there aren't any wild animals, look — it's almost night. She'll be afraid by herself.
Luke: So I don't have much patience for you.
Joshua Ott: But I really don't—
Joshua Ott: Agh!
Luke grabs Joshua's bound hands, pinches the distal joint of his left index finger, and gently pulls.
Luke: I said I don't have time to play games with you.
Luke: You don't have to be too afraid, though. I don't like employing excessive force. It's just a joint dislocation.
Luke: Of course, if you keep refusing to talk, this dislocation will be the least of your worries.
Joshua Ott: I—I...
Luke: I'm just a treasure hunter. As long as I can get the money, I have no interest in your life.
Luke: Don't get in my way, you bastard.
As the sky slowly darkens, the muted lighting makes Luke's hollow smile even more menacing.
Luke: And don't even think about getting help from your partner. Do you truly even have one?
Luke: For you to have survived that mutiny, you must view everyone as only a pawn to be used.
Luke: Oh right. I forgot to tell you: that Jack person you want to take revenge on is nearby. I'm guessing you were planning on killing him.
Luke: What if I tell him that you're here?
Luke takes out his phone and shows it to Joshua.
A GPS marker nearby clearly displays Jack's name.
Joshua Ott: ...
Luke: Before I leave, I'll give you a muscle relaxant.
Luke: You'll retain your mental faculties, but you won't be able to move an inch.
Glancing at the sluggish Joshua, Luke opens his own backpack and takes out a medicine case.
A syringe is inside.
Luke: Do you think he'll do to you what you did to his father?
Joshua Ott: I'll talk, I'll talk! I'll tell you where the gold is!
