Lost Gold Vyn Investigation 02-03
Overview
- "However, using such a beautiful story as an excuse for committing crimes is nothing but sacrilege."
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards:
Astral Memory x20
- Unlock Condition:
Emergency Medicine x260, 
Lumber x65, 
MRE x195, 
Drinking Water x130 - 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 x280, Lumber x70, MRE x210, Drinking Water x140
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
You: This herb smells very refreshing. I wonder what it's called?
Vyn: This is an insect-repelling herb only found in Nosta. Crush it and apply its juice to your skin to repel insects.
You: Wow. How do you know about this unique herb?
Vyn: I have an interest in botany.
Vyn: I did some research about Nosta before coming here, so I still recall this fact.
You: Some research...? You must have a photographic memory, Dr. Richter.
Vyn: You flatter me. I simply choose what to remember depending on the situation.
Vyn: And now, it appears that I have made the correct decision indeed.
Deserted Island Forest
Zachary walks in front and occasionally turns back to look at you and Vyn.
Zachary Clarke: Vyn, I didn't expect you to also be interested in the gold.
Vyn: Everyone desires wealth. It is human nature, and I am only human.
Zachary Clarke: Dr. Richter, I don't think it's very nice to act like this in front of your girlfriend.
You: ...
Zachary misunderstands your relationship, but judging from the situation, there's no need for an explanation.
Hearing Zachary, Vyn looks at you with a smile and directly takes your hand into his.
You: V—Vyn...
Catching the hint from his eyes, you change the way you address Vyn.
Vyn: There is nothing wrong with this. We plan to be together for a long time, so I should be authentic with her.
Vyn: Allowing her to see who I really am will allow her to make the decision to leave or to stay.
Vyn: Besides, is it not exhausting to wear a mask even in front of those close to you? Zachary.
Zachary Clarke: Sigh... I didn't know you two were so close that you could share such a huge sum of money.
Forest Camp
You: Parchment? People still write on parchment in this day and age?
Vyn takes the clue from Zachary and carefully examines it. He only hands it to you after confirming that there is nothing wrong with it.
The clue is written on rarely seen parchment.
Zachary Clarke: Vyn, how can you just give her the clue like that?
Vyn: Why not?
Zachary Clarke: N—Never mind...
Vyn says no more to Zachary, and turns around and studies the words on the parchment together with you.
Vyn: The writing seems to have been written by quill.
Vyn: This method of writing is very old-fashioned.
Zachary Clarke: The poem on it is even older than the quill used. It comes from the Book of the Dead, a text from ancient Egypt.
You: The Book of the Dead?
Vyn: It is a book containing the religious beliefs and customs of the ancient Egyptians.
Vyn: In ancient Egypt, whenever someone died, they would write the Book of the Dead on papyrus and place it into the grave.
Vyn: This poem is like a pass, and also their guidebook in the underworld.
You: I looked into the history of Nosta before coming here. The local culture doesn't have much in common with the ancient Egyptians.
You: The second-in-command used the Book of the Dead to make the riddle. Was it purely out of personal interest?
Zachary Clarke: Probably. As I said, the second-in-command was fairly cultured.
Your eyes go back to the parchment and you start to read the mysterious riddle...
You: "He leaves his secret residence..."
You: "Sailing on a boat of night..."
You: "Isis remains among the Nile's reeds, mourning for you in the dark swamp..."
You: Are all the geographic descriptions here referring to a place on Nosta?
Zachary Clarke: There's no doubt that the gold is hidden on Nosta. These clues are referring to somewhere on this island as well.
Vyn: So, you immediately headed here after landing because one of the riddle's locations is around this area?
Zachary Clarke: I've given you the clue. Can't you solve it yourself, Dr. Richter?
Vyn: If I remember correctly, Joshua was released from prison, but he is still prohibited from leaving the country.
Vyn: How exactly did you bring him to Nosta?
Zachary Clarke: ...
Zachary Clarke: Being held in the palm of your hand like... Fine, follow me.
You: "Mourning for you in the dark swamp..." According to the map, there's a marsh not far from here.
Vyn: We can just keep following him. You must have solved this riddle before you came. Right, Zachary?
Zachary Clarke: ...
Zachary has been very quiet since. After hearing Vyn's words, he immediately sits down on a tree stump.
Zachary Clarke: Let's take a break, Dr. Richter.
Zachary Clarke: My endurance can't keep up with young people like you.
Looking at the time, it's been half a day since you landed. You sit down to rest for a moment.
Vyn hands you some food and water from his backpack. Most of the supplies are in his backpack, so he has a greater carrying burden.
You: Vyn, give me some of the things from your backpack. It's too exhausting for you otherwise.
Vyn: I am fine. We will be in the mountains after crossing the swamp. The road is not easy to traverse, so you should minimize your burden.
Zachary Clarke: Vyn... I really envy you.
Zachary Clarke: I also once had someone I truly loved. If she wasn't gone, I probably wouldn't have become who I am now.
Zachary Clarke: I know that people laugh at me behind my back and call me greedy. It's not like I want to be like this.
Zachary Clarke: But, I really am... so poor...
You: ...?
Zachary seems to be lost in his own thoughts. His eyes grow misty as he talks.
You and Vyn look at each other, equally surprised.
You: (We've taken everything that Zachary has said with a grain of salt.)
You: (But this sudden change in demeanor... Is he faking, or is he revealing his true feelings?)
Zachary Clarke: My wife and I met in university. We both came from a rural area to study in Stellis.
Zachary Clarke: Once we graduated, my wife and I were lucky enough to find employment in the city.
Zachary Clarke: We thought that as long as we worked hard, we'd soon be able to live a good life.
Zachary Clarke: But none of us ever expected that she'd be diagnosed with leukemia before we got married.
Zachary Clarke: Both of our families used all of our money for her treatment, but in the end...
Zachary Clarke: In the end, we finally found a compatible bone marrow donor for her, but we couldn't afford the cost of the operation.
You: ...
Zachary Clarke: The last thing I could do for her was marry her and buy her a rose with the 20 dollars in my pocket.
You: Zachary...
You don't know what to say to comfort him. You hand him a piece of tissue paper.
Zachary Clarke: Thank you...
Zachary wipes his tears and looks at Vyn.
Zachary Clarke: Vyn, not everyone is lucky. If I were as rich and powerful as you, then I wouldn't have worked with Joshua.
Vyn: Zachary, I deeply sympathize with your tragedy.
Vyn: However, using such a beautiful story as an excuse for committing crimes is nothing but sacrilege.
Zachary Clarke: ...!
Vyn: Have you rested enough? If so, we should continue onwards.
