>>175
Kai takes the bomb and looks like she is trying to say something but can't.

At this time Monozaki pops out. "Wow nice job guys. I'm just popping in to let you know the detonator is indeed for that bomb. As much as it would have been fun to mess with you like that the bomb was intended as a reward of sorts for solving the riddle. Well maybe I will give you guys some Monocoins later instead. Anyway you can go join up with the other group if you want, or you know do whatever you were screaming about over here."

He then pops away.

Last edited at 18/07/19(Thu)21:18:43

>>176
"Time to make a game plan, girls. Can we assume the other side solved the riddle too? What do we do if they try to hide information about what they got.... or worse, what if they try to play dumb entirely?"

>>177
Kai looks extremely guilty that she turned on you only for it to be for nothing. So much so she is having trouble facing you.

"We... must think of something," Kai blurted out, unable to think of anything to say. "If you are worried... I can bury this bomb by myself and let you two go and meet them. They would not kill with witnesses around... right?"

>>177

"I'm betting they did, or the bear wouldn't have said that. There goes my other idea," she said, flicking the key to the other side of her from the bomb. "And the real question is what do we tell them about what we found? Do we play dumb? And...I don't know."

She sighed. "I just...I'm so tired of having to think like this. This isn't me! Please believe me!" She looked directly at Kai when she said that. "...I want to go home..." she finished, standing up.

>>178

She looked at Kai a little oddly when Kai suggested that, but then gave a very small smile. "Yeah, you're right. I'll be just fine." She reached out and patted Kai's back, and even that short touch is enough to hit a relaxation pressure point a little.

She turned to Andy, the tiredness once more apparent in her features. "Come on Andy. Let's go see what we can get out of them. We'll figure out what to say as we go along." She leans over and snags the key from where she'd tossed it.

>>179
"Let's be sure to do away with this bomb before we go to meet everyone else."

>>180
Kai looks more calm after you pat her on the back. Less flustered than before.

She takes a deep breath, pauses, and then nods. "I... see. I will let Andy lead the way, then, as he knows the best spots to dig. I... I have an idea." She didn't explain it just yet however.

Last edited at 18/07/19(Thu)22:11:59

>>181

Aurora frowns, but follows along.

>>182
"I've already got one prepared. Northeast corner of this area near the Sunshine building. I made it quite some time ago."

You and Kai follow and find the hole. It is the same hole you investigated during the first round investigation.

>>183
Kai takes a nice long look at the hole, maybe checking to see if was a tunnel after all.

Setting the bomb down gently into the hole, Kai wiped her brow and turned to look up at the you two. "I wanted... to have a sting operation," she said, like the words were things people normally talked about. "We could set up barriers to show that this is where the bomb is, keeping people away... but we can also stand watch. We can see if any of the others try to steal it."

>>184

"Would that work? I mean, what about their bomb?"

>>185
"We will deal with their bomb when we meet them. If they are indeed hostile, we can return the favor with our own bomb. And if it comes to that... I will do whatever it takes."

Wanting to make sure the bomb was placed in as far below ground as possible, Kai continued. "If you truly wish to use it as a weapon... then it would be best to use it in the open. But we will worry about that when we meet them. Kizami may be the ultimate thrill-seeker... but he is not the ultimate fool."

>>186

"...ok," Aurora replied. "Just tell me what you need from me. I'm trusting your read of the situation."

>>187
Kai finished burying the bomb, looking to Andy to help cover it up well enough, and moved to climb out of the hole. "If they are truly intent on using their bomb... then I will retrieve our own. I will find a way to carry the bomb on my person and simply stay as close as possible to them. Using force is out of the question, as Aiko is far too strong to be subdued. However, this will hopefully not come to pass. For now... we will assume the best of them, and pray that they will return the favor. Is this... acceptable?" Kai looked at you with worry and at Andy with a more serious look.

>>188

Aurora thought for some time, her face unreadable. Then she nodded. "I'm with you. 100%."

>>190
"Alright. Let's at least give them a chance at trust."

>>191
Your group leaves the area, unlocking the gate with the key, and then heading into Area 2. As you are almost to the area 3 gates you clearly the sound of an explosion from the area. You rush along and unlock the gate and see a cloud of dust and debris flow out of the guest house building.

In front is Kizami, and shortly after Gachari comes out of the building damp and covered in debris. After a moment Aiko joins up with the group from around the corner.

Head to the Group Thread.

Total: 35

Kai decides to take some shots at the training dummies. They all easily hit their target, it is clear she is very skilled.

"I would imagine that the others have explored quite enough already. And... I should let you know. Taku knows everything. I tried to salvage what I could, but I believe he knows that we have the bomb. Aiko, too. In fact... I wouldn't be surprised if they all knew."

>>195

She frowns. "That's fine. We wanted them to know, right? As long as someone can watch it. Which reminds me, have you seen Andy?"

>>196
"I suppose," Kai sighed, looking despondent. She pats the fake side arm she now carries which appears to calm her nerves. "We should go find him and keep him abreast of the situation. Perhaps he is in the mining room?"

>>197

"Worth a peek. Oh, and Kai? Tonight, as planned? Our original excursion."

>>198
Kai nods gravely, thinking she understood. "Our... ah, shopping trip?" she asked, just to be sure.

>>199
You and Kai look around for a while and remember he was doing something in the garden so you go there and find him. Seems like he is diligently taking care of some plants.

>>200

"Alright, I guess if we're going to have this work, we'll need to set up some kind of shifts for watching our spot. Andy, can you cover some of the night shift?"

>>201
"Shifts to cover the bomb? I still think we should just safely detonate it. Standing outside by ourselves at night is just far too dangerous...."

>>202
"Shifts.... While I do not relish the thought of putting anyone but myself under the burden of watching over that bomb, I cannot be there constantly. Perhaps a controlled detonation would be best...?"

Kai looked worriedly at you.

>>203

Aurora looks at them, stunned. Then she throws up her hands. "I thought we had a plan! A plan to root out the next treacherous murderer in our midst by dangling a weapon and seeing who tried for it. Now you both just want to blow it up? Fine! Fine. I guess I'm outvoted. Display to them how we lied, that's sure to keep the crosshairs off our backs."

She turns to walk away, frustrated. "When I end up dead, find the rotten bastard who did it, yeah?"

Unless she is stopped, she'll leave to go look at the big door in the new area.

It doesn't seem like they try to stop you. You only hear Kai saying "I... I won't let that happen," with her fists clenched as you leave.

You head to area 3 and find the door as it was left.

>>205

Aurora looks over the door closely, inspecting how it could be opened, especially any hidden mechanism or instructions. During this she keeps the taser in her hand.

>>206
Looking over the door doesn't reveal much. It has large bolts that seem to push in or out in order to lock the door. You would assume the terminals are used to unlock the door however since they are still without power it seems to be a fruitless effort.

>>207

Next she went into the second sunshine building, investigating any differences. Presuming there are none, she goes into the meditation room and locked the door.

>>208
Besides the now destroyed fountain in the area 3 building the layout seems to be identical.

With that you enter the meditation room in area 3 and lock the door.

>>209

At first, she searches the room to make sure she is alone. Then, after far more effort than it usually took her, she manages to meditate for a time.

Nightime! Continue posting here.

>>211

Aurora carefully unlocks the meditation room and heads over towards the Moonlight building of Area 3. Once inside, she looks for the Monozaki Store.

>>212
As you leave you find some monocoins. Total: 45

There is no store in the moonlight building. If you still want to find one it is in the sunshine building.

There you find the selection to have changed somewhat.

10MC - ropes, staple gun, umbrella
25MC - large jugs of water, portable stove
50MC - deer stalker/trenchcoat costume, medieval flail
100MC - blowgun with darts

Last edited at 18/08/11(Sat)12:14:11

>>213

Aurora sighs in preparation, then reaches out to grab the blowgun, darts, and medieval flail. Assuming no interruption she would then take the trenchcoat, lay it out, and put everything else that she can in it, tie it up around the umbrella, hoist the umbrella over her shoulder, and make off towards the Area 3 guest house.

>>214
As you reach out to grab the first item you hear soft footstep behind you. Turning around you see Monozaki standing there.

"..."

>>215

Aurora gulped, her hand inches from the blowgun. However, she didn't pull it back yet. "You enjoy rules, Monozaki. You enjoy enforcing them too, I wager. Yet you have no rule against stealing from the store. If you punish me, you would be committing a murder. Rule #6 states you will never directly participate in a murder. Therefore..."

She grabs the blowgun and the flail.

>>216
As you go to grab the items you see a blur rush past you and Monozaki has gathered them all up and away from you in a blink of an eye.

"I would have expected, "don't steal from the murder bear" to be a given. Anyway I think you forget about rule 10, that I can add any other rules at any time. Looks like that was a good idea consider what you people get up to."

Last edited at 18/08/11(Sat)17:47:59

>>217

She can't help but close her eyes and let out a small shriek of fear at the bear running so close to her, shutting her eyes tight. When she realizes she's alive, though, she opens them and puts on a brave and defiant face. Using still-trembling hands, she reaches into her pocket and pulls out the PDA, scrolling to the rules section.

>>218
As of the moment you don't notice any other rules.

>>219

Aurora looks over the list, and nods. "Very well. I suppose I won't help myself to your shop, if you're just going to keep it all out of my hands. ...Is there any other way to pay for them, though? Since there's no rule about having to pay for them with Monocoins, after all? I mean...I do give some of the very best massages..."

>>220
"Lady I'm a bear. A good bark rubbing is all I need." Seems like that won't get you anywhere, at least with Monozaki.

>>221

"I...I see," she says, sounding somewhat relieved while being disappointed. "Well, um, I mean, it's just that...these coins are so hard to come by, there's no way that I'll ever get 100..."

She continues to wheel and deal for a while, in an attempt to get a concession out of the bear. Once it's clear that he's about to send her to bed, she gives up and walks away.

>>222

Making sure to take her taser with her, Aurora crept out of Area 3 into Area 2, sticking to the shadows and looking around to make sure no one threatening was about.

Once she reached the onsen, she carefully peeked in the doors. Assuming that no one seemed to be waiting to strike, she would go through the proper procedures to get into the onsen to take a bath. The entire time she keeps her taser with her, above water, walking to the back of the onsen so she can see if anyone tries to come in. Assuming nothing happens after half an hour, she gets out, gets dressed after drying off, and carefully goes to her mirror room in Area 3. There, she falls asleep.

>>223
You successful take a bath without issue or seeing anyone and return to the area 3 room to go to sleep. You enter, lock the door, check for anyone in the room for safe measure, and then go to sleep after getting changed and placing your newly acquired items on the table beside you. Maybe clutching your taser in your pillow if you want.

>>224
Hard to say if you would be conscious, but either way in an instant all your senses are overwhelmed and then there is nothing.

YOU HAVE DIED.

>>225

Aurora decides to go with the flow, continuing to be dead for the foreseeable future.