He whistled as he listened to Jessica's story, keeping a firm hand in his pocket. His cousin was really taking his next step towards becoming a real adult wasn't he? He was happy for George, but somewhere deep in his heart he couldn't shake off the vague feeling of loneliness at seeing them both about to step into adulthood. George-Aniki sure is a lucky guy, being able to live his dreams like that.

His thoughts were disturbed, however, when Maria brought up a certain name. He stared down at the small girl curiously, his smile fading. "Beatrice...? You mean that witch of the forest? People are still spreading stories about her?"

Last edited at 17/03/07(Tue)01:26:58

>>20280

"Uuu! They're not just stories, silly Battler! If Beatrice was here, she'd be able to make everybody happy, especially George and Shannon! That's why this year Maria's going to cast the spell to set her free! It'll work this time! Uuu!" said Maria, happily, as she located the cards and put them on the table.

"After we beat George, though, right Maria?" asked Jessica, in the tone used when an adult is just trying to gently keep a little kid on track.

"Yes! It's needed for the spell, uuu!"

Jessica looked at Battler and rolled her eyes so that only he could see.

He gave Jessica a grin before walking over to Maria and sitting down next to her. Now he got it, this was some kind of play Maria was partaking in. He wondered if Beatrice was a popular subject with the girl. It wouldn't be a stretch of the imagination, as Maria seemed to be in love with witches. He decided it was probably best to play along for now, indulge in the girl's fantasy.

"Ohhh, a spell huh Maria? Why do we need to beat Aniki? Is beating his six year long winning streak important for breaking some curse?" He grinned over at Maria, before reaching over to pat her on the head.

"Well, you're lucky I decided to come this year. The past six years you didn't have me, now that I'm here his winning streak's gonna be smashed for good!"

>>20332

"Uuu! Gonna win the crown, gonna win the crown!" said Maria, happily.

Jessica smirked. "You know that would be easier if we didn't constantly try to shoot the moon, right Maria? There are other ways to win in a game of Hearts."

"But we have to get to the moon, remember?" replied Maria in the tone that all children use when explaining things to clueless adults. Then she began to recite something:

"Behold the Golden Witch, savior of the One-Winged Eagle, trapped now in the world of spirits.
Those who seek to free her from her Golden Cage must open the Seven Portals which block the path.
Seek the Crown’s Pedestal, for from there one who is wise can sense all Portals.
To begin the journey to the Golden Cage you must stand on the Moon, and to reach the Golden Cage you must reach the Moon.
Disembowel the six who hold the keys, to clear the way to the Portals.

As the path to freedom is walked, sacrifice from what remains to open the Portals to the Golden Cage.

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>>20294

When I talked about Eva and Hideyoshi having a head start over Rosa, it couldn't have been over a minute in total.

Given my description of the hallway from earlier, Eva would've definitely needed to pass by Rosa to get back to her room in your scenario.

And regarding the VIP room key - when I said 'nobody left the parlor until the police came', I mean it. It's a bit unfair to just not mention someone conveniently leaving for the bathroom.

Last edited at 17/03/14(Tue)02:25:30

Let's try again.

Eva had more than a minute to carry out her plan, because she didn't come back down the stairs. Hideyoshi goes to their room after dinner, but Eva goes upstairs and carries out her plan where Krauss and Natsuhi die. At some point during this, Rosa starts waiting outside Kyrie's room, but that doesn't matter. Eva finishes up, returns the room key to Krauss's pocket, and flips the switch whilst she's inside Room Z, allowing her to move from Room Z to the VIP Room. She hides here until Sayo and Battler enter (probably amongst some furniture, since everything was covered with sheets) and then slips away into her room next door when they leave. She never had to go past Rosa.

The key was replaced by Eva at some point, because it's actually a duplicate key. Maybe Eva had it made to enable her to carry out her original plan for Natsuhi's death? Maybe it was meant to create another locked room murder?

For the record, I was originally referencing "Most of us even suppressed the urge to go to the bathroom." Most doesn't mean all~

>>20296
Close enough.

I acknowledge your victory!

(For further clarifications, you can check one of the posts way above with the full solution.)

Last edited at 17/03/15(Wed)01:16:18

>>20297

Well done, well done. With two people having solved it, I acknowledge defeat.

Looking at the solution...argh! I was so close. Granted, there's only my word for this, but I was almost certain it was Eva. I even had the George-suicide-caused-by-discovery thing figured. I just didn't think Eva could have gotten out of the VIP room without Rosa seeing.

Ah well. Excellently-thought-out mystery. I applaud you.

Last edited at 17/03/16(Thu)20:38:58

"Everybody is a book of blood; whenever we're opened, we're red."

Erika shrugs before moving on. "It doesn't work as well in Japanese."

"Regardless, it's best to start eliminating possibilities, isn't it? None of those indications are visible, with one exception: there are signs the corpses have been lifted."

"Furthermore, the blood at the scene matches Shannon's injury perfectly. Besides the table, which has been splattered in most of the blood missing from the ground and the seat, there is only one apparent obstruction: the rifle discovered at the scene matches it perfectly, and has been fittingly covered in blood."

"This is quite a boring one, unfortunately."

Last edited at 16/12/10(Sat)16:16:30

Well, my blue might have been technically correct, except it was probably Shannon that shot herself all things considered here.
I'm ready to move on, but if others still want to be thorough I won't stop you.

Check for footprints just around and inside the arbor. Even if the rain washed them away there might still be some wet prints where people stepped from outside on the surface shielded from the rain.

"As was advertised, I will only contradict anything you say that is incorrect. In this way, it benefits you most to be specific."

The detective lids her eyes and smiles. "As you wish."

She lays her hands on her lap and begins pacing the area in a leisurely fashion. Under the pale light of her glimmering blue eyes you see details on the pavement begin to glow as though to bring them to your attention. The detective's vision unveils some footprints - a set of tracks leading away from the arbor and two leading towards it.

One of these leads to Shannon's current position - the other is less clear and easy to read as though having been more recently washed away by the rain.

As both your eyes and hers focus on every detail of the surroundings, every blood pool seared into your mind unforgettably, you notice but one especially unusual detail:

There is a single tire track marked on the ground, leading towards the Guesthouse.

Hm, I was planning to go to the mansion first, but one has to be flexible.

Follow the tire track as far as possible.

I won't use red, but you are on the right track.

Rudolf Ushiromiya is the culprit.

Kyrie knocked out Krauss. Rudolf arrived at the study, changed into his disguise, lowered Krauss' body, left the study, entered the bathroom, stabbed Krauss, left via the pulley system and took the cookie which was intended for Kinzo.

>>20173
“Oi, old man,” Battler suddenly said, “Where did you get that cookie from?”

Everyone looked up at the sudden cut in the silence. They had been discussing how it could have even happened, and some theories seemed to work but they still had to wonder… who? Someone comments about the plate of cookies and says he must have got it from there, but Rudolf answered cautiously.

“Yeah what they said. Was I not supposed to take one?”

At this time Battler stood up, “You’re lying.” Most of the other members didn’t know what this meant since they hadn’t heard the explanation of the different cookie designs. This was quickly explained.

“You had to unwrap yours. The ones on the plate are clearly already unwrapped, after all George who could barely move put one straight to his mouth. Meaning not only did you not get your own cookie from your room but you also have someone else’s” Battler stated.

“Now hold it there Battler, Maria probably just mixed them up right?” Rudolf suggests.

“Uu-uu! Maria did not!” she squeals.

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>>20174
The witch’s tearoom is filled with the pleasant aroma of tea slowly evaporating.

“That is correct. Rudolf was the culprit. A fun little game if I say so myself,” she says taking a bite of a cookie.

“Hmm? The pieces had to pinpoint Rudolf as the culprit? Well of course, that is what the green was for. Interrogating the suspects could have let you reach the same conclusions has Battler, or simply solving it with red and blue suffices. Same goes for Kyrie, and accomplice could have been possible or not.”

“What happened after that? Who knows? Maybe Rudolf committed suicide, perhaps the bomb went off killing everyone, or possibly they simply caught Rudolf and dealt with him however they saw fit. In the end the entertainment for tonight was simply the mystery itself after all.”

The witches waves their arms and the teapot vanishes. “If you are satisfied I must be going. I do hope you enjoyed. I will send an invitation if there is ever another little get together like this. Ciao.”

With that the tea room went quiet, and the game came to an end.

>>20158

Sorry for vanishing, the weekend got very hectic very fast.

Anyways, I agree with DWAM about the idea that George's corpse was dressed like Battler's.

Oh god I'm sorry to have kept you guys waiting so long. Assignment deadline shit hit the fan real fast.

Some confirmation for the hardworkers who deserve it:

George's corpse was dressed up as Battler following the murder. Kitchen chemicals were used to dye the hair red and the glasses were removed from the severed head. In the dark, this caused it to look like Battler's corpse.

Y'all are good at this, and it's a pleasure to see you work away on my mysteries.

I believe this actually means the mystery is solved. Would anyone care to summarise with a blue truth, putting together everything that's happened so far to deal the final blow?

Last edited at 16/11/03(Thu)01:40:43

>>20165

Very well. First, let me congratulate you on a well-played game. I hope there are many more in your future.

However, all games must come to an end. So shall this one.

Jessica was killed by a chlorine gas concoction inhaled through her inhaler, which was tampered with by the culprit and handed to her.

Shannon was not killed, but instead acted as an accomplice to the culprit, providing the culprit with chemicals to make chlorine gas, 'disappearing' to drive George into a frenzied search of the guesthouse, and dressing up as Beatrice in order to distract Maria.

George was killed by the culprit and disguised to look like Battler in the dark parlor using chemicals and clothing changes.

The culprit snuck up behind Maria, struck her in the head, and killed her as she was looking at Shannon/Beatrice.

The culprit is Battler Ushiromiya.

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And although I am excessively late in replying due to my university schedule...

The mystery has been solved!

Congratulations, everyone. You all did well, and I appreciate your kind feedback.

Last edited at 16/11/17(Thu)22:03:03