"Oh hey. What is going on in here?"

>>13667
"Yeah, there probably isn't any point. I just can't resist an intellectual challenge like that."

After saying this, I notice Ozaki's return and turn to greet him.

"Oh, hey Ozaki-san! How did your search go? I'm afraid I couldn't find anything interesting."

>>13669
"I guess I win then. I found a creepy mirror with in inscription on it. Something about wolfs and stars or something... Although I guess I have no proof now that I think about it. Either way I think I'm done for the night."

After that I'll talk to Nanjo.

"Hey Nanjo, I could use the key about now. Getting sleepy and all."

>>13670
"Wolves and stars? How strange. You'll have to show me in the morning. But yes, after all that exertion I'm pretty exhausted myself. Good night, both of you~"

I return to my room to sleep.

>>13671
Nanjo pats at each of his pockets a few times, and eventually procures his room key. The group heads upstairs, and Rika enters her room. Nanjo unlocks the room, and enters with Ozaki. Rika would find Jessica and Maria already asleep in their beds.

Soon, both pieces are asleep, unless you choose to do anything else before my next post. No post before then would equate to you just sleeping.

From an eldritch haze a demon and a witch peer down upon a tabletop. Many little tidbits and gadgets and thingamajiggers move and shift and scale and squirm around atop it. An assam aroma wafts throughout the room without walls or dimension, occasionally stifled when they sip of its infinite source.

"So, the ceremony has begun," the masculine figure comments.

The feminine visage giggles faintly, to respond, "There is no need to worry. The girl is well trained, she can handle a millenia more of this."

He leans down to the board, time and space tearing with a vacuous blip as his index finger materializes, extends, and tips a piece over. He reclines backward, glances over, and replies, "Let's hope that's the case."

The storm continues to pound the island. Black screen. Pan to window. Butterfly flutters through the solid pane, and out of sight into the room. Pan backwards. Kinzo's form is now visible, standing motionless and staring out the window. Rotate vantage around him; rest of the room is empty, Kinzo is alone, butterfly hovers mid-air in front of doorway in background.

Kinzo: "So, you have arrived." ... "How did you get here?"

Butterfly: Silently flutters back and forth.

Kinzo: Sigh. "Even charmed, it only stops human entry, eh?" Walk over to chessboard, move king. "So, I'm the first to be chosen." Slowly begin to laugh (borderline psychotic, subdued).

Butterfly: Begin to multiply exponentially and fly around Kinzo.

Kinzo: Yell, "I have resigned to my fate!" Dramatic interlude. "I will have my revenge in the golden land!" Burst into flames with one final climatic scream.

The sound of flesh and hair cooking are exaggeratedly loud. Seconds pass, and all that remains is a pile of ash. All the butterflies fly to one location, wherein they are apparently just absorbed into one equally sized butterfly cause magic.

Butterfly: Hover motionlessly over the pile of ash. After a few seconds, flutter back and forth. Cease fluttering as a black hole opens under Kinzo's very dusty and non-solid corpse.

Corpse ash falls into hole in a delayed and physically unsound way. Butterfly hovers away. Pan back to window. Fade to black.

You wake up to the sound of the phone (which is on your bedside nightstand) ringing. Jessica and Maria roll in their beds, but seem to remain mostly asleep. You're the most conscious.

>>13675
Puzzled, I slowly get out of bed and pick up the phone.

"Hello?" I say into the receiver, stifling a yawn.

>>13676
On the other end is Genji's voice, "Oh, Rika. Where's Nanjo?"

>>13677
"Ah, um, I think he was moved to room two to make room for us. But why would you be calling for him at this time? Has Kinzo-san's condition gotten worse?"

>>13678
"How did--" but he is interrupted by Krauss in the background. Who is exclaiming with volume, "Is Nanjo on his way yet?!"

Genji softly clears his throat, and finishes, "Thank you, Rika. Sorry to bother you." He hangs up.

A few moments pass, before you hear the phone in room two ring through the wall. You are wide awake now, and may do as you please.

>>13679
You are awoken by the phone on Nanjo's bedside stand ringing, if you weren't already awoken by the ringing in room three.

Nanjo awakes with a groggy start, and then answers it with a, "Hello." After a short interlude - in which his frown grows like a really hairy caterpillar on super steroids - he exclaims, "What?! I'm on my way."

He jumps out of bed, wearing his old fat man pyjamas, and grabs his briefcase. He leaves the room in a flurry.
You may move as you please.

Obviously surprised by the rude awakening I probably would instantly give up trying to get back to sleep. Assuming I am already dressed I will attempt to follow Nanjo seeing how my curiosity beats my tiredness.

>>13679
Realising that something serious is obviously going on, I rush out of the room, hoping to intercept Nanjo as he leaves and ask him what's going on.

It occurs to me for a second that it would be much more appropriate for a guest to try to keep to herself and avoid interfering as much as possible in a time like this, but my curiosity is far too strong right now for me to give that thought much serious consideration.

Rika leaves her room to witness Nanjo fly by in his pyjamas, quickly followed by an Ozaki who probably doesn't notice her because he's a pretentious dirtbag sometimes (y'know unless you want to disagree in your next post Ozaki).

>>13683
I quickly follow after them, I suppose.

>>13684
You both follow Nanjo to the second floor of the main mansion, through the continuing storm. At the end of the second story hall stands Natsuhi in front of an open door.

Nanjo enters the room, which Krauss is inside of. Neither he nor Natsuhi question your presences, apparently too involved with whatever caused such a hustle in the first place.

"Nanjo, how is he?" Natsuhi asks.

Nanjo simply shakes his head with a dour expression. "There's no helping it. He's gone." To which Natsuhi cups her hands to her face, and Krauss presses his hand to his forehead attempting to remain calm.

You would take notice that in the middle of the room, beside a table, on the ground, lays the body of the crazy old asshole that was screaming the night before. From where you're standing there appears to be a small wound on his temple, which has elicited enough blood to spill some on the ground but not nearly enough to form a serious puddle. You would see a shattered glass beside Kinzo's corpse, and the rug underneath is wet with water.

Nanjo speaks up, "What happened, Krauss?"

Krauss shakes his head. "I have no idea. I'd asked Genji where he was earlier, but he wasn't in the study. Eventually, we found him in here. He must have... slipped and hit his head."

The room boasts the rug beneath Kinzo and the table, a large king size bed, two three-panel windows with the same latch-locks (which, again, are set/locked) like the other windows, the table is relatively large and has four equally sturdy wooden chairs around it, three dressers, and some potted plants in the corners of the room. There are also two side doors, one to a bathroom and one to a closet.

You are free to investigate and question within this room as you please, but don't try to run off somewhere for the moment.

>>13685
At times like this where people are still shocked by an unexpected event, it's actually quite easy to make people unconsciously defer to you just by acting calm and seeming like you're in control of the situation. Well, in theory anyway. I've never tried it myself but it worked in that one mystery novel.

I walk over to the body and begin examining it in a way that makes it look like I know what I'm doing. While doing so, I ask without turning around, "What is this room exactly? Can you think of any reason why Kinzo-san would come here?"

>>13685
I ask Krauss, "When was the last time Kinzo was seen was? What is the current time? Finally did you have to unlock this door to enter, do you know which keys work on it?"

>>13686
You effectively poke the body a bit, but don't find anything that wasn't already apparent. Well, except that you'd notice that the nose is broken, but that's about it.

Krauss would say, "This is the VIP room. Father had it made specifically, but I've never seen it used and don't know what purpose he had in mind for it."

>>13687
Krauss responds, "Genji told me that he last saw him around midnight last night. It's about 7:30 now. Well, actually, after I asked Genji about where he was we both headed there to find him. Genji unlocked the door with the only other key to the study, which he keeps, and we found no sign of father. However, I did find this key on the desk which unlocks this room." Krauss would hold up a key labelled VIP.

Krauss continues, "Genji assures me this is the only key into this room. Upon unlocking this door, we found... him. Ah, and his key to his study was on the table next to him."

>>13688
I check the body myself. Assuming he was killed shortly after the last time he was seen then the gap should be around 7 hours give or take. I go up to the body and check for lividity (ie livor mortis) around the head and torso mostly. After about 6 hours in this household environment blood in the body coagulates and settles. I won't go into detail as this should be enough for an estimate for the time of death. Also if his body had been moved after he had been found.

Additionally I will search his pockets as well as check for any wounds that would go unnoticed by obstructing clothing or the like. Finally, I also check his throat for any frothy fluid.

>>13685
I go and search the dressers for anything of interest, leaving the body to Ozaki.

>>13689
Upon inspecting the body you find that the body does indeed appear to be at least six hours deceased, and certainly not too much more than that. It appears that the body has been flipped over onto its back since it has been found, a la recently in comparison to the time of death. You would locate a small key in one of his pockets as you search the clothing. You find nothing in his air passages.

>>13690
The dressers are completely devoid of contents.

>>13691
I attempt to take the key without anyone noticing.
Now having finished with the body, I would then examine the table that the body was found by, as well as the chairs that surround it.

>>13691
I open the closet and search it.

>>13692
A tea set exists on the top of the table. A chandelier hangs above it. The corner of the table closest to the body has some blood on it.

>>13693
The closet appears to be just as empty as the dressers.

>>13694
I examine the bed in the room. I also check under it and around it for anything of notice.

>>13694
I enter and thoroughly search the bathroom.

>>13695
You examine the large king size bed, with large, regal blankets. It is pristinely clean, as if it were recently made but left unused. The bed itself does seem very old, however, with various circular scratches going around the bottom of the wooden spheres attached to the headboard. Besides dust you fail to find anything under or around the bed.

>>13696
You examine the bathroom, which has a toilet, a sink with a very magnificently hand-made mirror, and a bathtub with a shower head which boasts a very large collection of various soaps, shampoos, yadda yadda. Upon examining the towel rack you would feel a prick on your finger; when you pull it back, you notice a very small droplet of blood on your finger-tip. On close examination of the towels it would become apparent that one of the two towels has a region on its surface which has an admittedly light but still present spattering of tiny glass shards embedded into that towel.

>>13697
I examine the main door of the room for any damage and check the locks for their types as per usual. Oh and the potted plants for anything as well.

>>13697
I return to the main room and inform Ozaki of my findings in the bathroom. I then closely examine the rug beneath Kinzo, moving the body if necessary, just because you listed it and I came to regret not examining absolutely everything in that other game.

I'll also check each of the windows.

Ozaki finds that the door is perfectly fine, and not mal-affected at all, and that it works identically to the others (with a deadbolt lock that can be set via latch from the inside). He finds nothing of interest in the potted plants, unless you're into microbiology, in which case, I dunno, maybe?

Rika doesn't find anything new with the rug beyond what was already apparent. The windows also appear set and locked and lacking of any peculiarities.

Nanjo, Krauss, and Natsuhi all, for whatever reason, appear unphased by your investigations. They just accept it.

Natsuhi would look over to Krauss, asking, "What should we do?"

Krauss responds, "Inform the rest of the family, of course. However, many are still sleeping, and this kind of news does not bear lightly. We should hold our silence until everybody is gathered as one so that we may tell them."

At this point Nanjo would agree with a nod. "I will prepare Kinzo for a respectable burial."

Kinzo's body is eventually moved to the bed when you are all done investigating, and everybody leaves the room. Krauss locks the door behind. Krauss resumes, "We were planning to gather in the parlor anyway, but you may all head there for now if you wish. We'll be down shortly." Krauss and Natsuhi leave down the hall.

Nanjo tells you that he's headed to the parlor. Unless you decide there's something radically important that you need to do/say, you head to the parlor with Nanjo.

You enter the empty parlor with Nanjo, and, amidst the awkward and lost silence, sit down quietly in your respective seats. After a few minutes pass, Nanjo sighs - obviously quite taxed from all that's occured - and then he seems to realise that he is still boasting his large man pyjamas, which boast lilacs and small choo choo trains. His face reddens a bit, he clears his throat, and then rises.

"Ah, if you'll excuse me, I should go change," he proclaims, while attempting to remain stiff of voice and posture. He would then leave.

Just mere moments after Nanjo leaves, Kyrie and Rudolf enter the parlor from the same door. Rudolf is smirking and chuckling. Kyrie nods to you both, and Rudolf follows shortly behind once he controls his giggles. "Oh, Rika, Ozaki, already up are you. Did you sleep alright?" Rudolf would ask.

>>13707
"Fine thank you, although I think I forgot something in the guesthouse. If you would excuse me."

I would then follow Nanjo back to the guesthouse.

You leave the parlor, and Rudolf and Kyrie appear confused by your rise but don't stop you. Upon entering the main hall you see Nanjo heading out the main entrance. You then see George, Battler, and Jessica enter the mansion through the same door.

Unless you stop to talk to any of them, you continue to follow Nanjo to the guest house.

>>13707
I give Rudolf and Kyrie an apologetic glance. "I'm sorry about that, Ozaki-san can be so rude sometimes. Might I ask what you found so amusing, Rudolf-san? As long as it's not some kind of private joke, of course..."

>>13710
"Well, isn't it obvious? An old man running around in his pyjamas is quite the sight. Odd, though, since his medical bag is here," Rudolf answers with the slightest gesture at the medical back that Nanjo did indeed leave behind. "Any idea why he'd need that?"

>>13709
You follow Nanjo into the guest house. Upon entering, Nanjo appears to have already ran up the stairs because he's out of sight.

>>13713
Realizing I have yet to survey the layout of the bottom floor I now do so. All while looking for Nanjo of course.

>>13712
At Rudolf's words, I quickly dispel my light-heartedness and adopt a more serious expression. "I do, as a matter of fact, but Krauss-san and Natsuhi-san would prefer to wait until the whole family is gathered before they disclose anything. I'd prefer to respect their wishes in that regard, so I'm afraid I can't tell you anything right now."

>>13714
Excluding the foyer, there is also a small utility room (servant's room), a dining room, a bathroom, and a sun room / tea room.

>>13715
Rudolf's cheerful demeanour waxes to seriousness and concern. He nods to Kyrie, and they both sit down. "I guess we'll have to wait for them, then," he finishes.

Shortly following that, Battler, George, and Jessica enter the room. Battler is the first to speak. "Ah. Hey, old man. I see you're already up."

Rudolf greets him in a solemn manner, and the cousins aren't total idiots so they read the mood and quietly take seats.

>>13717
Assuming I didn't find Nanjo on the first floor I would go to my room and see if he is there.

>>13718
You do not find Nanjo in your room, nor do you see him in the immediate area.

>>13717
Krauss and Natsuhi eventually enter the parlour, with Shannon in tow. Rudolf greets him, asking, "Hey, I heard you wanted us gathered?"

Krauss offers a quick nod. "Eva and Hideyoshi aren't here yet? We might as well wait for them, then."

Krauss and Natsuhi take a seat at one of the coffee tables. During this time, Shannon would be clearing some of the tables on the other side of the parlour.

>>13718
I check the rest of the second floor for anyone. If nothing is found I will head back to the mansion.

>>13720
I remain seated and silent, waiting for Eva and Hideyoshi to arrive. I won't take any action until then, unless someone addresses me in the meantime or it takes an unusually long time for them to get here.

>>13721
You don't find anything of interest, nor is there Nanjo or anybody else to be seen on the second floor. Upon leaving the guest house you can see Nanjo, in the distance, walking on the same path as you (but ahead) toward the mansion.

>>13722
Nothing in particular happens for a while, until a knock on the door is heard. After a short pause Gohda enters, and says, "My apologies, but has anybody seen Kumasawa? She's supposed to be helping me cook."

The family members would attest that nobody has seen her, but Krauss would add, "Perhaps she's still sleeping. Shannon, if you would?"

Shannon would nod and then bow, and state she'll go do that. Gohda resumes Shannon's duties for her.

Krauss asks, "What about dinner, Gohda?"

"I've left Genji to finish. It's nearly done," Gohda answers.

Shannon leaves, and Gohda sets about his business. Silence would take over the room once more after Shannon shuts the door behind her.

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>>13725