As per usual, the boat is moving across the waves to Rokkenjima.

You will be there shortly.

Wasting no time, I'll find and open the envelope that Jessica took in the past three rounds, and read the contents.

Last edited at 14/09/05(Fri)12:52:33

>>16349
You take out the large envelope and prepare to open it up. As you recall the smaller one was inside.

However the moment you touch the wax seal it seems your body locks up. Your vision shines red as the seal sparkles a bit. Any attempt to remove the seal again proves to have the same result.

Seems like the fact you open the letter after dinner is locked in time. You won't be seeing inside that easily.

"... Typical."

I go and hunt for the captain, before addressing him.

"Is there another dock on the island aside from the one we're approaching that you know of?"

>>16351
"Nope, this is the only one. Most of the island is just forest you see, so there really isn't any need for extras."

"I see. Very well then."

I'll wait until the boat docks. Doesn't seem like there's much I can do until then.

>>16353
After waiting around the boat eventually makes it to the beach and you dock.

With the same line the boat captain leaves you and you are left on the dock once more with Reinon there to greet you.

"Welcome to Rokkenjima. We have been expecting you Mister Byakuya. I am to guide you to the mansion."

"Reinon, isn't it? Good. Before we set off I was wondering if it would be possible to rest for a while prior to meeting the family. The journey has been terrible."

Regardless of her response, I'll begin climbing the path towards the mansion grounds.

>>16355
"I'm sorry, the family is very eager for your arrival. You will have to speak with them personally for a definite answer." she says as she tries to keep up.

You are currently walking through the forest.

"Hmph. Fine, I'll ask someone else."

I'll press on ahead towards the cousins and the arbor. Perhaps if I pass the message onto them, I'll be left to my own devices prior to reading the will.

>>16357
You eventually make it up to the garden and can see the usual sights of the island. The cousins are in the arbor as expected. Reinon is lagging slightly behind and walking up the stairs to the garden.

I'll look back, and check if I'm still within sight of Reinon. If so, I'll approach the arbor. If not, I'll head towards the guesthouse.

>>16358
You find Reinon to be out of sight from where you are standing, so you quickly head off to the guesthouse.

After a few minutes you find the building and enter. You don't hear anybody inside from where you are.

I'll go towards the servant's room and listen at the door. Is anyone inside?

>>16361
You do not hear anyone inside.

I'll go in, and look for a pen, some paper, and a plain-looking envelope.

>>16364
You find a pen and paper. No envelopes laying around though.

Experimentally, I see if it's possible to fold the paper, and insert it into the envelope containing the will without breaking the seal.

>>16366
You find it to be impossible, not because of some mysterious force, but the envelope simply doesn't allow it.

I'll unplug the phone, and quickly look around for any keys that might have been left behind by the servants.

>>16367
You unplug the phone, but fail to find any keys lying around.

I'll pocket the pen and paper from earlier, and head back out into the hallway.

Last edited at 14/09/06(Sat)11:59:24

>>16370
You pocket your items and go back into the hallway.

Still no sign of anyone.

I'll hurry upstairs, and look for Battler's luggage in the guest room. If I hear anyone enter, I'll make a dash for the bathroom.

>>16372
You head upstairs and find the cousin's room to be locked.

"Of all the rotten luck..."

I'll head back downstairs, leave the guesthouse, and head towards the mansion.

Last edited at 14/09/06(Sat)12:18:55

>>16372
You leave the guesthouse and head back to the mansion. On the way you spot Reinon, who doesn't look very pleased.

"Mister Byakuya, I realize you are tired by I insist you follow me to the mansion at once. The family has been waiting all day."

"My apologies, but when nature calls, one must answer. Perhaps furniture are used to relieving themselves outdoors, but the more civilized of us prefer to use a restroom. Shall we?"

As tempting as it is to get Reinon into trouble, I'll enter the mansion.

>>16376
With that quick remark you leave Reinon in the dust again and enter the mansion. As you expected the feeling once more washes over you.

(̧̡̢͙̮̯̞̰̅ͭ̔̿ͨ̌ͦ̒̅͂̈́ͧͨ̒ͨ̋͌͌*̛̘̮͍̖͓̦͙̙͎̻͕́̅͌ͮ͋͌͒̇͋ͩͬƠ̯͍̤̹̹̗̯̦̎ͭ̅ͪ̌̓̕͠͝ͅu͌̾̐̄
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�̡̙͈̫̭̾̅ͤͭ͑́ͧ̿́͝3̡̲̜̲͚̺͍̤̝̱͔̳̗͙ͫͬ̾̈ͧ͒̌́̉̎̃͂ͤ̉ͨͭͫ́͞ͅr̋́ͧ̀҉̵̭̦͍̥̼̫̺̬̣̮͔͔͡͡ó̡́ͦ
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�̼͉̼s̶̶̄ͭ͂̃͐͡͏̱̰͚̩̻̺̲̺̞̺*̡̖̞̻͖̼͎̤͈ͧͨ͑ͩ͒ͭ̚̕͘͞ͅ#̷̹͉͈͈̮ͥͪͨͨ̅ͣ̄̓̎͂̊ͧ́̕͝͝uͤͨͯͣ̎̓͑̃�
�̢͓͈̲̤̲͈͇̬͖̺̟̰̼̀̾̋̍̾͐͘͝͝x̸̫̪͉͕͚͖ͪ̓́ͣͩͤͬͮ̿ͧͯ̌ͤ̃̓ͭ̉̎ͩ͜͢&̨̢̩͚̞̮̩̲͎̲͉̗͖̦̺̼ͩ̾ͦͦͫ́�
�̳*̸͔̱̱̜̤̜͍̍ͦ̆̅͆̔ͭ̀͟͞@̶̶̢̦̻̝̤̖͇̅͛̄͆̊̓ͭ̏


You hardly pay attention at this point, for you know it is the same. You are now in front of your room like always. Time has passed, and once again you have lost the smaller envelope.

As soon as I come to, I'll leave the guesthouse and head for the mansion.

>>16378
You head off to the mansion as you are custom to. After passing through the doors you are shown the same display which you have seen many a time.

The girl you have rarely seen dead lately comes down the starts and quickly speaks, "Mister Byakuya, I wasn't here. If Genji comes looking please don't tell him you saw me." She then hides in the closet.

Genji comes down the stairs and asks you a question you all but know the answer to, ""Pardon the inquiry, but have you seen any of the other servants recently?"

I open the closet.

>>16378
With hardly a second to react Genji snatches her up and takes her way. Of course you can still tell she is scowling at you however.

After they leave Asune walks out of the kitchen and walks by. You are standing in the main hall currently.

I'll head upstairs, and see if any of the bedrooms up there are open.

>>16382
Upon reaching the second floor and investigating the bedroom doors to you find two of which to be unlocked. Those belong to Krauss and Jessica.

I'll knock on Jessica's door.

>>16384
You do so and get no response.

I'll open the door, but refrain from actually entering the room.

>>16386
You open the door and let it extend until you can see the room.

Looks as you would expect. You cannot see anyone inside. You also take note of the envelope on the bedside table.

I enter, close the door and lock it behind me. Then I'll double-check to make sure no-one else is in the room. Finally, I'll remove the bulb from the lamp.

Last edited at 14/09/06(Sat)13:15:22

>>16388
You do all of these actions without issue.

I open the envelope, and read the contents.

>>16390
You find that the envelope was exactly as you found during the last round. Empty.

"... Well, waste not want not."

I'll write up the letter from the witch from the previous round, and store it in the envelope. Then I'll unlock the room, and peek out to make sure no-one's in the hallway.

Last edited at 14/09/06(Sat)13:22:44

>>16392
You create your fake letter and prepare it how you want.

You hear someone walking outside the door, but it slowly dies down as it gets further away. Upon opening the door you find nobody in the hallway.

I'll re-lock the door, and give the room a quick search for the letter or some sort of diary. Under the bed, drawers, all the usual hiding places.

>>16394
You fail to find either of those things in the room.

I'll check the hallway again. Assuming no-one's there, I'll leave the room, close the door, and knock on Krauss' door.

Last edited at 14/09/06(Sat)13:30:44

>>16396
You see nobody in the hall so you exit and move over to the other door. Upon doing so however you hear someone walking softly down from the third floor.

I'll hide in the doorway if possible, or wherever's shielded from view from the staircase, and try to catch a glimpse of who's coming down.

If there's nowhere to hide, I'll proceed to knock on the door as if I've failed to notice them.

>>16398
You find it impossible to hide in time so you knock on the door. You fail to get a response from the door.

Kyrie comes down the stairs and notices you. "Hello Byakuya," she says with an inquisitive smile,"What are you up to?"

"Ah, Kyrie. I could ask you the same question. How about a trade? I tell you what I've dug up looking for Jessica, and you tell me what you found up in the study. Sound fair?"

>>16400
"Oh so you are looking for Jessica? I take it she wasn't in her room then?"

"... You've got me there. No, she's not in her room."

>>16403
"... I see, I wonder where she could be..." she says with a contemplative look.
"Well I'm sure she will turn up when she wants to be found. Nice talking with you, I'm going to head back now." she turns away and begins to head back down the staircase.

"You seem awfully quick to pass up on my offer, Kyrie. Perhaps I can tempt you with this? I'm sure the discussion won't be going anywhere without Jessica present, after all."

I'll produce the forged letter, making sure to hold it close.

>>16405
Kyrie sees the letter and pauses for a moment.

"I take it that you got that from Jessica's room?"

"The question you should be asking is 'Is that the letter that Jessica took?' The answer to that would be yes. How I obtained it is irrelevant."

I take the letter out of the envelope, to prove it's not empty.

"... Changed your mind? If you're not interested, I could always go look for Eva, I suppose."

>>16407
"Heh, I suppose a trade might be possible. Although I must ask, why do you think I was in the study anyway?"

"You came down the stairs from the third floor. I seem to recall that the entire floor functions as Kinzo's study, right? Either you were in his study, or simply lingering on the landing. Somehow, I doubt the latter to be true."

>>16409
"So you are familiar with the layout of the mansion? Well in any case, what do you want to know?"

"I procured a map shortly after I arrived from one of the servants' rooms.

For a start, you can tell me how you got in. I believe there's some sort of auto-locking mechanism on the door, am I wrong? To bypass that, you'd either need a master key, or the room key itself."

>>16411
Kyrie stays silent for a moment.

"That... is a secret. However if you show me the contents of the envelope I'll answer your questions, and something else. Something that is confusing you greatly I assure you."

"... I'll give it to you in good faith. I've memorized the contents, so it's not much use to me anyway."

I make to give her the envelope, before pausing.

"I believe there's a saying in the Ushiromiya family about hallways being like public highways. Perhaps we could go somewhere where we'll be less likely to be disturbed?"

>>16413
"Hmm, perhaps if this takes any longer..." she says mischievously.

She opens up the letter and her expression turns serious. After a few moments it seems like she has finished and she turns back to you.

"There is something interesting about this letter, more than just what is being said. I think there is some sort of anagram hidden inside. Do you have a pen I can use?"

"I'm afraid I don't. Perhaps there'll be one in one of the bedrooms?"

>>16415
"Alright, perhaps Jessica's is unlocked?"

The two of you enter the room and Kyrie is able to locate a pen. She starts to write on the letter and eventually she holds it up to you. You see the letters "vlqjoh wuxwk"

"Hmm, I thought I was on to something... Any idea what that means?" she says and holds out the pen.

I look at the sheet of paper for a few moments, ignoring the pen, before smiling knowingly.

"It's a Caesar shift cipher. If you shift the letters three places backwards in the alphabet, you get 'single truth'. I don't see why those letters in particular are important, though."

>>16417
She lets out a small laugh, "You are right, they don't mean anything."

"... Is that all, then? I must admit, I expected more."

If she has nothing else to say, I'll hurry back into the hallway,

>>16419
Before you leave she speaks up.

"You misunderstand. Sorry for playing with you, but the conference had gotten rather trite. That was the only reason I went to look for Jessica in fact.

I had actually found this empty envelope before heading upstairs just like you. Of course I never entered the study seeing how you need a key like you said. Upon coming down I found that you filled the envelope with your own letter, isn't that right?"

I lean back and shrug.

"It looks like I'm no match for a detective like you. Yes, I came looking for the letter too, and then replaced it with this one when I found the envelope to be empty. The letter itself is one I found slipped under the door to my room upon my return to the guesthouse. It means nothing to me, so I figured I'd have a little fun myself with it.

So, with that out of the way, I have to ask; who were you expecting to catch coming out of Jessica's room?"

>>16421
"Catch? Nobody. I was looking for Jessica remember. Anyway if there is nothing else I should be returning now."

"I see. Well, thank you for your time, Kyrie. It's been fun."

I'll go outside, make a show of knocking on Krauss' door until she leaves, then assuming it's still not locked, I'll push it open like I did with Jessica's room the first time.

>>16423
Kyrie leaves and heads down the stairs. You then go over and enter Krauss's room.

You vaguely remember looking into the room before. There is a large bed with small table beside it. A coffee table with two chairs around it. There is also a wardrobe and a very dressers alongside a small closet. From what you can tell it seems rather empty.

You see nobody in the room.

Rather than head in, I'll first go and knock on the door to Krauss' study.

>>16425
For once you get a response, "Whoever it is I'm done talking for the night!"

Seems like Krauss is there.

"My apologies for disturbing you. It's Togami, and I have a few things that need signing regarding the will. I don't suppose you have any idea where your daughter is?"

>>16427
After a pause, he responds without opening the door. "No I don't. We have another whole day together, you can get signatures then, for it is late."

I go over my search of Jessica's room in my head quickly. Do I remember seeing her inhaler anywhere in the room?

>>16429
You don't remember seeing it, however there were a few drawers that you take a double look through and locate the inhaler. You pocket it.

Seeing as I've got nothing better to do, I'll head downstairs, then make my way back to the guesthouse for now.

>>16431
You reach the first floor and notice that the parlor is empty now. The front doors are open and you can see Rudolf having a smoke outside in deep thought.

When leaving the mansion he notices you, "Ah, hey. Heading off to sleep?"

I stop to have a talk with Rudolf.

"It's tempting. I've been trying to find Jessica, but she's done a good job of hiding herself away this evening. Neither myself nor Kyrie have seen hide nor hair of her. It's probably better to try again in the morning."

>>16433
"I see, sorry to say I haven't seen her either. She might be over with the kids, I was going to go check on them myself, but, well..."

He seems lost in thought.

"Sounds to me like you've got something heavy on your mind. Did something troubling crop up during the conference?"

>>16435
"…Well, its not that,” he starts before looking up to the sky and taking another drag, “You see... I’m having troubles with my son. I don’t know if you have heard, but he has been living with other relatives for a number of years since I remarried. In fact this conference is the first time I’ve seen him in all that time.”

"I'd heard rumors, but then again there are so many circulating about this family it's impossible to know for certain. Regardless, I can imagine it being difficult for both parents, missing their son growing up. Reforging a bond with him must be quite trying."

>>16437
“Exactly... It’s frustrating you know? Sometimes I just want to grab his stupid head and force him back… My wife insists that I need to let him come back on his own though. I don’t know if it’s just me or if he hates Kyrie as well... Either way I’m going to trust her judgement for now. If it wasn’t for her I would have been in there with others fighting like starving animals after all…”

Following another drag he seems to realize he has been dumping this all on you. “Ah… I’m sorry for rambling. How unmanly, I guess it just came gushing out.”

"I'd be inclined to trust her; from what I've seen, she's an exceedingly clever woman. And please, don't worry about it.

... I must confess though, that last statement intrigues me. I was under the impression that the headship and the fortune were hotly contested amongst all the siblings. Were I in the running, I know I'd be fighting for it with the best of them."

>>16439
"Ah that makes sense. You see when Battler left, I was pretty much bankrupt. Its a long story, but essentially Kyrie was able to pull my company, and in turn myself, out of debt. Father didn't really like my last wife, so you can imagine he was pleased with Kyrie, being both smart and from a family with status. Honestly I'm here for Battler and formality sake, some money on the side would be nice but I am fine without it."

He stomps out his cigarette butt and finishes by saying, "Well anyway, thanks for the chat. I should head off to sleep."

"Likewise. Good luck with your son."

I'll head over to the guesthouse.

>>16441
You head over the guesthouse once again and enter the building. Upon entering you can hear one of the servants in the servant room.

Otherwise the halls are empty.

I head over to the servants' room, and check to see who's in there.

>>16443
You see Reinon inside. She doesn't notice you.

"Reinon. Have you heard anything from the cousins since I left, or had any orders from them?"

>>16445
"Oh hello." She tells you that they haven't called or ordered tonight yet.

"I see. Thank you."

I'll then head over to the lobby, take the milk from the fridge, and pour two glasses of milk. I'll then take them upstairs, and knock on the cousins' room.

>>16447
"Ah, just a second." You hear George say.

The door opens up and you see the cousins packing away cards and other games. You also notice Jessica who puts down the phone as if she was about to make a call.

"Oh, did you over hear us talking? You didn't have to go out of your way like that," she says, referring of course to the milk you brought.