Just grin and bear it, Matthieu. We're doing this to clear Tina's name. See? We've already made it into the manor! Everything looks so elegant here... So this is Schwab's home, huh?
Leyn:
Yeah... i have to admit, it makes me feel a bit envious.
Matthieu:
The Salar Family is one of the most influential in all of Lumpolis. What we see here is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their wealth. I'm sure-
Leyn:
Alright, give it a rest already. I think i see someone up ahead. Let's go take a look.
Navigator:
Hey, i see them too! Wait, is that... Schwab?
Salar Family Guard:
Forgive us, Master Schwab, we lost their trails. The Caelestic and two judges used the winding paths to their advantage, so we couldn't catch up to them...
Schwab:
Is this why i hired you fools, hmm? Useless! The lot of you!
Salar Family Guard:
Forgive us, my lord!
Schwab:
...Enough. What's done is done. Now that they're on the run, perhaps some good will come of your idiotic mistake. Return to your posts.
Salar Family Guard:
Yes, Master Schwab!
Schwab:
So his men were spying on us... Hah! AS if i would let him do as he pleases!
Leyn:
I'm just glad we managed to find Schwab so quickly. Let's keep following him, and see what he's gonna do. Any changes in his behavior might provide us with the clues we need!
Navigator:
Roger!
Matthieu:
Lest you two forget, Schwab is not a man who can be easily understood. If he's willing to break the law before the entire Hall of Justice, who knows what unspeakable acts he is capable of performing in the privacy of his own home...
Navigator:
O-Okay, now you;re starting to scare me.
Matthieu:
Good. Your fear will keep you on your toes. Come, let's not ;ose sight of him.
Servant:
Your tea, my lord.
Schwab:
Good, give it here.
Servant:
The kitchen is preparing some desserts. Shall i bring you a plate. Master?
Schwab:
That won't be neccessary. I have other matters to attend to right now. Do not disturb me until i have finished with them.
Servant:
Y-Yes, Master Schwab!
Leyn:
He sent his servant away.
Matthieu:
Shhh... Could these matters be so wicked that even his own people cannot be privy to them?
Navigator:
Er... M-Maybe he just wants to be alone for a while?
Matthieu:
Honestly, Navigator... Have you no imagination? Did i, or did i not just say that Schwab is not a man who can be easily understood?
Navigator:
Fine, fine. I get it. Still, how bad could it be? What could a complicated man like him possibly do in his own garden?
Leyn:
Look! He's raising his hand now! It looks like he's holding something.
Matthieu:
It's a needle! He has a needle in his hand!
Navigator:
A needle!?
Matthieu:
For what purpose? Does he mean to use it on himself!?
Leyn:
No, not on himself...
Stab!
Leyn:
He's using it on that doll in his other hand...
Navigator:
Wh-Why is he doing that to a doll!?
Matthieu:
I've heard of this before... A type of curse involving the use of dolls.
Navigator:
A curse?
Matthieu:
It works by taking something from a person's body, usually hair or blood, and placing it inside a doll. By oding so, the doll becomes spiritually linked to that person. Pricking or harming the doll inflicts the same pain and injuries on the target of the curse. And eventually, the perrson would die an excruciatingly painful death!
Stab!
Matthieu:
Tsk, he did it again!
Leyn:
I think i've heard of curses like that, but i never expected someone like Schwab to dabble in the dark arts...
Matthieu:
Well, i don't find it surprising at all. I've long since seen through his gentle, noble charade!
Leyn:
I don't know... Cursess like this are usually just some creepy superstition, right? Besides, this would be an egregious violation of Lumpolis' faith...
Navigator:
I see. It doeen't matter if the curse is real or not. What matters is t\whether or not people believe in it. And it's clear to me that Schwab believes is it. Which means that somewhere in the world... There's a person who Schwab hates enough to wants to kill them...
Stab!
Leyn:
But who? Who could it be!?
Matthieu:
Who could have wronged him so badly, that he would wish death on them?
Navigator:
I have no idea... But it really makes you wonder, doesn't it? By most accounts, Schwab lives a near-perfect life... I can't imagine who could ruin that for him. Unless... his hatred comes from a place where no one can easily see it.
Matthieu:
When you put it that way... Yes, it makes perfect sense now! Clearly, his anger stems from a long-lost yet unforgettable love!
Stab!
Leyn:
If that's true, we need to do something about it right away! It could mean the difference between life and death for someone out there!
Matthieu:
Let's not be hasty. We must wait for him to show clear and undeniable evidence of wrongdoing before we can interfere. What could we do right now, given our current knowledge> Stop him from pricking that poor doll?
Navigator:
Hey, you don't think those superstitions are true... do you?
Leyn:
You mean using a doll to curse someone?
Navigator:
Yeah... Because if they are, it's possible... ...that we're witnessing a murder scene!
Schwab:
Now for the finishing touch... Let his tiny, wretched existence...
Leyn:
We have to stop him! Hurry!
Stab!
Schwab:
-be reborn!!! My... You're a cute one, aren't you? Now then, what should i name you? How about... Chestnut?
Navigator:
S-So that's... a stuffed hedgehog?
Leyn:
That sure does look like a hedgehod.
Matthieu:
He even gave it a fitting name. See? It does look like a little chestnut.
Navigator:
So what are we freaking out about!?!?
Matthieu:
Shhh! Quiet, Navigator!
Navigator:
Sigh... i can't believe how stupid we are, talking about Schwab murdering someone.
Leyn:
Er, well, trial and error is just a natural part of an investigation. Only by eliminating all other possibilities will the truth reveal itself. It's all a part of the process.
Navigator:
Whatever helps you sleep at night, Leyn...
Leyn:
Ahem... Anyway, let's just forget about our conversation just now and focus on helping Tina. Schwab's going back inside now, most likely to prepare for tomorrow's trial. We should go take a closer look.
Schwab:
Sigh, it appears my little experiment is still far from complete. Perhaps i'll make more progress today...?
Matthieu:
Did you hear that? An experiment!
Leyn:
Yeah, what could he possibly be researching in there?
Matthieu:
Nothing good, i presume. After all, he's a difficult man to understand.
Navigator:
Not this again, Matthieu... Let's not jump to any crazy conclusions again. Not after the last time. Maybe it's just a small, at-home experiment? It could be a hobby of his...
Bang-!
Navigator:
Wow!
Matthieu:
Was that an explosion!? What in the blazes is he doing in there!?
Navigator:
I-I don't know. Should we get a little closer and see?
Leyn:
How? There's nowhere to hide in that room! If we get any closer than we are now , our cover will be blown...
Bang-!
Matthieu:
Another explosion! Could it be he's making a bomb!?
Navigator:
A bomb!? W-Wait, we're jumping to conclusions again!
Matthieu:
And why not? This is more or less the family business of the Salars!
Bang-!
Navigator:
But why would he be researching explosives?
Leyn:
Well, the more intricately designed a place is, the more susceptible it is to explosives. Lumpolis is no exception. Think about it:someone would come yo court for the vandalism of the statues. What if it is a clocktower or a church? The consequences would be far more unimaginable. By harnessing the destructive power of bombs, they can use fear to force others to obey them!
Navigator:
I don't know... His "bomb" didn't put so much as a scratch on his house.
Leyn:
Which is why he called it his "little experiment"! Once he fully understands the science behind it, he can use Luminatics to make his bombs a hundred times more powerful! If he succeeds, Schwab could upend our entire society as we know it! All of Lumpolis could even fall under his control...
Navigator:
I-Is it really that serious!?
Bang-!
Schwab:
Cough, cough... Ah, another failed attempt. Who knew that making caramel pudding could be so difficult?
Navigator:
... So, you're saying he's gonna take over Lumpolis... with PUDDING?!?
Matthieu:
I-Is he some kind of idiot !? How doeshe manage to produce explosions while baking desserts!?
Navigator:
Here's a better question:how could both of your guesses be so completely and utterly wrong!?
Matthieu:
Shhh! He's coming back outside! Quicj, hide!
Schwab:
Sigh... Another waste of time and effort Perhaps it's time to do something more productive? Now where did i put that cellar key... Ah, here it is. I should check things one last time before tomorrow's trial...
Servant:
Pardon me, Master Schwab, but dinnery is ready.
Schwab:
Did i not make is perfectly clear that i do not wish to be disturbed right now!?
Servant:
F-Forgive me, Master! I meant no offense... But the food is already on the table...
Schwab:
Ugh... Very well, but let this be the last time you interrupt me!
Leyn:
Schwab went to dinner. I don't think we'll be able to follow him over there, not with all of those servants around.
Matthieu:
Did you hear what he said before he left?
Navigator:
Let me guess, it has something to do with him being "difficult to understand"?
Matthieu:
Very funny, but no-he mentioned something about a cellar. Do use your brains for once, would you? Right before he was called to dinner, he pulled out a key to the manor's cellar And look! He left that key in the lock over there! Shall we take a look inside? Who knows what secrets we'll find just beyond that door!
Navigator:
It does seem like the perfect opportunity and all, but... We still haven't found anything that'll help us prove Tina's innocence! I don't know if breaking into Schwab's cellar is the right idea.
Leyn:
If you truly believe she's innocent, then the truth has to be here in Schwab's house somewhere. Even if he's just a pawn in all of this, there must be some sort of clue left behind. If we haven't found it yet, it's because we haven't dug deep enough!
Navigator:
...You're right. There's np going back now... So let's go see what's in that cellar!
Creak-
Matthieu:
It's black as pitch in there... I can't see a thing!
Leyn:
There appears to be a staircase leading further down. We can try feeling our way forward... Tina? Tina! Are you in here?
Matthieu:
Wait... I thought NAvigator had some psychic powers? Can you use them to sense what lies ahead?
Navigator:
I can try, yeah.
Force Boost
Matthieu:
Having a Caelestic at one's side can prove quite useful at times, no? Well? What do you see? Are there any light sources we can use, like candles or a torch?
Navigator:
This cellar seems to go down really far... ... Huh? Something's heading our way! Is that...
Eclipsites:
Graaaah-
Navigator:
Wahhhhhhh-
Matthieu:
What is it? What did you see?!
Navigator:
R-Run! Get back to the entrance! A mob of Eclipsites is charging toward us!
Eclipsites:
Graah...
Matthieu:
Eclipsites? What are these filthy creatures doing is Schwab's basement!?
Leyn:
Apparently, nobles are fond of more than just the finer things in life!
Matthieu:
Don't lump as all together with your vile slander! I'll have you know my family would never harbor such disgusting monsters in our hom!
Navigator:
Enough, you guys! They're getting closer!
Leyn:
I'll hold off on the Eclipsites! You two get out of gere as fast as you can!
Navigator:
A-Are you sure?
Leyn:
Of course i am! Don't underestimate a Lumpolis judge! Alright, you Eclipsites scum... Take this!
Crush-!
Matthieu:
Oh,dear! You just broke their chandelier! It looks to be crafted from Northland crystals? Meaning it was quite an expensive fixture.
Leyn:
Whoops! Think they'll ask me to pay for it...?
Navigator:
You're worried about money at a time like this!? Focus on the Eclipsites!
Leyn:
Here they come again...
Crash-!
Matthieu:
Great! Now their tea table is ruined too! And judging from its exquisite craftsmanship, i'm sure Schwab is going to lose sleep over over it as well.
Leyn:
I-I'm really sorry ! But i don't think i'm the one to pay, since it's the Eclipsites' fault in the first place...
Navigator:
Now's not the time, you two! Look, there's the door! We need to leave right now!
Ten minutes later...
Servant:
We've searched the entire perimeter of the estate. Master Schwab, Master Schwab... But still no sign of any intruders. What a mess... Who or what could have caused all of this?
Schwab:
...You're certain you saw no intruders?
Servant:
Yes, Master. Everything appears safe, at least for the time being. It's quite possible that the culprit are experts... If they left any clues behind, we have yet to find them. Perhaps it would be best to... leave this to the Hall of Justice? Surely, they would investigate the matter with all due seriousness, given your status?
Schwab:
An investigation... No, that won't be necessary. It was merely a few pieces of furniture after all. What was lost can be easily replaced. For now, have someone clean yp this mess right away.
Servant:
Yes, Lord Schwab!
Schwab:
(The cellar door is open...) (Did i unlock it before i left for dinner?) (For me to make such a foolish mistake... It's almost unfathomable.) (I should go to bed early tonight. I'll need a clear head for tomorrow's trial.)
Servant:
Sigh, what on earth happened here? What kind of villain breaks into someone's home, just to destroy their chandelier and tea table? Still... these broken bits might fetch a good price with the right junk dealer.
Toto:
Huff, huff... (Finally... finaly out!)
Matthieu:
Did anyone manage to follow us?
Navigator:
I don't think so. It looks like the coast is clear.
Matthieu:
Tsk. How embarrasing-an entire day, wasted on pointless shenanigans.
Navigator:
What's worse is that we couldn't find Tina, or even the smallest clue that could help her. How is she supposed to make it through the trial now?
Leyn:
We've done all we can... All that remains is for us to fulfill out duties as judges. Before the trial begins, we need to take into account everything that has happened today. It's possible that the clues we're looking for are hidden in the details somewhere.
Matthieu:
It goes without saying that we'll perform our duties to the best of our abilities. However... Without definitive prrof, we're as powerless as anyone else to change the outcome of the trial. Not to mention, we have no idea what other tricks Schwab still has up his sleeve. To go to trial against him like this would be hopeless, to say the least.
Leyn:
There's more than one way to win, Matthieu. We may not have all the cards we need in our hand, but that doens't mean we're out of the game just yet.
Matthieu:
My, my, feeling so sure about ourselves, aren't we?
Leyn:
Not in ourselves, but in the truth. One side's job is to conceal the truth, while the other's is to reveal it. Knowing that, we have a clear advantage in the case. Besides, our little trip to Schwab's home wasn't entirely fruitless...
