Part 10: The Investigation Continues

Short update, no battles. Just lots of scenes. I'll make up for it next time, and I'll also include more about my gem choices then.

Part 9: The Investigation Continues


(Zauerberg has a lot of stuff. For 20 Elm, we can buy Story #10 from this person.)


(This is the first person we can bring to Starkberg to open up a shop.)


(Talking to this man opens the Secret Arena, where we can fight monsters for rare gems.)



(And talking to these two people open up some conversation between the party members.)


: A merchant family?
: Yes, his parents were merchants...the Cruz family.
: I've heard of the Cruz family here, but I never imaged they were related to you.
: What do you know?
: Only that they were a large merchant family...one of the largest in Zauerberg. Their business fell on hard times and closed about 15 years ago, from what I heard. I don't think they're here anymore.
: Hmmm...anything else?
: The only other thing I heard was that there was some kind of connecting between the Cruz and Zauer families, but that could be rumor.


Good-Natured Aunt: Leonard is not the son of the lord that died in the fire, however. He's the son of Lady Zauer's former husband. The first lord of Zauer mansion was adopted, I heard. He died about three years after his son was born.
(Nothing about any impostors here, so let's move on)


(The item is Story #9, yay)


(This lady is actually the physician who helps Max's mother. She says that Max's mother is more mentally ill than physically ill because she blames herself for what happened to the family.)



: Charlone, why don't you join me in the hot springs?
: I...I...uh, I'm fine. No thanks.
: Oh, come now! You can't say that a hot bath in beautiful surrounds won't feel good!
: I...I just don't feel...comfortable.
: We're both women! What are you embarrassed about?
: Well, you're so...attractive. It's fine for you. It's just that I...well, I'm...
: Ha, ha, ha, ha...oh Charlone!
: See? You're laughing already!
: I...I'm sorry..I didn't mean to...Why are you embarrassed?


: Charlone! You underestimate yourself. You're just as attractive as I! Give it time. As you gain confidence and experience, you will grow even more beautiful.
: Hmmm...
: Just know that you have nothing to be ashamed of. You're a charming, beautiful woman.
: Charming?
: Yes, charming! Is that so hard to see? So how about it? Hot springs for two charming women, then?
(... ... ... Oh, we're done here? Moving on.)




(This is the best time to check up on that sand sample we brought there ages ago. The path closes off if you wait too long to go.)



: Excuse me..is Ariost here?
: Come in, come in! I'm Ariost. And, you're...uh, Wein, right?
: Yes. So, how is the investigation progressing?
: I've concluded the initial investigation. It has yielded some fascinating results.
: So, was it a Sand Golem?
: Well, technically yes, but it's much more complicated than that. It's similar to, but different from, a Sand Golem.
: What do you mean?
: Sand Golems are creature controlled by magic, with limited will to carry out independent operation. The sand that makes up their bodies is directed by means of a magic power wave.
: A power wave?
: Yes. And that discovery has unlocked a fascinating world to me...I believe that the power wave changes the arrangement of the sand in the Golem, causing it to behave...differently. It's a kind of remote control.
: Remote control...but on an unprecedented scale...
: That is precisely my theory.
: Do you really think that's how this was controlled?
: I'm 98.72% certain my hypothesis is correct. There is a way to be 100% certain, though.
: How?


: Of course, that would be expensive, and the Magic Academy wouldn't fund it, so you'd have to supply the funds.
: How much do you think that would cost?
: I have many of the parts here already, so I think it would only cost about 5,000 Elm.


(Just barely enough for this thing As random as it seems, you have to pay up if you want to get Arieta in your party later.)


: Very well then. I'll get started fabricating the materials to craft a reproduction at once.
: We'll stop in and check your progress later.
(Time to check out Valmie, and if we can't find anything there, I think we're screwed.)


(Xenos talks about a girl he noticed at the inn, and can't remember where she's from. If you talk to the Innkeeper's Daughter in Gather Information, you can talk to Xenos again and he'll remember that she used to be at Lyell's clinic.)


(Wait, what? Wasn't this Patrick guy...mentioned a long, long time ago?)
Mine Worker: Dunno where he went, though. 'Said he got some kinda "inheritance" then up and quit 'bout a year ago, I reckon.


: Hmm, that worker looked just like Minister Schneider...and suddenly came into a large "inheritance"? It sounds very suspicious to me.
: I agree. We must find out where he went.
: I would guess that he's hiding out somewhere near here. Let's go search...
("Near here" is totally off. Remember last time when we talked to the Village Chief in Clain? He mentioned a guy who holed up in a mysterious mansion outside of town, but we couldn't go there.)


(Well, NOW we can go there.)


: Hellooo?! Is anybody here?
Mansion Owner:What is it?! What business do you have here?
: You've got some nerve askin' us that when you're hidin' behind a mask senior del fancy pantalonies!
Mansion Owner: Well, I...I just...
: We've come on business of the king. On that authority, I ask you to remove the mask.
Mansion Owner: I...I'm sorry, I cannot...
: Yeah, but I can! Watch this.



: His appearance is exactly like Minister Schneider!
: You're the one that destroyed the dam and framed us!
Impostor: I...I'm sorry...I didn't know what I was a part of! I was hired to do a job, that's all.
: By whom?
Impostor: A mercenary called...Wolfgang.
: Wolfgang?
: The leader of the Grandzenschtraum Mercenaries?
: How do you know that?
: Yes. I am a mercenary as well. I have not met him personally, but his reputation is that of a strong, smart warrior.
: If he hatched the plan to frame us and Minister Schneider in one stroke, I would say he's very dangerous.
: So Wolfgang was behind all of this?
: That appears to be the case. However, we will only be sure by interrogating this man. I therefore arrest you on suspicious of destroying the dam at Agriss.
Impostor: No...
: I shall make arrangements to place him under guard.
: Thank you, Charlone.


: Not just yet...I won't be satisfied until I see justice done to this criminal called Wolfgang...I'll stay with you until he is in captivity...or dead.

( ! ...But we don't know why Wolfgang wanted to do this, so maybe there's a little left here.)

Next update: Lots of sidequests!

Current Relationship Status
Everyone: At 10!