Part 30: Episode 2, Day 2, Investigation: Guess What, It's Blackmail

Part 30: Episode 2, Day 2, Investigation: Guess What, It's Blackmail



...

...



(Maybe I should... clear my throat?)

Hell yes.



That felt good.

Oh! You!



Wow, way to go straight to dark.

Hmm? I'm not senile yet!

I was just thinking about this whole mess...





The first two conversations are almost exactly the same as before. The first one just removes the last line of Phoenix's inner monologue, and the second one has a slightly different end to Phoenix's inner thoughts:

(He does seem troubled about something...)

(I'm starting to have a feeling I know what it is.)



Anyway, let's get to what we're really here for.

So, I paid Bluecorp a visit.

Oh? Oh, I see.

Mr. Grossberg...



Oh? What is it? Well, out with it, my boy!



Hmm, some good options here. The painting is the big question, of course. But why did Grossberg have a picture of White? And really, why was he so adamant about not defending Maya? I'm pretty sure all three have the same answer, but let's ask about what's really at the heart of the problem here.

I thought it was strange.

Here was Maya, your own apprentice's little sister, in desperate need...



I finally realized why.



We're immediately presented with another choice, but only one really makes sense here.



Just kidding, I couldn't resist this one.

It's not something I can claim to understand...



Music: Silence



Mr. Grossberg.



I saw that painting again, today.

It was in the CEO's office of Bluecorp.



Worth it.

Well, my boy, you have a splendid imagination!

I... I don't understand how you could...





(Hmm... I guess I was wrong. But it just seemed so right!)

Music: Marvin Grossberg ~ Old Age, Regret, Retribution



Looks like we get another shot at it.



Let's ask about the photo this time.

That photo of Mr. White...

Why would you have his photo, Mr. Grossberg?



The photo doesn't seem all that different from the Mr. White we just saw, how old could it be?

A long time ago?

I'm sorry... but I think not.

I think you still have ties to Mr. White even today.

R-really! Whatever gave you that idea!





We end up at a similar prompt, but with a couple of different options. Which of course means I still want to see them as close friends somehow.

You go drinking together!

You're friends, aren't you?

...

Now you're being foolish, my boy.



(Huh? Whoops... maybe that wasn't it.)



A few clicks later and we're back at the same prompt again, so now let's talk about that painting.

Mr. Grossberg, sir...



The one you said you had "no intention of parting with"?

Well, I saw it. Today.



...

So... you noticed.



Mr. Grossberg, I know you and Mr. White are connected somehow!

C-connected, you say?



These options are all repeats, but form a unique set from the other two ways to get here. In fact, one of those options was common to all three paths...



...!

I think that painting is fairly gaudy proof.

...

Music: Silence

Very well. This may be the chance I've been waiting for.



After all, you were Mia's understudy. Perhaps it was fate?

(What's he talking about...?)









Bluecorp is a company that excels in finding people's weaknesses, I'm afraid.

Music: Investigation - Core

I've been paying them for 15 years now...

(15 years...!)

That's weird. Mr. White said earlier he built up Bluecorp in "just 10 years" into "the grand office you see now". Maybe that's just how long he's been the one in charge?



(The name on the back of those photographs!)



White would have destroyed me if I did.

(So that's the connection!)



But arresting Redd White will be nigh on impossible.

Impossible? Why!?



He owns judges, attorneys, prosecutors, police... and politicians.

What!?



This entire episode feels more like a "final boss" type of case then the first full one we're playing! It's rather incredible and exciting, actually! Where is the game going to go from here?

Don't look at me like that. What you see is nothing more than the weight of many years.



Looks like we've opened up a couple more topics.

What is the "DL-6 Incident"?



It was 15 years ago now...

I received a request from a medium. A spirit medium.

(A medium...?)



Here's another side of the story Maya told us about her mother. I guess that other photo of the woman really was their mother.

(Fey!)

Indeed. She was Mia's mother.



And... she failed.

As a result, the police called her a fraud.

(This is what Maya was talking about the other day!)



That murder case, however remains unsolved to this day.

That case, is the DL-6 Incident.

We still don't know what actually happened to Misty Fey. Are we going to have to go find her? And solve this long-ago murder? Will that be part of this episode or a future one?



But why were you blackmailed over this, Mr. Grossberg?

The DL-6 Incident was top-secret at the time.



They couldn't let people know.

But one person found out.



Dammit, Marvin. You told White, didn't you?

You told White?



Because I talked, the police were mocked far and wide.

In secret, they began looking for the one who sold them out.

Of course White heard about it, and he came to me.



...

I see.

...



Yet if you would still challenge him...

Have a close look at Mia's office.

Mia's office...?



She may have recorded something of what she found.

Hopefully more than what was stolen out of the statue/clock/murder weapon.



That's all for the conversation. Presenting evidence is once again fruitless:

Sorry, my boy. I don't think I can help you with that.



Luckily we already know where we need to go next!