Part 40: Episode 3, Day 1, Investigation: Gentle Will

Part 40: Episode 3, Day 1, Investigation: Gentle Will

Music: Investigation - Opening



Time to investigate! Maya looks like she's about to explode if we don't get to it, but let's poke around the office again first. Unlike the first couple episodes, we start off here having no idea who the killer is or even really what happened. We have the name of the victim, the name of our client, and the apparent murder weapon, and that's about it. So we're going to need every little detail we can get!



Look a painting was an important plot detail last time so I'm going to keep examining every little thing in here.

Mia's favorite potted plant.





The plant survived the scuffle in the office a month ago, now it just has to survive Maya's care and attention.



A poster of an old movie that Mia liked.

I was thinking I should go see it myself.







Mia's desk.

Actually... it's my desk now.

Sitting here always makes me feel like a professional.

Yay, Phoenix is no longer stuck at the reception desk! And we know Phoenix is already cool with Mia's ghost haunting him, so we don't even care that a murder took place in here!



There's a horrendous amount of legal books here.



You haven't caught up on it yet? You haven't had a case in over a month!



Ah, the infamous window.

It's a nice day outside.

The hotel across the way is always full these days.



Hi bellboy! You turned out to be one of the least-crazy people in the episode!



Well not much to really see in what is now our office. We also start off with our badge as our only evidence again. Might as well show it off.

What about this?



Why, yes, how could you tell? Is it the fact that I shove it in the face of everyone I meet, often multiple times?

(My poor, poor ego...)



Just two topics here, but I'm predicting that both will boil down to "hurry up and go to the detention center already!"

Well, what should we do?



We have to get down to the detention center and meet the Steel Samurai!

(Does she want to investigate this case of just do some sightseeing, I wonder?)

(My money's on sightseeing.)

That's a good point. Maya how did you even get in touch with this guy? He is going to be paying us, right?





Well no kidding.

Just admit it: you don't have a clue what happened.



All right, all right, let's get going.



Let's go meet our new client!

Music: Silence




^{Sound: Realization}

Is that a man or a lion? He's huge.

...



Umm... Is that guy really him?





Does he talk?

Um, maybe I shouldn't be saying this...


^{Sound: Realization}

Come on now, just because he looks like a wild animal...

Whoa whoa whoa! What are you saying!?



See, he's just a cuddly teddy bear.


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Something wrong...?


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

(This is getting off to a great start.)




^{Sound: Light Bulb}

The silly light bulb sound effect keeps going off for each of Maya's lines here. I think she's in shock.

No, it's okay. This is the real me.



I decided I would never show my face in public until the job was over.

Ugh. This is going to be a mistaken identity case, isn't it?



Will's tissue-holding talking animation is a little weird. It keeps resetting to his neutral pose at the end. He doesn't actually have an animation for either talking out of that neutral pose, or resting in his tissue-holding pose.


^{Sound: Realization}

I guess it didn't matter.

So much for dreams.



*sniff* Uwaaah!

This guy seems more like Larry Butz with every line out of his mouth.



What?


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Yeah.


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

...

Music: Detention Center - Jailer's Elegy



Right, well, let's see if we can figure out what's going on here.



But first let's poke at this static security guard again.

This guard monitors the visitor's room.

He seems frozen in awe of Will Powers.



Hey pal, we're an attorney, you want one?

Um, here.

I... I see.

...



I mean, he plays a costumed character on a kid's show, so probably not?



Okay, let's talk to the guy.

Maybe you could start by telling us what happened.

Y-yes. Of course.



Actors!

The cast had come down to Global Studios for a run-through.

We went through a few action sequences at 10:00 that morning.



But when 5:00 came around, and the staff gathered at the studio...

The Evil Magistrate was found lying in a crumpled heap near the set.

They took off his mask...


^{Sound: Shock 2}

The sound comes in right as the last word is revealed there. Not a lot of mess for having a hole in his chest...

He had been expertly skewered with the Samurai Spear.


^{Sound: Realization}

Yes, it's a long spear that I... that the Steel Samurai uses as a weapon.



New topic, but let's keep moving on down the list...

Maybe you could explain to me just what "the Steel Samurai" is.


^{Sound: Whack}

What, that's a perfectly reasonable question!

I-I'm sorry, sir, I apologize for my partner!

He's new to this, and a bit OUT OF TOUCH with the world.

Hey! Who's "new to this"!?

No, it's alright, really.



He walks the streets of Neo Olde Tokyo...



Of course, he never really defeats the Evil Magistrate.

Although...

I guess he did defeat him this time...

*sniff* Uwaaah!

I-I see.



What, you've never heard of New-Old-City?



Now, where were you on the day of the murder?

Well, that morning I came to the studios at 9:00.



Rehearsal was to begin at 5:00, but I was a little tired.



When I woke up, it was after 5:00! I was late for the rehearsal!



They arrested me on the spot, and brought me here.

So, no alibi. And no real information on a 5-hour window leading up to the murder, either. Fantastic.

(So he was sleeping the entire afternoon of the murder?)

(Some action hero!)

What will the kids think? *sniff*



Right... Global Studios. I'll draw you a map.


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

I kind of love the interplay we get from Maya tagging along with us.



Even if she has an ulterior motive.



The start of this episode is pretty linear, so no real options on where to go yet. Let's head for the studio!