Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward Part #48

Part 48: Round 1: Aftermath

Once again (well, technically this is the first time but, oh, you know what I mean), it's time to make the rounds.

VLR OST: [Anxiousness]

Listen in: [English/Japanese]

Well? Have you found anything?

No... What about you?

Nothing...
I looked through three of the four rooms in here.
No secret passages so far.

I don't think we're going to find any.
Do you really think Zero Sr. is that stupid?

You're probably right.
A secret passageway would be a pretty serious oversight.
I have a lot of choice adjectives for Zero, but I admit "stupid" isn't one of them.

Right?

...

What?

Uh... so... What exactly is the deal with the two of you?

What do you mean?

Well, you obviously know each other pretty well.

Yeah, we do.

...

Sorry.

Then what do you think we are?

What's "headquarters" supposed to mean?

I heard you two talking in the infirmary.
You said something about "getting in touch with headquarters".

Okaaay... Where do you co-work?

We can't tell you that.

Why not? Is it some sort of secret government project that you can't talk about?

You can tell yourself that, if it makes you feel better.

Does it have something to do with Zero?

Wh-Why would you think that?

The way you were talking in the infirmary...
"There's even a Zero..."
Sure sounds like you've heard of Zero before to me. And Alice, from what you two were saying, I'd bet you know something about Zero, too.

C'mon, you can't hide it forever. Just tell me what's going on here.

...

Listen in: [English/Japanese]

Clover!

It's okay! I think we can tell him a little.

What do you mean this isn't the first time?

About a year ago...

Music fades out

999 OST: [Imaginary]

The rules were different, but it was called the Nonary Game too.
Oh, wait, I guess only seven of them were really kidnapped...
I mean, two of them were actually the ones behind it.

...No, I guess if I count the other two, then there were nine...

Anyway, the people behind that Nonary Game also called themselves "Zero".

Can you give me more details?
Besides, how do you even know about this in the first place?

Wh-What?!
You mean this is your second Nonary Game?!

No... It's my third.

Third?!

The same thing happened ten years ago.

Wait wait wait... What are you...

I... I guess you could say that.

What do you mean, you guess?! How could you not?
Whoever keeps doing these Nonary Games must have decided they wanted you to play a third one!

Why not?

Because the game was run by a different person both times.
And the guy behind the first Nonary Game has already been arrested...

What about the second one? You said there were two people for that one.

They...
They're still on the run, but...

Then it has to be them!

No. I really don't think so.

Why?

There's no way they'd have another Nonary Game!

...

So let me see if I have this straight.
The Nonary Game has already been done twice, by different people, and for different reasons?

Yes... Well, I can't be totally sure, but... I think so.

Then why is whoever's doing this calling it the Nonary Game?
Is it just a coincidence that they're calling themselves Zero?

...
I don't know!

That's not good enough! You've got to think!
Clover, you're the key to figuring this out, but you've got to think!

But I... I don't know...

Oh.

What?

Music fades out

The gas mask...

VLR OST: [Portentousness]

The gas mask?
Oh yeah... I saw it too...

Somebody in a gas mask showed up and used that white smoke stuff on me.

That's what happened a year ago...
And that's what happened on the 22nd. Someone with a gas mask attacked Alice and me while we were--

Whoa! Then it's got to be the same person!

But I don't know why they'd do that...
I mean, they already did what they needed to do.
And if it was them, then I don't know why all these other people are here...
Except for me and Alice, none of you guys have anything to do wiht what happened a year ago...
...Right?

Y-Yeah. Well, I mean, I know I didn't have anything to do with it.
...
Are you sure you've never met any of the other people here?

I know I've never met Luna, or Dio, or Tenmyouji, or Quark, or Phi...

Right.

Unless we can get that mask off him, I can't say for sure if I've met him before or not.

Hmm.
...

What happened with the first and second Nonary Games?
Maybe they can tell us something.

Um...

What?! WHY?!

We don't have any proof that you're not Zero Sr.
If you are, then she'd be telling our enemy all our secrets. I can't let that happen.

Are you an idiot?
For one, I'm not Zero.
Second...
Even if I was, I'd already know everything you're refusing to tell me.
There's no reason for you to do this!