Lampadis' Secret
Later, Gwen and I were sleuthing through NOA to gather clues about the panty thief.
Oww... It still aches where you ravaged me...
Maybe the bruises you left on me haven't healed yet...
You looked so scary with a whip in your hand.
Can you NOT say anything that might give people the wrong idea?
Looking at Gwen cradle her forehead with both hands and groan in protest, I vented my frustration.
First, I had no intention of using the whip on her—
STOOOP!
...
I'm sorry, I'll do whatever you want...
So please, just don't hit meee!
I, uh...
Looking at Gwen shaking like a leaf even though I hadn't done anything, my heart softened.
*Thwack*
Ow!
Instead of using the whip, I settled for a light flick on the forehead.
Th-that hurt...!
I didn't even hit you that hard...
*Creak*
We heard a loud noise coming from here, so we came over.
What's... going on here?
Besides Gwen herself at her Lampadis Investigations, there was Lily Watson, an assistant investigator...
As well as an analyst whom they called Professor M.
I had to explain to them what had happened, after they told me they'd come over after hearing a commotion coming from the storage room while they were looking for Gwen, who'd failed to show up for their meeting.
Hehehe, you always make a big deal out of you being inconvenienced.
Don't say it's just the usual nonsense from a loser, Mr. Rabbit! That's rude!
Who are you calling a loser?!
Now, now, let's all cool down and proceed with our meeting. Today's the day we piece the clues about the panty thief together.
That said, let's take a look at what each of us found.
A-about that...
Naturally, Gwen had nothing but bogus evidence which I'd previously shot down, despite how utterly certain she'd been that I was the panty thief.
Give me some more time!
Which meant the only option for her was to swear that she would find new clues and bring the culprit in.
Do you remember what kinds of panties were stolen? What were they?
I'm not sure... Some were briefs and others were boxers.
I see. Then the culprit doesn't have preferences as to what type. Note: various designs.
...Is that important?
Conclusion: the culprit has a broad spectrum of tastes. Yes, note taken. Thank you for your assistance.
While jotting down the victim's statement, Gwen nodded as if she understood something.
Did you discover anything?
Yeah. If we piece the statements together, we might get a general picture of it all.
The crimes happened during the dark hours between evening and early morning, on the streets of NOA. The victims were mainly concentrated right here in this particular alley. The stolen panties include designs and types of all kinds...
Oooh...
These statements lead us to the next course of action.
Whoa...!
We just have to pay that store a visit!
Gwen confidently pointed at a small underwear store.
I saw it in a newspaper ad. It said that store sold panties of every conceivable style to satisfy all tastes.
What does that have to do with anything?
If there's anywhere that could satisfy the culprit's diverse taste in panties, it has to be that store.
Instead of focusing on a flimsy clue like the culprit enjoys all panties regardless of their designs...
How about we focus on hard evidence instead? Like the area with the most victims.
I say we investigate that place.
Hmm... But I'm not sure if that will lead us to the culprit.
While Gwen was lost in thought, some passersby who had been glancing our way shuffled over to us.
Um, excuse me... Would you happen to be Gwen Lestrade from Lampadis?
Me? Yes, but—
Eeek! It's really Gwen! Hi, I'm a big fan of yours!
Huh?
Can I get your autograph please? I always look forward to seeing you solve mysteries with your genius intellect!
Are you on your way to solve another case? What is it this time? Just know that we'll be cheering for you, genius investigator Gwen!
The two women claiming to be her fans blocked Gwen's view and made a huge fuss.
As I watched the scene, I witnessed firsthand that Gwen had indeed earned her reputation through her reasoning skills.
A question crossed my mind. Just how did she become famous with that level of reasoning skills?
When I began to worry that the attention might make Gwen uncomfortable, especially given our lack of leads...
Heh heh heh...
Ahahaha!
Uh... Gwen?
Why, of course! I'm on a hunt to find the panty thief who's been terrorizing all of NOA!
And I think the culprit is... there!
Brimming with confidence, Gwen pointed at the underwear store she mentioned earlier.
...What? That underwear store?
Er, no...
So, um... The culprit probably started from there, and walked over that way, and...
Gwen waved her arm, redirecting her pointed finger from the underwear store to a suspicious-looking alley.
An alley?
...Culprits are usually afraid they might be caught, so they tend to move through unlit places where the sun can't reach.
Oooh, I see. I've never even thought of that!
As expected of a genius investigator! We believe in you, Gwen!
Of course. Rest assured, the culprit will be apprehended by yours truly, the genius investigator Gwen! Ahahaha!
I guess we managed to pull through that, but... can we really find the culprit?
I was letting out a sigh in exasperation when Lily and the Professor called me through a communication spell.
Lily? Professor? What is it? Did you find anything?
So, the lady who delivers our milk dropped by and tipped us off on the panty thief.
What was the tip about?
She said that while she was delivering milk in a nearby alley, she saw a suspicious person bolting away in panic!
She also mentioned that they were limping. If that person's the panty thief, they could have failed and taken a bad tumble during their getaway!
And if that really is the case... they might have dropped the stolen panties.
Yes. After analyzing her statement, I find it highly likely to be the case.
And if we take into account the fact that the culprit's a seasoned offender who slipped up and made a run for it...
Chances are, they were caught red-handed while trying to steal panties on the second floor.
As for how... What if the homeowner came back at an unexpected time?
Now that you mention it, the flower shop lady who lives on the second floor did say she'd gone home early because of a cold!
As I listened to them exchanging clues and ideas in real time, the thought that we were arriving close to the truth gave me goosebumps.
Listening to those two dependable detectives made me finally understand how Lampadis Investigations earned its reputation.
Trying not to get carried away by the thought that we were close to cracking the case, I looked at Gwen, who was still deep in thought.
Then...!
Ah-ha! I get it! The answer lies there!
Yes, the flower shop owner—
The flower shop lady—
The only alley where the panty thief made a blunder!
We'll stake out the area nearby!
But... why?!
We're talking about a mistake made by a thief whose skills are second to none. A slip-up like that will gnaw at their thoughts so much that they'll definitely come back!
And if the culprit dropped a pair of panties they tried to steal, that gives them another reason to do so. We'll use that chance to get the drop on them!
True. It's reasonable to guess the culprit will come back to the scene because of the first mistake they made.
But what about other leads?! We can always ask the second-floor lady for a statement!
Ehehe! I knew you'd say that, Boss!
Very well. Let's leave it to her.
Unlike me, Lily and the Professor were calm, nodding along to Gwen's conclusion as if it were nothing new.
Don't worry, Captain. Just trust me! There's never been a case I couldn't solve.
In the end, I left my doubts behind, and had to follow Gwen thumping her chest with her characteristic confidence along on the stakeout.
Days continued to pass, and I lost track of how many had gone by.
Land.
Land... Slide.
Show.
Show... Case.
We already did that.
Then, uh... Room?
That one too.
Then, er... uh...
With a hoarse voice and her eyes fixed ahead, Gwen took a big bite out of her sweet roll.
I was pretty sure that on the first day of our stakeout, we had been all fired up after discovering a pair of panties dropped during a heist in the corner of the alley. But now...
Hey, are you sleeping?
Apparently, I had closed my eyes without realizing it. Gwen shook my shoulder and woke me up.
You can't doze off! It's only been three days!
Just as Gwen said, we had been staking out inside an empty house for three whole days, all in the name of catching the panty thief.
Since there was no telling when the suspect would arrive, we couldn't leave our post, so our meals consisted entirely of sweet rolls.
Other than watching people pass through the alley from behind the window, our only form of entertainment was playing word chain.
No, you can't fall asleep here, Captain!
The sun's going down. Our perp might show up at any moment!
Shaking my shoulder while keeping her eyes fixed on the view outside, Gwen abruptly stopped as if she spotted something.
What's wrong? Is someone—
Shhh!
Gwen cupped my mouth and leaned closer to the window.
When I followed her lead and turned my own gaze, I saw a woman outside the window, looking around as if she was lost.
She was loitering around here yesterday too.
As if she were looking for the pair of panties she failed to steal from the second-floor flower shop owner's home.
Then...!
Gwen laughed with confidence, the pair of panties dropped during the failed theft dangling from the tip of her finger.
Yup. Since I'm already convinced, let's create the proof we need.
With that, she cracked open the window and tossed the panties behind where the suspect was standing.
*Sigh* I know it's here somewhere. But where exactly?
Wait, that's...!
The panties landed behind the suspect who just turned around, successfully drawing her attention.
When the suspect approached the panties, Gwen, hidden behind the window, yanked the fishing line connected to them.
Right before the suspect could pick up the panties, they jerked a little closer toward us on the fishing line.
Huh? That's odd. I'm pretty sure it...
Don't you dare!
Urgh!
As soon as the suspect reached for the panties, Gwen reeled them in closer, and the suspect would reach for them again.
Gotcha! Huh?
So... so many panties...
And when we successfully lured the suspect toward a mound of panties we had set up beforehand, her eyes lit up and she began scooping up armfuls of them.
They're mine... all mine! Come here, all of you, hehehe... AHAHAHA!
Captain! Now!
Go!
Freeze! You degenerate swine, I'm placing you under arrest!
What?! You're that genius investigator, Gwen Lestrade!
Then this was a trap! Grrr... let go!
Watching her from a close distance, we were able to apprehend the panty thief, who tried to make a break for it.
You caught the panty thief who gave us such a headache...
I knew you had it in you, Gwen! The genius investigator from Lampadis!
After the town guard arrived in response to the report, they handcuffed the panty thief and led her away, then came over to express their gratitude to us.
Ahahaha! Yes, it was yours truly! I'll use my genius reasoning to strike fear into the hearts of the ne'er-do-wells lurking in the streets of NOA!
Hehehe... You're amazing, Boss!
M-Mr. Rabbit! Boss deserves at least some praise! Sure, it might have taken her a few days, but she came out on top just like we predicted!
I agree. Catching culprits using unconventional methods like this is quite entertaining. The ends justify the means, I suppose...
Before we knew it, the other members of Lampadis had gathered around us, chiming in as if this was an ordinary occurrence.
Now that the case was closed, I understood that Gwen's reasoning was built upon Lily's top-tier intel and the Professor's sharp analysis.
My, my. Looks like Lampadis's fame is on the rise again thanks to us solving this case.
And perhaps Gwen's drive and tenacity that bring each case to a conclusion also contributed to building Lampadis' reputation.
Ahahaha!
...But I couldn't bring myself to say it out loud.