The Oldest Mystery
Mhm. I've finally figured it out after you helped me out so many times, Captain.
I've learned that investigations that require persistence suit me the best, like investigating leads, staking out, or wrestling with paperwork.
So I've developed my own investigation technique—
One that utilizes the investigation method best suited to the suspect by arranging the evidence-gathering process in the order of questioning, paperwork, and stakeouts!
That will be all!
*Clap clap clap*
While my applause filled the air, Gwen gave a bow in front of her picture hanging on a board, then walked back and sat across from me.
Even though the proprietary investigation technique Gwen so ambitiously presented was really just a brute-force approach that relied on pure stamina and persistence...
Heh heh... So what do you think? The investigation technique only a genius of grit can use?
...On top of that, it seemed to be helping Gwen learn more and more about herself.
Then let's seize the day by starting with the newspaper!
Heh heh heh... Any articles about us? Like, "Lampadis does it again!" for example?
Brimming with unearned confidence, Gwen snatched up the morning paper.
Let's see here... The front page says...
"NOA thrown into panic as rumors of Voidborn disguised as a human spread"...
This again? It's really kicking up a storm.
Word on the street is that even the Town Guard's now getting involved to put a lid on these rumors.
...Maybe this is my time to shine!
I can field-test my new technique and land a bigger case to catch the public eye.
*Knock knock*
Excuse me? Is this Lampadis Investigations?
I'd like to request a joint investigation...
Captain, did I just make a wish on a falling star or something?
Hello...
Huh? It's that reporter from the other day.
It's been a while since we last conducted a joint investigation with a private agency—it's almost refreshing.
Oh, look at me prattling on. Anyway, thank you again!
My pleasure! Take care! Heh heh...
...Goodbye!
As the stakes rose with the Town Guard's involvement, even the reporter from the Bellaskiver Times came to interview Gwen.
Miss reporter, please get every detail right.
You're about to capture the newly born genius investigator Gwen Lestrade's investigation technique!
...! Absolutely! The floor is yours!
So far, we have been able to narrow down several key aspects of the suspect by reviewing the documents.
Hmm, a document review... That approach is a far cry from someone who used to swear by her "genius-level reasoning that brings truth to light."
Whether that change is for the better or worse remains to be seen.
...Anyway, the characteristics of the suspect are as follows.
First! Be suspicious of a stranger without any background who suddenly popped out of nowhere and settled right into NOA as if they belonged there all along!
Second! Be suspicious of the area where the rumors began!
And lastly, third! Be suspicious of any familiar face who started acting strange around the time as the rumors began!
Wow, those are compelling points. Which documents were instrumental in getting you to them?
The Ten Commandments by Ross, of course!
Wait, isn't that a handbook on writing mystery novels—
And then!
By asking around NOA using these descriptions, I was able to narrow the suspects down to just three!
You were investigating leads... Hmm...
...Is there a problem?
It's a lot different from what I expected from the old Miss Gwen.
Myself included, people are excited for the reasoning that brings truth to light.
Leaving aside our worries about actually catching the culprit, I'm wondering if this will make a good splash if we turn it into an exclusive...
Ugh... Y-you think so...?
...
N-no, don't you worry! I'll show you it can be done!
...Okay. Now, if you could move on to telling us about the suspects...
Oh, right. S-so anyway, after a ton of digging, I've managed to narrow the suspects down to three profiles!
A woman without family or contacts, whose history and ID are completely unverifiable!
A man who's been spreading the rumors around!
And the owner of a closed-down cafe, who came back in business right around the time when the rumors began!
Now that we have three suspicious individuals on our list...
We'll go dark and start tailing them!
I've lost track of how many days... None of the three suspects show any signs of suspicious activity...
Just wait! Given time, we'll dig up some dirt on at least one of them.
I'm getting the impression that you plan on solving this case entirely through stakeouts...
Of course! Persistence is the key to solving this case!
*Sigh...*
...
...
...
...Looks like we came up empty-handed again today.
At this rate, I'm going to end up memorizing the suspects' daily routines before we make any real progress.
Hmph, it's only been a few days. It shouldn't surprise you if it took a whole week or even a month—
You keep talking about the genius investigator Gwen Lestrade's investigation technique...
But what difference do you think there is between yours and Detective H's?
Excuse me?
This is a bit like a rain dance, isn't it? I honestly don't see how this approach is supposed to give us any meaningful results.
The exclusive report on you... I'm afraid it needs a little more reconsideration.
Hmph...
Gwen...
I still can't wrap my head around it.
Gwen?
Captain.
What's your take on the genius investigator Gwen Lestrade's investigation technique?
It seemed that she had no intention of backing down an inch, even in her glum state...
In my own way, I came up with the best possible approach and took this case seriously.
If we'd just waited a little longer, we could've sniffed something out and caught the culprit...
But that reporter had to throw rain dance or whatever into our faces...
I-I admit this isn't what other famous detectives would've done, but...
...
As Gwen ruminated over what the reporter had said, her face darkened.
Hey, are you all right?
Jumping into a real case with an unverified technique might have been a mistake...
Maybe at this rate, I won't even manage to pull off any meaningful results, and I'll just end up getting constantly compared with Detective H...
...
Captain... Do you think I took the wrong approach?
I was confident that I came up with my very own investigation technique, one that made the best use of my strengths!
*Knock knock*
Huh? A visitor at this hour?
While I was encouraging Gwen who had lost her confidence, a mysterious knock came from the door, and she headed toward the entrance.
...
*Sigh*
In Gwen's hand was a scarlet envelope.
To Gwen Lestrade,
The Investigator of Lampadis
The envelope included the name of the letter's recipient, but there was no information about the sender.
The only other thing remarkable about the letter was its strikingly vivid scarlet color.
...It's the scarlet letter.
The thing that I told you about.
Yeah. We hadn't gotten a single letter since that challenge I told you about.
Just who thought it'd be funny to...
All of Gwen's energy had completely drained out of her the moment she found the letter.
I took the letter from her hand and began to read it.
A little bird told me that you're chasing those strange rumors—
All the while calling yourself a genius investigator, when all you do is sit around without a plan.
But I expected as much. After all, you're that same old loser who found herself tied up and left waiting for somebody else to catch the culprit for you.
With such a crude approach, you'll never be considered Detective H's successor, let alone compared to the great detective.
Unless you swallow your pride and beg me for help. If you do that, I just might consider providing you with some clues.
I invite you to think about my offer. After all, showing up at the press conference empty-handed is rather embarrassing, don't you think?
What kind of letter is this...
Contrary to our expectations, the scarlet letter was filled with cheap insults and derogatory remarks.
Whoever it was, this letter was the work of someone who knew Gwen's secrets and her relationship to Detective H all too well...
...
Sit around without a plan?
Gwen? Let's calm down and—
With such a "crude" approach, I won't be considered a knock-off copy of Detective H?!
*Wuh-pssh*
Her eyes burning with fury, Gwen lashed out against the blackboard.
I guessed it was too late to calm her down...
Talk about perfect timing, you runaway coward! I'll teach you a lesson in humility—
Using the genius-level reasoning of yours truly—Gwen Lestrade!
Hey, wait! Are you seriously going back there?!
Cap—no, you! Sidekick!
"Sidekick"?!
In hindsight, this whole yapping about persistence or whatever was plain stupid.
My genius-level reasoning had one critical flaw. That is... I was missing a trusty sidekick.
No detective worth their salt operates without a sidekick they can depend on, do they?
So Captain, I'd like you to be my sidekick.
I'll show this punk what true genius-level reasoning looks like.
So, uh—
I don't need any help from some dumb scarlet letter!
Gwen was fuming beyond any hope of calming down.
I wondered who this Detective H was, sending Gwen flying off the handle like that.
Captain, it's going to be just you and me! We'll solve this case together!
This case... I wasn't sure if we'd be able to pull it off.