Lampadis Investigations
After training ended, I visited the Lampadis office with Lily.
Ta-da!
This is our office.
Welcome to Lampadis Investigations, Captain!
Hmm?
Welcome. I'm Gwen of Lampadis Investigations.
Is something troubling you?
Rest assured. We'll uncover the truth for you.
Oh? Hey, Lily, you're back early.
Actually, perfect timing. Could you escort our client to his seat?
Ehehe, that's not it, Boss.
...Not it?
He's the Journey Captain!
Not a client!
The Journey Captain...? Oh, so this is him.
Now that you mention it... he matches the description perfectly.
...Client?
Ah, at Lampadis, we handle jobs for clients entangled in difficult situations.
Difficult situations?
They're exactly what they sound like!
People suddenly disappearing, objects going missing...
Or even someone getting hurt without any explanation...!
We investigate cases that even NOA Public Security has a hard time solving.
You could say we're like detectives, just like the famous Detective H...!
Lily's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Lily, how many times have I told you not to call us detectives?
Sorry about the mix up... We're private investigators.
I don't want to be lumped together with shady folks who call themselves detectives!
Anyway, Lily...
Joining the Journey is your choice, but you can't just bring people here to hang out.
The office isn't a playground.
M-Mr. Rabbit... don't tell her to look in the mirror...
...?!
Still, you shouldn't talk to the boss like that.
Even if... she does tend to lounge around the office when there's nothing to do...
Grrr! W-why you little...!
Hey! Stop using that doll to say what you think!
I-it's not like that...!
...Ngh! Tch... Anyway...!
I need to step out for some fieldwork.
It's just a simple round of investigation, so I can handle it alone.
Lily, could you organize the case files while I'm out?
Ehehe, sure! Leave it to me. I'll organize everything neatly.
Then I'll see you in a bit.
Oh, and the Professor's busy today, so don't wait up. Go home after you finish.
The Professor...? Who's that?
Ah, the Professor is our analyst!
Mm... I'll introduce you to her next time!
Lily gathered the stacks of paperwork up on the desk.
Even though there was a mountain of work, she smiled brightly, as if she were enjoying it.
How did you end up at this job, Lily?
How...?
Mm...
Because I love Detective H... I guess?
...?
That sounds like a very incomplete answer.
Ehehe. Let me explain properly.
Oh! Before that... Captain, you know about Detective H, right?
...Not really.
Ehh?! How could you not know Detective H?
The mysterious detective cloaked in secrecy! The architect of all secrets!
Cases so difficult even the Public Security was stumped...
But once his letter arrived, the truth would be revealed to the world!
The legendary Detective H...!
...You really don't know?
...
Hngh... The Case Records of Detective H...
They're so good...
I've admired Detective H ever since I was little.
I even bought all of Detective H's books.
I've always dreamed of meeting Detective H in person and getting them all autographed.
But... one day, Detective H disappeared.
Detective H disappeared?
Yes.
Detective H operated only through letters...
But at some point, even the letters stopped.
But not long after, a new rising star appeared to fill that void...!
Lily dug through the bookshelf and pulled out a newspaper clipping.
Has H Returned?
Gwen LestradeGwen Lestrade of Lampadis solves the serial missing persons case!
That's my boss, Gwen.
She solved one difficult case after the other, just like Detective H!
When I saw this article, I thought...
If it's Gwen...
Maybe she could find out what happened to Detective H.
So I came here to make a request...
And then? What happened..?
Ehehe, the boss said she needed someone to work, so she hired me!
...?
I ran around with her, trying to find H!
Along the way, she said I had talent for investigation and asked me to work with her...
And it was hard to say no...
But more than that, it felt like a dream come true to work in the field I admired.
So, did you find H?
Ehehe... No.
Later, I found out... we wouldn't be able to meet Detective H anymore.
I'm afraid I'm never getting those autographs.
You can't meet Detective H? Why not?
Well...
Ehehe... You should ask yourself when you meet the Professor.
But before that...
Lily pulled several books off the shelf and spread them out on the desk.
The Case Records of Detective H...!
You said you never read them before, right?
Ehehe. Lucky for you, I have the whole collection. Let's read them together!
I have to organize the case files for now, so you should start reading in the meantime, Captain!
Mm... If I were to recommend an interesting one first...
You should start with... the Murder on the Platina Express!
It's an episode about a mysterious locked-room murder that happened on the Platina Express!
I'd also recommend...
The Tragedy of K, And Then There Was Me, and The Secret of the Black Room... and...
That day, I spent my time reading the novels Lily recommended, featuring Detective H.
When I told Lily that they were pretty interesting, she was so happy she lent me the entire series.
...If I wanted to finish them all, I'd have to keep reading until the Journey ended.