HOME | DD
Logic-and-Trickster — Chapter 2-4: The Circumstances Change
#alibaba #crossover #fanfiction #oracle #persona #aceattorney #mayafey #phoenixwright #phantomthieves #persona5 #futabasakura #saeniijima
Published: 2018-11-19 18:06:40 +0000 UTC; Views: 3577; Favourites: 2; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }
April 11th, 2:05 pm
Sniffsonian Museum Atrium Third Floor
As the museum's curator leads us up the staircases and balconies, I take some time to think to myself so I can analyze my situation.
The sole reason I am here is still because Masayoshi Shido has informed me of the existence of that strange pearl. Even he doesn't know what it is or how it can help, but as it stands this pearl may be the only clue we have towards learning more about the Metaverse. I still feel in my gut that there is foul play at work with all of the extremely uncanny deaths in the news, and if someone is using Cognitive Psience to commit crimes, they have to be doing it in a way that not even those familiar with the subject know about. If we can analyze this pearl and learn anything at all, it may help us to gain new insight and ideas on how to continue this investigation, and hopefully how to get to the bottom of tracking down whoever is committing these murders.
Ever since arriving at this museum, however, I've had a bad feeling about what's going on here. I'm nearly positive that something suspicious is going on behind the scenes here, and one of the guards keeping a secret about the curator doesn't alleviate my suspicions. Could this have anything to do with the pearl that Maya and I came here for? There's really no way to tell. But, if important things at this museum have gone missing... well, worst case scenario could be that Hebi Hibiki lost the pearl, or otherwise doesn't have it anymore.
I gulp uneasily at the thought of losing our only lead. It's so... frustrating! This is the most vague investigation I've ever been on, and I feel like I'm stuck in a dark room trying to find a way out.
But for right now, I have to focus on the matter at hand. We've got to take this one step at a time.
"Ah! Here we are," our guide announces as we approach an unassuming door. Hibiki shuffles through the pockets of his ornate coat to locate his keys, and within moments the lock is undone and the door swings open.
April 11th, 2:06 pm
Sniffsonian Museum Curator's Office
---Music: Elegant ~ And Excellence ---
I would say that Hebi Hibiki's behavior displays a whimsy unlike any I've seen before... but in truth, I've run into plenty of colorful characters in the past. Compared to what I've witnessed and who I've met in my career, a frilly eccentric dressed like he's ready to go to a Mozart concert doesn't seem all that out of the ordinary.
As he enters his office, he holds the door open and extends his arm, beckoning us into his quarters. As we take our seats in the center of the room, he circles around his expensive desk, walking with a dignified--albeit pretentious--superiority. He almost makes a spectacle of the way he slides into his chair. "Ahhh..." he exhales, relaxing. "If I may, I have a bit of paperwork to which I need to attend. Please, by all means, tell me about yourselves. Though I'll work my pen, I promise you my utmost attention!"
Maya and I glance at one another, wondering what to say. She takes the initiative. "Well, Mr. Hibiki, I'm Maya, and this is my friend Nick," she introduces.
He tilts his head curiously. "Ah? Did I mishear? I had thought I had heard you say your name was Phoenix-- oh, I see, I see. 'Nick' is a 'nick'name! Ho ho! how charming!" he speaks in plain English, displaying bilingual skill. He then chuckles, in what seems to be just an overall state of permanent amusement. "And from where do you hail? Pardon if this may seem rude, but I can tell by your appearances that you are not from here."
"We're travelers from America, and we're on vacation here in Japan!" Maya explains. I can tell that her modest details are deliberate in not revealing too much about ourselves. We don't know whether or not the gentleman in front of us will be a friend or foe, so it may put us at a disadvantage to immediately reveal that I'm a lawyer and that Shido sent us.
"Ah! Please accept my thanks!" he replies, looking up from his papers briefly to give us a pleasant smile, "I am incredibly humbled that my museum has drawn the eye of even foreigners such as yourself. I pride myself on the quality of my establishment, and you already reward me with your presence here."
This man is just so... fanciful. He's incredibly posh, and very polite. His demeanor just invites vibes of fancy into the room. "The honor is all ours, thank you for your time and your attention," I reply.
After a few mad swipes with his pen, he folds his papers into a stack and taps them until they are perfectly aligned before sorting them into a desk draw. "Now, monsieur and mademoiselle, how may I help you?" he begins, folding his fingertips into a tent-like shape as he rests his arms on the surface of his workspace.
I'll have to consider how to approach our true objective. If Hibiki is holding onto the pearl as a favor for Shido, he would probably store it within some kind of personal collection, or just otherwise keep it out of sight. I wouldn't expect it to be out on display like other items. So how can I draw it out and confirm that he has it?
"Well, Mr. Hibiki," I begin, "My associate and I are appreciators of unique items. And, word has it that the Sniffsonian owner has a number of unique items as well."
The curator smiles excitedly and claps his fingers together. "O ho HO! I see that rumors have spread after all. Indeed, I do possess a collection of my own. It is as expansive as it is varied. What perhaps might you be looking to see?"
"Well," I begin, "We're always on the look out for out-of-this-world items."
"Nick and I are gem enthusiasts, actually!" Maya asserts. "We've always got our eyes out for any kinds of precious rocks, stones, jewelry... you name it! We were wondering if you had anything along those lines."
Looks like Maya came up with a great cover story on the spot. Way to go, Maya! "Hmm! Intriguing, indeed," Hibiki remarks, "I have a number of items I could show you. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds, pearls..."
"Pearls!" Maya interjects, "Definitely pearls, those are my favorite!"
"You are very direct with your interests," the man chuckles, "I like that. And I think I may have one particular piece which could tickle your fancy. Allow me to go retrieve it."
He stands from his chair and goes to the corner of his office where there is a door locked by a keypad. He presses a few numbers to unlock the door, and he enters. I had thought it would be the size of a regular closet, but from where I sit the inside of the locked room looks like it could be as big or bigger than the office we are sitting in. His personal collection must be pretty large.
"Ah! Here we are," I hear him exclaim. After a few moments of wait, he emerges carrying a black briefcase. He sits back down and sets the box down on the table. He carefully rotates it until it's facing us, and he opens it slowly.
---Music: Planetarium ---
Inside seems to be a small orb of some kind. However, after a few moments of stillness, light begins to extend from the orb. If I'm not seeing things, it even begins to hover in the air a bit, and it feels as if it has grown from it's original small size to about the size of a hand, much larger than it looked initially. "Fascinating, isn't it? I believe this constitutes 'out-of-this-world,' wouldn't you say?"
I... hear a woman's voice in my head. I can't understand what the voice is saying, but I'm positive I hear something. I turn to Maya to see how she is reacting, and she has a look of awe on her face as well. Her gaze and her head lean up and slightly turn as if she's trying to locate where a sound is coming from. She finally looks at me and nods her head. We're on the same page, then. This "pearl" is clearly supernatural, I can tell even at a glance.
"That's amazing..." Maya speaks in total awe.
"I had a feeling connoisseurs such as yourselves would enjoy seeing such a sight. This is indeed one of the finest items in my possession," Hibiki boasts proudly.
"What exactly is it?" I ask, probing for a bit more info, "And where did it come from?"
Hibiki seems bedazzled by his own item. "I'm not entirely sure what it is. I've taken to calling it 'Aurora Borealis,' as that's what it reminds me of. As to its origins, well... I've been holding on to it as per the request of a friend."
---(Music End)---
Well, this is it. We know he owns the item which Shido told us about. Maya and I look at each other uneasily. Do we just tell him outright that we are here for that pearl?
I need to think here. While I could potentially just ask for it, I don't feel so great about the circumstances. Is Hebi Hibiki loyal to Shido enough that he'll just hand it over? And that poses a problem itself, because Shido was apparently a terrible criminal in the past back when Shido gave him the pearl. Hibiki could be a criminal, too. There's really no telling how this could go...
On top of everything else, ever since we arrived here, the museum has seemed... wrong. That man looking for the curator could mean trouble, too. We have no idea what exactly is going on beneath the surface here at this museum. That guard keeping a secret doesn't exactly alleviate my concerns, either.
"Is something the matter, monsieur?" Hibiki asks me. I must have been zoning out.
I think it will be best to look before I leap, so to speak. I want to figure out just what exactly is off about this place. "Mr. Hibiki, I just had a few questions, if you don't mind. About the Sniffsonian, specifically."
"Oh? And what do you mean?" he inquires.
I show him the Sniffsonian Article and hand it to him. "I noticed this newspaper outside of the building, and I can't help be find myself curious about the subject matter. Is it true that some of your pieces have gone missing without a trace?"
He raises an eyebrow and skews his mouth with the starting signs of what could become a distrustful sneer. "Well, yes. Does this concern you?"
"Well, we came an awfully long way here!" Maya interjects, "It would be a shame if we don't get to see absolutely everything the Sniffsonian has to offer!"
Nice save, Maya. In an instant his doubts evaporate. He even begins softly clapping the tips of his hands rapidly. "Oh ho ho! I see, I see! You raise an excellent point. It is regretful that I must admit the loss of some of our display pieces. Though, rest assured you haven't missed anything that other guests have had the pleasure of seeing.
My facial expression invites him to continue. "To elaborate, I mean that the missing pieces were not officially part of any exhibits yet. However, it is to my great shame that the various disappearances have begun leaving a most unsightly stain on this museum's reputation. I am doing all I can to alleviate these concerns, however. And rest assured, the original owners and creators of the lost pieces have been most fairly compensated for the trouble."
He sighs and slouches his cheek against his fist. "Though my negligence has perhaps robbed them of their artistic expression, at least there is solace in knowing that, financially, amends have been made, and thankfully no bridges have been burned."
Hmm... should I take his words at face value? Is it true that no one has been upset with the state of the things at the Sniffsonian?
Well, there is one person I can think of who may not be hunky-dory with Mr. Hibiki. Someone who has a bone to pick, in fact. I don't know why he does, but perhaps just mentioning him could draw out some more info.
I take out my notebook and show Mr. Hibiki the short character profile I've constructed on the Mysterious Man we met earlier. "Mr. Hibiki, Maya and I ran into a gentleman in a suit earlier who seemed very interested in having a word with you. He even said that he 'has a bone to pick' with you."
The curator doesn't seem too particularly phased. "Hrm... another one...? This is getting rather tiresome."
So he's accustomed to strange characters wanting to talk with him. But did this one we ran into say or do anything remarkable?
Come to think of it, he really did. Maya remembers it to, and she speaks up. "Mr. Hibiki, this man said something strange. He said to tell you that 'a friend of the Director' wants to meet with you."
The curator's eyes widen slightly, and we have his undivided attention.
"He said that you were about to make a big mistake, and that he wants to talk some sense into you," I add.
Mr. Hibiki holds his chin and his hand slumps a bit downward. His eyes meet with his desk, but he stares blankly as if he's looking a thousand miles away. "How... how could he have found out so quickly..."
"Mr. Hibiki... what exactly is going on here at this museum?" I beg him to answer.
---Music: Thrill Theme ~ Suspense ---
"Why are you sssticking your nose where it doesn't belong?" he questions sharply, even hissing slightly. "Well? You must have some secret motive here, so out with it! What, pray tell, are you in my office for?"
Time to take the direct approach. "Maya and I were sent here by the advice of Masayoshi Shido. He told us that you are keeping that pearl you showed us earlier, and told us that if we mentioned his name you could deliver it to us."
His eyes narrow into slits. "Any business I may have done with Mr. Shido is long in the past. His behavior was most unbecoming of one in his post, and I had nothing to do with his schemes nor did I know anything of them. What's more, I will have no affiliation with such an uncouth individual, or anyone here on his behest."
"But Mr. Hibiki, we don't mean any trouble-" Maya pleads.
Hibiki raises his voice. "You aren't tourists at all! You're just like all the others! Did you make up that story about the mysterious person? Or perhaps he's one of your associates!"
"Mr. Hibiki, sir," I beg, "Please, just-"
"If you would be so kind, please leave my office before I lose my temper and have my security staff deal with you."
"W-Wait just a moment, let me explain!" I argue. If he really does have possession of that pearl, this may be our only chance of finding it! And that pearl is the only lead in the world that can help us find out if someone is committing heinous murders!
"OUT, you CHARLATAN SSSCOUNDRELS!" the curator shouts, jumping out of his chair like lightning and flinging everything atop his desk at us. Maya and I are assaulted by a wave of papers, books, pens, and other office supplies, with enough force to knock our chairs backwards. The two of us struggle to our feet and scamper out of the room quickly, just in time to avoid being hit by the door on the way out as he slams it shut.
---(Music End)---
April 11th, 2:15 pm
Sniffsonian Museum Atrium Third Floor
Damn it. I pushed our luck too far. I was hoping to test the waters to make sure asking for the pearl was even safe, but now I've just upset him.
I'm still in a daze from whatever just happened, and Maya is in an angry huff. She pulls out her earbud and throws her phone at me. "How rude can you get, seriously! Literally throwing people out of your office. That guy has some nerve! And on top of that, Alibaba won't stop chattering and I can't even hear myself think! You talk to him!"
I blink a few times before putting the earbud in and listening. "I assume I'm speaking to Mr. Wright, now?" the robotic voice greets.
"That's right," I confirm.
"Did you get to see the pearl? What did it look like?" I'm asked.
I try to verbalize what I witnessed. "I saw it, it was shining so brightly it didn't even look real. It was like an orb of pure light."
"... Just how I remember it," Alibaba sighs.
Wait a minute... "You've seen this object before?"
"Never mind that," he deflects. I want to ask him more, but now may not be the time. If we can't get the pearl then it won't matter. Either way, Alibaba keeps right on speaking. "Allow me to try and make sense of what I've heard so far. So, the museum has missing art pieces, at least one person and probably more are looking for the curator, and he refuses to cooperate with you in any capacity. Am I correct so far?"
"Agonizingly so," I groan.
"And judging by the noise I'm guessing you two were just thrown out of his office?"
"It feels like I'm up to my neck in a pile of papers, because whatever was on top of his desk a moment ago is now on top of us," I explain, before finally attempting to clean myself up a bit. Most of the papers are blank, which is probably why he's not concerned about throwing them away like this. Nothing else of note seems to be...
*!*
Hold on a moment... what's this pocket-sized booklet?
"What's that you've got in your hand, Nick?" Maya asks, having noticed.
I open it up and...
"It looks like a day planner!" I explain. Sure enough, skimming through it reveals all kinds of memos, appointments, and other notes.
"Whoa... is it really ok to go through his stuff like that?" Maya raises as a concern.
"Well, he DID basically just give it to us. Just... really violently. Via throwing it."
"If I may, Mr. Wright," Alibaba speaks into my ear, "I recall the man before saying that he anticipates Hebi Hibiki making some sort of mistake soon. A day planner is exactly the place to look to see just what exactly it is he has on his schedule."
I skim through the booklet and reach the page for today, April 11th. It's a vertical column of blank spaces, each one corresponding to a different hour of the day. He has the usual types of things written down, such as what times to meet with clients, when to have lunch, and other predictable activities. However, I notice something at the very bottom. At 11:00 pm, he has a very vague entry.
Maya is looking over my shoulder, and sees it, too. "'BE READY FOR TOMORROW,' it says. And it's in bright, red ink as well. I wonder what that could mean?"
"Well, presumably we're about to find out," I reply, turning the page.
At 12:00 am, the very first thing of the day... there's an entry without any words at all. It's just the Yen sign written repeatedly, circled three times, with the same red ink. "Something is going to happen at midnight tonight, it seems. Something focused on money..."
---Music: Investigation ~ Core 2002 ---
"That just makes me even more curious!" Maya grumbles.
"Call me skeptical," Alibaba mumbles, "But I don't believe ethical transactions of money generally take place in the middle of the night."
"That's a completely valid point," I agree, "I'd automatically assume any moonlight business going on at that hour would be sketchy at best."
"Are there any other entries such as that one in the past or the future?" Alibaba continues.
Good question. I backtrack through the day planner and look much more carefully. Similar reminders are listed at the bottom of pages, and nearly identical money marks are circled at the tops the next day. "Yes, there are others like it. And the ones that have already happened have actual numerical values written underneath the Yen signs, in normal black ink like everything else in the planner."
"That seems like an important detail, if the recorded activities in the planner have values," Alibaba notes.
Hmm... that's an interesting connection. I'm trying to figure out if those two matters can be pieced together. "Well, it stands to reason that the amounts are how much the curator is paying for something... or perhaps how much money he's making for selling something?"
For a time, none of us say anything. I can tell that we are working hard to process this new information.
"How far back do the entries date?" Alibaba asks.
"Hmm..." I hum quietly, "Well, the first time the pattern starts is a week and two days ago. There's a note at the bottom of the 2nd, and at the top of the 3rd there's money marks and a number."
Maya collects her thoughts for a few moments, and I can practically see the light bulb go off above her head. "Nick, do you think this could have something to do with the missing items?"
*!*
"Now THERE'S a thought," Alibaba speaks with inflection and emphasis actually uncharacteristic of the usual flat voice I'd grown accustomed too.
"That newspaper you picked up said that a painting went missing about a week ago, right? Did it include a date?" Maya asks further.
I shuffle through my pockets to pull out the folded paper so I can scan it quickly and answer her question. "It says they noticed it missing on the 4th. That was exactly one week ago."
"So, let's say that it took a day or two for anyone to notice the painting missing..." Alibaba assumes, "Would that not line up perfectly with the dates in this planner?"
"You make a good point. You may be onto something here," I agree. "I'm checking the newspaper article in more detail, and it mentions which other exhibits have gone missing with dates attributed to the losses. In theory, that means on those days, the day planner should have...!"
"Yeah, it looks like there's a correlation!" Maya cheers, pointing to the planner. Sure enough, the dates align in the same fashion. Nightly reminders and midnight money marks with numerical values, within a day or two of each object going missing. "The dates match even better later into the week, on the same days, even! Maybe as more and more things went missing, the authorities began noticing more quickly."
Alibaba sees where we're going with this. "So, there's a very good chance that there is a relationship between the curator's daily schedule as well as the loss of new art exhibits."
"That's what I'm thinking," I agree, "And before we jump to any more conclusions, I think I know just the person we can ask to learn more."
"Was it that guard from earlier?" Maya questions, "With the way you were asking him questions and showing him things... he had Psyche-Locks, didn't he?"
"'Psyche-Locks?'" Alibaba repeats, having never heard the phrase.
I nod my head. "It's a long story, but Maya and I have a few special tools of our own. We can explain later, if need be. And yes, Maya, he did. There's just one lock left that I couldn't break earlier, but perhaps with this day planner we can get him to fess up and tell us just what it is he's hiding."
I add Curator's Day Planner to my inventory.
Maya jumps with pep. "Alright, then, Nick. Let's go find that guard!"
---(Music End)---
"I believe I heard that the guard you were speaking with was stationed on the third floor, Alibaba points out, "He should already be nearby."
We scan around for a bit. Sure enough, we see him walking around the curved balcony of the third floor, same as us. It's only a short walk around the circular path to reach him. "Excuse me! Kuchibiru-san?" I call, getting his attention. I sure hope I got his name right.
He turns around and looks at us. "Oh. Hello again," he greets awkwardly with a bit of caution. I can tell he doesn't really know what else to say.
"I apologize for bringing this up again... but I really think there is something suspicious going on here at the Sniffsonian, and I need you to tell me what you know," I plea.
He shakes his head. "I'm sorry, but I don't know what you are talking about. Am I going to have to escort you out of the building?"
Time to use the Magatama once more.
My vision goes black as I see chains jettison in from the shadows to form a protective seal over the guard, held in place by the last Psyche-Lock from before.
-- Something Smells at the Sniffsonian Pt 2 --
---Music: Psyche-Locks ---
"Nope, no way, no how, there's nothing strange or abnormal at all here at the Sniffsonian!" the guard speaks, giving me deja vu.
Last time I tried to pressure this guard into giving information, I unfortunately hit a wall. But this time, I'm armed with a new item that might just work.
"I'm almost certain something is amiss here. Perhaps even with the curator himself!" I assert.
"What do you mean by that?" the guard questions with a raised eyebrow.
"I want you to take a look at the Curator's Day Planner I received," I announce, showing him the object in question.
---(Music End)---
He immediately attempts to grab it from me, but I maneuver around and keep the planner with me. "Where did you get that? That belongs to Hibiki-san! That's theft!"
I shake my head, and Maya jumps in to speak before I can. "Mr. Hibiki gave it to us! More or less!" she shouts.
The guard is as confused as can be, and while he tries to sort out what is happening, I open up the planner and begin pointing out the memos and dates. "Kuchibiru-san, take a look at these entries in his planner. I've been looking into the dates that newly submitted museum exhibits have gone missing, and all of the times match with these entries within his planner!"
*!*
Kuchibiru is wide eyed. "That's, uh, well..."
I can see the lock in front of him begin to jostle, shaking in place. "Perhaps you don't know of any suspicious activities yourself, but the curator almost certainly does. So I ask you: what can you tell me about the curator?"
The lock breaks completely, and the chains begin rescinding back the way they came, disappearing into nothingness right as the darkness begins shifting back to the normal look and feel of my surroundings.
---Music: Elegant ~ And Excellence ---
Hebi Hibiki bursts onto the scene with an explosive shout, and he does NOT look happy. "You are no more than common thieves! Give me back my book at once!"
Damn! I had that guard right where I wanted him, I was so close!
Unfortunately, the curator storms towards me with such an aggressive walk that I nearly fold backwards as he gets into my face and rips the day planner out of my hands. "Officer Yuri, detain these two at once! I want them out of my museum and in police custody!"
"It's, uh, Yurui! Sir! My name is Yurui! And, um, right away, Hibiki-san!" the guard complies nervously. He grabs both of our shoulders and begins dragging us towards the stairs and away from Hibiki, who is still fuming even as he leaves our sight.
---(Music End)---
It's a good thing this guard seems to be rather shaken up, and probably not thinking right. I would have expected to be in handcuffs already in a situation like this, but he continues leaving us unrestrained for the most part as he leads us out. I won't say a word, and hopefully he'll let us off the hook at the very least once he takes us out of the building. This situation is not ideal...
Maya looks ready to burst into a fireball of anger, but with a glance I silently communicate to her to keep her cool. She nods, and we continue as the guard leads us.
The walk down the stairs is long and uncomfortably, physically as he holds my shoulder and mentally as all of us keep silent. Even Alibaba isn't saying anything. What in the world is he doing at a time like this?!
The silence breaks when the guard speaks softly to us. "Actually... you are right. Or, you might be right. About the museum, and the curator..."
*!*
I DID break his Psyche-Locks. Does this mean he's going to fess up regardless? Maybe there's silver lining to this!
"All I know are rumors. Nothing seems substantiated at this point. But, word around the museum is... the curator has ties to the black market."
*!*
---Music: Suspense ---
"The black market?!" Maya repeats in startled surprise.
"Yeah. He stays here into the late hours on some nights, and some of the employees say they see cars they don't recognize parked around the building when it's supposed to be locked up for the night. They are starting to think he might be selling the missing art pieces and using some of the profits to pay off the contributors so they don't complain about their art getting lost."
"Looks like you were right, Maya..." I mumble.
"I wish I hadn't been. This is definitely not good..." she laments, the revelation weighing heavily on her shoulders.
I want to be thorough and pry all the information I can. "Is there anything else at all you can tell us, Yurui-san?"
"Well... the curator has a personal collection of goods he keeps. Stuff like gifts from friends, personal nick-nacks, and stuff like that. A little after closing time, I've seen boxes getting wheeled out on carts from his storage room. He may be selling his own stuff, too."
"Oh no... Nick, this is really, REALLY not good," Maya exhales stressfully.
Damn it all... we know he has the pearl, he showed it to us! But now it turns out he might be preparing to sell it off--or worse. What it's already been sold, and someone is going to pick it up tonight?
We reach the bottom of the stairs, and the atrium's ground floor.
April 11th, 2:19 pm
Sniffsonian Museum Atrium
My shoulder is starting to get really sore from the firm grip on it as we are continually dragged.
"I'm sorry, but, I'm going to have to call the police now," the guard apologizes surprisingly sincerely. "I don't know your reasons for snooping around, but I know I'll be fired if I disobey the curator..."
"Nick, it can't end like this...!" Maya huffs with determination.
"Don't worry, it won't," Alibaba speaks into my ear. Where in the heck was he this whole time...? And what does he mean?
---(Music End)---
I hear someone shout loud enough to get the attention of the whole atrium.
---Music: Last Surprise ---
"OutRAGEOUS. Simply OUTRAGEOUS! YOU, sir, have NO eye for art whatsoever!" the voice yells.
The guard stops walking and turns his attention to the commotion. There seems to be a blue haired young man raising his voice at another person, and both of them are standing within a roped off area. So many blue haired people these days. "Security! Security!!" the angry man continues shouting, "Come attend to this... this tasteless individual! He's insulting my painting!"
The man turns around and points directly at the guard holding us. "You there, guard! Some assistance, please!"
Yurui seems just as confused as we are, and he lets go of our shoulders and begins walking towards the ruckus. "Uhhhh, you two aren't supposed to be back there, that area is off limits..." he explains with reservation.
"There's your distraction," Alibaba speaks into my ear urgently, "Now, get out of there. Quickly."
I have no idea what is happening, but evidently Alibaba has done something to create a way out for us. With the guard too distracted to keep an eye on us, we can slip away unnoticed.
"What's happening, Nick?" Maya asks.
"I don't know, but Alibaba told us to get moving!"
Before we know it, we're merging into the nearest crowd of people and headed back towards the entrance.
---(Music End)---
April 11th, 2:21 pm
Sniffsonian Museum Entrance
---Music: Investigation ~ Core 2001 ---
Looks like we're in the clear, for now. We've successfully left the museum and escaped back to the parking lot. "Geeze... what a mess that was!" Maya shouts.
I pull out my earbud and put Alibaba on open speaker so we can both hear him. "What just happened?" I ask.
"I had a few of my associates positioned and ready to aid you if things went south. And things sounded pretty south," Alibaba explains.
"I thought it was super dangerous for you guys to be out investigating in public?" Maya recollects.
"It is. But, the circumstances have changed."
I straighten my tie and take a deep breath of fresh air. "Well, thank you for bailing us out."
"It's the least I can do. But, now, it seems like we need to reorient ourselves about what is going on."
"Did you hear the things the security guard said?" I ask.
"Yes. I'm very concerned. Selling art behind closed doors is a different problem all together; what I'm worried about is the comments about Hibiki's personal collection," Alibaba explains with worried reservation in his voice. "If not even those are safe from being sold, then we have a huge problem on our hands."
I pound one of my fists into my other palm in frustration. "I had the same worries."
"But what can we do about this...?" Maya questions, "We've already been kicked out."
"Yeah. Our hands our tied. I don't think we'll be able to go back in, not without getting arrested, at least," I grumble.
"Well... maybe we can sneak back in some time?" Maya suggests with an uncertain hesitation.
"You're joking, right? Then we'll DEFINITELY get arrested."
"Well... we ARE working with Phantom Thieves here... maybe they can..."
I shake my head. "Not going to happen," I lay out firmly, "We're not going to simply turn our head while someone else breaks the law."
All of us are quiet, until I speak again. "Do you have any ideas, Alibaba?" I ask.
There's still quiet for a time. "Well. It may be difficult to move forward. The circumstances have changed yet again."
I'm a bit skeptical of what that means. "Well, there's no need for us to do anything rash in the first place. We'll just have to think of something..."
Still the awkward silence persists, at least until Alibaba attempts to wrap up the conversation. "Well. I imagine you two would like to go back and get some rest, or do something to enjoy the remainder of your day. If you need to contact me, I'll be available at this number. And, if we find a solution to this issue, we will contact you."
"Alright. Thank you for the help," I give as formal recognition.
*Click*
The two of us sigh in unison. "Nick, don't you think it's kinda silly how much trouble we're going through just to get some weird pearl we know nothing about?"
I think back to the sensation I experienced when the pearl was in front of me. "You heard it too, right? A strange echo that almost sounded like the voice of a woman. That had to have been supernatural"
"I know it was fancy looking, and it may even be supernatural. But, even if it is, how could it possibly help us investigate murders?"
I've had the same worries on my mind, so I understand Maya's concern. "Well, look at the magatama you gave me. It's just a small gem, but it contains spiritual energy and special powers. What's to say there aren't more objects like it out there? That pearl turned into a glowing orb of light front of us. It's clearly special, and there must be some power it has or at least some use for it."
"The magatama is just a piece of jewelry until it gets charged by a spirit medium. I sure hope the thing even works if we ever do get our hands on it..." she flippantly suggests.
"Well, I certainly hope that as well. But getting a hold of it is a big step we are skipping here..." I gulp.
"What exactly ARE our options right now, anyway?" Maya asks seriously.
"Well... the authorities are already investigating the missing items, allegedly. So calling them for help won't really change anything."
"Could we take him to court over ownership of it? It DID belong to Shido first," Maya suggests.
I shake my head. "I don't think that will work. In the first place, Shido was the one who stole it from someone else. It originally belonged to that scientist person. Wakaba, I think her name was."
Maya lowers her head. "So he has no rightful claim to ownership, huh..."
We sigh simultaneously a second time.
"Maybe we could find a way to buy things from the curator directly?" I contemplate.
"Well, WE couldn't do that," Maya reminds me, "I don't think he'll want to see our faces again. But, maybe we can get someone to help us out?"
I consider the situation. "Someone reputable who could make offers without raising suspicions or involving us, right?"
---(Music End)---
Maya snaps her fingers. "Miss Andrews!" she shouts.
"Adrian Andrews?" I ask, and upon saying her name, instantly realize why she'd be the perfect candidate. "Right! Miss Andrews is a curator herself! Well, kind of. She's definitely in the industry."
"Let's ask her if she can help!" Maya suggests enthusiastically. "She can make contact with the Sniffsonian, tell them she's interested in purchasing anything from them they have to offer, and perhaps directly buy the pearl if that Hibiki guy is truly wanting to sell it."
"That's a really good idea! Do you still have her number, Maya?"
"I sure do! I'll call her right now."
We both wait for a few moments while her phone rings, awaiting our friend Adrian to pick up.
---Music: Lordly Tailor Department Store ---
"Hello?" a familiar voice answers.
"Hello, Miss Andrews! This is Maya, Maya Fey. Do you have a moment?" my partner greets.
"Maya! It's good to hear from you. And of course I have a moment, I'm just preparing to close the store soon. How is your vacation going?" she asks.
"Well, kinda complicated, actually!" Maya answers truthfully, "We just got kicked out of a museum and almost arrested in fact."
I can practically see Adrian's surprised expression now. "Excuse me, what?"
"Hold on, let me explain a bit more. So, we have a good reason to be after this very specific pearl, right? It could be a crucial to what we're investigating right now. The curator of the Sniffsonian museum has it. We were snooping around and he got really mad at us, so we can't really go back in or we'll cause a stir."
"Wow, that's um, wow," she responds as she tries to grasp the situation, and even when confused she sounds very professional in tone. "You guys are on an investigation now, even on vacation?"
"Some unexpected things happened," Maya admits, "But, anyway, we were wondering if you could help us out. You've curated plenty of exhibits in the past, right?"
"That's right. The Treasures of Kurain Exhibit was the first of many events I've organized. Thankfully, none of them have gone as off-script as the first one did..."
"Yep, that's what I thought! So here's what Nick and I were thinking: since you're in the business of acquiring display pieces for new exhibits, perhaps you can contact the Sniffsonian and ask if they'd be willing to sell any pearls for an exhibit or something. Nick can wire you the money, and then you could legitimately buy the pearl so we can avoid any kind of drama."
Nick can do what now? I'm cringing thinking what my bank account will look like if I have to buy a priceless object...
"Hmm. That's a peculiar proposal," she notes, "Do you have any contact information so that I can reach the museum?"
"I'm sure we can text you a number," Maya smiles.
"What time is it where you are, anyway? Is it within reasonable business hours that I could call them now?" Miss Andrews asks.
"Almost 2:30 in the afternoon," Maya answers.
"Ah! Perfect. So, what do I need to know before I speak with this curator?" she asks.
Maya seems to be contemplating the details. "Well, ask the curator if he has any gems that glow brightly. The one we're looking for fits that bill. It looks like rumor has it the curator is selling off things under the table, so he might be willing to part with it for a price."
"I see. Well, I will call you back after I reach them to let you know how it goes," Adrian explains, "I hope I'll be able to help."
"Great! We owe you one, Miss Andrews!" Maya thanks passionately.
"It's no problem at all. Talk to you soon."
*Click*
---(Music End)---
"So... what do we do now?" Maya wonders.
"I suppose there isn't much to do but wait," I reply.
"Well, there isn't much point in us staying here. We may as well head back into the city and find something to do until Miss Andrews calls us back."
"Hmm... I've heard that there are places where we can get pretty good sushi," I remember, "And I'm pretty hungry right now."
"Sushi it is!" Maya claps with a smile, and the two of us head out.
April 11th, 5:30 pm
Gatewater International
It's been a couple of hours since we left the museum, and things have settled down by now. Back in our hotel room, we take some time to relax and unwind.
---Music: Ringtone ~ Steel Samurai Theme ---
"Oh, she's calling back!" Maya alerts me cheerily, and she immediately answers he phone.
*Click*
---(Music End)---
"Hello again, Miss Andrews!" Maya greets.
"Hello, Maya," Adrian returns, sounding incredibly sleepy. "I'm sorry to say that I have bad news. As it turns out, he's selling the pearl, but... he already found a buyer."
*!*
---Music: Suspense ---
"He wouldn't tell me who, he claimed because of client confidentiality..." Adrian continues, and I can hear regret in her voice. "All he told me was that, very soon, it would no longer be in his possession."
"Shoot! And we were on the right track, too..." I lament.
Maya connects a few dots. "That must be what the notes in his planner meant. He plans to sell it, and he's going to do it tonight!"
I bite my lip. "So, we're pretty much out of time..."
"What can we do, Nick...?" Maya asks me with heavy uncertainty.
I think deeply on what move we could possibly make.
"Can you still make a counter offer? How much money does he want for it?" I ask.
"I tried negotiating for a very long time, but he was firm. He said he had already been transferred an upfront payment from the buyer. I'm sorry. I truly am," Miss Andrews apologizes. "But, if it's any help at all, I do have an industry contact or two out there in Japan. Perhaps I can fill them in and see if they can help?"
"An industry contact?" Maya repeats, prodding an explanation.
"In a way. I know someone who is in your area right now who may have the resources to obtain the pearl instead of it being sold to whatever buyer was planning to pay for it."
I'm stressed to the point of a slowly building headache. "I'm really at a loss of how to get that pearl in time. If you have any way to help at all, we'd really appreciate it."
"I understand," Adrian says with a serious tone, "I'll contact them and tell them what's going on, and if they have any means to help, they can reach out to you and let you know," she continues, though her serious tone loosens and she gives a big yawn. It must be already into the AM hours back in California.
---(Music End)---
"We appreciate it, truly," I thank, "Sorry for causing you to lose sleep over our problems."
She laughs lightly. "It's not an issue at all. I'll call my friend right away and see if he can do anything to help."
"Alright. Goodnight, Miss Andrews!" Maya signs off, and the call ends.
*Click*
"I guess there's not much to do now but wait," Maya concludes.
I close my eyes and nod. "Unfortunately. Whether Alibaba or Adrian's friend come through for us, we can't really do anything ourselves."
"Maybe we should come up with a Plan B?" Maya suggests, "Like, how to find out where the pearl is being sold to, and figure out a way to get it from there."
"Hmm... if we could somehow track it down, that might be an easier alternative. We'd have a better chance of buying it from a stranger than we would interacting with that curator again, since he is already fed up with us..."
Maya tilts her head, thinking. "They'd probably want a crazy amount of money to part with something they just went through the trouble of buying in the first place."
"Well. It's something to think on, at least. Maybe we should rest for the time being, then go back at it refreshed and with clear heads."
I can actually feel myself nodding off a bit. Today has been longer than I thought. "Yeah... I'm feeling pretty exhausted, anyway. I'm all for taking a nap until later tonight and hope we get contacted by Adrian's friend or Alibaba."
April 11th, 9:26 pm
Gatewater International
---Music: Ringtone ~ Steel Samurai Theme ---
I'm woken up by the sound of Maya's phone ringing. I hear her lazily yawn as well, so she must have been out like a light, same as me. I'm groggy, but cognizant enough to ask a question. "Is it Alibaba? Or Adrian?"
"Uhhh... no, I don't recognize this number..." Maya notes as she rubs her eyes.
Given the situation we're in, I'm feeling a bit uneasy about unknown callers. "Here, let me answer it," I offer. She tosses me the phone.
*Click*
---Music: Intermission ~ The Deepening of the Night ---
"Hello?"
"Is this Maya Fey?" the voice of a woman asks. She sounds familiar, but I can't put my finger on who the voice belongs to.
"Maya is here with me right now. This is Phoenix Wright speaking," I respond.
"Ah, Mr. Wright! Good, I was hoping to get a hold of you," the voice explains excitedly, "It's Sae Niijima."
I wasn't expecting to hear from her. I didn't think she would have a reason to contact me anymore with Mishima's trial settled. I put the call on speaker so Maya can hear as well. "Good evening, Niijima-san. Is everything alright?"
"Well, yes and no," she says, though I can hear hesitation in her voice. "Actually, if I'm being honest, just no."
That isn't good. "What's the matter?" Maya asks.
"As it turns out... a friend of mine is in serious trouble," she elaborates. "This time, my schedule is clear and I can defend him in court. But, I could really use your co-counsel."
"'Serious,' you say?" I repeat.
"Yes... he has quite a list of accusations against him. Breaking and entering, for one thing. Theft, for another. And on top of it all... he's been accused of murder."
I shift in place uneasily. "And I can take your word that this friend of yours is innocent?"
She doesn't answer, which makes me more uneasy. "He's no murderer, of that I can swear to you," she finally answers.
"Why do you need my help, Niijima-san?" I ask to clarify.
"A number of reasons. Chiefly, because I've defended this man before. And because of the man's... affiliations, as well as his legal history... I'm worried that immediately defending him directly might give the impression that he has a network of allies. That might set off red flags to the wrong people and put us both in danger."
"I don't even know where to begin with how many questions I have about what you just said," I speak, puzzled.
"I think I've heard that you are aware of the potential existence of a political conspiracy," she adds, "Is that correct?"
This is getting complicated. How does Sae know about that? And when she says a network of allies... I'm wracking my brain around this.
"Yes... that's right," I confirm, "I'm assuming what you called me about deals directly with what I... and, the Phantom Thieves, are investigating."
*!*
I can hear her surprise clearly even over the phone. I think I'm starting to get the picture.
"This man you are defending must be a Phantom Thief," I assert, knowing I'm right.
"Your extremely quick deductive reasoning is another reason I wish to have your aid," she states as if deflecting the subject.
Oh no. I'm suddenly recalling earlier today, and what Alibaba said. He had promised not to do anything questionable, but at the very end he said the circumstances changed...
"Niijima-san... where, exactly, did this man get accused of breaking into?"
Brief silence, and then a direct answer. "The Sniffsonian Museum."
Maya shakes her head slowly, in an "I told you so," type of manner. I clutch my eyes closed and firmly hold my brow in my hand in discomfort. "Of course. Why am I not surprised."
"Nick... we were backed into a corner, after all," Maya points out, "I can see why the Phantom Thieves would have acted, if it meant getting the pearl before it got sold off."
"And it's safe to assume that you are also a member of the Phantom Theives, Niijima-san?" I address with certainty.
I hear her sigh over the phone. "We can both explain to you once we see him at the detention center tonight. But, what I've meant to say from the beginning, if you take up his defense officially, that would be much less suspicious."
"And that lesser suspicion means less of a chance of drawing the attention of whoever is masterminding this conspiracy."
"Yes, that's right. If they are out there watching, we don't want to make it look like the former Phantom Thieves are making a move as a group. We'll be in danger unless we prove him innocent and establish that his accusation is a misunderstanding."
Sae is definitely knee deep in everything that we've been looking into. She knows all the details about everything. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. "I've been slightly uncomfortable working with the Phantom Thieves from the start... and now I know they've directly broken their word to me and tried to break into the museum without my knowing."
Sae must take my extended silence as a cue. "I can understand your reluctance in helping. You don't have to agree just yet. In fact, I'm going to visit him right now, and I'm sure meeting with him and speaking with him can answer a lot of your questions."
"Should we give them a chance...?" Maya whispers to me.
I think on it for a moment. "Well, Niijima-san... just text us the address of the center your friend is being held at, and we'll go."
I hear a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Mr. Wright. Rest assured that we'll explain everything. And, I promise you, we are on your side."
"I understand. We'll meet you there," I accept.
*Click*
"Alright, let's get dressed and ready to go!" Maya encourages with pep, "I'm all kinds of curious about what's going on, so we should get there ASAP and hear the details."
"You're right about that, Maya," I agree, "The sooner the better."
As we gather our things, my mind is racing, yet calm. I'm surprised that things are turning out this way, certainly, but... to be honest, since I started thinking about what it is we're doing here, I realize I've sort of known things would get even more complicated. I mean, working with former thieves to track down an even bigger criminal network... maybe I don't have the luxury of playing by the rules, legally.
What are you saying, Phoenix? Get it together. I'm a lawyer! Right now, I'm needed, as a lawyer, to uphold the law and defend a new client... if he's actually innocent, that is. But, I'm worried he might not be...
CHAPTER TWO END.
---(Music End)---
---Music: Jingle ~ That's All For Today ---
Would you like to save your game?
Yes No
