act29side

Is it possible that other sections currently considered meaningless noise also have some kind of pattern? Maybe these sounds are a code of some sort?

It's not outside the realm of possibility, but if this indeed is a secret code, then we must deduce the corresponding cipher table beginning with this melody... Wait a second! I seem to have the vague impression... that I've heard this voice somewhere before...

I'll continue questioning.

Are you able to recall where you heard it? What were you doing at the time? I can help you remember.

...I remember it was at the Neuleopoldshof. I was on my way to the Ewigegnade concert hall, and there were celebratory decorations being put up on the sides of the road, and musicians playing the piano... Suddenly, I felt a pang of hunger, but didn't have a single coin in my pocket. Just then, the aroma of roasted hock started to waft over...

At the time of the incident: The subject was <color=#d41f1f>extremely hungry</color>, and had <color=#d41f1f>no money to buy food</color>.

The music of the heart sounds, resonating with the heartstrings of the subject and bringing back memories.

As the melody shows, you were distressed by your insatiable hunger when you heard the noise... Do you remember now?

Oh, yes, that was, that was... *gurgle*––*gurgle*... Ugh, it was the sound coming from my stomach. The topic of my research is 'Relationships Between Musical Trends and Regional Cuisine.' In order to collect data, I spend all my money rushing between various concerts, and end up having to go hungry... Ugh, I'm starting to get hungry again...

I treated Buchner to a meal of roasted hock and three large portions of sauerkraut. I was unable to garner any useful information from her, and closed this line of investigation.

Lindner is an Arts spire student and fervent twisted horns worshipper. There were rumors that he was responsible for the disturbance at the Bachshof concert last week, but no concrete evidence could be found at the scene.

I found him in an abandoned concert hall in Doppelhörnershof, where he had been hiding for days.

I'm not here to arrest you, Lindner. I just want to chat. Can you tell me what you did at the concert?

That sound... that sound was our proclamation—the Twin Spires will fall, and the filth from outside will be wiped away. A spire the likes of which has never been seen will stand again... the glory of Leithanien will return!

His voice was trembling, struggling to string together a complete sentence. <color=#d41f1f>He was clearly trying to muster his courage.</color>

Don't be stupid. The one you're trying to call is no more. Answer my questions, and you might be able to return to the spires and study your Originium Arts. Do you understand me?

Shut up! Herkunftshorn's eye still gazes upon Leithanien. He will not allow this vile era to continue. He will not abide the usurpers to sit upon his throne!

O-Our lives are but a small price to pay for his return!

This called for another line of questioning. His father had been anxiously looking for him, even turning himself in to the Gendarmerie in his son's place.

Think of your father! Did you know that he turned himself in to protect you? Tell me the truth if you don't want to watch the Gendarmerie take him away!

What? Father? No! What have I done... It's true that I was planning on disrupting the concert, but the performance changed at the last minute.

As I was wondering whether I should continue the plan, I felt someone behind me, and broke out into a cold sweat... then I remember the concert being stopped.

The subject was planning to disrupt the concert at the time of the incident <color=#d41f1f>as a show of his blind worship</color>, but became <color=#d41f1f>frightened</color> by unexpected events.

The music of the heart sounds, resonating with the heartstrings of the subject and bringing back memories.

The melody reveals that something unexpected happened before you could put your plan into action. Do you remember anything more specific?

I-It wasn't me! I remember now. The guy who appeared behind me cast Arts on me before I could do anything. I quickly lost consciousness and don't remember anything about him...

While Lindner had intended to disrupt the concert, he was not the one who actually caused the noise. Nothing else came of the lead that I garnered from him.

I got a tip off about strange noises at a concert in Bodenshof. The concert ended early, before I could arrive, and there was no way to track the source of the noise. However, a block away from the venue, I found a dead man of unknown identity in an abandoned house, along with another mysterious man at the scene.

The victim's expression was calm, as though sleeping. Only upon close inspection did I notice the traces of blood by his mouth. The Arts scorch marks on his body indicate that<color=#d41f1f>he was attacked during the concert.</color>

There is street cleaning foam on your shoes, which means you're probably not the killer... but I want to know who you are, and why you're here.

Danke, for not treating me as a criminal. I'm just a passing citizen, an honest, law-abiding man. I make my living dealing in old books and music scores. Here's my card. I was waiting for a friend at the concert.

I was taking a walk to kill the time, and before I knew it, I was here.

A corner of an old music score could be seen protruding from his backpack, matching his statement. <color=#d41f1f>His face was filled with fear and unease.</color> I took the creased business card, and it seemed completely ordinary, much like its owner. Nothing suspicious about it at all.

Sorry for bringing back bad memories, but do you remember what happened when you got here?

Let me think...

I was near the door when I suddenly heard a screeching sound from inside... you know, the kind of noise that's been plaguing a lot of concerts lately.

I was curious about where it came from, but the sound had stopped by the time I got to the door. I pushed it open...

The noise! This could be the first direct piece of evidence, but my excitement was tempered by the scene before me. Someone had died because of this. It seemed that this case was more serious than I had imagined.

Please go on. Was everything here exactly as it is now, or was there anything different?

The man was lying on the ground at the time. My knees buckled the moment I saw it; they just wouldn't stop shaking. As for any differences... I can't swear to it, but looked like he had some sort of wind instrument in his hand at first.

Then I blinked, and it was gone. Oh, and I think... I think I saw a figure flash across my vision... but could it be? Man, I'm really not the brightest match in the box...

The subject passed through this area by chance at the time of the incident, <color=#d41f1f>and approached this place out of curiosity.</color> He was <color=#d41f1f>shocked</color> by what he saw behind the door. Recreate his emotions at the time with the proper music of the heart. <color=#d41f1f>Perhaps fear and desire of wisdom is appropriate.</color>

The music of the heart sounds, resonating with the heartstrings of the subject and bringing back memories.

The melody reveals that... wait, why does everything seem so ethereal? These emotional experiences are faked. You've received training in this area. Who are you?

...No need to be alarmed, friend. I needed to know what you're capable of, and make sure you're really who I think you are. Don't worry, I'm here to do my job, just like you. You don't need to be wary, and I'm not deceiving you.

The man on the ground is who you're looking for, the culprit behind the noise. Whoever it was that grabbed the stuff from right under my nose was a quick one. I didn't catch his face, but I did notice what seemed to be the emblem of Ludwigs-Universität on his robes. Maybe you can make something of it.

The man put up his hood and left. The light shining through the door revealed a golden stamp on the business card in my hand. That was all I learned at the scene. I headed to Ludwigs-Universität first thing the next morning.

I had a fruitless day at Ludwigs-Universität. By dusk, as I was ready to call it a day when a stern-looking youth approached me and claimed to be the one I was looking for. I decided to talk to him.

I followed him through the campus. The only thing he told me along the way was his name: Lessing. He stood in stark contrast to his peers, who had been rather excitable and hot-headed of late. We went into a room in one of the spires.

Can you describe what you saw at the incident?

I didn't observe the attack. I arrived at the scene almost at the same time as a secret agent. We both saw the same thing, so there's nothing new that I can tell you.

I was a step too late... things unfolded quicker than I expected.

He blinked, wiping away a subtle hint of an unusual expression. He said things unfolded quicker than he expected. <color=#d41f1f>Was he expecting the noise to appear again at the concert?</color>

Sorry, but there's something bothering me. I'm just going to be straight with you... how did you know where the culprit who made the noise was? It's hard to believe that you're just an ordinary student.

Noise? I see... so you don't understand its true nature. That sound has its own internal logic, and there seems to be a message within its music.

The sound has frequently appeared wherever people were gathered. I'm focused on the meaning behind it... Also, I never said I was a student. I'm just studying with a professor here.

An internal logic? I did not have any recordings with which I could verify that statement, but it would be a crucial lead if true. But he had yet to mention the item that he removed from the scene. I had to act with care and work out his intentions before prying any further.

Thank you, this has been really helpful... Now, is there anything else that you haven't told me about the crime scene?

This is what you're looking for. An intricate musical Arts device with Originium circuits that greatly magnify the volume of the user's playing, allowing the sound to travel further... Yes, it's a key piece of evidence that cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands, especially not that secret agent's.

The subject was <color=#d41f1f>frustrated that he did not arrive at the scene on time. He removed the victim's Arts device from the scene in order to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.</color> Recreate his emotions with the proper music of the heart. <color=#d41f1f>Perhaps regret and worldly desire is appropriate.</color>

The music of the heart sounds, resonating with the heartstrings of the subject and bringing back memories.

The melody reveals that you blame yourself for not arriving on time to save the victim... Trust me, I understand, and I don't want something like this to happen again either. I must discover the truth.

Very well, you can take the device. But I recommend staying out of this case once you've discovered the truth you're looking for. And don't play that trick on me again; it makes my head hurt.

He spoke no more and showed me out. I left Ludwigs-Universität and began to investigate the evidence I obtained from him.

The investigation into the evidence has produced results. The Arts device in question was a modified pocket flute characteristic to the region, able to emit a number of harsh sounds at a constant pitch. Its base is only popular in a small area in Sturmland. This was already enough to confirm that the victim was connected to Sturmland, but the following the discovery came an even greater shock. I have to return to Ludwigs-Universität once more, to look for Lessing.

He was sitting by the flower bed, fastening straps around his sword layer by layer, with a serene expression on his face as if he is waiting for me to speak.

Within days, there have been as many as seven murders across the city, the victims all related to the Kreis Sturmland. The crime scenes were almost all near the concert where the incident occurred. You're familiar with the situation... Listen, I have to stop the murderer from striking again. Please tell me whatever you know.

I can't reveal anything more to you. These things don't interest me anymore. Go back.

After saying this, he forcefully tightens the bindings in his hands.

Why? You clearly don't want to see anyone harmed because of this. Otherwise, you wouldn't have reacted the way you did back then... What caused the change of heart?

You simply read me wrong. There are too many beneath the spires that cannot save themselves, and I have no obligation to keep each and every one of them safe. Also... my old man back home doesn't like it when I get involved in these things, and I need to consider his feelings.

However, there is an envoy who's been quite active recently. He's been keeping a close eye on every move in the city for his master, so surely he's noticed something.

He suddenly sets down the straps in his hands and lifts his head to look at me. A certain glimmer of light shines in the depths of his clear blue eyes, <color=#d41f1f>and it suddenly occurs to me that he might be hinting at something...</color>

May I ask where you met him? And... what were you doing at the time?

Yesterday, in Josefgartenshof. I was running some errands for my old man, fetching a few borrowed books from the spire. Ran into some trouble, but took care of it pretty quick.

When meeting the envoy: The subject was <color=#d41f1f>retrieving borrowed books from Josefgartenshof and ran into some trouble</color>.

The music of the heart sounds, resonating with the heartstrings of the subject and bringing back memories.

As the melody shows, everything you've said is true... Thank you.

No problem. It's been clear to me since the last time we met that you've chosen to take on responsibilities you had no obligation to... Now that you've made your decision, it's time to follow-through, and that is by no means meaningless.

In his open heart, I see the envoy's figure. I immediately rush over to Josefgartenshof without even saying goodbye.

Lessing hinted to me that there is an envoy of special status related to this case. Given that I cannot ascertain who exactly he is working for, there is significant risk in hastily making contact with him, but I had no other choice. Indeed, I was able to find him under the spire in Josefgartenshof. What truly surprised me though, was that I found a short boy there.

I waited, and walked up to him when he stepped out of the garden belonging to a certain count. As though he was expecting this, he lightly bowed and proposed we work together before I could even say anything.

W-Work together... I'm sorry. Let me confirm this. Did you just suggest that we 'work together'?

I'm used to how wary people in your line of work are of just about everything. But with all the ruckus in the city, it's hard to look the other way.

I can't let these trifling matters give my master any problems. In that sense, you and I share a common goal. I have information that you want, and you should have gotten some clues from that guy at Ludwigs-Universität. The two of us working together will be mutually beneficial, and help keep you from catching unwanted attention.

The boy named Micha was well-spoken and had a very calm tone. Given the urgency, I couldn't refuse his offer. I agreed to cooperate, and we went to a cafe to talk.

...That's the situation. Tell me all the leads you have. Also, if you personally got your hands on any of them, I want to hear about the situation at the time, too. I might be able to find some other clues from that.

Resorting to your usual M.O. already? Fine... Then to start, tell me what you'd like to know the most.

It was the remnants of the Witch King that attacked the concert. I don't know why. I got this information myself. I was investigating a remnant stronghold...

Hold on, you could only see the scene itself back then, right? Are you sure you didn't see anything else, like—

He knocked over his cup by accident. A few drops of coffee landed on his hand.<color=#d41f1f>For a brief moment, a child-like panic could be seen in his eyes.</color>Then, he calmly took out a handkerchief and wiped his hand clean.

I'm not good enough to be able to peek into the minds of others, I can assure you of that. Please go on. What did you see?

I thought it was an abandoned stronghold, but after I went inside to go through the items that were left behind, a few remnant members suddenly came in.

I hid behind a pile of junk. The closest member of the group was only a few centimeters away, so I was able to make out part of their conversation: They had just returned from the concert in Bodenshof and taken care of the 'noise'...

Inside the Remnants' stronghold: To <color=#d41f1f>gather information,</color> the subject concealed himself and risked <color=#d41f1f>being discovered by the remnants,</color> obtaining <color=#d41f1f>valuable information</color> as a result.

The music of the heart sounds, resonating with the heartstrings of the subject and bringing back memories.

As the melody reveals, the situation at the time must've been pretty intense. So... naturally, you must've missed a few details. Do you remember anything else?

I have to say, your melody isn't nearly as interesting as I thought it would be... but it did help me recall something. After mentioning the 'noise,' they also said that they confirmed the sound hadn't made it out of Zwillingstürme...

If it's as you say, and there is information in the cacophony, then if someone was intentionally creating noise at these concerts, then it's very possible they were trying to disseminate some kind of information. The victims were all related to Sturmland, too...

We postulated that the Witch King's remains wanted to keep a certain group of people from getting information about Sturmland out, and it's very likely they succeeded. There is no telling what the information is about specifically, but a terrifying guess has formed in my mind.