act44side

东国夏活情报室-choice_end触发第一段

Pretty good! The customer's '<color=#FF476A>Trust</color>' and '<color=#62B815>Interest</color>' changed quite a bit after our last round of chatting. Now's our chance to yap some more!

东国夏活情报室-choice_end触发第二段

Shoot! The customer's '<color=#FFA800>Patience</color>' ran out, and they're in no mood to chat anymore. We can only choose to settle the deal now.

东国夏活情报室-entry触发

Oh? A customer already. A good information broker would scrutinize a customer and make sure their info's solid.

Here you can check their personality and preference. We can categorize them based on their attire, but be careful: same-looking customers won't always share personalities, so make sure to change your strategy accordingly.

Here is the customer's deposit, the Basic Treasure Pouch—and our goal, is to earn higher than their base payment!

Now, let's try a little soft opening.

东国夏活情报室-活动页触发

Life's not easy in Mitsukue. Everyone has their own struggles and needs. That's where us information brokers come in handy.

So, let's get to business and greet today's customers!

东国夏活情报室-result触发

Here we can see every customer that came in today, and how every deal ended in detail.

Only one customer's graced our doors today, but there'll be more and many different kinds in the future.

Remember to pay attention to their unique quirks—you see all types of people in Mitsukue, but they're all special.

They have different standards of '<color=#FFA800>Patience</color>', '<color=#FF476A>Trust</color>', and '<color=#62B815>Interest</color>'. Since you've become a fellow information broker, I trust you can hit the right spots and get the conversation flowing. That won't be hard for you, right?

Alright, that's all for our soft opening. I'm really looking forward to seeing who walks through these shabby doors.

东国夏活情报室-select_choice触发第一段

Here you'll see the customer's current '<color=#FF476A>Trust</color>' level, that is, how much they trust our info.

When their '<color=#FF476A>Trust</color>' is high enough, the deal will end with a <color=#FF476A>Huge Profit</color>!

Here you'll see the customer's current '<color=#62B815>Interest</color>' level, that is, how interested they are in our info.

The more '<color=#62B815>Interest</color>' they have, the more we'll <color=#62B815>earn</color> from this deal.

Alright, let's answer our guest here. Choose a style to respond with.

It's time to broker our precious information.

东国夏活情报室-select_choice触发第二段

Hm? The customer's mood changed! You can see they're <color=#FFA800>Anxious</color> now. If you don't get to the point next round, they'll <color=#FFA800>leave</color>.

Now we'll have to choose carefully... at times like these, why not try my secret technique, 'vibecheck'!

'Vibecheck', and you'll see their '<color=#62B815>Interest</color>' level is high enough, but their '<color=#FF476A>Trust</color>' still has some ways to go. Tap to close the 'vibecheck'.

It's a little risky, but for bigger profits, let's try again!

Try to market our info another way!

东国夏活情报室-single_result触发

Now that the customer's '<color=#FFA800>Patience</color>' has run out, their '<color=#FF476A>Trust</color>' has too, and this deal will end in a 'Small Win'.

Luckily, they still have some '<color=#62B815>Interest</color>' in our info, so we can earn a little '<color=#62B815>tip</color>'.

Relax, it's just a small win for us, but once business really gets going, we'll get customers with much more <color=#FFA800>patience</color>, and we'll try our best then.

Also, let me share another special technique of mine. When customers are '<color=#FFA800>Lost</color>', you can consider pro-actively ending the deal early.

This way we'll have a chance to obtain extra rewards based on their '<color=#62B815>Interest</color>' level.

Here's your fried meatchop and rice, detective.

Good job. Go get some rest.

Thank you!

It's past midnight already. You've been hiding from us ever since you got to Mitsukue this afternoon. You must be hungry, you haven't eaten at all.

(Nods)

Alright then. Here, a fried meatchop with rice, Higashinese specialty.

The detective puts extra emphasis on the word Higashinese and pushes the tray toward Hoshiguma.

With nary a word, Hoshiguma picks up the bowl and chopsticks and begins shoveling rice down her gullet.

Well? How is it? Do they have food like this in Lungmen?

(Continues shoveling rice)

Would you look at that. Tell me, just how long has it been since you've enjoyed a proper Higashinese meal?

(Shoves chop into mouth)

Whatever... eat up.

(Noisily chews and crunches cabbage)

(Gulps water)

(Tilts head back and dumps remaining contents of bowl into mouth)

(Puts down empty bowl)

Phew.

Tastes like home, doesn't it?

It's not a home or nostalgia thing, Detective-san. I'm just hungry.

Why you——

Actually, I had a fried meatchop with rice right before I left Lungmen. Next time, could you get me something else? Like some oden from the place you dragged me out of? It smelled amazing—I didn't even get a sip of the broth.

And for the record, when I was footing the bill to feed suspects back in Lungmen, I always ordered cheongfun.

I suggest you start taking this a bit more seriously, Hoshiguma. You're the suspect this time.

Me? I haven't even been in Mitsukue for twenty-four hours. What could you possibly suspect me of?

A suspect in a case from twenty years ago isn't a suspect?

Detective-san...

Detective Koretou.

Detective Koretou.

Yes?

After twenty years, we're well past the statute of limitations.

Besides, you should be about done authenticating my Lungmen inspector's badge, no?

We haven't gotten the results back yet.

Let's assume you're telling me the truth. What would motivate a Lungmen cop like you to come all the way back here?

Did you lose your job? You have some enemies you need to deal with?

Did someone in Lungmen send you here?

Or are you perhaps connected to those rumors about the spy of the Northern Court?

Stop, stop, stop. If you keep throwing out guesses like that, this whole conversation is gonna spiral...

Take a look at this letter, Detective.

We just searched you—where the hell were you hiding that?

It takes a detective to outsmart a detective.

Phew.

Let's run another lap. How about it, partner? Think you can keep up with me?

Looks like you're good. Let's go.

(Is that the lady's car?)

The single-horned oni lays across the vehicle, sizes up the end of the straightaway, then charges dead ahead.

The howling winds make it hard for her to tell just how far her pursuers are.

What brings you here, ma'am?

I'm just stopping by. I don't plan on staying long.

Yenwu told me that before Swire set out for New Siesta, she tidied up all internal affairs, to lighten the load for those of you left behind.

Yeah. If Missy hadn't wrapped things up before leaving, how could I have found the time to come here?

That's true. Then what is it that's troubling you, Inspector Hoshiguma?

You can see it in my face, huh?

I wouldn't say so.

However, if repeatedly pushing the pedal to the metal still leaves you wrestling with anxiety, you shouldn't bottle all that emotion up on your own.

You and I are both Higashinese. When Little Ch'en and Swire aren't here, I have to act in their stead.

We are... aren't we?

Indeed we are. Higashinese.

I can't hide anything from you, ma'am. I recently received a letter...

'Dear Madam,

Summer's end is nigh, yet the stubborn heat still lingers—please mind your good health. Twenty years have passed with nary a word between us. Much has transpired—things best left unwritten. Yet I feel compelled to write to you, though I regret any trouble this may cause.

This letter is written for no other reason than the decade or so that we spent together in our hometown of Kajimachi, which is soon to vanish from the map.

Though the land is unaware, its people still have feelings; therefore, I have humbly taken it upon myself to organize the funeral rites for Kajimachi, which will be held soon.