Game Of Life: Volume 2

22. Case

Eivel

Pasimpleng naningkit ang mga mata ko. I hit the the spot. My guess was right, from the District, to the challenge...

I knew that this is going to be the theme. I mean, we're talking about Sherlock Holmes, known as the greatest detective. Of course the theme is going to be none other than...

A mystery.... We're going to solve a case, like a detective wannabe.

"A case... huh." Kumento ko.

Humithit si Sherlock mula sa kaniyang tobacco pipe. With his both hands behind his back, he walked slowly as he started talking. Rinig ang yapak niya na nag-eecho sa tahimik at malawak na street kung nasaan kami.

"It's a case that I haven't finished—solved yet."

"Today, 4 in the morning, the patriarch of this household, died." Malamig na sambit niya, sinabayan pa ng malamig na simoy ng hangin.

Pasimple akong pumikit nang dinala ng hangin sa dereksyon ko ang usok mula sa tobacco niya.

"He was found dead inside of his office room by one of his maid. It is said that he and his wife just fought later that night and he decided to sleep in his office instead, they used to fight a lot..."

"He was stabbed 4 times on his chest, the possible time of death, 1 AM."

Sherlock held the top of his hat and slightly raised it, showing respect. "I was one of his good friends, he's a great man."

"There are a total of 5 people, not including the patriarch, inside of the house during that time, all of them are suspects."

Umangat ang tingin sa amin ni Sherlock. I can literally feel his cold gaze when our eyes meet. With just the help of light coming from the punctured lamp, I can see his expressionless face as he looked at us dead in the eye.

"40 minutes is the time you only have, find the culprit... and the murder weapon."

"If you solved the case, the chess piece is yours."

Matinong usapan, matino ring pagpapaliwanag. Sherlock approached each one of us.

"I already talked a little to the suspects, here are some of the things that you can use." Pagpapaliwanag niya.

He handed Sage a magnifying glass, he gave Kid a fountain pen and a memo pad, and finally, he gave me a... pair of gloves?

Tinignan ko ang mga gamit na hawak-hawak ng mga kasama ko, a typical equipment of a detective wannabe.

"That's all I have to say," Sherlock glanced at all of us for one more time. "I know that it might be easy for you to solve this case, this challenge rather. But I still want to warn you, the last team could've won... if they just didn't forgot something."

Inalala ko ang sinabi niya. Muli kong tinapunan ng tingin ang hawak-hawak kong gloves. He's right, this challenge is really easy—the easiest rather. Walang NPCs na kinailangan kaming i-challenge, walang ibang task maliban sa ibinigay mismo sa amin ng Game General.

Kumpara sa mga nilagpasan na namin, ito lang ang walang ibang sub challenges. Maybe because of what he said earlier about his character? Nakabase sa mga characters ng mga Game General ang mga tema ng bawat lugar. And because he's Sherlock Holmes, a cunning, intuitive character... he doesn't need any NPCs for sub challenges at all.

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangisi. Sa lahat ng mga district na napuntahan namin at ginagawa naming challenge, ito na nga ata ang pinakamadali.

"Okay, tara na-"

Saktong pag-angat ng ulo ko para tignan ang mga kasama ko ay ang pagkita ko sa pag-alis ni Sage sa pwesto niya. Nawala ang nakakurba kong labi nang makita siyang naunang umalis at pumasok sa loob ng mansyon habang nasa bulsa ang dalawang kamay.

My forehead furrowed. "Where do you think you're going?" May tonong tanong ko.

I can see the guinea pig's worried reaction while standing on his shoulder, looking back at us. Potchi's glancing back at Sage and me. Sinagot ako ni Sage ng hindi nililingon.

"I can do this myself, it's just a simple challenge." Malamig at tipid na sagot niya.

Napasinghap ako sa narinig. At the corner of my eye, I can see Kid's concerned expression. Hindi maipinta ang mukha niya at hindi niya alam kung hahakbang ba siya o hindi.

"The heck? We have different equipment, anong gagawin mo sa magnifying glass?! Come back-"

"I know you heard me, woman." Pagputol niya sa sinabi ko. Naiwang nakaawang ang bibig ko at walang salitang lumalabas.

Humigpit ang pagkakasara ng kamao ko at napakagat ako sa ibabang labi dahil sa inis. T-This fucker... what the heck do he think he's doing?

"You don't have to come... I can do this all by myself." Huling pahabol ni Sage bago pumasok sa loob.

Iniwan niya kaming dalawa ni Kid sa labas. Kita ko mula rito ang biglaang pag-ilaw ng lahat ng mga ilaw sa loob ng bahay, hudyat na nakapasok na siya sa loob.

"E-Eyo, Eivel... a-anong gagawin natin? Hindi ba natin siya susundan?"

Napaismid ako sa sinabi ni Kid. I saw flinched.

Forget what I said.

This is definitely not the easiest. Because after many challenges we've been through... this is the first time we'll play a game, all the three of us... but not together.

"Tsk, fuck that prodigy." Giit ko.

Hindi ko pa rin maisip kung ano ba ang problema niya at bakit nagkakaganiyan siya.

Basta, mula no'ng umalis kami sa checkpoint... nagbago si Sage—nagbago silang dalawa ni Kid.

"We have no choice, just let that bastard do whatever he wants." Walang ganang sambit ko. Nagsimula na rin akong maglakad papunta sa loob ng mansyon, nakasunod sa akin si Kid.

"We will do this challenge, we'll solve this case... with or without his help."

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