The Curious Village

Chapter 1: Reinhold Manor Awaits

The red car was moving slowly on the bumpy road, one could easily stare outside and watch the beautiful scenery of green planes and high mountains. The engine was humming softly, even in brief ascents. They were taking a turn when Jenny woke up from her nap. She was sleeping, practically the whole journey. The professor wished she hadn't missed all those landscapes. It was rare for them to go up the country side, especially in their car.

Looking at her, he adjusted his top hat. "A true gentleman is always keen on his outfit" he thought. His apprentice was at his sides for two years now, travelling with him and helping him solve mysteries all over the country.

He flipped a switch on, turning the right flash signal, that as he was taking another turn. Still half asleep, Jenny murmured: "Professor, there is no one there to signal." The professor's eyes didn't leave the road. He replied with a gentle tone: "My dear Jenny, a gentleman never gets out of bounds, even if no one is watching. You must abide the law at all costs or our world would slumber into chaos." As he had taken the turn, he switched them off.

A little dragonfly was zooming near the car when the professor handed Jenny a letter bearing a bright red sealing wax in the middle, ensuring its closure.

After reading briefly the letter, Jenny was perplexed.

"I don't understand professor. Why are we going to help solve an inheritance dispute?"

"Jenny, my girl, do you really think I would take on such an ordinary request as that?" His hands were adjusting the steering wheel as a little hole appeared ahead of them. When they got passed it, he continued. "Oh, no! This is altogether a unique and exciting situation, and it has piqued my intellectual curiosity. But I think it would be best to explain the case before we arrive at our destination."

The professor started with the facts detained by the case, entering a long piece of speech.

"Two months ago, Baron Augustus Reinhold passed away. Shortly after his death, his will was disclosed. The contents of it were fascinating, to say the least. The Reinhold family treasure, the Golden Apple, is hidden somewhere within the village. To whomever successfully locates the treasure, I will offer the whole of my state." He straighten up himself on his seat and continued. "Naturally those who attended the reading of the will immediately set out in search of the Golden Apple. But in the end, everybody came back empty handed. Turns out that no one had even heard of such a treasure existing until its mention in the will."

Jenny was now fully awaken, excited by this new event: "Wow, that's some puzzle all right!"

The professor replied with belief: "Quite. Augustus Reinhold staked his entire fortune just to create one more puzzle before his death. What a perplexing individual. I wish I could have met him while he was still alive."

With a smile on her face and little giggle, Jenny said: "It certainly sounds like you two would've got along Professor! By the way, just what is this Golden Apple anyhow?"

"Some speculate it's a rare antique, while others say it could be a gem, yet its identity remains elusive. But Jenny, I can't shake the feeling that the matter is linked to some larger mystery. Something huge."

"Aha! Is that your famous intuition at work again Professor?"

"Mm. Well, our first step is getting to town." The professor said drily. His apprentice was at the contrary, excited. "This is all so exciting! I hope that Saint Mystere is ready for the archaeologist and puzzle-solving detective, Hershel Layton!"

With modesty, the man replied: "Ha ha! Oh Jenny, you know as well as I do that I am not a detective. Augustus Reinhold's wife, Lady Dahlia, has asked me to investigate the situation. It seems she came across my name by chance when reading an article about me in the papers."