You are Detective ELLIOT CROSS. In the aftermath of last night’s chaotic premiere, where the final masterpiece of the renowned artist Dante Vero was expected to be unveiled but shockingly went missing, your captain has assigned you to take on the case. Whether that’s a stroke of luck or simply more trouble remains to be seen.
[[First Stop: Victor Hale]]Your first stop is the apartment of Victor Hale, an art critic and, reportedly, a close friend of the late artist. Though their views on art often clashed, Victor might have insights into Dante’s final days—and he was seen at the premiere, so perhaps he holds valuable information to push this investigation forward.
[[Return]]Victor Hale’s apartment is a modest yet tastefully arranged space. The layout is straightforward: a one-bedroom apartment with a living room that opens into a small kitchen area, a narrow hallway leading to the bedroom and office (both currently off-limits), and a tiny balcony overlooking the lively street below. Natural light filters in from the balcony doors, filling the room with a soft, warm glow. Victor, sitting at the kitchen table with a morning newspaper. If exmine closely, one can see he is focusing on the article about Dante Vero’s missing masterpiece from last night.
[[Approach Victor Directly]]
[[Inspect the Kitchen]]
[[Examine the Living Room]]
[[Step onto the Balcony]]As you approach, Victor subtly sets the newspaper down, and pointedly places it face-down on the table. He stands up and his gaze shifts up to meet yours.
[["Good morning, Mr. Hale. I am Detective Elliot, who has been assigned to look into the case of Dante Vero's missing masterpiece. I'm pretty sure I don't need to debrief you on the case and I value you are likely to have some insights for me about the chaos last night. "]] The kitchen is divided from the living room by a slender counter that serves as a breakfast bar. The space is arranged in an immaculate manner as if it were a museum display. Pnly the bare essentials are spotted: a stovetop kettle, a modest stack of plates and cups, and a perfectly folded tea towel draped neatly by the sink.
On the counter sits a cork from an old champagne bottle, oddly wrapped in a worn napkin.
[[Pick Up the Cork]]A yellow caterpillar couch sits snugly alongside a low coffee table. Atop the table, a single slender glass vase holds a colorful blend of fresh flowers—possibly daisies or cowslips picked up in the wild. To the opposite corner of the room, a sleek, modern bookshelf stands, overflowing with think art books, magazines, and neatly stacked periodicals.
Your eye on several art replicas scattered among other pieces on the shelves. Most prints bears Dante’s signature and some doodles—an unmistakable, looping flourish that stands out from the subtler signatures of other artists.
//[[Pick Up the Prints]] //Through a set of glass doors lies the balcony, tightly packed with two chairs and a small round table. An iron railing holds a few potted plants that appear to be lovingly tended. A faint breeze stirs the air, carrying in the city sounds: distant chatter, the hum of traffic, and the occasional laughter of passersby below.
Stepping out onto the balcony, you notice a small collection of paint supplies left on the table—brushes, a few pots of thick, vibrant colors, and half-used tubes of paint.
[[Pick Up the Paint Supplies]]VICTOR HALE:
//"Ay. Yes, Detective. I was expecting someone would come, maybe even sooner, given what happened last night."//
[["Understandable. From what I hear, it was quite the scene. And just like you said, I'd like to hear more about Dante - from someone who knew him well."]]VICTOR HALE: (Sighs, looking down on the folded newspaper)
//"It’s… difficult, to say the least. I’m not sure how much you’ve heard, but Dante and I… our friendship was complicated. We were friends, certainly, but he’d distanced himself in recent months. Ever since his health began to decline, I hardly saw him." //
Victor’s statement seems perfectly composed. But as a detective, you know that even the most polished words can hide layers of meaning. You’re trained to read between the lines, to notice the subtleties others miss. Your past experiences and expertise come into play now—this is where you shine.
[[Choose what best describes you from your past experiences.]]Choose what you do best to dig deeper and find out more beneath the surface:
[[Perceptive Eye]]
[[Science Savvy]]
[[Perfect Recall]]Perceptive Eye
//Detect emotions others try to mask. This skill allows you to read subtle shifts in tone, body language, or facial expressions, revealing hidden emotions through parenthetical notes. Use this to select tailored responses—Pursuade, Intimate, or Comfort—to encourage more open dialogue. //
[[I want to see the other options]]
[[I always had a knack for reading people. This is who I am]]Science Savvy
//Your expertise extends to scientific fields essential for detective work, giving you an edge in identifying critical terms related to chemistry, biology, or physics. These terms are highlighted during conversations, allowing you to pick up on subtle clues or contradictions that others might miss.//
[[I want to see the other options]]
[[Facts and patterns—those are the tools I trust. I will excel with knowledge.]]Perfect Recall
//Your memory is sharp and precise, allowing you to detect inconsistencies not only when two characters describe the same event but also when you press someone to recount an event multiple times. Inconsistencies will be highlighted in dialogue, helping you spot contradictions that reveal hidden truths. This ability is powerful but situational, as it requires repeated testimonies from people before discrepancies emerge.
//
[[I want to see the other options]]
[[My brain hasn't failed me once. When stories don't add up, I strike.]](live: 0.5s)[(goto: "Choose what best describes you from your past experiences.")]VICTOR HALE:
//"It’s… difficult, to say the least. I’m not sure how much you’ve heard, but Dante and I… our friendship was complicated. We were friends, certainly, but he’d distanced himself in recent months. Ever since his health began to decline, I hardly saw him." //
//[[“This will be remembered and can be recalled later for comparison, once you gather other testimonies or have the chance to question Victor again.”]]//[[Guided by your chosen insight, you return to Victor’s earlier remark.]][[Armed with your chosen expertise, you take another look at Victor’s previous statement.]][[With your chosen expertise now in focus, you revisit his previous statement.]]VICTOR HALE:
"It’s… ''difficult'' (//hesitation//), to say the least. I’m not sure ''how much you’ve heard ''(//guarded//), but Dante and I… our friendship was ''complicated'' (//strained//). We were friends, certainly, but he’d distanced himself in recent months. Ever since ''his health began to decline'' (//discomfort//), I hardly saw him."
[[[Comfort] "I can imagine. It must be hard, seeing someone you are close to end up with this mess. I may be here as a detective, but I can also be a good ear if you want to relive some of the burden at this difficult time, Mr Hale. "]]
[[[Pursuade] Complicated friendships… they’re more common than people think. Even the closest relationships can have their ups and downs, especially when strong personalities are involved. I assume this might be the case between you and Dante?]]
[[[Intimidate]"You mention his health, but ‘decline’ could mean a lot of things, Mr.Hale. Was it really just physical? Or was something else going on with him—something in his mind? This is serious matter, and I, need, every, detail."]]
VICTOR HALE:
//"It’s… difficult, to say the least. I’m not sure how much you’ve heard, but Dante and I… our friendship was complicated. We were friends, certainly, but he’d distanced himself in recent months. ''Ever since his health began to decline'', I hardly saw him." //
[[“You mentioned Dante’s health had been declining. Do you know what might have caused it? Was he seeking any kind of treatment?”]]VICTOR HALE (softening slightly, pausing):
//"Thank you, Detective. It’s… complicated, yes. Dante was like a force of nature, always pushing limits—of art, of people. But near the end, ''he became consumed, almost withdrawn'', as if something inside him was eating away. ''He’d become fixated, especially with this final work''. It felt less like art and more like… ''obsession''. I wanted to help, but I felt ''it made things worse''."//
//[[Dante develops this obsession with his art, what could it be?]]//VICTOR HALE (nodding reluctantly):
//"You’re not wrong. Dante and I, we had… ''different ideas''. I admired his ambition, but his need to create something ‘untouchable’ felt arrogant. He often talked about'' this final piece as something beyond reality'', even beyond art. It drove a wedge between us—he saw my approach as limited, practical. I warned him it was dangerous to lose himself in it, but he refused to listen."//
//[[Dante had become obsessed with his art, and Victor sensed it was dangerous—as if it was no longer just theory, but something he was prepared to act on. How far it has gone to?]]//VICTOR HALE(tense, glancing away before meeting your gaze):
//"Sorry Mr. Cross, I didn't mean to withhold - It's just hard to describe. Physical? Yes… and no. He did seem weaker, but there was something else—''a kind of madness'', perhaps. He’d say things, strange things, about his work… ''how it needed a piece of him'', something more than skill. He looked exhausted, almost feverish, like he was carrying a burden no one else could see. Whatever he was creating… it took everything from him."//
//[[Dante’s growing obsession with his art suggests something more—a dangerous instability, perhaps, with hints of a deeply personal sacrifice bound to his final masterpiece. What could it be?]]//This is the end of the experience. If you'd like to revisit it, click "Return" to go back to the beginning.
[[Return]]VICTOR HALE: (hesitates, then continues)
//“He was… restless, obsessed with his work. And he’d started buying strange materials— ''mercury, lead powder, and potassium powder.'' Not just samplings, but a lot. He claimed they were essential for executing his final vision. I understand some are common pigments in paints, but I was really curious how he was using all these .”//
//[[[Chemistry Insight] These aren’t ordinary art supplies. There’s more than meets the eyes.]]//Mercury and lead are toxic, while potassium powder is a volatile oxidizer. Combined, these substances create an unstable, potentially ''explosive mix''. Such materials are not typical and are hard to acquire in large quantities. Even in an era of creative freedom in art, this raises serious questions about Dante's true intentions.
//[[This info is now recorded. It might come in handy—something you can bring up later in conversations or to help you piecing things together.]]//This is the end of the experience. If you'd like to revisit it, click "Return" to go back to the beginning.
[[Return]]This is the end of the experience. If you'd like to revisit it, click "Return" to go back to the beginning.
[[Return]]This is the end of the experience. If you'd like to revisit it, click "Return" to go back to the beginning.
[[Return]]These sketches are smudged, their details blurred, but a closer examination might reveal something more.
After the initial examination, the system indicates that these now become accessible items which are now stored and can be viewed in your Inventory. Additionally, they also become versatile elements that you can creatively incorporate into your personal canvas—a customizable feature you’ll carry with you throughout the game to express and shape your journey.
[[Return]]As you pick up the cork and the napkin wrap, you notice two initials scrawled in ink on the napkin: “V” and “D”— Victor and Dante? Perharps this simple memento hints at a time of celebration, a shared moment now preserved in faded ink. What could it be?
[[Return]]These painting supplies feel like more than mere tools—they’re fragments of creativity left behind, waiting to become part of your investigation. Before moving forward, try selecting a brush and some paint to add your own touch to the personal canvas you’ll carry with you throughout the game. Let your creativity guide you as you uncover hidden truths.
[[Return]]This is the end of the experience. If you'd like to revisit it, click "Return" to go back to the beginning.
[[Return]]
↶↷You are Detective ELLIOT CROSS. In the aftermath of last night’s chaotic premiere, where the final masterpiece of the renowned artist Dante Vero was expected to be unveiled but shockingly went missing, your captain has assigned you to take on the case. Whether that’s a stroke of luck or simply more trouble remains to be seen.
First Stop: Victor Hale