Mini Trial 29 - Balcony Murder?

[Panda]

Nagisa left the group for a moment and then joined back

"I went to the Clothing and I actually found something interesting. It seems someone was hiding in there!"

[⋆⋅ Sage ⋅⋆]

Arin has been spacing out for the last little while. To be fully honest, his feeble mind has been consumed by memories of Battle Kid and his humiliating defeat at the hands of the Red Plant, Purple Plant, Blue Plant...!

But he did remember some other parts of his evening, though he's fashionably late.

"I played Bario Kart for a while, but then Noir left. I left soon after that. Outside -- what the hey?! -- I saw Vampire walk out of the shed with a dang chainsaw! No way I was getting close to him like that, so I waited 'til he was gone and started to check out the shed myself. And guess what I found? A secret passage! There was this ladder leading under the shed, so I went down it! (A3)

That secret passage brought me to the basement, where I saw Mouse. We looked around for a bit, but then Kangaroo showed up to ruin all the fun. (A4)

I left Mouse there and headed to the main room to avoid that dang Kangaroo. As I was going up the stairs, though, I heard a freaky high-pitched noise, and then BOOM! A blackout! I almost pissed my pants! Then that freakin' Kangaroo appeared and shoved me out of the way on their way upstairs. I followed, and went outside, where I saw Dragon and Monika. (A5)

When the lights went back on, I headed back inside, but there was nothing and no one inside! (A6)

I decided to check out the Office, and found Mouse inside! We chatted for a bit, and looked around the office for any dang gossip! Her office was such a mess though! (A7)"

[Tetsu]

Naru thinks a little 

"Alright...maybe I could just help you with the first 3 actions. I will give you some help if you need it."

Naru winks and then recounts his night

"Okay! I finished dinner then head to the Storage Room, Kangaroo masked followed me in. We talk for a little while, then out of the blue...I fell asleep! Isn't that right, Sumireko, you're the one with me in the Storage Room!"

Naru points at Sumireko with that accusation

"After that, I slept for Action 2 and Action 3! Well that's all!"

---

After a lengthy period of silence Naru begins giggling

"Oh...IIIIIISSSSAAAAA...are you sure you're not...lying...about the Office scene? Maybe you made it up to push suspicion away from the intended culprit...say you had an affair with...someone from Alu's Ear? Maybe that's why you needed Cloud to "disappear"."

Naru's eye darkened.

"I think...we just need to jolt your memory a little more...could be the trauma of losing someone...a good as Cloud."

He then turns to Excel

"Well...Mr.Spreadwhite! Could you recount your....experience in the Main Hall? I feel like...it could be interesting...too."

Naru then stops and then piqued

"Oh...I guess those stab wounds and whatever else...is just a red herring...don't you think so...since we've cleared it regards Isa!"

[yuu]

May 23, 2020 9:07:44 GMT -6 Zero One/Zero Two said:

May 23, 2020 9:01:11 GMT -6 mao said:

"Crushed windpipe? That would definitely prevent him from calling help. It would also cause death in seconds, as his lungs are drowned in blood. But... there was no sign of internal bleeding or any marks that would suggest his neck was injured. Would someone else like to investigate the body and confirm what Mr. Haru has said here so far? Otherwise, we cannot take your statements for granted." Excel reasoned. 

"Hmm, the office... Yes! It was trashed, after all. But... something tells me it may be linked to this terrorist organization rather than the murder? Perhaps one of us was after an incriminating document, that could stain Isa's reputation? Although, a murder under her roof is quite effective, as well." 

"The chainsaw was not bloody, was it? Unless we are all blind, I would say it was not used to deliver these wounds, as it would be much more difficult to move around and clean, compared to the knife in the bathroom." 

"Kangaroo? Kangaroo?! How is this all related to that person at all!!!"

Ah... I see how it is now... I forgot our hostess here is the Prime Minister of Japan... And our deceased friend here is the Boyfriend of said Prime Minister... Perhaps this is one of the way Isa's enemy is trying to ruin her reputation...

That being said, we're all invited here for a reason, aren't we? Perhaps discussing that could reveal who have a motive to do this murder?

Dio’s face took a suddenly serious expression.

“ I probably shouldn’t tell you why I’m here but... eh, it’s hardly worth keeping it secret now I guess.” He paused to make sure he had everyone’s full attention.

” I was hired as security.” He shrugged dramatically. “ I know, I don't look like much, but that’s the kinda the point. I wasn’t to make myself known. A party at the prime ministers house? And with terrorists around? You’re fuckin brain dead if you did’t see this coming. Of course, this aint the kinda thing you can solve with brute force, ya know? Be terrible for publicity.”

He slowly eyed everyone around the room.

”Truth is...one of us WASN’T invited. Unfortunately, I failed to do my job in time and...this happened. What a mood killer.”

[superkirbystar]

I actually think I know the reason of the blackout, so we can easily cross out the culprit doing it. During the time I was in the Main Room, I did a certain... thing and the lights turned off.

[yuu]

May 23, 2020 8:54:48 GMT -6 Tetsu said:

May 23, 2020 8:47:23 GMT -6 Zero One/Zero Two said:

Alright, question is, why would he wrote Isa names? Is Isa the murderer? Or did Isa knows something we don't, that are related to his death? OwO

Naru shakes his head

"You are dense as Kuma!"


Naru spoke

"It could be a red herring to lead us to believe it was...Isa...but it could also be a lie...what would I know!"


Naru then points out

"Another thing...the motive..could maybe be related to those stolen items located in the Laundry Room..maybe Cloud found out or accidentally stumbled into them...and caused him to get killed too...that could be possible right...Mr.Excel? Or maybe it was just me?"

  Dio piped in at the suggestion of a red herring.

” Maybe, not even that. Fujihara is her  family name. You tellin me she has NO other Family?”

Dio gave a slight smirk at the mention of the loot-bag.

” Oh. That was mine. I work on contingency and after botching this mission...well I got a REALLY large family to feed! Of course, I only raided the bedroom. No idea why the whole place was fuckin trashed.”

He reached into his pocket and picked out a letter. He crossed his arms over his chest waving the letter in one hand at them.

” Is this the letter from Alu’s ear you were talking about it? Interesting thing...I found it in a bedroom drawer while I was looting.”

 

[⋆⋅ Sage ⋅⋆]

May 23, 2020 18:53:49 GMT -6 superkirbystar said:

I did a certain... thing and the lights turned off.

"What did you do? ...And why are you being so dang secretive about it!"

[The Mask]

May 23, 2020 18:16:12 GMT -6 Tetsu said:

Naru thinks a little 

"Alright...maybe I could just help you with the first 3 actions. I will give you some help if you need it."

Naru winks and then recounts his night

"Okay! I finished dinner then head to the Storage Room, Kangaroo masked followed me in. We talk for a little while, then out of the blue...I fell asleep! Isn't that right, Sumireko, you're the one with me in the Storage Room!"

Naru points at Sumireko with that accusation

"After that, I slept for Action 2 and Action 3! Well that's all!"

Sumireko was taken aback by the sudden accusation by Naru...



"What makes you think that? What is your proof?"

[Tetsu]

Naru puts both his hands on the back of his head and smirks

"Oh I don't know...maybe you're a good two shoes...but...eh..."

He shrugs

"Thanks to someone, you're off the hook for now...Ms.Pinkcheckered, unless you really are Kangaroo. But do provide us with some alibi."

[Clairmont IX]

May 23, 2020 19:23:37 GMT -6 yuu said:

May 23, 2020 8:54:48 GMT -6 Tetsu said:

Naru shakes his head

"You are dense as Kuma!"


Naru spoke

"It could be a red herring to lead us to believe it was...Isa...but it could also be a lie...what would I know!"


Naru then points out

"Another thing...the motive..could maybe be related to those stolen items located in the Laundry Room..maybe Cloud found out or accidentally stumbled into them...and caused him to get killed too...that could be possible right...Mr.Excel? Or maybe it was just me?"

  Dio piped in at the suggestion of a red herring.

” Maybe, not even that. Fujihara is her  family name. You tellin me she has NO other Family?”

Dio gave a slight smirk at the mention of the loot-bag.

” Oh. That was mine. I work on contingency and after botching this mission...well I got a REALLY large family to feed! Of course, I only raided the bedroom. No idea why the whole place was fuckin trashed.”

He reached into his pocket and picked out a letter. He crossed his arms over his chest waving the letter in one hand at them.

” Is this the letter from Alu’s ear you were talking about it? Interesting thing...I found it in a bedroom drawer while I was looting.”

 

Wait, the note was found in the Bedroom? What the hell?

"Wait, but Bedroom is Cloud's room? Why would he have that note, and not tell anyone about it?"

She pondered

"Hey, uh... wait who the Kuma! are you? I didn't invite you as security. A-Actually, whatever, that can be sorted out after this, what the hell does that note say? There might be a reason he tried to hide it, like to protect me or something!"

[⋆⋅ Sage ⋅⋆]

May 23, 2020 17:52:24 GMT -6 Clairmont IX said:

I'm not certain, but I am pretty sure there were chemicals inside the elevator. Perhaps the reason you didn't see it is because you were talking to Clown. If you were discussing something with him, a small, grey bottle on the floor is pretty easy to miss.

"So you're saying that Mike coulda missed it because he was talking to me... but you just haaaaaappened to have seen the bottles even though you were with your boytoy? Likely story!"

[yuu]

May 23, 2020 19:56:30 GMT -6 Clairmont IX said:

May 23, 2020 19:23:37 GMT -6 yuu said:

  Dio piped in at the suggestion of a red herring.

” Maybe, not even that. Fujihara is her  family name. You tellin me she has NO other Family?”

Dio gave a slight smirk at the mention of the loot-bag.

” Oh. That was mine. I work on contingency and after botching this mission...well I got a REALLY large family to feed! Of course, I only raided the bedroom. No idea why the whole place was fuckin trashed.”

He reached into his pocket and picked out a letter. He crossed his arms over his chest waving the letter in one hand at them.

” Is this the letter from Alu’s ear you were talking about it? Interesting thing...I found it in a bedroom drawer while I was looting.”

 

Wait, the note was found in the Bedroom? What the hell?

"Wait, but Bedroom is Cloud's room? Why would he have that note, and not tell anyone about it?"

She pondered

"Hey, uh... wait who the Kuma! are you? I didn't invite you as security. A-Actually, whatever, that can be sorted out after this, what the hell does that note say? There might be a reason he tried to hide it, like to protect me or something!"

  “ No, YOU didn’t hire me. Your boyfriend did. We go way back so he hires me for the real sensitive Kuma! he doesn’t trust anyone else with...Kuma! just like this.” He casually held up the letter between two fingers for her to take. As he did so his gaze met hers in probably the first real expression since joining.

” I’m truly sorry that I failed him...and you.”

[The Mask]

May 23, 2020 19:29:55 GMT -6 Tetsu said:

Naru puts both his hands on the back of his head and smirks

"Oh I don't know...maybe you're a good two shoes...but...eh..."

He shrugs

"Thanks to someone, you're off the hook for now...Ms.Pinkcheckered. But do provide us with some alibi.

"Very well then. Ill provide my alibi. But first allow me to say one thing..."

Sumireko's expression then turns dark...

"Your claim about me are indeed correct. Isn't that right Vampire-kun?"

[Clairmont IX]

Isa could feel herself face palm so hard it went through her face, what... even is that reasoning?

"I noticed it because I was inside of a stopped elevator, you normally panic and look for anything wrong in a time like that. The elevator is quite fast as well, unless you were looking for it you wouldn't have seen it."

She turned to Dio and began to read the note

"Dear Cloud,"

She wasn't even a line in and could feel something was wrong

I hope you realise that the time has now come, it is time for you to remove Isa."

Her reading tone broke and quickly became a panicked one

"W-What the hell is going on?"

She continued to read the letter

"If we plan this correctly, we will be able to... topple the government, top down?!? Though we have gone over the plan-"

She looked up again, she had started to look a little bit blue

"T-The plan? W-What plan?"

She looked back at the note

"here is it one more time."

She paused for a moment, probably to catch her breathe and think about what she just read

"At some point during the night, you must meet up with Isa, and tell her to come to the Attic with you. That idiot is head over heels for you, so she will make time for you."

She froze.

"Cloud... asked me to go to the Attic with him"

As she was reading, she continued to turn more and more blue

"Once you reach the attic, you shall begin to strangle her. Make sure to not break her windpipe."

After reading that, her tone began to break. She had started to cry again.

"Once she has passed away, hide her body inside the clothing room, and head back downstairs. This will not take very long. Good luck Cloud. All of our eyes will be on you."

She paused once more, she started to look a little bit dizzy.

"W-What the Kuma!?"

She walked up to a wall to lean on

"W-Wait... theres more..."

She continued to read

"Myself, as well as my second in command will be attending the party tonight as well, do not disappoint us.
Sincerely,"

She looked up once more

"W-Wait, I cant read this next part properly, it's been blacked out."

She looks back down

"[NAME REDACTED], the head of Alu’s Ear."

The pulls the note out of her face, and says

"T-The head of Alu's Ear? What the fu-"

She is suddenly cut off by a loud bang. Everyone looks up to see Isa lying on the floor, she had fainted.

For some reason, you get the urge to recheck the "Note on the floor" truth bullet

[yuu]

Dio sat perfectly still where he sat.

His face rested on his chin as he continued to speak as if anyone were still paying attention to him after Isa had fainted.

“ I can’t say I know what to make of it myself. He said that he thought he could protect you if I could find and remove this ‘second in command.’
Or, maybe it was a lie, part of some long con and we were both his pawns. Maybe he intended to use me as his scape goat.”

He lazily got up and knelt by Isa “ Well, it matters little. The plan was foiled, you survived, now we need to find the bastard who ruined the party, eh?”