Chapter 53: B-Rank Hidden Mission: The Choice Before the Storm

Facing this, the Chief Mate visibly showed a flash of panic followed by a forced show of sternness:
"What do you want to do? Who on earth are you?"
"Just as my business card reads, Kevin Ed, a private investigator from North Carolina," Su Wen calmly continued.
"Three minutes before the homicide was exposed, Austin Fran slipped into the banquet hall from a blind spot in the surveillance. According to analysis, he likely buried something beneath the third turquoise plant that could not be discovered by international waters police and the Order of Wardens. Therefore, compared to the person who first discovered the scene, assuming the police investigate this matter, First Mate Austin, your suspicion would naturally become the greatest. However, it is a great pity. From the evidence I have obtained, your suspicion as the killer remains questionable."

Upon hearing this extremely confidential piece of information—an illegal act potentially even more severe in impact than the 'homicide'—Captain Adrian directly dialed the phone of his most trusted security officer:
"Paul, help me move the third turquoise plant from the banquet hall to my cabin. I want it now. Remember, keep your movements subtle and make sure the meddling invited journalists and other distinguished VIPs among the tourists don't find out about this."

Ten minutes later, the security officer secretly brought a crate containing the plant into the room. Under Adrian's arrangements, the base of the plant decoration was completely dismantled. A bag of glowing blue crystals wrapped in transparent, flexible silicone was revealed.
The captain was not unfamiliar with this item. He said calmly:
"Border Dust: 'Lost Sea - 03 - Dream'. First Mate, could you explain which Transcendent organization holding the 'Deep Sea' advancement lineage you actually contacted? I suppose it probably has nothing to do with us in the Woodsman Sect."

Nelson did not interject. He knew that without Adrian's permission, it would be impossible for him to write about this matter in his travelogue.
On the other side, looking at the conclusive evidence on the table, Austin Fran's psychological defense completely collapsed. He knelt on the floor and said:
"Captain, I was just momentarily blinded by greed. Please, listen to my explanation."
"So, when you came to me earlier saying you had left something behind in the banquet hall, was it this 'thing'?" Adrian asked calmly in a deep voice. "Austin, I remember you've been following me for about thirteen or fourteen years now. Have you done anything else during this time?"

Hearing these words, Austin Fran lowered his head toward the detective he had looked down upon just moments before:
"Mr. Kevin, I don't care how you found out about this, but please, you must investigate thoroughly. I truly didn't kill Ms. Henry."

How did Su Wen investigate thoroughly? It was very simple. Compared to ordinary detectives, he possessed far more powerful investigative methods. To find the killer, he had chosen to reload his save file at the very first moment. Then, "while casually passing by the banquet hall," Su Wen tossed a miniature camera equipped with a mobile module into the room. Under the surveillance of the high-precision pinhole camera from Leisangton, all the activities inside the banquet hall were naturally laid bare before him.

It was only a pity that the game's starting point was far too late; he could only witness the stealthy smuggling activities carried out by First Mate Austin. Furthermore, the concealment of the victim's corpse had been enhanced by Transcendent abilities, making it impossible to immediately identify the killer. Based on estimations, the victim's timeline of death should be pushed further back, and he needed more evidence.

Adrian looked at Su Wen. This time, he regarded the abilities of this 'Mr. Detective' with genuine respect. After all, being able to uncover the First Mate's smuggling activities and present corresponding evidence was a capability truly worthy of recognition.
"If the Nightwatchers find out... not only him, but the reputation of the entire 'Colin' will be utterly ruined. But I also have a question I must ask. Detective Kevin, how did you discover this?"

Hearing Adrian's question, Su Wen smiled. He had already obtained the infallibly correct answer, and now he simply needed to unearth sufficient evidence:
"From the moment Mr. Nelson and I pushed the door open and heard this First Mate claim he had left a personal item behind in the banquet hall, I began to wonder: supposing the First Mate left something behind, what kind of thing would be worth speaking of in such a secretive tone inside the Captain's cabin? That is point of doubt number one.
Secondly, I had previously visited the banquet hall, though I did not stay long. But after Mr. Nelson told me about the Woodsman Sect's affectionate attitude toward plants, point of doubt number two naturally arose: since all the plants on the ship belong to Mr. Adrian's most cherished treasures, then, thinking in reverse, what is the safest place? The answer goes without saying. Extending along this line of thought, I spotted First Mate Austin Fran's nameplate near the edge of the seating area close to the third row of plants.
Of course, to corroborate the completeness of the 'soil burial' deduction, the target range was narrowed down further. First, it required soil that was easy to dig up and smooth over again. Among them, 'turquoise' clearly does not possess such a robust and widespread root system. Furthermore, the cuff of the First Mate's left sleeve was stained with extremely fine traces of mud. That is point of doubt number three.
The final point of doubt, number four: when I was heading down the stairwell toward the deck, I happened to catch a glimpse of Austin's figure. To add another detail, when I left the cabin, it happened to be ten minutes before the homicide took place. Just as the head of security corroborated, the surveillance circuit at that exact moment underwent a twenty-second routine maintenance check. Anyone capable of precisely utilizing that piece of information must be a core member of the crew.
Now, Mr. Adrian, how do you find this answer?"

The Captain stood up, performed a salute of respect from the Woodsman Sect, and then spoke earnestly to the detective:
"If there were no emergency right now, I would certainly recommend you to join the Woodsman Sect and the Fals Chamber of Commerce."
Subsequently, he shook Su Wen's hand and said with utmost reverence:
"Detective Kevin, if you can find the murderer, I can accept a reward multiplied by ten on top of the market rate. Please, I beg of you!"

From this moment on, the importance he placed on the detective was elevated to an entirely new level. Nelson was equally awestruck by Detective Kevin's performance. Therefore, even in subsequent reports, this detective would undoubtedly become the absolute protagonist of his accounts. From a stranger to a 'tourist', and then to an 'investigator', Su Wen's identity had undergone a stepped elevation in a very short span of time.

[Phased mission has changed]
[While assisting the investigation as a detective, you are searching for clues related to the 'Surging Tide Cult', and you have now seized absolute initiative]

This result was well within his expectations. Su Wen smiled calmly:
"Don't worry, I am quite satisfied with this price."
Having obtained authorization, he and Nelson calmly departed the Captain's cabin, accompanied by the security officer most trusted by the Captain, leaving behind any further thoughts on the ultimate fate of the First Mate. To navigators crossing ocean currents and surviving countless storms, [Mercy] was likely an answer that could never exist in their dictionary.

Moreover, while reverse-engineering the First Mate's smuggling case, Su Wen had also grasped two clues pointing to the 'true killer':
1. Someone, just like the First Mate, knew about the extremely brief adjustment window of the surveillance circuit.
2. Furthermore, that person also knew about Austin Fran's smuggling activities and intended to pin the blame for the homicide onto that 'foolish' First Mate.

Interesting.
Just at that moment, the game interface popped up a red alert:

[Sudden Emergency]
[According to timeline simulation]
[Because the Surging Tide Cult has decided to perform a 'Sacrificial Rehearsal' using the deceased on board the 'Colin']
[A gift from the Storm Griffin Fugarov: 'Deep Sea Law - Undercurrent' is imminent]
[Once the time arrives, the entire ship will face the catastrophic end of sinking]
[Due to your outstanding deductive performance just now]
[You have triggered the Grade B Hidden Quest: 'Choice Before the Storm']
[The 'Choice Before the Storm' branch quest is divided into two completion options:
1. Find the target the 'Surging Tide Cult' truly wishes to sacrifice, and take him (or her) to escape via a lifeboat.
2. Catch the killer and terminate the sacrificial rehearsal (Hidden option unlocked)]
[Please remember, your time is limited!]
[Please make your choice]