Chaos of the Masked Writer

Chaos of the Masked Writer (, Fukumen Sakka Jūmonji Kazuto no Konran, Lit. "Masked Writer Kazuto Jumonji's Chaos") is the 18th side case in Lost Judgment.
== Plot ==
Yagami sees a request from Kazuto Jumonji, who Tsukumo states is a bestselling author who became known two years prior. He publishes two to three books per month, and writes in several different genres. Yagami suspects he may have gotten this request because he has worked with an author before. Tsukumo tells him no one has seen Jumonji's face before; only his editor knows what he looks like. There are many theories about him; one such is that he is an established author using a pen name.
In Kamurocho, Yagami meets the client on the third floor of a Tenkaichi Street building, Aruto Okazaki. He makes Yagami promise to not tell anyone what he sees inside. In the room, the true identity of Kazuto Jumonji is 10 authors, explaining the quick release dates and genre diversity. They banded together because they were never successful beyond their publishing debut, finding each other through Okazaki's online community on social media. Okazaki himself was a former editor, and is in charge of schedule management.
Okazaki states their plagiarism issue started roughly half a year ago. While polishing a manuscript, a hit novel was released which had far too many similarities to the manuscript they were using for it to be a coincidence. The same author released three books later with plagiarized ideas. The author is Sugoroku Futaba, whose first novel was published over a decade ago, but his future books did not have the same success. Okazaki states that Jumonji's secret would need to be revealed if the case went to court, meaning they cannot sue, and Yagami suggests Futaba is exploiting this. Okazaki adds that the three detectives they hired previously were unable to find out how their ideas were being stolen. Yagami is given permission to interview the other members.
* Mikuru Machiyama, Takara Ayuhara, Makoto Nishimura: Cellphone novelist, former period drama writer, light novelist. They brainstorm at the table near the window at the same time each day. A firecracker goes off, which also went off the last time a detective was investigating.
* Takashi Hojo, Ayame Satou: Science and military researcher and office security, western mythology and fantasy researcher. Their information was being stolen even with hidden cameras and locked doors, with no evidence of a break-in. Computers are offline and memory devices are not allowed to leave the room.
* Manabe: Character writer. Is too focused on his work to talk.
* Remi Makita: Is Ichinose's unofficial caretaker.
* Masamichi Ichinose: Is unable to attend, has frequent periods of absence due to slump. Plays video games in his room all day. Is very talented and provides fresh ideas, but cannot handle criticism.
* Kenichi Sanada: Story structuring. On the rooftop. Suspects a writer is selling ideas due to some members thinking of becoming independent, which they cannot do due to a five-year contract, but if the group splits, all members receive equal royalties. Wants to prevent a breakup.
Okazaki steps on the roof and tells Yagami that the authors smell meat during their brainstorming sessions but are unable to find its source. Yagami returns to the office for an investigation, and calls Ranpo to help find the smell. Ranpo seems to be bothered by the cigarette butts, and Okazaki states Mikuru opens the window to let the cigarette smoke outside due to the ventilation system's low fresh air intake, as some of the authors think better while smoking. He is not concerned of ideas leaking, as they are on the third floor and neighboring buildings are far enough away. Ranpo has Yagami investigate the window, and he sees a stain outside and near the above window. He also sees animal fur.
It becomes evident that Sanada is not the only one suspicious of the others after Manabe insists on taking a project home due to a fast-apporaching deadline. Ranpo traces the odd scent to a cat food can on the roof. Sanada tells Okazaki that they may need to confront the authors one-by-one, but Yagami asks them to wait until his investigation is complete. With the evidence put together, Yagami states the perpetrator used a Listening Device at the time of brainstorming that was only in use when needed. Yagami shows them either the Smelly Stain or Can of Cat Food to show how the bug was called: by dropping cat food. He then states the Animal Fur present indicated the bug is a cat with a listening device attached. Yagami suspects the culprit kept the cat starving until eavesdropping time. To keep the cat near the listening spot, the food had sleep medication in it. A sleeping cat is far less suspicious than a hanging wire. If the cat needed to leave beforehand, the culprit could use the Sound of Firecrackers to make it move away if a light dose of sleep medication was used, which had been done during Yagami's investigation and during another detective's investigation. In conclusion, The suspect was someone on the outside, and may be nearby to set the pieces of his plan in place. On a rooftop of another building, Yagami sees a man looking at them through binoculars holding a cat.
Yagami gives chase and catches the suspicious man. When trying to deny spying, he bluffs that his fingerprints are on the cat food can. The man then tries to fight Yagami, but loses. Okazaki catches up to Yagami and recognizes the man as Ichimonji's former editor, Wataru Tenjinbashi. He was their editor until roughly one year prior, when he was asked to be reassigned after leaking classified information on a book they were working on before they decided on publishing it or not. Because he leaked a twist, they were forced to discard the novel and start over. Tenjinbashi states that after he lost a featured author, the editor-in-chief refused to give him work, forcing him to resign, and he plagiarized their ideas as revenge.
With Tenjinbashi being sent to court, Okazaki states Jumonji's teamwork has been in disarray, and the members need to make amends to move past their former mistrust. Okazaki and Sanada shake hands.
=== People ===
Icon 	Name 	Introduced
 	 	Meet the Client at their Office in Kamurocho
An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. He's also the one who requested the investigation. He's in charge of managing the members' schedules. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. He's also the one who requested the investigation. He's in charge of managing the members' schedules. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. He's also the one who requested the investigation. He's in charge of managing the members' schedules.
 	 	Question the Members of Kazuto Jumonji
An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. Formerly a scriptwriter of samurai plays. His words and actions towards Mikuru Machiyama may be construed as sexual harassment by some.	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. Formerly a scriptwriter of samurai plays. His words and actions towards Mikuru Machiyama may be construed as sexual harassment by some.	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. Formerly a scriptwriter of samurai plays. His words and actions towards Mikuru Machiyama may be construed as sexual harassment by some.
 	 	Question the Members of Kazuto Jumonji
An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. A cell phone novelist. Gracefully dodges Ayuhara's harassment. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. A cell phone novelist. Gracefully dodges Ayuhara's harassment. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. A cell phone novelist. Gracefully dodges Ayuhara's harassment.
 	 	Question the Members of Kazuto Jumonji
An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. A former light novel writer. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. A former light novel writer. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. A former light novel writer.
 	 	Question the Members of Kazuto Jumonji
An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. An expert in scientific and military settings. He's also in charge of the office's security. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. An expert in scientific and military settings. He's also in charge of the office's security. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. An expert in scientific and military settings. He's also in charge of the office's security.
 	 	Question the Members of Kazuto Jumonji
An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. An expert in mythology and Western cultures. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. An expert in mythology and Western cultures. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. An expert in mythology and Western cultures.
 	 	Question the Members of Kazuto Jumonji
An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. According to Okazaki-san, he makes characters come to life. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. According to Okazaki-san, he makes characters come to life. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. According to Okazaki-san, he makes characters come to life.
 	 	Question the Members of Kazuto Jumonji
An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. A genius who always has new ideas but is also unstable and prone to absenteeism. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. A genius who always has new ideas but is also unstable and prone to absenteeism. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. A genius who always has new ideas but is also unstable and prone to absenteeism.
 	 	Question the Members of Kazuto Jumonji
An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. Apparently in charge of love stories. She's worried about another member, Masamichi Ichinose, who frequently calls in sick. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. Apparently in charge of love stories. She's worried about another member, Masamichi Ichinose, who frequently calls in sick. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. Apparently in charge of love stories. She's worried about another member, Masamichi Ichinose, who frequently calls in sick.
 	 	Talk to Sanada on the Rooftop
An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. Seems to be in charge of the story's structure. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. Seems to be in charge of the story's structure. 	An author and member of Kazuto Jumonji. Seems to be in charge of the story's structure.
 	 	Figure out the Unknown Odor
Former editor of Kazuto Jumonji. He was the culprit of the spy incident. 	Former editor of Kazuto Jumonji. He was the culprit of the spy incident. 	Former editor of Kazuto Jumonji. He was the culprit of the spy incident.
=== Evidence ===
Icon 	Name 	Obtained
 	Smelly Stain 	Figure out the Unknown Odor
A smelly stain found outside Kazuto Jumonji's office window. What could it be from? 	A smelly stain found outside Kazuto Jumonji's office window. What could it be from? 	A smelly stain found outside Kazuto Jumonji's office window. What could it be from?
 	Animal Fur 	Figure out the Unknown Odor
A tuft of fur found outside Kazuto Jumonji's office window. Probably fell off of an animal. 	A tuft of fur found outside Kazuto Jumonji's office window. Probably fell off of an animal. 	A tuft of fur found outside Kazuto Jumonji's office window. Probably fell off of an animal.
 	Sound of Firecrackers 	Question the Members of Kazuto Jumonji
Firecrackers were set off outside Kazuto Jumonji's office window. Ayuhara-san says it's just some neighborhood kids. They were heard when the last detective had arrived.	Firecrackers were set off outside Kazuto Jumonji's office window. Ayuhara-san says it's just some neighborhood kids. They were heard when the last detective had arrived.	Firecrackers were set off outside Kazuto Jumonji's office window. Ayuhara-san says it's just some neighborhood kids. They were heard when the last detective had arrived.
 	Can of Cat Food 	Figure out the Unknown Odor
A can of cat food found on the roof of Kazuto Jumonji's office. It has the same smell as the stain found outside their window. This must be the source of the stain. 	A can of cat food found on the roof of Kazuto Jumonji's office. It has the same smell as the stain found outside their window. This must be the source of the stain. 	A can of cat food found on the roof of Kazuto Jumonji's office. It has the same smell as the stain found outside their window. This must be the source of the stain.
===Details===
A request from Kazuto Jumonji, the masked author. It seems three of his unannounced books have been consecutively plagiarized. He says he'd already asked another detective to investigate, but they couldn't identify the culprit. According to Tsukumo, Kazuto Jumonji is a mysterious author who's been publishing new books at an unusually fast rate since his debut, every one of them becoming a bestseller.
Who would've thought Kazuto Jumonji was actually a group of ten different authors? That explained the rapid release schedule and wide range of genres. As for the spy, the trick involved an animal—a cat carrying a listening device.
== Tasks ==
* Meet the Client at their Office in Kamurocho 
* Question the Members of Kazuto Jumonji 
* Talk to Sanada on the Rooftop
* Get Sanada Talking
* Head Back to the Office 
* Figure out the Unknown Odor 
* Catch the Suspicious Man 
* Defeat the Suspicious Man 
==Gallery==
==Notes==
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Category:Lost Judgment Side Cases