The Missing Thing

The Missing Thing is a quest in .
==Steps==
# Investigate the goods at the camp (0/2)
# Talk to Heizou
# Go to Sangonomiya Shrine
# Talk to Shibata
# Go to a nearby location and talk to Heizou
# Wait until night (20:00–24:00)
# Head to Bourou Village
# Follow Todoroki and Tokuda
# Listen in on Todoroki and Tokuda's conversation
# Investigate the goods (0/3)
# Talk to Heizou
# Go with Heizou to where the inmates are imprisoned
# Talk to the inmates
# Wait until the following day (08:00–12:00)
# Question Todoroki
# Go to a nearby location and talk to Heizou
==Gameplay Notes==
* The is granted upon talking to Gorou after questioning Todoroki. Talking to Gorou is optional so the quest can be completed without earning this achievement.
==Dialogue==
===The Camp's Secret===
;(Talk to Heizou before investigating the goods)
: Shikanoin Heizou: So, have you found anything?
: I'm about to start looking.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Good, better get a move on. I've already noticed a few things of interest. Let's meet back here later.
;(Investigate the Sango Pearl)
: Paimon: Ooh! What's this shiny thing? Oh! It's a Sango Pearl!
;(Investigate the Crystal Marrow)
: Paimon: Hey, isn't this Crystal Marrow?
;(Talk to Heizou)
: Shikanoin Heizou: So, have you found anything?
: We found a bunch of Crystal Marrow and Sango Pearls.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Yes, I've found pretty much the same, and there really are a lot.
: Paimon: Aren't these all super expensive? Ohh, these must be the valuable things that went missing from the island! That's it, the Nobushi must've stolen them all!
: Shikanoin Heizou: Haha... I don't know if I'd go THAT far. The Nobushi would be very hard-pressed to find many opportunities to get their hands on commodities like these.
: Paimon: Huh? What do you mean? Did the Nobushi gather all this themselves?
: Shikanoin Heizou: No, that's unlikely. Crystal Marrow is a rare material for crafting weapons and Sango Pearls are an even more precious commodity.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Here's what I think. Due to Watatsumi's poor soil, the island's economy is quite fragile and heavily reliant on the trade of these special resources.
: Shikanoin Heizou: So, it's absolutely vital that they keep them under lock and key and well out of the Nobushi's reach. Which means, they got lucky with a huge batch like this... my guess is they ambushed a caravan.
: Shikanoin Heizou: If we go ask around at the Sangonomiya Shrine, we can find out if there have been any recent instances of caravans being plundered...
: I know someone at the shrine. Follow me.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Perfect, I knew you'd be a huge help.
: Paimon: Heh, well duh! The Traveler is Paimon's companion, after all.
----
;(Go to Sangonomiya Shrine and talk to Shibata)
: Shibata: Captain! I see you've found the detective.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Watatsumi Island sure is a beautiful place! I don't think I could ever leave.
: Shibata: Haha, you can stay as long as you like, granted you don't cause any trouble, that is. Her Excellency has stated that all friendly visitors are welcome.
: I'd like to know whether any merchants or caravans have recently reported incidents of stolen goods.
: Shibata: Incidents of stolen goods? Not that I'm aware of... Her Excellency has recently launched several measures to boost the economy, including the development of trade routes and establishing our own caravans.
: Shibata: Troops have also been deployed to protect them, so it is only reasonable to assume that the current trade routes are already very safe. Any looting or theft would be practically unthinkable.
: Shikanoin Heizou: That's strange... then where did the Nobushi get those goods from?
: Shibata: Huh? You mean you found goods of unknown origin?
: Paimon: Yep, and it's all Sango Pearls and Crystal Marrow, so we know it's local!
: Shibata: Could there really have been a theft that hasn't been reported? That shouldn't be the case... Well, perhaps you could go ask Todoroki.
: Shibata: He's responsible for the caravans and is usually in the village at night preparing the goods. If something has happened, he should know about it.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Great, thank you for all the info. , let's go.
: Gorou: Hey, ! It's been a while, I've missed you. Why didn't you inform me that you'd be coming over today?
: Shibata: Ah, General Gorou!
: Gorou: You're dismissed, Shibata. You may go about your other duties while I catch up with the Traveler.
: Shibata: Yes, General Gorou!
: Gorou: I overheard you discussing a case of stolen goods, is that right?
: Paimon: That's right! We found a lot of Watatsumi's valuable products in a Nobushi camp!
:
: Gorou: I see, so you've come to ask if we know of any relevant cases, well...
: Gorou: *sigh* I'm ashamed to say that... yes, the caravans have been plundered, and not just once, I'm afraid.
: Gorou: We had already dispatched additional forces to protect the caravans, yet the crooks still managed to get away with the goods...
: Shikanoin Heizou: And you're concerned that if this kind of news were to get out, it would undermine the confidence of other caravans, so you didn't make it public and instead kept the news to only a select few.
: Gorou: That's correct. I never expected you to be so concerned about Watatsumi's affairs, Detective Heizou.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Hehe. Just a force of habit, really. As a detective, I notice these kinds of things.
: Paimon: Oh, so you two already know each other?
: Gorou: Actually, I've only heard of Detective Heizou from the soldiers' reports. We've never met in person.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Ah, darn it, you're right! Now that you mention it, I've been on Watatsumi Island all this time and still haven't properly introduced myself! Man alive, please forgive me!
: Shikanoin Heizou: It's a pleasure to meet you, General Gorou. I'm Shikanoin Heizou of the Tenryou Commission.
: Gorou: Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you, too. I'd like to express my gratitude to you for stepping in and helping recover those goods.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Don't mention it. You never know what you'll find when you're out for a stroll.
: Shikanoin Heizou: But, if the source of the problem is not addressed, I'm afraid this sort of situation will continue cropping up for you.
: Gorou: Yes, of course. Not only have we reassured the affected caravans, but we also dispatched personnel to investigate the culprits.
: Gorou: Their reports indicated that the stolen goods were being delivered to a merchant of the International Trade Association named Godot.
: Gorou: It all seems pretty unusual. We suspect that there are bigger players behind Godot, and that their target is none other than Watatsumi Island's valuable resources.
: Gorou: But unfortunately, it would be difficult for us to investigate further, given that...
: Shikanoin Heizou: Given that Ritou, the island where the International Trade Association is located, is not part of your territory. Yes, they have cleverly picked their base of operations.
: Gorou: I can see you catch on quickly, Detective Heizou.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Hehe. It's my guess that you're telling us this because you're going to ask us to assist you in finding who's behind all this, right?
: Gorou: Haha, you're always thinking one step ahead. Yes, those were exactly my intentions... and of course, we will prepare a generous reward for you.
: Gorou: With the recent end of the war, trade and commerce have now become an important component of Watatsumi Island's development. Ensuring safety of the trade routes is critical, and we can't afford any further incidents.
: Gorou: So will you please help Watatsumi Island, Detective Heizou, ?
: Shikanoin Heizou: I'm willing to assist, but it all depends on what wishes.
: As the captain of Swordfish II, it's my duty to help Watatsumi.
: Gorou is a good friend, we should do this for him regardless of the rewards.
: Gorou: Great! With both Detective Heizou and the Traveler on the case, I'm sure it'll be solved in no time.
: Gorou: The situation is now in your capable hands. I look forward to hearing your report when you get back.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Alright, we'll take care of it. , let's go discuss where to head from here.
===A Time for Whispers===
;(Talk to Gorou again)
: Gorou: , exercise caution when traveling to Ritou. If you come across any unexpected dangers, retreat first. Your safety is the priority. You must approach this issue with a long-term strategy in mind.
;(Go to a nearby location and talk to Heizou)
: Paimon: Hey! Why are we talking way over here? You're not trying to get away from Gorou so he can't overhear us, are you?
: Shikanoin Heizou: Very perceptive. Seems even Paimon has her moments.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Let me ask you, do you believe in intuition?
: Paimon: Huh? Intuition? Where are you going with this?
: Shikanoin Heizou: My intuition tells me that General Gorou is lying.
: Paimon: What!? How could you say that! Although he did seem a little on the serious side today... But Gorou's a good guy!
: Shikanoin Heizou: Good people can be deceptive, too. After all, everyone has their secrets.
: What makes you say that?
: Shikanoin Heizou: Well, in my opinion, the timing of his appearance was a little too coincidental.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Sangonomiya's soldiers have been keeping an eye on me for the entire time I've been on Watatsumi Island, yet I had never seen General Gorou even once.
: Shikanoin Heizou: But today he came out and met with us, and even commissioned us to investigate a case.
: Paimon: Maybe that's because is here today, and Gorou thinks 's more capable.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Really? Then that makes things even more peculiar. If there are powerful players behind this case, and he needs to draw upon external support, then he should have taken action sooner rather than wait until today.
: Shikanoin Heizou: A more plausible explanation is that the items we discovered are linked with some unspeakable secret, and he had to intervene to prevent us from digging any deeper.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Then he put up a smokescreen to mislead us. I surmise that investigating the merchant Godot on Ritou will yield no results.
: Paimon: Whoa, are you serious? But this is all just a hunch you have, right?
: Shikanoin Heizou: Actually, there is another key factor behind my reasoning, though you may not believe me.
: Shikanoin Heizou: I sense something... special about Gorou.
: Paimon: Something special?
: Shikanoin Heizou: Yes. Whatever is missing on this island, I sense it in him...
: Paimon: Wh—Wh—Whoa, hold it right there! Are you saying Gorou's a thief? As in, he took something valuable!?
: Shikanoin Heizou: It's not that simple, I can't fully explain it... It's just my intuition.
: This certainly doesn't line up with the Gorou I know.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Sure, I trust your judgment. But perhaps you're overlooking someone else — the true leader here.
: Alright, you've convinced me that there might be some secret here. What do we do?
:: Shikanoin Heizou: It's simple. We should just investigate whatever it is they're trying to hide from us. And what were we planning to do just before Gorou showed up?
:: Paimon: Hum, we were going to talk to the leader of the caravans. Oh yeah, someone named Todoroki!
:: Shikanoin Heizou: Bingo. There's no time to lose, let's go talk to this Todoroki.
:;(Proceed to An Unexpected Discovery)
: No, you're overthinking this. We should go to Ritou and investigate this Godot character.
:: Shikanoin Heizou: Haha, being too suspicious, am I? Well, even suspicious people have their duty to uphold...
:: Shikanoin Heizou: Haha, in which case, , I'll stay here and get back to you once I figure out what the secret of this place is.
::Hangout Event Ended: Heizou promises that you shall meet again before leaving...
===An Unexpected Discovery===
;(Wait until night (20:00–24:00))
;(Head to Bourou Village and follow Todoroki and Tokuda)
: Tokuda: Todoroki, the shipment has arrived and is ready for inspection.
: Todoroki: Good, let's go.
: Paimon: Hey, it's Todo... mmph!
: Shikanoin Heizou: Shh! Keep quiet. Let's follow him and see where he leads us.
;(If the player gets too far away)
:: Shikanoin Heizou: Man alive! We strayed too far and now we've lost him.
:;(Restarts stealth sequence)
;(If the player gets too close)
:: Shikanoin Heizou: Uh-oh! We got too close and he noticed us!
:;(Restarts stealth sequence)
;(Listen in on Todoroki and Tokuda's conversation)
: Tokuda: Your intel was spot on. When we arrived, the Nobushi were all still asleep, haha.
: Tokuda: We captured them all, and the goods were retrieved and brought back here.
: Todoroki: I'll take a look. Hmm... Everything seems in order, good work.
: Tokuda: It's nothing. Thanks to the efforts of your caravan, the price of grain in the village has decreased.
: Masashi: That's right, and who would have thought that the injuries we sustained during the war would have such a lingering effect on our bodies. But thankfully, you also brought back some life-saving medicine.
: Todoroki: Things are improving thanks to the help from those up top. By the way, what is the state of the village's inventory?
: Todoroki: Make sure that it's confirmed tonight, I have to leave tomorrow morning after I go to the Sangonomiya Shrine and get instructions from General Gorou.
: Masashi: Don't worry. We've already prepared the list. Just follow us.
----
;(Todoroki and Tokuda leave)
: Paimon: Huh? The soldiers from Sangonomiya seized the Nobushi's stolen goods? But didn't Gorou say all the stolen goods were headed to the International Trade Association?
: Shikanoin Heizou: And Todoroki said he'll get instructions from Gorou tomorrow. Interesting... It appears these seized goods were never stolen, there's something else behind all this.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Now's our chance to look around and see if we can find any leads.
;(Talk to Heizou)
: Shikanoin Heizou: Alright, let's see what we can come up with here.
;(Investigate the Glaze Lilies)
: Paimon: Glaze Lilies! What are these doing here? Shouldn't it be Crystal Marrow or something...
;(Investigate the tightly packed box)
: Paimon: This box is packed so tight, it looks like it could burst. Let's see what's inside.
: Paimon: Huh? What are all these plants and flowers? Oh, there's a small note here.
:Torn Bill: (A torn bill. The handwriting has been smudged by water stains, making it difficult to read. Only a faint outline of the words "Foreign Trade Association" can be seen at the signature.)
;(Investigate the Qingxin)
: Paimon: Whoa! Qingxin! Paimon was expecting to find Sango Pearls...
===Middleman===
;(Talk to Heizou)
: Shikanoin Heizou: So, did you find anything?
: Paimon: Whoa, look at all the Qingxin! And Glaze Lilies, too! There are also tons of other plants and flowers Paimon doesn't know here. Weird...
: Shikanoin Heizou: These are valuable raw ingredients for producing medicine. If these few crates were to be imported from Ritou, the price would be jaw-dropping.
: Shikanoin Heizou: On top of that, these items seem to lack a tax clearance certificate, meaning that they were most likely smuggled. Yes, very interesting... Now where did the Nobushi get these goods?
: Shikanoin Heizou: How about you? Did you find anything else?
: There is a bill here addressed to the "Foreign Trade Association."
:;(+1 Heart)
:: Shikanoin Heizou: Foreign Trade Association? I've never heard of such an organization in Ritou... and if it's regarding foreign trade, then smuggling is an even more likely possibility.
: Unfortunately, no.
:: Shikanoin Heizou: Really? Hmm, I see...
: Shikanoin Heizou: Alright. In which case, I have a rough hypothesis, first we...
: Tokuda: Huh! Who goes there!?
: Paimon: Oh no! We've been spotted!
: Masashi: Huh? Wait, Captain... is that you!?
: Tokuda: Oh! So it's you, Captain. You had me worried there, we almost mistook you for bandits, haha!
: Tokuda: Captain, do you remember us? During the war, I was in the field hospital with Masashi. Teppei brought you to see us, and helped find medicine for us.
: Masashi: Hey c'mon now! The captain wouldn't forget!
: Masashi: I gotta tell you, Captain, we all miss you. We haven't seen you ever since the end of the war.
: Masashi: When we heard that you were coming here, we just assumed you were only going to see General Gorou and Her Excellency. The guys are all really hoping to see you.
: Ahem... Uh, how have you all been?
: Masashi: We're fine! You don't have to worry about us, Captain.
: Tokuda: No, you're not fine. Captain, you may not be aware, but Masashi previously fainted on the front lines. The doctor thought that it might be a neurological condition caused by overstimulated emotions. It's pretty serious.
: Tokuda: According to the doctor, if it hadn't been for the medication he's been taking, he would have developed dementia... and that was assuming the best-case scenario!
: Masashi: You're one to talk! Don't forget why I fainted in the first place. It's because I heard that you got yourself killed by an arrow. I couldn't handle all the emotion.
: Masashi: Later, I found out that he'd been shot in the buttocks and it was only a mild injury. I had an emotional breakdown for nothing!
: Tokuda: What do you mean for nothing? I got shot not by one, but two arrows... in a row! The first arrow was to the left cheek, and the second arrow was also to the left!
: Tokuda: And, because the arrows were poisonous, the wound still hasn't completely healed yet. I have to apply ointment every day and I am constantly worried it might reopen while I sleep.
: Masashi: Look on the bright side. At least we're still alive.
: Tokuda: Yeah, I suppose you're right. But enough about us, what brings you here, Captain?
: Tell me about these goods...
: Masashi: Oh, these goods were all seized from the hands of Nobushi and Treasure Hoarders. Todoroki was the one who provided us with the intel.
: Masashi: He mentioned there were bandits here and there, so we went and took care of them while also confiscating the goods.
: Tokuda: By the way, Captain, you still haven't met Todoroki, have you? He's the one we're working for now.
: Tokuda: Her Excellency recently announced plans to stimulate the economy and created the caravans, with Todoroki at the helm.
: Masashi: Yeah, he's proven to be quite capable. Even though he was just a farmer before, he's now successfully running the caravans.
: Masashi: And his two sons were also our brothers in arms, both received a special medal of honor from General Gorou, which is quite remarkable, don't you think?
: Tokuda: So as injured veterans, we've been reassigned to Todoroki. He's the one who gives us orders and pays our salaries now.
: Tokuda: What do they call that again...?
: Masashi: It's called changing careers, dummy.
: Tokuda: Ah right, changing careers. Anyway, I think the whole caravan thing is wonderful. Our region wasn't very prosperous to begin with, and the land can't grow any crops. We have to pay a hefty price just to get basic food from outside.
: Tokuda: I can't even imagine trying to maintain and feed an army like we did during the war.
: Shikanoin Heizou: I see, I think I understand the general situation now. May I ask where the apprehended criminals are?
: Masashi: Oh uh, and you are?
: Don't worry, he's a friend of mine.
: Tokuda: Ah I see, the Captain's friend... it should be okay to tell you then. We apprehended all the culprits and escorted them to a temporary location not far from here.
: Tokuda: Unfortunately, Masashi and I have other duties tonight and won't be able to take you there. Why don't you wait for a moment and I'll find someone else to show you the way?
: It's alright, you can return to your duties. We'll find the way ourselves.
: Shikanoin Heizou: I'm pretty sure I've already got a grasp on what's going on. All I need now is to confirm it with the apprehended bandits. , let's go.
----
;(Go with Heizou to where the inmates are imprisoned)
: Shikanoin Heizou: Are you still a little confused? Haha, let me help connect the dots, this whole thing was actually quite similar to a case I once worked on previously.
: Shikanoin Heizou: It was a case involving the trade of prohibited items, and they employed an old trick to execute the deal.
: Shikanoin Heizou: The culprit would first go strolling down the street, until they knocked over a pedestrian on purpose, using the opportunity to slip the prohibited goods into the unknowing pedestrian's pocket.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Once the intended recipient got word of it, they would find an excuse to harass the same pedestrian before stealing the goods from the pocket.
: Shikanoin Heizou: The pedestrian had no idea what happened from start to finish, and unknowingly functioned as a "middleman"... So, can you guess who the middleman was in this case?
----
;(Talk to the inmates)
: Nanao: Sir! Please forgive us, Sir! We are nothing more than petty thieves...
: Shikanoin Heizou: Sir? What, do I look like a Commissioner? Does my friend here look like a Commissioner to you?
: Nanao: Uh... uh, officer! Officer!
: Shikanoin Heizou: First, I'm gonna need to ask you a few questions.
: Nanao: Uh, sure! Go ahead, ask anything!
: Shikanoin Heizou: The soldiers discovered many valuable goods in your camp. The goods don't appear to be from around here, so the question is, where did they come from?
: Nanao: Oh, the goods? Right, we picked them up at the beach!
: Shikanoin Heizou: You picked them up?
: Nanao: Uh, well, no... we uh, actually stole them.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Be honest now, tell me the whole story!
: Nanao: Y—Yes, sir! Uh, I mean officer! We took those goods from a small merchant ship just off the beach, but we didn't exactly steal them...
: Nanao: You see, the ship's guards all took off running the moment they saw us. They abandoned the goods, and we simply came and picked them up...
: Nanao: But, next thing we know, a group of soldiers arrives and we're all apprehended. Talk about bad luck! We didn't even have a chance to stash away the goods before we got caught!
: Shikanoin Heizou: You say that the merchant ship's guards fled without putting up a fight? Heh, you expect me to believe that?
: Nanao: We just assumed they were scared witless and didn't have the guts to fight. I'm not bragging or anything, but our boss is pretty intimidating. With his massive muscle and strength, he could scare anyone!
: Paimon: Hah, you really expect us to believe all this!
: Nanao: No, you gotta believe me. Just the other day, we scared off an entire squad of soldiers! When they noticed us, they went running and dropped their goods. I swear!
: Nanao: I still remember seeing tons of Sango Pearls and Crystal Marrow in that load! All nice and shiny, too. It was amazing!
: Nanao: Unfortunately, a bunch of pirates came later and snatched those goods. It just happened that our boss had diarrhea that day and couldn't hold off the pirates. *sigh* This luck of ours...
: Shikanoin Heizou: Wait a tick, pirates?
: Nanao: Yep, no doubt about it. They came on a massive ship, and their captain was a pretty lady wearing an eye patch... We had no idea how powerful she was!
: Nanao: It was like... BOOM BOOM THUD! Only took three hits before she knocked out the boss.
: Paimon: *gasp* A pretty lady with an eye patch!?
: Shikanoin Heizou: Oh? Does this description remind you of someone, Paimon?
: Paimon: Uh, ahem... n—no! Doesn't remind Paimon of anyone!
: Shikanoin Heizou: Okay, and how about you, ?
: Uh, me neither.
: Come to think of it, all pirates wear eye patches.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Hehe, really? Okay, I'll take that as a no, then.
: Shikanoin Heizou: It appears that the situation is just as I suspected. Todoroki is striking a shady deal with a group of pirates, while General Gorou appears to be assisting with the cover-up...
: Paimon: B—But... how could that be?
: Shikanoin Heizou: , Todoroki said that he'd be going to Sangonomiya early tomorrow morning to get Gorou's instructions before the caravan leaves.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Now is the time to address any doubts you may have. Tomorrow morning will be our moment to confront them.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Hopefully, my final question will be answered then as well.
: Your final question?
: Shikanoin Heizou: The question of what important thing this island is missing...
: Shikanoin Heizou: I can feel some connection to the question in Gorou, Todoroki, and even Tokuda and Masashi.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Hopefully, we'll finally have an answer tomorrow.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Let's get some rest. I'll see you at Sangonomiya tomorrow morning.
;(Talk to Nanao)
: Nanao: Officer, don't forget to tell the officials how cooperative we've been! Please put in a good word for us!
----
;(Wait until the following day (08:00–12:00))
===Confrontation===
;(Question Todoroki)
: Todoroki: Ahem... uh, who are you?
: Shikanoin Heizou: Hello, Todoroki. I'm Shikanoin Heizou, special detective of the Tenryou Commission.
: Shikanoin Heizou: I believe you've been manipulating large-scale illegal trades for some time now. Mind if we talk about that for a bit?
: Todoroki: You can't just go around spewing such nonsense, young man.
: Shikanoin Heizou: And what if I'm not talking nonsense?
: Todoroki: Ridiculous! I don't have time to listen to this. Get out of here, you little brat!
: Shikanoin Heizou: Haha, I know I'm on the younger side compared to you, Todoroki. So I'm sure you must have heard the old saying:
: Shikanoin Heizou: "Off the scale, some goods only weigh a couple pounds. But on the scale, they weigh more than a thousand."
: Shikanoin Heizou: So the question is, do you want to put your goods on the scale or not?
: Todoroki: Wh—What are you trying to say?
: Shikanoin Heizou: Well, nothing. All I want to hear is you personally confirming what we already know to be the truth.
: Todoroki: Argh... Masashi! Tokuda! Arrest these people!
: Masashi: Huh? Todoroki, what's wrong!?
: Tokuda: Who dares to cause trouble at Sangonomiya Shrine! Huh!? Wait, it's...
: Tokuda: Captain? What are you doing...
: Todoroki: These crooks are trying to pry into the secrets of Watatsumi. We mustn't let them go!
: Masashi: But uh, no... There must be some kind of misunderstanding. Todoroki...
: Masashi: This is the captain of Swordfish II, one of our own, haha!
: Todoroki: It doesn't matter who they are. Remember what General Gorou told you? The long-term goal of Watatsumi is to revive its trade and commerce. And since you have been assigned to work with me, it's my orders that count around here!
: Todoroki: I don't care if they were your captain. Would you dare disobey orders!?
: Tokuda: I... Uh...
: Masashi: What do we do?
: Todoroki: Well, what are you waiting for!?
: Todoroki: Alright, I see how it is. If you two won't do it, I will.
: Shikanoin Heizou: I really hoped it wouldn't come to this... but, here we go.
: Gorou: Wait! Everyone, stand down!
: Masashi: General Gorou! You're here!
: Gorou: My apologies, , and Detective Heizou. I wasn't telling you the truth.
: Gorou: Todoroki, here is the hero who saved Watatsumi Island. Without , Watatsumi Island would never have found the peace it has today. We mustn't raise our weapons against .
: Todoroki: How could you be so naive, General Gorou...
: Todoroki: If we let them go free, then who's to say that the Shogunate won't come after us tomorrow? If the Shogunate decides to investigate, we won't be able to hide the truth.
: Gorou: I wouldn't allow them to take you, Todoroki.
: Todoroki: *sigh*... Let's not kid ourselves. If going to jail could solve the problem, I would go and turn myself in to the Tenryou Commission right now.
: Todoroki: The question is, what are we going to do with the goods? Will you be able to keep them? Not to mention the chance of astronomical fines! Can you afford that?
: Todoroki: Gorou, we both know that Watatsumi Island is a barren land. Plant a hundred radishes here and maybe only three would grow, and those three combined would still be smaller than just one carrot imported from elsewhere.
: Todoroki: You can't grow food or medicinal herbs here. And if we buy them from Ritou, we pay exorbitant taxes.
: Todoroki: My eldest son died fighting on the battlefield. But do you know how my second son died? He died because there was no medicine to treat him!
: Todoroki: You awarded both of them medals of honor, but did that save their lives? Can medals heal Tokuda and Masashi's wounds?
: Todoroki: No, it was the medicine that I got that saved their lives!
: Todoroki: If we detain them today, the Shogunate will never know what we've done. Besides, we're only a few months away now...
: Todoroki: We will set them free once the new bill is passed in just a few months, and everything will be okay. None of what happened here will be mentioned again, and life on Watatsumi Island will continue to improve.
: Gorou: I understand, Todoroki, but they won't—
: Todoroki: I can trust the Traveler won't, but the detective here is a Tenryou Commission officer!
: Todoroki: *sigh*... Forget it! You're the general, and I'm just a radish farmer...
: Wait, what is the bill you just mentioned?
: Gorou: ...
: Gorou: It's a new commodity tax bill currently being drafted by the Kanjou Commission. The bill exempts taxes on goods that are in short supply on Watatsumi Island.
: Gorou: Once the bill is introduced, we'll be able to buy commodities that we need from regular marketplaces...
: Shikanoin Heizou: Oh, I see! Man alive...
: Shikanoin Heizou: I wish I had known sooner. Hehe, in that case, how about we put your fears at ease and I'll stick around here a little longer.
: Shikanoin Heizou: You know, until the bill is introduced.
: Todoroki: Huh?
: Gorou: Detective Heizou, are you saying that...
: Todoroki: You mean you are willing to stay here, young man?
: Shikanoin Heizou: C'mon you two, what's with the strange looks?
: Shikanoin Heizou: You've been keeping me under close surveillance, haven't you? Surely you must have noticed that, aside from being a detective, I am also an ordinary tourist who likes to enjoy good scenery?
: Shikanoin Heizou: I believe that after the new commodity bill is passed, there will be more and more traffic between the two sides, and more and more people will be coming to visit Watatsumi Island.
: Shikanoin Heizou: I have to take the opportunity now and enjoy this place while I still have it all to myself. Before long, tourists will start pouring in!
: Gorou: Thank you, Detective Heizou, on behalf of the people of Watatsumi!
: Shikanoin Heizou: My pleasure, but one good turn deserves another, does it not...
: Gorou: Oh, you mean there's something you wish to request?
: Shikanoin Heizou: I suppose you could say I'm from the Shogunate, but the Traveler next to me isn't.
: Shikanoin Heizou: As far as I know, is planning to visit other nations soon, and it is unclear if will return to Narukami Island or not. Therefore, there's no need to limit freedom, right?
: Shikanoin Heizou: I'm sure no one else will hear of what happened today, am I right, ?
: (Make a loud and resounding promise.)
: (Agree with a cool nod.)
:;(+1 Heart)
: Gorou: Well, it's settled then. will always be an important partner to Watatsumi, and I would never dream of limiting freedom. So please don't worry, Detective Heizou.
: Shikanoin Heizou: I'll hold you to that. But if I ever find out you've lied to me again, there's a chance I'll lose my cool.
: Gorou: I'm sorry for not telling you the truth earlier. It's a serious matter, and I didn't want outside parties to become involved.
: Gorou: But today I realized my poor judgment. How could I possibly hide anything from Detective Heizou and the Traveler?
: Shikanoin Heizou: Haha! I'm glad you understand now!
: Shikanoin Heizou: But, in all honesty, I'm the one who should be thanking you.
: Shikanoin Heizou: It's because of you that I was finally able to reach an answer. After all, nothing makes a detective happier than putting a case to rest.
: Gorou: Ah, I understand now. You really are an interesting person, Detective Heizou.
: Shikanoin Heizou: No, I'm afraid you don't quite get what I mean.
: Gorou: ...I'm sorry?
: Paimon: Wait wait! Paimon gets this one! It's the answer to your question, right? The one about the thing you sensed coming from Gorou and the others? Now you've figured it out!
: Gorou: Huh? The thing you sensed coming from me? But I always have excellent personal hygiene...
: Paimon: Hehe, no, not like that!
: Shikanoin Heizou: Hehe. Hey , could I talk to you for a moment? Besides, I haven't had a chance to thank you yet.
;(Talk to Gorou again)
: Gorou: I apologize again for not being completely honest with you, . I truly am sorry, but... I had to do it.
: I understand.
:: By the way, does Kokomi know about all this?
: Gorou: Ah yes, Her Excellency... Well, let's just say that the war brought many terrible things while also forcing us to learn a lot.
: Paimon: Right, but that still doesn't answer the question.
: Gorou: Well, ahem... aren't you curious about who's been pushing for the new commodity bill? It certainly isn't the Kanjou Commission, because it doesn't immediately benefit them, and we don't have any connections there.
: Paimon: Yeah... it's kinda as if the gods suddenly appeared to offer you a divine hand.
: Gorou: Haha, yeah, the gods...
: Gorou: I was invited to attend the Irodori Festival on Narukami Island with Her Excellency a while back.
: Gorou: At the festival, I waited in the marketplace while Her Excellency...
: Went to see Lady Yae.
:: Gorou: Yeah.
: What did she do...? I don't remember.
: Gorou: She went to the Kanjou Commission to see Lady Yae — purportedly for a book review, but there were other items on the agenda, too. The meeting wasn't made public.
: Gorou: Following her return, we began our attempts at boosting commercial activity, and it wasn't long before there was a push for a new commodity bill on Narukami Island...
: Gorou: So, what do you make of it? Do you think Her Excellency knows about this?
----
;(Go to a nearby location and talk to Heizou)
: Shikanoin Heizou: Hey, there you are. Come here. Look, look! It's beautiful, isn't it? Watatsumi Island...
: Shikanoin Heizou: It's remarkable how such a barren land can give life to such wonderful and stunning scenery.
: Shikanoin Heizou: To be honest, I'm grateful to you for this trip. Before you arrived, I was running around like a headless chicken, haha.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Even if I had happened to find out what was going on here, I wouldn't have been able to uncover any concrete information without you present.
: Shikanoin Heizou: I'm just sorry that I promised I'd accompany you back, it appears that I won't be able to do so for the time being. So please, cover for me in the meantime, okay? Haha.
: Have you really decided to keep the whole thing a secret?
: Shikanoin Heizou: Ah, it's all in the past now, let's just chalk it up as an intriguing experience I had on my trip here. Besides, that's not what I wanted to investigate anyway.
: So now you have the answer you were searching for?
: Shikanoin Heizou: Yes, everyone you led me to and everything they said brought me closer to the answer, and now I finally get it.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Watatsumi Island is an ancient land where the soil is poor and many crops do not grow, because it's lacking a certain thing.
: Shikanoin Heizou: But what the inhabitants of this land do have is bravery. They were courageous enough to stand up and resist the gods, and accomplish what they knew could not be done... This is yet another instance in which that certain thing shines.
: Shikanoin Heizou: That missing element... That certain thing... is what I sensed present in Gorou, Todoroki, Tokuda, and Masashi...
: Shikanoin Heizou: Which is... the true vitality of this land.
: Shikanoin Heizou: I guess I was mistaken when I declared that something was missing, that something from this island had evaporated into thin air... Because even something that evaporates is not gone. It's still there, just in a different state of being.
: Shikanoin Heizou: When water is heated by fire, it evaporates and eventually finds its place in the sky. Similarly, when the land was harmed, its vitality evaporated and eventually found its place among the inhabitants.
: Shikanoin Heizou: This is the final answer I've been searching for.
: Shikanoin Heizou: Anyway, thanks again, .
: Shikanoin Heizou: You know, even though we've just met, I wish you could be my partner all the time. Haha, call me greedy, I guess.
: Shikanoin Heizou: But of course, I know that's impossible. You have your own journey to complete.
: Shikanoin Heizou: So I'll just keep doing what I can — hopefully keeping my memories from evaporating, safe and sound in my mind.
: Shikanoin Heizou: That way, I'll always be able to remember these beautiful things, the beauty of Watatsumi Island, the people who are full of life and vitality... and you two, who were by my side.
====Ending: Memories Do Not Evaporate====
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