[Week 5, Tuesday: Belph]

[doublecrows]

[SUP BELPH. it's just the detective you wanted to see!!]

Did you enjoy your week off?

Comments

[axilium]

[joy.]

Aside from the Eichi scare? I did enjoy getting to be lazy, thank you very much.

[doublecrows]

[BE HAPPY BELPH]

Eichi is doing well, in case you're wondering. He seems to be recovering nicely.

[thank god]

But separate from that, I've recently come into some information I think you'd like to know.

[axilium]

Good. We don't need him dropping dead from a heart attack.

[thank god!!]

Yeah? Hit me.

[doublecrows]

[his expression flickers, just for a moment, before he. . . breezes past that first comment and moves onto business]

It's referencing the murders of Toshizo, Monika and Fitzgerald, and regarding the strange discrepancies with the answer to "number of killers." I asked Tiger-san the number of people to whom she provided that knife.

Her answer was "three."

[axilium]

... Three, huh. Don't suppose you have confirmation that all three people used the knife?

[doublecrows]

No, I don't.

[Tiger can't tell him everything cuz she SUCKS]

Nor do I have confirmation on how many of them were Blotters, although I suspect I know precisely who the two Blotters were that week.

[Akechi. . . .]

Regardless, Tiger-san also told me something else interesting. The number of culprits she gives out each week is the number of people who would be considered "guilty" for that week

[axilium]

... Since you're leaving it like that, I'm assuming you can't spill?

[Akechi.........]

Well, I figured something like that. The issue is the criteria for being "guilty".

[doublecrows]

Oh, I'm certain I could if I wanted to. I simply don't at this time.

[o-okay]

Correct. After receiving her response to that question, I inquired into the existence of a title who would be able to kill without being considered "guilty."

[clears his throat and continues, like he's reciting something word for word]

"It's not outside the realm of reason that someone could be given an exception, depending on certain circumstances, from being considered guilty at trial despite what part they may have played in the death of another Narrator."

[axilium]

Yeah, that's what I thought.

[smh akechi]

Sounds like her annoying brand of vagueness. So, probably a role or whatever?

[doublecrows]

Perhaps. But of what sort, I don't know.

[. . .]

She refused to clarify whether it was a title listed on the roster, or whether it was an extra one similar to "historian" or "vizier."

[axilium]

My guess is Editor.

[doublecrows]

[he]

[looks completely and utterly surprised]

Editor?

[axilium]

It's a name of a role—and the only other one where multiple people have it. Two, to be exact.

Just like the Blotters.

[doublecrows]

[what]

[the fucking fuck]

[fuck???]

. . . where did you learn this?

[axilium]

I asked the Crafters. It was my reward for confirming you as Historian.

[doublecrows]

[. . . aha]

[aha]

And the information I'm giving you was my reward for assisting in the completion of several objectives.

Belph-san. Have you checked Hikage-san yet?

[axilium]

[he blinks.]

No? Why, you suspect him of something?

[doublecrows]

Yes.

[to put it simply. he doesn't elaborate]

[axilium]

Okay.

That's helpful.

[doublecrows]

[okay FINE, if he wants Belph's cooperation he has to be good]

. . . to put it simply, Hikage-san is much like myself.

[axilium]

Are you talking about Blotter or Historian stuff, or this is a reference to Hikage's shady side?

[doublecrows]

He isn't a Historian, and if I'm right about the two blotters from the previous week, he isn't related to them, either.

Rather, I'm talking about his "shady side."

[AIR QUOTES]

[axilium]

Right... Well, I'll throw him on the list of suspects. I didn't know the two of you were friends, though.

[doublecrows]

Allies.

[Akechi corrects, almost too quickly. something flickers on his expression, brow wrinkled in irritation, before it vanishes]

. . . he assisted me after my true face was revealed to the population of this castle.

[axilium]

[well, he won't comment on akechi's friend issues.]

What, he saw you as a kindred spirit or something?