After assessing my abilities thoroughly it seemed as if I could see things that would pass peoples eyes.
Almost as if my eyes were microscopes they could hone in on insanely small details as long as I willed it with essence.
I decided to save my Timekeeper's Eye ability just in case I needed to use it. The 7 day cooldown could be detrimental in a case such as this one.
A ping resounded through my soul.
I could instinctually feel it was from the Premier Detective System I saw when I first entered this world.
I called out to the world. "Open system."
A game-like golden interface appeared in front of my vision. It listed out some information.
User : Hiroto Takatana
Path : Stage I Oculist (Unique)
Cases Solved : 0
Probability Points : 0
SYSTEM SHOP [LOCKED]
EVIDENCE WINDOW ✦[NEW]✦ - Unlocked due to Path I!
My eyes widened at the familiar system. The Evidence Window tab seems to have appeared after I unlocked Path I. It was glowing in a white color instead of golden, signaling me to approach it.
I hovered my finger over the Evidence Window and pressed down.
A plethora of buttons and windows manifested in front of me, appearing with a golden glow.
Each tab had a different label, scanning through I read:
[SCAN][ANALYZE][CONNECT].
There was also a large plus button next to those tabs, presumably for adding new evidence manually.
Assuming this is under the evidence tab the scan button should…
I went over to my desk and grabbed the orange folder that Regiran gave me, pulling out the documents. This included the timeline, security sketches, and images of the artifact.
Holding out the papers in my hand I reached out with the other and pressed the scan button.
A bright white laser burst out from the sky and seemed to pass over the document, another from the floor scanned the backside.
The whole process took maybe two seconds.
Once it was done scanning the documents I looked up back at the icon. Now in the place of the empty square an exact copy of the documents appeared.
Quite handy huh?
I placed my hand over the icon and then dragged it around. It seemed to flow as if it was a lily pad floating above a lake.
I decided to try out the next feature, Analyze.
Another text replaced Analyze, showing a processing bar.
Processing.. 20%
Processing.. 52%
Processing.. 90%
Processing complete.
In the matter of seconds the analysis of the documents was complete and there was now a report button under the copy of the documents.
I hovered over it with my finger and pressed down. A new window of text popped off to the side.
This really was like a video game..
----------------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS DETECTED:
Artifact Photographs (5 images)
Security System Blueprints
Customer Viewing List
INCONSISTENCIES DETECTED: ⚠ Security schematic drawing style matches 3 different hands
⚠ Timeline gap: 5 days between viewing and reported theft
⚠ Photograph metadata: Images taken 6 months ago, not 8 days ago
ANOMALIES: ⚠ Artifact appearance inconsistent with standard Tier 4 classifications
⚠ Authentication performed by single individual (unusual for high-value items)
CONNECTIONS AVAILABLE: 0
Scan additional evidence to find connections
----------------------------------------------------------
This was… A game changer. I could analyze evidence and pick up things I missed.
Maybe the system could even analyze magic, since I have little to no knowledge about it.
I paused a moment to think.
If the photos are six months old, Regiran said he completed the Lens recently... either he's lying about when he finished it, or these photos are of a prototype.
Another thing caught my eye. Since three different people worked on the security system. There are three people with the knowledge to bypass the system without alarming it.
I scanned the rest of the documents from Regiran's folder—the attendee list, the timeline, everything.
Each one was analyzed within seconds.
Then I pressed the [CONNECT] button.
A new interface appeared:
----------------------------------------------------------
POTENTIAL CONNECTIONS:
Security schematic authors → Unknown (requires additional evidence)
Artifact age discrepancy → Unknown (requires authentication records)
RECOMMENDATION:
Obtain additional evidence to strengthen connection analysis.
----------------------------------------------------------
This was like having an AI assistant at the palm of my hands at all times. And this is just the Evidence Window. The shop is still locked.
I looked at my remaining Probability Points: 0.
Those are probably the currency for the shop. Earn them by solving cases? Finding truths?
A thought occurred to me.
I pulled out my notebook—the physical one I'd been using to take notes—and scanned each page into the system.
My research on the previous investigators. The timeline. The suspect list. Everything.
Then I hit [ANALYZE] and [CONNECT] on the entire collection.
The processing took longer this time—maybe a full minute.
But when it finished…
----------------------------------------------------------
CONNECTION: Thorne Family Councilman Gerard Thorne -> Stage 6 Lawbringer
Elena Thorne → Married to Regiran Voss (3 years ago)
Family disapproved of marriage (public record)
HYPOTHESIS: Family conflict may be motive
HIGH-PRIORITY LEADS:
- Verify Melissa Hardren's existence (no public records found)Investigate 5-day gap between viewing and theft
- Determine true age of Veridian Lens (6-month discrepancy)Interview Vera Blackwood (authenticator, not on suspect list - WHY?)
DANGER ASSESSMENT:
HIGH - Pattern suggests active threat to investigators
----------------------------------------------------------
Alright. First priority: Regiran's shop. Use Timekeeper's Eye to see what happened in the past 48 hours. See if anyone's returned to the crime scene.
Second: Find Melissa Hardren. Verify if she exists. If she does, she's a key witness. Or suspect.
Third: Interview Vera Blackwood. Why wasn't she on the suspect list when she was alone with the Lens for an hour?
I stood up, grabbed my coat, and checked my revolver one more time.
Then I paused.
The [+] button on the Evidence Window was still glowing faintly.
Curious, I pressed it.
A new prompt appeared.
ADD EVIDENCE:
OPTIONS:
- Scan Physical Item
- Record Audio Statement
- Capture Photograph
Extract Memory ✦ [NEW - OCULIST PATH EXCLUSIVE]
Extract Memory?
I focused on that option.
----------------------------------------------------------
EXTRACT MEMORY
Use Timekeeper's Eye ability to record witnessed events directly into Evidence Window
Recorded memories can be:
- Reviewed unlimited times
- Analyzed by system
- Shared with authorized individuals (requires permission)
----------------------------------------------------------
A red message appeared like a warning.
"Be wary, Detective. The system will not do all the thinking for you."
I smirked, as if accepting the challenge.
"I wasn't gonna let you have the fun all to yourself now. Just needed some time to get accustomed to new waters." I said to the system.
This really was like a video game.
I closed the interface with a thought and headed for the door.
Time to investigate.
Time to use these new abilities properly.
Time to solve an impossible case.