NOVEL FROG Chapter 110 - Count on it
“With the cooperation of the perpetrator secured, the Investigator moves to end these proceedings, and goes to report to the count.” Echo’s announcer voice rings out, while the curtain falls and the stage team gets to work. The garden is being rearranged and a stone staircase that leads up and off the stage to the right is brought in.
When the curtain rises again, the Investigator stands before the staircase, while the general and two identical guards stand near the top of the staircase.
“I have identified the culprit, general. Please inform the count.” the Investigator announces.
“Ah, great work, Investigator. Who is it? Who has murdered the countess? I shall have them arrested at once and brought before the count.” the General says gleefully.
“I believe it's best I bring this information to the count first, general. He requested I report to him directly, after all.” the Investigator speaks quietly.
“Hmmm? What is this? Are you protecting the responsible party?” the General sneers, his eyes narrowing.
“Not at all. But I believe in professionalism, and my employer is the Count. Not you, General.” the Investigator bites back with surprising harshness, eliciting a frown from the General.
“All right then. Guard, go fetch the count.” he waves dismissively and motions at one of the guards, who disappears up the stairs and off the stage.
A short time later, Echo appears at the top of the stairs, wearing a lined coat on top of a fancy looking shirt.
“Investigator! I'm told you know who killed my daughter!” he says, directing his gaze at the character in question after letting it sweep across the audience with a fiery intensity.
“Indeed, my Lord. The Individual in question is ready to confess their crime, so they might be justly punished.” the Investigator responds, bowing low.
“They are ready to hand themselves over, huh? Well, fine then. Make ready to bring them before the court. General, assemble all the guests as witnesses and have the guard prepare the chamber of law.” the Court nods along, before turning to leave the stage again.
“One second, my lord.” the Investigator hurriedly exclaims. “I had suspected strangeness in the manner of your summons and this whole entire case, but now I am sure. You… are not the count at all, are you?”
The General, the Guards and even the Count turn to look at the Investigator in shock at that exclamation.
“Haha… hahahaha… such a ridiculous thing to say to one’s lord.” the Count sneers, before looking at the General. “Have the guards apprehend this one for their insolence. We shall have them volunteer their findings in the dungeon.”
The general nods, eagerly. “It shall be done, my Lord.”, he exclaims, and the guards lower their halberds at the inspector.
The investigator looks up at them as they slowly descend the stairs, and then at the Count that turned to walk away.
“You would heed an imposter's orders? Do you not see it, or are you in collusion? Fine, I shall help you see the truth.” the Investigator mutters, before fixing his gaze at the Count, and raising a hand dramatically.
“[Reveal Deception]!” they invoke a skill and the Counts form is suddenly engulfed in a cloud of smoke.
As the smoke recedes, what stands atop the stairs is no longer the retreating form of the count, but rather a humanoid individual, shrouded head to toe in a dark robe, features concealed by the mask of a familiar skull.