GAMEPLAY
With the interrogation over, the deputy decides not to hold her any longer. Her gun, however, is confiscated pending "good behavior" until she leaves town.
But Argus isn't about to walk out without her gun. Not ever.
Deputy Flynn: You're free to go, ma'am. So, go on, skedaddle.
Deputy Flynn: I advise you not to go too far from town while you're here. It's dangerous out there. Especially now that I've got your piece.
Deputy Flynn: I've gotta go on patrol now. We'll talk later.
Argus: Fine.
Argus nods, concealing an eye roll, as the deputy drives away. Judging from his direction, she'll have a few hours before he's back.
A small window of opportunity, but the work needs to be done.
Argus: Hmph.
Argus: The sun's coming up soon. I'll have to bust myself back into that pig pen before daybreak.
Having made a decision, Argus walks toward the edge of the town.
Argus: That is an old lock, a very goddamn old lock.
Argus: hiss
Argus: Gotcha.
Argus: Urgh!
Her one good eye becomes increasingly strained in the harsh darkness. She has to eat a Picrasma candy and wait for it to take effect.
Argus: deep breath Let me see.
The next second, the Hundred-Eyed Giant is up again.
Her sight becomes clearer. The mercenary at last reaches the interrogation room.
It took her more time and effort than expected to sneak in without being noticed. Fortunately, she has enough Picrasma candies.
Argus: Where are you, baby?
Argus: There you are, darling! I'm never letting you out of my sight again.
After securing her gun, she looks over a map of the town.
Argus: This county's too small for an archive. Anything they've got on these murders is going to be stored here.
Argus: I guess I'll have to poke around.
Some fresh dandruff, new wrinkles and creases, marks with less dust ... Every detail tells a story.
Files and cabinets cover every corner of the room, but she doesn't have time to search them all. She needs a lead.
Some fresh dandruff, new wrinkles and creases, marks with less dust ... Every detail tells a story.
Argus: He must have opened these files right after I left.
Argus: ...
Argus: Ah, small town security at its finest. Just like a stupid kid stuffing dirty magazines under his bed. Why bother with a safe?
The dim table lamp forces her to maintain her arcane skill constantly. Her eye becomes tired and sore, but she pushes on to find the real truth behind this Red Wall.
Argus: "Missing persons ... 1962, 1973 ..."
Argus: "Car crashes ... drowning ..."
She's close to the end of the file, with no hints about the Red Wall to be found.
Argus: "Serial murders ..."
Argus: No! Wait!
Argus: ...
Argus: Ugh!
Argus: ...
Her eye goes blind again. She's accustomed to the feeling of it fading. Even so, she holds out for a little longer.
Then another candy as she waits for her sight to return.
Her time is running short, with her eye functioning again, she picks up the pace.
Argus: Broken wall ... "1981 ... 1984 ... Wall of the San Diego Hospital ..."
Argus: San Diego Hospital? A field hospital?
Argus: So, that's what the Red Wall is? No murders?
Argus: This is weird.
Argus: But nothing else mentioned a wall, and that deputy only took this file out. There's gotta be something I'm missing.
Argus: The Red Wall's location ... Let me see ...
Argus: What? They didn't write it down!
Argus: But why?
As Argus thinks it over, something else draws her attention.
A pouch tied with red thread, clearly intended to hold files.
There is a scarlet seal on the pouch. She has no clue what it is, or who it came from, but one thing's for sure. It's meant to keep you out.
Argus: Looks like I've hit the jackpot.