The Case Book of Arne (アルネの事件簿)

What was that?

Come on, Erik. What's wrong?

Please open the door!

What's the matter?

I heard a crash and my boyfriend won't open the door.

Wait right here.

THE CASE OF THE MUSICIAN AND THE LOCKED-ROOM MURDER

Mr. Bernhardt, I'm coming in.

THE CASEBOOK OF ARNE

DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, DIFFERENT CUSTOMS

So the doppelgänger of a culprit will also become a culprit?

They're identical inside and out, so it's the obvious conclusion.

Yeah, I guess so.

Oh! But you know what that means, Lord Arne?

I was right when I deduced they were both guilty.

Huh?

My reward. I'd like my reward now.

What are you talking about?

You promised me one!

You said if I worked out if the original or the doppelgänger was the killer,

you'd give me a reward!

I said nothing of the sort.

You so did!

Huh? What's going on over there?

Who knows?

A tenant was murdered?

Yeah, and it sounds like it's a locked-room mystery.

A locked-room mystery? How horrible.

What? Lord Arne?

Okay now, move along. Nothing to see here.

You, too. You're in the way, pal. Move along.

Was this really a locked-room murder?

Huh?

Well, yes. But you're not authorized to—

Oh, wait. Aren't you that renowned master detective, sir?

Yeah. I came to help with the investigation.

Huh? D-Did he spread that rumor in that instant?

I wonder what's gotten into him.

Th-Thank you for coming.

This way. Allow me to show you in.

Hey, out of our way! Make a path!

It's just to kill some time. You can go on home.

Of course Lord Arne would be all like, "Might as well finish this crossword,"

as he strolls off to solve a locked-room mystery!

He's the very model of a detective!

They sure are unique creatures, these detectives.

What a pain.

Let's go with him.

Please wait for us, Lord Arne!

The victim was a tenant here: Erik Bernhardt.

He died from a stab wound to the back of the neck made by a thin, knifelike object.

According to the police, when his body was discovered,

the door and all of the windows were locked.

The witnesses used a spare key to get in, from what I'm told.

You're really starting to sound the part, Lynn.

Th-Thank you for saying so.

And these are the two witnesses who discovered the body.

Yes, I'd promised to meet him here today.

When I arrived, I kept calling his name but he just wouldn't answer.

I heard her voice and a strange noise, so I came to see what had happened.

Then I used my spare key to get in.

A strange noise?

Yes. I heard a loud crash, like something had shattered.

Probably these plates.

It looks like he kept them on this cabinet.

Maybe they fell off as he struggled with his killer.

No, seems unlikely.

Huh?

If they'd bumped it, the items inside the cabinet would also have been disturbed.

And these fragments landed on top of his leg.

It'd be more logical to assume the plates fell for another reason

after the man had been murdered.

Th-That makes sense.

His body also bears few injuries and his clothes look fine.

It's unlikely he struggled with his killer.

What's this?

Looks like some kind of pet food.

Pet food? Did he have a pet?

Oh, that is strange.

Pets aren't allowed in the building.

No, he didn't have a pet.

He didn't like animals, period.

He didn't, huh?

Mr. Erik was a musician, wasn't he?

Yes, he was a trumpet player.

His playing was always so wonderful.

Lord Arne, I was just thinking...

What a strange painting.

I'm not sure why, but the style reminds me of something.

What were you about to say?

Oh, that's right.

Actually, I overheard the police saying something.

The victim, Mr. Erik, had fallen behind on his rent not long ago.

And since the room was locked,

wouldn't that cast suspicion on the landlady, since she had a spare key?

You said the room was locked, right?

Huh? Uh, yes.

The door and all the windows were apparently locked.

But it seems the room wasn't entirely sealed.

Huh?

An air vent?

Well, we'll have to investigate.

Go on, Lynn Reinweiß.

Go and enjoy your "paradise."

What?! I don't actually like dust, you know!

On top of that, that's way too small for me to fit!

It is? Then, Amy, remove your head.

Don't be absurd.

But luckily, I have a stuffed animal that should fit perfectly.

What? What was that?!

Thanks so much for helping, Nach.

W-Wait, you moron. Stop! Don't!

There.

How dare you jerks do this to me!

Find out where it goes. Get on with it.

Tch. Gimme a stinkin' break.

It looks like it leads out back.

Let's go take a look.

You actually made yourself useful for a change.

Shut up. Never make me do that again.

I see. So this is the back of the building.

Lord Arne?

Wh-What's that?

It's an ice pick. You use it to break ice into pieces.

It smells just like the corpse.

Oh! That must mean it's the murder weapon!

I've got it.

The killer tied a string to the ice pick, shot it through the air vent,

murdered the victim, then reeled the ice pick back in,

before discarding it here.

The mystery of the locked-room murder is solved!

Of course.

The killer aimed at the man's neck through the vent from outside the building.

Right!

What a brilliant pile of nonsense, Dimwit Reinweiß.

Not even a centaur could pull that off.

Guess you're right.

But I still think the suspicious ones are the landlady with her spare key,

and the girlfriend who said she was with the victim last night... Hmm?

Huh? Wow! When did all these kitties show up?

There are more over there.

I wonder if this is where the local cats always gather.

Aw, so cute.

Here, kitty. Aw! Yes, dat's wight!

Don't do it. No!

Stop biting me! Stop kicking me!

Bleh, fur! I got fur in my mouth!

Hmm? What's this?

Ouch! Don't scratch me!

I said ouch! Stop! Someone save me!

Hey, don't ignore me!

It's filthy with dust. Just like Nach.

That means the ice pick must have been dragged through the air vent.

It appears so.

Look, Lord Arne. Isn't it cute?

What?

They all left.

Man, could you please not scare them away like that?

I didn't do a thing.

Naturally cautious animals are instinctively afraid of me.

Oh, they are?

We might be able to find something else.

Let's look around here a little longer.

Be careful.

Try not to scratch it. Just go slowly.

Huh? Is that Heinz?

Miss Lynn?

It is you, Miss Lynn.

Wow! It's been so long, Heinz!

Yes, it has. I'm glad to see you looking so well.

Hey! I said be careful, okay?

Sure! Sorry 'bout that!

Come on, guys.

I never thought I'd run into you here.

Are you moving?

Oh, no. I actually just found a truly wonderful refrigerator.

It's glossy, pure white, and it makes the most wonderful ice.

And it finally arrived today.

So you're still cooking, Heinz?

Of course. After I parted ways with the Reinweiß estate staff,

I traveled the world to study cooking.

Right now, I work as a chef at a nearby hotel.

Wow!

This city has so many delicious restaurants.

Like the pizza place on the main street or the ice cream parlor near the park.

Oh, but enough about me.

Are you still with...

Yes, it appears you did stick with him.

Yes! Right now, I'm working as one of Lord Arne's assistant detectives.

You are?