A taste for Vietnamese noodles - All Servers - 6/2/08

**Malphas** · 06/03/2008 23:41:36

Excuse me. The Merovingian is offering a reward to the individual who locates two missing persons, both probably deceased.

One was an employee of ours, on the trail of a scam artist who had defrauded our organization in office real estate dealings. Our employee was known to have a taste for Vietnamese noodles. It is suspected that he was done away with while stepping away from his work to indulge this habit in some exclusive, upper-story venue catering to the more...illegal ingredients in those dishes. His last report suggested that the scam artist was working with a local gang.

As for the scam artist, it is rumored that he was killed by the leader of that gang's rival, having let his guard down after being lured into a compromising location not far from the leader's lair. That scam artist is the second person we wish located.

The first clear photographs of both persons, sent to me via Private Message on the usual Data Node One exchange, and including the map display with the local coordinates, and an operative name showing in the upper right information window--the same name in both photos--will qualify for the reward, which will be sent to the operative whose name is shown.

No incomplete evidence will be accepted. Your indulgence and discretion are appreciated.

**Malphas** · 06/03/2008 23:41:44

The first complete and correct submission was received from operative minigun, at 17:12:27. Thank you, operative. Your reward is forthcoming.

I would also like to thank the other operatives who participated in the search. Full details on the locations of the two persons will be officially disclosed tomorrow.

**Malphas** · 06/03/2008 23:42:21

Those endowed with curiosity of the morbid variety may be interested to hear that the two individuals will be left in situ for the next several days, in case you should care to locate and...view them for yourself.

**Malphas**

Having thoroughly observed the locations in which the bodies were found, I believe I can, by working backwards, arrive through a process of deduction at some of the logical steps that operative minigun may have used to find them--assuming, of course, that to have done it all by a brute force search would have been prohibitively inefficient; he is a Machine operative, after all.

If you are prepared for such revelations as may await you, read on. It may be worth noting at this juncture that the bodies--and bodies they are--are, at the time of this writing, still present and undisturbed.

First, the most likely habitat inside the city limits for the Vietnamese noodles that it was suspected fatally distracted our employee is to be found in the International district. So, our search would begin there.

Perusing the most easily accessible information available to us at the neighborhood level, one finds that Akasaka plays a foremost role in that district's office real estate market: prime hunting grounds for our scam artist.

Not only that, but the area is a popular dining locale. Overlooking that neighborhood's business hub, the McClane Tower, one finds a sign advertising a Vietnamese restaurant.

And on the third floor of that edifice, following the hint of our employee's preference for exclusive establishments, a grim discovery is made.

The body of our employee, wholly deceased, lies on the floor.

Noticing nothing more of interest here, we might return outside, where our glance would naturally find its way to the gang members ceaselessly pacing about the vicinity. A quick check on these "Brothers of Destiny" uncovers a piece of information that would be more of the usual nonsensical filler found all too often in this dreary place, except that it brings to mind one of the rumors concerning the other party in question.

Namely, that the scam artist was done away with by the leader of the local gang's rival, which we can now see must be the Sisters of Fate, found just to the south, in Kaede. Their leader, Clotho, spends most of her time in a disarmingly pleasant, park-like area at the southern end of that region.

As it happens, this glen abuts the notorious Orchid Public Bath. Recall the rumor that the scammer met his end in a compromising location.

The prospect of a steamy dip might have induced someone--particularly someone foolish enough to cross the Merovingian--into letting his guard slip. If we were to venture through the front doors of the bath house, heading somewhat to the right, then through a maze of dubious, polished wood rooms and corridors, who knows what we might find therein?

The second body awaits us quietly. If he had slipped on the wet, polished floor, and sustained a fatal concussion against the unyielding rim of the commode, justice could not have been more fully served. In this case, however, Clotho seems the more likely agent of retribution.

Whether or not operative minigun used any of these clues in ascertaining the whereabouts of the two, only he can say. He has received his due reward for his detective work, and we thank him, and all those operatives who endeavored to locate the missing persons, for the interest they have taken in the Merovingian's affairs.

--Malphas--

**Juleus** · 06/04/2008 12:13:42

Mmmmm noodles...

Anyways, ~~what was given as the reward~~?

EDIT: Nevermind I see it now.

**AltDimension**

Juleus wrote:

Mmmmm noodles...
Anyways, ~~what was given as the reward~~?
EDIT: Nevermind I see it now.

Oh? Maybe i'm missing something. Perp Code Eyes?

**Juleus**

AltDimension wrote:

Juleus wrote:
Mmmmm noodles...
Anyways, ~~what was given as the reward~~?
EDIT: Nevermind I see it now.
Oh? Maybe i'm missing something. Perp Code Eyes?

That's what I'm assuming.

ReProgrammed

((OMG I passed the blood drunks body thinking it was a Mission NPC V.v))

**Omega0**

This was a very nice puzzle/event. I hope we can have more of these in the future.