"Recently, Mr. Amos Morrison, a famous artist and painter from Frostwater Harbor, was arrested by the City Guard on charges of serial murder."
"According to an anonymous letter, it was alleged that Mr. Amos Morrison’s art gallery concealed a large number of corpses. Though Lord Geraint Halehem of the City Guard initially considered this may be a prank, our respected Chief Halehem still led his City Guardsmen and assisted by many in the related professions, to conduct a surprise inspection of the Morrison Gallery last night."
Upon reaching this point, Annan pondered thoughtfully.
He looked up at the newspaper, titled "Beihai Recent Events," which seemed to be a monthly publication.
After noting the name, Annan carefully unfolded the somewhat brittle newspaper and continued reading:
"Earlier on, Lord Amos Morrison had reported to the Frostwater Harbor Police Station, claiming that his daughter, Elle Morrison, had disappeared without a trace. Due to Mr. Morrison’s distinguished works, this case had previously caused quite a stir."
"Our beloved Viscount Alvin Barber and the esteemed Earl Tan Juan had also issued inquiries regarding this matter. The Frostwater Harbor Police Station, together with the City Guards of Roth Fort, White Grounds, and High Cliff Castle, combined efforts to handle the case. They recruited many well-known detectives and sought assistance from professionals in the field, but still failed to locate Elle Morrison."
"This case was once cited as an example to prove the weakness of Beihai’s security forces and reached the Royal Capital. Earl Tan Juan severely criticized it, and the former chief of the Frostwater Harbor Police, Jobe Boro, was demoted due to poor case handling."
"On March 4th, at a quarter past two in the morning, Chief Halehem’s investigation team was attacked inside the Morrison Gallery. Three officers sadly lost their lives, and two more, due to the gruesomeness of the scene, suffered immense mental shock and went mad on the spot, dying from severe injuries several days later."
"The attacker was killed on the spot, with the body recovered by the police. The identity is rumored to be a mercenary from Marshland. More details, including the number of assailants, are currently confidential."
"According to the testimony of a patron who had just left the Lanrou Pub, he heard a tremendous roar around two-thirty in the morning. When he rushed to the Morrison Gallery, he found the officers battling a ’giant, colorful, burning ball of flesh.’ He was stunned, cried out loud, drawing the ’colorful flesh ball’s’ attention, and was then knocked unconscious from behind."
"Later on, Chief Halehem discovered multiple fragments of Elle Morrison’s body in the gallery. They were hidden inside the frames and sniffed out by police dogs—prior to which pets had always been forbidden entry into the Morrison Gallery."
"Elle Morrison’s maiden name was Eirelle Backer. At the age of seven, her biological father died, and her mother, Clara Backer, remarried the five years younger Amos Morrison, after which Eirelle adopted the Morrison surname."
"At the age of fourteen, her mother Clara died of an unknown illness. In the basement of the Morrison Gallery, a freshly preserved six-month stillborn fetus was found; industry professionals confirmed that its mother was indeed Elle Morrison, and its father was Amos Morrison. We have reason to suspect an improper, unhealthy relationship between them."
Below this, in small print, it read, "Note: This specimen has been collected by the relevant authorities."
...A six-month stillborn fetus?
Annan paused for a moment.
If Elle’s death and Amos’s arrest happened in the second year of the nightmare...
He calculated roughly. The month Elle got pregnant... would have coincided with the month of Amos’s second dramatic ritual ceremony.
Annan suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
But he did not realize where this uneasy feeling was coming from.
He continued reading:
"The body of Elle Morrison was confirmed by police professionals to have died half a month ago, ten days after Mr. Amos Morrison reported the case."
"Furthermore, in the underground storage of the Morrison Gallery, multiple corpses were found, many of which were homeless, but it also included the well-known art critic, Lord Absolon Vlaj. He was formerly a critic of Morrison’s paintings, but became an ardent supporter six months ago. Three months prior, he had gone to Frostwater Harbor to attend Mr. Morrison’s exhibition but disappeared en route."
"We have reason to suspect he was killed by Amos. Lord Morrison confessed to this fact without any denial."
"When questioned about other details in the gallery, as well as the so-called colorful meatball, Lord Halehem of the City Guard stated:"
"’Undoubtedly, the mercenaries from Marshland we battled with, which all present officers can attest to. The only possible explanation for the presence of such an abstract monster at the scene would be the effect of alcohol. Regarding other matters that occurred in the gallery, they involve confidentiality regulations, and we can disclose nothing. But sincerely, Mr. Reporter, you are very fortunate not to have been at the scene. I believe that any person with a conscience and sound morals would weep at the tragedy in the basement.’"
"Currently, Morrison Gallery has been sealed off by the City Guard, and the relevant individuals involved in the case are being successively summoned for questioning. Lord Morrison is under strict imprisonment. There are rumors that the lord intends to demolish Morrison Gallery soon."
...Is this how Amos met his end?
Annan noted down the other contents of the newspaper from that period and slowly folded it back up.
If it was forty-five years ago, which Geraint would that be?
Tan Juan’s father, or his grandfather?
And the Viscount of Roth Fort mentioned in the nightmare, was it really Alvin Barber?
There was also the surname "Backer," which Elle had before.
If Annan wasn’t mistaken, in the nightmare’s cutscene CG, Amos was shouting, "Don’t... Backer..."
Who was he speaking to?
Annan faintly realized that these old stories seemed not to be unconnected. It’s even possible that the reason Frostwater Harbor had been abandoned for decades wasn’t simply because trade exports to the Winter Kingdom were banned.
Therefore, the reasons for Tan Juan’s arrival on this land... might not be as simple as "suffering persecution in the Royal Capital."
"Forty-five years ago, huh..."
Annan murmured to himself.
He silently noted that number.
Anyway, something must have happened forty-five years ago.
Salvatore, who was beside Annan, couldn’t help but ask as he saw Annan intently reading the newspaper with a solemn expression: "Did you find anything?"
"Yes. Do you have more newspapers from this year?"
Annan immediately answered, "And also from the previous year, I want them all."
The current time was December of the year 1503 in the new calendar. It was the last month of the year, protected by the Cold Lady and the harsh grandmother, and soon it would be the year 1504.
Therefore, forty-five years ago was the year 1458.
Something significant must have taken place at that time...
"Finding newspapers that old isn’t easy since they didn’t have a large circulation to begin with."
Salvatore scratched his head with some difficulty: "This time, I only brought newspapers related to the Geraint family and relevant news from the Black Tower... mainly to avoid taboos. I might not be able to find everything, but I’ll do my best..."
Having Salvatore help with the investigation was much better than bumping around aimlessly on his own.
There was another matter, however, that urgently required Annan’s personal attention...
"How are my guards doing now?"