I looked at Artoria, still finding it hard to believe.

Frostwing: Dammit... why her?

Kanzen: Oh? So it was the King who died this time. How ironic is this?

Sora: I don't understand... who found the body?

Strawberry: I did...

Mia: Just you?

Strawberry: Um no... Angel came with.

Angel: I was curious about that book too so I thought I'd leave with her.

Mia: ... ... ...

Sora: Is something wrong?

Mia: Well... no, we can't worry about that yet. Right now we need to wait for-

As if on que, Monokuma popped out of nowhere.

Monokuma: My glorious Monokuma Files!

Angel: The evil bear...

Monokuma: Hold on now, I'm not evil! I'm the good guy I swear! See? Look at me kindly giving you the Monokuma File for the killing game that I forcefully put you guys in! Actually, if you put it like that, maybe I am evil.

He handed us the Monokuma Files. I went to take a look.

Monokuma Files

Victim was Artoria Jackson. Cause of Death was stabbing. Victim was found in the Library covered in blood due to an intense amount of blood loss from being stabbed twice and also has an injured left hand.

Sora: ... Huh?

Wait, is this it? There's not nearly as much info as last time.

Mia: It's like I thought...

Strawberry: Yeah, this one is really weird.

Frostwing: What do you mean?

Strawberry: The Monokuma File seems to be missing a lot of vital information. Almost as if to be careful not to reveal too much.

Sora: Right. I did notice it myself. It's probably something to keep in mind.

Monokuma Files have been added to the Truth Bullets

Mia: Yeah, but that's not all.

Alicia: There's more?

Mia: Angel, it was you and Strawberry who found the body, right?

Angel: Right.

Prix: I stayed behind so I wasn't with them when they discovered the body.

Alicia: Is something wrong with that?

Mia: The rules explicitly state that the Body Discovery Announcement will only sound when three or more people discover a dead body. But this time only two people found the body.

Kotone: ... Wait... does it three or more rules include the culprit or not?

Kanzen: I'm pretty sure it doesn't.

Anna: If not... that means someone else must have discovered it before Strawberry and Angel. But who?

Frostwing: Now that I think about it... hey, where's Seiketsu?

Satoka: Huh?

Kotone: Wait, you're right! He's not here!

Alicia: Um shouldn't we be worried? I mean what if the culprit kills him too?

Monokuma: Hey hey hey! I'm right here for questions you know! As for that, you don't need to worry. The Culprit can only kill up to two people at a time!

Alicia: Wait really?

Prix: But why only two?

Monokuma: Well, I can't miss the opportunity of a potential double murder, can I? Puhuhuhu!

Monokuma laughed and left as fast as he came.

Prix: So there's still the potential of a double murder.

Chris: Yeah. But it wouldn't be a smart move. Killing two people would only mean more evidence is given to the Culprit, making it easier for them to be caught.

Alicia: Regardless, someone should look for him. He can be an asshole but we don't want him dead.

Angel: Oh! Prix and I can do it!

Satoka: Wait, why can't I look for him?

Kotone: You and I need to look guard the body...

Satoka: Ooh right.

Alicia: Still... damn... it doesn't feel the same without her bossin' us around you know?

Frostwing: Still, all we can do now is move forward and try to look for clues.

Sora: Right...

Body Discovery Announcement has been added to the Truth Bullets

The investigation started and everyone went to do their own thing. Anna suddenly came up to me and Neko, tears still in her eyes.

Anna: Hey, Sora?

Sora: Yeah?

Anna: Would you mind if I help investigate? I... I want to find Artoria's killer no matter what.

Sora: Um sure, I don't mind. But are you sure I'm the one you want helping you? Strawberry seems like a better choice.

Anna: True, but Strawberry seems to have her own investigation going on.

Sora: Her own investigation?

I see. What is Strawberry looking for? I better ask her when I get the chance.

Sora: Well I guess there's no harm in you tagging along.

Anna: Really?! Great! Thanks Sora, I promise you won't regret it.

I nod and begin my investigation. I start by looking at Artoria's body. I let out a deep sigh.

Mononeko: To think she was enjoying a cheeseburger only a few days ago, only to end up like this...

Anna: I don't get it... who would do something like this?

Sora: I guess we're going to find out...

I lean down. The first thing I noticed was...

Sora: ... This smell...

Chris: It's the smell of death. For someone who lost their memories, you don't seem quite that bothered with it.

Sora: I must have been around a lot of dead bodies. Yet I don't remember Eve's body smelling like this.

Chris: Eve's body was drenched in water, nullifying the smell. In this particular case though, Artoria must have been sitting here for quite some time. But that doesn't mean she's been here the whole time.

Sora: Are you saying you think the body was moved?

Chris: Well... that's just a hypothesis.

Anna: Your knowledge of this stuff is honestly frightening. Are we sure you're just some ordinary manager?

Chris: Ehehe... I guess I just watched one too many detective and horror movies.

Smell of Death has been added to the Truth Bullets

Anna: Yeah. It's not like we can just determine the cause of death based on the smell alone. But it looks like the Monokuma Files are spot on. Look, there's not only a stab wound on her chest, but her neck too. And the knife is still there...

Sora: You're right. It's going straight through her neck.

Anna: Yeah. It's definitely the same knife Strawberry and I used in the kitchen. The culprit must have got it from there.

Kitchen Knife has been added to the Truth Bullets

Anna: But why didn't Artoria fight back? She's the most powerful out of all of us.

Chris: If I had to guess, something must have prevented her from fighting back. Something akin to her injured left hand maybe?

Anna: Hm? Oh!

Anna looked at Artoria's hand. It was bloody and bruised... and clinging on to something.

Sora: Hm? What is that?

Anna: It looks like some sort of paper...

Anna went to try and grab it but even when dead, Artoria's grip was like iron.

Anna: It's no use. How is that even possible?

Chris: It looks like she gripped the paper so tightly her fingers sunk into her hands. Whatever she's holding, she didn't want the culprit to get their hands on it.

Anna: As stubborn as ever... hey, Frostwing.

Frostwing: Hm?

Anna: Could you grab this piece of paper for us? We believe it might hold a clue about the Culprit.

Frostwing: I'll try... sorry about this Artoria...

Reluctantly, Frostwing undid Artoria's iron-clutched fist and retrieved the paper. He proceeded to open it.

Chris: Well? What does it say?

Frostwing: It's no use. I can't read it. It's covered in blood.

Chris: Hm?

Sora: I guess she accidentally got too much blood on it after gripping it so tightly.

Chris: It seems like it. Still, can I have a look at it? Just in case.

Sora: Sure.

Frostwing handed him the paper.

Bloody Paper has been added to the Truth Bullets

Sora: Now then...

Anna: I guess now we investigate the rest of this area.

Sora: Right.

I looked around the Library. The first thing I noticed was the bookshelf that was tipped over. But there was something off. The bookshelf seemed to have a bunch of books scattered underneath them.

Sora: Hm?

Anna: Is there something wrong Sora?

Sora: No... it's nothing.

Knocked over bookshelf has been added to the Truth Bullets

I guess now I should talk to some people, maybe I could get more information this way.

I started by talking to Kotone and Satoka.

Sora: Hey, you two.

Satoka: Hm?

Kotone: Something up? If you're looking for an alibi, it's kinda hard to give one since we don't exactly know when Artoria died.

Sora: That's fine. I just need to know the last time you two saw Seiketsu and Artoria.

Anna: Right. It might help us get a better understanding of the last time Artoria was seen alive and what time Seiketsu may have gone missing.

Kotone: Well the issue is, last I saw Artoria was when she randomly stormed off yesterday morning. The same applies for Seiketsu.

Anna: What? Et tu, Satoka?

Satoka: Hm? Yeah, last I saw Seiketsu was yesterday morning too.

Anna: I see. I went after Artoria that morning but she locked herself in her room. That means she isolated herself all day yesterday. That makes things a bit difficult...

Satoka: Actually, Seiketsu might know something.

Anna: Huh?

Sora: What makes you say that?

Satoka: Seiketsu and Artoria have been keeping in contact all the time. It's Seiketsu's way of gathering information without bothering the rest of us.

Anna: Why didn't Artoria say anything before?

Kotone: It was probably too dangerous. Kanzen almost always has breakfast with us, so they likely want to keep those types of talks away from the Masterminds ear.

Mononeko: Still, for Artoria to be murdered and Seiketsu to go missing at the same time...

Sora: Yeah, something fishy is definitely going on here.

Artoria and Seiketsu's interactions have been added to the Truth Bullets.

The next person we talked to was Strawberry.

Strawberry: Hm? Oh hey, you guys need something?

Sora: Yeah, Anna said you were doing an investigation of your own.

Strawberry: Oh that. Well I wanted to investigate why Artoria was acting so strange. So I came here in hopes of getting more info on this Gwen Reida girl.

Sora: Right. Artoria was acting strangely after she was brought up.

Anna: According to Kotone, she's a very popular actress and her roles are so good she would sometimes look like an entirely different person. Though she was probably just fangirling. Something like that isn't even possible without some sort of power.

Sora: So, did you find anything?

Strawberry: Sadly no. Once I got here, Artoria was dead and the book I was looking for was ripped to shreds.

Anna: Really? Was that the culprits doing?

Mononeko: If so, then they must require not want us to see what was in that book...

Sora: ... Is that the case? I wonder...

Gwen Reida has been added to the Truth Bullets

Ripped Book has been added to the Truth Bullets

I was about to continue on with my investigation when Angel finally came back.

Angel: We found him! We found Seiketsu!

Kotone: Really? Where?

Angel: He was tied up in the beach house!

Sora: Right. Let's go Neko.

Mononeko: Yep!

Satoka: Hey Anna, mind switching out with me? I wanna see what happened.

Anna: Huh? But...

Sora: It's fine. We'll come back soon.

Anna: ... Well alright...

Anna stayed to help guard the body while Mononeko, Satoka, and I followed Angel into the Beach house. The first thing we saw was Seiketsu and Prix talking.

Satoka: Hey Seiketsu, what's up-

Seiketsu: Let me see your hand.

Satoka: Huh?

Seiketsu: Just do it.

Satoka: Alright already. Jeez.

Satoka gave him his hand and Seiketsu looked at his palm closely. Almost as if he were looking for something.

Seiketsu: No, not you either.

Satoka: Hm?

Seiketsu: Sora, you too. Let me see your hand.

I have him my hand and he started to do the same. I looked at Angel and she shrugged.

Angel: He did the same with me and Prix.

Seiketsu: Looks like you're not it either. Damn.

Sora: Hey Seiketsu, what happened? You suddenly went missing. And Artoria, she's-

Seiketsu: Dead, I know.

Sora: You know?

So he really is-

Ding Dong Bing Bong

Before I could finish that thought, the intercoms turned on.

Monokuma: "Is everyone done with their investigation? Good, very good! Now I know some of you haven't been able to investigate due to circumstances, but who cares? Head to the red door on the ship, because it's time for the Class Trial!"

Seiketsu: Damn. Ran out of time.

Sora: Seiketsu wait. You still haven't explained what happened.

Seiketsu: Look, all I can say is that I passed out and woke up in here. Everything else you can find out on your own. Let's go Satoka.

Satoka: Hm? Oh um okay.

Seiketsu left and Satoka followed.

Angel: I guess we should go to...

Sora: ... No, not yet.

Angel: Hm?

Prix: You wish to investigate this area?

Sora: Right. Sorry but there's something odd about this place... you smell that too Neko?

Mononeko: Yeah... the smell of death.

Seiketsu's Account has been added to the Truth Bullets

Smell of Death has been updated to the Truth Bullets

I took a look around the place, starting with the area around me. The first thing I saw was a hole in the wall. It looked as if someone had stabbed into it. Taking a closer look, I could see a tiny bit of blood inside the hole.

Sora: So I was right. This place is connected to Artoria's murder somehow.

Hole in the Wall has been added to the Truth Bullets

I looked around a bit more and saw a trash can filled with empty water bottles.

Sora: What's this?

Prix: I'm not sure myself. On our search for Seiketsu, Angel came here for a drink. Once we got here, all the water bottles were gone.

Angel: Isn't that weird? Who needs that much water?

Sora: More importantly, what would they need to for? Hm?

That's when I noticed something. Some sort of cloth buried deep inside the trash can. I go to grab it.

Sora: Now what's this?

I take a sniff. It smelled really bad. Honestly just a small sniff was enough to make me feel lightheaded.

Mononeko: Be careful Sora, what you have there is chloroform.

Sora: What?

Mononeko: They must have got it from the pharmacy...

Now that I think about it, Seiketsu took something from the pharmacy. Could this be it? If so, then what's it for?

Empty Bottles have been added to the Truth Bullets

Chloroform has been added to the Truth Bullets

Sora: I believe that's all up here. Where did you find Seiketsu?

Angel: In this closet.

Angel opened the door to the closet. In the floor was an opened surfboard case and rope.

Prix: When we found him, he was in there tied up. Once we untied him, he suddenly wanted to see our hands.

Sora: Right... still I can't help but wonder what for...

That's when I noticed something. Underneath the surfboard case was a hatch.

Sonia: What is this? Does it... lead someone?

I reach down to touch it but before I could, Monokuma popped out of nowhere.

Monokuma: Hey hey hey! What do you think you're doing?!

Sora: Woah!

Angel: M-Monokuma?!

Monokuma: It's a little too late to be using this island's special feature, you know?

Sora: Special feature?

Prix: Right, I remember Monokuma saying something like that. That each island has something unique added to them.

Sora: So what? That hatch leads to this "special feature"?

Monokuma: Are you stupid or something? This hatch IS the special feature!

Sora: And what does that mean?

Monokuma: Like I have time to explain. Everybody's waiting you know?!

Sora: Everybody?

Monokuma: Yes everyone! The class trial is about to start! Did you not hear the announcement? I'll let it slide this time now come on, let's get a move on!

Monokuma then disappeared.

Angel: Looks like we were caught...

Prix: Let's get going. I rather not get into any more trouble.

Sora: ... Right, let's go.

Island Special Feature has been added to the Truth Bullets

Prix, Angel, and I headed back on the ship where everyone was waiting in front of the red door.

Alicia: You three are late. Somethin' happen?

Sora: Sorry, there was just something I had to do before we got here.

Frostwing: It's fine. Is everyone ready?

Strawberry: Yeah.

Anna: I will find Artoria's killer no matter what it takes.

Kanzen: Right, let's not let our dear friend Artoria's death go in vain~!

Seiketsu: You keep talking but you probably already know who it is.

Kanzen: ... Well, I have an educated guess.

Strawberry: Educated guess? You mean even you aren't sure?

Kanzen: Well let's just say, Artoria died a bit sooner than planned upupupupu...

Seiketsu: Enough of this already. Let's just get inside.

Sora: Right...

Everyone went through the red door, into the elevator. But Mia stopped me for a second.

Mia: Hey Sora... what Kanzen just said just now...

Sora: I know... what could it mean?

Mia: ... ... ... When you open your Monopad, your name appears on the screen right?

Sora: Huh? Um yeah. You can change the name that you use for text but even then people will know who's texting unless you're using someone else's Monopad. Why?

Mia: ... It's just a hunch. It probably has nothing to do with this case at all, but keep it in mind just in case.

Sora: Hm?

Mia isn't the type to base things off hunches. But she is known for having an incredibly high intellect. If she says it's important then it's definitely something to keep in mind.

Monopads have been added to the Truth Bullets

Alicia: You guys, c'mon before Monokuma yells at you again.

Mia: We better get going. The culprit seems to have covered their tracks good. It honestly worries me. But we'll pull through somehow.

Sora: Right...

We stepped into the elevator. It went straight down until we made it to the Trial Ground for the second time.

Sora: This place again...

Monokuma: Finally you're all here. It feels like I've been waiting forever! Hurry over to your assign seats! The Class Trial is about to begin!

Alicia: I'll be honest, I was hopin' we wouldn't have to come here again. Guess there's no such thing as hope in a place like this huh?

Frostwing: Hope can come once we leave this island. Until then, we should focus on trying to find Artoria's killer.

Prix: Right. Otherwise, we'll meet the same fate.

Anna: Then let's put our heads together and find the culprit... for Artoria's sake...

... Artoria Jackson. She didn't want to be, but she was pretty much the leader next to Frostwing. She could be pretty harsh, but that was only because she expected the best from everyone around her. And she always cared more about others, always putting them over before herself. She really was a true friend and worthy king. And yet... someone like her...

Was murdered... and the killer is one of us. Who did this? That's what I need to find out. Otherwise myself and everyone else here...

Will die...

To Be Continued