[ After the meeting, Shinobu's first instinct is to go to the Saloon and grab herself a drink. On the way out, though, she locks eyes with Erika...who is undoubtedly one of the strangest, most unnerving people she's ever met.
She doesn't show fear, though -- she's less afraid and more tense -- and she stops. ]
The threat of execution is the main thing that would be preventing people from acting on the offer. Regardless, I'd give them a few days before someone breaks under the pressure and actually murders someone.
We're lucky our hosts are so helpful. This could have turned out to be more of a battle royale sort of situation, and there's not even any mystery involved in that.
That's what I'm thinking. Execution is a good deterrent and all, but it's only gonna do so much for some people.
[ She doesn't include herself in that bunch. She's pretty good under pressure, and life or death situations don't scare her as much as it would others. Still, this is a kind of pressure she hasn't experienced before... ]
You'll be entertained soon enough.
[ She hates saying it, but it's (probably) true. ]
...What would you say the odds are of anyone making it out of here?
Mm. The set up before a murder occurs is also a crucial part of a mystery. I assure you, my job has already begun.
[She has to think on that for a moment. The odds... well, it's hardly something she'd devoted too much thought to. She'll get out, of course, because the detective never dies.]
I suppose it depends on whether the offering actually does let people escape. We've only got our hosts' speculation to rely on after all.
[For a moment, she remembers Ange Ushiromiya. Who hoped for an escape from an inescapable tragedy, and who deluded herself into hoping her dead family was alive. They may be trapped here, just like they were. Dead and trapped in an eternal gameboard.]
For every murder, that's two sacrifices. The victim, killed by the culprit, and the criminal, executed by Makima-senpai and myself. Eventually there would be enough fruits for everyone left standing. [Leaving aside the possibility of any other means of escape for a moment. She has her own suspicions, but that's not her priority.]
[ She listens to Erika speak. She's quiet. Maybe the Detective would've liked talking to her, she thinks. Shinobu does the math herself, and...yeah. That sounds about right. ]
Mm. There's no way to really verify their claims until it happens.
[ ...however. ]
Did you and Makima strike up a deal or something? Why are you part of the executions now?
[ She feels a little embarrassed for jumping to that conclusion, oops. ]
So this'll be a walk in the park for you. Well, we'll be counting on you, then, Detective -- got any investigation tips you'd like to share, or are those considered trade secrets?
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She doesn't show fear, though -- she's less afraid and more tense -- and she stops. ]
Fine. You were right.
[ That's what she wants to hear, isn't it? ]
Funny, how that all worked out.
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Of course I was. [When has she ever been wrong apart from the times in which she objectively was.]
Wherever a detective goes, a murder is soon to follow. You get used to it.
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[ Which...well, she's not entirely sure what that says about Erika, but. It is what it is. ]
I won't deny that it's likely to happen soon. I have a feeling many will get desperate to return home, if they aren't already.
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[Let's ignore the entire plot of Umineko.]
The threat of execution is the main thing that would be preventing people from acting on the offer. Regardless, I'd give them a few days before someone breaks under the pressure and actually murders someone.
We're lucky our hosts are so helpful. This could have turned out to be more of a battle royale sort of situation, and there's not even any mystery involved in that.
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That's what I'm thinking. Execution is a good deterrent and all, but it's only gonna do so much for some people.
[ She doesn't include herself in that bunch. She's pretty good under pressure, and life or death situations don't scare her as much as it would others. Still, this is a kind of pressure she hasn't experienced before... ]
You'll be entertained soon enough.
[ She hates saying it, but it's (probably) true. ]
...What would you say the odds are of anyone making it out of here?
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[She has to think on that for a moment. The odds... well, it's hardly something she'd devoted too much thought to. She'll get out, of course, because the detective never dies.]
I suppose it depends on whether the offering actually does let people escape. We've only got our hosts' speculation to rely on after all.
[For a moment, she remembers Ange Ushiromiya. Who hoped for an escape from an inescapable tragedy, and who deluded herself into hoping her dead family was alive. They may be trapped here, just like they were. Dead and trapped in an eternal gameboard.]
For every murder, that's two sacrifices. The victim, killed by the culprit, and the criminal, executed by Makima-senpai and myself. Eventually there would be enough fruits for everyone left standing. [Leaving aside the possibility of any other means of escape for a moment. She has her own suspicions, but that's not her priority.]
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Mm. There's no way to really verify their claims until it happens.
[ ...however. ]
Did you and Makima strike up a deal or something? Why are you part of the executions now?
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[So. Nothing as sinister as that, just an egotistical desire to take credit for any future executions.]
It's the role I'm used to playing. I expose the criminal, my partner carries out the execution.
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[ She feels a little embarrassed for jumping to that conclusion, oops. ]
So this'll be a walk in the park for you. Well, we'll be counting on you, then, Detective -- got any investigation tips you'd like to share, or are those considered trade secrets?
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Yeah. I get that. Especially now.
[ Even if all the doubt will eat away at her, she's used to being self-sufficient. ]
Thanks. ... We're counting on you.
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[Detectives rarely help the situation, she finds.]
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[ Shinobu is clever, but she's never had to solve a murder. That was all Heizou's job, back at home. ]
I'll do my best, in any case.
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[Is that encouragement????]