Chapter 10

Now that my assignment to stop
the execution had ended in such
an unsatisfactory way...

I decided to go see Lynne at
the justice minister's office.

Detective Jowd's story
about this "other murder"
weighs on me heavily.

Should I tell Lynne about it?

I just don't know.

This time Lynne isn't dead.

But the atmosphere makes
me think it might be too soon
to count my blessings just yet.

****

Sissel:
I'm glad Lynne isn't dead.

Sissel:
But what in the world
is she doing?

Sissel:
(Then again, do I really
want to know?)

****

Ray:
Are you all right? You
don't look very well.

Sissel:
I ran into another
dead body, and it
didn't even faze me.

Ray:
It didn't "shock" you?

Sissel:
Nope. Not a bit.

Ray:
All of those deaths you come
across... You should be able to
learn something from each one.

Sissel:
Yeah... I guess...

Ray:
Such as... Let's see...
The importance of life,
for example.

Sissel:
(I don't think that's
quite it, somehow...)

Sissel:
Well, I guess I'd better
be getting back there...

****

Sissel:
Nothing here,
same as before.

Sissel:
I guess I don't need to come
back here anymore...

Sissel:
...unless I ever feel the urge
to see this moon again...

****

Minister:
........

Sissel:
Hey, can you hear me?

Minister:
........

Sissel:
(Hmm...)

Sissel:
(He's dead, but he still
seems to be unconscious.)

Lynne:
Hey! There you are!

Sissel:
What kind of greeting is that? And
shoving somebody's poor soul out
of the way like that? Tsk, tsk...

Sissel:
I gotta say, though...

Sissel:
No matter where you go,
somebody always seems
to turn up dead.

Lynne:
Sorry about that.

Sissel:
Who is it this time? Is
this the justice minister?

Lynne:
Yeah, the man who signed
the order to carry out
Detective Jowd's execution.

Lynne:
He was already dead
when I got here.

Sissel:
(Oh, boy... I wonder what
happened this time?)

Lynne:
Well? And...? How did it go?
Was Detective Jowd still alive?!

Sissel:
He'd already been executed
by the time I got there. I did
manage to save him, but...

Lynne:
You did? Oh, I'm so glad!

Lynne:
...Wait a minute.
Did you say "but"?

Sissel:
(I told Lynne about my
"adventure" at the prison.)

Sissel:
(About that "other murder,"
though...)

Sissel:
(...I couldn't bring myself to tell her.)

Lynne:
Inspector Cabanela arrested
Detective Jowd...?

Lynne:
I can't believe it!

Lynne:
Inspector Cabanela would
never betray Detective Jowd!

Sissel:
Just so you know...

Sissel:
...Detective Jowd himself said
it was "the right thing to do."

Lynne:
........

Sissel:
Anyway...

Sissel:
...I'd better take care of
the justice minister here.

Lynne:
Right. And I have lots of
questions for him, too.

Sissel:
(Back we go, then! To four
minutes before his death!)

****

Lynne:
Eeeeek!

Sissel:
What kind of greeting is that?
I mean, I know I'm a ghost
and everything, but...

Lynne:
Well? And...? How did it go?
Was Detective Jowd still alive?!

Sissel:
He'd already been executed
by the time I got there. I did
manage to save him, but...

Lynne:
You did? Oh, I'm so glad!

Lynne:
...Wait a minute.
Did you say "but"?

Sissel:
(I told Lynne about my
"adventure" at the prison.)

Sissel:
(About that "other murder,"
though...)

Sissel:
(...I couldn't bring myself to tell her.)

Lynne:
Inspector Cabanela arrested
Detective Jowd...?

Lynne:
I can't believe it!

Sissel:
Yeah. I feel the same way...

Sissel:
I can't believe that wherever
I go, somebody is always dead.
Either you, or someone else...

Lynne:
Sorry about that.

Sissel:
So who is that lying
on the floor there?

Lynne:
Oh, you noticed him, did you?
That's the justice minister.

Lynne:
The man who signed
the order to carry out
Detective Jowd's execution.

Lynne:
He was already dead
when I got here.

Sissel:
Shouldn't you have called
for help, in that case?

Lynne:
Hmm... I guess so...

Lynne:
But I'm wanted, remember?
For murder?

Lynne:
I was hoping we could save him
without me getting caught...

Sissel:
("We," eh? Oh, boy...)

****

Lynne:
There are just too many
mysteries surrounding
Detective Jowd's execution.

Lynne:
Why did the justice
minister sign the order?

Lynne:
And...

Lynne:
...why would Inspector Cabanela
betray Detective Jowd?!

Sissel:
Just so you know...

Sissel:
...Detective Jowd himself said
it was "the right thing to do."

Lynne:
.......

Sissel:
(Anyway, I guess I better see
to the justice minister...)

****

Minister:
........

Sissel:
Hey, can you hear me?

Minister:
........

Sissel:
(Hmm...)

Sissel:
(He's dead, but he still
seems to be unconscious.)

Lynne:
Could you rescue him now,
while he's still unconscious?

Lynne:
Instead of talking to him, I bet
it'll be faster to just see for
yourself what really happened!

Sissel:
Yeah, I bet you're right.

Sissel:
Back we go, then! To four
minutes before his death!

****

Minister:
Emma!

Minister:
Oh, excuse me...

Minister:
Whaaat?!

Minister:
All right...

Minister:
I'll do as you say.

Minister:
This is terrible!

Minister:
........

Minister:
Why doesn't
she answer?!

Minister:
Unhhh!

Minister:
Unhhh!

Minister:
Nnnghhh!

Minister:
Ngh...?

Minister:
Gaaaaagh!

Minister:
M-Medicine...!

Minister:
Gaaaaagh!

Minister:
W-Water...!

Minister:
Such a foolish man.

Sissel:
Oh, you woke up?

Minister:
He's a contradiction.

Sissel:
"Contradiction"...?

Minister:
The more we search for the truth,
the further into a dilemma we fall.

Minister:
The world of men is steeped
in contradictions. If we choose
this, we can't have that...

Minister:
If a man tries to have his
medicine bottle and water
pitcher, too, he loses both.

Sissel:
Oh, I dunno... To me, it looks
like you could've had both
of those things just now...

Minister:
He didn't know the truth
about the world. That's why
he died. Such a foolish man.

Minister:
Or maybe I should say,
a pathetic man. That's
the more fitting word.

Sissel:
(Uh, I don't think
this guy gets it yet.)

Sissel:
(That the "foolish" and
"pathetic" man is him.)

Sissel:
(Is that what they call
a "contradiction"?)

Sissel:
By the way, what's your name?

Minister:
........

Minister:
Just call me a "seeker of truth."

Sissel:
(Sidestepped that one, didn't he?)

****

Sissel:
No need to think too
hard about this one.

Sissel:
All I have to do is get
his medicine to him.
Pretty simple.

Sissel:
(But there's one more
thing that concerns me...)

Sissel:
(What was that telephone
call the justice minister
got all about?)

Sissel:
(It was right after that
that his health took an
instant downturn.)

Minister:
Tsk. I've never seen
such a foolish, pathetic
and strange man.

Sissel:
Uh, I think you'd
better stop there.

****

Sissel:
(This is the telephone
call that made him start
thrashing around.)

Sissel:
Who in the world
could it be from?

Minister:
Such an insignificant man.

Sissel:
Huh?

Minister:
An insignificant man
getting frightened by an
insignificant telephone call.

Minister:
Nothing more than that.
No mystery there.

Sissel:
(Okaaay...)

Sissel:
(Anyway, I need
information. I'd better
check out that call.)

****

Minister:
I have to call my wife!
I have to see if it's true!

Minister:
Maybe they called
the wrong person!

Sissel:
(This minister doesn't
accept the truth easily...)

Minister:
He's morally bankrupt.

Sissel:
Okay, now you're
taking it too far...

Sissel:
(His wife won't answer,
for some reason...)

Sissel:
(Hmm... A wife who doesn't
answer her phone... I think
I know who THAT is...)

Minister:
A morally bankrupt man
deserves a morally
bankrupt wife.

Minister:
Why doesn't that man
understand that?!

Sissel:
(Now I'm sorry I ever
brought this guy along...)

****

Sissel:
That's some wild
thrashing around...

Sissel:
That little attack changed
the position of the phone
ever so slightly.

Sissel:
(Even a small change in
distance can mean a world
of difference to me...)

Sissel:
(Did I just miss my chance...?)

****

Sissel:
Uh-oh. Here it comes...

Sissel:
(His worry and anxiety
have reached their peak...)

Minister:
Such a disgraceful man.

Sissel:
Huh?

Minister:
If one lives his life in
fits, he's bound to be
plagued by fits.

Minister:
It's so simple! Why doesn't
he understand?

Sissel:
(...But there wasn't a chance
to rescue him before now.)

Sissel:
It's not over yet, though.
I can't give up now!

****

Sissel:
To save the minister, I have
to get him his medicine.

Sissel:
But, as things are, there
just isn't enough time!

Minister:
Such unparalleled cowardice
this man has!

Sissel:
(Before I get the medicine
to him, I think I have to
buy some time first.)

****

Beauty:
Forgive me for calling
so late, Mr. Minister.

Minister:
Who is this? How did
you get this number?

Beauty:
We have your daughter.

Minister:
Wh-Who is this...?
Amelie's tutor...?

Beauty:
Would a tutor call
you at this hour?

Minister:
........

Minister:
N-No...

Beauty:
I'll say it one more time.
We have your daughter.

Minister:
Whaaat?!

Minister:
M-My daughter! Is she all
right?! Tell me she's all right!

Beauty:
Hear for yourself.

Amelie:
Papa, help!

Amelie:
I'm gonna
be killed!

Minister:
What do you want...?
What are your demands?!

Beauty:
I believe we already made our
demand known the other day.

Minister:
Oh... So it was you...

Beauty:
And have you complied?

Beauty:
Has the execution been carried out?

Minister:
I-I didn't do it because of
your demand! I did it because...

Minister:
...that's my job!

Beauty:
Yes... Yes, of course.

Minister:
They should be contacting me any
minute now with the confirmation.
There's no need for this kidnapping!

Beauty:
We're very thorough. You'd
do well to remember that.

Minister:
Aaaaagh...

Beauty:
And of course it goes without
saying, we're watching you.

Beauty:
If this information
leaves that room...

Beauty:
...you'll never see your daughter
again. I trust you understand that.

Minister:
"Don't tell the police," is that it?

Beauty:
Exactly.

Beauty:
All you have to do is your job.

Minister:
All right... I'll do as you say.

Minister:
I'll make sure the execution
is carried out tonight.
You have my word.

****

Beauty:
Apparently, the police in this
country aren't so easily fooled.

Beauty:
I had no idea word of
tonight's deal had leaked...

Amelie:
Papa, help!

Amelie:
I'm gonna
be killed!

Amelie:
I hate you,
Mama!

Beauty:
Luckily, I managed to arrange it
so that the justice minister could
hear her "voice."

Beauty:
But what's taking the goods
so long to arrive? I'm
starting to get concerned...

****

Sissel:
Uh-oh.

Sissel:
This woman doesn't
show any signs of
moving from that spot.

Sissel:
And I can't use the
telephone line, either...

Sissel:
(Hmm. It looks like
I fell into a trap.)

Minister:
All women are like traps.

Minister:
Some are sweet traps,
others are bitter... Don't
you understand that?!

Sissel:
(Okaaay... Anyway, I think I'd
better rethink things here...)

****

Sissel:
I can't use the
phone right now.

Minister:
Like I said! All women
are like traps!

Sissel:
That and this are
hardly related...

Sissel:
(When in the past, I can only
use the line when the phone
is being used to make a call.)

****

Sissel:
A mysterious kidnapping, eh?
I'd like to find out more about it...

Sissel:
(But, right now, I have another
problem to solve first.)

Minister:
"Cause as little trouble for
others as possible" -- now
THAT'S a rule to live by!

Sissel:
Never mind that.
I'll just start over.

****

Sissel:
A "kidnapping," eh?

Sissel:
(Once again, I'm not sure
I know what the word
means...)

Sissel:
(...but it's apparently the
cause of the minister's
attack.)

Minister:
Such a useless man.

Sissel:
Huh?

Minister:
A useless man, caught
up in a useless case...

Minister:
Why doesn't he
understand that...?

Sissel:
(Anyway... We only have
four minutes here.)

Sissel:
(I'd better do something
about that medicine.)

****

Sissel:
It's no use. The
line isn't working.

Sissel:
Hmm...

Sissel:
Apparently, it only works if
the other party answers.

****

Sissel:
I can't use the phone
lines right now.

Minister:
What a befitting
room for this man!

Sissel:
Huh?

Minister:
It looks stately, but
it's filled with nothing
but useless trash.

Sissel:
(When in the past, I can only
use the line when the phone
is being used to make a call.)

Sissel:
(I guess I'd better
find another path.)

****

Sissel:
If only he could at least
drink some of this water...

Sissel:
(Too bad he knocks this
pitcher to the floor at the
end of his four minutes...)

Minister:
Such a stupid man.

Sissel:
Huh?

Minister:
Once water is spilled, there's
no getting it back.

Minister:
And knowing this full well...

Minister:
...why do people still
spill water pitchers?!

Sissel:
(I dunno. "Those who do not
learn from history are
doomed to repeat it"...?)

****

Sissel:
So this medicine stops the
minister's attacks, eh?

Sissel:
If I could, I'd spill them
onto his desk right now...

Sissel:
...but, unfortunately,
I can't even open the cap.

Minister:
What a shabby
excuse for a man.

Sissel:
Huh?

Minister:
He wears his important-
looking uniform, and sits
working at his stately desk.

Minister:
But what does he have
inside? Nothing! A miserable,
shabby excuse for a man.

Sissel:
I think you've already
said quite enough.

****

Sissel:
I just have to get this
medicine to the minister.

Sissel:
But, hmm...

Sissel:
(There are only a few
seconds left. It isn't
enough time!)

Minister:
Such a shortsighted man...

Sissel:
Huh?

Minister:
Happiness escapes us just as
we are about to pull it in.

Minister:
We have to grab it while we
can. Not only happiness, but
dreams, love and hope, too!

Sissel:
Clearly, someone here
is overly naïve.

Sissel:
(Anyway, there isn't
enough time to do
anything in this state!)

Sissel:
(I think I'd better rethink
this from the beginning...)

Minister:
If he could just get some
of that water, he might
feel a little better.

Sissel:
(Did he just say something
constructive?)

****

Sissel:
There! That should help.

Sissel:
At least now he's
had some water.

Sissel:
He's still breathing,
apparently.

Sissel:
(But he looks far from
recovered, unfortunately...)

Minister:
Such a wishy-washy man.

Sissel:
Huh?

Minister:
He can't make up his mind
whether to live or die. That's
how he lives his life.

Sissel:
Okaaay...

Sissel:
At least now I bought
some time to get his
medicine to him.

****

Sissel:
I've never seen anybody
drink water the way
this man just did...

Sissel:
(The water pitcher is
completely empty.)

Minister:
He's an empty
vessel of a man.

Sissel:
Huh?

Minister:
An empty, withered man.

Minister:
Where is his oasis?!

Sissel:
(This guy is a really starting
to get on my nerves...)

****

Sissel:
The minister's fate
has changed...

Sissel:
...but the situation still
seems the same.

Sissel:
I can't move anywhere now!

Sissel:
(Did I miss something?)

Sissel:
I think I saw a path, just for
a second, while the minister
was drinking the water...

Sissel:
Maybe I should start over
from the beginning...

****

Sissel:
Well, I managed to
buy some time...

Sissel:
But I got distracted and
missed my chance...

Minister:
It's easiest to fail after a success.

Sissel:
(It looks like I'll have to start
over from the beginning.)

****

Sissel:
Next, I need to find a way to
get the minister his medicine.

Sissel:
I'll just have to try a variety
of things. I might make a
bit of a mess, though...

Minister:
He and this whole room can
both fall into ruin together,
for all it matters.

Sissel:
(That wasn't exactly what I had
in mind... Anyway, I'd better
look for some kind of lead...)

****

Sissel:
Okay, time for
the next step.

Sissel:
Now, about this
medicine bottle...

Sissel:
If the minister's going to
make a full recovery...

Sissel:
...I have to deliver
this thing to him.

Sissel:
(But how is a ghost
with no hands or feet
supposed to do that?)

Sissel:
(I guess I'll just have to
use my head, instead.)

****

Sissel:
This thing is pretty heavy.
It's got a good swing to it.

Sissel:
It's sharp enough to
cut the medicine
bottle in two, though.

Sissel:
(And it's not long
enough, is it?)

Minister:
Such a reckless man.

Sissel:
Huh?

Minister:
Only cowards like to
keep weapons around.

Minister:
What a truly dangerous
thing to have around!

Sissel:
(In any case...)

Sissel:
(I bet I could use this
sword somehow...)

****

Sissel:
(Hmm... That was so close...)

Sissel:
If the swing just had a
little more reach to it...

Sissel:
(I think I'd better look
for something else...)

****

Sissel:
(Hmm... That looks
really good...)

Sissel:
If only the medicine bottle
was under that swing...

Sissel:
I bet it would go flying...!
But to the wrong side
of the room.

Sissel:
(I think I'm starting to
form a plan here...)

****

Sissel:
Whew. There sure are a lot of
falling things in this room.

Minister:
And that man is the
epitome of them all.

Minister:
Let them all fall! Let all of
them and that man fall down
into the abyss together!

Sissel:
(I guess the question is what
order and combination things
should be dropped in...)

****

Sissel:
That was really loud.

Sissel:
That urn is a lot heavier
than it looks.

Sissel:
(It's made out of some
pretty thick iron...)

Sissel:
I wouldn't want to
drop that on my foot.

Sissel:
(But I don't have feet, so I
guess I don't have to worry.)

****

Sissel:
It's a pretty light
frame for its size.

Sissel:
(There sure are a lot
of things that can fall
down in this room...)

Minister:
He's a fallen man.

Sissel:
Huh?

Minister:
He deserves to have
everything come tumbling
down on his head!

Sissel:
I don't know about "fallen
man," but you talk about
him like he's your "fall guy."

Sissel:
(I guess the key here is
what order the objects
are dropped in.)

****

Sissel:
This urn is pretty light.

Sissel:
(Once an urn is dropped,
there's no getting it back...)

Sissel:
(I guess I'd better think
carefully about what I
drop and when.)

****

Sissel:
Well, I tried dropping various
things, and ended up creating
something that looks useful.

Minister:
That's right. That man's
very life is like a seesaw.

Minister:
He never creates balance
in his life. No wonder he
is always out of kilter!

Sissel:
(A seesaw, eh? The question
is, how do I use it?)

****

Sissel:
Hmm. I think I see my path now.

Sissel:
The only thing I lacked was enough
time. I think I'll try again.

Minister:
Maybe time is what that man
lacked in his life as well.

Sissel:
We'll have plenty of time
to think about that later.

****

Minister:
M-My medicine!

Minister:
Aaaaagh!

Sissel:
There! The minister finally
took his medicine!

Sissel:
(I think maybe he even took
TOO MUCH medicine...)

Minister:
Such a greedy man.

Sissel:
Huh?

Minister:
He's supposed to take two
capsules with water. Why
doesn't he know that?

Sissel:
Aw, cut the guy some slack.

Sissel:
There. See?

Sissel:
Whew. That was a lot of work.

Minister:
Well, hopefully, this
taught him a lesson.

Sissel:
Huh?

Minister:
He greatly underestimated his
dependence on his medicine.

Minister:
I hope he learned something
from this experience.

Minister:
First, know yourself.

Minister:
That is the key to everything.

Sissel:
I think you need to listen
to your own advice.

Sissel:
Anyway, let's go back to
the world of the present.

And so the justice minister
is now back to life.

But the furrows on his brow
are even deeper now...

And, apparently, our lady
detective is the present
cause of those furrows.

Minister:
Look, Detective.

Minister:
He was sentenced after a fair
trial. And the man himself
wants to be executed.

Lynne:
But there was no evidence! All
they had was his own confession.

Minister:
But it was no ordinary confession.
It was the confession of an
esteemed detective.

Minister:
Stay back!

Minister:
I told you I don't want
anybody coming near me!

Lynne:
Mr. Minister, please listen to me!

Lynne:
I might be able to gather new
evidence in that case tonight!

Minister:
Wh-What...?

Lynne:
So, please, please! Just give
me a little more time!

Minister:
........

Minister:
I just got a call from the prison.

Minister:
Your death-row convict
apparently just escaped.

Lynne:
...!

Minister:
Unfortunately, after all this
time, it seems he now wants
to dodge his punishment.

Lynne:
B-But...

Minister:
When he's apprehended, his
sentence will be carried out.

Minister:
Tonight.

Lynne:
No...

Lynne:
........

Lynne:
But when the sentence was
handed down, you were against
enforcing the death penalty.

Lynne:
So why did you sign the
order all of a sudden?

Minister:
Well, I...

Minister:
I was simply performing my
duty as justice minister.
That's all there is to it.

****

Sissel:
Lynne looks like she's
about to rip into the
justice minister.

Sissel:
I think she's forgotten
all about me.

Sissel:
I think I'll send
her a little signal.

****

Lynne:
Sissel! There you are!

Sissel:
It sounds like the minister
is being very stubborn.

Lynne:
That's right! He is! Maybe we
shouldn't have saved him after all!

Sissel:
The minister has to
have the execution
carried out tonight.

Sissel:
And he has a very
good reason for it.

Lynne:
A good reason?

Sissel:
(I told Lynne what I had learned
about the kidnapping.)

Lynne:
K-Kidnapping?! They kidnapped
the justice minister's daughter?!

Sissel:
Apparently.

Lynne:
Oh, my goodness...

Lynne:
But, still...

Lynne:
That's still no reason to hurry
forward with the execution!

Sissel:
Why don't you go ahead
and say that to the
justice minister, then?

Lynne:
Hmm... The poor man...
I hate to do that to him...

Sissel:
Oh, by the way...

Sissel:
Do you think you
could carry me?

Lynne:
Oh, right. Sure. Not very
handy, is it, having no legs?

****

Lynne:
This sword and globe
combo is heavy!

Sissel:
And I'm in here, too, don't forget.

Lynne:
I guess that means a single soul is
heavier than the whole world...

Lynne:
Maybe I'll use this thing
to persuade the minister
to change his mind.

Sissel:
Good luck with that.

****

Minister:
What are you going to do
with that globe? Crack me
in the head with it?

Lynne:
Oh, this? Er, heh heh...
Pay no attention to this.

Sissel:
(It's kind of hard NOT to
pay attention to it...)

Minister:
By the way... and please pardon
me if this is a silly question...

Minister:
Were you... talking to
somebody just now...?

Minister:
But, of course not, right...?
I mean, there's no such thing...

Minister:
...as ghosts, right...?

Sissel:
Are you talking about me?

Minister:
Aaaaagh!

Minister:
No, there's no such thing! This is a
dream! It's nothing but a dream!

Sissel:
Don't you remember me?

Minister:
My dream is talking to me!

Sissel:
(Hmph. So now I'm
a "dream," eh?)

Lynne:
Mr. Minister...?

Lynne:
We know. We know
about your daughter.

Lynne:
She was kidnapped, wasn't she?

Lynne:
And if the execution doesn't
take place tonight...

Lynne:
...you won't see her again...

Minister:
Nnngaaaaah!

Minister:
Gaaaaagh!

Lynne:
Your medicine!
Medicine!

Minister:
Graaaaagh!

Minister:
Gaaaaagh!

Minister:
Oh, what am I going to do...?

Minister:
The death-row prisoner
has escaped. If he isn't
executed tonight...

Minister:
...my daughter... my Amelie...!

Lynne:
But what if that execution
isn't the right thing to do?!

Minister:
Ngaaaaah!

Sissel:
C'mon, Lynne. If you
keep pressing him like
that, he's gonna die again.

Lynne:
What can I do, then...?!

****

Sissel:
We have to do something
about that kidnapping.

Sissel:
Until we do that, it'll be
impossible to get the
minister on our side.

Sissel:
That's the way I see it.

Sissel:
(I think I'll start by
gathering info on
the kidnapping...)

Sissel:
(...in the only way
I know how...)

****

Lynne:
Don't you think there's something
fishy about this kidnapping thing?

Sissel:
Fishy?

Lynne:
I mean, the demand is to carry
out an execution that was
already set to be carried out...

Lynne:
It's just like the minister
said. There's no need for
such a kidnapping.

Sissel:
Hmm... You might be right.

Minister:
Are you... talking to somebody
again...? No, no. There's no
such thing... No such thing...!

Minister:
I'm a realist! I'll never
believe in them!

Minister:
...Not in the existence of ghosts,
not in this escape from prison,
and not in this kidnapping!

Sissel:
Hmm. This "realist" is running
away from several very real facts...

Lynne:
At high speed, too.

Sissel:
Anyway, let me try and find out
more about this kidnapping.

Sissel:
After all, I know where
the kidnappers are.

Lynne:
Oh, that's right. You have
their telephone number!

Sissel:
(I think I'll go see what these
kidnappers look like.)

****

Sissel:
We meet again, Mr. Minister.

Minister:
Wh-What?! I've never
seen you before!

Minister:
I-In any case, I'm a very busy man!

Minister:
If you're a dream, please don't
bother me when I'm awake!

Sissel:
(Uh, I'm NOT a dream...)

Lynne:
Looks like it's just a waste of
time, trying to talk to this guy.

Sissel:
I think you're right. Stubborn
justice minister...

Minister:
Please stop speaking ill of
me inside my own head!

****

Sissel:
What's the matter, Ray?
Taking a break?

Ray:
Ha ha. I'm embarrassed
to admit this, but...

Ray:
...I'm apparently starting
to lose my strength.

Sissel:
Wh-What?

Ray:
Let me ask you one favor
first, if you don't mind.

Ray:
There's a small creature
who needs your powers...

Sissel:
(Ah, you're talking about
the little lady, aren't you?)

Ray:
She holds a clue to
that which you seek.

Ray:
I encourage you to lend
her your strength.

Sissel:
How do you know all this?

Ray:
You'll find out, soon enough.
I know you can do it.

Ray:
Hurry along now. There's
no time to waste.

Sissel:
Okay... I'm going.

****

Sissel:
Just like before...

Sissel:
...I don't see the little
girl here anywhere.

Sissel:
(So does this mean she
was really kidnapped...?)

Sissel:
In spite of the fact that
her husband and daughter
are in trouble...

Sissel:
...the novelist types
passionately on.

Sissel:
But I don't get it...

Sissel:
How did the kidnappers get
a hold of the little girl...?

****

........

Sissel:
There's so much tension
in here... I've never felt
anything like this before.

Sissel:
I'd better find out more
about this kidnapping
as quickly as I can...

Sissel:
...before the minister
dies of anxiety.

***

Minister:
Damn those criminals!

Minister:
If they were going to
abduct somebody, why
didn't they take me?!

Sissel:
But if they took you...

Sissel:
...who would've carried
out their demand?

Minister:
Y-You've got a point there...

Minister:
........

Minister:
Unlike me...! There's no point
to my existence at all!

Sissel:
(I'd better get going
on that kidnapping...)

****

Ray:
.........

Sissel:
Hey, why so quiet?

Ray:
.........

Sissel:
Ray...?

Ray:
.........

Sissel:
Wh-What's going on...?
(Maybe he isn't here
anymore...?)

I really should pay the
kidnappers' hideout a visit.

After all, if we want the justice
minister to come around, we
have to solve this problem first...

I feel like I'm slowly moving
away from my own mystery...

But I'm not the kind of guy who can
abandon a little lady in trouble.

So I guess I'm in this for
a little while longer.