The man, Reinald Beaufore, straightened and stroked his goatee. “I’m impressed that the famous detective has heard of my name.”
“I have a minor interest in the fine art industry,” I answered, thankful that I still remembered the lines that the original Violet Guinevere spoke to Beaufore in the game. “Monsieur’s reputation as a connoisseur of rare art and antiquities is well known among the art collectors I’m acquainted with.”
“Well, well, count me honoured!” He laughed, which inexplicably sounded grating to my ears, and took a drag from his cigarette. “What brings you out here? Going on a holiday to the Levant?”
“Quite so, I have been invited to be the guest-of-honour at a ceremony hosted in Constantinople.”
“By any chance, might the ceremony you mentioned be the one Madame Renelle is hosting?”
“What a surprise, your guess is spot on.”
“No, no, it just so happens that I have been invited to the same ceremony—” Beaufore reached into his coat and pulled out a familiar-looking envelope “—but I never knew that the famous detective had been invited to be the guest-of-honour. Even more so, to think that we are sharing the same train to Constantinople!”
‘That’s interesting, the game didn’t reveal that Reinald Beaufore is also a guest at the ceremony…’
He interrupted my train of thought with a sudden question. “By the way, Mademoiselle, do you smoke?”
‘Oh, I remember this dialogue.’
In the game, Reinald Beaufore would offer a cigarette to Violet Guinevere during their first meeting. If the player chooses to accept the cigarette, the『Hidden Event』involving Beaufore would be triggered.
The player would then learn that Beaufore had actually been receiving death threats from an unknown individual. Afraid that he might be attacked at home, he decided to accept the invitation and stay in Constantinople for a while, but still wanted protection from a reputable person who he could trust—the famous detective, Violet Guinevere.
However, Violet would turn down his offer with the excuse that she wouldn’t live up to his expectations. After failing to convince her, Beaufore would storm off back into his compartment, thus concluding the hidden event.
Stolen novel; please report.
Incidentally, if the player chooses to decline his cigarette, Beaufore would leave Violet Guinevere alone, but asks if she could come and find him in his compartment the following morning before breakfast. Though, this would take place in the second level which was inaccessible, so nobody knew for sure what would happen if Violet decides to accept his request.
‘With that said, I’ve already played through his hidden event, so I’m not really keen on repeating it…’
I shook my head and smiled. “Sorry, I have given up on smoking a while ago.”
“Is that so?” He paused, then surprisingly, stepped closer to me.
“Mademoiselle Guinevere, I am a man who gets right to the point.”
I was immediately taken aback by his formidable hauteur.
‘Wait, what is this guy doing? This isn’t part of the script!’
“So I’m going to speak bluntly,” he continued in a low voice. “I want you to do a job for me.”
“Pardon?” I managed to say.
“Oh, come off it now.” Beaufore took another drag and exhaled a plume of grey smoke into the night air. “You see, I have money. Lots of it, in fact.”
“But even the wealthy have their personal enemies, and mine has been getting too vocal in recent days.”
“Vocal?”
“Well, what my enemies are trying to do is of no concern,” he said, taking the half-burnt cigarette out of his mouth and exhaling the last puff of smoke. “What matters is my life, detective.”
I feigned surprise. “Is someone targeting your life?”
“You see…” Flicking the cigarette butt onto the floor, he reached into his coat and pulled out a shiny black metallic object. “I am a man who can look after himself quite well.”
It took me a moment to register that Beaufore was holding a gun.
‘Holy crap, that thing’s real?!’
“But I’d prefer not to resort to using this,” he said nonchalantly, sliding the revolver back into his coat pocket. “I’ve heard that you are someone who will do a job for the right amount of money.”
‘Well, you’re damn right…but that only applies to me in my past life. Besides, Violet is a rich detective, why will I ever need your dirty money?’
“My apologies, but I’m afraid I am unable to meet your expectations.”
“Name your asking price.”
“Did you not hear me just now?” I shot him a scowl. “I don’t suppose that you are hard of hearing.”
He clicked his tongue, and at that moment, the steam whistle of the locomotive blew.
“Seems like the time has come for our departure,” I said, and turned to leave. “If there’s nothing else, I wish you a good night’s rest, Monsieur Beaufore.”