Big Fish

This town is not ordinary. Without mentioning other strange aspects, the most direct evidence is the crocodile we encountered on the road. From the sheriff's response, it seems (text-colour:orange)[they] know something. Fuller is an (text-colour:orange)[expert in the field of genetic biology], and it’s hard to imagine these things have nothing to do with him. (link-reveal:"Did Fuller use the neighbor's little girl for biological experiments?")[ No. He said in his letter that he isn't the culprit, and I believe him. But more importantly, I believe in him as a person. Fuller once had a daughter he cherished dearly. If she had grown up, she would probably be around the same age as the deceased… (text-colour:orange)[Fuller would never do such a thing]. [[Continue->physical evidence]] ]

"Oh, you've discovered that," the man says. "For an outsider, your initiative is commendable." You ask him without much expectation what he thinks about the totem. He looks around, as if considering something, but finally speaks, "You know this town is the territory of a new religion, right?" (link-reveal:"You nod.")[ "Actually, this religion isn't new at all. Before Americans came here, (text-colour:orange)[crocodile worship] already existed. That totem is the evidence. I once went there for an investigation. Near the totem, there is a cave filled with human bones—the natives fed their enemies to their guardian deity. Later, the Americans drove the natives away and established this small town. Over the years, many strange things have happened in the town, and people's faith was shaken. Eventually, a branch of the religion had to transform itself, adopting a way to survive by combining with primitive shamanism." You ponder thoughtfully. (link-reveal:"The man hesitated for a moment, ")[said, "Here's my advice: if you don't have any particular reason to stay, you'd better leave this town as soon as possible." [[Tavern]] ]]

=Archive Room= The archive room has a pleasant smell from the old files. [[Case Overview]] (if:$read_document is true)[[Victim's Mother?]] (if:$read_mother is true)[[Victim's Father's Status?]] (if:$read_father is true)[[Eyewitness?]] (if:$read_jane is true)[[Suspicious Persons?]] (if:$read_suspicious_people is true)[The sheriff assures you that he can take full responsibility for what he said. You think for a moment and decide that the next thing to do is to see the scene in person. [[Leave Archive Room->Inside Police Station]]]

=Basement= Descending the few steps, you're hit by the cool, dense air of the basement. The basement space is much larger than the warehouse above. This seems to have been a wine cellar used by the house's previous owner. We can see a woodworking lathe, unused lumber, and half-finished fishing stools. In the corner, a box is filled with laboratory glassware, the way it's piled suggests these things no longer interest the owner. This is where the [[physical evidence]] was found. From here we can return to the [[Warehouse]].

=Bathroom= A small bathroom, separated from the shower only by a plastic door. An extremely cheap design. An ordinary-looking man stands in the mirror. There are no wrinkles on his face, but his features don't look particularly youthful either. You're just one of countless ordinary people. (if: $cleanup is false)[You look unkempt, it's best to [[Wash Up]] before doing anything else.](else:)[You look clean enough now, we can return to the [[Bedroom]].]

You found (text-colour:orange)[a few things that shouldn't be here] under the bed. This led you to some despicable thoughts. [[Continue->Victim's Room]]

=Bedroom= A clean but uninspiring bedroom. A black and white sheepdog named Darwin, your dog, is lying by the bed. It's sleeping deeply, your slight movements make its ears twitch, but it shows no signs of waking up. A [[calendar->Confirm Date]] and a [[monthly planner->Check Schedule]] hang on the wall. The [[Bathroom]] is in the corner of the bedroom. (if: $cleanup is true)[(text-colour:green)[Now we can go to the] [[Living Room]].]

=Big Fish Town= Big Fish Town is situated along the shore of a huge lake—referred to by locals as "Crocodile Pool." Indeed, many crocodiles thrive here, mostly concentrated in a water area called "Crocodile Bay," located on the western shore, near a cliff. Big Fish Town is divided into east and west shores, with the town center on the east shore, where essential public facilities like the [[Tavern]], [[Church]], [[Hospital]], and [[Police Station]] are located. The west shore is less populated. A few mansions belong to particularly wealthy individuals who vacation here. My uncle, after an accident, resigned from his job and has been living in a small villa on the west shore. Unexpectedly, such an incident happened... (if:$read_evidence is true)[We finally returned to the east shore once again. “What’s next?” the sheriff asked you. “(text-colour:green)[The church is the final place].” you replied. You believe that all answers can be found there.](else-if:$gone_police_station is false)[Though you want to go directly to the crime scene, it’s best to report to the [[Police Station]] first.](else-if:$chapter3_entered is false)[(text-colour:green)[With the sheriff's accompaniment, we can now head to the][[west shore->Chapter Three]]](else-if:$chapter3_entered is true)[(text-colour:green)[With the sheriff's accompaniment, we can now head to the][[West Bank]]] (link:"Save game?")[(save-game:"eng game")(if: (saved-games:) contains "eng game")[Game saved!](else: )[Failed to save!]]

"You didn't find any body fluids in the basement or anywhere else at the time, right?" "That's right, no traces of body fluids," the sheriff says. "But Fleur has already confessed his motive, just as you imagine. He just killed the victim during the struggle, so the charge became premeditated murder, destruction of evidence, and attempted sexual assault." (link-reveal: "You ponder for a moment.")[ (text-colour:orange)[Fleur admitted his motive], if it wasn't a forced confession, then it must have been to cover up (text-colour:orange)[something else]. The reason is only known to his relatives—after losing his wife and daughter, he lost his sexual function. Although we don't know what (text-colour:orange)[that thing] is yet. Even if Fleur is the culprit, at least there are other things to hate, which is still a kind of redemption. But you don't voice your thoughts. ] [[Continue->physical evidence]]

On the night of October 5, 1995, the police received a missing person call from the victim's (12 years old) father, Sapir (43 years old). It was raining heavily in Big Fish Town at the time. After arriving, the police first questioned Sapir. According to him, he [[returned from the hospital]] to find his young daughter, who should have been at home, missing. He had asked the neighbors, who all said they hadn't seen her, so he called the police. The police split into two teams, one conducting an outdoor search, the other taking statements from residents on the west bank and investigating their homes. Later, the police found the victim's clothes in the basement of Fleur's (my uncle's) warehouse and detained him. Soon after, following footprints, they discovered remains eaten by crocodile near Crocodile Bay. The forensic team confirmed the victim's identity. Fleur quickly confessed to his crime and was executed a year later—thrown alive into Crocodile Bay. [[Continue->Archive Room]] (set:$read_document to true)

The weather was growing increasingly gloomy, and it looked like it was about to rain. “Damn weather,” the sheriff said, “brings back bad memories.” The East Bank and West Bank weren't far apart; it only took fifteen minutes to drive from the police station. On the right was the leaden-gray lake. (link-reveal: "Suddenly, a strange object appeared in our sight.")[ From the coniferous forest unfolding on the right, something darted out. The sheriff hurriedly hit the brakes, and the car stopped just in time. On closer inspection, it was a panicked boy who looked about ten years old. (link-reveal: "But the problem wasn’t with him.")[ “What is that thing?!” Something was chasing the boy. A huge, slender human-like figure. “Damn it... get the kid in the car,” the sheriff said as he opened the door, pulling a gun from his holster. Things escalated quickly; I had just pulled the kid into the car when two gunshots rang out. (link-reveal: "……")[ After confirming the target had stopped moving, I opened the car door. The sheriff was relaying something to his colleagues at the station via pager. Lying on the ground was... “A crocodile?” (link-reveal: "But I clearly saw a human figure just now.")[ Unless the crocodile was running on two legs. … Upon closer inspection, its limbs indeed bore a slight resemblance to human arms and legs, except they were covered in scales. (link-reveal: "The boy thanked us and left, running towards the East Bank.")[ He didn't seem too concerned about the crisis. What on earth was going on in this town? Amidst an atmosphere of mystery and malevolence, we returned to the crime scene from a year ago. Earlier, I had reviewed all the evidence from the incident, all pointing to my uncle’s crime. But I decided to go back to that place to verify some things with my own eyes. [[Enter Chapter Three->West Bank]] ]]]]] (set:$chapter3_entered to true) (set:$got_safe_key to false) (set:$got_safe_doc to false)  (set:$got_daily to false)  (set:$got_telescope to false) (set:$saw_totem to false) (set:$saved_janes_boy to true) (set:$read_evidence to false)

Enter Chapter Two. [[Continue->Big Fish Town]] (set:$gone_police_station to false) (set:$explained to false) (set:$read_document to false) (set:$read_mother to false) (set:$read_father to false) (set:$read_jane to false) (set:$read_suspicious_people to false) (set:$chapter3_entered to false) (set:$read_evidence to false) (set:$saw_totem to false)

You glance at the wall calendar. Though sparse, important days are marked in red marker. Apparently, today is not one of those special days. [[Continue->Bedroom]]

=Church= (if:$gone_police_station is false)[As a stranger, it’s better not to wander around before explaining your intentions at the police station.](else:)[“What’s that?” you asked, pointing at the thing on the cross. “As you can see, a crocodile,” the sheriff said. It is said that a new religion has established itself in this town. In the church, we found Jane, the only witness at the time of the incident, praying devoutly in a seat. She is elderly, with white hair. Next to her is her husband in a wheelchair, who has been bedridden for many years and is almost unconscious. (link-reveal:"You asked Jane to recount the events of that day")[, but she refused to provide more information. She said she had forgotten, and the matter was over.(if:$saved_janes_boy is true)[ At this moment, a (text-colour:green)[little boy] walked in from the door, and upon closer inspection, it was the boy we rescued on the west shore; he turned out to be Jane’s grandson. The boy recognized us too, and he reported to Jane about the danger he encountered by the lake and the crocodile monster, though he was just there to play. “Ah, the new order has come.” Jane acted very strangely, showing no reaction to us saving her grandson or her grandson being in danger, instead starting to pray to the sky. I earnestly asked her to recount the events of that day. After repeated persuasion by the sheriff, she finally agreed. [[Jane's Testimony]] ](else:)[It seems that we need (text-colour:red)[some opportunity] to get more information from her.]]] From here we can return to [[Big Fish Town]].

You stand up and walk to the wall, tear off yesterday's calendar page, crumple it up, and throw it into the wastebasket. Today is Wednesday, October 23, 1996. [[Continue->Bedroom]]

=Crocodile Bay= At the bottom of the cliff, there is a shrub area where crocodiles like to rest. To prevent tourists from accidentally entering, this area is marked with a warning line made of wire and wooden stakes. However, it’s merely a deterrent and doesn’t have barbed wire or anything. If someone wants to go in, it’s their choice, but at their own risk. A triangular warning sign hangs on the wire, depicting an crocodile standing up and devouring a person, with the person's legs hanging out of its mouth. This is also where the remains of the victims from the "incident" were eventually found. In the distance, there is a cylindrical object on the large rock at the bottom of the cliff. (if: $got_telescope is true) [(text-colour:green)[Through the telescope, you can clearly see][[what it is->Object at the Bottom of the Cliff]].](else:)[To see it clearly, you probably need a (text-colour:red)[telescope].] From here, we can go to the [[West Bank]].

Taking advantage of the chaos, you instantly drop to avoid the bullets. The sheriff quickly makes a judgment and fires a shot, the bullet narrowly grazing your shoulder. There is a sound of the door breaking. You see (text-colour:orange)[that thing]. The sheriff, however, still keeps a tight watch on you. Incredible concentration, he has already determined that eliminating you is his top priority. As the sheriff is about to fire a second shot, darkness envelops him. In your eyes, a human-like crocodile opens its mouth and splits the sheriff in half. "Ah," Jane's voice is filled with joy, "a new world, a new order has finally arrived!" Jane's husband, in his wheelchair, looks wide-eyed. You just realize that Jane's husband's arms are covered with scales. The crocodile walks towards Jane, and you take advantage of the chaos to jump out of the window. On the street, you see countless human-like fish sweeping from the lake to the edge of the world. 【True End】 [[Epilogue]]

This is the (link-reveal:"second half of the letter my Uncle Fleur left for me.")[ "Actually, I know who the culprit is. I was on the hilltop at the time and saw everything through a telescope. Although I don't know why he would commit such a crime against his own flesh and blood, I will fulfill his wish and let him live. We are friends. Four years ago, it was he and his family who rescued me from the abyss. We have accomplished great things together. Now he asks for my sacrifice, so I will dedicate my humble life to him. After all, the candle of this life was extinguished four years ago. I helped him wipe the fingerprints off the basement doorknob. Live on, my friend. Leave the final judgment to God." [[Epilogue 2]]]

After the "biological epidemic" in Big Fish Town was controlled, I found Sarah (the victim's sister) in an external hospital. Even without my help, she had regained her senses. It's said that Sapir (the victim's father) sacrificed himself to rescue Sarah from the Big Fish Town hospital during the "epidemic". It was at that time that Sarah regained her senses. I returned the diary from my pocket to her, and in return, she told me [[the truth of that day]].

"What will you do now?" I asked Sarah. She said with a gloomy expression, "My mother asked me earlier if I wanted to live with her". "How did you answer?" "I said I'd think about it," Sarah said. "You know, she's living with who knows which boyfriend now." "...I see." Silence. (link-reveal:"Make a decision.")[ "If you're willing," I said, "you can live with me." Sarah looked at me, and after a while, smiled. "Yes, I'd like that," Sarah said. "I know you're a good person." "...?" "Fleur often talked about you... Did you know, he was my best friend." End ]

During the police investigation of the residents on the west bank, an elderly woman named Jane claimed she saw a silhouette in the woods. The silhouette was carrying something, heading towards Crocodile Bay. "Where can we find Jane?" The sheriff says she often stays at the church. [[Continue->Archive Room]] (set:$read_jane to true)

=Bedroom= A lifeless bedroom. Cheap red floral carpet, iron bed frame with messy white bedding, unchanged from a year ago. There is a safe on the bedside table. (if:$got_safe_key is true)[(text-colour:green)[You found that the key in your hand can][[open the safe->Safe]].] (else:)[Apparently, you need a (text-colour:red)[key] to open this safe.] According to the sheriff, after Fleur’s arrest, due to the clear motive, other items in the house were not searched. From here we can [[return to the hall->Inside Fleur's House]].

=Fleur's House= A gray-brown wooden two-story house. With the sheriff's company, we can enter [[Inside Fleur's House]]. Next to the house is a small shed, seemingly built by a previous owner. After Fleur moved in, he used it as a [[Warehouse]]. Yellow police tape, faded from the sun and rain, still drapes around the warehouse. Next to Fleur's house is [[Sapir's House]]. Driving west along the road from the entrance leads to the [[Lookout]] on the rocky mountain, and heading east naturally leads back to Big Fish Town (east shore), but first, you must pass the entrance to the [[West Bank]]. Across the road and through the open pine forest opposite is the lake; walking about five hundred meters west along the lake leads to [[Crocodile Bay]].

【Footprints outside the basement】 Footprints connecting the basement and Sapir's lawn. Footprints connecting the basement and Crocodile Bay. The footprints match the tread pattern of the rubber boots Fleur owns. "What about the footprints inside the basement?" "None found," the officer said. "We believe Fleur erased the evidence." [[Continue->physical evidence]]

=Corner of the Courtyard= A shaded spot under the tree, a cool corner of the courtyard. From here we can head to the [[Porch]] or the [[Mailbox]].

=Hospital= (if:$gone_police_station is false)[As a stranger, it's better not to wander around before explaining your purpose at the police station.](else:)[Here we met the victim's sister, Sarah. But she's in a state where communication is impossible. She even gets scared to the point of wetting herself when she sees strangers. I really can't bear to disturb her anymore. When I was in the archives, I saw a photo of her just after she was admitted a year ago. Her hair wasn't as long then. (link-reveal: "There were some concerning things in the photo.")[ When she was first admitted, there seemed to be marks on her arms from being tied up with rope. ]] From here we can return to [[Big Fish Town]].

=Inside Fleur's House= Inside, nothing special. The furniture is very simple, mainly in white. This place shows the similarity between my uncle and me. The interesting places in the house are the [[Study]] and [[bedroom->Fleur's Bedroom]]. Or we can [[go outside->Fleur's House]].

=Inside Police Station= Inside the police station, there are only three officers in sight, smoking and playing cards. (if: $explained is true)["Get to work!" the sheriff yells at them.](else:)[We'd better[[explain our purpose]] before they chase us away.] (if: $explained is true)[Now we can go to the[[Archive Room]].] From here, we can [[leave the police station->Police Station]]. (set: $gone_police_station to true)

“That day was the victim's birthday party, her father held a small party for her, and I was invited. Ah, what a lovely girl, she was undoubtedly the child of destiny. That day was the one foretold by the oracle…” (link-reveal: "Ask her for more specific eyewitness testimony.")[ “That afternoon, it started raining heavily. After returning, I was resting in my room on the second floor and was awakened by a huge thunderclap. When I looked out the window, I saw a figure in the woods.” I had already reviewed this testimony. The figure was heading towards Crocodile Bay and was believed to be Fleur’s back. (link-reveal: "Ask her if she saw any suspicious people that day.")[ She gave a negative response. (link-reveal: "Ask her about the victim's sister.")[ She said the victim's sister showed no signs of madness at the time and was interacting with everyone quite friendly. The head injury happened after the birthday party and was a simple accident. (link-reveal: "Ask her if she heard the sound of a car engine that day.")[ Jane gave an affirmative answer. (link-reveal: "“Was that before or after you saw the figure?”")[ “(text-colour:orange)[After],” Jane said. You nod. “You seem to be making progress?” the sheriff asked. [[The culprit is the sheriff]] [[The culprit is Fleur]] [[The culprit is Jane]] [[The culprit is me]] [[The culprit is Sapir]] ]]]]]

The middle-aged man in a suit begins to explain the origin of humans to you, The gist is that in ancient times, alien spaceships crashed in Antarctica, They modified Earth's organisms to ensure food supply, And humans were born in this process. (link-reveal:"Look at the table")[, you see a copy of '(text-colour:cyan)[The H. P. Lovecraft Collection]' next to the man.] "I'm an archaeologist, historian, and poet, the most learned person in town. Feel free to ask me anything." (if:$saw_totem is true)[Ask [[About the Crocodile Bay Totem]]。](else:)[(text-colour:red)[But you can't think of any questions to ask him at the moment].] [[Tavern]]

=Living Room= An uninspiring living room. Anyone who enters would immediately realize that the owner of this house must be unmarried. (if:$cleanup_living_room is false)[Empty beer bottles roll on the floor, a T-shirt forgotten to be put in the washing machine is draped over the sofa. [[Maybe Clean Up a Bit?]]] (else:)[At least it looks neat now.] (if:$got_mail is false)[(text-colour:green)[You hear the sound of a bicycle bell from outside, probably someone delivering newspapers or mail.]](else:)[(text-colour:green)[You currently have a letter.] [[Read the Letter]]] (if:$read_mail is true)[After reading your uncle's letter, you decide to pack up and go to "Big Fish" town where he lived before his death. Before leaving, we can check the house once more to see if there's anything we must take. (text-colour:green)[If you're ready, we can go out to the street.]] Opening the door, we can go to the [[Porch]]. (link:"Save game?")[(save-game:"eng game")(if: (saved-games:) contains "eng game")[Game saved!](else: )[Failed to save!]]

=Lookout= A small wooden pavilion, although old, is still usable. From here you can see the entire crescent-shaped Big Fish Town. Fleur's favorite fishing spot, with the advantage of not having to worry about crocodile attacks. Inside the pavilion is a [[rotten small wooden table]], which seems to collapse at the slightest pressure. From here, we can return to the [[West Bank]].

=Mailbox= The red paint has peeled off, revealing graffiti underneath. (if: $got_mail is false)[There's a letter in the mailbox. You reach in and take it out. Seeing the sender's name, you can't help but be surprised. "Uncle?" you mutter. You haven't been in contact with him for a long time, several years at least. What could this letter be about? "I'll read it back in the house..." You decide to return to the hall first.] (else:)[The mailbox is empty.] From here, you can return to the [[Porch]] or go to the [[Garden Corner]]. (set: $got_mail to true)

You took some time to tidy up the hall. After finishing, you sighed in relief, feeling the cleaning was worth it. [[Continue->Living Room]] (set: $cleanup_living_room to true)

Fleur had long since lost hope for life. In Big Fish Town, he once placed his hope in religion, being used by the cult for his knowledge to implement forbidden biological modifications. From the initial letter, it's clear that Fleur calmly accepted his own death. He believed he was sacrificing himself for his beloved religion, believing his sacrifice was necessary. (text-colour:orange)[Perhaps someone exploited his devotion to erase all evidence of biological modifications]. You tell this to the sheriff, who nods noncommittally. Yes, this is the whole truth about Fleur. I think I've fulfilled his last wish and cleared his name. The other half of the truth—Sapir's motive for murder, what happened in that house on October 5, 1995—is still shrouded in mystery. (if:$got_daily is false)[But what can we do? We can't travel through time and space to witness that day. More importantly, [[does this really matter]]?](else:)["More importantly," the sheriff says, "you took a diary from Sarah's room earlier, right? What do you plan to do with it?" (link-reveal: "'I want to return this important diary to Sarah, it might trigger some miracle.'")[ You realize that, at some point, the sheriff's gun has been pointed at you. "Sorry," the sheriff says, "but I can't let you take that away. Besides, you already know too much." (text-colour:orange)[Can a town sheriff really cut ties with the local religion?] "It's just an ordinary diary, isn't it? Or is it that the important thing isn't the diary, but something else?" "Let me tell you one last secret before you die, (text-colour:orange)[Sapir was actually a key member of the cult]," the sheriff says. "Using Fleur was his idea. You never know what might be written in that diary." At this moment, screams are heard from outside. What happened? For an instant, the sheriff is distracted. [[Duck to avoid the bullet]] ]]

Through the binoculars, I can see a green cylindrical object standing on the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. The patterns on it are quite abstract, and it's hard to discern anything from afar. The sheriff explained that it’s a (text-colour:green)[crocodile totem]. [[Continue->Crocodile Bay]] (set:$saw_totem to true)

=Police Station= The exterior of the police station is somewhat old, much like everything else in this town, revealing a sense of age. (if: $gone_police_station is true)[(text-colour:green)[From now on, the sheriff will accompany us, so we can go anywhere.]] From here, we can [[enter the police station->Inside Police Station]] or return to [[Big Fish Town]].

I used to be very close to this uncle. He lost his wife and daughter in an accident five years ago and has been despondent ever since. Though we have had less contact recently, thinking about his bitter experiences, I can't help but shed tears. He only sent me a letter, indicating that I was the only one he could rely on in his heart. I took leave from the publishing company under the pretext of mourning a relative, and following his instructions, I will do my best to clear his name. [[Continue->Living Room]]

=Porch= The weather is really bad today. This early in the morning, it's already depressing. Outside is a small lawn, poorly maintained with lots of weeds. Near the [[Road]] stands a small red [[Mailbox]]. From the porch, we can return to the [[Living Room]]. Turning to the right, we can go to the [[Garden Corner]].

"Paul, I'm writing to you alone. By the time you read this letter, I will already be gone..." In the letter, my uncle confesses that he was accused of a criminal case a year ago and will be executed the day after sending the letter. Of course, that time has passed. As he said, he is already gone. From the tone of the letter, he has accepted his fate—he will die following God's will. But there's one thing that makes him uneasy: his nephew will regard him as a sex offender and despise him. "I swear on my life and afterlife that I am not the perpetrator." "If you want to know the answer, go to Big Fish Town." "But I ask you to forgive the people there." "Because only God can make the final judgment." [[Ponder]] (set: $read_mail to true)

In the dream, you developed a text adventure game called "Big Fish" and eagerly invited the following people to test it: They sharply pointed out the problems in your work, leaving you busy revising the game's content. On the last day before the deadline of IFComp, you woke up. [[Continue->Wake Up]]

=Road= A wide main road lined with cedar trees on both sides. From here, you can reach any place. We can return to the [[Porch]]. (if: $read_mail is true)[Now I can head to [[Big Fish Town->Chapter Two]]]

Inside are messy [[Scrap Papers]], and at the bottom is a confidentiality agreement. This material can confirm that Fleur was engaged in secret research at home or somewhere else. The confidentiality agreement doesn't specify the client's information, but it has a seal with an image of an crocodile nailed to a cross. This reminds you of (text-colour:green)[a certain place on the east bank]. [[Continue->Fleur's Bedroom]] (set:$got_safe_doc to true)

=Sapir's House= The sheriff helped us open the door. An ordinary house. Perhaps because both children are girls, the color tone of the furniture is pink. At the bottom of the stairs, we found some bloodstains. This was from a year ago (October 5, 1995) when the victim's sister (Sarah, 16) fell and hit her head. Afterward, the victim's father took Sarah to the hospital for treatment, and shortly after returning, he reported his younger daughter missing to the police. At the bottom of the stairs, we found inconspicuous hemp rope. Carefully observing the staircase pillars, we could see slight traces of rope friction. In the house, we can go to [[Sarah's Room]], [[Victim's Room]], or [[Sapir's Room]]. Leaving the house, we can go to the [[West Bank]], [[Fleur's House]], or [[Crocodile Bay]].

=Sapir's Room= The victim's father's room. We found some regular men's pornographic magazines, but it looked like a few were missing. He married his wife shortly after graduating from college and then worked at a financial company. After the incident, he resigned from the company and started doing physical labor at a lumber company. [[Return to Hall->Sapir's House]]

=Sarah's Room= The room of the deceased's sister is rather dull. There are some yoga books and popular romance novels on the bookshelf. However, (link-reveal:"there is a book on the desk that seemed a bit out of place")[—Introduction to Genetic Biology]. On the bedside table, there's a safe. (if:$got_safe_key is true)[(text-colour:green)[You find that the key in your hand can][[open the safe->Sarah's Safe]].] (else:)[It’s clear that you need a (text-colour:red)[key] to open this safe.] From here, we can return to the [[Hall->Sapir's House]].

From Sarah's safe, you find a (text-colour:green)[delicate diary]. You decide not to read it for now. You put the diary in your pocket. [[Continue->Sarah's Room]] (set:$got_daily to true)

Most of the scratch paper is filled with equations, but one piece seems to have (link-reveal: "something special.")[ (text-colour:grey)[...Jonah refused to go to the city of Nineveh to preach God's will, fled to the sea, and was swallowed by a big fish. After three days and nights, the fish was commanded to spit out Jonah, but Jonah had already been digested. The fish pondered for a long time and finally decided to go to Nineveh itself to preach God's will.] …Judgement was handed over to them.] [[Continue->Safe]]

=Study= The bookshelf is filled with genetic biology magazines and books, which Fleur used to study at university. After graduating, Fleur worked at a biotech company, but he resigned five years ago after his wife and daughter died in an accident, and hasn't done any related professional work since. Besides this, we found dried marijuana leaves in the desk drawer. Possessing this is illegal, of course, but it hardly seems worth pursuing compared to murder and body disposal. However, where did he get this from? You also find a (text-colour:green)[telescope] in the drawer and put it in your pocket. [[Return to the hall->Inside Fleur's House]] (set:$got_telescope to true)

The sheriff assured me that there were no outsiders staying in town at the time. Moreover, they checked the surveillance footage afterward and found that no one had entered or left Big Fish Town that day, except for the victim's father (taking his eldest daughter to the hospital). In other words, we basically don't need to consider this incident from the perspective of outsiders. [[Continue->Archive Room]] (set:$read_suspicious_people to true)

=Tavern= (if: $gone_police_station is false)[As a stranger, it's better not to wander around before explaining our purpose at the police station.](else:)[The town center is very desolate, but the eyes in the dark corners of the tavern remind you that this town is still alive, in a unique way. Crocodile-shaped decorations are everywhere. There are only a few people in the tavern. While others are whispering, a middle-aged man at the bar is loudly talking, appearing to be drunk. [[Listen to What He's Saying]]] From here, we can return to [[Big Fish Town]].

In the end, all the evidence indicates that the culprit can only be my uncle. I don't know what he meant by the letter he sent me. Was it a whim before his death to fool a nephew he hadn't contacted in a long time? Anyway, I've made my conclusion. I have my own life to live. It's time to leave this place. 【Bad End】 [[I clicked the wrong button->Jane's Testimony]]

"The culprit is you," you say directly to Jane. Silence. The sheriff and Jane burst out laughing, filling the small church with joyful air. 【Happy End】 [[I clicked the wrong button->Jane's Testimony]]

"The culprit is Sapir," you say. "Oh? What's the reason?" the sheriff asks. (link-reveal: "“It's simple,")[Sapir told a lie," you say. "According to his statement, the abduction happened after he took his eldest daughter to the hospital. (text-colour:orange)[So, the body disposal must have happened after he left Big Fish Town]. But according to Jane's testimony, she saw a silhouette—the disposal—before hearing the car engine. And according to you, sheriff, [[the only car that entered or left Big Fish Town that day was Sapir's]]." "Why would he lie?" the sheriff asks. "The problem is that he had to lie to provide himself an alibi." (link-reveal: "“How do you explain the evidence?” the sheriff asks.")[ "It's very simple; he just needed to open Fleur's basement door secretly and throw the evidence inside." you say, "This also explains why the dress and hair were concentrated near the entrance and why there were no shoe prints on the floor." "But there were no fingerprints other than Fleur's on the basement door handle." "Do I need to explain that? It's simply because he wore gloves." you say, "And think about it carefully, (text-colour:orange)[if Fleur could dispose of the body in Crocodile Bay to destroy evidence, why would he make such a mistake and leave obvious evidence in his own basement?]" The sheriff thinks for a while and says, "Even if what you say is reasonable, don't forget, Fleur already confessed to his crime." (if:$got_safe_doc is false)[The only possibility is [[coerced confession]].](else:)["Very simple, because he [[No Longer Wanting to Live]]."] ]]

"The culprit is me," you murmur to yourself. Silence. The sheriff and Jane burst out laughing, filling the small church with joyful air. "We'll talk more at the police station later," says the sheriff. 【Happy End】 [[I clicked the wrong button->Jane's Testimony]]

"The culprit is you," you say directly to the sheriff. Silence. The sheriff and Jane burst out laughing, filling the small church with joyful air. 【Happy End】 [[I clicked the wrong button->Jane's Testimony]]

A man enveloped in a tragic aura, with a long and melancholic face. He resigned from his position at a finance company after the incident and started doing manual labor at a lumber mill. It seems to be a way to forget the disappointments of life. [[Continue->Archive Room]] (set:$read_father to true)

At the time of the incident, the victim's mother was visiting her parents in another town. After the incident, the victim's mother had a breakdown and then severed ties with the family. She has since started a new life and never speaks of her past family. Her mental resilience is not strong; she cannot handle too much stress. [[Continue->Archive Room]] (set:$read_mother to true)

=Victim's Room= A cute pink room with a [[Bed]], curtains, and table, all in a pink Baroque style. We see her photo; she was a very cute girl. Although her face is still very young, you can see a resemblance to her mother. The wall is adorned with her drawings, depicting family members holding hands. However, according to some sources, her mother had signs of infidelity after marriage, and the family's relationship was already on the verge of collapse at the time of the incident. [[Return to Hall->Sapir's House]]

Opening your eyes, you see the familiar ceiling. A gloomy morning, with gray-white daylight pouring in through the open window. ... "Just a nightmare," you mutter, covering your eyes with your right hand. You sigh. (if: (saved-games:) contains "eng game")[(link: "Recall the nightmare(load game)")[(load-game:"eng game")]] [[Game testers]] [[Get Up->Bedroom]] (set: $cleanup to false) (set: $cleanup_living_room to false) (set: $got_mail to false) (set: $read_mail to false)

=Warehouse= A dilapidated warehouse built with wooden boards. Fishing and fish-catching equipment are scattered everywhere, reflecting the owner's interests. Several pairs of rubber boots are in the corner, and a bit closer to the center, there's a conspicuous square wooden board embedded in the floor. Looking closely, you can see it has a pull ring. This seems to be the entrance to the [[Basement]]. From here we can return to [[Fleur's House]].

You pick up your toothbrush and start brushing your teeth. The repetitive in-and-out motions bring some lewd thoughts to your mind. You shake your head to dispel these morning fantasies. ... You complete your personal hygiene routine. [[Continue->Bathroom]] (set: $cleanup to true)

=West Bank= Commonly referred to as the "wealthy area," the West Bank. The houses are spaced far apart. Driving along the road, you can reach the mountain top of "Rock Mountain" [[Lookout]], from where you can overlook the entire Big Fish Town. At the bottom of the cliff by the Lookout Point is [[Crocodile Bay]]. Next to Crocodile Bay is a wide-open coniferous forest, and passing through the forest leads to [[Fleur's House]] (my uncle's), almost adjacent to [[Sapir's House]], separated by a fence between their lawns. Such close house spacing is rare in the West Bank, mainly because these houses were built by the same land developer and are twin houses by design. (if: $read_evidence is false) [You decide to finish a (text-colour:red)[certain degree of exploration] before returning to the East Bank.](else:)[Now, we can go back to [[East Bank->Big Fish Town]]. But please note, (text-colour:orange)[there's no turning back from here].] (link:"Save game?")[(save-game:"eng game")(if: (saved-games:) contains "eng game")[Game saved!](else: )[Failed to save!]]

Based on the existing clues, why did Fleur confess to the crime? The only possibility is a forced confession. However, I didn’t share my thoughts with the sheriff. Fleur is no longer alive, and they just did what they thought was right. After that, I left Big Fish Town. 【Normal End】

In Big Fish Town, I've done everything I could. I have achieved my initial goal—fulfilling my uncle's last wish. I decide to leave this small town that very day. I will write everything down as a novel—that's my real job. 【Normal End】

You explain your purpose to the sheriff. The sheriff looks arrogant and sneers when he hears you want to reinvestigate the incident from a year ago. He only becomes slightly more respectful after you show your reporter ID. After showing another credential, he becomes very respectful. You had anticipated this might happen, so you prepared before coming here. Finally, he promises to do his best to help with the investigation. [[Continue->Inside Police Station]] (set: $explained to true)

【Dress】 The most compelling piece of evidence found in the basement is the dress the victim wore before she died. This piece of evidence directly led to Fleur's death sentence. According to photos in the archive room, the dress was found not far from the basement entrance. 【Victim's Hair】 The basement was littered with the victim's hair. Like the dress, the hair was concentrated near the entrance and on the steps. 【Fingerprints】 No fingerprints other than Fleur's were found on the handle of the basement door or anywhere else. [[Ask about bodily fluids.->Bodily Fluids]] [[The possibility of human experimentation? -> human experimentation]] [[Ask about shoe prints.->Footprints]] [[Continue->Basement]] (set:$read_evidence to true)

At 2 PM on October 5, 1995, Sapir's eldest daughter Sarah (16 years old) fell down the stairs and injured her head. Sapir took her to the hospital for examination. The results were terrible. Although she didn't die from the fall, Sarah lost her conscious mind. In simple terms, she went insane. She's currently hospitalized in a psychiatric care facility inside the hospital. Sapir stayed at the hospital for about an hour before returning home to care for his younger daughter. Who knew that misfortune would strike again, and such a thing would happen. [[Case Overview]]

You peek into the crack in the wooden table, feeling like there's something hidden in the drawer. But the drawer is locked. You squat down and search for a hole in the drawer from the bottom. After some effort, you finally open the drawer. But inside is only a rotting tourist diary, filled with young people's obscene words. No wonder this drawer was locked. Despite low expectations, you reach to the top of the drawer and find a metal object taped up. It's a (text-colour:green)[small key], seemingly for a safe. [[Continue->Lookout]] (set:$got_safe_key to true)

Archive Room -> Suspicious Person? (text-colour:grey)[The sheriff assured me that there were no outsiders in town at the time. Moreover, they checked the surveillance afterwards, and no one entered or left Big Fish Town that day, except for the victim's father (who took his eldest daughter to the hospital). That is, we don’t need to consider this from an outsider’s perspective.] [[Continue->The culprit is Sapir]]

That afternoon, after Sarah's father spoke on the phone with her mother, he seemed dazed. Sarah witnessed her father committing violence against her sister in the house. Actually, Sarah already knew that her sister wasn't her biological sister but was born to her mother and another man. To stop her father, Sarah ran outside to seek help from neighbors, but in her panic, she fell down the stairs and lost consciousness. In her daze, she knew she was tied up by her father (to keep Sarah subdued while he dealt with the body, which we can infer). She woke up in the hospital. The physical damage to her head, combined with the shock of learning her sister had died, caused Sarah to suffer severe mental illness. [[Epilogue 3]]

Acknowledge the contributions made by the following individuals to the game testing. (text-colour:yellow)[Nightmare Mashiro Cecilia U-gorgeous] [[Continue ->Wake Up]]