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The Phantom: Coming Out Of The Shadows
Copyright (c) 2023 SilverCorp. All rights reserved.
"The Phantom" is a registered trademark of SilverCorp.
Version: 2.1.4a / FalconMod V2023-07-04
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With a grimace, you check the contents of your wallet once more, and yes, there's still as little money in there as the last time you checked. Cases just aren't coming in right now, and at some point, you will probably have to consider some sort of alternate income source if that doesn't change. It's not like there's a lull in crime being committed. Hell, you can look at the cover of today's Herald on your desk right now, and there, in big bold letters, it reads "PHANTOM STRIKES AGAIN", proclaiming the latest caper of the mysterious masked thief that has been the talk of all the town recently. Why doesn't anybody ask you to pursue him? They probably think the stupid cops are going to do a better job... what a laughable idea. Those idiots couldn't catch a cold in the Arctic.
But as if that thought had summoned someone to your door, a knock jolts you out of your haze, and you quickly call whoever it is inside. To your surprise, a young man dressed to the absolute nines steps inside, holding a piece of paper. You're so surprised, in fact, that a few moments of silence pass before he begins speaking on his own. "I have been sent here by Lord Culverton to ask for your services," he begins before eyeing the newspaper on the desk. "As you might have already read in today's news, my lord has been the latest victim of the Phantom, and he is determined to find this ruffian and have him brought to justice. For this purpose, he has arranged this contract," he adds, laying the sheet of paper he's holding onto your desk.
Picking it up to read it, you find it to be a contract of sorts, asking for you to apprehend the Phantom, reveal his identity, and see to it that he stands trial, and in exchange for that, you will get... a thousand dollars! That would wipe out your money problems in an instant, and given your situation, it's difficult not to sign that on the spot, but you catch yourself. Now, there is reason to be suspicious. Culverton is known to be a greedy bastard when it comes to things that aren't his extravagant lifestyle, so him offering such a large sum is very odd. But at the same time, if he was robbed by the Phantom, that injures his pride, and he is a prideful bastard, so he might stop at nothing to get revenge. But in the end, all consideration is thrown out the window by the simple fact that you cannot afford to pass on this, literally. So, you grab your pen, and sign the document, then hand it back to the man.
He takes it back with a smile on his face and bows. "Thank you very much, sir. Lord Culverton will expect results," he says before turning to leave, but then he stops for a moment and looks back once more. "Ah, before I forget. To add some enthusiasm to your search, I should mention that there are about ten other servants just like me, currently asking other detectives in the city to take on this same investigation. Surely, not all will accept, but I would gather that most will, so you will have plenty of rivals on your chase. Bonne chance!" he adds before departing.
Well, this complicates matters. So if you want to win the cash, you need to beat several detectives to the punch, not to mention the cops. No sense in thinking about that, though, you suppose. Instead, you page through your detective's notebook, going over locations, sources and rumors you've noted down over time. Thankfully, you've been curious about the Phantom case on a recreational level before this, so you've kept your ear to the ground for some basic outlines and what the rumor mill says. And with that done, you decide upon your first step.