Lufy reaches the south service stair with the ash-darkened scrap in his coat. The young clerk and the retired safecracker remain behind in the sealed chambers, guarding the evidence box and the locked room.
At the landing, a middle-aged woman with a narrow face, iron-gray hair pinned tight, and a green cardigan kneels before a locked records cabinet. Loose pages surround her shoes, while one black ledger rests half-drawn from the inner shelf.
Mara Venn
Stop there. The records corridor is restricted. I am Mara Venn, and this ledger is not available for inspection.
Beyond Mara, the corridor ends at a street door standing slightly ajar. Fresh grit crosses the threshold, and a partial cane mark darkens the dust beside it.
The mark angles away from the landing, matching the silver-headed cane described by the clerk. Several scattered pages bear cabinet numbers, but one has been folded sharply at the corner.
Mara Venn
You are following someone. I saw him leave through that door less than a minute ago, carrying nothing but the cane.
Mara keepsMara, a medium-built human woman with light skin and a small scar at her temple, keeps one hand on the ledger and watches Lufy measure the grit, the cane impression, and the open exit. The stairwell settles into silence behind him.
✓ Quest Accepted
Secure the black ledger as evidence
Director's notewhole tale
asks Mara Venn questions and takes ledger into evidence
“Good afternoon mrs venn, I am Detective Lufy with the APD I am going to have to take that ledger and these pages as evidence, did you see what color the cane was by chance?”
SUCCESS (Good Psychology, rolled +0)
Lufy
Good afternoon, Mrs. Venn. I am Detective Lufy with the APD. I will take that ledger and these pages as evidence. What color was the cane?
Mara studies his badge, then his measured tone. The guarded set of her shoulders loosens. She closes the cabinet and lifts the black ledger free, gathering the marked pages beneath it.
Mara Venn
All right, Detective. Take them. I should have surrendered them when you arrived.
She places the ledger and pages into Lufy's waiting custody without opening either. The evidence is secured, though the exchange has cost several minutes while the corridor remains exposed.
Mara Venn
The cane was dark brown, almost black. The silver head caught the light as he went through the street door.
Mara points toward the ajar door. Beside it, the cane mark and fresh grit remain clear, but the delay leaves no certainty about how far the man has traveled.
Quest Complete
Secure the black ledger as evidence
+ New Item Acquired
Black ledger
+ New Item Acquired
Marked records pages