Hello! It's me! It's been quite some(actually very long) time since I wrote a new story. My last story, 'How Tintin met Snowy', was quite short and brief and this time I present you a long story!

-TIDDLEYOMPOM9 –

-PRESENTS-

- TINTIN AND THE MOONLIGHT SHADOW –

- : Identifying the Case. -

'Thump'. That was what I heard that night. Someone knocking at the door in the middle of the night. Who could it be? I was sleeping cosily in my room in the Elegance Hotel, Los Dopicos in San Theodoros when all of a sudden there was this disturbance.

"Let's go, Snowy."

I said to my white fox-terrier. "Wooaahh," he growled back. "Why can't I rest even on a holiday?" The weather was cold, in fact, freezing outside. "Yeowch! Blistering Barnacles, Tintin! Watch where you're walking, laddie!" Whoops. I totally forgot the Captain was sleeping on the floor. "Sorry, Captain." I apologized. The moment I opened the door there was no one there.

'Hmm, no one there. Guess he/she left when he/she heard the Captain yelling. Oh well. Maybe the person wanted to see me privately, whoever he/she is.

"Wooah!"

"Calm down, Snowy! Don't get too excited!" I exclaim quite loudly.

I was sent by my boss from Le Petit Vingtième to go to Los/Las Dopicos to investigate the mystery of the sudden loss of oil transported from Wadesdah to the capital of San Theodoros.

"Thundering Typhoons, I don't understand one bit of the mystery that you were sent to investigate." Captain Haddock complains.

"Well, the situation's like this, the Arabex oil company from Wadesdah exports oil to Los Dopicos through a special route, straight going through Bagghar. A new transporting company, FlyTrW-Us is responsible for the transportation of oil through the two nations. However, there has been a big problem. Recently, about a week ago, the oil never arrived in Los Dopicos. The oil which was lost was relocated, though." I explained to the Captain.

"Where is it then? Carry on!"

said the Captain excitedly.

"According to our friends, Thomson and Thompson, the oil turned out to be on the shores of Bagghar. And they've also found traces of an individual nearby the scene, with some help from their accomplices, of course."

"Aye, finally they've got things right." Interrupted the Captain. "Now we want to know who did it and why would he want to do it. Who do you think did it, Captain?" I asked him. The Captain replied:

"Blistering barnacles, it might be the Emir's enemies or someone who might want to sabotage General Alcazar in San Theodoros by making a bad impression of him. I'm guessing Tapioca, the old freshwater swab!"

"You may be right, Captain but don't you remember that Tapioca is highly guarded in Borduria? He can't do anything!" I said. The case is very simple but the sole core element of the trivia/quiz/puzzle is:

Who did it?

"Hrm hrm hrm. Not a single person suspects me. I don't think they even know me out there. Heh. Fools."

Still, I can't forget about the incident last night. Who was it, anyway?

"Hey, Tintin! The General's back from his city rounds! Let's go, lad!"

Captain Haddock said.

"Ohh, sure. Come on, Snowy."

'You know, I can walk by myself, thank you very much.' Snowy thought.

"Ooaahh… Finally some relaxation.." said General Alcazar, tired of his rounds. "ALCAZAR! DON'T FORGET TO WASH THE SILVERWARE! I WANT IT POLISHED TOO!" shouted General Alcazar's love.

"A-Alright, my sweet little dove.."

Out of the blue, there came a knock on his door.

"Good afternoon, General! Long time no see!" I greeted.

"Ah, Tintin my friend! It's been such a surprise! But what in heavens are you doing here?"

"Well, General, you've surely heard about the case of the missing oil, haven't you?" I said.

"Well, I don't understand! I didn't do it, Tintin, Haddock! I'm innocent! Caramba! Don't suspect me!" pleaded General Alcazar.

"Calm down, General. Thundering typhoons, why would we even accuse you?" said the Captain.

"Captain Haddock's right. We're here to ask on your opinion on the case." I said.

"Ah, you and your newspaper again. If you're thinking of that devil Tapioca, I don't think he's the culprit as he's heavily guarded in Borduria! And as for Rastapopoulos, he could be the culprit but he's more to the drug smuggling business. He wouldn't care about the oil, unless he's on to something. Caramba! It could be anyone!" 'Hmm, good thinking, General.' Thought Snowy. Quite right. Why didn't I think of that. It could even be someone whom we've never met before.

"Aye, laddie. Deep in thought again, eh?" teased the Captain.

"Hmm, if it was Rastapopoulos.. no.. Allan? Err.." I mumbled.

"Please excuse us, General, but I think we should go now. Don't want to miss the flight to Bagghar." "Oh, right." said Captain Haddock, forgetting the occasion. "Tintin! It's been a pleasure having you as my guest today! Same to you, Haddock! Come again some other time!" said the General. On my way out, at the hallway, I accidentally bumped into a girl. Well, that sent her documents flying. She looked the same age as me.

"Woah, are you okay, Lass!?" asked the Captain.

"Oooh, I'm alright." said the girl in a British accent. She was wearing a beige shirt, blue jeans, a brown coat that looks like mine except that her's was shorter and a short-brimmed sunhat with an artificial flower.

"I'm very sorry, Ms…?"

"Cooper. Madeline Cooper, reporter from Daily Reporter. You can call me May. I'm here to ask Mr. Alcazar about his opinion on the oil sabotage." Said May.

"My name is Tintin, journalist from Le Petit Vingtième. So sorry for taking your time. Here are the papers that you dropped. I'll be on my way now." I said, trying to be cool.

"Thank you, Mr. Tintin. Have a nice day." Said May.

"Well, Captain, next stop: Bagghar."

Ahh! I'm done for Chapter 1! As you can see, there's a lot of influence from 'The Land of Black Gold' as it's one of my favourite books. For your information, in my story, 'Tintin and Alph-Art' never happens as it is a book which is never finished. 'Tintin and the Moonlight Shadow' takes place two months after 'Tintin and the Picaros'. Stay tuned for Chapter 2!