Chapter Three
So, this was how it felt to be caught out by Professor Layton. Luke's throat went drier than desert of Monte d'Or. He swallowed and opened his mouth, but only a startled breath emerged. Did he resemble Clive in that moment the professor revealed his deceit?
Like Clive, Luke had a forged a letter to the professor with higher knowledge. He had also kept quiet about the spectre, but he had never outright lied to the professor's face before. At worst, he had once understated the amount of food he ordered when the two of them visited a restaurant. Even then, the professor had figured out Luke's mistake and easily forgiven him.
But this… this was much more than a mistake. Luke had hidden crucial details from the professor, and touched upon others he shouldn't have known about– that he had no right to know about. Namely, the professor's hat.
Luke's mind raced to think of an excuse as he and the professor moved to the back of the excavation site. He insisted on entering one of the tunnels the diggers had deserted. The professor only appeared more troubled, folding his arms as he waited for Luke's explanation.
When Luke said nothing, the professor asked, "Did your father ever tell you how I received this hat?" (Luke shook his head listlessly.) "I didn't think so, for it was given to me after your family left London. I met your parents on a few occasions afterwards, but it was hardly the appropriate time to discuss a hat."
"The funeral?" Luke whispered. He had hazy memories of dozing through the service while his parents mourned for their old university friend.
Solemnly, Layton nodded. "You said you remembered me coming to visit you. Do you remember the lady who often accompanied me?"
"Claire," Luke answered. "She was the one who gave you your hat."
"Was it Emmy who informed you of that?" he tried, clutching the rim of his hat. "She had done a lot of research about me prior to our meeting… Or did you find out the answers for yourself?"
He was probably concerned about how much Luke knew, after he was knocked into a coma for investigating Claire's death. The poor professor; he had hidden all of that pain for years and years. Luke couldn't keep his secret for more than two days.
At least, if Luke told him the truth, the professor could start to move on.
"I heard about it… from you. In the future, that is."
The professor blinked. "I'm afraid I don't understand..."
"I know the future," Luke blurted out. "After we stop the spectre, I become your apprentice and we go on more adventures. It's like… I've already lived through the three years we spent together… or we will spend. It's so confusing!"
"Is this about you being the oracle? Luke, forgive me for doubting — "
"I get it. It sounds impossible, but I can prove it!"
The professor had never truly believed they were in Future London, despite all of the 'proof' Clive had provided. But this was different. Luke wasn't lying to the professor.
Taking his bemused mentor by the arm, Luke dragged him to the entrance of the excavation site. Luke predicted, "We're going to meet a blonde boy from the market called Gus. He'll ask us how he should cut a cake so he can share it with his friends."
Sure enough, they bumped into Gus and Luke solved the puzzle of his cake. The professor still seemed doubtful.
When they were away from Gus, he said in a low voice, "That was quite impressive puzzle-solving… But I must ask, if you can foresee the future, why didn't you warn anyone about the spectre before it targeted the town? Why did you have to wait for me?"
Luke was about to say, 'We were meant to meet,' but that sounded too sappy. "I needed to seek help from outside of Misthallery. I was scared to unveil the spectre without having the proper evidence or protection behind me."
The professor breathed, "You've discovered who is responsible for the spectre?"
Luke debated telling him about his relation to Descole, but the professor already had enough to take in right now. He simply nodded and said, "Emmy will return from Scotland Yard with the police report about how Mr. Barde died. It says there was only one eyewitness present – my dad— and Mr. Barde apparently left him the rights to his land in his will."
The professor's eyes widened. "Clark neglected to mention this… I assume he never told you either?"
"It's not his fault," Luke insisted. "Chief Jakes changed the will!"
"That's a strong accusation to make," the professor murmured. Luke bit his lip as they passed through the Grand Plaza – Jakes's house wasn't far away.
The professor asked, "So, do you believe he is behind everything?"
"No, but he is working for the specter. They're after the Golden Garden." Luke paused, glancing back at the dam on the hill. "I know where it is."
"That's incredible," the professor exclaimed. "An ancient paradise said to predate our civilization, right here in Misthallery…"
"A remnant of the Azran civilization," Luke added. The professor appeared impressed. Luke explained, "I know a lot about the past as well – things you told us..." And things they would find out.
"Stansbury...?" Layton gasped. Luke nodded. The professor glanced down at his hands.
"I'm sorry," Luke whispered.
"No... it's alright. Thank you for being honest with me about all of this. It must have been a heavy burden for you to bear."
Luke sighed. "I'm so glad I was able to tell you."
"Perhaps you can tell me more when Misthallery is safe." His voice lowered even more as they entered the library. "How do you wish to proceed from here?"
Luke thought for a moment. "We'll need to wait for Emmy with that report... Inspector Grosky will be with her. He can arrest Jakes…"
But how would they stop Descole — more specifically, the specter robots? Loosha would feel compelled to fight them all, but she wouldn't survive the battle. How could they capture Descole, assured that his robots wouldn't swarm the town? He wouldn't stop until he had the Golden Garden...
So, why couldn't they just give it to him?
Luke grinned at the professor. "I've got it."
If Layton had any qualms left about Luke's 'clairvoyance', they were likely dashed when Emmy and Grosky arrived.
"Inspector Grosky… what a surprise."
Luke halted Grosky before he could run off. Emmy showed them the police report. Everything was just as Luke had foretold, but Layton didn't comment on that in Emmy and Grosky's presence. However, he revealed that he believed Jakes had altered Mr. Barde's will.
"Oh, really?" Grosky grunted. "I'm going to have a word with that so-called chief—"
Again, Luke stopped him. "Wait. We need your help to evacuate the town. If you have any trouble, say the oracle sent you."
"The entire town?" Emmy gasped as Grosky bolted out of the library. "Why? Is it the specter?"
"Not exactly," the professor said, studying the photo Emmy had gotten developed in London. "Though, I would like to get a proper look at the specter before we pay Clark a visit." He smiled at Luke. "You were quite adamant that the specter's true form was a machine. Do you have any idea where a large machine could be hidden?"
"There's the old factory…"
Luke sent Toppy off with an SOS messages to the Bardes and to the Black Ravens. They ran into Sebastian, a former factory worker, while he was fleeing with the other residents from the eastern side of town. He tossed Layton his key and warned, "You'd better get out of that factory before the specter wrecks it. Good riddance!"
On Sebastian's instructions, they breached the rear entrance of the factory. Luke recognized one of Jakes's thugs patrolling the first ridge. He whispered to Emmy, "That guy bullied me once…" and in an instant, she had beaten the thug with a roundhouse kick.
"Another bully?" Emmy growled when they saw the chief engineer in the fourth ridge.
Layton intervened, "One moment, Emmy. Let's hear what he has to say." While Layton listened to the engineer's woes and solved his puzzle, Luke ploughed on ahead with Emmy to the fifth ridge.
Thanks to Luke's 'quick-thinking', they covered the gap in the floor with the metal sheet hanging over it. "There's no puzzle you can't solve with a clear mind," Luke said.
"Quite right," Layton agreed as he joined them in front of the red doors.
The doors slid open. Luke was the first to enter, but he froze as something small and black glided past him.
"It's just a cat," Layton said, moving past Luke to observe the excavating machine before them. "And that is the infamous specter."
"So, what now?" Emmy wondered. "We need to show this thing to the town!"
"Not yet," Luke said, recovering from his shock. "First, we're going to reveal the Golden Garden."
Desco-land was perturbed when they turned up at Triton Manor. "Master Luke, what is going on? I heard the town is being evacuated— but the specter isn't due to strike, is it?"
Layton answered for Luke, "No, but it is important that everyone gets to safety. Please may we come in to discuss this with Clark?"
Much to Luke's relief, his dad hadn't suffered any more injuries from Descole. Clark's eyes widened as Layton announced they had located the Golden Garden. "Th-this is…"
"Marvelous," Desco-land stated. "We knew we could count on you, Mr. Layton! Where is the garden?"
"There lies the issue. I believe it is hidden beneath the dam overlooking town. To access the garden, we would need to open the primary flood gates..."
"Flooding the entire town," Clark finished, frowning.
"Sir," Desco-land said, his voice wavering, "there may be a risk, but imagine what the garden could mean for Misthallery."
Clark glanced from him to Hershel. He sighed before smiling wearily. "You're right, Doland. We should be celebrating Hershel's discovery! Hershel, would you grab one of our best wines from the cellar–"
"No time for celebrations yet, Dad!" Luke all but pushed him out of his study. "We need to uncover the Golden Garden."
"I'll enlist some help to open the floodgates," Desco-land said.
Toppy returned to Luke as they trekked up to the dam. He squeaked that everyone knew what they were doing. Luke crossed his fingers.
Desco-land brought the chief engineer to open the floodgates.
The engineer grunted, "You folks might want to stand back..."
Luke winced as the water burst through the gates. (He hoped Arianna and the others would be alright.) The town would be no worse off than if Loosha had broken down the dam.
At least they would be able to repair Misthallery with her help this time.
Clark gasped at the golden crest in the center of the drained dam. "Could that be–?"
"The gateway to the Golden Garden," Desco-land exclaimed. "It must be!" He surged down the slope to investigate the crest. "A puzzle must be solved to proceed. Please, allow me!"
"Quite eager for an old butler, isn't he?" Emmy muttered.
At least he's quick at solving puzzles, Luke thought as he got the entrance open.
Desco-land tore through the uncovered passage, shouting as he reached the Golden Garden, "It's really here–!"
He was tackled on the bank by Emmy. He yelped as she wrestled him to the ground. "W-what is the meaning of this?"
The professor knelt down to scowl at him. "I hope you are satisfied after all the desolation you've caused to find this place. Spreading lies about the specter, ravaging the town with your excavating machine, terrorizing the Triton family..."
A smirk transformed Desco-land's face. "Bravo, Layton. You figured it out sooner than I'd anticipated, and you led me straight to the garden! But please, don't let me keep you. I'm sure my minions will question Mrs. Triton if I don't return in due time..."
"It's true, Hershel," Clark burst out. "He has Brenda—"
"She and the real Doland have been freed," Luke assured him. Thanks to the Black Ravens, the two of them would be waiting safely at the bazaar.
"What a shame," Descole sighed. "Then you leave me with no choice but to destroy your quaint little town."
Luke and the others tensed, dreading the noises of terror and destruction.
Descole fidgeted. "Any minute now…" Another minute passed. Suddenly, they heard a creature dragging itself through the passage. "Aha—! What? You?!" It was not Descole's mechanical cavalry, but his greatest foil.
Luke grinned at Loosha; she didn't have any fresh wounds, and she appeared to be full of energy. He waved to Arianna and Tony, riding on her back. "How's the town?"
"No sign of the spectre!" Tony called.
Arianna added, "Your mother and butler are safe!"
Clark gasped with relief. Descole growled.
"It seems your excavating machine can't be controlled from down here," the professor deduced. Just as Luke had hoped, weapons were forbidden in the Golden Garden like in some of the other Azran ruins.
"What a shame," Emmy chimed. "Looks like you're all out of options!" She tried to knock Descole out with a blow to the head.
He rolled his head to the side, glaring right at Layton. "You're making a big mistake. Others will come for the garden— men far less merciful than me." He must have been desperate, because he spat, "Targent! Surely you've heard of them, Layton?"
The professor hummed. Emmy hesitated, ever so slightly. It was enough for Descole to break free of her hold. Of course, he tried to grab a hostage.
Luke dived out of his way. The only one Descole caught was Toppy, who bit his hand. Seething, Descole glanced at the tunnel, but it was blocked by Loosha. His only escape route was to run through the jungle surrounding the lake.
"He's still got Toppy!" Luke cried.
"We'll catch him," Emmy promised. "Don't you worry."
Between the four of them, they managed to herd Descole to the top of one of the waterfalls feeding into the garden. Realising he was surrounded, Descole held the squirming Toppy over the waterfall's edge.
Luke growled, "Let him go!"
With a grin, Descole did exactly that.
"NO!" Luke dived to catch Toppy.
"Luke!"
Strong arms encircled his waist, but not strong enough to keep them from falling over the edge. His head was nestled tightly against the professor's chest. Even that couldn't shield Luke from the roar of the waterfall or the walloping splash as they landed in the lake below.
Coughing enough to lose a lung, Luke sat up and opened his hands. Toppy was trembling all over, his tiny heart hammering—but it was proof that he was alive.
Luke let out a shivery sigh. They were soaked, despite the water being so shallow…
Too shallow.
"P-Professor…?"
The professor hadn't moved yet. He was still lying in the water next to Luke… on rocks. His eyes were open, but vacant. His hat was missing and the area beneath his head was… was turning red…
"Professor! Professor! PROFESSOR!"
His father rushed down to haul him from the water, kicking and screaming. Emmy flew past them and crouched over the professor's body.
After five minutes filled only by Luke's sobs, Emmy stood up. She faced Luke and Clark with damp eyes. Emmy never cried. Why was she crying? Why? Why had this happened?
"He's gone," she whispered.
[[...Sorry. I did consider putting a more obvious gore warning at the beginning, but I thought it would give away the chapter's ending.]]