"-So you know where she is?
-That's right, Raymond.
-What do you intend to do, Mr Layton?
-We have to take a detour to the Nest.
-To get that Mirror back, right?
-Yes indeed. There's also something else I'd like to clear up over there.
-I see, then let's hurry up and fetch the gentleman and his comrades."
Once again, the Bostonius was making haste. Layton meditated for a moment on the soft sofa of the machine. This adventure was finally coming to an end.
"-Tell me Raymond if you don't mind my asking...
-Yes, sir?
-What did you and Descole do after... Our past adventures?"
Raymond sighed.
"-Nothing special, really. He preferred to meditate on himself, to know where he stood, you see? That must have been what made him want to solve the mystery with you.
-Hmmm... Surely. I think this latest revelation is going to change him completely, if I may say so.
-If you're referring to mademoiselle, it's very likely. Seeing that someone who was very close to her alter-ego in the past is still with us will give him some hope.
-Let's hope. He can't spend the rest of his days moping around after all...
-Here we are."
"-Descole, Victoria, the Bostonius!"
Indeed the Bostonius was landing, very smoothly. Once landed, Layton opened the door and waved his comrades in, which they did without wasting a minute. They found themselves in the main room. Descole scanned the room:
"-Where is...
-He's in the engine room, he'll be here any minute."
The masked man invited his "guests" to sit on the sofas, and they did so without a moment's hesitation. Victoria remained standing, she too was sweeping the room, confused.
"-A problem Victoria?
-No... I... I just... I thought this room was a luxury room for such a contraption."
A door slammed and a voice came closer and closer.
"-You're right, miss, but that's the charm of the Bostonius after all."
Raymond walked towards the group.
"- Delighted to see you gentlemen again.
-Oh...!"
Victoria put a hand in front of her mouth as her blue eyes narrowed. Raymond turned to her.
"-You must be Miss Victoria, I presume."
He bowed.
"-I'm delighted to make your acquaintance. My name is Raymond, I'm the butler of the esteemed Jean Descole. The gentleman's told me a lot about you."
She put a lock of hair behind her ears with a trembling hand, her eyes wavering.
"-The pleasure is... mine, Raymond."
There was almost a gasping tone in her words. Raymond looked her straight in the eye for a moment. He opened his mouth without a sound, eyebrows arched, only to return to a neutral face a few seconds later. He walked towards the dashboard, ready to take off, followed by Descole at his side.
Victoria sat next to the professor and his apprentice. Luke looked at her for a moment, worried:
"Is everything all right...?
-Yeah, I just have a headache."
The boy turned to his mentor, who gave him a reassuring look. He was tempted to ask how the professor's escapade had gone, but with Victoria and Descole next door, it was not possible.
"-I understand that the mirror story has been resolved.
-by Layton, as always. It was catchy, I have to admit. Still, I hadn't planned on that little trip to the Nest and back.
-I don't like to go back there either, to tell you the truth. But the professor seemed to have something to take care of besides fetching the Mirror.
-What's that?
-I don't know, but I'm sure you'll find out when the time comes."
There was a silence of a few minutes. The time to reach the Nest was approaching as the sky grew darker and darker. Descole took the opportunity to take a look at Victoria. He had noticed strange behaviour in her for some time, and she hadn't meant anything by it.
"-Are you worried about Victoria?
-She's acting strange, that's all.
-Oh...Really. I'm sure she doesn't enjoy air travel.
-No doubt." He ends up answering curtly.
"-What about you? How are you? Have you continued meditating?
-You could say that. I feel lighter, let's say.
-Is that good for you?
-I couldn't say. Let's wait and see what happens next."
The Obsidian tower was beginning to point its nose, not far away. Raymond accelerated and they arrived in an instant. The plane landed in the same place they'd last visited the Nest.
"-They arrived, just as planned."
The boss had a big smile on his face.
"-You know they're coming to see you?
-Oh, but I'm really looking forward to it, Violet, you know?
-Evidently, it's also one of the reasons why I had to steal that mirror."
He giggled.
"-Yes, it is."
He put his dark glasses back on, all smiles.
"-I would have killed two birds with one stone, and thanks to you, I thank you.
-Oh, but I beg you, after all, I'm not your right-hand man for nothing."
They smiled one last smile and Swallow left the office to wait for the little fledglings.
"-Professor Layton for a moment!"
As the group was leaving, Raymond interrupted the archaeologist.
"-Yes Raymond?"
He gave him a look that made sense.
"-Her eyes...
-You understood then.
-No... I can't believe it.
-Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."
He greeted him and walked out.
The Nest hadn't changed. It was just cleaner. It was still creepy, with its heavy, unreassuring atmosphere. There wasn't a cat in it.
"-As last time, the Nest seemed deserted, as if we were expected.
-Would the new leader follow Bronev's example?
-It looks that way to me."
So they walked, cautiously. Luke was uneasy as the three adults were on guard, all claws out.
"-Hey you!"
They were startled. A rather strong soldier had a gun pointed at them.
"-Professor...!
-Professor ?"
The soldier looked at Layton. He lowered his weapon at the sight of the top hat he was wearing. They were surprised by this reaction.
"-You're the Layton ?
-Yes, that's me.
-Hmpf, the boss is waiting for you. But first..."
He took a heavy step.
"-I'd like you to solve a riddle for me.
-Do you really think it's time!?" Inquired Victoria.
"-Hey, babe, just making sure it's not a fake Layton.
-Go ahead. I'm listening."
A sick old man lives in a beautiful mansion, he owns a colossal fortune. He has three doctors on staff. If he dies, his fortune goes to the doctors. One morning he asks the first doctor to come, he tells him he doesn't know how to cure him yet. He calls the second who gives him the same answer. He finally asks the third to come. The doctor gives him an injection to supposedly cure him. When the old man realizes he's been poisoned, he calls the police inspector and says, "He's the one who killed me!"
When the inspector arrives, he stands in front of the doctors and says to the culprit, "You're the murderer!"
How did he figure it out?
"-Oh, but nothing easier, you know."
"- Of the three doctors present, there is actually only one man. The old man, when he was accused, said "HIM" and not "HER". It could only be one man. But there is no such thing as a female doctor.
-Hmmm... I should have been harder on that riddle. Anyway, you're the real Layton, so you can go.
-Thank you."
He let them pass. They arrived at the foot of the Obsidian tower about ten minutes later.
"-That tower still gives me the creeps, Professor...
-I can see that, Luke, but don't worry. You have absolutely nothing to worry about with us.
-You're right!
-We're only a few steps away from that leader..."
They entered the lobby almost in a hurry. It was empty too, yet last time there was a guard. The leader had definitely planned everything.
They took the elevator in silence, meditating on what was to come. The Nest is dangerous after all.
They reached the top, where Swallow was waiting for them.
"-Well, what a surprise.
-Hello professor, didn't I say we'd meet again very soon?"
She displayed an almost provocative grin.
"-You had it all planned, you and your employer, hadn't you?
-That's right. You just threw yourselves into the lion's den, that's all.
-Your boss is behind those doors, so don't keep us waiting! " Descole inquired.
Swallow sneered. What impatience...
"-Patience, my kitten, I have a protocol to follow first.
-"My kitten..." Grumbled Vic.
Luke readjusted his gavroche and stepped forward.
"-What is this protocol?
-A little riddle of nothing.
-Then I'll take care of it!
-It's for the grown-ups I was talking to, but since you insist. M'ah the young people."
She readjusted her dark glasses and cleared her throat.
Marie wants to weigh a bird and its cage. For that, he has a very accurate scale.
The bird alone weighs two kilograms and the cage three. But when he puts the cage and the bird in it on the scale, it only weighs three kilograms.
How is that possible?
Luke thinks for a moment. That riddle was a dodgy one. That's when he remembered one of his mentor's favorite phrases.
"Luke, sometimes you have to look at things from a different perspective."
"-The bird flew out of the cage, that's all!
-Well, finally that fancy riddle was on your toes, kid.
-Never underestimate the Professor's apprentice!"
Swallow moved away in a sarcastic curtsy.
"-The boss is waiting for you.
-Won't you come?
-No, I have business with someone. It was a pleasure meeting you, Hershel Layton. I hope our paths will cross again."
And she left, looking haughty and proud, leaving the strangers facing the ornate door. Layton was the first to carefully open it and entered the office quietly. Luke, Layton and Descole were surprised nonetheless.
"-So it was you!?
-Hmmm...I had no doubt it was."