The Hermitage, former home to Aelita and Franz, now a complete wreck and currently being searched through by Jeremie, Aelita, Zinia and Hope, while they are unaware that Flux was searching upstairs with Ian.
"Come on. They gotta be here." Flux said.
"Sir, maybe its time we...gave up." Ian said.
"No way. Amadeus Flux does not give up." Flux said.
"What are you talking about? Besides taking the worlds, you give up on a lot of plans." Ian said.
"Well not this one. I gotta find his notes." Flux said laughing a little maniacally.
"Sir, I'm starting to worry for your sanity." Ian said.
'That's ridiculous. Now grab this knife and stab for invisible safes." Flux said.
"Okay...I'm just gonna give you space and go grab a sandwich from the fridge." Ian said.
"That food's been in there for years. Its no good." Flux said.
"I just don't wanna be here." Ian said heading down stairs.
"Fine. Leave. I can find them on my own!" Flux said continuing the search.
DOwn below…
"Anyone else hear that?" Zinia asked.
"Its probably the house settling." Jeremie said.
"Yeah. That must be it." Zinia said. "Its hard to believe I'm inside the house of Mr. Franz Hopper."
"Of course, since Cretaceous told you about him." Hope said.
"Are you talking about the bosses dad?" Ian asked as they saw him eating a moldy sandwich.
"Ian? What are you doing here?" Hope asked.
"Having a bite while the boss loses his sanity." Ian said.
"You realize that sandwich is covered in mold, right?" Aelita asked.
"I don't care. Just needed to get away from him." Ian said.
"Wait, Flux is going insane? Over what?" Hope asked.
"He's trying to find his old man's research notes. He thinks Hopper might have kept some of them considering how close they were." Ian said.
"Research notes? On what?" Hope asked.
"No clue. He won't tell anyone." Ian said.
"Should we try to find em first?" Zinia asked. "I dont want a madman having the doctors research.."
"He's not mad he's….he;s trying to find his old man." Ian said.
"What?" Hope said.
"Its true. After what happened in Alola, the guy was beside himself, alone in his room for days. He kept looking at that family photo on his desk and he said the words…"Its time we meet again, dad. I need to find you." And since scientist notes usually have info about where they go, he figured by studying the notes, he can find his old man." Ian said.
"But no one's been able to find Cretaceous for years. How longs he been at this?" Hope asked.
"Since the day were first got here. He doesn't sleep, he rarely eats, its tearing the guy apart." Ian said.
"We need to stop him. But how?" Aelita asked.
"The notes would be the way to...wait. There is someplace we haven't checked." Ian said. "But first, Aelita, Jeremie, head back to class. Hope, robo girl, I need to borrow you for a bit."
In the forest near an old tree was a dug up hole.
"This was where me and the boss dug up those tapes about the demon lords. Maybe if we dig deeper, we might find something more." Ian said.
"Well, not like we have much of a choice." Zinia said. "Hope, grab a shovel."
"I have a better idea. Put those legs to work." Hope said. "If you strike hard enough with one good stomp, you can break through the earth."
"Probably not a good idea. This place is mostly mud." Ian said.
"He's right. Besides, hard work never kill anyone." Zinia said as they started digging down before they hit something.
"Hey, we got something." Ian said as the three pulled up a large chest. "Son of a gun. There was a second chest buried underneath the first one we found way back."
"Clever. The doctor buried this one first to keep it super hidden." Zinia said breaking the lock opening the chest to reveal some papers and some video tapes.
"Now Ian, bring this to Flux. Tell him you found them and don't mention us." Hope said.
"Duh. I was gonna do that either way. But I'll reward you." Ian said. "There's hidden gold in the hole next to this one. Take a few bars and buy something pretty."
"I've got a better idea…" Hope said.
Later..
"Eeeek! Gold bars, where did you get these?!" Nami said with beli signs. "And their real! We're rich!"
Hope also gave one to inga and Viola incase they needed money for clothes.
"This gold. It looks like its been buried about 50 years. Must be worth millions by now." Inga said.
"Whoo! I can finally afford all the clothes I want." Viola said.
"You know, that Ian guy was a good guy. And he was loaded. He could have lived a life of luxury with all this gold." Zinia said.
"Sometimes, friendship means more than money." Hope said.
"I wonder if Ian is really cut out for the villain biz?" Zinia said.
Back on the cruiser…
"Yes yes yes! The chest! The notes, the tapes! I have them here with me!" Flux said happily. "Ian, I am so happy for this."
"Great. Now can you finally sleep and eat?" Ian asked.
"Yes. Start the oven and make some roast, I am starving." Flux said walking out.
"Those guys are angels." Ian smiled following Flux out.
Later still…
"Oh come on, Odd! You sent a photo of Aelita and Franz Hopper to Sissi?! Shes gonna rat her identity out to Delmas!" Hope said.
"I thought I was asking out the prettiest girl in Kadic." Odd said. "I'm a computer flop, all right?"
"What do we do?" Kazuichi asked. "Wait, let's calm down. For all we know, Sissi is keeping this to herself."
Jim then entered. "Stones and Della Robbia, the principal wants to see you two. And while we're at it, the rest of your little gang goes with you." Jim said.
"Or not…." Kazuichi said. "We're hosed aren't we?"
"Yep. We're hosed." Dan said.
As the team was locked down in Delmas's office, Tails got wind.
"You have to do something, buddy." Sonic said.
"I can't. The photo was already printed by now so I can't doctor the photo and I hear Delmas even called in a professor from London to verify it." Tails said.
"A professor?" Sonic said.
In Delmas's office, the doors opened as the group saw a familiar looking man walk in with a coat and top hat.
"Students, this man is the one who will help me get to the bottom of things. I would like to introduce Mr. Hershel Layton from Gressenheller University." Delmas said.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance." Layton said as he walked in and sat down.
"Whoa. Its Layton." Dan said.
"You guys know him or something?" Zinia asked.
"Yes. But hes probably faking it so that he keeps his knowing of us safe. But he'll help us." Dan said.
"Or its the Layton from before we met him." Hope said in worry.
"Now, Mr. Delmas. I would like to take a look at the photo." Layton said.
"Quite right." Delmas said.
"We're done for." Fuyuhiko said.
"Hmm. Mr. Delmas, this Franz Hopper, what was the year of his disappearance?" Layton asked.
"Uh, 1994." Delmas said.
"And Miss Stones, what age are you?" Layton asked.
"15." Aelita said.
"Sorry to say Mr. Delmas, but there is no way this girl is the same as the one in the photo." Layton said.
"Are you positive?" Delmas asked.
"If the girl in the photo was still walking among us, she would be around 26 years old, not 15. That is too big an age gap. Sorry to say, but Miss Stones and Mr. Hopper are not related." Layton said.
Hope secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"I see. You all are free to go, same with you, Mr. Layton." Delmas said.
The group then left with Layton.
"Thank you, Mr. Layton." Aelita said.
"No thanks necessary. I was merely doing my duty as an english gentleman. Even if its telling a lie to protect the daughter of a scientist." Layton said.
"You...knew?" Hope asked.
"Yes. The resemblance was too spot on to be faked. So I lied to protect this girl. Plus, I'm not sure why, but I feel as though we are fated to meet yet again someday." Layton said.
"Heh. Look out for them. On a day when they arrive at your office for a university check out." Hope said.
"I'll keep that in mind, lad." Layton said as he was walking off. "Until we meet again."
"Wow. What a gentleman, lying like that just to protect Aelita. How remarkable." Sonia said.
"You should really see what they did with him." Hope said.
Because Layton proved them innocent, there was no Sign of XANA anywhere. So the group enjoyed their day.
"So Aelita, you gonna be good knowing that your last name is safe?" Hope asked.
"I am. And its not even Hopper, it's Schaeffer." Aelita said.
"How did you…?" Zinia asked.
"We found some old records in the hermitage. Apparently Franz Hopper's real name was Waldo Schaeffer, meaning Aelita would be Aelita Schaeffer." Jeremie said.
"Not so loud though." Hope said in worry.
"Its fine. We're not near anyone right now." Jeremie said. "So, if they try to find records for an Aelita Hopper, no result."
"And I hope your right about us meeting Layton again." Ulrich said.
"Trust me, you will." Dan said. 'But not before a little exploring happens. Uh...you'll figure that one out someday too."