#( oOoOo we're getting into LORE territory now hehehehhehe )

[my-fortified-wager]

Seeing as I’ve been DAMNED to the inbox, hii Miss Jade hiii- it’s your favorite detective!! I may or may not be in danger but that’s besides the point there’s a ✨case✨ to talk about 🫶

so, I guess I should get my own guess out the way before I get all dramatic reveal territory in which, just to be different and so clown won’t be alone, I’ll stick with RF Angeline. Umm whenever you see this, if we’re wrong, we go down together Clown 🫡

So CBM, right? Right. I guess I can go over the implications I noticed, there’s probably something I still missed but it’s #whatever, I don’t get paid enough for that. ( Miss Jade, I swear that this is a joke. I promise it is, I pinky swear even.)

First things first, taking a look at Beth’s file reveals that whoever the killer is, couldn’t have been one of the actual survivors. As everyone re-grouped by the time of the final showdown, that immediately provides an alibi for all of our remaining survivors. Which means our culprit had to be one of our poor victims. Now each of these deaths were quite.. uh. unique, to say the least! but buuuut. if you took a look at all the files, and looked closely and I mean cloooosely at a specific cause of death, you’ll notice something unique about that too.

Everyone else listed actually has a direct cause of death except for a certain someone. Taking a look at Aventurine’s file you’ll see that— while he technically DOES have a cause of death, he’s the only one who has “presumably bled out” in said cause of death. Everyone else? No chance, dead and GONE. buuuut there’s that “presumably” for Aventurine that raises some. suspicions, per se! Though if it is Aventurine— (it isn’t a though, it IS. I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE. …actually maybe I shouldn’t say that, I’m sorry eheh) where does the freckles description come into play? Well! That ties into a theory I talked about earlier wiiith makeup.

To recap on that theory, typically people who need to take into great consideration about their appearance would tend to cover up freckles with makeup. and why would they do this? Simple, because freckles aren’t exactly a beauty standard and I’m not genius but— I do believe that being seen as attractive is a part of being a casino worker. something something making patrons want to stay by combining the thrill and looks. Hell, he could’ve just been covering the freckles to cover his tracks until he said “fuck it” faked his death and donned a new outfit altogether. I’d say disguise but, I feel as if that’s in poor taste if this is more akin to his true appearance, y’know? he may be a murderer but uh, respect goes a long way!!

But yeah, that would explain why we haven’t seen freckles on Aventurine, or on.. ANY of the other suspects. I should also note that it is around the time of Aventurine’s file when Ratio started touching his face and seeming a bit disturbed. you know, specifically around the cheeks and eyes area where, and follow me here. where FRECKLES would be. There’s also the pointy ass heels and if THAT doesn’t do the man in then, I don’t know what will. I could keep going but, I think I’ve said enough

So! In conclusion, the culprit behind all of this was none other than…

…

Mister Aventurine!!

and uh I don’t know if I should be impressed or terrified that he pulled all of that off on his own

... good work, darling. I knew choosing you as my assignment leader was the optimal choice.

Before I get into the facts of this case, let me address the first part. Miss Angeline was a perfectly reasonable guess for Miss Flush, this I must admit. Kind, sweet, considerate, and caring, she matches Miss Royal Flush to a t. However, your theory fails on one simple premise. Miss Angeline has mentioned several times that she was hard of hearing, and in Alice's file, Royal Flush mentions a gunshot that only she was able to hear, that no one else asked about or mentioned, meaning this gunshot was more muffled and quieter. However... if she so desired, I wouldn't be opposed to hiring her for something special.

As for Crimson Balemoon, while your explanation is a brilliant observation of the situation, it is far from a proper report, Miss Collins. Of course, the report in and of itself is my duty... so I cannot fault you on this front. You've been a good girl getting this much out of the way for me. For now, let me compliment you on your work thus far, and share my own two cents.

... l will ignore the comment of your pay, however. Unless you'd like to end up as Owlbert, with slashed pay and an extended contract? Mhm.

Yes, it is as you say. The appearance of the Crimson Balemoon in the final stretch granted all our survivors immunity, no matter the intended suspicions on a certain man within the group. Meaning, only one of our victims could have been the Balemoon. Of course, this lends to whom. From being shot to getting crushed to poisoning, one is led to believe the killer must still be alive in the end, for how does someone possibly survive something like that? However, one detail pointed towards a different outcome.

This detail is small, so small that most of our detectives had missed it. For the attendant's death was never fully confirmed, and thus began my own personal suspicions. Yes, it may have been an oversight of Royal Flush to assume our victim was truly dead, even going as far to say she "presumed" he bled to death. Yet, this assumption only made his job this much easier. With the "attendant" dead, this allowed Aventurine to take off those gaudy garments and wear something that remains more true to whom he was, deep inside. And thus, the Crimson Balemoon officially became a component of the play. No longer did he need to hide any perceived imperfections that the previous Authority of Will had cautioned him against.

Thus, the makeup came off, the temporary hair dye was removed, and he would dawn a new outfit. And the striking, damning feature Mister Spades would swear up and down he saw when he was held captive, and connect back to our killer. The killer did indeed have freckles, freckles he covered at the demand of his old manager, to make him as marketable to desperate eyes as possible. Because simply put, freckles don't sell. But that no longer matters. And… yes Miss Collins. I would feel slightly insulted if someone called me being my true self a “disguise”.

However, when Spades went to "awaken" our culprit, he ended up getting his makeup on his hands instead, revealing the freckles beneath. Freckles everyone was previously unaware he had. And thus became the most damning evidence of all. However, our killer would not get rid of Mister Spade, and instead opted to frame him. And this nearly worked too, if it weren't for you.

Of course, all of this is said, but at its core, it cannot answer your biggest question of "why?" What would drive a man to commit murder of this degree? How did he pull it off? What was the reasoning? This is not a question you will be able to answer for me, my dear, for the files lack something crucial. It involves the history of the casino, its prior manager and the system of abuse, and the namesake of our killer, the Dire Balemoon.

I know you all seek to understand this story in full, and fret not. I mentioned that report, did I not? I will give you all the pleasure of reading my report once it is finished as a reward for all your head work, and I will be sure to explain this story in full, from its beginning to its end. This story is far from over, even if you've figured out our killer and detective. Of course, I alone am not to thank. Miss Royal Flush made this possible, and my appreciation extends pasts the stars. Without her recounting and luck, this truth would have been lost forever.

And thus, you stand on trial before my court, Mister Aventurine...

Or, should I call you by your other name... Mister Vita? Did you enjoy your little game of a cat and mouse mystery?