Only Truth Remains/Transcript

Chief Ripley:  , glad you made it to Saint Petersburg!

Chief Ripley: As your previous investigation has shown, the Russian space program has been compromised by SOMBRA.

Chief Ripley: Our biggest priority right now is to figure out exactly what kind of information SOMBRA has procured and why.

Chief Ripley: Good thing we have Marina's mother, Natasha Romanova, on our side! As the head of COSMORUS, her help could be invaluable!

Chief Ripley: According to her services, the suspicious activity in the Saint Petersburg area seems connected to a place called the Lermontov Estate.

Chief Ripley: The estate is a luxury property owned by the eccentric Russian billionaire, Dmitri Lermontov.

Chief Ripley: If SOMBRA is plotting something at that estate, we need to get the jump on them! Get going, !

Chapter 1
Investigate Estate Gardens.

(Carmen is seen wearing winter attire throughout the murder investigation.)

Carmen Martinez: Dang, , this estate looks like a palace in a Russian fairy tale! But that body looks like a character from the Brothers Grimm!

Carmen: His head is completely caved in. I agree, this doesn't look accidental. I guess we have another murder on our hands...

Carmen: Did you find anything that could help us catch his killer?

Carmen: Broken wood? Looks a little too fancy for firewood. Maybe you can put the pieces back together and see if it can tell us more about the crime!

Carmen: And you want to look through a bunch of horse pucky? Your hunches are rarely wrong, but I think I'll let you handle that...

Carmen: You're right, . We came here to check out suspicious activity and murder is pretty suspicious. Let's get to the bottom of this!

Examine Broken Wood.

Carmen: So you pieced that broken wood back together. It's a property sign saying that this is the Lermontov Estate.

Carmen: Looks like the estate's caretaker is a man named Ivan Vysotsky... He probably takes care of security, too...

Carmen: You're right, . Since he's the estate caretaker, this Ivan Vysotsky might be able to tell us more about what happened here.

Talk to Ivan Vysotsky about the murder on the estate.

Carmen: Mr Vysotsky,   was wondering if you knew anything about a dead body being found on the estate? Can you identify this man?

Ivan: Bozhe moy! Prayers DO get answers! Mikhail Karamazov is dead! HA! Good riddance!

Carmen: Wow. That... is not the response we were expecting... So I take it you know the victim?

Ivan: Yes, I told you! It's Mikahil Karamazov! He was a civil notary. He's been nosing around the place. I chased him off the estate a million times!

Carmen: Did you ever chase him with a weapon?

Ivan: Did I chase him with a weapon... Of course! My shotgun! But I never had to shoot at him! He just saw it and ran away!

Ivan: Probably off to the Café Akunin to play cards with the estate owner. They were there all the time! Playing cards all night without a care in the world while I-

Carmen: Thank you for your help, Mr Vysotsky! We may need to question you again, so please stick to the Saint Petersburg area.

Ivan: Nu, where else would I be?

(After talking to Ivan Vysotsky)

Carmen: What a character! Chasing after trespassers with a shotgun! But, you're right, he did give us useful information.

Carmen: We learned that the victim was a civil notary, which means he had access to all sorts of legal documents.

Carmen: Mikhail Karamazov had power over finalizing legal matters. Good point, , having power means having information. Information that can be used against people...

Carmen: You're right. Vysotsky also said that Karamazov spent a lot of time at Café Akunin...

Carmen: If the victim visited as often as all that, there may be clues at the café that can help solve this murder!

Investigate Russian Café.

Carmen: So has Café Akunin been hiding any useful clues, ? Looks like you found a newspaper...

Carmen: Guess some snow got on it because I can't read a thing! But I do see the victim in that photo! Think you can dust it and uncover the rest?

Carmen: This lacquered box is intriguing, too. Why would anyone need to put a lock on something like this? I'm sure you can crack it and we'll soon find out!

Examine Faded Newspaper.

Carmen: That's an interesting headline on that newspaper: "Is This the Heir to the Russian Royal Fortune?" Pretty sure they mean the fancy lady and not the victim...

Carmen: But who is this lady? I bet you can find a match in our database!

Examine Headline Photo.

Carmen: So who was that lady in the newspaper photo with the victim? What do you mean there was no full name? Are you kidding me?

Carmen: The database just said she goes by the name Duchess Anastasia... Like Anastasia, of the Russian royal family? Who were all executed in 1918?

Carmen: Surely this lady can't be convincing anyone that she's THE Anastasia. She'd have to be over 100 years old!

Carmen: Well, whoever this so-called Duchess Anastasia really is, she knew the victim and that's enough to warrant a conversation, you're right, !

Question Duchess Anastasia about her relationship with the victim.

Carmen: Ms Anastasia-

Duchess Anastasia: Duchess, please. And I guess no one is big on curtsying these days...

Carmen: DUCHESS Anastasia...   found a newspaper article with a photo of you next to a certain Mikhail Karamazov.

Duchess Anastasia: Can you believe that's the picture they chose? A night at the opera and I get photographed next to lower gentry... a notary no less...

Duchess Anastasia: I was petitioning Karamazov to notarize papers proving that I am the great-granddaughter of the Grand Duchess Anastasia.

Carmen: Let me guess, he said no and that's why he's dead!

Duchess Anastasia: He's dead?! And you think I killed hi? In THIS dress?!

Carmen: You'd prefer something more formal? Somehow I think we'll be meeting again, Duchess...

Examine Precious Box.

Carmen: You opened the lacquered box from the café, huh? But what was inside that required locking up? A little black book? Hold up, going to check what the heck that Russian on the cover means...

Carmen: Those letters spell out Mikhail Karamazov! This book belonged to the victim!

Carmen: What's inside the book? You're right, there are names and sums next to them...

Carmen: This looks like a ledger! And this name says Lermontov! Like the estate!

Carmen: Well, we know the estate owner and the victim played cards together. Now we know Dmitri Lermontov owed Karamazov money!

Carmen: Smells like a motive to me, right, ? Let's track down this Dmitri Lermontov and grill him about his debt to the victim!

Ask Dmitri Lermontov about his gambling debt.

Dmitri: Of course, Karamazov! Sure, I played cards with him once or twice. He was a total buffoon! I think you say the ass of a horse, da?

Carmen: According to the ledger   found at Café Akunin, you were in debt to him...

Dmitri: Please, I lost a little money to a little man. Nothing to cry over. I am billionaire! Richest man in Russia!

Carmen: Well, you'll never have to pay off that debt, Mr Lermontov. Karamazov was murdered on YOUR estate!

Dmitri: A murder on my estate! It's like we're in an old Russian novel! How exciting!

Carmen: Well, here's hoping for your sake that you aren't the anti-hero protagonist of this "novel", Mr Lermontov!

Examine Manure.

Carmen: Is that a decorative egg? Looks pretty fancy, how did it end up in manure?

Carmen: Do you think the victim could have stolen it? Maybe the killer tried to stop him, but tried a little too hard?

Carmen: You're right, <Name>, speculation will get us nowhere. Lars can check out this egg and get us some real answers!