Professor Layton and the Angel's Prophecy

Part One: The Budding Inspectors

"Must be forged!" Clive finished, swinging his finger in a wide, dramatic arc. "The good Dean was captured for his knowledge, as I'm sure the other archaeologists were."

"And what leads you to that conclusion?" Hershel said, raising an eyebrow at his energetic apprentice.

"Well... As you say, there is no need to jump to unreasonable conclusions. So I used logic. And gut instinct, though worry not; you know my gut's helped in the past."

Hershel grinned and nodded for Clive to continue.

"So, if just one of these archaeologists were kidnapped, that could mean anything, however, at least seven, including Dean Delmona of the esteemed Gressenheller: the building we stand in right now.... It's too much of a coincidence. But why kidnap them? I mean, this particular group of people? Unless of course, you were using them for their varied and vast knowledge of different cultures and civilisations of the past? You know what I think we're dealing with here?"

The Professor said nothing, but gave a slight nod which Clive knew meant for him to elaborate. Taking a great step backwards, Clive threw his arms wide in a gesture that rung of mad scientist.

"I think we are facing an organisation, not unlike Targent (the Professor had filled Clive and Flora in on all his adventures, no matter how painful they were, save one) who are on the brink of discovering, or have discovered a new civilisation, and they need their knowledge to gain access to this lost world!"

There was a long pause, Clive locked in his mad grin, until finally Hershel bowed his head and smiled sadly.

"A grandiose idea, however, why kidnap these people? Why not simply alert them to this great discovery?"

"Because this is an organisation; an evil one at that! They want all the resources and treasures this civilisation holds for themselves."

A faint pattering of rain fell against the window, and both men turned their heads to gaze at the sudden greeting.

"The storm has begun," Clive noted, his voice strangely melancholic.

"Indeed," Hershel stated. "I would rather think that we should pick up this investigation tomorrow, when the sky holds fairer pastures."

"Oh, but Professor, what if these men and women are in danger?! We need to help now!"

"Clive, I do not think-"

"Alright Professor," Clive agreed, turning around slowly, legs swinging wide as he walked back towards the door, acting disinterested. "Let's just tell the families that we couldn't save their loved ones because of a little rain..."

"Clive... It's unfair to say a little... I..."

At a loss for words, Hershel tipped his hat down, sighed, and then looked back up to meet Clive's eyes. The young man was trying to look all about the place as if more interested in the room about him than the top-hatted gentleman with the excuses.

"Alight, he relented. "Alright. Let's begin our investigations now, shall we?"

****

"We need... I mean we need to have our own division at Scotland Yard! The Special Division. The one that solves the most perplexing of crimes. Well, we need a better name than Special Division. Hmm..."

Clive was practically bouncing in his seat as they drove through pouring rain to the offices of Scotland Yard. Despite the grim atmosphere, Clive was full of energy as ever. Hershel once again smiled, Clive's enthusiasm reminding him very much of Luke.

Usually, such matters fell into the police's jurisdiction only, however, it was always the case that Layton was a consulting detective on such cases that stumped the officers of the Yard. And when not with them, a private investigator with companions to boot. Hershel never expected pay; he helped out only for the sake of helping out. And in certain special cases, some adventures were more personal than others. This case fell into that category. Hershel knew all of the names on that report, not least of all Dean Delmona. This particular group of people being his team at one point, only disbanding after having found something that the world should not have fallen prey to. Whatever the cost, he would rescue his old friend and all those kidnapped. If that did mean their captors were an organisation as Clive suggested, or simply misguided individuals.