Chapter 329: Visual Novel Gameplay
The video game continues, and Masayuki saw the scene changed to the background, where there were seemingly two police on each side of the grand doorway.
Then, the text on the text box below rolled out. At the top left corner of the text box was the name of the character talking, and it was the character "Phoenix" – the main character or in-game character of the video game. A female character named "Mia" talked to "Phoenix."
Next, "Butz," a brown-haired man with a beard, appeared. The guy looked kind of immature, and soon, Masayuki saw that he was actually the main character's friend.
"Butz" appeared to be the man being accused of murder. Masayuki assumed that the first cutscenes of the video game showed a middle-aged man seemingly killing a woman with the "Thinker" miniature statue.
As the text rolled out on the text box, "Phoenix" seemed to be thinking [(The newspapers say it was you...)]. Beside the music soundtrack "Detention Center" of the game, there's a piano sound hinting something after the text "you" in red color rolled out.
Masayuki took note of this. Unaware, a man wearing a top hat and a long coat entered the Café. The man also wore black gloves and seemed to take notice of Masayuki playing something on that popular handheld "Gameboy Advance." The man curiously looked over just behind Masayuki.
Masayuki was deeply immersed in the video game, and the unsettling scene unfolded with a woman lying on the floor, her head in a pool of her own blood. "Butz" entered, and "Phoenix" appeared to be evaluating his friend. Analyzing their long-standing friendship since high school, "Phoenix" concluded that his friend was merely unlucky and had a good heart.
Following that, the date in green text rolled out in the text box, and the scene transitioned to a bald man with an impressive beard – the judge. As the bald old man spoke, a label "Judge" appeared, similar to where characters' names are inputted. The old bald "Judge" conversed with "Phoenix," and as the scene flashed back and forth, it became clear that "Phoenix" was quite nervous, as it was his first case to handle.
"Phoenix" seemed somewhat unreliable, even forgetting the victim's name. Characters like "Mia," positioned beside "Phoenix," provided instructions about the game mechanics, such as the "Evidence" and "Court Record," where players could view evidence and profiles of people involved in the case. It was evident that the character and the video game were guiding gamers through the experience.
The character "Butz" had a cute appearance but displayed anger issues. Despite this, he seemed eager to be sent to prison with his careless remarks and easily misunderstood words.
The prosecutor and the judge appeared to be in agreement, painting a challenging situation for "Phoenix." However, Masayuki found the character of "Butz" quite amusing.
"That Larry was kind of dumb, wasn't he?"
While engrossed in the video game, Masayuki suddenly heard a voice behind him. Pausing the game, he turned to see a formally dressed, gentlemanly-looking man.
Noticing Masayuki's gaze, the man smiled and said, "Go on, go on. Just play the game. Don't mind me."
Though slightly frowning, Masayuki didn't mind someone watching. It's not like he was reading an adult magazine, so he allowed the man to observe him playing on the Gameboy Advance.
As the video game continued, the prosecutor called upon a witness. Upon seeing the witness, Masayuki exclaimed, "It was the real killer!"
Momentarily forgetting the man watching beside him, Masayuki was asked, "Oh? You already know who the killer is before the trial in this game?"
Though a bit surprised by the man's engagement, he nodded and replied, "That's right. There's a cutscene showing that guy is the one who killed the victim!"
The man nodded and remarked, "Won't the game be boring, then? Since the player already knows the suspect, it won't come as a surprise. What does the game have to offer to make it entertaining?"
Masayuki simply looked at the man and replied, "I don't know."
"If the player is just reading the storyline without any exciting elements, won't it be quite boring?" The man mused, stroking his chin.
"Let's see," Masayuki said.
Shortly after, as the witness appeared in court, Masayuki and the man's doubts about the game would soon be answered. The witness testimony began, accompanied by a fast-paced soundtrack. The scene flashed back to where the witness claimed to have seen the suspect running away from the crime scene, then returned to the witness. It alternated with scenes of the middle-aged man entering the crime scene as the text rolled out in the text box.
The dynamic combination of the fast-paced soundtrack and the witness's testimony captured the attention and interest of both Masayuki and the man beside him.
Then, Masayuki couldn't help but analyze the witness testimony. When the text rolled out with the words in red text "Cross Examination" in the text box, the man was a bit surprised.
"You can actually cross-examine in the game?" The man beside Masayuki was intrigued.
"Yes, it seems we can contradict the witness testimony with evidence we have in the 'Evidence'..." Masayuki nodded and said.
"Interesting..." The man nodded and added, "But this game may be quite too easy for me since I'm a lawyer after all."
"You're a lawyer?" Masayuki appeared surprised. Seeing the man nod, Masayuki said, "Well, it may indeed look easy for you, as this is just the beginning of the game, after all..."
"Beginning, huh?" The man felt interested in playing the game. As he watched Masayuki play and cross-examine the case, he wanted to provide assistance, but the case seemed to be quite easy as Masayuki played the game quite well.
When the scene with a man shouting the word in the comic action bubble "Objection!" accompanied by a dramatic sound effect appeared, Masayuki and the man were amused.
The thrill Masayuki currently feels from gradually solving the case and uncovering the suspect's lies somehow brought a satisfying feeling. Additionally, the dramatic sound effect of a man shouting the word in the comic action bubble like "Objection!" or "Hold it!" is gratifying to hear, especially if the one uttering "Objection!" or "Hold it!" is the player and not the prosecutor.
While Masayuki played, the middle-aged man remained adamant, refusing to admit guilt. He continued to find excuses and even changed his testimony to cover up the holes in his earlier statements.
"Haha, that guy seems tough." The man beside Masayuki chuckled softly as he watched the game.
Masayuki nodded, and simultaneously, the reaction animation of the witness and the prosecutor added a humorous touch.
Even the witness, the middle-aged man, had his hair jumping every time "Phoenix" noticed a lie or contradiction in his testimony. Until the middle-aged man couldn't bear it anymore, not caring that his bald head was exposed to everybody. He lost his temper and continued pushing the blame onto "Butz." Following that, the sounds of people in the court seemingly discussing echoed, and "Phoenix" appeared more confident as he witnessed the witness losing his cool.
"It seems the suspect is about to lose..." The man watching adjusted his top hat. As he observed the gameplay, he couldn't help but want to buy a Gameboy Advance and the game. Stroking his chin, the man thought, 'Maybe it's a suitable game for my son...'
The man continued watching Masayuki play for a few more minutes until "Phoenix" finally proved that the witness, the middle-aged man, was the killer, and the case concluded.
Observing this, the man said to Masayuki, "I have to admit, the game was kind of interesting."
Masayuki smiled and replied, "Really? Just interesting? I felt like I was already addicted to the game."
[Check out my new novel "Tycoon Actor in Hollywood". It already has a few chapters. Do tell what you think.
So, "Tycoon Actor in Hollywood" might sound like a blockbuster about a guy swimming in money, but trust me, our protagonist is more like a "Tycoon-in-Training." Not as loaded as this novel protagonist, video game magnate, definitely not as greedy, just a guy navigating Hollywood's glitz. It's all about character growth and the wild projects he tackles—whether it's his own indie masterpiece or a big-screen spectacle. Time will spill the Hollywood beans in the future chapters!]
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
NewComer714
NewComer714 I think I can post about two chapters per day right now...
I can't handle three chapters for now, especially when I am writing another novel, to know about this new novel I am writing, just visit my P@treon...
P@treon.com/NewComer714
If the readers are fine, I can atleast post two chapters per day here in Webnovel...
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone