Chapter Text
“Dear Professor Layton,
It’s been awhile since we said goodbye. How have you been? I'm all settled in and making new friends here. I'm writing to you because something deeply puzzling happened here recently. It seems like the sort of mystery that's tailor-made for Professor Layton and his apprentice. I don't think anyone else could get to the bottom of this. I've enclosed a document with this letter that will tell you more about the situation.”
~~~
“Starting about a month ago, there have been attacks. There's a famous magician troupe called, ‘Troupe Gramarye’. The main troupe has really famous magicians, who've been in a bit of hot water recently due to some troubles with a murder around a year ago. But now, some smaller magician troupes are being attacked. A few magicians have been killed by a man calling himself, “The Duke of Deception”. Some people are saying the incidents are linked to Troupe Gramarye, but it's hard to say for sure. I could tell you more about the case if you wanted to take it up. Until then, I hope to get your reply!
Your apprentice number one,
Luke triton”
~~~
It had been a few weeks since Hershel Layton had received the letter that brought him to his new mystery over in America. He now stood in the airport, trunk in hand and holding Flora Reinhold, his daughter’s hand. They had just exited the plane and were heading towards the front of the crowded building, as Flora was reading through the letter for what seemed like the tenth time.
“Wow Professor, I don’t think I’ve ever come all the way to a different country before… much less to solve a mystery! This is going to be so exciting!” Flora kept close as she read through the letter.
The professor chuckled a bit, “Yes Flora, it can certainly be considered exciting, although we should remain focused. The letter seems to imply that it’s going to be a very dangerous case.”
She pouted a bit, “I know! It’s not like I don’t know how your adventures can be… but you don’t have to worry about me, I’ll be fine!”
“Alright Flora…” He had a bit of a worried tone to his voice, though he wasn’t going to push it any further. Just a few weeks earlier, he had been very hesitant to bring her at all, considering the letter had mentioned a few deaths, and he didn’t want Flora to come into harm’s way. But after pleading and promising she would stay safe on the journey, here she was, walking with the professor through the airport.
“Professor!!!” There was a shout behind them, and when they turned they saw a familiar face running up to them from a crowded waiting area. The boy sped over and practically tackled the Professor in a hug.
Hershel laughed a bit, “Luke my boy! It’s great to see you again!” He gave Luke a bit of a hug back, before Luke stepped away and adjusted his hat a bit.
He had a huge smile on his face and he started excitedly, “I’ve got so much to tell you about how my time here has been- oh! Flora! I didn’t know you were coming!”
Flora giggled a bit, “Well, I wasn’t going to stay home while the Professor left for America for who knows how long.”
At that moment, a woman walked over to the group from where Luke had been, she smiled at them, “Hello Hershel, it’s nice to see you again!”
Layton adjusted his hat, “Ah, Brenda! How have you been?”
“I’ve been doing quite well! It did take some adjusting getting used to our new life here in America, but I feel as if it’s been going well for us here. I’ve been getting used to my new job, as has my husband, and Luke’s been making new friends and getting used to his new school.”
“That sounds wonderful!” Layton said, as he watched Luke drag his suitcase over from where he had been sitting.
As soon as he had set his suitcase down by the Professor, his mother started addressing him, “Now Luke, you made sure to pack all your clothes and the things you’ll need, yes? And you promise you’ll behave yourself when you’re with the Professor, and-”
“Muuuum! I’ll be fine, don’t worry about it! After all, I’m a gentleman in training! I’ll behave, I promise!” he had a bit of confidence about him as he said this, before he smiled and gave her one last hug.
Layton looked on fondly as they said their final goodbyes, “Well Luke, are you ready to go?”
Luke stood up, standing tall, “Yup!” He pulled his suitcase a bit closer to him.
Professor nodded, “Alright then. It was nice seeing you again Brenda.”
“And you as well. I’ll see you in a few weeks then, Luke!”
Luke waved at her as they started to walk off, “You too! Bye mum!”
~~~
It wasn’t long until the group was seated in the Laytonmobile, as Professor started driving down the road leading out of the busy airport.
Flora leaned forward excitedly in her seat a bit, “So Luke, can you tell us more about this case that we’ve taken up?”
Luke pulled out his little journal that he wrote notes in, “Well, there’s really a lot to the case, but we still have a lot to learn about it… The Duke Of Deception has been attacking magicians, so I’ve been trying to find out as much as I can about it, but… It’s been kind of difficult, since most of public doesn’t know much about the incidents.”
Layton seemed to be thinking, “Hmm… I suspect it’ll be more difficult to crack this case without the help of the scotland yard, but we’ll manage. Luke, can you tell us where the last attack was at?”
“...Oh, ok! Hmm, let’s see here…” Luke flipped a few pages back in his notebook. “... Ah! The last attack was at a circus called, ‘Circus Big top’!”
“Alright. Then we’ll head there and ask around to see if anyone knows anything about the incidents.” Professor took a turn in the road.
Flora was looking out the window, “Good idea Professor. Maybe someone will know something, or we could find out if anyone else is working on the case.”
And so Professor, Luke and Flora headed towards the Big top Circus.