Reed

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Charles Reed
Alias(es)	Reid; Tool Reid
Gender	Male
Occupation/Role	Former sailor; private detective
Affiliation	Works alongside Li Zu during the Oakmont investigations
Status	Cycle-bound; disappears when his assigned function is completed
First Appearance	70

Background

Charles Reed travelled to Oakmont aboard the Charon seeking relief from unexplained symptoms shared by the town's inhabitants. Once a sailor, he had become a detective and gained a considerable reputation through his supernatural investigative talent. On the voyage, he met Li Zu, who was posing as “Bruce Wayne” and claiming to be another detective. 70 72

In Oakmont, Reed pursued the disappearance and death of Albert Slugg-Morton. Li Zu's discovery of a shell casing enabled Reed to reconstruct the shooting that wounded Albert and implicated Lewis. Although Reed recognized Li Zu's exceptional eye for clues, he remained unsettled by his erratic behavior and unclear motives. 72 74

Reed continued pursuing Oakmont's interconnected cases, including Captain Sanders's disappearance and a mirror tied to Robert Slogmorton's unstable mistress. He repeatedly found that Li Zu had investigated crucial leads ahead of him, while Li Zu's association with Harley Quinn and his ability to turn people into toys further deepened Reed's suspicions. 77 80 84 85

During a later loop, Reed became “Tool Reid,” guiding Li Zu to fragments needed to unlock Oakmont's hidden truth. After locating the first shard and tracing the second, Li Zu bid him farewell as “Reid No. 2”; the world reset at dawn, and Reed disappeared once his task was complete. 101

Appearance

Reed is a pale, mentally worn man who dresses in a gentlemanly trench coat. His exhausted appearance reflects the hallucinations and unexplained symptoms that brought him to Oakmont. 70

• Pale skin and heavily bloodshot eyes. 70
• A visible knife scar on his face. 70
• Usually wears a trench coat. 70
• His eyes emit a faint blue glow when using his investigative ability. 72 86

Personality

Reed is persistent, pragmatic, and deeply committed to solving Oakmont's mysteries despite his declining mental state. He does not soften his interrogations when intimidation is useful, as shown by his deliberately ambiguous promise to Lewis. 74

He is more grounded than Li Zu, frequently trying to keep investigations focused and prevent witnesses from being harmed. Nevertheless, Li Zu's combat power makes Reed bolder in dangerous situations, and the two gradually develop an uneasy working trust. 72 74 101

Reed is easily frustrated by Li Zu's tendency to disappear, withhold information, or derail investigations. He nevertheless recognizes Li Zu as a capable—if deeply abnormal—detective. 72 77 84

Abilities & Skills

Retrocognitive Investigation

Reed can use sufficient clues at a crime scene to witness past events directly, as though returning to the moment they occurred. The ability makes him an exceptionally effective detective. 72

• His eyes glow blue when the ability activates. 72 86 101
• Can reconstruct events surrounding physical evidence, including Albert's shooting and the theft of Oakmont's shards. 72 101
• Can receive apparent “guidance” toward locations or suspects. 86 101
• The visions appear connected to the hallucinations that torment him. 72
• Repeated use leaves him exhausted, unsteady, or briefly disoriented. 73 86

Detective Work

• Identified Lewis as Albert's likely killer after examining the body and finding his letter. 73
• Tracked Captain Sanders's disappearance through hospital witnesses. 77
• Investigated Robert Slogmorton's mirror case and reconstructed the actions of the grieving mother connected to it. 84 86
• Uses threats, witness testimony, and environmental clues to advance cases. 74 77

Relationships

• Li Zu / “Bruce Wayne” — Travelling companion and reluctant investigative partner. Reed distrusts Li Zu's motives and methods, but relies on his combat ability and clue-gathering instincts. 70 72 74 101
• Harley Quinn — Li Zu's companion, who knocks Reed unconscious before the dive to Devil's Reef. 80
• Robert Slogmorton — Employer connected to Reed's mirror investigation. 84 100
• Albert Slugg-Morton — Missing man whose murder Reed investigates upon arriving in Oakmont. 72 73
• Lewis — Fish-faced suspect who confesses to killing Albert after Reed's interrogation. 74

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arrival in Oakmont

Reed arrives aboard the Charon to investigate his unusual symptoms and meets Li Zu, then posing as Bruce Wayne. 70

Albert Slugg-Morton Investigation

Reed follows Albert's trail, uses a shell casing to replay the shooting, investigates the fish factory, finds Albert's body, and extracts Lewis's account of the killing. 72 73 74

Devil Reef and Sanders Leads

Reed investigates Captain Sanders's disappearance, realizes Li Zu has been pursuing related leads, confronts him at Devil's Reef, and is knocked unconscious by Harley Quinn. 77 80

Mirror Case

Working for Robert Slogmorton, Reed investigates a mirror associated with a grieving mother. Destroying the mirror unleashes an unseen, sound-based evil spirit that pursues him through Oakmont until Li Zu intervenes. 84 86 100

Tool Reid and the Cycle

Reed guides Li Zu toward Oakmont's stone fragments using his visions. Li Zu identifies him as “Reid No. 2” shortly before the timeline resets and Reed vanishes, revealing his role as a recurring instrument of the cycle. 101

Notable Quotes

“A strange detective!” 72

“Oakmont contains many things we can't understand, and I've discovered... this place is like a gathering of gods!” 101