Once they stepped off the train, they were in the station.
The weather in Winden City was beautiful. Sunshine filled the sky, and a gentle autumn breeze, cool as running water, brushed past White Line's ears and stirred a few strands of her hair. Since this was the terminus, the station was crowded, yet the air held none of the usual cigarette smoke or sweat. Instead, the sweet scent of popcorn drifted down from the exit stairs.
White Line followed Cripple toward the station passageway. As she walked, she looked up at the ticket gates above the stairs and the enormous clock hanging over them.
The brass hour and minute hands both pointed to twelve. The face behind them was engraved with the twin-ring emblem of the Winden Thermal Power Plant, giving the clock a stylish look. Maps of the entire station hung on either side of the ticket gates below.
Although White Line had become a fool, she still had the instincts of a veteran player. Almost without thinking, she observed her surroundings and gathered information.
Everything was connected. The opening scene of a Scenario was bound to contain clues to the coming crisis.
An Investigator's strength in the game increased with each round, but no matter what, the opening investigation was crucial. If the players found a direction—or even a clue—right away, they might be able to snuff out the crisis before it erupted.
But if they moved too slowly, they would inevitably run into Evil Spirits once the crisis broke out in full force, losing large amounts of Mental Health and other combat resources. Over time, that would become a vicious cycle: the more they fought, the weaker they got.
So if they wanted to grow quickly, they had to make a breakthrough during the opening investigation!