I am the Entertainment Tycoon-Chapter 940: Gathering Clues III: The Hidden Pattern

After Ayia's team had finished presenting their findings, sharing the clues they had uncovered, it was now the turn of Kaori's team to report on their own investigation. Their search had focused on the first floor of the Flower Bunny Inn, a key area within the inn's layout.

"We began our exploration by meticulously searching the main hallways on the first floor," Kaori began her account, setting the scene for their team's efforts. "However, after dedicating approximately 20 minutes to this endeavor, we came up empty-handed. To be precise, we didn't discover any clues that seemed relevant to our ongoing mystery. It felt like a dead end in that particular area."

"That's right," Sam interjected, adding a crucial detail to Kaori's narrative. "It was at that point, realizing the hallways weren't yielding anything useful, that Kaori had a brilliant idea. She suggested we bypass the general areas and go directly to what we considered the most suspicious location on the first floor." Sam paused for a moment, a knowing smile playing on her lips, "We decided to head straight for Woodwright's quarters, specifically located in the North Wing of the inn."

"Oh, I simply must tell you all, guys," Sayuri exclaimed, her voice filled with admiration. "Woodwright clearly knew how to live, because his personal quarters were absolutely breathtaking!" She then gestured towards a collection of photographs, "Look here, I managed to capture some pictures of that incredible place to show you."

The assembled crowd, intrigued by Sayuri's enthusiastic description, quickly became curious. They naturally gravitated towards her, forming a close gathering to examine the images she had taken. As soon as they laid eyes on the stunning vistas of the surrounding mountains and the lush forest that could be seen from the inn, and the description of the private, luxurious rooms, they couldn't help but agree with Sayuri's assessment.

A murmur of impressed comments rippled through the crowd. "Wow! Was this entire section of the inn blessed with a view like that?" one person exclaimed. Another added, "And you're saying the doors of every single room were retractable? That's astonishing! It means that each room offered an incredibly expansive, unobstructed view of the majestic mountains!" A third observer, connecting the dots, pointed out, "So this must have been his Painting Studio! That's awesome! It strongly suggests that it was within this very studio that he created the beautiful piece of art we discovered in the forest!" The excitement was palpable. However, a note of disappointment then followed from someone in the crowd, "What a pity you guys didn't actually find any clues within this magnificent studio." These comments reflected the crowd's reactions as Kaori's team continued to explain their search and showcase the visually impressive, yet seemingly clue-barren, location.

"We initially thought we wouldn't discover anything particularly interesting. But then, we finally reached Woodwright's private room – the very place he used to rest and sleep when he lived here," Lauren chimed in, her voice filled with a touch of surprise.

The girls then elaborated on the unique layout of Woodwright's room, explaining that it was situated at the very tip of the triangle-shaped north wing. This meant his personal space was also a triangular area, cleverly designed to maximize its location. They went on to explain that two of the walls in his room were **retractable**, a remarkable feature for the time. Imagine, these walls could slide away, opening up the room to an incredible **180-degree panoramic view of the surrounding mountains**.

"The view from his room was truly something else, even more breathtaking than the other vantage points in the North Wing. We genuinely felt as though the mountains and the forest were suddenly much closer, almost within reach. But of course, we knew it was just a powerful sensation," Lauren commented, still recalling the vividness of the experience.

"However," Sam interjected, her voice brimming with renewed excitement, "Kaori had a feeling something was a bit unusual about it. So, after a thorough and detailed search, she uncovered something absolutely astonishing!"

"Yes, it was incredible!" Sayuri continued, her eyes shining with a dreamy, reminiscent glow. "She suddenly pulled us onto Woodwright's bed frame, and from that specific spot, we were able to witness something truly unforgettable."

The entire crowd, which had been listening intently, was now **bubbling with anticipation and curiosity**, eager to hear the conclusion of their story.

"It's an **optical illusion**!" Kaori declared, not wanting to keep them in suspense any longer. "When someone stands on Woodwright's bed frame, it becomes possible to perceive a breathtaking optical illusion! It's as if the mountain and the forest suddenly zoom in, creating the sensation that we've been transported right back into the heart of the mountains!"

A collective, audible gasp swept through the crowd as they absorbed this revelation. They simply couldn't fathom that Woodwright had intentionally engineered such a clever visual trick into his private sanctuary; the idea was, frankly, mind-boggling.

"We managed to capture some pictures," Sayuri mentioned, holding up a device. "But it's a shame that cameras can't quite replicate the full impact of the optical illusion. Look here," she instructed, "but please remember that the real, live optical illusion is tens of times more potent and awe-inspiring than what these images can convey."

As they crowded around her once again to examine the photographs, their initial shock only deepened.

"No way!" one person exclaimed, disbelief etched on their face.

"And you're telling me the actual experience is even *more* incredible than this? I absolutely *have* to see it with my own eyes!" another declared, a fervent desire in their voice.

"That's just awesome!"

"So incredibly pretty!"

"I really appreciate Woodwright's creative style."

"..." The crowd erupted into a cacophony of enthusiastic chatter and excited commentary, all centered around this remarkable and unexpected discovery that Kaori had so brilliantly unearthed.

Everyone in the group was taken aback by Kaori's remarkable discovery. However, one person among them was experiencing an even greater surge of astonishment.

It was Grandma Iko!

As she had declared earlier, she possessed an intimate knowledge of the inn, as if she knew every nook and cranny. Yet, even with her extensive familiarity, she had never in her wildest dreams conceived of a hidden optical illusion residing within Woodwright's private quarters.

After a moment of thoughtful reflection, the reason behind her family's century-long oversight became clear. The Hana Family had always held a profound reverence for their ancestor's mentor, Woodwright. This deep respect meant that few, if any, ever dared to venture into his personal chambers. The only individuals who regularly entered were the weekly cleaning staff. However, their duties were strictly limited to maintaining the cleanliness of the rooms. They meticulously cleaned surfaces and tidied belongings but never explored the possibility of concealed mechanisms or, crucially, operated the retractable walls. To reveal the optical illusion, these very walls needed to be opened. Thus, through a seemingly endless chain of coincidences and unexamined assumptions, the Hana Family had, for a hundred years, remained oblivious to this ingenious hidden feature.

"But that wasn't the only revelation we unearthed, everyone," Kaori announced suddenly, her voice brimming with excitement.

A ripple of curiosity went through the group. "There's more?" someone inquired, their voice tinged with disbelief and anticipation.

"Indeed!" Kaori confirmed with a radiant smile. "The ceiling of Woodwright's room is adorned with a collection of ornaments that appear utterly random at first glance. However, once someone positions themselves on the bed frame, these seemingly disparate objects magically align to coalesce into a single, discernible picture."

Without delay, an image was projected for all to see.

It depicted a rabbit, its gaze fixed upwards towards the heavens. The rabbit was shown in the act of reaching out, attempting to lasso a chest suspended in the sky. This chest was slightly ajar, and a tantalizing glimpse revealed a cascade of delicate flower petals spilling from within.