[Vote] Fatal Pond No.3 - Detective Game

🐟 Be sure to always watch your back, remember that 🐟

📕Story Background

In recent years, many people have sought peace of mind by escaping the bustle of the city, often spending weekends fishing in quiet suburban ponds. A young entrepreneur saw this business opportunity and built several fish ponds on a piece of land he bought outside the city.

On Sunday morning at 8 a.m., one of the staff members came running, out of breath, to Inspector Jack.

“Something terrible has happened—an old man was beaten to death by a middle-aged man!”

Jack immediately asked, “Where?”

“At Pond No. 3, facing east,” the staff member replied.

They rushed to the scene and found the old man’s body lying on the ground, blood streaming from his head. Next to him stood a middle-aged man, holding a military shovel stained with blood.

The man shouted to the gathering crowd:

“He and I were old business partners, but we had a huge falling out recently. Earlier this week, he called me and suggested we go fishing. I thought he wanted to reconcile, so I agreed. But just now, while I was watching my fishing float, I suddenly saw his reflection in the water—he was about to strike me with this shovel! I dodged, grabbed the shovel, and struck back. I didn’t mean to kill him—it was self-defense, pure self-defense!”

Inspector Jack listened carefully, then sneered:

“You think your clever story will fool us? This wasn’t self-defense—it was premeditated murder.”

(This story is absolutely fictional. Any inconsistencies with common sense work for the plot)

🔍Known Clues

1. Well, fishing at different times of the day sure brings different experience.
2. Be sure to always watch your back.

🕵️‍Questions and Discussions for YOU

1. WHY did Inspector Jack say it was murder? WHAT was the most crucial clue?
2. Do you like fishing, any favorite spots or tricks to share with us? (Open-ended)

🎉Participation Rewards

The FIRST user to successfully deduce the identity of the "culprit" and their motive in the comment, will receive a reward of 2,000 GT points! Other participants will earn 200-500 GT points based on the completeness of their submissions. 💰

📅Submission Deadline

September 26, 2025

Reminder: This is the submission deadline if you want to claim the reward with your vote, but after this date the vote will still remain open for a period of time, so please feel free to participate at any time if you want to test your skills, detectives!

----- Previous answer (Charlotte Harbor Smuggling) -------

Correct Answer: Boats rocked too little compared to others

Normally, after unloading their cargo, fishing boats—lightened of weight—would sway noticeably on the waves under the sea breeze. In contrast, heavily loaded ships, because of their weight, float more steadily and barely rock at all.

During inspections of other vessels, the wind caused such strong rocking that several officers even became seasick. Yet these fishing boats, despite having unloaded all their catch, did not sway like the others.

Sheriff Harris didn’t notice this detail while onboard, but as he stepped off, it suddenly struck him: the boats were far too stable to be empty. This aroused his suspicion. When the officers pried open the bottom planks of the boats, the truth was revealed—a hidden cache of weapons and ammunition concealed below deck.

Link to the post: https://forum.gtarcade.com/topic/246464

We will be rewarding 200 GT points to all players who voted correctly, and additional points to some outstanding responses.

Congratulations and enjoy your juicy GT points reward!!!