[Vote] Midsummer Thunderstorm - Detective Game (2-week edition)

💡 Attention - A Reminder of Extended Event Duration💡

Due to the upcoming public holiday, the duration of this detective game will be extended to two weeks. With a story that is a bit more complicated this time.

The new submission deadline is October 10, 2025 (Friday after next).

To make up for the extended duration, rewards will be doubled accordingly! Participants in the voting will receive 2x vote points, and those who submit answers with a thoughtful deduction process will earn 2x bonus points as well.

The extension only applies to this single event, and after this we'll back to our normal weekly routine :>

👇Thank you for your understanding and support! Let's then dive into the game. Shall we 👇

🌳 Midsummer, thunderstorm coming, a man found deceased...🌳

📕Story Background

On a scorching midsummer afternoon, Sheriff Jim sat under a large tree trying to escape the heat. Suddenly, dark clouds gathered, thunder rolled, and soon a heavy downpour drenched the town. Jim rushed back to his office with his chair, but before he could even settle down, the phone rang—there had been a murder.

When Jim arrived at the scene, the rain had stopped and a large crowd had gathered. Pushing through the people, he saw a man lying on his back, under a pretty tree, lifeless. The victim’s chest had been stabbed multiple times, must have suffered from severe bleeding before his death. The storm had now completely soaked the body, washing away the blood.

The victim was identified as Mr. White, the owner of the town’s grocery store. After questioning those connected to him, Jim quickly narrowed the suspects down to three:

• Lena (the victim’s wife): She claimed she had been shopping for clothes with her friend, Miss Lucy, throughout the rain.
• Hoff (the store clerk): He said he had been organizing stock in the warehouse, and his colleague Franz could vouch for him.
• Chris (the neighbor): He insisted he had been repairing his leaky roof during the storm, with his wife as witness.

Everyone had an alibi. The case seemed to stall. But back in his office, Jim lit a cigarette and stared outside. His eyes fell on the mimosa tree in the courtyard, and suddenly, the truth struck him. He dashed back to the crime scene and found something unusual, which then became a crucial clue for identifying the culprit.

After , Jim confronted one of the three major suspects:

“You are the murderer!”

But what led Jim to this conclusion? Who was the murderer then?

This conclusion may require a series of deductions to uncover the truth.

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

🔍Known Clues

1. Right time, right moment, right things happen.
2. Nature is very magical, and so is the weather, and so are the plants.

🕵️‍Questions and Discussions for YOU

1. WHO was the murderer? WHAT led Sheriff Jim to this conclusion? Clues at the scene, what were they?
2. Ever experienced the weather of rainstorm/thunderstorm? What do you usually do during this kind of weather? Kindly 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

October 10, 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 (Fatal Pond No.3) -------

Correct Answer: He lied about reflection

In the morning, the sun rises in the east. Since the incident occurred at 8 a.m. and the fishing spot was facing east, the shadows would have been cast behind the people, not in front of them. Therefore, it would have been impossible for the suspect to see the victim’s reflection in the water.

Link to the post: https://forum.gtarcade.com/topic/247192

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!!!