flora-reinhold-cosplay:

“Professor! How did you come across the gem?”

“How was the rest of your expedition?”

“What do you think this gem will reveal about the Azran civilization?”

Professor Hershel Layton, archaeologist and professor of the subject, was bombarded with question after question regarding the turquoise, egg-shaped stone tucked away in his trunk. He swam through the sea of reporters, occasionally answering a question here and there, and finally broke free of the crowd and hurried back to his office. 

~~~

Flora had been waiting for what seemed like a decade at the flat, absentmindedly staring at the telephone and hoping for a call. He should be back by now… she glowered. He said he’d be back today and would call me to his office…

As if her grumblings had been heard, Flora shot up like a rocket as the telephone sent out a loud ring. She raced over to the receiver, pressing it eagerly to her ear. 

“Papa!” she greeted cheerfully. “I’m so glad you’re back…”

She paused, listening for a moment. “Yes, yes; I’m alright. I took care of everything you asked me to.”

Another pause. Flora blinked in interest. “Really?” 

She nodded. 

“I’ll be right there!”

It hadn’t been nearly as hard to plant the listening device on the man’s coat as he thought it might. Not all that surprising, considering the sheer amount of people who’d surrounded him, actually. That had been a surprise in itself, seeing just how popular the university professor was in this area. Very few hadn’t known who he was talking about when he’d asked around for information on Hershel Layton, and most were more than happy to tell him all about the gentleman.

Ah, right. That was a word that had come up constantly. Gentleman. As well as dedicated, kind, brilliant, always in a top hat, and a puzzle lover.

Kaito liked the guy already.

However, personal opinions aside, he did still have to prepare for his job. He’d heard about the Azran a few times in his research and about some of what they’d managed to accomplish. So when a new artefact was claimed to have been discovered, and a crystal on top of that… Well, it had caught his interest. Might have been a bit rude to send a notice so soon after the man had returned from the expedition to even get the gem, but the magician couldn’t exactly stay in London to wait until too much more time had passed. The break from school wouldn’t last forever.

So, with a small sigh, he leaned up against the university wall and pressed the earpiece in so that he could hear what was being said inside.

Always best to know what you’re up against, after all.