prof | Let's Play Umineko, Episode 1 Scene 6: The Inheritance

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Ushiromiya Krauss

Kinzo's first child. As the oldest of the four siblings, he leads the family conference. However, the other siblings think he is trying to get all of the inheritance for himself, and this further strains the tensions between them.

He is a real estate investor and has put a lot of money into the development of a resort. However, his results have been harshly criticized.

It doesn't seem to be just the cousins who are talking about fanciful piles of mythical treasure!

Of course, none of them give the magical witch story any credit. However, the three younger siblings are quite adamant on the point that the gold, at least, is very real. Only Krauss denies it.

Here's the true shape of what's going on. The three younger siblings are joining forces to attack Krauss, based on the premise that he has the 20 billion yen already under his belt. It's either that or embezzlement.

If he doesn't want to get the lawyers involved, the trio have a proposition for Krauss. It goes like this:

1. Krauss admits he has 10 tons of secret gold.
2. The 20 billion yen value is to be split between the four siblings.
3. As compensation for his hard work, half of the gold money will go to Krauss. The other half will be divided four ways.

In other words, Krauss gets 12.5 billion yen, and Rudolf, Eva and Rosa each get 2.5 billion. Totally reasonable!

Aside from the tiny detail where the 20 billion yen Krauss is dividing may not exist.

In other words, he has to fork out 7.5 billion yen and get nothing back.

And he only has to pay out a tenth of it now!

In short, in an extremely roundabout way, the siblings are demanding that Krauss shell out 750 million yen immediately.

It's an impressive attack.

But Krauss is ready for it.

All three younger siblings immediately feel the balance of power shifting.

Krauss admits openly that he doesn't have any assets he can move right now. He will only sign the agreement if they remove the condition to pay out the 750 million right away.

Rather, he turns the situation on its head by countering: Why would they insist on the money up front?

Hideyoshi was unable to solidify his foundation when he became stock-listed, and some of his colleagues bought up large chunks of his company. He is in danger of being ejected as the manager of the company.

Rudolf's business has gotten involved in some legal trouble with a company in New York.

Thanks to the glory of capitalism, they plan to settle it with money. Money Rudolf doesn't have.

Rosa is no business mogul, but even so...

The situation has been reversed. Krauss knew from the start that the siblings are all desperate for money. The control of the meeting is back in his hands.

Krauss either can't or won't lend them a single yen. It's no clear which, but either way, there's nothing at all the siblings can do to get any money out of him right now without finding the gold.

If it even exists.

Meanwhile.

You don't scheme in this house without word of it getting back to Kinzo.

According to Kanon's intel, the siblings have moved on from the financial debate to the notion of solving Beatrice's epitaph riddle.

It's a race. Which will happen first: The discovery of the gold, or Kinzo's miracle?

If they find the gold first, Kinzo will be defeated, his treasure taken from him. If the miracle happens first, then the Golden Witch will be resurrected.

The power of magic comes from risk. The greater the risk, the stronger the magic.

This is why the epitaph is on display for all to see. This is why, should someone solve the riddle and find the gold, Kinzo would leave everything to them. The more people search for the gold, the more powerful the spell becomes.

Kanon departs. Once again, Kinzo's study is sealed. Nobody can open the door but the man himself.

No longer privy to Kinzo's company, Nanjo instead inspects the portrait.

Since he wasn't present for that exposition, he can't imagine what purpose the epitaph holds. Perhaps its goal was to bring the family together in their search, which is an encouraging thought.

According to Genji, anyone can become the heir, family or not, if they solve the riddle. In his younger days, Nanjo tried to solve it many times, to no avail.

The epitaph reads thusly:

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