Maddie: Well, <Player's Name>, here we are in Ivory Hill! Are you ready for the gleaming marble and political machinations?
The Flying Squad goes to Ivory Hill, the political heart of Concordia and where all politicians make their moves, to engage the Rochester family and stop their illicit activities in the city once and for all. Knowing that Senator Malcolm Rochester will be attending a luncheon at the city hall, Maddie and the player go to the bouquet room to see what they can learn about him, only to find the poisoned body of Lissa Avery, Malcolm's assistant, at the luncheon.
Tropes:
- Big Damn Heroes: During Chapter 3, Dick manages to save Rose's pet rat from an imminent death after accidentally ingesting the poisoned wine that killed the victim.
- The Bus Came Back: Due to Lawson becoming Deputy Mayor, Satoshi Takakura is forced to return to become judge once again after officially retiring in Case 24.
- Call-Back: Veronica Rochester and Mayor Cornelius Castletown reappear as suspects, while Archie Rochester reappears during the Additional Investigation.
- Continuity Nod: Archie obtained his law degree during his stay at Switzerland, which is where he was sent after being exposed as Mr. Alastor.
- Corrupt Politician: What Gertrude thinks of the politicians who inhabit Ivory Hill.Gertrude: Ivory Hill is full of political schemers... She invited me along to the awards luncheon today and I saw them, all sharks looking for blood!
- Corrupt the Cutie: Samson recalls how Lissa started as a nice girl when she began working as Malcolm's assistant, but spending time among other ambitious politicians eventually made her a bitter and egoistical person who also wanted to become a big name in Concordia.
- Deceptive Disciple: Veronica had this opinion regarding Lissa, believing that she was just using her position as Malcolm's assistant to start a political career against him. She event sent her a cake telling her to choke for this, as seen in the page's image.
- Every Man Has His Price: When you speak with Archie during the Additional Investigation, he makes it clear that the Rochesters are intending to buy Deputy Mayor Lawson like they did with Sandra Hwang before her death.
- Find the Cure!: Ratsputin, Rose's pet rat, accidentally ingests some of the wine that killed the victim, and almost dies until Dick treats it with an antidote.
- Foreshadowing:
- Archie's "Not So Different" Remark to Lawson regarding him and the Rochesters sadly becomes true when Lawson decides to abolish free press just like the Rochesters intended to do in Case 54.
- When Diego analyses Archie's law degree and recalls his days as a thief in Switzerland, Lawson expresses his doubts about Diego being truly reformed, claiming that "once a criminal, always a criminal". Said concerns eventually leads to Lawson firing Diego from the Flying Squad after he becomes the new mayor in Case 55.
- Frame-Up: During her arrest, Gertrude admits that she poisoned Lissa at the luncheon so the Squad would suspect from the politicians present at the event.
- Gold Digger: During her arrest, Gertrude reveals that she only married Lissa's father for his money and nothing else, and got extremely infuriated when she discovered he left all of his fortune to his daughter instead of her, which is why she killed Lissa.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Apparently, Lissa was jealous of Samson's good business relationship with Senator Malcolm and, fearing that he might stole her position as his favorite, blocked his calls to Malcolm's office, much to Samson's chagrin.
- Information Wants to Be Free: During the Additional Investigation, you discover that the Rochesters have proposed a bill to completely abolish free press and have a single newspaper in Concordia run by them, putting the Squad on a race to stop them before said bill can be passed.
- Instant Expert: Despite being sent to Switzerland for less than a year, Archie managed to acquire a legitimate law degree through an accelerated course thanks to his intelligence.
- Keeping the Enemy Close: During the Additional Investigation, Lawson informs you that the Rochesters convinced Mayor Castletown of appointing Archie as his assistant, as they apparently want to keep a close eye on him by having Archie act as a spy. Needless to say, Lawson isn't pleased by this.
- Like Father, Like Son: Before talking to Malcolm, Maddie has these suspicions regarding him and his son Archie, which are proven to be true when he's shown to be cunning and manipulative just like him.Maddie: If the father is as charming as the son, he's sure to be a piece of work!
- Lost Pet Grievance: Barely Subverted when Dick manages to save Ratsputing from almost dying, relieving Rose.
- Mandatory Unretirement: Thanks to Lawson becoming the new Deputy Mayor, Takakura has been forced to come back from his retirement to functions as the city judge once again.
- Mayor Pain: As of this case, Mayor Castletown has left in clear that he's getting tired of the Flying Squad only delivering bad news to him while also making him a suspect on their investigations, which is why he refuses to listen to the Squad's complains about Senator Malcolm Rochester proposing a bill to abolish free press and its consequences, disregarding their worries and going to a fishing trip instead.
- Medal of Dishonor: Lissa received an award from Mayor Castletown commemorating her as "Best Secretary in Concordia", which Lissa hated as she wanted a "Outstanding Concordian of the Year" award instead.
- "Not So Different" Remark: Archie tells Deputy Mayor Lawson this as a taunt, telling him that he and the Rochesters aren't that different from each other and even insinuating that he can be bought like Sandra Hwang.
- Offing the Offspring: Subverted. Lissa was killed by Gertrude, who claimed to be her mother when you first met her, but was later discovered to be her stepmother instead.
- Phony Degree: Subverted. At first, Lawson believes that Archie's law degree is a sham created so he can work as his assistant, but a quick revision by Diego reveals that is indeed real, much to Lawson's dismay.
- Propaganda Machine: The Rochesters are planning to build one of these in Concordia, abolishing free press and running a single newspaper issued by them that, with no doubt, will only say positive things about the family.
- Reformed, but Rejected: Despite being a member of the Flying Squad for three entire districts now, Lawson expresses his doubts about Diego being truly reformed yet, and is shown to be quite wary of him.
- Revealing Cover Up: Gertrude is introduced as a suspect when she makes a ruckus at a park crying for her daughter and even tells you Lissa always spent time there, all in an effort to perform a Wounded Gazelle Gambit. Too bad all of this leads to you marking her as a suspect and finding enough clues to mark her as the killer.
- I Shall Taunt You: Archie taunts Deputy Mayor Lawson for thinking that his diploma was a Phony Degree, remarking how Lawson hates all Rochesters when in fact they're not so different from each other.
- Shout-Out:
- The case's title comes from The Manchurian Candidate.
- Samson Drake resembles Eddie Murphy.
- In the Senator's House scene, there is a bust of Julius Caesar.
- In the Park Bench scene, the emblem of Corona appears.
- Marmion is quoted.
- Strawman News Media: The Flying Squad and Katherine rightfully believe that if the Rochesters manage to pass the bill to abolish free press and run a single newspaper issued by them, then it will be this, full of propaganda, compliments towards the family, and smearing their opponents.
- Tampering with Food and Drink: The victim was killed by having her wine poisoned with cyanide.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Maddie scolds Viola for allowing Horatio to enter the Flying Squad's airship and inspect her lab, remarking how they're investigating the Rochesters.
- Wicked Stepmother: Lissa was killed by Gertrude, her stepmother, because she wanted the fortune her father had inherited to her.
