Roboku
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Case 1: who took the Ancient Treatise?
The alarm at the library went off for no apparent reason for the third time this month, so almost no one paid attention. That was a mistake: this time the Ancient Treatise, kept in the Reading Room, really was missing. Help the police unmask the thief, who clearly knew exactly when no one checks the cameras.
The board
- 1Restrooms
- 2Reception Area
- 3Lobby
- 4Vault
- 5Storage Room
- 6Reading Room
- 7Archive
- 8Children's Room
- Plant: no character can stand on its cell, but the stolen item can be there.
- Shelf: no character can stand on its cell, but the stolen item can be there.
- Table: nothing can be on its cell.
- Window: the blue line on a wall.
Suspects and clues
- DDiego
He's in the Vault. - MMatthew
He's in row 3. - NNadia
She's 2 columns away from the Restrooms. - XXiomara
She's 2 rows away from the Reading Room. - IInes
She's in column D. - AAncient Treatise (stolen item)
It's next to a window.
Remember the rules: no two suspects (nor the item) ever share a row or a column, each character is in a different room, and the thief is the only one sharing a room with the stolen item. Unsure? Read how to play and the clue types.
Solution
Try it yourself first: pen and paper are enough. When you want to check, open the reasoned solution.
Show the step-by-step solution
- Diego's clue: He's in the Vault. 4 cells remain possible: A1, B1, C1 and D1.
- Matthew's clue: He's in row 3. 3 cells remain possible: C3, E3 and F3.
- Nadia's clue: She's 2 columns away from the Restrooms. 2 cells remain possible: E4 and E5.
- Xiomara's clue: She's 2 rows away from the Reading Room. It leaves a single cell: B4.
- Ines's clue: She's in column D. 4 cells remain possible: D1, D2, D4 and D5.
- The stolen item's clue: It's next to a window. 5 cells remain possible: B1, D1, A2, B4 and F6.
- Xiomara can only be on B4. No one else can be in row 4 or column B, and no other character can be in the Restrooms.
- E4 has already been ruled out, so Nadia can only be on E5. No one else can be in row 5 or column E, and no other character can be in the Reception Area.
- There are as many suspects (counting the item) as rows, so each row holds exactly one. Only the Ancient Treatise can still reach row 6, so that is where it must be.
- B1, D1, A2 and B4 have already been ruled out, so the Ancient Treatise can only be on F6. No one else can be in row 6 or column F.
- E3 and F3 have already been ruled out, so Matthew can only be on C3. No one else can be in row 3 or column C, and no other character can be in the Lobby.
- There are as many suspects (counting the item) as rows, so each row holds exactly one. Only Ines can still reach row 2, so that is where she must be.
- D1, D4 and D5 have already been ruled out, so Ines can only be on D2. No one else can be in row 2 or column D, and no other character can be in the Children's Room.
- B1, C1 and D1 have already been ruled out, so Diego can only be on A1.
Conclusion: Nadia is the only person sharing the Reception Area with the Ancient Treatise, which is on F6. She is the thief.