Cosmic Redemption: The Trials of Bero

There are two types of private investigators. The ones who do it for the personal satisfaction, and the ones who can't find work anywhere else.

Bero was the latter. And like any other PI, he had to make a living.

But that didn't make him any less of a detective. No sir. He knew how to read people, was good at reading clues and also how to beat a lie detector. Those were the basics of being a detective. So why did he end up as one in this time period? Well, it wasn't his choice, really. One moment, he was doing some business in another galaxy, the next moment he was on Earth in 478 BC with no clue as to what happened or why. He had assumed it had something to do with his ex-girlfriend whom he caught cheating once too often with her "client". But that would have been nothing more than his own paranoia talking. It wasn't like she could have gotten him there herself. Even if she could have, why would she want to? Bero was an asshole, but an invaluable asset for any business venture if you ask him himself.

So here he was on Earth, without any kind of equipment whatsoever. What had seemed like a great idea at the time - going off-planet by himself - now seemed quite stupid after having seen how primitive all these humans were.

He tried to get back home as soon as possible, but all technology had disappeared from human society 5 centuries ago and so he couldn't leave anymore. He had been forced to adapt and form a new identity for himself and live among them out of necessity; otherwise he would be stuck in this time forever until someone accidentally invented a time machine or something. And even though they hadn't invented a way to travel through space yet, they still got quite far technologically speaking: Writing had evolved into books which evolved into paper and pens which evolved into typewriters which evolved into computers which evolved into phones which evolved into... iPhones? Whatever they called it, that thing was called and Bero made sure he got his hands on one as soon as possible after discovering them back in 2014 BCE (Before Common Era). As soon as he could afford it, that is; while being an invaluable asset for many companies during his stay on Earth so far, most of them had gone bankrupt due to their inability to pay him correctly so he resorted using the things he knew best: Crime and tricks. In other words: He became a private investigator just like any other guy who couldn't find work anywhere else. Guess what? They lived in 478 BC! No decent company around here! So yeah... there you go: An ex-con from another galaxy turned detective on the most primitive planet imaginable with the help of an iPhone5s!

Nowadays Bero was good at what he did: Being an investigator meant that people came to him with their problems and he helped them solve them for money and fame - or at least try anyway! - but today's case seemed especially interesting... even for him! A young man wanted him to prove that his brother hadn't killed their father years ago! Strange case indeed! This could be enough publicity for him to finally get away from being called "Bero" constantly all the time instead of his profession (which sounded much cooler). Maybe then this girl who obviously hated him would finally take back her insult which she had screamed at him when they first met 6 years ago: "You're not even half the man your name implies!" She might want him after all then! Or maybe people would say "Hey you know that guy? Yeah I've heard of him..." Or maybe they'd say "I don't know where you heard about Bero but it would be best if you looked somewhere else because that guy doesn't exist." Oh well... You win some cases, you lose some cases... After all these years working as a private eye around here it has become pretty obvious that this is mostly true everywhere on Earth anyway....

Bero sat in his dimly lit office, the stale air heavy with anticipation. The young man who had come seeking his help had left him with little information, only a name and a desperate plea for justice. Guilt or innocence mattered little to Bero; what intrigued him was the challenge of unraveling the truth, like a delicate thread in a tightly woven tapestry.

He glanced at the crude drawing of a family that the young man had brought with him. A grieving son seeking solace and closure. Bero frowned, deep in thought. It was an intriguing case indeed. He could almost taste the bitter sweetness of success, the recognition he so desperately craved.

Driven by an insatiable curiosity, Bero ventured into the heart of the matter. Word of his investigation spread like wildfire through the small village where the crime had taken place. Whispers of hope and trepidation floated in the air, as if the very secrets of the past were being exhumed. The villagers watched from the shadows, their eyes wary and suspicious.

Bero immersed himself in the case, combing through the fragmented memories of those who had known the accused and the victim. His iPhone5s became his trusted companion, capturing every snippet of information, every lead that presented itself. He sought not only the truth but the nuances of humanity that laid concealed beneath the surface of the case.

Days turned to weeks, and with each passing moment, the puzzle pieces began to interlock. The young man's brother had indeed been accused of killing their father years ago, but there was a lingering doubt in Bero's gut. The evidence was circumstantial, the alibis vague and riddled with inconsistencies. Bero knew he needed more to prove or disprove the brother's guilt.

Delving into the archives of the village, Bero unearthed a hidden record of the trial that had transpired so long ago. Dusty volumes and ancient scripts filled his vision as he meticulously dissected every word, every testimony. There, hidden within the inked words of the past, he discovered a glimmer of hope.

With newfound determination, Bero confronted the key witnesses once again. Their hazy recollections were prodded and probed, their lies no longer easily disguised. One by one, the strands of deceit were spun into a tight web that ensnared those who had chosen to betray the truth.

In a climactic showdown, Bero gathered the villagers in the town square, his voice resonating through the crowd. He presented his findings, laying bare the intricate web of lies that had led to the brother's wrongful conviction. Gasps and murmurs erupted like a chorus of disbelief, the weight of their complicity resting heavily upon their shoulders.

At last, with justice hanging in the balance, the true killer revealed themselves. It was not the accused brother, but a figure that had long been shrouded in shadows. The villain's confession sent shockwaves through the onlookers, casting doubt upon established notions of trust and betrayal.

Bero's triumph reverberated beyond the boundaries of the small village, spreading far and wide like ripples in a pond. He had finally achieved the recognition he had yearned for, no longer a mere enigma in an unfamiliar land. His name carried weight, whispered with a mix of respect and awe. He had accomplished what others deemed impossible.

But even as accolades and praise rained down upon him, Bero's thoughts lingered on the serpentine path that had led him to this point. He had begun this journey seeking fulfillment and personal gain, but along the way, he had discovered the true essence of his profession. It was not just about solving mysteries or uncovering the truth; it was about wielding his abilities to expose the complexities of human nature and the fragile bonds that both unite and divide us.

And with his newfound understanding, Bero resolved to continue down this path, helping those who could not find their own way. With each case he took on, he dove deeper into the intricacies of the human psyche, unearthing the hidden truths that lay buried beneath layers of deception. For in the end, it was not the destination that mattered, but the journey itself, the journey that transformed Bero from a lost soul from another galaxy into a master detective, weaving tales of redemption and unmasking the secrets that lay dormant in the hearts of humanity.