Kill The Shadow Walkthrough: Chapters 1 & 2 — Factory & Pig Cage City (Full Guide)

The game opens outside the station. This first sequence teaches the core loop: talk, search, read, then act.

1. 01
   Enter the police station and talk to Officer May at the front desk — she tells you about a letter and about Uncle Smith being out on a case
2. 02
   Head into the lounge and find Uncle Smith watching TV in the dark; switch on the lights and he disappears
3. 03
   Try the Mailroom door on the left — it is locked for now
4. 04
   Return to May and she asks you to check Officer Smith's desk: take the Key from a drawer, plus a Liquor Token and a collectable Document under the desk
5. 05
   Unlock the Mailroom and inspect the clipboard on the desk to find the Mysterious Letter
6. 06
   May calls you back — speak with Officer Smith and open the letter: it is from Lynn DaHandt, asking you to go to the Factory and look for a band called The Gentle Rogues
7. 07
   The station suddenly catches fire — grab the front-door Key from the Mailroom desk, pick up the Police Dispatch Record in the lounge, and leave through the front door

You wake up near the Factory. The chapter's real investigation begins on the streets below.

1. 01
   Wake up on an overpass and look down — a commotion: a dog named Teddy has died
2. 02
   Captain Theo, the Factory supervisor, tells you to fetch Axel Flint and join the meeting
3. 03
   Talk to the Old Machinist — trade your Relief Meal for the book Fundamentals for the Machinist (waiting at the Pawnshop)
4. 04
   Drop to the streets and head right; under the overpass you find Axel Flint arguing with Griff Flint
5. 05
   Tell Axel that Captain Theo is looking for him
6. 06
   A skill check comes up — smack Axel or talk him down; each choice changes how the scene plays out
7. 07
   Griff Flint offers to share a drink with you, and you gain 2 Clues for your Deduction

The Factory case is built on the testimony around Teddy's death. Talk before you act.

1. 01
   Talk to everyone at the scene before deciding anything
2. 02
   Let Captain Theo lay out the meeting and what he expects from you
3. 03
   Ask witnesses what they actually saw — and what they only assumed
4. 04
   Note who has a history with Teddy or a reason to hide something
5. 05
   Use rewind to ask the same person different questions and compare answers

The testimonies do not add up. Find where.

• Cross-reference what each witness said about the same moment

• Look for the contradiction — the bread and butter of every KTS case

• Check the physical scene: positions, the scribblings on the screen, anything out of place

• The clue chain points to who was really responsible, not who everyone blames

Present what you found and choose how to act on it.

1. 01
   Bring your conclusion back to Captain Theo
2. 02
   Decide between justice and protection for the person responsible
3. 03
   The choice shapes your standing with the Factory workers and moves the corruption meter
4. 04
   Save before committing — the consequences carry into later chapters

A personal thread opens next to the main case.

1. 01
   Rafe's mom asks for your help with a private matter
2. 02
   An Anti-Blockade Protest is brewing in the streets — talk to the people involved
3. 03
   Decide how you engage: support the protest, calm it down, or step aside
4. 04
   Watch how your choice reflects on Rafe and the family secret at the center of this arc

Rafe is ready to escalate. How you cool him down decides what you learn.

• Reason with him directly — show him what you know about his father

• Involve Captain Theo to keep the situation from boiling over

• Or use force, if you are willing to pay the relationship cost

• Each path changes Rafe's arc and what the Factory reveals about the past

The Shadow's reconstruction shines on the people of the Factory too.

• Use reconstruction on objects tied to Theo to see what happened, not what is claimed

• Revisit earlier scenes after the meeting — new details appear once you know more

• Theo's memories connect the Factory incident to the larger mystery of Dark Tide City

Before you move to the South, close every open thread.

1. 01
   Return to areas you visited early once you have new information — dialogue can change
2. 02
   Talk to each named character one final time
3. 03
   Collect any documents you skipped the first time through
4. 04
   Save before the chapter-end decision; the choice ripples into the next chapter

Chapter 2 opens in the Pig Cage Walled City. The Old City District has been abandoned, so everyone now lives around the Wharf.

1. 01
   Arrive at the busy Wharf of the Pig Cage Walled City — the Old City District is abandoned and everyone lives here now
2. 02
   Explore the western side of the Wharf first; eavesdrop on people at the tables for flavor text and local lore
3. 03
   Watch the Fisherman's Wharf Owner cook a meal for a customer — let the event play out, then talk to him
4. 04
   Check the store with the vending machines past the Owner for consumables

Two siblings are waiting for someone shady, and their quest line unlocks a lot of the Wharf.

1. 01
   Cross the wooden bridge west of the shop and meet siblings Max and Kiki, who are waiting for a man in a Black Trenchcoat — agree to help them
2. 02
   Continue over the bridge and eavesdrop: some people were stopped by the Reed Mansion butler despite holding Fair Tickets
3. 03
   A guard blocks the stairs up to the Reed Mansion for now — come back later
4. 04
   Head back and ask the man fishing at the Wharf about the man in the Black Trenchcoat; he says the kids were late but someone was indeed waiting — gain a Shadow Shard
5. 05
   Ask the mahjong players: the man said he would try his luck at the Old County Office; they also recall a fight between the siblings and the Wharf Owner
6. 06
   Ask the Wharf Owner about the kids — he says they loitered; suggest he checks his pocket and he finds his pack of cigarettes missing
7. 07
   Inside the store, investigate near the vending machine: the poster can be moved, revealing a peephole in the wall
8. 08
   Talk to the Shadow — you conclude Max and Kiki were peeping; you now have enough Shards to rewind the event
9. 09
   Ask the siblings why they were following the man; they confess he seemed shady and they wanted back what was theirs; Max only took the cigarettes as revenge on the Owner, so you can trust them — the questline pauses here for now

A small errand that sets up the Priestess thread.

1. 01
   Return to your arrival point and check the northern area; find a child scolding another child named Dudly, saying he has a gift for Celestia
2. 02
   Ask about the Priestess to learn more about Celestia
3. 03
   Talk to Junior afterward — he convinces you to deliver the Class Notes to the Priestess

The man you came north to find turns out to be right on the Wharf.

1. 01
   Head up the bridge past Junior's shop and find an old man fishing at the Wharf; he gives you a Fishing Rod — you can fish right away if you want
2. 02
   Past the old man, a shirtless man (Chiffon) asks you to distract Junior so he can steal fruit; refusing improves your relationship with him
3. 03
   The old man is Uncle Smith — the reunion is heartfelt, and over drinks he explains the city is volatile because of Master Reed's disappearance
4. 04
   You get the option to rewind into a flashback — take it

Ten years back, as a rookie, you first met Officer Smith on a homicide case.

1. 01
   Rewind 10 years: you are a rookie cop sent to help with the Reed Village homicide case
2. 02
   Talk to Officer Smith, then enter the temple and inspect the victim's body — the victim did not resist
3. 03
   Inspect the broken table nearby: a fight broke out after the victim died
4. 04
   Check the two rooms on each side of the idol to collect all four Shadow Shards
5. 05
   Play the Reed Village Speculation, then speak with Officer Smith — Lucas senses something is off and gets worked up
6. 06
   Back in the present, finish the dialogue with Uncle Smith; he heads for Reed Mansion but slips off the Wharf into the water
7. 07
   A lady in a black dress helps him up — this is Mrs. Reed, wife of the late Master Reed; run through the introductions
8. 08
   After they leave, Chiffon talks to you; tell him about Officer Smith to improve your relationship and start the Priestess's Curse storyline

The mansion's butler is the first wall between you and the investigation.

1. 01
   Take the path left past the store; the Butler of Reed stops you even if you succeed the Skill Check
2. 02
   Chiffon explains the easy way in: carry a fish and present it as an offering
3. 03
   Buy a Sacrificial Fish from the Fisherman's Wharf Owner for 25 Money — earn it through part-time jobs or by searching trashcans
4. 04
   Return to the butler; Chiffon is making a scene inside the mansion and then moves to the Opera Theater — side with Chiffon when asked
5. 05
   Tell the butler you have come for Tribute; he lets you in but asks you to visit the Temple first

A temple errand that doubles as your entrance ticket.

1. 01
   Go left to the front of the Temple; inspect a note on the desk and talk to the two people smoking nearby — they tell you to knock harder
2. 02
   Bang on the Door to enter and talk to the Priestess at the Altar; place down the fish
3. 03
   She asks you to move the offerings on the table; interact with every object to trigger a cutscene
4. 04
   Check on the Priestess after the cutscene and mention the Class Notes
5. 05
   She asks you to bring Junior to the Temple; agree and exit — the stairway near the temple is now usable
6. 06
   Return to Junior's Boat, speak with him, escort him back to the Temple, and make a Pinky Promise to complete the questline
7. 07
   Outside, pass the Skill Check to gain the Secret Hideout Clue; the butler arrives accusing Junior of theft — pay him to end the trouble

The theater holds the mansion's secrets — and a hidden compartment.

1. 01
   Head to the Opera Theater; speak to the Old Man Chiffon bumped into, then inspect the statue next to him — wipe off the dust if you have the brawn
2. 02
   Inside, Chiffon is causing a scene as usual; he asks you to deliver a Fruit Basket to Mr. Collins, the restaurant owner on the second floor
3. 03
   Take the stairs to the river and inspect the boat; move the fish away to find a secret compartment with Money and a Map — new Clue: The Secret Compartment
4. 04
   A homeless person sits under the bridge nearby, but has no dialogue options yet
5. 05
   Return to where you left the butler and take the elevator to the second floor; find Officer Smith speaking with Mrs. Reed
6. 06
   Officer Smith shows you Master Reed's Suicide Note and explains the region's power dynamic; deliver the Fruit Basket without mentioning Chiffon's name

Kiki and Max's man turns out to be closer than expected.

1. 01
   On the upper floor, take the bridge opposite the elevator west and follow the path past the Clinic
2. 02
   At the end, a couple argues about rings near the Jewellery Store — they mention a homeless man who found a Gold Ring in a fish's belly
3. 03
   Take the elevator down; the man in the trench coat stands right next to it — choose Sounds Familiar
4. 04
   Before returning to the siblings, watch the event at the door: Lily arguing with Rochester's Butler
5. 05
   Return to Kiki and Max and agree to take them to the man; watch what happens from a distance, then talk to Kiki on the railing near the Jewellery Store
6. 06
   Max opens the Jewellery Store door

The invoice inside ties Mrs. Reed to the day Master Reed vanished.

1. 01
   Inspect the Jewellery Display on the right, then open the front cabinet and read the Invoice inside — it shows Mrs. Reed making a large purchase on the day Master Reed disappeared
2. 02
   Inspect the case on the other side of the store to find a second Shadow Shard, then rewind and play back the event
3. 03
   When you exit the event, footsteps outside send Max and Kiki running
4. 04
   Talk to the store owner and say you chased the thieves away

A rescue that earns you a favor — and a bigger favor down the line.

1. 01
   Go down the stairs and follow the path; find Max on the floor — he has been caught; save him and he gives you a package
2. 02
   Find Kiki near where you shared a drink with Uncle Smith
3. 03
   She offers to take you to Shipwreck Wharf if you can find three Boat Tickets
4. 04
   Both siblings have roles to play later; for now, head back to Mrs. Reed

Her testimony has a loophole — find it with rewind.

1. 01
   Find Mrs. Reed on the mansion balcony overlooking the Opera Theater and talk to her
2. 02
   She asks which Datura is your favorite — choose Red
3. 03
   She explains the events of the day Master Reed disappeared; you can rewind the incident based on her testimony
4. 04
   Ask her to repeat the incident; when she reaches the part about the Opera Stage, choose Wait
5. 05
   Lucas finds a loophole and you get a new clue; let the conversation run its course

Two conversations that build the Priestess's Curse thread.

• Talk to the Butler of Reed and ask about the curse — he asks for a favor in exchange

• Agree to hear him out: he wants you to check Mrs. Reed's house for signs she was unfaithful

• Talk to Chiffon in the Opera Theater about the curse; he suspects Master Reed was illiterate

• The questline pauses here for now

A locked door and a pickpocket partner.

1. 01
   Take the stairs at the back to reach Mrs. Reed's house; the door is locked
2. 02
   Go back to Kiki and ask her to pick the lock; after you explain, she insists on tagging along
3. 03
   Use the Lockpicking Tool to enter — Kiki closes the door behind you and you are both trapped inside

The room hides the chapter's biggest material clues.

1. 01
   Inside, the Study on the right is locked — you need a Key
2. 02
   Search the cabinet in the living area: money and photographs; check the drawers for a note and read it
3. 03
   In the bedroom, find the safe — the code is on the newspaper from the cabinet: January 1st, Year 355; enter 35511
4. 04
   Take the Key and the note (a Land Deed), plus the Money
5. 05
   Inspect the wardrobe thoroughly; talking with Kiki, you find a Torn Invoice
6. 06
   On the makeup, choose Probably Not to cause a Worldline Shift and find a suspicious bottle
7. 07
   The Fragment of Clothes gives you a clue for the Priestess's Curse storyline

The chapter's climax: recreate the writing, and the forgery falls apart.

1. 01
   Use the Key to open the Study and talk with Kiki, then investigate the scene
2. 02
   Inspect the thick layer of dust, then turn on the table lamp
3. 03
   Investigate the table again — nothing; the Shadow intervenes and Lucas decides to reenact everything
4. 04
   Follow the reenactment: turn on the desk lamp, wash the brush, dip it in ink, start writing
5. 05
   Lucas notices it is too dark to write; move the desk lamp to the left and try writing again — now he notices the shadow
6. 06
   Choose 'He moved the desk lamp!' and complete the clues: The Layout of the Desk, A Decorative Desk?, and Was Master Reed Left-handed?
7. 07
   Lucas and Kiki realize Master Reed was illiterate and Mrs. Reed helped write the Suicide Note
8. 08
   You find the major clue: The Forged Suicide Note; leave through the front door with the Key when you are ready

The route from opening to factory in one timeline.

• 00:00

  Outside the station — read the letter from Lynn DaHandt

• 00:15

  Enter the station — talk to Officer May and the squad

• 01:10

  Head to the Factory district

• 01:30

  Inspect the scene before reconstructing

• 02:00

  Reconstruct the victim's final moments

• 02:30

  Compare reconstruction with the staged scene — find the tell

The decisions that matter most in the opening and factory sections, based on our playthrough.

The route through the Pig Cage Walled City in one timeline.

• 00:00

  Arrive at the Wharf — the Old City District is abandoned

• 00:10

  Meet Kiki & Max; chase the man in the Black Trenchcoat thread

• 00:25

  Find Uncle Smith, share drinks, rewind into the Reed Village flashback

• 00:40

  Enter Reed Mansion with a Sacrificial Fish as tribute

• 00:55

  Opera Theater — deliver the Fruit Basket, find the Secret Compartment

• 01:10

  Interrogate Mrs. Reed and rewind her testimony for the loophole

• 01:25

  Break into Mrs. Reed's house — safe code 35511, Land Deed, Torn Invoice

• 01:40

  The Study — reenact the writing; the Suicide Note was forged

The decisions that matter most in the Pig Cage Walled City, based on our playthrough.