[Puzzle 004]

[hisapprentice]

[A dejected little boy young gentleman in blue sits in the library today at a table, journal open off to the side. In front of him is a book with a red cover, full of intermediate-level puzzles and riddles. There's a piece of paper beside it, on which he solves most of them - if they require paper.

There are a few interesting ones copied down into the journal, for reference later.

YYHLYEYT?
6L=12 6S=18 6LS=?
Meanwhile...

After a while, Luke sighs in a most ungentlemanly way.]

I wish I knew why this book feels so important. [the sound of ruffling pages] Maybe if Professor Layton were here he-

[Luke cuts himself off almost sharply, closing the puzzle book and doodling a few little pictures of fish and mice instead. One of the little mice wears a tall top hat.]

I wish I could go home.

Comments

[Action]

[hisapprentice]

[Luke flips back through the book until he finds the right page and reads:]

"It takes 6 large pipes 12 hours to empty a water tower, and it takes 6 small pipes 18 hours to empty the same tower. How long would it take 6 large and 6 small pipes working together?"

[Action]

[mikan_chibi]

...oh. [Feeling slightly glazed just listening to that. Nami frowns.] You're right. That's a lot harder.

[Action]

[hisapprentice]

That's why I wrote it down. I want to work on solving it. It's too bad the answer probably isn't 36.

[Action]

[mikanchibi]

A lot less. [MmmmMMMMmmm now she's intrigued.]

D'you mind if I try?

[Action]

[hisapprentice]

Oh, sure.

[He slides over the book and his open journal, with pencil.]

[Action]

[mikanchibi]

Thanks!

[Hnnn she can do this. Don't mind the tip of her tongue sticking out while she starts scrawling on this page. One small pipe takes three hours, one large takes two, so

6S/18 6L/12

1L=1.5S

18->S 1+1.5??

18/2.5
7.2

dot dot dot...]

Seven hours and 12 minutes.

[Action]

[hisapprentice]

[Luke is very quiet while he watches her. When she's done, he takes the journal back and does some math of his own...and it's identical to hers. Complete with answer.]

I think that really is right. Wow. You're pretty good at that.

[Action]

[mikanchibi]

Eheh, thanks! [She beams.] I've always been good with math.

[Action]

[hisapprentice]

Math puzzles aren't really the ones I like best.

[Action]

[mikanchibi]

What kind of puzzles do you like then?

[Action]

[hisapprentice]

[Oh that's easy.]

Puzzles about food!

[Action]

[mikanchibi]

Food puzzles? I bet you'd get on well with Sanji, then. He knows all kinds of food.

[Action]

[hisapprentice]

I know a lot about stacking pancakes, and making hamburgers, and...even the ones about ordering from a menu are all right. Especially if I get to really eat afterward.

[Action]

[mikanchibi]

So what sort of puzzle, then? Give me an example.