What to know
- This quest takes place in the City of Delesyia at the Delesyian Institute.
- You must interrogate two suspects: Eli and a Scholar Devotee.
- Correct dialogue choices are essential to progress the quest.
- The sequence ends with a chase where you must capture the fleeing culprit.
The Forbidden Knowledge quest in Crimson Desert introduces you to a more investigative side of the game, where your dialogue choices directly affect the outcome. Unlike combat-heavy missions, this section tests your attention to detail and decision-making. If you choose the wrong responses, you may delay progress or miss key clues, so following the correct sequence ensures a smooth completion.
Quick overview of interrogation flow
| Phase | Character | Key Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eli | Use mixed truth/lies | Reveal inconsistencies |
| 2 | Devotee | Confirm evidence | Strengthen accusation |
| 3 | Escape | Chase suspect | Complete quest |
How the Delesyian Institute interrogation works in Forbidden Knowledge
The interrogation system in Crimson Desert is built around dialogue branching, where each choice either exposes contradictions or pushes the suspect to reveal more information. You are essentially piecing together a narrative using pressure and evidence.
During this quest, Eli acts as the primary suspect, while the Scholar Devotee serves as a secondary confirmation source. The goal is to trap both into revealing conflicting statements, ultimately identifying the real culprit.
How to answer Eli during interrogation correctly
| Order | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | Question witness testimony |
| 2 | Lie |
| 3 | Research suspension warning |
| 4 | Conflict between scholars |
| 5 | Lie |
| 6 | Murder weapon |
Eli’s questioning phase is the most important part of this quest, as it sets the foundation for everything that follows. You’ll need to deliberately mix correct accusations with strategic lies.
Step 1
Select “Question witness testimony.”
This opens the interrogation with a neutral but probing approach, allowing you to gather baseline information.
Step 2
Choose “Lie.”
This is intentional—using a lie here applies pressure and tests Eli’s reaction, which helps expose inconsistencies.
Step 3
Select “Research suspension warning.”
This introduces a motive and pushes Eli into a defensive stance.
Step 4
Choose “Conflict between scholars.”
Now you’re escalating the situation, connecting Eli to internal disputes within the institute.
Step 5
Select “Lie” again, then choose “Murder weapon.”
This combination is crucial. The second lie destabilizes Eli’s story, and the murder weapon accusation forces a critical response, revealing key contradictions.
By the end of this sequence, you should notice that Eli’s statements no longer align, signaling that you’ve successfully progressed the interrogation.
How to question the Scholar Devotee for confirmation
Once Eli’s interrogation is complete, you’ll move to the Scholar Devotee, who is located behind a desk within the institute.
| Order | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | Murder weapon |
| 2 | Truth |
| 3 | Murder weapon |
Step 1
Select “Murder weapon.”
This immediately ties the Devotee’s response to the evidence uncovered during Eli’s questioning.
Step 2
Choose “Truth.”
Unlike Eli, this is where honesty matters, reinforcing the factual narrative you’ve built.
Step 3
Select “Murder weapon” again.
Repeating this line of questioning ensures consistency and locks in the final piece of evidence.
This sequence validates your earlier deductions, effectively confirming the suspect’s involvement.
How to catch the fleeing suspect and finish the quest
After both interrogations are complete, the real culprit will panic and attempt to escape. This transitions the quest from dialogue to action.
Step 1
Immediately pursue the fleeing suspect.
React quickly, as hesitation can give them distance.
Step 2
Use sprint and traversal mechanics to close the gap.
You can utilize jumps or shortcuts depending on the environment.
Step 3
Tackle the suspect once you’re within range.
This final action completes the interrogation sequence and concludes the quest.
Successfully catching the suspect confirms your investigation and rewards progression in the storyline.
Rewards for completing Forbidden Knowledge quest
The Delesyian Institute interrogation in the Forbidden Knowledge quest is a great example of Crimson Desert’s narrative depth. Instead of relying purely on combat, you’re required to think critically, manipulate dialogue, and piece together evidence.
| Reward Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Experience | Moderate XP gain for quest completion |
| Story Progression | Unlocks further Delesyia narrative arcs |
| Reputation | Improves standing within scholarly factions |
By following the correct answer sequence for both Eli and the Devotee, you ensure a smooth progression and avoid unnecessary retries. Once the suspect is caught, the quest wraps up cleanly and pushes you forward into deeper storylines within Delesyia.
