[PA3] The case of the mysterious note [Ended][Solution posted in Steam Group]

Changed the example ITH-link to http://www.itstoohard.com/puzzle/yyyyyyyy instead of http://www.itstoohard.com/puzzle/xxxxxxxx

Appearently the x-link brings you directly to a 3 year old giveaway ^^ Must be hardcoded by the creator of ITH or something.

Just noticed that the leader for the ITH group on steam is the same guy that has that giveaway, so I guess that's confirmed to be his handywork. Also noticed that he's been inactive for 9 months, and the last guy that won something from him is SilentGuy. :)

The lab results just came back. It seems the smudged out text was because it was written twice on it and then erased.

Layer one: Cipher
Layer two: 673 1 673 2 63 4 408 3 408 4 408 5

This was a hint that was going to be dropped if it hadn't been solved within a couple of days.

Have updated topic to reflect that the group bit is solved.

Poll regarding "the café".

Would you prefer to work together on puzzle 4 in the café, or would you prefer getting a hint and solve it on your own?
Storywise, it makes no difference. It can make sense that several agents caught up with each other and are temporarily working together.

It's not a democracy, poll result may not be the deciding factor, but I've debated with myself back and forth on the subject and would like to hear your opinion on the matter.

Puzzle 4 (the café), Hint 1:

Actually, I'm not going to give you another hint, you've more than likely already deciphered the hint I would have given you.

Instead I can tell you what it isn't. I don't like "cipher-ception", the only time I would use a cipher on top of another cipher is if the middle result is rather clear what it is. For example a binary leading to Hex or vice versa. If you keep adding different ciphers on top of each other you can make anything signify anything in the end.

Puzzle 4, Hint X

Not really a new hint, but I want to clarify that I've dropped 5 hints for this puzzle so far. So if you can't figure out the string of numbers, try figuring out what the hints are and what they mean. ;)

Puzzle 4, Hint 2 6

Proper hint this time. Google is your friend now. Phrases have been used to lead you to the right result.

Puzzle 4, Hint 3 7

You are looking for an 8 letter code to an ITH page. You know you're on the right track if you find a code (this last part will only mean something if you've already deciphered it correctly, but perhaps don't understand the result).

Puzzle 4, Hint 4 8

This is something I've already posted in hint 1 really, but something I think needs extra attention. There are 2 unique messages in the string of numbers, a hint and the code. And as I posted, you have most likely already deciphered the hint.

Puzzle 4, Hint 5 9

The first hint, which probably everyone saw when they first arrived and tried the most obvious deciphering relates very strongly to something that the waitress said. If you don't understand what the word she said has got to do with ciphers, google it. Also, she wasn't the only one that got cut off before that saying was finished.

Puzzle 5, Hint 1:

The name of the company is not unintentional.

Puzzle 4, Hint 6

The numbers have now been seperated into 2 rows. One cipher for each row is required.

That's the last free hint I will give you on that. Want more help? Ask!

Puzzle 5, Hint 2:

Divide by 5 to get 8.

Puzzle 5, Hint 3

Imagine the block of 1s and 0s being on a piece of paper. Then check hint 1 and 2 again.

Puzzle 5, Hint 4:

Each row is a symbol, but each symbol is not a row.

Puzzle 5, Hint 5:

I'm surprised Mikalye hasn't solved it yet, because it's Simple Addition.

Puzzle 5, Hint 6: (I felt generous, so have another hint.)

I wish I could tell you how to enter, but perhaps I can tell you to return?

You have 3 weeks to get another level. :)

The X's are meant to be smudge, not exact letters. :) I wouldn't worry about them too much. I'm sure the lab will come up with a clear result in a few days if the note hasn't already been solved by then.

Storywise, it's a way for me to drop a hint.

Is the table a frequency analysis?

754 should have been 753 in the main post. Have corrected it, but thought I should let you know.

Also the single digit after each duplicate group always increasing in each group:
126 1 126 2 189 4 189 5 37 5 37 6 89 3 89 4
561 4 561 5 561 6 205 4 205 5 584 3 426 1 557 1 742 2
753 4 753 5 17 2 17 3 17 4 255 3 255 4 530 2 54 1

Haha don't worry, I did the same ;-)

You meant this?

Oh, cool idea! Personally, i would not split "self-evident" into 78 and 79... that makes the 189th word "established" which is long enough, but sadly 37 is also too short...

The text definitively points to the Declaration... the hard part would be to figure out the exact text used in the cipher..

Then again, that was not the cipher being used.

Yes, I've just recognized this also.

In case you haven't realized it by now, I'm using the same ITH as the last time, thus the same numbers. :) I just changed the first part of the message. I figured it might be a good red herring to try and confuse people with. ;)

How did you do it?

Please share the method

Oh! WITH the title, well done! :-o

And now I have to leave and can't follow up... well, at least not until I get home...

Well done. I got more interest in this within a few hours of posting than I got over several days the last time, when noone could solve it. Didn't know how hard it would be to find it, but I'm glad someone was able to figure out that the declaration text Beale used didn't include the titel and, as someone mentioned early, seperated "self-evident" to two words. It's also been quite established that the Beale cipher has many errors and is almost certainly a hoax.

At least you're not alone. 9 people stuck on the 4th puzzle now, waiting for someone to get a revelation. :)

Well, they are both terrorists at least.

I know right! All my hard work and only 14 people leech it so far! ;-)

You mean with the AA in the middle surrounded by non-alphanumeric chars? :)

Clarification, AA is not part of the final code.

I think all agents are currently in the coffee bar :-D

Ol' Scho Work is at it again, eh?

She is getting restless? I'm on my twelfth cup of coffee!
jitters

Good job! I know what to do as well but I can't get it to work just yet :-)

Congrats! xD Damn you. :P

Simply amazing! And the last one should be even harder than the previous one. ;)

Don't worry, only 2 full solvers so far, and neither have even been that interested in the main game giveaway.

I heard there's a line outside of that café now.. the other customers are getting impatient!

Ahh you did a quickie on the last one ;-)