Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box

Puzzle 030 (US): The Secret Message

Original diagram for Puzzle 030 (US): The Secret Message

A village statue engraved '8-12 RED' hides where everyone ended up the day after the founding party.

Chapter
Chapter 2
Location
Town Hall Plaza
Picarats
30 picarats
Type
Placement
Region
US / North America · EU version: The Wrong Date
Hint 1: A gentle nudge. Tap to flip.
Hint 1

The answer has three letters, and so does a word already on the statue.

Tap to flip back
Hint 2: The key idea. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Hint 2

What happens if you fill the wineglass part with water?

Tap to flip back
Hint 3: Almost there. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Hint 3

Water covers the bottom half of the engraving and reflects the top half. Picture the letters that way.

Tap to flip back
Answer: See the answer. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Answer

The answer is BED.

Tap to flip back
Solution, FAQ and sources

Solution

Fill the wineglass with water. The bottom half of the engraving goes under the surface, and the top half is reflected below it. In that half-and-reflection view, **RED** turns into **BED** and the date moves on by a day.

After partying so late, the villagers spent the next day in **BED**.

About this puzzle

Fifty years ago, Dropstone celebrated its founding with red wine and dancing late into the night, and built a statue engraved with RED and the date 8-12. Part of the statue is a wineglass shape that can be filled with water. Besides recording the party, the statue also shows where the villagers were the day after. Answer with a three-letter word.

Unofficial fan guide, not affiliated with LEVEL-5 or Nintendo. Puzzle description, hints and solution written by Hint by Hint.

Similar puzzles: Puzzle 030: The Wrong Date, Puzzle 027: A Dramatic Farewell, Puzzle 024: A Strip of Paper, Puzzle 037: World's Best Golfer

All Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box puzzles

FAQ

What is the answer to Puzzle 030, The Secret Message, in Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box?

The answer is BED. This is the North American version of Puzzle 030.

Where do you find Puzzle 030 in Diabolical Box?

Puzzle 030 appears in Chapter 2, in the Town Hall Plaza area.

How many picarats is Diabolical Box Puzzle 030 worth?

30 picarats.

Is Puzzle 030 the same in the European version?

No. The European version (Pandora's Box) has a different puzzle at 030, The Wrong Date, which asks for the village's real founding date.

Sources

Facts checked on November 14, 2026

Unofficial fan guide. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by LEVEL-5 Inc. Professor Layton, The New World of Steam, and all related names, characters, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.