I drag Grimzle through coal-black smoke to Shakatu’s tent and watch the guildmaster’s eyes narrow. A ledger sits open on a rough table; someone has been feeding routes to bandits. You know that small slip will decide who lives comfortably in Hernand—and who pays for it.
I’ve played this kind of investigation enough to save you the fumble. You and I will move fast, answer clean, and close the loop before the patrols lose patience. I’ll show where to go, which testimonies to trust, and the exact picks Shakatu wants when he puts the evidence on the table.
How to Complete Close Threat Quest in Crimson Desert
Observation: Most players get stalled between talking to NPCs and presenting evidence to Shakatu.
You start this chapter of Extinguishing the Last Flames after you beat Kailok the Hornsplitter and return to the Goldleaf Merchant Guild. Shakatu names you the investigator—because you are Kliff—and you’ll be sent out into Hernand to ask pointed questions.
- Visit the Goldleaf Merchant Guild camp and accept the Close Threat assignment from Shakatu.
- Travel to the five NPCs tied to the guild: Nogle, Skrav, Kathan, Blique, and Grimzle.
- Gather every piece of evidence they mention. Missing one document means repeating the interrogation.
- Return to Shakatu with the full stack of proof and prepare to choose answers.
Timing matters here: if you’re playing on Steam, PlayStation, or Xbox, keep a save before you present the evidence. The community on Reddit and the Crimson Desert Discord often posts screencaps of each testimony if you want a quick cross-check.
Shakatu’s Investigation Answers in Crimson Desert
Observation: The moment you sit across from Shakatu with the proofs arranged, the room thins into a single instant of decision.
Shakatu will ask you to present the documents tied to each NPC’s testimony. Pick the correct document for each person and the case closes cleanly; pick wrong and you might have to chase leads again. The evidence is a loose thread on an old coat.
- Blique’s Testimony — Horse Hire Ledger
- Skrav’s Testimony — Trade Schedule Log
- Nogle’s Testimony — Tavern Ledger
- Grimzle’s Testimony — Proof of Stay
- Kathan’s Testimony — Guard’s Report
Present those five items in that order and Shakatu will lay out the motive. The testimonies are a ledger cloaked in fog.
Who is the traitor of the Goldleaf Merchant Guild?
Grimzle is the traitor. After you give Shakatu the five correct documents, the guildmaster calls Grimzle out and sends you to Coalvale Workshop to apprehend him.
What are the correct answers to Shakatu’s Investigation in Crimson Desert?
Use the five documents listed above. When you return to Shakatu and present them in order, his deduction points squarely at Grimzle.
Rewards For Completing Shakatu’s Close Threat Quest
Observation: Most players pause at the cupboard of rewards to see if the effort was worth it.
Complete the arrest and deliver Grimzle to Shakatu to close Extinguishing the Last Flames. Shakatu will thank Kliff and hand over faction rewards: a Hernandian Banquet Cloak and a Kinetic Counterweight.
If you want to compare runs, search YouTube clips tagged with Crimson Desert Close Threat or ask on the Steam community hub for visual confirmation of each document’s location. Players on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox report the same outcome when they present the five documents in order.
So—will you turn Grimzle in for good, or keep an eye on the ledger and watch who else touches the routes next?