You’re walking through the Grand Exhibition, ears ringing from the sound of clashing steel and those creepy mechanical whirs, and then you hear it. A woman’s voice. It’s faint, but it’s there. That’s Belle. Most players stumble into the Belle quest Lies of P offers without realizing how easy it is to completely ruin the ending before it even starts. Honestly, this is one of those side stories that makes the game feel alive, but it’s also a total trap for the impatient.
If you’ve been rushing through the gallery trying to reach the boss, you might have already missed her. That’s the thing about this game—it doesn't wait for you.
Where to Find Belle Before It’s Too Late
The first hurdle is actually finding her. You’ll find her in the Grand Exhibition Gallery, but timing is everything. If you kill Champion Victor before you even speak to her, she’s gone. Permanently. You’ll just find her cold body where she was supposed to be standing.
To get to her, you need to navigate the rafters. After you fight the mini-boss with the giant shield, you’ll eventually find yourself on some narrow metal beams high above the floor. There are these annoying puppets on unicycles trying to knock you off. Near a ladder that leads down to a secluded balcony, you’ll hear her calling out.
Go down. Talk to her. She’ll tell you she’s a soldier and that she’s looking for her partner. At this point, she won’t leave until the area is "safe," which basically means you have to go kick Champion Victor’s teeth in. Once he’s down, head back to Hotel Krat. You’ll find her leaning against the stairs near the Stargazer.
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The Search for Atkinson at Krat Central Station
This is where things get messy. After you’ve progressed significantly—specifically after clearing the Barren Swamp and defeating the Green Monster—talk to Belle again. She’s worried. Her partner, Atkinson, was supposed to meet her, but he’s MIA.
She asks you to find him. You’ll need to head to the Krat Central Station Platform Stargazer. This is the second time you visit the station, so everything is covered in that gross, blueish-green carcass gunk.
- From the Stargazer, go through the door on the left (the shortcut you likely opened earlier).
- Go right and head down the stairs.
- Look for a train car you can enter.
- Wait! Before you swing your sword, look at the figure inside.
It’s Atkinson. But he’s not looking great. He’s mutating into a carcass. He’s still got his mind for now, but he’s terrified. He’ll give you a letter for Belle. He basically begs you not to tell her what he’s become. He wants to be remembered as a soldier who died fighting, not a monster rotting in a train car.
A Quick Warning for the Trigger-Happy
Lots of people accidentally kill Atkinson. He looks exactly like the standard carcass enemies you’ve been shredding for the last ten hours. If you kill him before talking to him, you can still finish the quest, but the "good" reward is basically gone. You won't get the letter, and your dialogue options with Belle will change to "He ran away" or "He became a monster." Neither of these gets you the record.
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The Big Decision: Lie or Tell the Truth?
When you get back to the Hotel, Belle is waiting with hope in her eyes. It’s brutal. You have two main choices if you have Atkinson's Letter.
Choice 1: Tell the Truth ("He became a monster")
If you’re playing a "Truth" run or just feel like being a realist, you can tell her he turned. She’s devastated. You don't get the humanity points, and you don't get the music record. From a gameplay perspective, this is the "wrong" choice, even if it's factually correct.
Choice 2: Tell the Lie ("He was killed in action fighting a puppet")
This is what Atkinson wanted. You tell her he died a hero's death. You’ll gain Humanity, and she will give you the Record: "Why". This is a beautiful, melancholic track that you need if you're aiming for the "Golden Lie" weapon or the "Rise of P" ending.
What Happens if You Kill Him Early?
If you accidentally (or intentionally) smacked Atkinson to death in the train car, you can still talk to Belle. You’ll have to tell her he "ran away" or "turned." If you lie and say he ran away, she doesn't believe you and eventually leaves the hotel. You can later find her dead back at the station. It’s a grim end for a quest that started with so much hope.
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Why This Quest Matters for Your Ending
In Lies of P, Humanity isn't just a stat; it changes P. Listening to records is one of the fastest ways to increase your Humanity. If you miss the "Why" record because you weren't paying attention in a train car, you might find yourself just short of the requirements for the best ending.
The Belle quest Lies of P provides isn't just about the loot, though. It highlights the central theme: sometimes a kind lie is more "human" than a cold truth. By lying to Belle, you're preserving her memory of the man she loved. You're acting with empathy, which is exactly what the game uses to measure your transformation from a puppet into a boy.
Actionable Tips for a Perfect Run
- Don't skip the Grand Exhibition rafters. If you reach the boss room and haven't found a woman on a balcony, turn around.
- Check back frequently. Belle won't give you the Atkinson quest until the game state shifts after the Green Monster of the Swamp fight.
- Hands off the trigger. When you enter that train car at Krat Station, walk up slowly. If the target lock doesn't immediately turn red, don't swing.
- Listen to the record immediately. Go straight to the gramophone in the Hotel lobby. You have to listen to the whole song to get the Humanity boost.
If you're already past the Grand Exhibition and she’s not there, you’ve likely missed your chance for this playthrough. The game is pretty strict with its "Point of No Return" for NPCs. You'll just have to catch her in New Game Plus, where you'll probably need the Humanity even more for those late-game boss checks.