TL;DR
- Unlock this quest by defeating Kailok the Hornsplitter at the end of Chapter 2, then return to Shakatu at the Goldleaf Guildhouse in Hernand Highlands.
- Read the Investigative Log in your inventory to get your five NPC targets.
- Visit Blique, Skrav, Nogle, Grimzle, and Kathan — each has a testimony and a key document nearby.
- Bring a key before heading to Grimzle — the Proof of Stay is in a locked building nearby.
- Return to Shakatu and match each testimony to the correct evidence.
- If answer options do not appear, press Square (PS) or X (Xbox) to trigger them.
- Head to Coalvale Workshop, tackle Grimzle, tie him up, and carry him back on horseback.
- Rewards: Hernandian Banquet Cloak, Kinetic Counterweight, and 100 Contribution points.
How to Start Extinguishing the Last Flame in Crimson Desert
This questline opens up after you defeat Kailok the Hornsplitter during the “Cheers Echoing From the Edge” quest at the end of Chapter 2. Once that is done, head to the Goldleaf Guildhouse along the eastern end of the Hernand Highlands, south of Unicorn Cliff on your map. Shakatu is inside by the purple tent.
Speaking with him starts “Troubled Shakatu.” After the conversation, open your inventory and read the Investigative Log: Extinguish the Flames. This document introduces each suspect and gets you oriented before you head out. The investigation then splits into five simultaneous objectives — you can tackle them in any order you like.
Before heading out, make sure you have at least one key in your inventory. You will need it to access a locked building during the Grimzle step. Keys can be bought from black market vendors or looted from bandits. See our how to get keys in Crimson Desert guide if you are short. Having solid fast travel points set up also helps a lot here since the five NPCs are spread across a wide area.
If you are still working through the story and have not reached this point, our all main story quests and chapters guide and how to beat Kailok the Hornsplitter guide will get you there.
All NPC Locations for the Close Threat Investigation
Blique, the Horse Manager — Bloomwood Ranch
Blique is at Bloomwood Ranch, sitting on a wooden stool outside. He tells you that masked men came asking to hire horses, and one of them seemed familiar — connected to the Merchant Guild.
Head into the main building to his right. The Horse Hire Ledger is on a table near the back of the room. Read it — that is your clue. There is also a Feed Purchase Receipt just outside the door as you leave, plus an Old Saddle on the floor inside. Neither of those matter for the investigation.
Skrav, the Trade Manager — Goldleaf Trading Post
Skrav is at the Goldleaf Trading Post, northwest of the Guildhouse across the Nas River. He suspects Nogle of leaking the guild’s trade routes to bandits.
The key document is the Trade Schedule Log, found on a crate behind Skrav’s tent. Read it. There is also a Lantern on the ground near the central display and some Stacked Trade Goods near a nearby vendor — ignore both of those.
Nogle, the Trade Manager — Goldleaf Guildhouse
Nogle is at the Goldleaf Guildhouse, just east of where you spoke with Shakatu. He admits that he sometimes shares too much when drinking with Grimzle — a useful thread to pull.
The clue is the Tavern Ledger inside his tent. Pick it up and read it. A Tax Notice and a broken barrel are also in the area but serve no purpose here.
Grimzle, the Ledger Manager — Coalvale Workshop
Grimzle is northeast of the Guildhouse at the Coalvale Workshop. He claims he was pushed out after his ledger was stolen and deflects blame onto Skrav.
Here is the detail many players miss: the Proof of Stay is not in the building Grimzle is standing in front of. It is in a separate locked building nearby — you will need a key to open it. The quest marker will guide you to the right door. Once inside, the Proof of Stay is on a table along the wall. The building Grimzle leans against does contain the Merchant Delivery Seal and Empty Ledger — check them if you want, but they are not your key evidence.
Kathan, the Goldleaf Private Soldier — Goldleaf Guildhouse Campsite
Kathan is stationed just outside the Goldleaf Guildhouse at a small campsite. He reveals that Grimzle’s ledger was stolen, and no one inside the guild seems to know who took it.
Head west of Kathan to find the Guard’s Report on a box near a white tent. That is your final clue. There is also a Guard’s Letter nearby and a damaged wagon out in the Hernand Highlands — both are irrelevant.
All Close Threat Answers for Shakatu in Crimson Desert
With all five NPCs interviewed and all five documents read, return to Shakatu. He will walk you through each testimony and ask you to select the supporting evidence. Here are the correct answers:
| Testimony | Correct Evidence |
|---|---|
| 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 |
The testimonies are presented one at a time in sequence. Each one gives you three options — only one is correct. Select in the order shown above and Shakatu will piece it all together.
Bug note: If the answer options do not appear when you enter Shakatu’s dialogue, press Square on PlayStation or X on Xbox to force them up. This is a known issue expected to be patched.
Catching Grimzle — How to Finish Close Threat
After you present all the evidence, Shakatu identifies Grimzle as the traitor. Exit his dialogue with Circle (PS) or B (Xbox) and head east of Unicorn Cliff back to the Coalvale Workshop.
Grimzle will be behind the building, caught in the act and already monologuing about his scheme. Kliff handles the confrontation automatically. Once Grimzle is down, tackle him, punch him if needed, then select Tie Up to restrain him. Pick him up to carry him.
Here is the important part: you cannot fast travel while carrying Grimzle. Mount your horse and ride the full route back up to the Goldleaf Guildhouse — follow the road south past the Sanctum of Temperance, then west to Bloodhum House, then north up to Hernand Highlands. It is a decent ride but straightforward. Bring Grimzle to Shakatu to trigger the final cutscene and complete the quest.
This process is similar to how bounty captures work in the game. If you enjoy that style of gameplay, our Bianca bounty guide and Blix bounty guide follow the same mechanic.
Rewards for Completing Close Threat
Completing the Extinguishing the Last Flame questline earns you:
- Hernandian Banquet Cloak — comes with base Defense and Resistance stats, a solid early upgrade
- Kinetic Counterweight — the standout reward here, a valuable early-game item
- 100 Contribution points — a meaningful boost to your overall rapport progress
This also wraps up the entire Goldleaf Merchants Guild questline in Hernand. To keep building faction trust after this, see our guides on how to gain trust with merchants and trade agreements and how to trade goods in Crimson Desert.
