"Don't get the wrong idea. Everyone only treats the one playing 'Oda Nobunaga' to snacks; no one actually listens to any of his commands!" Shigehiko Wakisaka argued, staring at Kogoro Mouri with a look of pure exasperation.
What on earth is this muddled detective babbling about? he thought.
"Even if someone did follow orders, no one would be stupid enough to calmly set themselves on fire," Toshiaki Fukushima added, his voice weary. "Besides, Miss Katagiri was playing the role of Nene today—the one who stands by and watches. She was practically outside the rules of the game."
"Furthermore, one of our members already died today! Do you really think we have the heart to keep playing games?"
The two of them effectively rendered Kogoro speechless.
"Inspector Otaki, we found this photo on the victim's person." A forensics officer approached, holding up a clear evidence bag. Thanks to the delay caused by Hattori and his father, the forensics team was only just now making their move.
The photo had been soaked by the rain, but the image remained clear. Along with the photo, a fragment of pottery had been found in Maho Katagiri's coat pocket. Although the shape differed, the material was identical to the fragment found on the first victim, Mr. Katō.
Inspector Otaki took the photo. Compared to the pottery shards, this was a significant new lead.
"The two young people on the far edges... these are Mr. Katō and Miss Katagiri, right?"
There were five people in the photo. Three were strangers, but the elderly man in the center was holding an unfurled scroll.
"It looks like them," Hattori said, scooping up Conan to get a better look. "And that scroll... it's the same 'Dragon' scroll that Mr. Katō left behind, isn't it?"
While they couldn't be certain if it was the exact same physical object, the calligraphy appeared identical.
"Is this Mr. Hirano?" Toshiaki Fukushima asked, leaning in and pointing to a middle-aged man with a square face.
"Yes, though he looks much younger here," Wakisaka nodded.
"And who is this Mr. Hirano?" Hattori asked, turning to the group.
"Actually, he was the one who organized this trip," Arihiro Zouya explained. "We all met through an online chat room. He's the one who planned this historical tour for us fellow enthusiasts."
"The role-playing game was his idea, too," Wakisaka added. "Unfortunately, just before we were set to leave, Mr. Hirano suddenly said he had an emergency and couldn't come."
Since all three of them had seen recent photos of Hirano, there was no mistaking his identity.
"I see... so the mastermind who planned this 'murder tour' didn't even show up at the end." Kogoro Mouri rubbed his chin, falling back into his investigative persona.
This Hirano character is highly suspicious!
"Um, is it really confirmed that Miss Katagiri didn't commit suicide?" Fukushima asked Otaki once more.
"We can't be sure yet. It's too early to draw a final conclusion," Otaki replied with a nod.
"If the culprit intended to use this trip as a cover for murder from the start, we need to find out what Hirano has to say." Zouya, having seemingly found his own target of suspicion, turned on his heel to leave.
"If you search for the 'Legendary King of Gold' webpage, you'll find out soon enough," Wakisaka called out before also turning to depart.
"Wait—"
Otaki reached out to stop them, but a hand suddenly clamped down on his shoulder. It was Tsuneo.
"There's still one final link missing," Ikumi Kyosuke added, standing beside them with a knowing smile.
"Mr. Hirano, Mr. Katō, and Miss Katagiri... we've identified three people from that photo," Conan muttered to himself. All three were connected to this tour.
The "Legendary King of Gold" website Wakisaka mentioned was likely the key. They needed to check that out first. Then, there was the matter of the alibis for Fukushima, Wakisaka, and Zouya.
"Conan-kun, hold your umbrella properly." Ran took a freshly purchased umbrella from her bag and handed it to the boy.
This child, she thought. I stand next to him with my umbrella, and he wanders off. I move to cover him again, and he wanders off again. Children really don't care about the rain.
"Thanks, Ran-neechan!" Conan chirped, taking the umbrella and popping it open.
Suddenly, his expression froze. As if he had encountered an unsolvable riddle, he stared intensely at his own hand gripping the umbrella handle.
The Great Detective pulled the umbrella away, looking up at the sky. Then he snapped it back over himself. He repeated the motion several times. Finally, he held the umbrella in his hand but intentionally exposed his body to the downpour. A slow, sharp smile spread across his face.
"Hey, kid, you okay?" Kazuha reached out and tapped Conan's forehead. "You don't have a fever, do you? I know playing with umbrellas is fun, but this is a bit much."
"Heh."
Being a fellow detective, Hattori was all too familiar with that look. It was the smile of someone who had seen through the veil—the look of a man who had found the truth.
"Um, do you two already know who the culprit is?" Inspector Otaki asked, looking between Tsuneo and Ikumi.
"No idea," Tsuneo replied, shaking his head quite bluntly.
However, Tsuneo thought, I can give you a hint: the culprit is definitely tied to that photo. And Hattori's old man? He's definitely playing some kind of twisted game.
"Then why...?" Otaki was speechless. If you don't know, why stop me? We should be interrogating those three!
"Someone already knows," Ikumi said, watching the "big and small" duo—Hattori and Conan—as they suddenly bolted into the rain.
"Right. Well, time for us to go eat," Tsuneo said with a nod. Dinner had already been delayed by several hours, and his stomach was making its grievances known. "The real show is only just beginning."
"Hattori, do you get the feeling we're being watched?" Conan whispered as they ran toward a deserted industrial area.
They had called the tour's hotel to confirm the suspects' whereabouts. Only one of the three had actually returned to their room. By sheer luck, they had spotted Arihiro Zouya on the road and had been tailing him ever since.
"He went into that abandoned warehouse," Hattori whispered, peeking around a corner.
Zouya, still holding his umbrella, had walked straight into the factory without a moment's hesitation.
"You two, please let me join in for the final deduction." A woman's voice suddenly rang out from behind them.
"..."
Conan and Hattori whipped their heads around in unison.
"Miss Ikumi?" Hattori blinked. "Why are you here alone? Where's that handyman guy, Tsuneo?"
"Shall we go in?" Ikumi replied, sliding a pair of tracking glasses—identical to Conan's—off her face with a smile. "I was able to find you thanks to this. That Professor friend of yours is truly impressive."
"Do you have some kind of transmitter on you?" Hattori asked, looking Conan up and down. That was way too easy for her.
"Heh... heh..." Conan let out a hollow laugh. Would you believe me if I said I didn't know?
"Regardless, get your gadgets ready," Hattori whispered, scanning the area. Finding no suitable weapons nearby, he turned back to the factory entrance. "Let's move."
"Got it."
The three detectives followed silently in Zouya's wake, slipping like shadows into the depths of the abandoned factory.
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