"Failed?"
Ai looked at Heiji, confused. If it had failed, the bomb would have already exploded.
"My time calculation was wrong. The sun's altitude at 10:20 AM isn't much different from its altitude at 2:30 PM."
"I only realized this as I was cutting the last wire," Heiji said calmly.
"Why would the culprit do that?" Miwako Sato couldn't understand.
"There's only one possibility for this: the culprit is provoking you, the police."
A sharp light flashed in Heiji's eyes. "Other than that, nothing explains why he would set up this serial bombing."
Miwako Sato couldn't help but recall that bombing case from three years ago, her eyes dimming with sadness.
"You must have some idea, Miss Miwako. Three years ago, a culprit used a bomb to threaten 12 million people, extorting money from the police department. It was a nightmare, wasn't it?"
Heiji looked at the trembling Miwako Sato and continued, "I've seen the case file. Many clues indicated it wasn't just one person. There were at least two."
Miwako Sato looked up at Heiji. "Yes, I suspect the same thing. That's why I have to catch this culprit."
Her eyes were incredibly serious.
"I'll cooperate with you as much as I can, Miss Miwako."
Heiji knew why Sato was so desperate, but it wasn't his business.
"Thank you, Heiji." Miwako Sato smiled lightly.
"By the way, your casual outfit today looks good, Miss Miwako. I think you should keep it," Heiji praised.
Looking at Sato's current clothes, no one would ever think she was a police officer, let alone an Assistant Inspector in the Violent Crimes Division.
She had stylish, shoulder-length hair and a delicate, beautiful face.
She wore a gray, long-sleeved cotton athletic shirt and gray cotton shorts.
The clothes were slightly form-fitting, outlining her charming and graceful figure.
Her long legs were straight and fair. She wore beige women's sneakers.
Her whole appearance was bright, fresh, and lovely.
"This outfit? Haibara told me to wear it. It's not bad. I think I'll wear this when I'm off-duty."
Miwako Sato looked down at her clothes, then looked up at Ai with a soft laugh.
"I was just trying to keep the culprit from recognizing you," Ai said proudly, turning her head away.
Miwako Sato chuckled, then her expression turned serious. "Heiji, how do we interpret the rest of the warning letter?"
"The note mentioned a 'four-legged giant rises from the ground' and 'boundless blood will drench its body.'"
"This refers to its shape. The only public building that fits this description is Tokyo Tower."
"'Igniting its inner fury'—'inner' means heart. The heart of Tokyo Tower is clearly this observation deck."
"And the only place to plant a bomb here is the elevator shaft."
Miwako Sato nodded, looking at Heiji. "What about the last part?"
"'A foolish wise man wants to pacify the giant, letting go not of a heavy burden, but of clusters of crimson flowers, which in their most beautiful season, vanish into the blood-red sky.'"
"Is this sentence the next target?"
A confident light shone in Heiji's eyes. "'Wise man' refers to a place of learning."
"To 'pacify the giant,' the giant must be able to see it."
"Looking down from here, what buildings related to knowledge can we see?"
Heiji asked this because he wasn't familiar with the local geography.
"That's the Beika Library," Ai said, pointing.
"And that's Teitan High School," Miwako Sato added, pointing elsewhere.
"Anywhere else?" Heiji's eyes flashed.
"Those are the only two nearby. The other buildings are farther away," Sato said seriously.
"Is the Beika Library open today?"
"Ayumi and the others were going to read books today. I'll ask."
Ai took a Detective Badge from her pocket. "Hello, Ayumi, can you hear me?"
Static came from the badge. Then...
"Ah, is that you, Ai?" Ayumi's happy voice came through.
Ai glanced at Heiji and spoke softly. "Ayumi, where are you right now?"
"I'm at the Beika Library with Mitsuhiko and Genta! It's super crowded. Ai, are you and your big brother coming over?" Ayumi asked hopefully.
Ai looked at Heiji again. "Big Brother Heiji says we're not going. He said to have fun."
With that, she turned off the badge.
"The Beika Library is open."
Meeting Ai's cold gaze, Heiji could sense a trace of playfulness. The cool queen had said that on purpose.
"What about Teitan High School?" Heiji asked Miwako Sato.
"I don't know. But I can ask Inspector Megure."
"No, don't bother the inspector for now," Heiji interrupted.
"But that's..."
"Against regulation, right? If one of your officers hadn't screwed up yesterday, we wouldn't be in this mess today," Ai said coldly.
Miwako Sato paused, a determined look in her eyes. "Heiji, I'll follow your lead."
This was against police protocol, but this time, she didn't care.
"I'll make a call."
Heiji took the phone Ai handed him and dialed Kazuha's number.
"Hello? Heiji! You finally remembered to call Kazuha! She's been talking about you all day."
It wasn't Kazuha who answered, but Sonoko. Her loud voice was audible even to Ai and Miwako.
Ai immediately walked away, looking out the window with a trace of sadness in her eyes.
Soon, Heiji hung up.
"Teitan High School has several club activities today. Total attendance is about 200 people."
"Two hundred people?" Miwako Sato's face paled. "Then where could the bomb be?"
"'Letting go not of a heavy burden, but of clusters of crimson flowers, in their most beautiful season, vanish into the blood-red sky.'"
"'Heavy burden' can be seen as releasing stress, which fits with club activities."
"'Most beautiful season' refers to students."
"The Beika Library is for people of all ages, so it doesn't fit the 'season' part."
"So, the bomb is at Teitan High School."
"Then let's go, now."
The three of them left Tokyo Tower immediately, heading to Teitan High School in Heiji's car.
It was 11:00 AM.
Conan was still at Professor Agasa's house, staring blankly at the warning note.
A four-legged giant... what kind of building has four legs?
He was going crazy.
Near Teitan High School, Plamya appeared on an overpass. He looked at the school gate, a sinister smile on his lips.
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