Chapter 81: An Ominous Premonition
After finishing their lunch, all six of them ventured out together to locate Village Chief Kuroiwa Tatsuji.
However, they hadn't been walking for very long when they suddenly froze in collective realization.
"Uncle Mouri, didn't you bother asking Kuroiwa Tatsuji where he actually lives?"
Natsukawa felt utterly speechless. This is genuinely embarrassing.
Although he personally knew exactly where Kuroiwa Tatsuji resided, he absolutely couldn't volunteer that information. Otherwise, Conan would immediately become suspicious—that kid was frighteningly perceptive about these details.
"Well, I was far too angry at the time to remember asking such mundane questions," Mouri Kogoro admitted, scratching his head with an awkward laugh.
"It's fine. He's the village chief after all, so we should be able to find his location by asking local residents." Natsukawa randomly approached a passerby at the nearest street corner.
This person wore fashionable jeans, a purple knitted long-sleeved shirt, and maintained a youthful ponytail hairstyle. It was none other than the cross-dressing Asai Narumi.
She possessed a well-proportioned figure, regular delicate features, and an elegantly feminine face—clearly presenting as a young and beautiful woman.
Actually quite attractive, objectively speaking.
Natsukawa had already noticed that Asai Narumi had been discreetly following their group the entire time. Using the convenient pretext of asking a random passerby for directions, he strategically pulled her into their investigation.
Upon fully observing Asai Narumi's appearance, Kogoro Mouri immediately beamed with obvious delight, his enthusiasm practically combusting. After straightening his suit jacket and adjusting his tie with exaggerated care, he coughed twice theatrically and inquired in his most mature masculine voice:
"Excuse me, miss, do you happen to know where Village Chief Kuroiwa Tatsuji might be currently? Or perhaps you could simply direct us to his residential address?"
Natsukawa, meanwhile, felt privately amused. He knows exactly how much Uncle Mouri likes "her" right now, but he'll be absolutely disgusted once he discovers the truth.
Poor Kogoro.
Asai Narumi was genuinely quite skilled at maintaining her feminine presentation—or perhaps she'd always authentically believed herself to be female psychologically. Her performance didn't seem remotely fake or forced. Even Conan's usually sharp detective instincts hadn't detected anything suspicious whatsoever.
The two conversed extensively, with Kogoro Mouri practically drooling with obvious attraction, before Asai Narumi finally agreed to guide them toward the community center.
"Tomorrow marks the anniversary of former Village Chief Kameyama Isamu's death, so Chief Kuroiwa should be personally overseeing the memorial ceremony preparations at the community center today. I distinctly remember seeing him there this morning."
Kogoro Mouri nodded understanding, then paused thoughtfully before asking, "By the way, Dr. Narumi, do you happen to know someone named Aso Keiji? I heard he was a talented musician who died tragically on this island twelve years ago."
Asai Narumi's walking steps faltered noticeably for a brief moment, but she recovered her composure almost immediately. "I-Is that so? I'm afraid I don't know him personally. I only relocated to Moon Shadow Island two years ago for my medical practice. Speaking of which, I'm actually a Tokyo native originally, just like all of you."
She continued carefully, "But I do vaguely recall hearing that name mentioned in passing, though not much specific detail, since he's been deceased for so many years now. Chief Kuroiwa definitely knew him personally. You can simply ask him directly when we arrive."
"I see."
Kogoro Mouri appeared somewhat dejected. The investigation's direction seemed increasingly bleak and unpromising. If the mysterious client hadn't already transferred the substantial retainer fee, he would genuinely consider turning around and immediately returning to Tokyo.
But only challenging cases like this can truly showcase a great detective's profound depth and analytical wisdom, without question.
Conan frowned thoughtfully, his keen gaze studying Asai Narumi from behind his oversized glasses, which reflected an intelligent glint.
He vaguely sensed that something felt fundamentally wrong about this woman named Asai Narumi.
Moreover, when Uncle Mouri had asked that specific question just moments ago, she'd clearly paused mid-stride—which seemed suspicious. Asai Narumi must know something significant about Aso Keiji. Otherwise, she wouldn't have reacted with such obviously unnatural body language.
"Conan, what are you thinking about so intensely?"
Natsukawa noticed Conan's focused analytical gaze.
Could it be that Conan has already begun suspecting Asai Narumi even before the actual case has commenced?
"It's nothing important, Uncle Natsukawa. Don't you think Narumi-neesan seems slightly strange?" Conan leaned closer conspiratorially and whispered several unusual behavioral details he'd observed.
"Hey, Conan! Please don't get so close to my Papa!"
Anya abruptly broke free from Yor's gentle hand, took several quick aggressive steps forward, and forcefully squeezed herself directly between Conan and Natsukawa.
Yes, she was genuinely jealous.
"Alright, Anya, stop being so dramatic." Natsukawa pulled Anya protectively into his arms with an indulgent smile.
So possessively jealous at such a tender age. What will happen when she's older and actually interested in relationships?
Conan silently grumbled internally with exasperation, then quickly caught up with Kogoro Mouri to continue his careful observation of Asai Narumi.
"You, Conan, were secretly talking bad about me telepathically! You're the one who'll never find anyone to marry you, just you wait and see!"
(╬◣д◢)
The Community Center
Moon Shadow Island wasn't particularly vast, but it wasn't exactly tiny either. The walk from their traditional guesthouse to the community center required approximately twenty minutes of steady walking.
"Finally arrived."
Kogoro Mouri immediately regretted not borrowing several bicycles from the guesthouse owner earlier. Walking this distance is genuinely exhausting.
The community center occupied considerable property area, strategically positioned with the beach at its front entrance and dense forest at its rear boundary.
People occasionally entered and exited through the main entrance. Judging from their working attire and tool-laden hands, they were probably laborers actively setting up the elaborate memorial worship ceremony.
These workers were obviously local island villagers. When Asai Narumi led their investigative group to the location, numerous people greeted her warmly and familiarly, clearly indicating she was quite popular and well-regarded throughout Moon Shadow Island's small community.
Perhaps her popularity stemmed from being the island's only qualified medical doctor.
"Nakamasa-san, have you seen Chief Kuroiwa anywhere?" Asai Narumi inquired of a middle-aged man who appeared to be the construction foreman.
Nakamasa scratched his head thoughtfully for a moment. "No, I honestly haven't seen him recently. That's genuinely strange and unusual. He was definitely here supervising work around noon. I don't know exactly when he disappeared from the premises."
Another worker suddenly interjected helpfully, "I think I vaguely remember Chief Kuroiwa mentioning he needed to use the restroom, and then I didn't see him return afterward."
The worker pointed toward the community center's administrative building. "It's the restroom inside the village office building itself. That was probably around noon, maybe slightly after."
"Excuse me, sir, did you happen to see Chief Kuroiwa come back out after entering?" Conan asked in his most innocent, childishly high-pitched voice.
His left eye twitched involuntarily with sudden anxiety. He had an increasingly bad premonition about this situation.
A terrible feeling was developing that something catastrophic had happened to Chief Kuroiwa.
Natsukawa experienced the identical unsettling sensation.
But logically speaking, according to the mysterious letter's cryptic warning, the actual case shouldn't commence until tomorrow night during the full moon, correct?
"No, I didn't see him exit, but he probably left through another route. I honestly didn't pay close attention. I have to complete all the atmospheric setup for tomorrow's worship ceremony today. I genuinely don't have sufficient time to monitor what the chief is doing constantly."
The worker complained with obvious resentment. Chief Kuroiwa had clearly been exploiting his labor quite extensively.
Natsukawa and Kogoro Mouri exchanged meaningful glances, both sensing something was distinctly amiss with this entire situation.
With so many construction workers actively present throughout the day, it seemed statistically impossible that absolutely none of them had witnessed Chief Kuroiwa departing the building.
Natsukawa glanced discreetly at Asai Narumi, carefully noting that her facial expression remained completely unchanged and neutral.
Strange. Was I just imagining that earlier suspicious reaction?
"I'll go investigate the situation personally. Hopefully, we're all just overthinking this and being paranoid. Dr. Narumi, could you please show me the way to the restroom?"
"Ah, of course."
After listening carefully to their entire conversation, Asai Narumi finally understood the implication and nodded with a peculiarly strained expression.
Asai Narumi led Natsukawa toward the restroom facility, while the remaining group members waited outside in the courtyard.
Kogoro Mouri continued his casual conversation with Foreman Nakamasa, who was a lifelong native of the island. The detective wanted to learn comprehensive background information about the island's history and culture from him, while also incidentally inquiring about Aso Keiji's mysterious circumstances.
It was far too unrealistic for a genuinely deceased person to somehow send him an investigation request letter.
That brat Conan could be incredibly annoying sometimes with his know-it-all attitude, but he wasn't wrong about one crucial thing: this mysterious request letter was very likely someone desperately wanting him—the famous detective—to thoroughly investigate the true circumstances surrounding Aso Keiji's death twelve years ago.
(End of Chapter 81)
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+10 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]
If you enjoyed this chapter, leave a Review!
P*atreon/Soulforger (30+ advanced chapters)
Buy me coffee - ko-fi*com/soulforger01