Saturday evening, Nishitama City, Twin Tower Skyscraper.
Celebrities and elites gathered. This building, called the one closest to Heaven, was now a landmark. Officials, businessmen, and successful figures from all industries came together, offering blessings to the tower that gave a sweeping view of Mount Fuji.
The banquet hall was full, glasses clinked, and well-dressed guests chatted happily.
Sonoko Suzuki gave everyone a scare today. In the morning she went to a stylist and got big, wavy curls, making her look almost like an adult version of Haibara Ai.
At the banquet, Sonoko kept admiring herself in the mirror, which gave Ran a lot of pressure.
Compared to the lively banquet, the police monitoring downstairs were miserable. They could only hide in their cars, chewing on cold, hard bread and drinking bottled water. The murder suspects were all inside the banquet, but the police weren't allowed in. "Let's just hope nothing happens," Inspector Megure said.
But the police seriously underestimated Conan's death god aura. If nothing happened, what would Conan even be here for?
The Detective Boys were happily lingering at the buffet. Genta's two hands weren't enough, piling food high on his plate, almost competing with Mouri Kogoro.
"This is good, that's good too." Genta stuffed everything in.
Seeing Genta like that, Professor Agasa also had his appetite stirred. "Then I'll try some too." But unfortunately, he was old. He couldn't eat freely, and Haibara Ai forbade him from high-calorie, high-fat food. In the end, he could only watch others eat.
"What are you doing?" Haibara Ai noticed Conan looking around as if searching for something and asked.
"I'm checking if there's anything expensive at the banquet. That notice letter still doesn't sit right with me."
"Does it have anything to do with the murder?"
"Maybe." Conan rubbed his chin. "Heaven's countdown, the soul of the skyscraper—what does it mean?" He couldn't figure it out. From his observation, the most valuable thing inside the tower was the Porsche on display in the hall. But would someone go through all this trouble just to steal a car? And it was on the 75th floor of a skyscraper. How could they even steal it?
"Maybe it really is just a bad joke." Haibara Ai didn't think there was anything worth stealing in this tower. "I don't think the notice letter and the murders are related."
"Why not?"
"A woman's intuition."
"Tch!" Conan could solve the most complex cases, but he could never read a woman's heart.
"So you already know who the killer is?"
"I have a pretty good idea, but I'm still missing evidence." Conan showed a confident smile.
"Good luck then." Haibara Ai wasn't interested in reasoning. Eating more food was far more fun.
"Yeah. I definitely won't let the killer get away."
The lively banquet carried on in harmony. As the host, Tokiwa Mio walked onto the stage. "Welcome, everyone, to the opening ceremony of Twin Tower Skyscraper."
All eyes turned to the stage.
"It's a great honor for us to have Master Kisaragi Hosui here, who created a magnificent piece especially for Twin Tower Skyscraper. Master Kisaragi, please come on stage."
Kisaragi Hosui was an old man with a white goatee, a national treasure–level painter of Japan, famous for nihonga, especially paintings of Mount Fuji.
"Everyone has already seen the beauty of Mount Fuji during the day, but I want our Twin Tower Skyscraper to let people enjoy its magnificence not only in the daytime but also at night," Tokiwa Mio said as staff carried a large item onto the stage. "Please, Master Kisaragi, unveil it for us."
The old man stood stiffly, face expressionless, and pulled the silk cloth away with force.
"Ohhh~" The audience gasped in awe.
It was a painting—Mount Fuji rendered so vividly that its graceful beauty was captured to perfection. Even those who didn't understand art felt as if they were standing before the real mountain. White snow and drifting clouds wrapped around the mountainside, so real it was hard to tell truth from illusion.
Applause erupted. The old man's skill had not dulled with age—his artistry was stunning.
Conan thought, so this is the nighttime view of Mount Fuji. True enough. But just hanging up a painting and calling it Mount Fuji seemed lazy. He had expected something that really let people see the mountain at night.
Just then, all the lights suddenly went out. Conan jumped in shock, thinking someone strange had appeared. But no—it was just the appreciation segment for Kisaragi's paintings. Huge screens lit up, showing one masterpiece after another.
"This isn't the agreed schedule," Kisaragi muttered beside Tokiwa. "Weren't my works supposed to come after the game segment?"
"Secretary Sawaguchi reminded me. How could your masterpiece appear after some childish game? By changing the order, your art gets the attention it deserves," Tokiwa explained.
Kisaragi fell silent, only glaring daggers at the back of her head with a twisted expression.
"President, it's time to prepare for the game."
"Alright, I'm coming. Master Kisaragi, please wait a moment while I handle the next part."
"I know." The old man loosened the grip in his hands. He had almost attacked this hateful woman. Damn it, his entire plan was ruined.
Kisaragi's paintings were all Mount Fuji—spring, summer, autumn, winter—each different. After viewing them, it felt as if a whole year had passed.
The lights came back on. More applause filled the hall.
"Next is the game segment. This idea comes from Secretary Sawaguchi: silent counting for 30 seconds," Tokiwa Mio announced from the stage again. "Participants, please hand over your watches to staff. Later, we will give each of you a gemstone matching your watch's value. The winner will be the one who reaches 30 seconds, or closest to it, and will receive this Porsche sports car. Second place will get a mountain bike. Now, participants, please take your colored flags and come to the stage."
Jewels and a Porsche—even Sonoko couldn't resist. Truly, the Tokiwa Group's wealth was staggering. Guests eagerly joined in, with Mouri Kogoro and Professor Agasa also holding flags.
"Children, please come to the front. When the game starts, staff will press the stopwatch and shout 'Start!' Then participants begin counting seconds. When finished, raise your flags. Whoever is closest to 30 seconds wins. If multiple players raise their flags at the same time, the final decision will be made with rock-paper-scissors."
A staff member stood, raised the stopwatch, and shouted loudly: "Start!"
The countdown of 30 seconds began.
Each had their own method. The hall fell into silence, so quiet Conan could hear people whispering numbers under their breath.
'The countdown to Heaven's staircase…' Conan suddenly recalled the words in the notice letter. His heart skipped a beat. That suffocating feeling—his nemesis was about to appear. There was no mistaking it.
What would happen? What was about to unfold?! His mind raced like a speeding train.
20 seconds…
10 seconds…
0 seconds…
It was time for Kaitou Kid's performance.