Bang!
A gunshot split the winter night. Just yesterday it had still been crisp autumn, but overnight snow fell and frost covered the ground. That was Conan's world—time skipped around however it pleased, and no one thought it strange. Even school had suddenly gone on winter break.
On what should have been cheerful, carefree days, a gunshot jolted all of Tokyo awake.
Blood splashed across white snow.
"Murder~~!"
A night owl spotted a shadow dart into a back alley, leaving behind only a corpse and a mahjong tile.
Across Japan, a string of serial killings spread. Police from all over the country gathered in Tokyo, combining forces to solve the vicious crimes.
There had been six cases in six prefectures. Weapons included knives, guns, and more. The victims had no connection. Aside from the mahjong tiles, there were no leads at all.
Each tile bore a letter and a straight black line. So far, tiles found at the scenes included one one bamboo and five seven bamboos.
Maybe because this was a detective's world, killers liked to show off. Whether out of overconfidence or simply mocking the police and detectives, they always left strange clues.
Naturally, a big case like this couldn't go without Mouri Kogorō. And with him, Conan was sure to follow. For Conan, this kind of case was a feast.
Of course, it had nothing to do with Liu A'dou's family. Ada thought it strange how the seasons skipped overnight, but A'dou told her, as always, just get used to it.
If you could get used to it, then even if the whole year was winter, it didn't matter. A'dou was used to it anyway.
"Since it's winter, it's time to stock up for New Year. How about we go shopping together?" A'dou suggested.
Vacations naturally meant shopping, and shopping was the best way to blow off stress. Ada's last cold had been from overwork. Now was a good time to relax.
"Shopping, shopping! Haibara, let's go crazy. Whatever you want, we can buy it now!"
"I want a centrifuge." Haibara was still doing chemistry experiments, and Ada and A'dou fully supported her. She hadn't said it aloud, but she already knew they were aware of her identity. And she also knew they weren't normal people. At the very least, they could provide her with anything she needed—even more than the professor could.
"Buy, buy, buy. But first, we'll hit the mall and get some food, clothes, and supplies." A'dou smiled. "Now bring Nono down here."
Watching A'dou directing everyone, Ada wondered if she hadn't been far too easy to win over. After that murder-by-ring case, their marriage had gone back to normal. Now it was obvious to anyone—they were clearly husband and wife.
"We'll start on the first floor and shop all the way up to the top," A'dou declared. This time, he planned to buy enough clothes for the next several years.
Haibara felt crushed under the pressure. She really didn't know how this family had so much energy. The place had more than ten floors of shops. Just two floors would leave her exhausted, but A'dou wanted to go through them all.
But shopping was never guaranteed to go smoothly. This was the world of detectives, and detectives could never be separated from cases. A case and a detective were like partners in a waltz, spinning together across the floor to the rhythm of crime.
The mall was crawling with police. Not just any police—officers from different regions, many familiar faces A'dou had met back on the first detective world.
The rookie from Gunma. The Yokomizo twins. Childhood friends turned detective partners. And, of course, Tokyo Metropolitan Police's Criminal Division One.
This had to be a huge case, pulling in so many police. A'dou knew it could only mean a joint task force. No other explanation fit.
Right now, the police were on stakeout, waiting for the suspected serial killer.
"Edogawa-kun?!" Haibara spotted Conan hiding in the shadows, also watching the entrance. Looked like he and the police were all waiting for the suspect to show up.
"Well, for once they actually look a little like real police." That was Ada's verdict. She'd lost too much faith in their brains at past crime scenes to believe in them anymore.
But now, seeing how well they'd arranged things and how neatly every surveillance point was covered, A'dou couldn't help nodding. Looked like the police weren't always useless after all.
"Forget them. Let them handle the arrest. If they can't catch the suspect with this many people, they should all just quit." A'dou had no interest in watching.
Ada, though, wanted to see how the police performed. Haibara, on the other hand, was worried about Conan—afraid he'd get himself dragged into danger again.
The suspect arrived—a young man with dark skin.
"All units, attention! The suspect has appeared. Wait until he goes upstairs before moving in. He may be armed, so stay alert." Inspector Megure was commanding the joint operation.
"Understood!"
To block off every escape route, they decided to wait until the suspect entered the upper floors before striking.
But rookie Yamamura from Gunma couldn't hold back. Hungry for credit, he charged in while the suspect was still at the elevator doors.
"Idiot! Everyone move!"
A rookie was a rookie. In the middle of the takedown, he tripped, sending his police badge clattering right to the suspect's feet. Instantly exposed—cops?!
"Idiot, idiot!" Megure was furious at Gunma's rookie.
"Stop! Don't resist, you're surrounded! Give it up and surrender!"
Ding!
The suspect pulled a switchblade from his pocket. "Don't come any closer!"
And shockingly, several officers froze at the sight of one small blade. At that moment, a woman stepped out of the upstairs elevator—and was immediately grabbed as a hostage.
"…" A'dou didn't even want to comment anymore. What was this nonsense? Why always hostages? Couldn't these suspects ever do something straightforward?
"Stay back, or I'll kill her!"
The hostage's face was pale with terror as the suspect dragged her into the descending elevator.
Conan was watching the whole time. He couldn't let the suspect get away. Time for his big weapon—murder soccer ball!
Thunk!
A shadow flew past. In the next instant, the suspect released the hostage and toppled out of the elevator.
"Move in, arrest him!"
The police swarmed in, hauling the suspect down. But everyone knew—if he was caught this easily, he wasn't the real killer. That was this world's iron rule. The first one arrested was almost never the culprit. The one nobody suspected at first? Much more likely.
"You two, come with me!" A'dou tugged Haibara toward the underground parking lot. She glanced back and saw Conan tailing the female hostage in the same direction.
What was happening? Haibara didn't know. But that feeling… yes, it was the Organization. With so many people around earlier, she hadn't sensed it. Now, in the shadows, the pressure was back, heavy and suffocating.
Her whole body shook. Only the warmth of A'dou's hand gripping her right hand gave her any strength.
"Haibara, don't be afraid. Today, we'll finally shatter the chains the Organization wrapped around you." A'dou's smile was as infectious as ever.