"I arranged to meet Anzai at the shrine at 9:30 tonight to hand over the money."
"I brought the knife to threaten him, to make him stop bringing up that old incident."
Myoko Dougaki recounted her rebellious junior high days.
Back then, she skipped studies, hanging out with people like Anzai.
One time, she carelessly mentioned the valuable ceremonial items at Beika Shrine, leading Anzai Morio to steal one.
Afterward, Mr. Sugiyama, the warehouse manager, took his own life out of guilt, hanging himself in the storage room.
From then on, Myoko turned her life around, studying hard, finding a job, and getting engaged.
But at a turning point in her life, she ran into Anzai Morio again—and he started blackmailing her.
Conan shook his head and asked, "How exactly was Anzai blackmailing you?"
"He said I gave him the information, making me an accomplice. He claimed Mr. Sugiyama's death was on me."
"If this kept up, my marriage to Yuji would be ruined," Myoko said softly.
She'd already paid Anzai a fortune from her savings, but he showed no signs of stopping.
Conan: …
Why not just brush up on the law…?
The detective glanced at the knife in the evidence bag, silently relieved that Tsuneo had shown up when he did.
"When did the man in black appear?" Officer Megure pressed.
"Right when I met Anzai and pulled out the knife, he showed up."
"Then I was knocked out. When I came to, Yuji was lying next to me. That's when I screamed. Then Conan and the others ran over," Myoko said, recounting everything she knew to the police.
Megure frowned and turned to her fiancé, Yuji Shimazaki.
Yuji gripped his fiancée's hand tightly. "I noticed Myoko looked off, so I said I was stepping out to buy cigarettes and followed her."
"When I got to the shrine, I saw Myoko on the ground with a knife nearby. I was about to check on her when someone knocked me out from behind."
Unfortunately, neither provided any critical clues.
"A guy in all black…" Megure mused, already forming a theory.
Given Anzai Morio's character, it was likely the so-called Dark Knight who'd stepped in.
"Inspector Megure, we found these photos in Anzai's room," Officer Takagi said, hurrying over.
"What's this?" Megure examined the photos, showing a man and woman leaving a hotel arm-in-arm.
It was Shingo Nachi, the self-proclaimed heartthrob, and the actress Ritsuko Akiyama—a married woman!
"Conan, earlier in the woods, didn't we overhear Anzai and Nachi talking about money?" Ran asked, turning to him.
"Yeah, that's right," Conan nodded.
He'd been with Ran, helping get autographs, and caught snippets of their conversation.
"Looks like more than one person was being blackmailed."
"Takagi, investigate Anzai Morio's connections and everyone he was extorting!" Megure waved his chubby hand, issuing the order.
This time, they might finally track down that night-prowling vigilante!
Conan, catching Megure's drift, gave a wry smile.
No matter how hard the police searched, they'd probably never figure out why Anzai was targeted…
…
A stormy night, lightning flashing and rain pouring.
Dr. Agasa's house.
"Found it!" The doctor dug out a yellowed roll of paper from a pile of clutter.
"What's that, Doctor?" Akemi asked curiously.
"Didn't I say we're going camping tomorrow? Can't do it without this!"
Dr. Agasa flashed a cryptic smile.
"Okay, okay…" Akemi nodded, returning to the kitchen in her apron. Thanks to a certain repairman, she had to prep a ton of ingredients in advance.
…
The next day.
"I didn't peg you as the type for this," Conan said, sporting a red cap, eyeing the driver beside him.
"You're wrong there. I love family camping," Tsuneo said, tossing tents and gear into the pickup truck.
Conan glanced at his shrunken body, then at Tsuneo's grinning face, feeling vaguely offended.
"What's with that treasure map?"
Conan turned to the camping trip's organizer.
Dr. Agasa, standing by his yellow Beetle, was whispering mysteriously to Ayumi and the others about a map.
"How should I know? All I know is we're having barbecue tonight," Tsuneo said, shaking his head.
"Typical," Conan deadpanned, his eyes rolling.
…
"Sakiko-neechan, do you know what the treasure is?" Ayumi asked Akemi Miyano, whose warm smile and glasses radiated kindness.
"No idea," Akemi said, gently patting the girl's head with a smile.
Tamagawa Sakiko—that was her alias now.
Her cover: a relative of Dr. Agasa's.
With Yukiko's remote coaching, plus changes to her hair and makeup, even someone familiar would struggle to recognize her.
"Sakiko-neechan's so gentle…" Mitsuhiko whispered to Genta, starry-eyed.
No matter the disguise, that big-sister warmth couldn't be hidden.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Genta nodded, sharing the sentiment.
Tsuneo caught the scene and chuckled, leaning down to a certain someone. "Detective, you got a thing for Sakiko-neechan?"
"You…" Conan's lips twitched in exasperation.
After some prep, the group set off for the campsite.
Tsuneo drove his pickup behind Dr. Agasa's car, with Conan and Akemi in tow.
"Sakiko-neechan, about the Black Organization—do you know anything else?" Conan asked.
Akemi looked at the small boy beside her, a strange sense of unease stirring.
Why was a seven-year-old so curious about that dangerous group—and even involved with it?
And the way Dr. Agasa and Tsuneo treated Conan felt… off.
"I'm sorry, Conan. I don't know much more," Akemi said, patting his head.
"Then your sister—what's she like?"
"Her?"
"She's like you—a really smart kid!" Akemi leaned close, smiling face-to-face.
Oddly, the detective's face flushed red.
"Heh."
Tsuneo let out a cold chuckle.
(End of Chapter)
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