Tsuneo trailed Dr. Agasa's little yellow Beetle, driving out of Beika Town and into the deep, forested mountains.
After a bumpy ride along a rugged mountain road, the two vehicles pulled up beside a riverbank.
Tsuneo set to work pitching tents, while Akemi sorted through ingredients. As for Dr. Agasa…
"Alright, everyone, you're standing at the Bone Tree now. Your first target is the London Log Bridge. Off you go!" The doctor pointed out the starting point on the treasure map.
"Got it!" Ayumi, Genta, and Mitsuhiko responded with fiery enthusiasm.
"As for us three adults, we'll be waiting here for your good news!" Dr. Agasa said, holding a fishing rod with a grin.
"Seriously, am I a kid or what…?"
Conan sighed, resigned, but grabbed the map and led the three kids on their treasure hunt.
"Mr. Tsuneo, who is Conan, exactly?" Akemi asked, watching the four kids, curiosity in her voice.
Tsuneo hummed a tune, hammering tent stakes. "You'll find out soon enough."
The campsite Dr. Agasa picked was perfect—clear streams, lush layered woods, an inexplicable calm that melted stress away.
Well, except for that creepy "Bone Tree" looming nearby, everything was great…
…
"Conan-kun, do you know what the treasure is?" Ayumi asked, trailing behind the detective with her little backpack, eyes wide with curiosity.
"No clue," Conan said, shaking his head.
Since it was Dr. Agasa's treasure map…
Best not to dampen their spirits.
"It's gotta be something super valuable, right, Mitsuhiko?" Genta said, buzzing with excitement.
"Yeah! Diamonds, gems, maybe even gold hidden from the Tokugawa era!" Mitsuhiko chimed in, caught up in the hype.
These two idiots…
Conan watched Genta and Mitsuhiko hug in glee, chuckling silently.
Soon, the Junior Detective League reached the so-called London Log Bridge.
Facing a rickety wooden suspension bridge, the four crossed cautiously.
"Seeing 'London Log Bridge' on the map, I thought it'd collapse," Mitsuhiko said, wiping sweat from his brow, grinning like he'd cheated death.
"In a movie, a shaky bridge like this? We'd definitely fall," Conan said, his tone light.
"Hahaha!"
The kids burst out laughing at his quip.
Maybe they laughed too loud—the bridge's ropes started snapping, one by one.
With a crack, the bridge split in two.
Staring at the rushing river below, their faces turned to panic.
"You really can't joke about stuff like this," Genta said, swallowing hard, eyeing the wrecked bridge.
That old man sent us to a place this dangerous. How are we supposed to get back?
Conan's expression was a mix of shock and amusement. He hadn't expected Dr. Agasa to go this big.
…
"Why'd that guy hide treasure in the middle of these mountains?"
In the woods, a tall, lanky man in a suit, cigarette dangling from his lips, griped to his companion.
"I bet he was a real mysterious type," a chubby, bald man said, checking a compass against a map, grinning.
Clearly, he was enjoying the treasure hunt.
"Damn it, the map says five cedar trees, but there's only four here. What gives?" the lanky man asked, glancing around.
"That guy was unlucky. Right when he was about to find the treasure, he up and died," the bald man said casually, sitting down with the map.
"Hey!"
"We're out here treasure hunting together, so answer me when I talk!" The lanky man, tossing his cigarette, grabbed his companion's collar in a fit of frustration.
"That's dangerous, mister!"
Ayumi's voice rang out nearby.
Conan stepped forward, stamping out the cigarette. "You've gotta put out the flame before tossing it. A forest fire would be bad news."
"Who are you brats?" the lanky man snapped.
"We're the Junior Detective League!" Genta declared, loving the chance to answer.
As he spoke, Conan spotted the map in the man's hand and frowned.
"Stop staring!" The lanky man stuffed the map into his pocket, dragging his companion away.
Conan noted the man's suit, polished boots, and the shovel he carried, slipping into deduction mode.
…
"Doctor, are there really fish in this river?" Tsuneo asked, crouching by the bank, skeptical.
He'd suggested buying a fish for soup that morning, but the old man insisted he could catch one…
"There are, there are! Any second now," Dr. Agasa said, half-asleep behind sunglasses, jolting upright at Tsuneo's question.
"Were you just napping?" Tsuneo asked, suspicious.
"…" Dr. Agasa gripped his fishing rod, silent.
"Doctor, Mr. Tsuneo, have some snacks!" Akemi approached, offering fruit and pastries.
As long as there was food, Tsuneo's mouth was easily occupied, and he dropped the fisherman jabs.
Akemi stood by Dr. Agasa, gazing at her slightly unfamiliar reflection in the water, a faint smile on her lips.
Shiho, if you were here, it'd be so much fun…
Splash! A fist-sized rock hit the water, sending ripples that snapped her out of her reverie.
"Doctor, we got a fish," Tsuneo said, pointing at a large fish sinking to the bottom, apparently knocked out.
Dr. Agasa stared as the fish he'd finally lured to his hook was smashed by a rock…
"Get back here! I'm turning you into fish bait!" The old man brandished his rod, chasing Tsuneo in a huff.
Akemi shook her head with a smile, rolled up her pants, waded into the stream, and grabbed the fish. She returned to the makeshift cooking station to prep it.
"Doctor, when's the last time you exercised?" Tsuneo asked, supporting a panting Dr. Agasa back to his chair.
"Why'd you run so fast?" Dr. Agasa grumbled.
Just let me catch you—it'd be so easy. No respect for playing games with the elderly.
"I wasn't sure if you'd actually turn someone into fish bait…"
…
"It's almost dusk. You think Conan and the others are okay?" Akemi asked, eyeing the darkening sky, worry creeping in.
"They'll be fine. They're gonna love that treasure," Dr. Agasa said, waving a hand, flipping golden-brown chicken wings on the grill.
"Exactly!" Tsuneo nodded, sipping fish soup and munching on barbecue, keeping busy.
Akemi glanced at the dense forest, still uneasy about the kids.
The Junior Detective League was about to grow.
(End of Chapter)
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