The sky darkened gradually.
The forest grew still and shadowy, stars twinkling overhead, the moon hanging high. A faint smoky aroma wafted from the riverbank campsite.
"Doctor, toss me a couple of chicken wings!"
"Sure, sure, Tsuneo-kun, grab me another bowl of soup!"
Akemi ignored the two happily gorging themselves, her eyes repeatedly darting to the path leading into the woods.
The kids had been out with that treasure map for half the day. Any normal person would be worried.
Gulp, gulp.
Dr. Agasa downed a bowl of fish soup with relish, glanced at Tsuneo grilling and eating, then ambled to a lounge chair, plopping down to stargaze leisurely.
"Doctor, I'm going to check on them," Akemi said, untying her apron, ready to head out.
She couldn't keep listening to these two.
It was dark—time to bring the kids back.
Before Dr. Agasa could respond, Conan's voice rang out from the dark woods.
"No need, we're back!"
Conan emerged at the edge of the campsite with the three kids.
Their clothes were torn with small rips, faces smudged with sweat and dirt. The treasure hunt clearly hadn't been smooth.
"You're finally back!"
Akemi rushed to them, checking them over thoroughly.
Their clothes were scratched up by branches, but no one was hurt or bleeding. She sighed in relief.
"We found an awesome treasure!" Ayumi said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Yeah, the Junior Detective League wins big!" Mitsuhiko and Genta boasted to Akemi about their thrilling adventure.
Conan sidled up to Dr. Agasa. "Doctor, call the police quick. We caught two jewel thieves!"
"Huh?" Dr. Agasa, about to sip tea to settle his stomach, froze.
Trouble already?
Leave it to Shinichi…
"Oh! Barbecue!" Genta, mid-brag to the gentle big sister, sniffed the air and spun toward Tsuneo.
The little chubster scampered to the grill, pleading politely, "Tsuneo-nii, I'm hungry!"
"I'm hungry too," Tsuneo said, nodding. He piled a plate high with beef and generously handed Genta a pair of chopsticks.
"Isn't that for me…?" Genta stared at Tsuneo's overflowing plate, then down at his own empty one, dumbfounded.
"Do I look that nice?" Tsuneo asked, chomping on meat, eyeing the kid.
Genta shook his head, dazed.
As long as you don't eat kids…
"Let me grill for you!" Akemi said, guiding Ayumi and Mitsuhiko over. She snatched the tongs from Tsuneo, tied on her apron, and started cooking for the kids.
Dr. Agasa, full and satisfied, drove his car down the mountain to find a signal and call the police.
Less than an hour later, a fleet of police cars roared up the mountain.
The rapid response wasn't just because the two jewel thieves were armed and dangerous—it was also the massive haul of priceless gems.
Conan's kicking skills were, as always, a sight to behold.
Smacked in the face by a heavy bag of jewels, the two thieves were knocked into a deep coma, showing no signs of waking even as they were dragged onto the police cars…
All in all, the incident wrapped up smoothly.
…
Late at night.
Inside the tent.
"The real treasure is the journey you took to get here—the experiences along the way."
"You might fall off a bridge into a river, have to start a fire, catch fish, or rely on friends to overcome obstacles."
"But these are all valuable experiences."
"You may not fully grasp it now, but one day, these moments will become your priceless treasures, your lifelong wealth."
"I hope you'll pass this experience on to others in the future."
"YuSAKu, K"
"1978.10.10"
Tsuneo finished reading the treasure Dr. Agasa had described, silently picking up some fruit to munch on.
"That look on your face—was that envy?" Conan, mimicking his father by signing his name and date in English on the paper, asked Tsuneo curiously.
"What're you talking about? Like I didn't have a childhood?"
"Envy you?"
Tsuneo snorted, pulling the fruit tray away, denying the kid a bite.
"Heh…" Conan rolled his eyes, carefully rolling up the parchment to return it to its box up the mountain at dawn.
Thinking back on the four kids helping each other along the way, the detective couldn't help but smile.
This kind of adventure never got old, no matter how many times he did it!
"Why'd they hide the jewels with this letter?" Tsuneo asked casually, chewing.
He couldn't quite recall the details of this case.
"Over a decade ago, when I was just born, my dad lost a manuscript he was about to publish."
"Even though the thief—a detective fan—was caught, he claimed he couldn't find the manuscript," Conan said, relaying what Dr. Agasa had told the police.
"That thief's the one who died in an accident, drew the treasure map, but never got to dig it up, right?" Tsuneo nodded, connecting some dots.
"Yeah. Since he couldn't publish stolen work, he probably hid the manuscript he loved with the valuable jewels," Conan said with a smile, amazed at the coincidence of catching two other jewel thieves this time.
As for the manuscript, they'd likely have to wait until they got back to retrieve it from the police.
"Hey, you guys asleep?"
A small figure stood outside the tent.
"Mitsuhiko?" Conan said, unzipping the tent.
"Yeah, can I crash here tonight?" Mitsuhiko asked, clutching a blanket, scratching his head with a grin.
The group had brought three tents: Akemi and Ayumi in one, Tsuneo and Conan in another, and poor Mitsuhiko stuck with Dr. Agasa and Genta…
Those two must've eaten too much and worn themselves out—they were sleeping like logs, snoring just a tad too loud…
"Come on in," Tsuneo said, waving him in kindly, even sharing the fruit tray.
"Thanks, Tsuneo-nii," Mitsuhiko said, settling in and grabbing some fruit.
"Huh?" Conan zipped up the tent, tilting his head, staring at Tsuneo with a question-mark face.
Since when was this guy this nice?
Sharing fruit with Mitsuhiko?
"Mitsuhiko, any issues with the fridge since I fixed it?" Tsuneo asked.
"Nope! Mom keeps saying you've got mad skills!" Mitsuhiko said, shaking his head with a smile, passing along his mom's praise.
"Oh, I see…"
Conan finally got it. Clients' kids got special treatment…
Genta, doesn't anything at your place ever break?
"Oh, right! Mom told me to ask for more business cards. She'll help spread the word!" Mitsuhiko added, remembering.
"Here, here, eat up!" Tsuneo said, grabbing Conan's backpack and dumping out a pile of snacks.
Conan: …
(End of Chapter)
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