"The target is Shinichi?"
Yukiko sat back weakly on the sofa, her beautiful eyes clouded with intense dread.
Heiji nodded slowly. "Kudo Shinichi. The character for 'Ichi' (One) is the fourth in the sequence, which suggests he might be slated for four shots."
Yukiko's face turned paper-white in an instant. She lunged forward, grabbing Heiji's hand with desperate strength. "Heiji, you have to save Shinichi! Right now, you're the only one who can."
Her grip was iron-clad. Heiji frowned slightly at the pressure, then looked at her pale face and let out a helpless chuckle.
"Yukiko, the one they want to kill is Kudo Shinichi."
"Exactly! Shinichi is going to be killed! You have to save him!" Yukiko was still clutching his arm, her voice rising in panic.
"Their target is Kudo Shinichi!" Heiji emphasized, his tone heavy with meaning.
"That's what I said, Shini—"
Suddenly, a spark of realization flashed in Yukiko's eyes. Her tear-streaked face instantly transformed, blooming into a breathtaking smile.
"I forgot... I totally forgot!" she murmured to herself, laughing with a sense of profound relief.
Kazuha, standing nearby, was completely lost. The exchange between the two felt like a series of riddles that made no sense to her.
"Heiji, what are you and Yukiko even talking about? Since we know the next target is Kudo, shouldn't we notify him to be careful?"
Heiji smiled. "Of course we should." He turned his gaze back to Yukiko.
Yukiko froze for a second, then rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not calling. In his current state, nobody would ever notice him."
"With Kudo's personality, he's bound to go poking his nose into this investigation. If he draws their attention... well, you can imagine the consequences."
At Heiji's warning, Yukiko's face paled again. She scrambled to dial the phone.
"Hello, Shinichi? It's your darling Mommy! I've already uncovered the truth behind the serial murders..." Yukiko glanced at Heiji and slightly turned her face away. "Listen, Shinichi, the final target of this spree is you! You absolutely cannot go out solving cases. Stay home and keep Ran company, do you hear me?"
On the other end of the line, Conan, who was currently on a train, froze. "I'm the target?"
"Yes! The facts are as follows..."
Yukiko proceeded to recite Heiji's deduction verbatim. The more Conan heard, the more his heart pounded, his free hand clenching into a tight fist.
"So, Shinichi, don't go running around! As long as you don't do anything reckless, they'll never find you," Yukiko comforted him.
"Mom, put Heiji on the phone."
"Oh my, what is wrong with you? Your Mother just laid out the whole deduction, why do you need Heiji?" Yukiko asked, sounding offended.
"Mom, what's the common point between the victims?" Conan's voice was thick with suspicion.
"Heiji, what's the common point between the victims?" Yukiko turned and asked Heiji, her hand covering the mouthpiece, her eyes full of expectation.
Heiji was speechless. "You didn't cover the speaker."
Which meant Conan had heard the whole thing. Yukiko's expression turned instantly awkward.
Conan, on the other end, felt a headache coming on. "Mom... just give the phone to Heiji."
"Hmph! Shinichi, I can't believe you don't trust your own Mother. We are officially on a break!" Yukiko huffed, thrusting the phone toward Heiji while giving him a fierce glare. "Heiji, you're just like Shinichi—not cute at all!"
Heiji ignored her and took the phone. "Yo, Kudo."
"Heiji, tell me the full deduction from start to finish." That was Conan's first request.
Heiji smiled faintly. "And why should I?"
Conan choked for a moment, his face darkening. "I'm the target! Shouldn't I know the truth?"
"And yet, that doesn't seem like my problem."
There was a long silence on the line.
"The next time you come to Tokyo, I'll cover all your expenses," Conan muttered through gritted teeth.
"Deal!"
A predatory smirk hooked onto Heiji's lips as he cleared his thoughts. "There are three major connections in this case. First: Identity. All the victims have lived in Tokyo. Second: Residency. I had Inspector Megure check—they all lived within Beika City. Finally, my theory is that they've all had contact with you, or you've helped them in the past."
Conan went quiet.
"Megure Jun'ichiro once commissioned me to solve a case. Nohara Shinnosuke was the same. As for the tavern owner and Uekusa... I don't have a strong memory of them."
"Uekusa attended Teitan Elementary," Heiji added.
"Teitan Elementary?" Conan muttered. Suddenly, a light sparked in his eyes. "I remember! Was he really into kendo?"
Heiji's smile widened. "Bingo. It looks like this whole theatrical performance was designed specifically for you."
"Yeah, it's highly likely," Conan's voice turned deadly serious. "I remember Oguchi now, too. He was caught up in a case involving the death of a creditor, and I happened to solve it."
"So, all five targets are linked to you. The message the killer left is clear," Heiji said indifferently.
"Target: Kudo Shin... just missing the final 'Ichi.' And my name happens to have that character. Four shots... Heh." Conan's voice was laced with ice.
Heiji leaned back casually on the sofa. "Meticulous planning, professional execution, and high-level stealth. Kudo, it's definitely them. Their goal is to smoke you out."
Conan's expression turned cold. "You mean the Black Organization?"
"After Gin and Vodka returned from abroad, the first thing they did was investigate your house. They already suspect you're alive, but they aren't certain. This 'Tokyo Serial Murder Case' is their way of testing the waters."
"How can they be so sure I'd show up?"
"You already have. If you hadn't shrunk, you'd probably be meeting God right now," Heiji's voice was razor-sharp. "I told you: don't treat them like fools. Especially Gin. One slip-up, and you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
Conan was silent for a long moment. "I'll be careful. I won't let Ran and the others get dragged into this."
Heiji let out a cold laugh. "Is that so? Then how do you explain the attack on Yukiko?"
Conan's face went bone-white. If Heiji hadn't been there, his mother would be a corpse right now.
Yukiko sighed from the side. "Shinichi, I think I'll head back to New York in a while."
She knew that staying here would only make her a liability to her son.
"Heiji, give the phone back to Mom."
Heiji handed it over.
"Shinichi, you should go back to your Father," Yukiko said, her lip pouting.
"Mom, you should go back to Dad's place instead."
"I am not going back to Los Angeles! That mystery-obsessed man has social engagements every single day. From the day we got married until now, it's just one event after another. I'm not flying around with him anymore."
"Then stay in Osaka and don't wander around. I'll have Dad come pick you up."
"Hmph! We'll see if he has enough sincerity first." Yukiko hung up the phone.
An underground bar somewhere in Osaka!
"Boss, who's the next kill?" Vodka asked.
"Wait."
"Wait?"
"This time, it's all about baiting Kudo Shinichi. If he isn't dead, he will definitely show himself.