The faint light of dawn did not dispel the gloom within the Hattori Mansion. Heiji Hattori sat alone in his room, his eyes sunken and bloodshot. The soul-shaking conflict of the previous night, Kazuha's resolute gaze as she defended Kanjuro, and the absurdly cruel result after he pulled the trigger replayed in his mind like a nightmare. He hadn't slept all night, his spirit and physical strength on the verge of collapse. Due to his leg injury and deep concern for Ran's situation, Conan Edogawa had already returned to Tokyo in the early morning with Dr. Agasa's assistance, leaving Heiji Hattori alone to chew on this bitter failure and heartache.
Just then, his phone rang. The name flashing on the screen made his heart suddenly contract—Toyama Kazuha.
He stared at the name, his breathing rapid and his fingers trembling, almost unable to hold the phone. Was it anger? Expectation? Or a lingering trace of fantasy? Ultimately, he pressed the answer key and put the phone to his ear, his voice hoarse and dry, filled with heavy exhaustion and unconcealed resentment: "...Kazuha? Why... why are you still calling? Are you so 'concerned' about how I'm doing?"
From the other end of the phone came Kazuha's unusually gentle, even apologetic voice, which was a world away from her madness during yesterday's armed standoff: "Heiji... are you okay? I... I'm worried about you."
This sudden "concern" made Heiji Hattori pause for a moment, followed by a surge of nameless fire: "Worried about me? Ha! You defended that demon right in front of me, even... even admitted to being with him... and now you come here with this hypocritical concern?! Kazuha, what exactly do you want?!"
"Heiji, listen to me!" Kazuha's voice remained gentle, but added a hint of urgency and the tension of a "secret" about to be revealed. She lowered her voice as if afraid of being overheard. "It's not what you think! Actually... actually, I'm an undercover agent by Kanjuro's side!"
These words were like a sudden spark in the darkness, instantly igniting the hope that had almost died out in Heiji Hattori! He jerked upright in his chair, his heart racing, his voice trembling with disbelief: "Wh... what?! Kazuha, you... are you telling the truth?! You're really... an undercover agent?!"
"Yes!" Kazuha responded forcefully on the other end, her tone carrying the excitement of being "relieved of a burden" and "finally able to confess." "Heiji, I knew you would believe me! How could I really betray you, betray everyone? I went undercover by his side just to gather evidence of his many crimes! I've already mastered a lot of key information!"
"That's great! I knew it! I knew you didn't lie to me!!" Heiji Hattori was so excited he almost jumped up. The gloom and despair of the night were swept away by wild joy in an instant; he felt as if he had come back to life. "Kazuha! Where are you now? Are you safe? Let's meet right away! What help do you need?"
Hearing Heiji Hattori's unsuspecting voice filled with surprise and concern on the other end, the hand Toyama Kazuha used to hold the phone trembled slightly. A trace of an extremely complex emotion, one she couldn't even clearly identify herself, flickered in the depths of her eyes, but it was quickly covered by a stronger sense of purpose. She took a deep breath and continued in that gentle voice with the tone of a "secret mission":
"I'm in a relatively safe place right now, but Kanjuro and his accomplice (referring to Hattori Shizuka) are watching very closely; I can't stay long. Heiji, can you come out and meet me? Just you alone, and whatever you do, don't tell anyone, especially Uncle Heizo! Kanjuro's influence might have penetrated further than we imagine; I'm afraid of leaking the news."
She deliberately emphasized "alone" and "secrecy," perfectly exploiting the trust and protective instinct that had just been reignited in Heiji Hattori.
"Okay! Tell me the location! I'll head over right away! I definitely won't tell anyone!" Heiji Hattori agreed immediately without suspicion.
Kazuha gave the location designated by Kanjuro—a hill on the outskirts of the mountain range where they were hiding, relatively open and easy to observe yet sufficiently hidden. "Right there, I'll wait for you. Heiji, come quickly. I... I have very important things to tell you in person."
"Wait for me! I'll be there soon!" Heiji Hattori hung up the phone and practically rushed out of the room. He didn't even bother to tidy his appearance, his mind filled with the good news of Kazuha's "successful undercover mission" and "obtaining evidence," as well as the excitement of finally exposing Kanjuro's true face.
Inside the abandoned hunter's cabin, Kazuha slowly put down the phone, let out a light sigh of relief, and looked at Kanjuro: "He believed it. He's on his way."
Kanjuro nodded with satisfaction. He greatly admired Kazuha's masterful performance just now, which exploited the other party's trust and feelings. He glanced at the silent Hattori Shizuka beside him, then slowly closed his eyes to concentrate.
Driven by his will, the faint barrier shrouding the outskirts of the forest and interfering with the police search operation quietly receded like a tide. Distorted perceptions returned to normal, and the lost officers would soon regain their bearings and likely reorganize their search. But Kanjuro wasn't worried, because before then, the "meeting" in his plan would already be over.
The barrier was withdrawn, like a beast retracting its claws, temporarily hiding and waiting for the prey to walk into the trap on its own.
"Alright, Shizuka, you go get ready too. Contact Heiji in your own way," Kanjuro instructed indifferently.
Hattori Shizuka nodded and took out her phone, beginning to devise how to use her identity as a "mother" to eliminate any last trace of doubt Heiji Hattori might have and lead him toward another fatal meeting place.
Outside the cabin, the mountain wind swept through the treetops, making a rustling sound as if playing a low prelude for the impending betrayal and slaughter. Kazuha tightened her grip on the cold black handgun in her arms, her gaze fixed on the small path leading to the hill outside the window, waiting for the childhood friend who was once most familiar but was now about to become her sacrifice to the darkness. The faint light of dawn did not dispel the gloom within the Hattori Mansion. Heiji Hattori sat alone in his room, his eyes sunken and bloodshot. The soul-shaking conflict of the previous night, Kazuha's resolute gaze as she defended Kanjuro, and the absurdly cruel result after he pulled the trigger replayed in his mind like a nightmare. He hadn't slept all night, his spirit and physical strength on the verge of collapse. Conan had already returned to Tokyo in the early morning with Dr. Agasa's assistance, leaving Heiji Hattori alone to chew on this bitter failure and heartache.
Just then, his phone rang. The name flashing on the screen made his heart suddenly contract—Toyama Kazuha.
He stared at the name, his breathing rapid and his fingers trembling, almost unable to hold the phone. Was it anger? Expectation? Or a lingering trace of fantasy? Ultimately, he pressed the answer key and put the phone to his ear, his voice hoarse and dry, filled with heavy exhaustion and unconcealed resentment: "...Kazuha? Why... why are you still calling? Are you so 'concerned' about how I'm doing?"
From the other end of the phone came Kazuha's unusually gentle, even apologetic voice, which was a world away from her madness during yesterday's armed standoff: "Heiji... are you okay? I... I'm worried about you."
This sudden "concern" made Heiji Hattori pause for a moment, followed by a surge of nameless fire: "Worried about me? Ha! You defended that demon right in front of me, even... even admitted to being with him... and now you come here with this hypocritical concern?! Kazuha, what exactly do you want?!"
"Heiji, listen to me!" Kazuha's voice remained gentle, but added a hint of urgency and the tension of a "secret" about to be revealed. She lowered her voice as if afraid of being overheard. "It's not what you think! Actually... actually, I'm an undercover agent by Kanjuro's side!"
These words were like a sudden spark in the darkness, instantly igniting the hope that had almost died out in Heiji Hattori! He jerked upright in his chair, his heart racing, his voice trembling with disbelief: "Wh... what?! Kazuha, you... are you telling the truth?! You're really... an undercover agent?!"
"Yes!" Kazuha responded forcefully on the other end, her tone carrying the excitement of being "relieved of a burden" and "finally able to confess." "Heiji, I knew you would believe me! How could I really betray you, betray everyone? I went undercover by his side just to gather evidence of his many crimes! I've already mastered a lot of key information!"
"That's great! I knew it! I knew you didn't lie to me!!" Heiji Hattori was so excited he almost jumped up. The gloom and despair of the night were swept away by wild joy in an instant; he felt as if he had come back to life. "Kazuha! Where are you now? Are you safe? Let's meet right away! What help do you need?"
Hearing Heiji Hattori's unsuspecting voice filled with surprise and concern on the other end, the hand Toyama Kazuha used to hold the phone trembled slightly. A trace of an extremely complex emotion, one she couldn't even clearly identify herself, flickered in the depths of her eyes, but it was quickly covered by a stronger sense of purpose. She took a deep breath and continued in that gentle voice with the tone of a "secret mission":
"I'm in a relatively safe place right now, but Kanjuro and his accomplice (referring to Hattori Shizuka) are watching very closely; I can't stay long. Heiji, can you come out and meet me? Just you alone, and whatever you do, don't tell anyone, especially Uncle Heizo! Kanjuro's influence might have penetrated further than we imagine; I'm afraid of leaking the news."
She deliberately emphasized "alone" and "secrecy," perfectly exploiting the trust and protective instinct that had just been reignited in Heiji Hattori.
"Okay! Tell me the location! I'll head over right away! I definitely won't tell anyone!" Heiji Hattori agreed immediately without suspicion.
Kazuha gave the location designated by Kanjuro—a hill on the outskirts of the mountain range where they were hiding, relatively open and easy to observe yet sufficiently hidden. "Right there, I'll wait for you. Heiji, come quickly. I... I have very important things to tell you in person."
"Wait for me! I'll be there soon!" Heiji Hattori hung up the phone and practically rushed out of the room. He didn't even bother to tidy his appearance, his mind filled with the good news of Kazuha's "successful undercover mission" and "obtaining evidence," as well as the excitement of finally exposing Kanjuro's true face.
Inside the abandoned hunter's cabin, Kazuha slowly put down the phone, let out a light sigh of relief, and looked at Kanjuro: "He believed it. He's on his way."
Kanjuro nodded contentedly. He greatly appreciated Kazuha's exquisite performance just now, which exploited the other party's trust and feelings. He glanced at Hattori Shizuka, who was silent beside him, then slowly closed his eyes and concentrated.
Driven by his will, the faint barrier shrouding the outskirts of the mountain forest, which had been interfering with the police search, quietly receded like a tide. Distorted perceptions returned to normal, and the lost officers would soon regain their bearings and likely reorganize the search. But Kanjuro wasn't worried, because by then, the "meeting" in his plan should already be over.
The barrier was removed, as if a beast had retracted its claws, temporarily hiding and waiting for the prey to walk into the trap on its own.
"Alright, Shizuka, you go get ready too. Contact Heiji in your own way," Kanjuro instructed indifferently.
Hattori Shizuka nodded and took out her phone, beginning to devise how to use her identity as a "mother" to eliminate the last trace of doubt Heiji Hattori might have and lead him to another fatal meeting place.
Outside the cabin, the mountain wind rustled through the treetops, sounding like a low prelude to the impending betrayal and slaughter. Kazuha gripped the cold black pistol in her arms, her gaze fixed on the path leading to the hill outside the window, waiting for her childhood friend—the one who was once most familiar to her, but was now about to become the sacrificial offering she would present to the darkness. Heiji Hattori, filled with unprecedented hope and urgency, Ran all the way up to the agreed-upon hill. The cool morning mountain wind blew against his forehead hair, which was damp with sweat from running. When his vision cleared the last slope and he saw the two familiar figures at the top of the hill, he was almost moved to tears—Kazuha and his mother, Hattori Shizuka, were standing side by side, like beacons guiding him through the darkness.
"Kazuha! Mom!" he shouted excitedly, quickening his pace as he rushed up, his face brimming with the joy of reunion and the excitement of the coming victory. "It's so good that you're okay! Let's quickly..."
His words came to an abrupt halt.
Because he saw the expressions on their faces. It wasn't the relief of survivors, nor the tension of successful undercover work, and certainly not the warmth of seeing a relative. Kazuha's face bore a calm he had never seen before—a mixture of pity and cruelty—while a near-divine yet incredibly cold smile hung on his mother Hattori Shizuka's lips.
What froze his blood even more was that they each held a pitch-black, ancient-looking Flintlock Pistol that emitted an ominous aura. The muzzles were now aimed steadily at his chest.
In the distance, behind a tree with dense foliage, Kanjuro leaned elegantly against the trunk, a lit cigarette between his fingers, the crimson ember flickering in the twilight. He was like a detached spectator, watching the drama he had personally directed with great interest, a faint and amused curve on his lips.
"Heiji," Kazuha spoke. Her voice was still the one he knew, but her tone was chillingly unfamiliar, carrying a faint hint of mockery. "You really are... naive."
Hattori Shizuka also chuckled softly. There was no trace of her former warmth in that laughter, only the certainty and indifference of someone completely brainwashed.
"Wh-Why..." Heiji Hattori staggered back a step, the color draining from his face, his pupils dilating in extreme shock and despair. He looked at the two most important and trusted women in his life, feeling his world shatter bit by bit. "How could you... how could you have fallen to this point?! What on earth happened?!"
He couldn't understand, he absolutely couldn't understand! In just one night, what could possibly cause a person to undergo such a world-shaking change that completely subverted their humanity?
Facing his questioning, Toyama Kazuha's gaze didn't waver in the slightest. Instead, in a tone that sounded almost like a pronouncement, she articulated her completely twisted "truth":
"Why? Because Brother Kanjuro possesses a tenderness and kindness that you can never have."
Her tone was so matter-of-fact, as if she were stating an objective fact.
"At least for me, it's like that. He understands my pain and gave me something to lean on when I was most helpless. He made me feel what it truly means to be cherished. But you, Heiji, what have you ever given me besides anger, suspicion, and hurt?"
Hattori Shizuka added in an even more abstract and fanatical tone, her eyes even holding a hint of longing as she looked in Kanjuro's direction:
"Kanjuro's body... and his soul, as deep as the starry sky... it really makes one's imagination run wild; it's so captivating."
Her voice was filled with morbid adoration:
"Being near him feels like meeting the true God. He is guiding us, peeling away the hypocritical shell of the mundane world, to do the most correct things and actions that align with our heart's true desires."
"The 'correct thing'?! Is that pointing a gun at me?!" Heiji Hattori let out a heart-wrenching roar, tears finally bursting from his eyes uncontrollably. "Mom! Kazuha! Wake up! He's using you! He's controlling you! Look at what you're doing now!"
However, his pain and cries didn't stir the slightest ripple in the hearts of the two women who had been completely "reshaped" by Kanjuro.
Kazuha tightened her grip on the black pistol, her gaze turning completely cold: "Goodbye, Heiji. To know Brother Kanjuro's past, this is a necessary sacrifice."
Hattori Shizuka also nodded, her finger slowly squeezing the trigger.
"No—!!!"
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