Deep inside the cargo hold of the Aphrodite Cruise Ship, the air felt heavy and cold.
Rows of containers cast long shadows under the dim industrial lights.
In the center of the room—
A large metal crate sat on the floor.
Inside it ticked the real bomb.
02:38:21
The digital timer glowed red in the darkness.
Beside the crate stood two detectives.
One was a high school genius trapped in a child's body.
Conan Edogawa.
The other was a man who shouldn't even exist in this world.
Haruki Akizawa.
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Both were analyzing the device.
Examination
Haruki crouched beside the crate.
Observation Boost activated.
The metal panel was partially open.
Inside—
A far more complex mechanism than the first bomb.
Multiple circuits.
Two independent timers.
A radio receiver.
And a pressure trigger.
Conan leaned closer.
"This one is serious."
Haruki nodded.
"Military-grade components."
Conan frowned.
"Meaning?"
"Someone very skilled built it."
Conan's eyes narrowed.
This was no random criminal.
This was the work of someone extremely intelligent.
Possibly even someone testing them.
System Analysis
Haruki activated the system.
[ STRATEGIC FORESIGHT ACTIVATED ]
Device Analysis:
Primary Detonation System — Timer
Secondary Detonation System — Remote signal
Tertiary Fail-Safe — Pressure trigger
Probability of safe manual disarm:
37%
Too low.
Haruki studied the wiring carefully.
Three main wire bundles.
Red.
Yellow.
Blue.
But cutting them blindly would activate the pressure trigger.
The bomb had to remain perfectly stable.
Conan noticed something strange.
"Two timers."
Haruki nodded.
"The second timer activates if the first is disabled."
Conan sighed.
"So the designer expects someone to cut the obvious wires."
Haruki answered quietly.
"Exactly."
This was a trap for bomb technicians.
Meanwhile — Surveillance Room
Inside a hidden room somewhere on the ship—
A man watched the cargo hold camera feed.
Haruki and Conan stood beside the device.
The man smiled faintly.
"Interesting."
He leaned closer to the monitor.
"Let's see how creative you are."
He tapped a control panel.
Another circuit inside the bomb activated.
Cargo Hold
The timer suddenly changed.
02:32:09
A new display appeared.
Remote Link Active
Conan's eyes widened.
"He activated something!"
Haruki looked at the receiver module.
The mastermind was now connected directly.
Watching them.
Testing them.
Haruki whispered quietly.
"We're being observed."
Conan looked up toward the ceiling cameras.
"So he wants a show."
Haruki remained calm.
Then he activated Logic Acceleration.
[ LOGIC ACCELERATION ACTIVATED ]
His thoughts began moving faster.
Circuit paths.
Trigger mechanisms.
Timer dependencies.
Haruki imagined the entire bomb layout in his mind.
Then—
He noticed something subtle.
A feedback loop connecting the secondary timer to the pressure trigger.
Which meant—
If the timer stopped abruptly, the bomb would detonate.
Conan noticed Haruki staring at the circuit.
"You figured it out."
Haruki replied calmly.
"Partially."
Conan smirked.
"Good."
Because Conan had also realized something.
They both spoke at the same time.
"The timer isn't the real trigger."
Both stopped.
Then looked at each other.
Same deduction again.
Strategic Foresight
Haruki triggered the skill again.
Predicted Outcomes:
Cut Red Wire — Detonation (89%)
Cut Yellow Wire — Secondary Timer Activation (74%)
Cut Blue Wire — Pressure Trigger Activation (91%)
Alternative Method:
Disable signal receiver first — Success Probability 63%
Still dangerous.
But better.
Haruki reached into his pocket.
He removed the Signal Interference Chip.
Then carefully opened the receiver module.
Conan watched closely.
"You're jamming it?"
Haruki shook his head slightly.
"No."
He inserted the chip directly into the receiver circuit.
The signal indicator flickered.
Then went dark.
Remote Link Lost
Surveillance Room
The mastermind blinked.
"Hm?"
His monitor lost connection.
"Signal blocked?"
He leaned back slowly.
Now he was smiling wider.
"Good."
Very good.
Cargo Hold
The remote trigger was now disabled.
But the bomb was still active.
Timer:
01:57:44
Conan wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Still a lot left."
Haruki studied the device again.
Then—
DING
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
Skill Activated Automatically
Crime Scene Reconstruction
A visualization appeared in Haruki's mind.
The bomb assembly process.
The mastermind placing the device.
Connecting the wires.
Adjusting the triggers.
Then—
Haruki saw something important.
The pressure trigger wasn't attached to the crate itself.
It was attached to the internal battery.
Which meant—
If they removed the power source carefully…
The trigger would deactivate.
Haruki spoke quietly.
"The battery."
Conan blinked.
"What?"
"The pressure trigger is connected to the battery casing."
Conan examined it again.
Then realized.
"You're right!"
If the battery was removed slowly—
The trigger would never activate.
But it had to be done perfectly.
Timer:
01:22:17
Haruki reached carefully inside the device.
Slowly.
Millimeter by millimeter.
Conan held his breath.
One wrong move—
The ship would explode.
Haruki lifted the battery.
The timer flickered.
Then—
The display shut off.
Silence.
The bomb was dead.
Cargo Hold
Conan exhaled heavily.
"That was… close."
Haruki closed the crate.
But his mind remained focused.
Because something didn't feel right.
The mastermind had expected this outcome.
Which meant—
This bomb was only part of the plan.
Then—
DING
[ SYSTEM ALERT ]
New explosive signature detected.
Location: Upper passenger deck.
Distance: 3 floors above.
Haruki looked up instantly.
Conan noticed his expression.
"What is it?"
Haruki answered calmly.
"Another bomb."
Conan groaned.
"Of course there is."
Upper Deck
Passengers were still enjoying the evening party.
Music played.
Champagne flowed.
Completely unaware.
Hidden beneath a decorative stage platform—
Another timer glowed red.
00:19:52
And this one…
Was far more dangerous.
Somewhere on the Ship
The mysterious mastermind watched another screen.
He chuckled softly.
"Round two."
Then whispered quietly.
"Run, detectives."
Cargo Hold
Haruki and Conan sprinted toward the elevator.
Conan shouted while running.
"Where is it?"
Haruki replied instantly.
"Upper passenger deck."
Conan frowned.
"The party area?!"
Haruki nodded.
"Yes."
Conan groaned again.
"Great."
Thousands of passengers.
One bomb.
Less than twenty minutes.
End of Chapter 18