An unknown assailant began targeting police officers, killing them one after another. The media buzzed with the news, debating whether the crimes were acts of revenge or a direct challenge to the police force. Furuya remained silent, a grim scowl fixed on his face, and I found it equally difficult to offer any comment.
As I recalled, this followed the plot of the movie Captured in Her Eyes. The story centers on Ran-chan witnessing the killer and losing her memory, eventually leading to a climactic chase inside the Tropical Land theme park.
Amidst this chaos, we received an invitation to the wedding of Inspector Shiratori's sister. Shiratori and I were close enough to grab dinner occasionally, where we often discussed deduction methods or his unrequited love for Detective Sato. Recently, Detective Takagi had apparently become "public enemy number one" within the Criminal Investigation Department for his closeness to Sato. She really is incredibly popular, which must be exhausting for her—though I personally think Takagi is innocent of any wrongdoing. I wish they would just forgive him.
When we arrived at the grand ballroom of the Beika Plaza Hotel, we found it packed with grim-faced police officers. It looked more like a murder investigation than a celebration—a pity for the newlyweds. Sonoko-chan and Ran-chan, both wearing bright party dresses, approached us.
"Mr. Amuro, it's been a while!"
I greeted Ran-chan as I did every day, but I gave Sonoko-chan a more polished smile. "It truly has been a while, Miss Sonoko." It never hurts to maintain a good relationship with the heiress of a wealthy family. However, unlike her usual habit of flirting with handsome men, she hadn't approached me much lately.
As I walked away, wondering why, I overheard a conversation behind me.
"Mr. Amuro is truly wonderful—kind, talented, and his deductions are amazing."
"But Sonoko, you don't talk about him as much as you usually do. Did something happen?"
"That man always seems to keep a distance from others. There's an aura around him that warns you not to get too close. I wonder if he hates people."
"Really? I see him as someone very friendly and polite."
"That's just on the surface. Well, with someone that handsome, he must have gone through a lot."
"I see... I didn't know that."
So that was how she felt. She wasn't entirely wrong, though the one who had truly suffered and resented humanity was likely Furuya. Personally, I avoid deep connections because of my work, but I actually enjoy talking to people. Still, I had to admire her ability to read us so accurately. Perhaps I should ask her to take me on as an apprentice.
While I pondered how an adult could naturally ask a high school student for lessons, I spotted Detective Sato leaving the ballroom. Behind her, the real culprit, Kyosuke Kazato, slipped out and followed her. Hmm.
I followed them both and hid in the quiet corridor leading to the restrooms. Suddenly, a distant explosion echoed, and the lights on our floor went out. He must have sabotaged the power. In the darkness, Kazato drew a suppressed pistol—a move clearly visible to my eyes, which were well-trained for night vision.
"What do you intend to do with that gun, Mr. Kazato?"
"!?"
Kazato spun toward me and fired blindly. His reaction was decent for an amateur. He fired three or four shots, but I easily deflected them into the wall with my metal baton. Such an attack posed no threat to me. The suppressor increased the bullet's velocity slightly, but the difference was negligible compared to a sniper rifle.
Although I could see perfectly, Kazato lacked night vision. He clicked his tongue in frustration and turned to flee. In his haste, he accidentally fumbled a small explosive from his pocket. I heard a panicked cry, "Ah!", followed by the "click" of the detonator. This bomb—more powerful than a grenade but smaller than a major explosive—bounced off the floor and rolled toward me.
No way—could such a coincidence really happen?! He didn't have this in the original story───. I realized instantly that I was in a lethal blast zone. There was no time; I was going to die. I didn't have the luxury of worrying about a clean landing. This was critical. I threw myself to the side with everything I had.
An explosion. Heat. The searing pain of burning skin. The shockwave slammed my body against the wall, and the violent blow to my head knocked the physical body unconscious───but since I am merely a soul, I do not pass out.
I ignored Furuya, who had lost consciousness with a stifled groan of pain: "Gah!?", and dragged myself across the floor to survey the area. Kazato had used the blast to escape. Hearing the noise, police officers rushed into the corridor, kicking open the ballroom doors with panicked faces. At that moment, the power returned, and light flooded the hallway once more.
I could afford to lose consciousness now. My soul ached from forcing the body to move; I had exhausted my energy.
"Mr. Amuro!!"
"Amuro, are you okay!!?"
"Conan..."
As soon as Detective Mouri and Conan-kun reached me, relief washed over me and my strength failed. What a pathetic display. If Master Goemon saw this, he would undoubtedly make me restart my training from scratch. I collapsed onto the floor, exposing my wounds and burns, and relinquished control of the body.
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