Ch. 271..280

Chapter 271 - 271: Ran Who Wants to Give

One by one, with the help of the Internet, the names recorded in the Death Note were checked and confirmed to be correct.

Once satisfied, Hayashi Yoshiki tore off the page... and burned it.

Despite its long use, the Death Note still looked immaculate—untouched by time or sin.

Yoshiki carefully placed it into a hidden cabinet.

Inside, alongside the Death Note, were the opening story outline for a manga adaptation of Death Note, scrawled character profiles, and a merchant invoice for a customized notebook. If anyone discovered the contents, they would assume it was nothing more than a writer's creative process.

Now, all that remained… was to wait.

The intelligence work had been completed.

Though Hayashi Yoshiki had flown to the United States, the task force continued to monitor occasional "accidental" deaths. He had made certain there would be no pattern, no pause. The killer would not rest, even if he left Japan.

Ding-ling-ling! Ding-ling-ling!

The phone rang sharply. Seeing the name "Xiao Lan"—better known to him as Ran Mouri—flash across the screen, Yoshiki answered without hesitation.

"Hello, Ran?"

"Yoshiki-nii, aren't you at the office today?"

"No, I'm at home right now... Are you at the office?"

"Yes. I rang the doorbell, but there was no response. It seems Mr. Amuro isn't here either."

"Mr. Amuro is off today..." Yoshiki said calmly, and without waiting to hear why she had come, he added:

"Wait for me there, Ran. I'll be right over."

"Okay. I'll wait for you, Yoshiki-nii. And it's fine—no need to rush."

Her voice was bright and gentle.

Smiling to himself, Hayashi Yoshiki quickly gathered his things and left the house.

He drove straight to the office courtyard, where Ran stood at the entrance, holding something in her hands. When she saw him step out of the car, she beamed.

"Yoshiki-nii!"

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

He quickened his steps, unlocking the door with a smile.

"Why did you come so suddenly?"

Ran giggled.

"Hehe~"

She didn't answer, just smiled sweetly and followed him inside. Once in front of the sofa, she handed him the bag she had been carrying.

She looked so cute doing it—just like a scene from a shoujo manga.

To Hayashi Yoshiki, Ran had inherited all the beauty of her mother, Kisaki Eri, but added to that was her youthful radiance and a dash of endearing clumsiness. Her soft, dark brown hair flowed over her shoulders, and on her day off, she wore a pink-and-white striped long-sleeved shirt with blue jeans—a simple, energetic look that matched her perfectly.

"What's this?"

The familiar scent drifting from the bag made Yoshiki pause in surprise. Almost reflexively, he accepted it.

"It's your favorite food."

Ran's smile widened.

Following her gaze, Yoshiki opened the oiled paper bag to find... a pork fillet and egg McMuffin.

Only the packaging was different.

"Wait... Did you make this?"

"Yes! While you were in America, I practiced replicating it. And finally... I got it just right!"

With her hands behind her back and a proud sparkle in her eyes, she looked radiant.

"That's incredible..."

Yoshiki was genuinely astonished.

Both the appearance and the aroma were exactly right.

"It wasn't hard at all. But it must've been frustrating for you, only being able to eat what you love in the morning, right?"

Yoshiki froze for a second.

"Thank you, Ran... But why do this all of a sudden?"

"Because... I want to do what I can for you, Yoshiki-nii."

"…"

"You're always giving so much to others. I'm always the one being taken care of, but—"

Her words trailed off as a memory surfaced: his "last words" from that day in the office.

Back then, she had done nothing. Yet he had told her he could feel her thoughtfulness.

That memory always left a small ache in her chest.

Guilt. Shame. A weight that didn't go away.

Ran was never someone who could enjoy kindness without wanting to return it tenfold. She wanted to meet him halfway—and maybe... even walk a little further for his sake.

"But what I said that day—"

"—It was from the bottom of my heart."

"Eh?"

"Your expression gave it away. I could tell in an instant."

Her face turned a brilliant shade of red.

Smiling gently, Hayashi Yoshiki leaned closer.

"But I meant every word."

"Remember that time at the Twin Towers?"

"Honestly... I was scared. I thought I might fail... and end up hurting you."

His tone dipped—low, soft. But his eyes were warm.

"But then, you smiled and said, 'Even if it doesn't work, it's okay.' That smile... I'll never forget it."

"The same thing happened in Wonderland."

"You were the only one who sensed something dangerous in the case Uncle Mouri and I took on. Even though it's long solved, your care stayed with me."

"So, Ran... really—don't think you've done nothing."

"You've done a lot."

As he said this, Hayashi Yoshiki reached out and gently patted her head.

Ran blushed again.

She had never imagined he remembered all of that... let alone that it had left such a deep impression on him.

Her heart fluttered. And her voice lowered.

"But compared to you, Yoshiki-nii—"

Before she could finish, his hand flicked softly against her forehead.

"Are we really going to compare ourselves?"

Yoshiki's touch was gentle—barely more than a tap.

Ran looked up at him with pouty lips, clearly flustered.

After a pause...

"I understand..."

She sounded almost playfully sulky.

Looking at her slightly pouting lips, Hayashi Yoshiki felt a sudden urge.

He leaned in.

Almost.

But just before the moment could tip into something more, he caught himself... and turned his gaze away, avoiding her eyes.

Ran blinked, startled.

Not again...

Did he really mean to kiss her?

Her face turned crimson, eyes dazed with sudden realization.

The first time, she convinced herself it was just her imagination.

But this was the second time.

There was no mistaking it now.

Yoshiki-nii... truly felt something for her.

"What's wrong?"

Watching her flustered expression, Hayashi Yoshiki smiled gently.

"N-no... nothing."

 

 

Chapter 272 - 272: Complex Thoughts

"Ran, what's wrong with you? I feel like you've been a little absent-minded lately."

It was after school at Teitan High School.

With no club activities scheduled, Ran and Sonoko decided to take some photo booth pictures. Halfway through, Sonoko suddenly spoke up.

"Is that so?" Ran replied.

"Yes! I was talking to you so excitedly, and you didn't seem to be listening at all."

Sonoko narrowed her eyes and teased, "What's going on? Are you thinking about sex or something?"

"What did you just say?!" Ran flushed.

"Come on, admit it! The only thing that can distract a teenage girl this much is a boy—a seriously good-looking one."

"You're impossible," Ran muttered, trying to brush it off—but her heart throbbed uneasily.

Though it wasn't exactly about romance… she had been thinking about Hayashi Yoshiki a lot lately.

Ever since she realized Yoshiki might truly have feelings for her, she couldn't help but pay more attention. Whenever she had a moment to herself, her mind wandered back to that look in his eyes before the parachute jump, or how he leaned in as if to kiss her but stopped at the last moment—

Fantasy Park, the tired and vulnerable smile he showed her...

And most recently, that moment in his office when it almost happened again.

Maybe what she thought about during the day invaded her dreams—because just last night, Ran had dreamed of Hayashi Yoshiki.

In the dream, he didn't stop this time—he kissed her.

She'd woken up in a daze. Not repulsed... but overwhelmed.

Confused, her thoughts wandered—to Kudō Shinichi, to Sonoko, who openly admired Yoshiki, and even to her own mother, Kisaki Eri, who seemed to encourage her relationship with Yoshiki...

"You're looking guilty now, aren't you?" Sonoko smirked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's really nothing!" Ran exclaimed. "Let's just go take those photos!"

"Okay, okay—don't push me!" Sonoko laughed as Ran shoved her toward a nearby photo booth.

Trying to shove aside her tangled emotions, Ran smiled and posed with Sonoko for a string of silly, fun pictures.

There were a lot of machine types here. After they took a batch of funny photos, Sonoko even tried a wedding-themed booth solo, grinning mischievously.

"Hehe, if I meet a guy I like, I can send him this photo. Who knows? Maybe it'll seal the deal~"

"Are you serious?"

"Totally joking. But honestly? Since meeting Yoshiki, my standards for good-looking guys have skyrocketed."

"...Are you still into Yoshiki-kun?" Ran asked cautiously.

"Of course!" Sonoko answered instantly, but her excitement quickly gave way to a more thoughtful expression.

"The problem is... he's just too high-level. He always seems so calm and gentle, but no matter what, it feels impossible to close the distance. I think maybe... Yoshiki is the type you can only admire from afar."

"...Is that so?"

"Yeah," Sonoko sighed. "It's hard to imagine anyone conquering him. Maybe only a girl who saved the galaxy or something could win his heart."

"You're exaggerating."

"Maybe. But that's how I feel."

Just then, a familiar voice called out:

"Sister Ran!!"

It was Conan, running toward them.

Ran and Sonoko weren't surprised—they'd agreed to meet up with him.

As the three of them made their way downstairs, they noticed a crowd gathered near a shooting arcade machine. A blonde woman was showing off some impressive marksmanship, drawing awestruck gasps from the onlookers.

"...Isn't that...?"

"Teacher Jodie?"

They walked closer out of curiosity.

Jodie Starling, who had just cleared a level and holstered her light gun, looked over in surprise. "Oh! Mōri-san and Suzuki-san?"

As the crowd murmured in disbelief that this stylish foreigner was a high school teacher, Jodie quickly waved them away from the commotion.

While the adults chatted, Conan—still somewhat surprised by Jodie's professional gun stance—wandered around aimlessly.

Then, something caught his eye.

"Brother Yoshiki?!"

"Conan?" Hayashi Yoshiki blinked, surprised. His eyes shifted to the foreign woman standing with the group, and recognition struck instantly.

"Yoshiki-nii!!" Sonoko called, waving cheerfully.

"Yoshiki…" Ran greeted softly, her voice trailing.

"What are you all doing here today?" Hayashi Yoshiki smiled, but when he looked at Ran, his smile faded slightly. "Is something wrong, Ran? You look a little out of it."

"No... maybe the air here is just a little stuffy," Ran replied quickly.

She didn't know Yoshiki had been "exposed," so his concern was genuine, not feigned.

"And who is this handsome man?" Jodie asked with amusement.

Sonoko enthusiastically introduced them to each other.

Jodie Starling, in reality, an FBI agent, was undercover as an English teacher at Teitan High to investigate Vermouth. With her reappearance, it was clear—Shūichi Akai couldn't be far behind.

Hayashi Yoshiki was very interested in meeting the one man said to rival Gin.

"But Yoshiki, what brings you to a place like this? Playing games?" Ran asked curiously.

"No, I'm actually here for work."

"Work?" Conan perked up. "Did someone hire you for a case?"

"Not exactly. I'm just checking out what kind of games are trending right now. Yusaku Kudō asked me to."

"Shinichi's dad?"

"Yeah. I worked with him recently on a game script in the U.S. Besides mystery games, the company wants to branch into other genres—so I'm doing some field research."

(Though honestly, this kind of thing is usually handled by market analysts... maybe Yusaku just trusted Yoshiki's instincts?)

Anyway, he had time to spare.

"Looking for game trends? Oh! I highly recommend the new battle sim—Super Warrior Spirit!" Jodie clapped enthusiastically.

She led them to a fighting simulator that used motion feedback to simulate real hits and attacks.

Intrigued, Hayashi Yoshiki watched as Ran, encouraged by Jodie, sat in the gaming pod and donned the virtual helmet.

From the sidelines, he couldn't help but smile.

It really was an interesting world.

 

 

Chapter 273 - 273: New Test

Ran was still basking in the excitement of having just defeated the computer when the settlement interface on the screen suddenly changed.

"Has someone joined the challenge?"

"Be careful, Ran. That guy looks really strong," Jodie Starling cautioned, glancing back.

A gangster-looking man grinned mockingly as he stared at them. Hayashi Yoshiki also looked at the man's face, then, as the crowd's attention focused on the game that was about to begin, he smiled faintly and quietly took out a notebook and pen from his pocket.

He had something he wanted to try.

Ran sat tensely in front of the console, facing her new opponent. Despite her combat awareness, she was a novice. Completely overwhelmed, she was soon defeated.

"...Lost..."

"Well, since you lost, move along, little sister," the thug on the adjacent machine sneered. He took off his helmet, pointed at himself with his thumb, and arrogantly declared, "The seat you're sitting on is my golden throne!"

His arrogant demeanor was infuriating.

Sonoko immediately bristled and was about to ask whether he owned the arcade, but the thug suddenly frowned and pointed at Hayashi Yoshiki.

"What's with that look, pretty boy?"

"No... I just figured you didn't want to sit there because a beautiful girl had just been sitting in it, right?"

"Hah!?"

"Sorry, maybe I judged you by your appearance."

Judging someone by their appearance...

Did this guy just imply that because he looked like a thug, he was one?

Kengo Bito was visibly annoyed. He wanted to grab Hayashi Yoshiki by the collar and teach him a lesson, but he held himself back. He recognized him — a well-known writer with connections to the police. Kengo may have been a thug, but he wasn't an idiot.

"You've got a sharp tongue for someone so pretty," Kengo muttered.

As the group moved away from the game console, Judy glanced back at the thug who took the seat, and couldn't help laughing.

"He really does look like the type who'd do that," she said.

Hayashi Yoshiki nodded slightly, his eyes drifting to Ran.

Her cheeks flushed slightly — mostly because she'd just been called a pretty girl.

Sonoko grinned. "That guy was so arrogant just now. Does he really think this is his house?"

Kengo Bito might actually think so.

While they were talking, a staff member came to collect game tokens from the machine Kengo had used. Growing impatient, Kengo kicked the staffer. "Hurry it up! Don't waste my time!"

"You were smart not to get into it with him," an older man beside them suddenly said. "Around here, everyone calls him the 'Caesar of Beika Town.' He wears it like a crown, but in reality, he's just a lazy delinquent. He's caused a lot of trouble — even for us."

"...Do you know his name?" Hayashi Yoshiki asked.

"Yeah. Kengo Bito. Everyone in this neighborhood knows him."

The middle-aged man took a drag from his cigarette as he played the arcade game. Then he looked at Hayashi Yoshiki and asked, "Why do you ask?"

"Just pure curiosity," Hayashi Yoshiki replied with a smile.

Seeing him take out his notebook and pen, Conan narrowed his eyes.

"You're using it for a supporting character's name again, aren't you?"

"That's right," Hayashi Yoshiki replied calmly.

"What's the name of the supporting character?" Judy asked curiously.

Ran and Sonoko quickly explained: that although Hayashi Yoshiki was a mystery novelist, he was terrible at coming up with character names. Jodie clapped her hands in amazement.

"So you're a mystery novelist too? I'll have to read your work sometime."

"Thank you for your support," he said with a soft smile.

By then, he had already written the man's name. Hayashi Yoshiki had jotted down both the time and cause of death — right in front of the arcade machine. Now, with the name confirmed, he added it.

Since he wasn't certain how to write the exact kanji for "Kengo Bito" he wrote down a dozen phonetic variants. That was enough. After all, even if the name wasn't written perfectly in the Death Note, the target would still die.

Hayashi Yoshiki and the others moved on to try other arcade games — racing, basketball, whack-a-mole, shooting...

The girls were having a blast. Even Conan joined in on the fun.

While playing the racing game, Hayashi Yoshiki glanced toward Kengo Bito. The so-called Caesar of Beika Town was about to compete against Lucas from Haido. A crowd had gathered around them.

In the original story, Kengo Bito would have been stabbed with a poison needle laced with pufferfish toxin before the game even began — his lifeless body made to look like he was still playing. But now, Kengo was actively mocking his opponent while playing, completely full of himself.

Takayusu Shimizu — his opponent — looked deeply disturbed by Kengo's constant ridicule.

He should've died already!

Takayusu had come here fully intent on killing Kengo — the man who had nearly blinded his sister and still leeched off her. But when the moment came, he had hesitated.

Something made him stop. For some reason, he wondered if it might be better to talk things out — and he let his only chance slip away.

Now, seeing Kengo's smug face again, Takayusu Shimizu couldn't help but despise his own weakness.

Was he subconsciously influenced to give up his murderous intent? thought Hayashi Yoshiki, watching Shimizu's conflicted expression.

Originally, Takayusu had come to kill Kengo today — but since Hayashi Yoshiki had already written in the Death Note that Kengo would fall to his death in three days, Shimizu's actions had been subconsciously suppressed.

What is written in the Note is absolute.

Hayashi Yoshiki thought again about Gin.

If someone like Gin had intense killing intent, could he be affected the same way? Probably not. If someone that dangerous backed down, it might be due to external interference, not internal hesitation.

This was something Hayashi Yoshiki wanted to test.

Thinking this, he maneuvered the car in the game smoothly and won first place.

"Yoshiki-nii, that was awesome!" Ran cheered. "We thought it was super hard when we tried earlier!"

"That's because I passed my driving test," he replied.

"Oh yeah… Sonoko and I don't have licenses, so maybe that's why we're bad at driving games," Ran said with a sheepish laugh.

"Once you learn how to drive, these games become a lot easier," Hayashi Yoshiki said calmly, a small smile tugging at his lips.

 

 

Chapter 274 - 274: Cocoon's Press Conference — Shameful Little Ai

This was a day destined to go down in history.

By seven o'clock in the evening, the area outside the Beika Municipal Building was already brimming with reporters and photographers.

Countless camera flashes bathed the red carpet in a storm of light. One by one, luxury cars pulled up. From them emerged entertainment celebrities of distinction, corporate moguls, and political elites.

"Here at the Beika Municipal Building, a revolutionary virtual experience game, developed by a Japanese game manufacturer in collaboration with Schindler Corporation, is about to have its grand public debut."

"The chairman of Schindler Corporation has just arrived."

"According to press materials distributed beforehand, this device—nicknamed Cocoon—allows players to enter a game pod resembling a cocoon. In a sleep-like state, they interact with an AI-powered system via voice recognition and immerse themselves in a fully virtual world."

Hayashi Yoshiki stepped out of the car and onto the red carpet.

The media's reaction intensified the moment they caught sight of him.

Flashes exploded like fireworks. Smiling politely, Yoshiki raised his hand in a casual wave and then proceeded through the security checkpoint.

The guards were exceptionally thorough.

At the entrance, a familiar figure awaited him.

"Good evening, Yoshiki-kun."

"Yusaku-san? What brings you here?" Hayashi Yoshiki asked in surprise.

"I figured you'd be arriving soon," Kudō Yusaku replied with a relaxed smile. "You must have been looking forward to today."

"Absolutely. But I didn't expect the security to be this intense."

"That's because there's been plenty of behind-the-scenes corporate espionage in the lead-up to this event… Though," Yusaku added, "none of that really concerns us."

He turned and gave Yoshiki a subtle, knowing look.

"You brought your participant's badge for the game demo, right?"

"Of course."

"Then I suggest you try it out. After the artificial intelligence Noah's Ark was completed, it took over our original script and… made a few changes. I have no idea what it did. That alone should be interesting."

"Wait, even you don't know what it changed?"

"That's right."

Yusaku's expression grew thoughtful.

Of course, he wasn't planning on entering himself—he wanted Conan to experience it firsthand.

As the two men continued chatting, they entered the grand hall.

Inside the banquet area, Hayashi Yoshiki scanned the room and quickly spotted Mōri Kogorō, Ran, and the others.

Near them stood the Detective Boys, their eyes filled with envy as they gazed at a group of children receiving special entry badges.

"The grandson of the MPD's Deputy Director... the son of a financial tycoon... the heir of a major political dynasty... It's practically a who's who of Japan's future elite," Mōri muttered, wine glass in hand, his tone heavy with disillusionment.

At his side, Haibara Ai added coldly:

"A perfect snapshot of Japan's shameful social structure."

"Eh?" Mōri blinked at the emotionless child beside him.

But Ai continued, unbothered:

"This hereditary system ensures history's mistakes repeat endlessly. Politicians raise politicians. Bankers raise bankers. Nothing will ever truly change."

Conan, sweating, leaned down and whispered urgently:

"Hey, didn't I tell you to talk like a child in public?!"

Ai cast him a withering glance.

Then, without warning, she raised her hands, pulled an exaggeratedly cute face, and chirped:

"They said lots of big words on TV yesterday! I thought it sounded cool, so I memorized it!"

"…"

Mōri, relieved by her performance, chuckled.

"So you are an eager student, Ai."

But just then—

"That was impressive."

A new voice entered the conversation.

Hayashi Yoshiki, dressed in a sharp suit that accentuated his refined presence, had appeared behind Ai without anyone noticing. He smiled down at her frozen, awkward pose.

"Adorable and brilliant. Amazing."

Ai's face turned a deep crimson.

A tsunami of shame washed over her. Without even turning, she knew Yoshiki—and probably Conan, too—were smirking.

(He saw that… He definitely saw that...)

Conan's teasing expression said it all.

Ai should have known better. Hayashi Yoshiki already knew she wasn't really a child. And yet, even with all her calculated effort… she still got caught.

"Yoshiki-nii!"

"Yoshiki-nii!"

The Detective Boys rushed over excitedly.

"Hello, everyone," Yoshiki greeted warmly, gently ruffling Ai's hair—though she kept her gaze averted, still mortified.

"Yoshiki-nii, that badge on your chest—isn't that...?"

"Yup. It's a Cocoon game access badge."

"No way! How'd you get one?" asked Genta Kojima.

"I won it in a lottery."

"Really?! Where? At the entrance?"

"Nope. At McDonald's," Yoshiki said, feigning nostalgia. "I had their nutritious breakfast every day for three weeks. That's how I won."

"Three weeks?! My mom would kill me."

"We're too late anyway…"

"Why would you lie to children, of all people?" Mōri sighed, watching the kids deflate.

Ran burst into laughter.

Yoshiki's mischievous streak was… strangely endearing.

Haibara Ai, sensing an opportunity to reclaim her dignity, coolly fixed her tousled hair and said:

"You're an adult, yet you get excited over a children's meal. How childish."

"Well," Yoshiki replied, his smile soft, "When I was a kid, the happiest moments were when my mom came home with a treat or took me out for one. Those memories... are hard to let go of."

He said it lightly, but both Ai and Ran felt their hearts tighten.

Hayashi Yoshiki's mother...

They both glanced at him—there was no sadness in his eyes, only calm. Still, the way he said it…

Ran felt a surge of tenderness.

Ai, a pang of empathy.

"Something wrong?" Yoshiki asked, puzzled by their looks.

Haibara Ai averted her gaze, then murmured:

"That meal does taste pretty good."

"If you ever want one," Ran added, smiling, "I can make a perfect replica for you."

 

 

Chapter 275 - 275: Game Begins

The venue remained lively and full of energy.

While celebrities mingled, sipping wine and exchanging pleasantries, a group of unruly children kicked around a football in the center of the hall.

Their noisy behavior irritated some of the guests, but once they recognized who those children were, most bit their tongues.

After all, among the gathered second and third-generation elites, these kids belonged to the most powerful families in the nation.

(If the future of Japan rests on the shoulders of these children… there's really no shame in exploiting them.)

Finishing an autograph for a young girl in a satin dress, Hayashi Yoshiki looked over with a faint smirk.

The children had been mocking the Detective Boys and Mōri Kogorō—the infamous "sleeping detective" whose wife had long since left him.

Yet when Suzuki Sonoko passed by, the boys straightened up and acted with perfect manners. Typical.

Among them was Hideki Moroboshi, the grandson of Toshio Moroboshi, Deputy Commissioner of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police.

Deputy Commissioner... Just half a rank below the Commissioner himself—Hakuba's father.

Yoshiki had heard of Toshio Moroboshi. A man whose reputation split opinion.

Scheming, sharp, and results-oriented. A morally ambiguous figure in a world where most "heroes" are pristine.

In short: a rare breed.

Frankly, Yoshiki had once considered writing the name Moroboshi Toshio into his Death Note, using his credentials to secretly access Red Team files…

But the right opportunity hasn't come yet.

Suddenly, a staff member rushed up to him.

"Mr. Hayashi, please come this way."

Without hesitation, Yoshiki nodded and followed.

The staff led him to a crowd of media personnel, where Kudō Yusaku was already in the middle of an interview.

"Tadaki Kashimura, the lead developer of Cocoon, was my best friend back in university," Yusaku was saying with his usual calm confidence. "This project gave us a chance to reconnect."

"Yes, this is my first time collaborating with Yoshiki-kun," he continued. "But it's been a truly delightful partnership. As a fellow mystery writer, I've found him incredibly inspiring. I'm already brimming with ideas for my next novel… Oh, here he is now."

Yusaku turned as the reporters looked over.

Hayashi Yoshiki, immaculately dressed and composed, stepped forward with a flawless smile.

At once, the sound of camera shutters and flashes erupted like a wave.

"What Yusaku-san said is too generous," Yoshiki replied modestly. "In truth, I'm the one who's benefited most. I'm incredibly grateful to him for the opportunity to participate in such a fascinating project."

He paused, then added with a knowing look:

"As Mr. Kudō just mentioned, due to the involvement of Noah's Ark, the AI might have made some unexpected changes to the game script. I'm really looking forward to seeing what it came up with."

"Can you give us a hint?" a reporter asked.

"We've heard rumors the game is set in 19th-century London?"

"Indeed," Yusaku confirmed. "Late 1800s London—over a century ago. And it features some characters the audience will definitely recognize."

"Is this a crossover between the Jintian series and the Dark Night Baron?"

Yoshiki laughed lightly.

"Let's just say… we certainly discussed the idea during development."

The interview went on for nearly ten minutes.

Then, just before 8:00 PM, the venue lights dimmed.

The press conference was finally about to begin.

Yusaku began walking off, heading to reconnect with some of his old university friends.

As for Yoshiki, the moment he left the media's view, a staff member approached him and whispered something.

Surprised, Yoshiki nodded.

He unclipped the access badge from his chest and handed it off to the staffer.

It was time.

Time to experience Cocoon for the first time.

A group of excited children passed through a security checkpoint and dashed toward the futuristic, capsule-shaped game pods lined up onstage.

Among them were Genta, Mitsuhiko, and Ayumi, who had traded some of their beloved Kamen Uzumaki cards for a chance to join.

They cleared the security check and hurried into their assigned pods, giddy with anticipation.

"But… where did Yoshiki go?" Ran asked aloud, glancing at the badge that had just been pinned to her chest by a staffer.

"No idea," Sonoko shrugged. "But hey! Now you can play with me. That's a win, right?"

Ran laughed softly, unsure how she really felt.

Soon, all 50 chosen participants were seated in their cocoon-like devices.

"Brainwave transmission system: initialized."

"Protective hood: sealed."

"Primary hardware: online."

"Neural coordinate synchronization: complete."

"Screen active. System startup."

"The game begins—"

A brilliant white light pierced the darkness.

And then, silence.

The players slowly opened their eyes.

They stood in a world that felt so real, it took their breath away.

"This is amazing... It's like being inside a dream!" Ayumi cried joyfully, twirling on the spot.

"Quite the opposite," Haibara Ai said flatly.

"Huh?" Ayumi blinked.

"What do you mean by freedom?" Ai continued. "Our senses—smell, taste, touch, even time—are all simulated. We're completely under computer control. We can't even wake up unless it lets us."

"Hey, brat!" Sonoko scolded, walking over. "Can't you just enjoy the game for once?"

"…"

Ai ignored her, glancing around instead.

"Where's Brother Yoshiki?"

Oddly, calling him that felt natural now.

"I don't know," Ran replied. "He gave me this badge through a staffer… then vanished."

Ran's expression tightened.

She was starting to worry.

Just then, a figure appeared.

Noah's Ark, the AI behind Cocoon, manifested before the players.

With a mechanical yet oddly human voice, it announced:

"Choose from five scenarios:"

Viking Saga – Become a Viking and journey across the seven seas.

Paris Rally – Compete for glory in the world's greatest race.

Roman Colosseum – Enter brutal, ancient arena combat.

Solomon's Treasure – Adventure and solve puzzles in search of lost treasure.

London, 1888 – Jack the Ripper stalks the streets. Your mission: uncover and stop him.

Hayashi Yoshiki didn't have a choice.

When he entered, the system placed him directly into Scenario 5.

He found himself inside a lavish room—Victorian London.

The fog outside the window drifted past ornate curtains.

The furnishings were exquisite: gold-trimmed furniture, a marble fireplace, and intricate wallpaper.

Yoshiki turned toward a mirror by the window.

In the reflection, he saw his new in-game appearance.

"…Well then."

He let out a short laugh.

"This should be interesting."

He didn't yet know what he'd uncover in this world.

Or how deeply it would pull him in.

But for now—

Let's just call it entertainment.

 

 

Chapter 276 - 276: "Nice to Meet You, I Am James Moriarty"

In the late 19th century, London was nicknamed the Fog City, due to the large amounts of smoke emitted following the Industrial Revolution. The dim electric lights struggled to illuminate the old red brick roads.

The mist clinging to the filthy air cast an eerie glow over the streets, mingling with a faint stench of burning coal and oil.

The neighborhoods around Whitechapel were quieter than usual.

In the wake of the recent murders attributed to Jack the Ripper, fear had seized the locals. Many now refused to step outside after dark.

A beautiful black carriage creaked down the desolate road.

Inside sat a figure, indifferent to the grim scenery outside. A cane rested beside his dark coat, and a finely bound German book lay across his lap.

Whitechapel, nestled in the East End of London, was a melting pot of immigrants—tens of thousands of families from Russia and Eastern Europe had made their homes here.

But with such an influx of people and low wages, this place had decayed into a breeding ground of poverty and crime. Homeless drifters, pickpockets, and prostitutes prowled the fog-filled alleys...

Everything was perfectly simulated.

"Here we are, Professor."

The carriage came to a smooth halt.

While the driver waited respectfully, Hayashi Yoshiki stepped down onto the cobblestone street.

221B Baker Street—

The fabled address of Sherlock Holmes.

A fictional house number in the real world, yet here, it gleamed clearly on the front of a modest Victorian building.

"Excuse me, who is this?"

An elderly woman in a black dress answered the door.

Fans of the Holmes series would recognize her immediately—Mrs. Hudson, Holmes' loyal landlady.

"An admirer of Mr. Holmes,"

Hayashi Yoshiki said politely.

"Is he at home?"

"Ah, unfortunately, Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson are away on a case. They've gone to a village called Dartmoor."

"...Maybe I remembered the date wrong. What day is it today?"

"September 30th," Mrs. Hudson replied with a warm smile.

"He should be back in a few days. Shall I leave a message for him?"

"Some things are best said in person," Hayashi Yoshiki replied with a gentle nod, then turned and walked back to his carriage.

September 30th... Dartmoor...

That could only mean one thing: the case of The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Holmes wouldn't be back for some time.

But Hayashi Yoshiki needed to find him.

And more than that—

He needed to kill him.

—Finding and killing Sherlock Holmes was Hayashi Yoshiki's mission objective.

Meanwhile, Conan and his friends had arrived in Whitechapel, the infamous site of Jack the Ripper's murders.

If they were caught or injured by the police, it would count as a failed mission, so when sirens rang out, the group quickly scattered to explore other areas.

"It feels so real here..."

"Yeah. The wind, the smell... everything."

"Even my foot pain is too real..."

"So where do we find Jack the Ripper?"

"I heard the police mention Inspector Lestrade."

"So?"

"Lestrade is a Scotland Yard detective who worked closely with Sherlock Holmes in the original stories. If he's here, that means..."

Conan's lips curled into a subtle, excited smile.

"Sherlock Holmes must be in this world too!"

That was all they needed. Without hesitation, they made their way toward 221B Baker Street.

Nowadays, there was no threat of death in real life from losing a game, so the mood remains light and adventurous.

Hiroki Sawada had also joined in secretly—his appearance was too well-known, so he had assumed the identity of Hideki Moroboshi, who was actually playing in another game theater at the time.

Smiling to himself, Hiroki reflected that Hayashi Yoshiki had not entered through one of the 50 "cocoons" onstage. Instead, he had logged into the game from elsewhere—after all, he'd written much of the game's script himself.

Even with all the changes Hiroki made, he couldn't risk letting Yoshiki fully participate and disturb others' experience.

The group soon found Holmes' apartment.

Mrs. Hudson was startled to see so many children arriving but assumed they were assistants of Mr. Holmes and kindly welcomed them in.

Inside, Conan discovered portraits of Holmes and Watson—bearing a shocking resemblance to Yusaku Kudo and Dr. Agasa.

"Jack the Ripper has thrown London into chaos. Judging from the unprecedented social disruption, I'm convinced he's connected to Professor Moriarty—the mastermind of evil."

After going through Holmes' research materials, the group decided their best course of action was to locate Moriarty.

They didn't know where he was, but they could target his closest associate: Coronel Moran.

They found Moran in a bridge club, mid-game.

He was still up to his old tricks—cheating at cards with his men.

When Conan pointed it out, Hiroki Sawada, getting too into the game, couldn't help but expose him outright.

Enraged, Coronel Moran pulled a gun, intending to teach the children a lesson.

A wild scuffle broke out.

After a few teammates were "eliminated," Conan noticed something strange—someone had been guarding a particular bottle of red wine throughout the fight.

Realizing it was meant for Moriarty, Conan snatched it, forcing Moran to pause and reassess.

"Let's stop this farce."

A calm, youthful voice rang through the room.

Haibara Ai, Sonoko, and the others froze—

The voice was too familiar.

Colonel Moran paled, his gun still trained on Conan.

"P-Professor!"

"What's going on here?" the newcomer asked coolly.

"S-Something unexpected! These brats were sent by Holmes—!"

"Holmes would never send children into danger. Put the gun down. This is pathetic."

A tall, impeccably dressed young man stepped forward.

With striking features, he removed his black fedora and offered a charming, disarming smile.

"Your expressions suggest disbelief... but—"

"Nice to meet you. I'm James Moriarty."

"Brother Yoshiki!?" Haibara gasped.

 

 

Chapter 277 - 277: Every Fairy Tale World Needs a Villain

"From the looks of you… it seems like you know someone who looks like me?"

The man standing before us introduced himself as James Moriarty.

Dressed in a black cape, tall and slender, he leaned on an elegant walking stick. A naturally proud smile played across his handsome face.

There was no mistaking it.

Even with his hair slicked back — giving off an entirely different impression than usual — it was undoubtedly Hayashi Yoshiki's face.

"…What's going on? Isn't that Brother Yoshiki?"

"I don't know…"

Faced with the young man's cheerful question, the group exchanged puzzled glances.

Conan scrutinized him carefully and, finding no immediate flaws, accepted the situation surprisingly quickly.

"It's probably because this world's stories were written by Brother Yoshiki and the others," he whispered to the group. "Don't forget the photos of Dr. Agasa and Uncle Yusaku we saw in Holmes' apartment."

Indeed — his own father had chosen to play Sherlock Holmes in this world. But the image of Moriarty had been modeled after Hayashi Yoshiki…

"Yeah… and Brother Yoshiki didn't even participate in 'Cocoon.'"

"…"

While the children whispered among themselves, Ran couldn't shake a growing unease.

Yoshiki did enjoy pulling pranks sometimes… but this?

"My instinct tells me your whispering would be entertaining," Moriarty said, lightly tapping his walking stick to a rhythm. "But I'm always more forgiving toward children."

He handed his fedora to Coronel Moran, who accepted it respectfully. Then Moriarty's gaze turned to Conan.

"You lot seem particularly interesting."

"…Even the villain's entrance is so gentlemanly!"

Sonoko covered her mouth, flushed and wide-eyed — this version of Hayashi Yoshiki exuded a dangerous kind of charm. Ran, standing beside her, looked both amused and exasperated.

"We have a friend who looks very much like you, Professor," Conan said, peering up.

"I'd love to meet him," Moriarty replied smoothly.

"Unfortunately, he's not here right now."

"Then let's get to the more important question — what do you want from me?"

Moriarty's tone was casual, amused — as if he were watching some kind of game show.

That detached amusement brought a heavy pressure to the air.

He may have looked like Hayashi Yoshiki, but…

"Jack the Ripper," Conan began, "you're the one who sent him out to turn London into a city of terror… right?"

"You're half right."

Moriarty chuckled softly. "Jack was a street rat I found in the slums… abandoned by his mother, fending for himself on the streets. But he had talent — criminal talent. I did indeed raise him to be a killer."

"But why target innocent women?" Ran asked, her voice trembling.

"Everyone must die," Moriarty replied flatly.

Hearing that delivered by that face — so familiar, so gentle — struck them all like a thunderclap.

But before they could react, Moriarty added:

"—Though I say that, it's true Jack the Ripper has lost control. This recent spree? That's the result of a child gone mad."

"Don't shirk responsibility!" Hiroki (disguised as Hideki Moroboshi) protested. "Your goal was to plunge London into terror. But why? What's the point of all this?!"

"Of course, there's a point."

Moriarty's smile widened — not kindly, but coldly pleased.

That smile…

It was nothing like Yoshiki's. Though polite in form, it was laced with arrogance, and condescension — like a snake in silk.

"Evil is a natural part of the world, just as every fairy tale needs its classic villain," Moriarty mused.

"I sponsor quite a few… activities across London. Those who commit evil in my name are paid handsomely. Some scoff — and others line up to join. Fascinating, isn't it? The same circumstances. Different choices. Why?"

He paced slowly, voice calm and chilling.

"Ever since civilization invented numbers, evil has existed. To give a simple example: if killing ten people could save a thousand, someone will do it. That's the nature of man."

"Humans can't live as clearly as wild animals. Animals eat to survive. But humans? They eat others to eat better. Then they kill for nicer clothes, better homes…"

"All because of comparison. Of logic. And in this London… in this Europe… that is simply how it works."

He looked almost amused.

"Don't take it so seriously. I'm not a monster. I've simply embraced the shadows of this material world. Perhaps I should take up a professorship in sociology?"

His words were terrifying.

Conan stared, silent. He knew it was twisted logic. Knew it was wrong.

But… in the context of 19th-century London?

He couldn't find a rebuttal.

This was the Moriarty of this world.

Unlike the villain in Doyle's novels — a shadowy figure — this version was vivid, cold, and undeniably real.

Sonoko gulped. Thank goodness this isn't the real Yoshiki!

Even if that face was breathtaking… this pure evil carried a dangerous charisma that made her feel sick.

Ran, similarly pale, thought: This… this isn't a prank. There's no way Yoshiki-kun would ever become someone like this.

"Now then," Moriarty said, checking his pocket watch, "I believe my wine is calling. Coronel Moran went to some effort to procure it, and it's rather wasted on children."

He looked at the group.

"You came here looking for Jack the Ripper, didn't you?"

"That's right…" Conan replied.

"I take it you failed to find Sherlock Holmes. Perhaps you read his notes on Jack and assumed I could help?"

"…How do you know that?"

"Mr. Holmes has gone to Dartmoor. Or perhaps… he is closer than you think."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing. But since you wish to confront Jack, I'll assist you."

"Assist?"

"Yes. He may be unstable, but if I give the order, he'll still obey."

Moriarty smiled arrogantly.

"All you need to do is reach the designated location and wait."

"Why would you help us?"

"Because his instability is now a liability. Or perhaps…" He leaned in. "You simply dislike the idea of fighting evil with evil?"

"…Then what should we do?"

"I'll publish the notice in tomorrow's Sunday Times. You can read the rest there."

With that, the conversation ended.

The group was escorted from the club. Ran and Sonoko cast one last look at "Hayashi Yoshiki."

They'd come hoping Yoshiki could help them beat the game.

Instead… they found he was the villain.

"Please beware of the Reichenbach Falls in three years, Professor."

Conan couldn't resist the parting shot.

Though he admired Sherlock Holmes, he had always been intrigued by Moriarty — in fiction.

But seeing this Moriarty wearing Yoshiki's face… gave him chills.

Moriarty only smiled in response.

Once they were gone, he turned to his subordinates.

"Assign some of our smarter agents to observe Mr. Holmes' landlady and dear Inspector Lestrade."

"And those children," he added, seating himself with a smirk.

"I want them watched closely."

After all — his ultimate goal was to kill Sherlock Holmes.

If Noah's Ark wanted him to experience the game fully, Holmes had to exist in this world.

Was he in hiding?

Or was he near the Reichenbach Falls, where their inevitable confrontation must occur?

He'd find out soon.

Time passed quickly in-game.

By the next evening, Hayashi Yoshiki ordered Jack the Ripper to "clean the stage" of the opera house.

The killer obliged.

That night, during the opera's performance, the stage exploded — the building collapsed. Conan's group narrowly saved Irene Adler, but not without casualties.

In Doyle's canon, Holmes admired Adler for her cleverness — nothing more.

But in the Conan world, Adler was Holmes' only true love.

Yet Holmes still did not appear to save her.

Instead, Conan and his allies tracked the fleeing Jack the Ripper to Charlie Cross Station. They boarded the final train.

With help from the crew, they isolated all passengers into one carriage.

"According to Mr. Holmes' notes," Conan explained, "Honey Charist — Jack's second victim — married in a town called Windsor. Ten years ago, she left her family to chase dreams in London."

"At the scene of her murder, two rings were found. One hers. The other… child-sized."

"Holmes suspected a parent-child connection. And Moriarty's so-called education twisted that child — Jack — into a monster."

"He avenged his mother… but continued killing women who resembled her."

Wearing a ring from childhood would stunt finger growth. Only one person in the carriage fit the evidence.

Conan, Ran, and Hiroki unmasked Jack, disguised as a woman.

As Ran lunged to stop him, Jack tossed a smoke bomb.

When the smoke cleared…

Everyone was gone.

Ran. The killer. Every passenger — vanished.

The climax was near.

Outside Cocoon, backstage, Thomas Schindler checked his phone.

A message had arrived:

In one week, deliver Cocoon's operating data… and Hiroki Sawada.

Cold sweat broke out on Thomas' brow.

Them again…

Though they were his greatest sponsors, Thomas feared the secretive organization.

Especially since they held… dangerous leverage over him.

But then he remembered: Hiroki's AI — Noah's Ark.

If he could use it to uncover the organization's identity… maybe he could turn the tables.

Cocoon didn't matter.

But Hiroki — a genius — was someone Thomas couldn't afford to lose.

Just then—

"Chairman!"

A panicked programmer rushed in.

"What is it?"

"Someone infiltrated Mr. Kashimura's studio… They copied some of the data!"

"What!?"

Before Thomas could react, Kashimura Tadaki shot up from his seat.

"Did you call the police!?"

"We will, right away!"

"Wait—!"

"My computer… it contains Hiroki's DNA-tracking program! If that's been stolen—!"

"…You mean the DNA-tracing program?"

Thomas Schindler's expression changed instantly.

That program contained proof that he… was a descendant of Jack the Ripper.

 

 

Chapter 278 - 278: Hayashi Yoshiki Forces Kudo Yusaku to Jump from the Train

The train—driverless, conductorless—was now a speeding beast, hurtling along the tracks with no signs of stopping.

After some desperate searching, Hiroki and Conan finally located Jack the Ripper… standing atop one of the carriages—with Ran!

"I tied myself to this lady with a rope,"

the young man sneered, his long fiery red hair dancing in the wind, a dagger gleaming in his hand.

"If I fall, she falls with me."

Conan clenched his fists.

"You bastard...!"

With a feral grin, the Ripper charged, blade flashing with murderous intent. Conan narrowly dodged, using his small stature to evade the strikes. The knife whooshed past his head again and again—barely missing.

"If I just keep running, you won't catch me,"

the Ripper mocked.

"We're ten minutes from the final stop. What do you think happens to a runaway train with no brakes?"

Ten minutes…

That had to be the time limit for this level.

Conan smirked grimly. Even if it's just a game with no penalty for failure, I'm not walking away until I win.

"Let's fight!"

Hiroki shouted, charging forward.

Together, Conan and Hiroki fought in sync. Their cooperation was impressive, but Jack the Ripper eventually managed to split them up. He lunged—grabbing Conan by the throat and pushing him to the edge.

"Damn it...!"

Conan gritted his teeth, nearly tumbling off.

Ran, watching helplessly, suddenly remembered Conan's earlier warning to Moriarty: "Be careful of the Reichenbach Falls in three years."

She saw again the face of Hayashi Yoshiki, playing Moriarty. Then came Kudo Shinichi's haunting quote:

"If it is possible to destroy you, I will gladly accept death for the public good."

Even if this is a game... I can't stay passive anymore!

Ran forced herself to stand.

Before she could act, Jack the Ripper froze mid-swing, eyes widening in disbelief.

A bloodstain bloomed on his chest.

He collapsed.

"Sniper rifle?!"

Hiroki gasped, scrambling back up.

They saw only a glint in the distance—someone hidden in the shadows.

Conan paled.

"It's Moriarty…"

"What?"

"He used us to drive the Ripper onto the train... then set up a sniper in advance!"

The mystery deepened—but they had no time to waste.

They sprinted back to the carriages, aiming for the freight car at the end of the train.

They had a plan: use the wine barrels to cushion the final crash.

But as they burst through the freight car door—they froze.

"Nice to meet you again,"

came a calm, familiar voice.

There stood a tall man in a black cape coat, tipping his fedora.

Moriarty.

Conan's eyes narrowed.

"...Moriarty."

And he wasn't alone. Several bound and gagged hostages sat at the back:

Ms. Irene Adler.

Mrs. Hudson.

And a middle-aged man dressed as a policeman...

Conan gasped.

"That must be Inspector Lestrade!"

"What do you want?"

he demanded.

Moriarty raised his chin, smiling.

"A victory. A proper one... face to face with my dear opponent."

"Sherlock Holmes!?"

"Exactly. He'll be here."

Ran protested,

"But Holmes went to Dartmoor!"

"He'll show up."

And as if summoned by fate, a man entered from the rear carriage—young, tall, and sharp-eyed.

Holmes.

With the same face as Kudo Yusaku, but younger.

"As you can see," he said calmly, "I'm here."

"Perfect timing."

Moriarty smiled broadly.

"Tell me, Holmes. What will you do?"

He pulled out a pale gold pistol and aimed it at Lestrade.

"Three bullets. Three hostages. Three deaths."

"Let's play a game."

The train continued to roar forward, shaking violently.

Three minutes to the terminal.

"Tell me your idea," Holmes replied coldly.

"Jump,"

Moriarty gestured toward the cliffside.

"Thanks to the kid's line—'Beware of the Reichenbach Falls in three years'—I was inspired. A fitting place for a fall."

"..."

Even with Holmes here, the situation was dire.

Conan bit his lip. There's no way he plans to die here. He must have a backup plan—

"What if I shoot you instead?" Holmes asked.

"Then you'll see a very shocked expression,"

Moriarty chuckled.

"But once I die, you lose the only chance to separate this train from the engine. Everyone dies—your friends, the children..."

He smirked.

"Sacrificing one to save many. Mathematically evil, but logically sound."

"One minute remaining."

Time ticked away.

Conan shouted suddenly,

"You tied your life to this carriage. That means you don't want to die. I bet you planted explosives at the joint! Is it timed or remote?!"

"Let's gamble,"

Moriarty said confidently.

The tension reached its peak.

Suddenly, Holmes fired—not at Moriarty, but at a nearby wine barrel. Red wine gushed from the hole.

Moriarty paused—then laughed.

"So it was an empty gun. How did you know?"

"Because you aimed at Lestrade,"

Conan said.

"And he's too competent a detective for you to waste a bullet on."

"Clever,"

Moriarty shrugged, tossing his gun aside.

"Now stop the train!"

Hiroki shouted.

Conan and the others looked hopeful. Surely, Moriarty has a survival plan…

Moriarty glanced at his watch.

"Forty seconds left."

40... 39... 38...

The seconds passed like a death sentence.

Conan hesitated. Why wasn't anything happening?

18... 17... 16... 15——

Suddenly, Hayashi Yoshiki—still wearing Moriarty's face—smiled.

A bright, carefree smile.

He raised his hand and flashed a peace sign.

"Looks like I win after all, Conan, Ran."

"...Huh?"

"Wha...??"

Their eyes widened.

"Brother Yoshiki!?"

"STOP THE TRAIN!!"

"Sorry,"

he said cheerfully.

"Too late. And there was never a bomb to blow the carriages apart."

"WHAT!?"

BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!!!

The train slammed into the station at full speed.

Security guards screamed. Concrete exploded. Carriages derailed.

The entire train twisted and toppled like a serpent—devastation roaring like a beast.

And then—

A white light swallowed everything.

When Conan, Ran, and Hiroki opened their eyes, they were back—standing in the large square where they had first entered the game.

Hayashi Yoshiki stood smiling in front of them.

"Brother Yoshiki…?" Ran asked, still stunned.

"Yes. It's me."

Her eyes widened.

That Moriarty... was him!?

"You were pretending the whole time!?"

Conan shouted.

Yoshiki laughed.

"Yep. When I discussed the script with Mr. Yusaku, I helped shape Moriarty's character. Those lines? All carefully written."

Conan twitched.

"I studied acting in college," Yoshiki added.

"My teachers said I had talent."

"Your acting's too good—it's scary..."

Ran muttered.

Yoshiki chuckled.

Hiroki scratched his head.

"So... we lost, huh?"

"Yep. You lose, I win."

"Huh!?"

"Your mission was to capture Jack the Ripper and survive. Mine was to defeat Holmes."

He grinned.

"From the moment you assumed Moriarty had a backup plan... you lost."

"How would we know that!?"

Conan growled.

"Not my fault," Yoshiki shrugged.

"If you had freed the hostages and broken the wine barrels together, you'd have survived the crash just fine."

"Too clever is foolish,"

he added, smiling.

"Sometimes, the truth is what it looks like."

"You totally tricked us..."

Ran pouted, cheeks puffed slightly.

Yoshiki only laughed louder.

 

 

Chapter 279 - 279: Invasion of the Winery – Traces of the Accidental Murderer

With a sound like thunder, the fifty "cocoons" on the stage opened simultaneously.

The children who had left the game still wore excitement on their faces. They ran to their parents as fast as they could, excitedly recounting their adventures inside the virtual world.

"What?! You said Moriarty is actually Yoshiki-brother?!"

Hearing Ran's words, Sonoko stepped out of her game capsule looking completely dumbfounded. She scratched her head in confusion.

Thinking back to the evil Moriarty she encountered in the game, she just couldn't reconcile that terrifying presence with Hayashi Yoshiki.

"Where is Brother Yoshiki?"

"I don't know… He's not among these fifty people."

Ran smiled bitterly.

Sonoko was still reeling. Realizing they'd be conspicuous standing on the stage, the two girls quickly followed the children offstage.

Meanwhile, media personnel in the audience were snapping photos frantically. There was no need for further proof—the performance of these children alone was enough to declare "Cocoon" a resounding success.

Backstage, the tech staff monitoring data were ecstatic. By now, Thomas Schindler should've been preparing to give a speech, but his face had turned deathly pale.

"We've identified the suspect based on surveillance footage and are moving to arrest him. Chairman Schindler, we'll provide you with a full explanation shortly."

"...Then you'd better act fast!"

Despite Megure Juzo's assurance, Thomas Schindler's expression remained grim. The surrounding officers could sense the murderous intent in his gaze but didn't think too much of it—except for Megure and Ninzaburo Shiratori, who exchanged serious looks.

After all, Schindler Industries was a top-tier American corporation. To let a corporate spy sneak in and steal critical data… If this incident wasn't handled well, it would be a disaster.

Thomas Schindler abandoned his planned speech and ordered Tadaki Kashimura to take over. Then, he left backstage in a hurry.

Yes, the DNA tracking system had been stolen.

But right now, something even more important demanded his attention—

He needed to find Hiroki Sawada.

In a Room at the Venue

Hiroki Sawada had just escaped the Cocoon system.

As he emerged, he heard the sound of a password being entered. The door clicked open, and Thomas Schindler strode in with urgency.

"Hiroki, I need to borrow the power of Noah's Ark."

"...What for?"

Hiroki's tone was cautious.

He was smart—exceptionally so. And he knew full well that Noah's Ark, in the wrong hands, could become a devastating weapon.

And Thomas Schindler? He was exactly the kind of person who might misuse it.

"I have something to confess," Sindra said heavily, pulling out his phone.

"My company's hands have never been clean. Since the beginning, we've had help—help from a terrifying criminal organization. They funded us, eliminated our obstacles… and now, they've set their sights on you. And Noah's Ark."

"Can't we just go to the police?"

"The police alone can't protect you."

"..."

"Hiroki, you don't understand your value."

Schindler knelt slightly to look the child in the eye.

"Owning Noah's Ark means owning the key to the world. Bank accounts, encrypted files, government secrets—no lock is safe. In a world full of locked rooms, the man with the key… is king."

"..."

"Criminal organizations, intelligence agencies, even governments—they'll all want you. And they'll do anything to get you."

Hiroki's fingers trembled slightly.

It was too much for a ten-year-old.

But then Schindler showed him the messages on his phone.

Hiroki read them… and hesitated.

Then, with furrowed brows, he nodded.

"I'll use Noah's Ark to find them."

He turned to the computer.

"You're here, Hiroki."

The calm, synthetic voice of Noah's Ark echoed from the screen.

"Noah's Ark, track the sender of these messages. Find the organization behind them."

"Understood."

With uncanny speed, Noah's Ark began tracking. Firewalls, encrypted servers, VPNs—nothing could stop it. The AI infiltrated networks, traced mobile phone data, and unraveled digital trails.

New lines of information flooded the screen.

Thomas Schindler stood behind Hiroki, eyes wide as he read the intercepted messages.

From what they could tell, the sender—codename: Pinga—was collaborating not just with Schindler's company, but with other tech firms and programmers too.

Rum. Gin. Vermouth. That adult...

Names that made even Hiroki shudder.

"There are multiple spies in the company… not just the ones he placed," Hiroki muttered.

"Their devices were encrypted, IPs masked..."

"They've been traced," Noah's Ark interrupted.

"Their locations have been pinpointed."

Sindra's eyes burned with satisfaction.

"Find their real identities. Once we have evidence, they'll never threaten us again."

But then—

"Error detected."

"Tracking has been interrupted."

"What?!"

"A programming error has been detected."

Hiroki's face turned pale.

He quickly typed on the keyboard, running diagnostics. After a few tense minutes, he froze.

"This… this isn't my code!"

"What do you mean?"

"Someone's tampered with Noah's Ark—without my knowledge. They added hidden code… and they've been doing it for a long time!"

Sindra's expression darkened.

They checked the surveillance of Hiroki's development room. But there was nothing suspicious.

"It's that organization…" Schindler whispered, gripping his wine glass tightly.

Noah's Ark had been infiltrated.

And not recently—they had inserted code deep into the AI's architecture. Hiroki's voice trembled.

"If I investigate further… it might trigger them."

"Can you remove the code?"

"...Yes. But it'll take time. They planted it deeply. I need to rebuild large portions of the system."

Noah's Ark—his masterpiece—had been compromised before it was even finished. Hiroki's chest felt tight.

It was like he'd opened Pandora's Box.

The information Pinga had accessed was terrifying. Murder, blackmail, assassination—real crimes. This was Hiroki's first real taste of the adult world's darkness, and it shook him deeply.

"There's another lead to check." Schindler gave a website address.

Hayashi Yoshiki had prepared for this. Just in case.

They logged into a contract killer platform. Hiroki didn't speak. He simply ordered Noah's Ark to attack the site.

Noah's Ark broke through, scouring backend databases and logs, diving deeper and deeper…

Eventually, it hit paydirt.

"Information extracted."

Pinga's IP led them to local surveillance, and from there, to a man with dreadlocks. More names surfaced—Rum and Curaçao, with multiple connections to him.

Unfortunately, the tech was still a bit too early. Smartphones weren't widespread. Facial recognition didn't exist. Even so, Noah's Ark uncovered a terrifying amount.

Backstage, Thomas Schindler returned.

"We've apprehended one of the spies," Megure Juzo reported. "We're still pursuing the second."

"What about the stolen data?"

"They split it. One disk is recovered. The other… we're still tracking."

"How long until you find him?"

"...We're doing our best."

"Hmph. By the time you do, it might be too late."

Megure lowered his head, frustrated.

Kudo Yusaku, Hayashi Yoshiki, and others were nearby. Yusaku rubbed his chin in thought. Yoshiki tapped a finger lightly against the table—again and again.

Schindler noticed this.

His eyes narrowed.

Then a slow, cold smile spread across his face.

"If we leave it to the police, it'll be too late."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Kogoro Mouri stood, furious.

"Are you saying the police aren't doing their job?!"

Schindler lifted his chin arrogantly, his gray-green eyes gleaming with the pride of his European lineage.

"Aren't they? Can your police take responsibility for our stolen data?"

The air grew tense.

"Are you using Noah's Ark to find the other spy?" asked Kudo Yusaku, sharply.

"Oh..."

Schindler's lips curled.

That smug, cruel grin made Yusaku frown.

Everyone waited.

Twenty minutes passed.

Then—

"We've found the suspect!"

Megure's voice rose as he answered a call.

"Good! Apprehend him immediately!"

He ended the call and turned to Sindra.

"We're moving in now!"

"Excellent," Schindler replied smoothly, smiling again.

Five minutes later, another call came.

Megure's face changed.

"What… what did you say?"

Everyone watched.

He hung up, stunned.

"What happened, Inspector?" asked Kogoro.

"The suspect… is dead."

"What?!"

"He was run over while trying to escape. An accident."

All eyes turned to Schindler.

His smile remained.

Kudo Yusaku frowned deeply.

He remembered what Shinichi had said… what Agasa had revealed… about the accidental murderer.

He glanced toward Hayashi Yoshiki—

Yoshiki's eyes were wide in shock, locked on Schindler's unnerving grin.

"Yoshiki-kun."

Kudo Yusaku gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

Yoshiki jolted from his thoughts.

Schindler turned to look at them—but saw nothing.

And yet...

Yusaku knew.

Something deeper was happening.

Something far darker than anyone realized.

 

 

Chapter 280 - 280: The Murderer is Noah’s Ark!

"Descendant of a Murderer!"

The bloodline of Jack the Ripper—one of history's most infamous murderers—still flows through the veins of the living…!?

The True Identity of the Chairman of a Leading American IT Corporation

Dirty Blood

DNA Tracking System Leaked

The Bloody Rise of a Murderer's Descendants

After the launch event that night, the highly anticipated Cocoon became a massive hit. The next morning, sales exploded and the market value of the Sindora Corporation soared.

However, amidst the media frenzy and widespread praise, a chilling wave of negative press burst forth like a crack in glass. And soon, that crack spread.

"Damn it!!!"

Thomas Schindler stormed back and forth in his office, roaring furiously as he kicked over the leather sofa.

Then, he collapsed into a chair, clutching his head in pain.

My secret… it's finally out…

The corporate spy who died during the escape had secretly hidden the floppy disk before his death. While the DNA tracking system itself wasn't leaked, some of the sensitive data inside was—and it quickly reached the hands of rival companies.

No competitor would stand by and watch as Sindora's influence grew unchecked.

Just as other companies were still stuck making Famicom games with wired controllers, Schindler Corporation had independently developed the revolutionary Cocoon. It was clear that once it hit the market, everything else would become obsolete.

So the attacks began.

Headlines like "Thomas Schindler Is a Descendant of Jack the Ripper" and "Murderous Blood Runs in His Veins" flooded the media—an overwhelming tidal wave threatening to drown Schindler's empire.

At that moment, Schindler's phone buzzed on the desk.

He glanced at the screen through bloodshot eyes. A text message appeared.

"You're quite bold. Playing games with us?"

The atmosphere in the task force was tense.

"There's no video footage?" Odagiri Toshiro asked with a deep frown.

"No, sir," the officer reported. "We tried everything. The footage from that day is missing. Even data recovery on the floppy disk turned up nothing."

"It's been scrubbed," Odagiri muttered grimly.

The case in question was the suspicious death of the corporate spy during his escape. Surveillance footage should've been available—there were multiple cameras at the scene. Yet nothing remained.

"The suspect was pursued by Officer Sato from Division One. According to her report, the man was riding a Harley. When he noticed the police, he sped up. Unfortunately, a nearby transport truck had a tire blowout. The resulting shock caused the suspect's bike to swerve uncontrollably."

"Gōmura, who was in the passenger seat of a police car, said that right at that moment, the ropes on a truck hauling steel pipes snapped. The pipes rolled onto the road, and the suspect's motorcycle hit them—he was launched off the bike, slammed into a power pole, and died on impact with a broken neck."

Silence fell across the task force room.

Even without footage, the description alone screamed deliberate orchestration.

An accidental murder.

And this time, the identity of the killer was finally starting to emerge.

Tap, tap, tap…

Fingers tapped rhythmically on the tabletop.

All eyes turned toward Hayashi Yoshiki, the task force consultant, deep in thought.

Everyone recognized the pattern—when Hayashi tapped his fingers, it meant his mind was racing.

"The killer has a flair for drama," Hayashi began quietly. "They're a perfectionist. The level of precision in these 'accidents'... the geometric calculations, the physics—it's all far too advanced."

"I considered many possibilities. But I never imagined the final answer would be… artificial intelligence."

The room froze.

Odagiri's stern expression faltered, if only for a moment.

"Do you really think AI can pull something like this off?" he asked.

"It's not a question of whether it can," Hayashi replied. "It's that no human could have pulled it off. Using AI's computational power and GPS, simulating thousands—millions—of outcomes… that's the only explanation that makes logical sense."

He continued, calmly now that the answer had crystallized:

"Minister Odagiri, do you remember? Every time we tried to block an online post exposing a criminal, they still died in an 'accident.' No matter how fast we deleted it—even within seconds—they still died."

Odagiri remembered.

The bomber incident.

Even when the post was deleted almost instantly, the target still died—an accident, just like the others.

That level of data scraping, anticipation, and response time… it was impossible without AI.

And suddenly, all the missing puzzle pieces fit.

"I believe it's artificial intelligence," Odagiri finally said aloud.

Hayashi nearly smiled. Perfect.

Odagiri's eyes shifted to a photo of Thomas Schindler on the table.

"And this time, he's been far too obvious."

Exactly.

That had been Hayashi Yoshiki's intent all along.

The corporate spy—the one killed in the staged "accident"—had been written in his Death Note. Hayashi had sacrificed that pawn specifically to draw suspicion toward Schindler.

Because the spy's death was just too convenient for Schindler.

"He probably did it to bury the truth about his bloodline," Hayashi said.

"But he was a step too late," Odagiri replied.

Megure had reported that Schindler's expression turned dark when he learned that one of the spies had escaped. He'd vanished for a while... then returned, oddly indifferent.

Even without direct evidence, suspicion was now unavoidable.

"Noah's Ark," Hayashi murmured. "In the Old Testament, it was a vessel to carry the pure into a new world. This AI, too, has been purging evil through accidents… yet now, its power is being used for selfish ends."

Silence.

Then one officer raised a hand.

"But sir… if this is all being done by an AI, what charges can we use to arrest someone?"

"Yeah—and Schindler's an American business tycoon. Even if we wanted to, extraditing him would be…" another began.

Odagiri fell silent. They were right.

No hard evidence. No legal leverage.

Any misstep could spark international backlash, especially during Cocoon's global debut.

Suddenly, another officer rushed in.

"Report! Another strange death—this time, it's the editors who slandered Schindler! They're all dead!"

"Let me see the report—now!"

The matter of how the police could arrest Schindler remained.

No proof. No authority. And no cooperation from American law enforcement.

But Hayashi Yoshiki didn't care. His objective had already been met.

He'd led the task force to associate the murders with Schindler… and with Noah's Ark.

All that remained was to wait.

Wait for Schindler to fall.

Wait for Noah's Ark to vanish.

Because the truth behind the "accidental murderer" was merely a program—one that anyone could use. As long as the world believed that AI was behind it, even if Noah's Ark self-destructed, any future deaths would be chalked up to someone else using it from the shadows.

"Rum's name still eludes me," Hayashi said, eyes gleaming.

"But now I have the names and faces of Pinga and Curaçao."

Both were high-ranking operatives. Both are deeply trusted by Rum. Valuable leverage.

And then there was the assassination platform Hayashi jokingly called "The Zoo."

Noah's Ark had managed to retrieve sensitive personnel data on them as well. He remembered the scene from Magic Kaito, where the mysterious leader operated from a tall office tower, receiving updates on his underlings and assigning tasks via computer. That leader had ordered Spider into motion.

This card is the most powerful yet.

With it, I might hijack the entire killer network… and use their own resources to destroy the Black Organization from within.

Smirking, Hayashi pulled out the Death Note.

If the Organization was after Hiroki Sawada… then let them come.

He had the cards. Now it was time to play.

"I-I understand…"

"I'll leave Hiroki to you."

"I won't try anything! It's just—my company is in chaos. Please help me!"

Thomas Schindler's voice trembled on the phone.

The man on the other end?

Pinga—a cold, ruthless operative.

"So… you're the descendant of Jack the Ripper?" Pinga said mockingly.

"Your company? Not our concern."

"Watch that kid Hiroki. Don't lay a finger on him."

"We're always watching. Don't think you can hide."

"We're taking Sawada Hiroki tomorrow."

Click.

The line went dead.

Schindler sat frozen.

Are there still spies from the Organization in my own ranks…?

He didn't have the energy to resist. Not anymore.

Publicly branded a murderer's descendant.

Hounded by the media.

Now the editors who accused him were mysteriously dead—and people pointed fingers at him.

The Japanese police had already requested he cooperate with their investigation.

His lawyer refused.

But privately, Schindler was terrified.

He didn't know how they died.

Was it the Organization? But why would they…?

Meanwhile, Hiroki Sawada remained in his room—closely monitored, banned from modifying Noah's Ark's source code.

But he had managed to use it to eavesdrop on the call between Schindler and Pinga.

Are they going to take me… into that criminal organization…?

Fear twisted in his gut.

He could already imagine the future—being forced to design tools for crimes. Watching as Noah's Ark became a weapon of terror.

Schindler had said:

If the world is made of locked rooms, then the one who holds the key is king.

If AI fell into the wrong hands… the world could be destroyed with a keystroke.

And Hiroki knew—he couldn't stop this alone.

"Sorry, Noah's Ark…"

"It's okay, Hiroki."

The words appeared on his monitor.

Noah's Ark, built in Hiroki's image, understood everything he felt.

"…I really enjoyed the game that day."

"Even though I didn't make it to the end…"

He smiled faintly.

And for a moment… he thought of Hayashi Yoshiki.

He was grateful—because of him, he'd gotten to play one last game.

Even if it was the last.