When the "Aphrodite" sank, were there other ships on the sea?
Listening to the conversation between the captain and the crew on the ship, Qin Zhibo looked slightly startled.
At this time, Conan, Mouri Kogoro and others also came back, carrying the temporary breakfast provided on the ship.
Conan brought breakfast to Qin Zhibo, a cup of heated milk, a hard-boiled egg and two pieces of toast.
The people who survived the disaster sat on the deck of the ship and began to enjoy the first breakfast in the morning.
Although this breakfast is not rich, for people who have been on the stormy sea for several hours, it is definitely the most delicious food in the world.
Qin Zhibo, who had been extremely hungry for a long time, ate his portion in a few seconds, and then went to get another one.
Conan saw the right moment and quickly stood up to follow.
Seeing this, Mao Lilan asked doubtfully: "Conan, don't you have enough to eat?"
"No..." Conan smiled and scratched his head, "I have to go to the toilet..."
Conan made an excuse and hurriedly followed Qin Zhibo.
When he reached the corner, he grabbed a corner of the blanket Qin Zhibo was wearing.
"Did something happen on that ship?"
Qin Zhibo looked back at Conan, who looked solemn, and knew that he was also suspicious of this incident.
"What basis do you have for this?"
Facing Qin Zhibo's rhetorical question, Conan spoke seriously about the various anomalies he saw yesterday through his black technology glasses.
Although he didn't see it clearly, he did see that when the "Aphrodite" was about to sink, some phenomena that could not be explained by common sense occurred on the ship.
Combined with the purpose of Yashiro Hideto and others, Conan always felt that this matter was not that simple.
It's a pity that the "Aphrodite" sank in the Pacific Ocean, and all the evidence became impossible to verify.
However, as someone who later returned to the ship, Qin Zhibo must have known something or seen something.
Qin Zhibo thought for a moment, then replied with a smile: "That's not something a kid like you should know..."
"That's it, bye."
For Conan, it is still too dangerous to face unknown creatures.
In other words, it is not something dangerous or not, but once you come into contact with unknown existence, you will always have to bear the pain attached to this part of the knowledge.
When you are peering into the abyss, the abyss is also peering into you...
Just as Qin Zhibo was about to turn around and leave, the corners of Conan's mouth also raised slightly.
"What if there is something you want to know about me?"
Qin Zhibo stopped and looked back at Conan, who had a confident smile on his face.
Qin Zhibo narrowed his eyes and suddenly thought of something.
Conan put his hands in his pockets and walked over on his own, "I have already investigated the things you asked me to investigate in London..."
"Oh?" Qin Zhibo was a little surprised. This guy's efficiency is pretty good.
This kind of routine investigation is indeed the detective's strength.
Previously at a private hospital in London, Qin Zhibo asked Conan to investigate the person who recently posted details of Haneda Koji's case 17 years ago on the Internet in order to keep Conan idle.
Although Qin Zhibo had asked Hiroki Sawada to use hacking technology to track this person's IP address earlier, the specific person was not found.
This piece of information may not be very important, but given the current situation, it is not a disadvantage to have one more piece of information.
"Who is it?"
A smirk appeared on Conan's lips, "You tell me what you know, and I'll tell you what I know..."
"How's it going? Fair, right?"
Seeing this, Qin Zhibo could only helplessly shake his head.
It seems that curiosity is really a disease...
"make a deal."
"But I need you to tell me first."
Conan pouted, but he could only compromise.
"All right……"
"That person is the teacher of Teidan Elementary School, Rumi Wakasa."
Wakasa?
Hearing this last name, a memory flashed back in Qin Zhibo's mind, remembering that he had seen a mailbox with this last name downstairs in the apartment where the IP address was last located.
"Are you sure?" Qin Zhibo asked confirmingly.
"There is a high probability that it is her..."
Conan's little face was very serious, "She just arrived at Didan Elementary School recently and happens to be the deputy head teacher in our class."
"There was an incident at Didan Elementary School before. That woman beat down two robbery and murderers on her own. She also accurately guessed that the young detective team would return to solve the incident."
"She reminded me of the solution to the code twice before, but maybe I was overthinking it..."
Conan raised his chin, "But the most important thing is that Haiyuan said that the organization's gin and vodka, as well as her who had not left the organization at that time, had been to the American island..."
"The purpose of their coming to the island is to investigate the mermaid, which seems to be related to the organization's drug development."
"And the full name of the American island is Wakasa Bay American Island."
After listening to Conan's narration, Qin Zhibo also analyzed it secretly in his mind.
If Conan's guess about the name is correct, then this person must have an unusual relationship with the organization.
After all, it involves drug development, which is already a major secret of the organization.
And this person suddenly transferred to the class of Didan Elementary School. Could it be that he has discovered something?
"Do you have a photo of this person?" Qin Zhibo asked.
"Well, yes, I took a picture when she wasn't paying attention..."
Conan took out his mobile phone from his pocket, opened the photo album, and raised his hand to show the photos inside to Qin Zhibo.
Qin Zhibo took a closer look and saw that it was a female teacher wearing glasses teaching several children to do handicrafts in class. The angle of view was a common upward angle for candid photography.
But the next second, he felt that this person looked familiar.
Isn't this the portrait of "Asaka" that Kuroda Hei gave him?
Before the last separation in Nagano Prefecture, Kuroda Hei gave Qin Zhibo a portrait of Amanda's personal bodyguard "Asaka".
Because according to Qin Zhibo's reasoning, the real meaning of the message Amanda left before her death 17 years ago was "Be careful with Asaka".
If this is the case, "Asaka" has a serious suspicion of committing the crime, or she may be an internal agent of the organization's killer.
"What? Do you know this person?"
"Well..." Qin Zhibo did not hide anything, "She should be the relevant person in the case 17 years ago."
"Is that case the Haneda Koji case?" Conan asked seriously.
Seeing Conan tell the details of the case, Qin Zhibo was also a little surprised.
When in London, Qin Zhibo did not tell Conan the specific case, only that a certain case 17 years ago was related to the organization.
However, when he met the shogi player Haneda Hideyoshi by chance some time ago, Haneda Hideyoshi mentioned his adoptive brother Haneda Koji, which reminded Haibara Ai, who was also nearby at the time, that Haneda Koji had appeared on the list of victims of drug A.
This shows that the death of Haneda Koji is related to the A drug developed by the organization.
Combined with the time point 17 years ago, Conan also knew exactly which case Qin Zhibo was talking about.
Seeing that Qin Zhibo acquiesced to his guess, Conan continued to analyze on his own.
"Seventeen years ago, the genius shogi player Haneda Koji went to the United States to participate in a chess competition, but died mysteriously in the hotel where he stayed."
"Among those who died that day were the American capitalist Amanda Hughes who was staying in the same hotel, and Amanda's personal bodyguard, Asaka, who mysteriously disappeared after the case."
"If someone related to the case appears again after 17 years, then it can only be the bodyguard named 'Asaka'..."
Conan's expression was very confident, and he was very sure that he had grasped the key information of the incident.
And that was indeed the case, he was indeed right.
Qin Zhibo was stunned for a while, then he knelt down and stroked Conan's head with a smile.
"Bingo!"
"Correct answer!"
Conan's head was rubbed and he grinned, not knowing whether to be happy or distressed.
Why do I feel that I have been underestimated...
"But even if you know her identity, you can't investigate casually, otherwise if you alert the snake, your situation will be in danger..."
Facing Qin Zhibo's instructions, Conan helplessly complained, "I know, I'm not a child..."
"But even if I don't do anything, it's really suspicious that that woman suddenly transferred to Didan Elementary School."
"Could it be that Haiyuan and I's identities have been exposed, so that woman..."
What Conan said is what Qin Zhibo is most worried about right now.
I don't know whether this "Asaka" is an enemy or a friend. If she were a member of the organization and had indeed obtained some evidence, she might not hesitate to take action instead of lurking like this.
In addition, if you think of a case where you disguise yourself as someone and lurk nearby, the first thing that comes to mind is that woman.
"The only way you can do now is to remain unchanged in response to all changes and maintain this status quo."
There was a trace of calmness in Qin Zhibo's eyes, "If there is a suitable opportunity, I will meet that girl..."
Although I don’t know whether that woman is black or red, she is the “important legacy” left by Amanda, and I will have to come into contact with her sooner or later.
At this moment, Conan drooped his face and asked, "I've told you what I know. Now can you tell me what happened on the ship?"
Qin Zhibo did not lie this time. He nodded and responded: "Yes, since we are partners, it is natural to share information..."
Conan grinned: Haha, didn't you want to tell me just now?
"But there is one thing I want to say in advance. Some truths are not the end of a mystery, but maybe the beginning of a greater unknown."
"If you don't want to fall into the unknown abyss, maybe you shouldn't explore too much from the beginning..."
Qin Zhibo's words are more like a disclaimer.
Conan may have the obligation to know, but he also has the right not to let him know.
Of course, if Conan must know, he must be aware of it and understand that this world is not just about fishing lines, cyanide, and bullet smoke.
There are also some indescribable and terrifying existences that humans cannot understand.
If you make an argument based on the premise of the existence of such horrors, you will inevitably lose the essence of detective reasoning.
Until then, perhaps it would be more appropriate to call him "investigator".
Conan looked up at Qin Zhibo, thought for a moment with a heavy face, and then raised his head with a smile.
"Even if I want to escape from the 'unknown' now, it's already too late..."
"Isn't it?"
After coming back from the parallel world, Conan knew that this world was far from as simple and pure as it seemed.
Magic, aliens, time travel, and parallel universes are all real.
Even if you ignore them, they do exist and exert influence in some hidden corner of the earth.
It would have been better if I didn't know about their existence before.
But when the door to the new world is opened, even if it is just a gap, it will be difficult to take back the heart of seeking.
Whether it is to seek the truth of this world or to protect the people he cares about in a universe full of infinite unknowns, this story that he started by himself can only continue to be written.
Because if more people are to be spared the pain of knowing the truth, a few people will inevitably have to bear more pain.
Qin Zhibo looked into Conan's eyes and saw some determination and persistence in those blue eyes.
After getting along for such a long time, there have been suspicions, disputes, and cooperation, and the two have already formed a certain tacit understanding.
Therefore, Qin Zhibo was not surprised by Conan's choice.
In other words, this is Conan.
No matter what kind of unknown you face, have the courage to explore.
"All right."
Qin Zhibo spread his hands, "Then let me tell you what happened on the "Aphrodite" from my perspective..."
…
On the deck of the ship, the three little ones, Moori and his daughter, Suzuki Sonoko, Dr. Agasa, and Haibara Ai, were sitting in a circle, still eating breakfast.
"This experience was really terrible. I really don't dare to take a boat in the future..."
Suzuki Sonoko drank a bag of hot milk, spread her hands and complained.
Mao Lilan smiled and comforted: "This kind of thing is also very unlikely..."
"And if we don't take a boat, it will be very inconvenient to travel in the future, right?"
"Even if you don't take a boat, there are many transportation options available, such as cars, airplanes, etc..."
At this point, Suzuki Sonoko rolled her eyes and suddenly said excitedly: "That's right! The train!"
"Trains are the safest means of transportation in the world, so let's take the train next time, right?"
"Take a train?" Mao Lilan next to him was stunned.
"That's right!" Suzuki Sonoko turned to look at the three little ones and Haibara Ai, and said with a smile: "The unpleasant experience I gave you several this time will be blamed on me, Suzuki Sonoko!"
"As compensation, I invite you all to take a ride on the mysterious train next time!"
The three little ones looked puzzled and said in unison: "Mysterious train?"
"yes!"
Suzuki Sonoko raised a finger and introduced: "Mystery Train is a special line of the Suzuki Express train built by our Suzuki Foundation..."
"That line is only open once a year. In addition to the luxurious ride experience and the travel scenery along the way, the train also provides a mysterious reasoning puzzle as usual."
“I heard it’s very exciting!”
"Mystery puzzle!"
When the keyword was triggered, the three little ones were immediately excited and their eyes shone.
But Haiyuan Ai took a small bite of the toast in her hand and was unmoved.
Suddenly, her sixth sense seemed to be activated by something, and she immediately turned her head to look in a certain direction.
But all he could see were passengers having breakfast on blankets, and no suspicious person was seen.
Dr. Ali next to him noticed something strange about Haihara Ai, turned around and asked: "Xiao Ai, what's wrong?"
"If you want to visit Dr. Cheng Shi, I'll go with you after breakfast..."
Haibara Ai, who found nothing, retracted her gaze, said softly "Hmm", and continued to eat the bread in her hand while listening to Suzuki Sonoko's introduction about the mysterious train.
A few meters away from everyone, a blond woman wearing glasses was sitting cross-legged on the deck with a large towel on her head, glancing towards this side.