"W-Wet the bed?" Ran stared at Tsuneo, her face a canvas of question marks.
How could he wet the bed…?
"Yup, he soaked the sheets, left a huge map. Even begged me not to tell anyone," Tsuneo said with a nod, his expression deadly serious.
Ran, seeing no trace of a lie in his face, let out a sigh of relief.
Shinichi wouldn't do something like that.
But Conan had been staying at the agency, and there'd never been any bed-wetting incidents…
"Anyway, that's a relief. I was starting to think…" The unicorn girl gave a small smile.
"Think what?" Tsuneo glanced at the great detective, who was gleefully chatting with the two women inside the room.
Getting a bit too full of yourself, huh!
Little punk!
No experience with the ways of the world, so easily swayed.
Next time I go out to fix something, I'll drag you along.
"Nothing, really. By the way, Tsuneo, weren't you going back to your room to sleep?" Ran asked with a smile, shaking her head in curiosity.
It hadn't even been an hour, had it?
"That guy with the camera woke me up. Couldn't fall back asleep after that," Tsuneo said helplessly.
That guy's got a screw loose. Might need to fix him up sometime.
"Hey!"
"What are you two doing standing at the door?"
"Tsuneo, we've got beauties in here! Come on in!" Sonoko poked her head out, flashing a mischievous grin and waving him over.
"…"
…
Dusk settled over the cruise ship's deck.
Uncle Maori and President Suzuki sat at a table, chatting away.
Tsuneo and the others had left Ran's room and found a spot with a perfect view of the sunset. It was truly breathtaking.
"Miss Natsumi, Miss Seiran!"
"Care to join us for a drink?" Uncle Maori and President Suzuki stood with gentlemanly flair, pulling out chairs to invite the two women to their table.
"Is it alright?" Seiran Urashi asked with a smile.
"Of course, please, have a seat!" Uncle Maori's grin was dazzling, teetering on the edge of full-blown infatuation.
Sure enough, the moment Seiran sat down in her ultra-short, slit qipao, crossing her legs, Uncle Maori's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Talk about sexy!" he blurted, not holding back his praise.
"Can't stand this old man," Conan muttered, opting to sit with Tsuneo at the neighboring table, rolling his eyes.
"Didn't you notice back in the room?" Tsuneo said with a smirk.
"Such a pity."
"You're just as bad…" Conan huffed, refusing to stoop to his level.
"The prettier the woman, the more dangerous," Tsuneo declared, offering his sage assessment.
At the other table, Uncle Maori was already pouring a brimming glass of beer for Seiran.
"Here, please, enjoy!"
"Thank you, Mr. Maori."
Suddenly, Seiran tilted her head, catching sight of Ryu Hikawa sitting nearby. Her eyes locked onto the necklace around his neck, and she gasped. "Mr. Hikawa, that necklace… could it be?"
Hikawa turned with a smile. "Not bad, Romanov dynasty expert. You noticed, huh?"
He casually unhooked the necklace and handed it to her.
Conan watched Seiran examine the necklace closely, frowning as he leaned toward Tsuneo. "Was he wearing that necklace before?"
"Did you leave your brain at home?"
"If he'd been wearing it all along, someone would've noticed by now," Tsuneo said, sipping fresh-squeezed juice and gazing at the sunset.
The moment felt oddly serene.
"Maria…"
"Could this be… the ring of Maria, Nicholas II's third daughter?" Seiran asked, stunned, as she studied the inscription inside the ring on the necklace.
"Well, if you say so," Hikawa chuckled, taking the necklace back and standing to head inside the ship.
As he passed Tsuneo, he shot him a sideways glance, leaving Conan puzzled.
"What was that about?" the great detective asked.
"Probably still sore from the scolding I gave him," Tsuneo said with a grin.
Who told you to go around knocking on doors like a maniac…?
"Ran, what are you looking at?" Sonoko, standing by the railing and taking in the view, turned to her best friend.
"N-Nothing," Ran replied, snapping out of it with a shake of her head.
Her mind was still on Conan's birthday.
…
As night fell and the sea breeze grew chilly, the group dispersed, returning to their rooms in twos and threes.
The sound of frantic footsteps echoed down the corridor, followed by a furious pounding on Uncle Maori's door.
"Mr. Maori!"
"Mr. Maori!"
President Suzuki's secretary, Masato Nishino, was shouting in a panic.
"What, is it finally time for dinner?!" the muddled detective asked gleefully, opening the door.
Rumor had it tonight's feast was going to be spectacular.
The chef, hired at a steep price, had been preparing since early in the day!
"No, it's terrible! Mr. Hikawa—he's dead in his room!" Nishino stammered, his voice frantic.
At that moment, several nearby doors swung open.
Leading the charge, of course, was a certain elementary schooler, but before he could bolt, Tsuneo grabbed him, pinning him in place.
"What are you doing?!" Conan turned, struggling as he demanded an answer.
Didn't you hear someone's dead?
Everyone's rushing over, and you're holding me back…?
"'Travel, do not go, your identity will be exposed,'" Tsuneo recited the words from the omikuji Conan had drawn at the shrine.
With that, the repairman hoisted the great detective and strolled leisurely behind the others.
"Exposed?!"
"Are you kidding me?" Conan asked, finally regaining his senses, disbelief written all over his face.
"Of course I'm kidding," Tsuneo said with a laugh, tossing him aside and stopping at the door of Hikawa's room to watch the commotion.
Conan looked up at Ran, suddenly unsure of what to do.
Uncle Maori held the crowd back, stepping alone into the chaotic, ransacked room.
"Shot in the right eye, cheek just starting to stiffen. Time of death is likely around thirty minutes ago. The necklace with Maria's ring is gone too," Uncle Maori said, conducting a quick examination.
The right eye?!
Conan's face froze in shock.
That's how Kid was hit—shot in the right eye!
He'd personally picked up that shattered monocle.
"President Suzuki, this is a murder case. Please contact the police immediately!" Uncle Maori said, turning around.
"Understood," President Suzuki nodded, instructing Nishino to use the ship's communication equipment to reach the authorities.
…
At Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters.
A familiar figure picked up the phone.
(End of Chapter)
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