Chapter 112: Saving the World with an Innocent Murder
"I bet neither of those two choices you gave me are good ideas!"
The intense heart pain made it difficult for Shinichi Kudo to concentrate his thoughts, but even so, he showed a faint attitude of resistance.
The reason was simple: the "wickedness" radiating from Mo Yu, displayed so wantonly, was terrifying. Even Gin, a man of countless atrocities and a cruel, violent temperament, had been forced to call Shinichi a monster after feeling the pitch-black will condensed by that "wickedness."
This was because that pure "Evil" had transcended the category of being an "enemy of good and justice"; it showed signs of becoming the natural predator of all life.
This was no exaggeration. When that pitch-black humanoid walked over and squatted beside him, Shinichi felt himself trembling. This uncontrollable fear came from information emitted by every single cell in his body.
The thirty trillion cells of the human body were narrating in unison: The avatar of sin and evil has descended. He will grant an equal end and destruction to all things. Run. If you cannot run, then submit!
Under this overwhelming deterrence, Shinichi felt quite brave just for managing to speak instead of grovelling hysterically on the floor.
"First... continue to throw Mr. Magical Mackerel and, guided by him, knock on the door of the Metropolitan Police Department to find a turning point in the Sixth World-Line Divergence..."
Shinichi no longer had the energy to complain about Mo Yu's ever-changing names for the die. He only asked:
"Every world-line change comes with a special event. In the second, you said our hearts fused. In the third, the criminal gangs appeared. In the fourth, the Organization was born. In the fifth, Stands appeared. So I want to ask you: What happened in the First World-Line Divergence?"
Incessant curiosity was a prerequisite for a detective. Even as his heart felt as if it were tearing apart, Shinichi couldn't resist asking.
Mo Yu didn't expect this question. He paused slightly, then revealed a meaningful smile:
"The first world-line change was very interesting. Because in that moment, we both decided to go to the harbor to get some fries. As for why that's interesting... I think it's necessary to keep it a secret. Being a 'riddler' is fun occasionally. Now, don't interrupt. Listen to the second method..."
Mo Yu struck a cool pose that looked like it would snap a normal person's hip and pointed at Shinichi:
"Shinichi Kudo! You must inherit the Black Will passed down through the Kudo family for generations! Become the 'Yankee Star' of Beika Town—ahem, I mean the Emperor of Crime of Beika Town. Become the man who reigns at the pinnacle of all evil. Then, as the Messiah of Villains, devour all the sin and evil in the world to mend my 'heart'—which is also yours!"
Shinichi retorted helplessly, "What the hell is the 'Kudo family's generations-old Black Will'? Even if it existed, my family would pass down a Golden Will, okay?"
"Fine, fine. Don't obsess over boring details. Choose! By the way, this isn't a single-choice question; it's multiple-choice. You can be bold and say 'I want it all'!"
Mo Yu's other hand was behind his back, holding a box of the most famous drug in the Conan world: APTX4869.
This was the dream drug developed by Shiho Miyano's parents, originally named "Silver Bullet." Its original intended effect was lost to time after a fire killed them and destroyed most of the research. Shiho had reconstructed it from remnants. Experimentally, every dose resulted in death via sudden cardiac arrest. Thus, it was currently used by Gin as a tool for "invisible" assassination.
During their clash, Mo Yu had pickpocketed the box from Gin. The Xiao Hei body excelled in all criminal arts, including theft.
His reason was simple: this drug was the core item for Shinichi to reclaim his "true body." If Shinichi chose to throw the die for the sixth divergence, Mo Yu would shove this pill in his mouth to trigger the transformation—adding a layer of "Zuo Wang Dao" deception to make the world-line setting even more credible in Shinichi's mind.
As for the second choice, Mo Yu knew Shinichi wouldn't pick it. But if he did, that would be equally interesting!
Shinichi remained silent. As expected, he didn't even consider the second choice. But he hesitated to throw the die for a sixth time.
The fifth divergence had brought supernatural phenomena. What would the sixth bring? At this rate, an alien invasion really wasn't far off. Moreover, he was instinctively wary; he sensed Mo Yu was inducing him to push the world-line further.
He didn't overthink Mo Yu's hidden motives because Mo Yu's "persona" was well-established: a standard Chaotic Joker. From that premise, it was easy to conclude that at the end of the shifting world lines lay a "Super Joke" that Mo Yu was dying to see.
And Shinichi didn't think Mo Yu's idea of a "joke" would be something people could actually laugh at.
However, choosing between the world and his own life was difficult. Countless thoughts flashed through his hyper-fast mind and then faded. Long after, Shinichi took a deep breath and looked up, his eyes firm:
"I've made my choice. I choose neither. I choose Death."
This time, it was Mo Yu's turn to be silent. He tilted his head and stared at Shinichi for a long while before asking: "Your choice exceeded my expectations. So... what is your reason? What is the meaning?"
Shinichi laughed. "I didn't expect you to ask for a reason or meaning. To you, aren't those the most unimportant and boring things?"
Mo Yu laughed back. "True, they aren't important. But the curiosity rising in me won't let me sleep tonight if I don't ask. You know how it is with us 'Jokers' when we see something unexpectedly interesting."
Shinichi's smile grew relaxed. "The answer isn't complex. Damage to a Stand reflects on the User. Conversely, the death of the User should cause the Stand to die as well. My thought is simple: I think you are too dangerous and far too reckless. So... I want to take you with me!"
Truly smart people don't fall into regret after the fact; they make decisions beforehand to strangle the source of regret in its cradle. Shinichi Kudo was such a person.
Mo Yu's grin widened. "Just like Holmes and Moriarty? Falling into the waterfall together?"
Shinichi shook his head. "No. Not quite like that. I'm not being that righteous. Moriarty... maybe you were right. Maybe I do have a trace of 'Black Will' in me to have birthed you. Because right now, I simply want to murder you. A super-criminal who can create 'Perfect Crimes' with zero evidence and who only wants to see the world burn... you are too dangerous for the world, and too boring for a detective!"
Mo Yu stared into Shinichi's eyes. He saw the Resolve to Commit a Crime.
But that resolve wasn't filthy or muddy; it was radiant and stainless. Because the person he intended to kill was himself.
By a sinless murder, he would end the budding darkness and redeem the world.
Mo Yu suddenly felt he had been looking at things too much through a "3D-world" lens, forgetting that these bubbles born of fantasy possessed fantastic, brilliant colors: like a justice that persists until death.
Or perhaps, this world-bubble had triggered a "stress response," using the protagonist to strike at Mo Yu, who was mod-ding and seizing the world step by step.
Mo Yu hadn't lied. During the second divergence, he had stopped time, ripped the "heart" out of the Xiao Hei body, and fused it into Shinichi. It was an attempt to "Hogyoku-fy" Shinichi, but it also created a manual weakness. If Shinichi died, the Xiao Hei body would be buried with him.
But as Mo Yu said, that didn't matter. He didn't care.
He put the drug away, raised his hands, and began to clap slowly while laughing:
"Hahaha! Good! Very good! I feel your 'criminal resolve.' This is a level of entertainment I've never had before! In that case, I shall play a real game with you with great expectation. It will take about seven days for my heart to fully shatter. Let's see... if a high-school detective's planned murder can truly kill the Emperor of Crime!"
Shinichi gasped for air, endured the heart pain, and slowly climbed to his feet. He straightened his clothes and said:
"Then, before the game begins, can I make a phone call?"
Mo Yu extended a hand elegantly. "Of course. It is your right. Not just before the game, but during it. As the Emperor of Crime, I look forward to any form of criminal act. I permit you to do whatever you wish. Do you need me to bring you your phone?"
"If you had been this polite from the start instead of persecuting me, we would have gotten along much better!"
Shinichi didn't take Mo Yu's help. He searched through the ruins of his room, found his phone, and dialed Inspector Megure.
"Kudo-kun? What is it? Have you found another case?"
"Inspector Megure... I want to turn myself in. I'm responsible for the explosion at the docks."
"What did you say!?" Megure's voice was so shocked he was speechless. Only after Shinichi repeated it did he incoherently tell Shinichi to stay put—he was coming immediately.
Not long after, accompanied by sirens, the famous "Little Brother Hunter," Inspector Megure, appeared. The chubby Inspector didn't have much deduction skill himself, but he excelled at finding talented detectives to call "Little Brother" and let them solve his cases. He never expected his most prized "summon," Shinichi Kudo, to be in trouble.
The bullet holes and the room that looked like a bomb site told Megure the situation was serious. When Shinichi opened the basement door and Megure saw the contents, he realized it was even worse.
"Kudo-kun... let's talk at the station."
When the handcuffs snapped onto Shinichi's wrists, he felt dazed. He couldn't help but marvel at the fickleness of life; usually, he was the one watching Megure lead the culprit away. Now, it was his turn. But he had chosen this path, and he would walk it.
Moriarty had vanished by the time Megure arrived, but Shinichi knew he was still there. In the corners of his eyes, he could always see a pitch-black outline standing in the shadows, watching him.
The next morning, Ran Mouri, having waited for Shinichi on the way to school and failed to reach him by phone, went to investigate. She found the Kudo mansion cordoned off. After asking around, she learned Shinichi had turned himself in. She froze in total shock.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department was notoriously "leaky"—reporters lived there. News of Shinichi's arrest spread fast.
[The Savior of the Police Force Falls? High School Detective Arrested for Bombing?]
The papers left him some dignity with a question mark, but his reputation was in the dirt. Ran's father, Kogoro Mouri, who usually disliked Shinichi, was stunned. He sneered at the news, telling a panicked Ran that he didn't believe for a second that Shinichi did it.
Shinichi's parents, Yukiko and Yusaku, immediately flew back from New York.
But the most surprised person was Gin, who had spent the night recovering at a secret base. He looked at the newspaper, his cold eyes flickering.
"Is that monster trying to use the police to evade the Organization's hunt? Or is he planning a massive conspiracy?"
The memory of that terrifying "Black Will" remained in Gin's mind. He didn't believe the surrender was genuine for a second.
As he thought, blood-red mist swirled around him. The Dragon of the Killing Calamity paced nearby. Suddenly, the dragon glared at the door with killing intent. Gin snapped to alertness.
Shiho Miyano (Sherry), in a white lab coat, walked in with a few assistants. She said coldly:
"Gin. Time for your check-up. Let me see what this 'Stand' of yours is all about."
Gin had reported the events to the Boss, who had prioritized seizing the "Magical Die." But first, Gin had to undergo testing. Shiho was chosen as the lead researcher because she was the closest codenamed member on the research side.
Shiho looked at the dragon and the mist. Though she tried to remain calm, the curiosity in her eyes was unmistakable.
"Hmph. Keep the schedule tight and work fast," Gin snorted. "I have to organize a team to hunt that monster down."
He glanced at Shiho with a heavy, scrutinizing look that made her instinctively fearful. But he didn't linger; he stood up and walked out.
Shiho, aside from her curiosity about Stands, now had a burning interest in Shinichi Kudo—the man a guy like Gin called a "Monster."
Meanwhile, because of his full confession and the physical evidence, Shinichi had been sent to a detention house.
His father, Yusaku Kudo, used his influence to get an emergency visit. When he walked in, he saw Shinichi sitting behind the bars with his legs crossed, looking as relaxed as if he were on vacation.
Yusaku's eyes were grave. He asked directly:
"Shinichi. What is this really about?"
Shinichi's expression stiffened for a microsecond. He lowered his head and said in an impatient tone:
"Old man, don't ask. Your son got blinded by greed, took a wrong turn, and went from detective to criminal. That's all."
End of Chapter
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