Stay away from Conan

Chapter 118 On the Tour Boat

Gao Yuan felt something strange from the beginning. Kudou Shinichi had vowed yesterday that he was not interested in the school trip, but today he came to participate in the school trip.

And listening to Mao Lilan's simple description of the incident, Gao Yuan felt that Kudo Shinichi's behavior on the ship today was a little strange.

Therefore, Gao Yuan had a guess, so he tested Kudo Shinichi just now. When Kudo Shinichi said for sure that Suzuki Sonoko was fine, Takato knew that his guess was right - Kudo Shinichi had expected that Suzuki Sonoko would be kidnapped on the ship today!

"What's the meaning?"

Mao Lilan didn't quite understand the meaning of Gao Yuan's words, but looking at Kudo Shinichi's performance at this time, she also knew that he seemed to know something, so he shouted as if to ask.

"Shinichi!"

Hearing Xiaolan's questioning, Kudo slowly chased after him, looking a little remorseful. He looked at Xiaolan embarrassedly, and then glanced at Gao Yuan beside him.

"Let me tell you frankly. Someone sent me a challenge letter. The sender called himself KIDNAPPER. He said that he would kidnap a certain classmate on the boat on the school trip. Then, just now, this guy called I made the call and issued a second criminal statement, saying that another person would be kidnapped at noon tomorrow. While making that call, I heard Sonoko’s voice confirming that she was okay.”

Speaking of this, Xiaolan felt a little sad, and tears began to well up in her eyes.

"Xiaolan..."

Seeing Xiaolan with such an expression, Kudo couldn't bear it.

"Why……"

With a crying voice, Xiaolan stared at Kudo, a little hysterical, "Why didn't you call the police when you received the challenge? The case is not a game!"

With that said, Xiaolan grabbed Kudo's sleeve and asked, "Putting people around you in danger is not what a detective should do!"

Hearing this, Kudo looked away.

"I didn't think of it as a game."

He said with firm eyes: "This is a contest between me and that guy!"

"Contest?"

Hearing this, Xiaolan couldn't understand and shook her head tremblingly, "What's the point of competing with such a despicable person!"

"meaningful!"

Kudo said, "It is precisely because the prisoner is a despicable person. If I evade this challenge this time, the prisoner may do something even more despicable to provoke me next time. The challenge book states that if I do not comply with the one-on-one duel If asked, he will do whatever he wants.”

Hearing this, Xiaolan seemed to understand Kudo's thoughts.

"besides……"

Just looking at Xiaolan like this, Kudo never said anything.

"what else……"

Xiaolan asked softly.

"No, it's nothing."

Looking at Xiaolan's expression, Kudo's eyes began to dodge a little.

"uh-huh."

At this moment, Gao Yuan coughed slightly, breaking the gaze between the two of them - have they forgotten that I am still here?

Hearing Gao Yuan's voice, Xiaolan and Kudo seemed to remember that there was someone here.

"Sorry, Mr. Akechi. Because of the prisoner's request, this is a one-on-one showdown between me and him, so..."

"So what? Did you just say that the prisoner called you? What number did the other party use? And what specifically did he tell you? When you heard Yuanzi's voice, what did Yuanzi say?"

Gao Yuan asked several questions in succession, interrupting Kudo Shinichi's words.

In response, Kudo Shinichi thought for a moment and began to answer.

"The other party used an encrypted number. When I asked about Yuanzi's situation, I heard a knock on the door, and then I heard Yuanzi shouting: Let me out quickly, you bastard."

"knocking?"

Gao Yuan asked.

Hearing this, Kudo Shinichi began to recall - "It was like a sound of knocking on an iron door... It seemed like there was an echo... Damn it, I can't remember more!"

Having said this, Kudo Shinichi seemed to realize Gao Yuan's purpose in asking this question, but at that time, his attention was all on the kidnapper, and he actually ignored the more important information in the phone call!

"Then what did the kidnapper say? Do you still remember what he said?"

Takato knew that Kudo Shinichi would not be able to recall this information for a while, so he asked the next question.

"He said: This is really an easy game. It's so boring to still be like this after giving you such an obvious reminder. So, I will kidnap another person tomorrow. Don't be too nervous. I will give you one this time. A more obvious reminder, tomorrow’s kidnapping is at twelve o’clock at noon, every second.”

Kudo Shinichi repeated the kidnapper's words, and then said seriously:

"In short, no matter what, we must prevent that guy from committing another crime. And we must catch that guy! Xiaolan, Mr. Mingzhi, please believe me!"

"I trust you."

Xiaolan couldn't help but said when she saw Kudo Shinichi being so serious.

"But on the other hand, please stop hiding it from everyone!"

Looking at Xiaolan's pleading words, Kudo Shinichi nodded silently, and then looked at Gao Yuan.

"Mr. Akechi, do you have anything else to ask?"

"Since you knew someone would be kidnapped today, you must have been observing carefully the whole time on the boat. So can you tell me? From your perspective, what was the complete story of the kidnapping of Suzuki-san? "

Gao Yuan asked.

Kudo Shinichi could not deny this.

"Today, when the tour boat was sailing on Lake Ashi, in addition to the classmates of our class, there were only four outsiders on board who were not very familiar to us: they had recently come to our class as substitute teachers and were also the leaders of this school trip. Team teacher Mr. Kitajima Shingo, tour guide Ms. Nishida Mai, crew member Mr. Minami Kyousuke, and captain Mr. Tokunio.”

After Kudo Shinichi briefly explained the candidate he suspected, he began to talk about the entire incident today:

During the day, Lake Ashi, on the tour boat——

After the captain Tokunio briefly introduced the plan for emergency situations on the ship, Kudo Shinichi and other students who came to participate in the school trip began to move freely on the ship.

Suzuki Sonoko seemed to be very fond of the appearance of the crew member Nantian Kyousuke, so she began to express her kindness to him frequently, but he was rejected by Nantian Kyousuke on the grounds that he had work.

The sailing route, introduced by the tour guide Mai Nishida, is that the boat will go around the lake and it will take about an hour.

"In other words, the next hour will be a secret room on the water! Come over here, I will definitely protect them!"

After understanding this basic information, Kudo Shinichi, standing on the highest deck, thought so.

But at this time, the crew member Nantian Kyousuke suddenly came to Kudo Shinichi and asked tentatively: "Are you the high school detective, Kudo Shinichi?"

"yes."

Kudo Shinichi responded.

"I'm your fan! It's an honor to meet you!"

Hearing this answer, Nantian Kyousuke was a little excited. He wiped his right hand on his clothes and stretched out his hand, wanting to shake hands with Kudo Shinichi.

Kudo Shinichi looked at the crew member who suddenly came to chat with him with some scrutiny, but seeing his smile that didn't seem to be fake, he still stretched out his hand to shake his hand.

But because he still had work as a crew member, Minamida Kyosuke walked to the cabin after shaking hands. At this time, Suzuki Sonoko immediately followed him enthusiastically and began to ask if he had a girlfriend. However, Minamida Kyousuke avoided Suzuki Sonoko on the grounds of work. However, Kudo Shinichi saw that Suzuki Sonoko still followed Minami. Kyousuke entered the cabin.

After that, Kudo Shinichi began to inspect various parts of the ship and found that it was impossible to sneak in quietly from the outside while the ship was sailing on the lake. In other words, the kidnappers should have already It's on board!

With this idea in mind, Kudo Shinichi began to observe the four outsiders whom he was not familiar with.

Captain Tokunio has been controlling the helm in the control room. Substitute teacher Kitajima Shingo and tour guide Nishida Mai have been discussing more details of the school trip on the bow deck. Only crew member Minamida Kyousuke has been being chased by Suzuki Sonoko. Run.

Everything was normal. Under Kudo Shinichi's observation, he found no strange places or people behaving strangely on the ship.

But an accident happened at this moment——

"ah!"

Suzuki Sonoko's voice came from the aisle on the right side of the ship. Kudo Shinichi heard the sound and rushed over immediately. What he saw was that he was feeling uncomfortable due to seasickness, leaning against the ship's rail and wanting to vomit. Sonoko Suzuki.

“So it’s just seasickness?”

Walking to Suzuki Sonoko, Kudo Shinichi breathed a sigh of relief, but Suzuki Sonoko's shout just now attracted the attention of other members on the ship. Kitajima Shingo, Nishida Mai and Minami Kyousuke all heard the sound and ran over.

"Suzuki-kun, are you okay?"

Kitajima Shingo seemed particularly nervous. When he asked about Suzuki Sonoko's situation, his hands involuntarily moved his hands on Suzuki Sonoko's back as if comforting a child.

"Teacher, please don't touch me, it will make you want to vomit even more."

After shaking off Kitajima Shingo's hand, Suzuki Sonoko said feeling slightly uncomfortable.

"Then, go to the lounge and lie down for a while. It will feel better."

Nantian Kyousuke stepped forward and suggested, "Kudo-san, can you help me?"

Kudo Shinichi nodded in agreement, so Minamida Kyousuke and Kudo Shinichi helped Suzuki Sonoko to the lounge in the cabin, while Mao Lilan, Nishida Mai and Kitajima Shingo also came to the lounge.

"Thank you, Mr. Minamida."

Lying down on the bed in the lounge, Suzuki Sonoko said slightly infatuatedly.

"Ah! Seasickness medicine!"

Mao Lilan on the side looked at Suzuki Sonoko's condition, began to rummage through her pockets, and then said helplessly, "If only I had brought it!"

"It doesn't matter, I brought it with me!"

Mai Nishida took out the seasickness medicine from her backpack and said, came to the bedside and handed the medicine to Suzuki Sonoko.

"Thank you, Miss Mai."

After taking the medicine, Suzuki Sonoko said reassuringly.

"You're welcome, this is my job."

Mai Nishida said, and at the same time, Kyousuke Minamida handed Suzuki Sonoko the mineral water.

"Really, the young lady who rides the family's speedboat all day long does not get seasick."

Kudo Shinichi said from the side.

“The family speedboat!”

Hearing this, Nantian Kyousuke and Nishida Mai were very surprised.

"Don't look at Suzuki-san like this, she is the eldest lady of the Suzuki Foundation!"

Teacher Shingo Kitajima explained from the sidelines.

"What do you mean it looks like this?"

Suzuki Sonoko, who had just taken the medicine, was a little unhappy at the teacher's words, and then looked at Minamida Kyousuke, "Mr. Minamida, you will always stay with me, right?"

"Well, I still have a job!"

Nantian Kyousuke said in embarrassment.

"We are with you in the garden!"

Mao Lilan pulled Kudo Shinichi and said.

As a result, Minamida Kyousuke, Nishida Mai and Kitajima Shingo left the lounge with peace of mind and went to do their own things.

"Ah... Mr. Nantian is gone."

Suzuki Sonoko said slightly disappointed.

"Garden!"

Xiaolan sat on the edge of Yuanzi's bed and gave an angry advice.

"Okay, okay, don't be angry!"

Seeing Xiaolan's disgust with her behavior, Suzuki Sonoko couldn't help but said with relief, "As for me, I'll be fine alone."

With that said, he leaned into Xiaolan's ear and whispered: "At least make some happy memories with Shinichi!"

"Are you really okay?"

Xiaolan asked, "You have to be obedient!"

"Okay, let's go!"

Urging, Suzuki Sonoko said.

So Xiaolan pulled Kudo and left the lounge. However, before leaving, Kudo told Suzuki Sonoko: "Sonoko, lock the door. Don't open the door when anyone comes except me!"

Suzuki Sonoko was a little confused about this, but still did it.

The above is what happened on the ship.

What happened next is what Takato already knew - when the boat was near Hakone Shrine, and the tour guide Nishida Mai introduced the origin of Hakone Shrine to the students, there was a sound of water falling from the stern of the boat. At that time, Kudo Shinichi took the lead and ran away. He went to the stern to check, and Mao Lilan followed closely behind. As a result, he saw Suzuki Sonoko's headband on the lake behind the stern.

So, everyone ran to the lounge where Suzuki Sonoko was located, and found that the door of the lounge that should have been locked was opened. After that, they searched everywhere on the ship, but could not find Suzuki Sonoko.

"Afterwards, the tour boat docked and called the police. The police found the suspected criminal's diving suit and oxygen bottles in the nearby woods."

After Kudo Shinichi finished telling what happened, he explained the subsequent discovery, "But just now, I started looking near the torii of Hakone Shrine until I found the place where the diving suit and oxygen bottle were found. From the map, this distance It’s just too far.”

"That's right. The prisoner did not escape by diving."

Gao Yuan said, pointing to the railing at the stern of the ship at this time and said, "There are traces of being burned here. If you guessed correctly, the sound of falling into the water you heard at that time should be a mechanism designed by the prisoner. For example, tie it here with a rope in advance A heavy object is then installed with a small ignition device. When necessary, the prisoner's control mechanism burns the rope, and the heavy object will fall into the water, creating the illusion that someone jumped into the water at that time."

Hearing this, Kudo Shinichi came over and touched the outside of the railing with his hand, and found a trace of black substance remaining after burning.

"it is as expected."

Kudo Shinichi agreed.

"Then it is obvious that the prisoner should have activated the mechanism while you were all listening to the tour guide's explanation and staying on the front deck of the ship. In other words, the prisoner is indeed a person on the ship, and the disappearance of Suzuki-san must have occurred in before this.”

Gao Yuan said, "Under the circumstances at that time, it was impossible for the prisoner to take the person away from the boat, so he should just hide the person on the boat..."

Hey, wait a minute, if you put it this way, is this method similar to the method used by Nakagawa Moemi to kidnap Suzuki Sonoko in Teidan High School: At that time, Nakagawa Moeme made people think that Suzuki Sonoko was taken out of the old school building. But in fact, she was just hiding people in the old school building temporarily. It's just that I saw through Nakagawa Moemei's tactics in advance and didn't let Suzuki Sonoko really be kidnapped.

"But, we checked everywhere on the ship, and we couldn't find the garden anywhere!"

Xiaolan said anxiously, "Right, Shinichi!"

"That's right, I searched everywhere, but I really didn't find the garden at that time."

Kudo Shinichi said.

"In that case, take me to the lounge first."

Gao Yuan said.

So, Kudo Shinichi and Xiaolan took Gao Yuan to the lounge in the cabin. The door of the lounge was not locked at this time.

Walking into the lounge, using the light of Kudo Shinichi's flashlight, Gao Yuan saw that the space in this lounge was very limited. In addition to a bed, there was only a cabinet about one meter high beside the wall. Other than that, there are no other furnishings here.

Gao Yuan casually glanced at the furnishings here, then came to the cabinet, opened the cabinet, and seeing that there was nothing inside, he closed the cabinet, walked back to the door, looked at the lock on the door, and found that the door was empty. There is a keyhole on the outside, and there is no latch or anything like that inside the door.

"How's it going? Did you find anything?"

Xiaolan asked anxiously.

"From this point of view, the possibility of the prisoner being among those four people is very high."

Takahara said, after all, in Kudo Shinichi's account, when Suzuki Sonoko was in the lounge, the door was locked and told not to open the door casually, so since the prisoner could take Suzuki Sonoko away in the lounge with the door locked, There is obviously a key here.

Then, Gao Yuan saw that opposite the lounge was a warehouse, so Gao Yuan tentatively opened the door of the warehouse.

I saw that the furnishings in the warehouse were much more complicated than the rest room. All kinds of sundries were spread there, and there were several cabinets that were the same as those in the rest room, lying sideways on the ground.

Somewhat casually, Gao Yuan opened several cabinets and took a look, but didn't seem to find anything.

So he stood up and said, "It's too late today. Kudo-kun, you should focus on how to confront the prisoner tomorrow. I'll come back here tomorrow to investigate what happened on the ship."

Kudo Shinichi agreed with this, so Kudo and Xiaolan returned to "PRINCEHOTEL" first.

Gao Yuan, on the other hand, was a little worried outside the "PRINCEHOTEL" - because of the study trip of Didan High School, there were no cheaper vacancies here, and the price of the remaining suites made Gao Yuan reluctant to part with them.

But there seems to be no other hotel nearby!

Forget it, since the tour boat is vacant and there are no police on duty, let's go there and deal with it for a night.

However, that night, lying in the lounge, Gao Yuan couldn't sleep anymore because he vaguely heard the sound of people walking on the boat...