Conan: I'm Not a Model Worker in the Winery

"…Can we set up a distance marker in this broken tunnel?"

"If we walk a few more kilometers, we can go straight through Nagano to Tottori Prefecture!"

Gin complained as he walked.

Walking in the tunnel alone is actually a very lonely thing.

Even if Gin could withstand the loneliness, it was still a bit torturous to be in the silence without any human voices, insects or birds chirping, and to have to listen only to his own breathing while walking through a tunnel where he didn't know where the end was.

Fortunately, humans are animals with potential.

Because they can talk to themselves to relieve the loneliness of the journey.

However, continuing it too long is not a solution.

Gin has stopped moving forward more than once, considering the feasibility of running back at full speed or rushing forward.

“This tunnel, the back part obviously looks like it has been in disrepair for a long time, and it is very different from the decoration below the annex.

...Could it be built to protect against air raids?"

Gin quickened his pace - he didn't want to stay in this shabby place for too long, but he also didn't want to give up halfway.

Now that we are here, it is better to end it quickly.

Gin thought there was something fishy about this secret passage:

Such a long secret passage through the mountain was unmaintained, and it was deliberately covered with thick stone walls. Gin searched around but didn't find any usable mechanisms. Instead, after breaking the stone wall, he found traces of suspected mechanisms on the back and inside the wall, but they were all broken, and Gin didn't study them carefully. He just thought that there might be something incredible hidden deep in the secret passage...

The result is a tunnel that you can never reach the bottom of.

Moreover, the entire secret passage was not very tidy, with clods of soil scattered all over the place, and occasionally some scraps of cloth could be seen on the ground, which were almost corroded.

One kilometer, two kilometers...

Four kilometers...

Just when Gin suspected that he might have to run a 10km marathon, the road ahead finally changed:

The road, which had been gently and slightly downward, suddenly began to rise.

'Are we at the exit yet?'
Gin said to himself, slowing down his pace and making no sound as he stepped on the dirt road. The only source of light was still the flashlight in his hand.

However, in this environment, he was still a little careless and did not notice that in the pile of dirt above his head, there was a small piece of something different from stone that was constantly flashing a faint light, which was extremely inconspicuous...

The rising dirt road turned three bends before finally reaching the end.

The road at the end was paved with stone slabs again, and the space at the end became wider again, about ten square meters; on the right side there was a row of randomly built steps connected to a stone wall that looked very problematic.

——You don’t have to think about it to know that this must be some kind of secret door.

"…They dug a cross-province tunnel and installed secret doors at both ends. What's the point? Throw people in there to run a marathon and then let them suffocate to death?"

In order to ease the overly quiet atmosphere, Gin couldn't help but complain in his heart.

Of course, suffocation to death was unlikely. He had found several ventilation holes in the tunnel along the way, and he must have considered the problem of people walking below suffering from lack of oxygen.

However, there is still a big problem:

How should he open that secret door?

Although it can be broken open with a punch, but... who knows if the wall behind this is the home of some mole alien?
Gin could only be sure that he was no longer in Nagano Prefecture, but he could not tell whether his specific location was in the mountains or in a residential area?
"Click..."

Gin took a few steps forward and was about to check the stone wall when a faint sound entered his ears.

Gin's heart skipped a beat and he immediately turned off the flashlight, then quickly rushed to the bottom of the stairs.

——In this place, even if the secret door is opened, it will be a blind spot until people walk down completely.

Click, click——

squeak...

Accompanied by a deafening sound of mechanical gears and rust friction, Gin, who was crouching in the shadows, could clearly see an increasingly wide light gate taking shape on the dim ground.

Along with the light gate, a straight human figure shone on the ground...

Gin held his breath for a moment. But, for some reason, the figure standing in front of the secret door did not move, and through the shadow on the ground, he could see the other person's head looking around.

The air was quiet for a few seconds.

No one moved, as if time had stood still...

But at this moment, the figure standing at the entrance of the secret door spoke:

"Please don't worry, I have no ill intentions...

The camera in the passage has informed you of your arrival. Please come up. It is too dark underground.

The master has prepared the meal and has also prepared a portion for you."

The last sentence is full of kindness.

After the figure finished speaking, he waited for two seconds and then left through the door, leaving only the secret door open.

After waiting for a while, Gin quietly poked his head out, squinted his eyes and stared at the door for a long time, then pricked up his ears to make sure that the other party was not standing inside ready to attack, then he stood up carefully, carrying the box, and walked towards the light.

He was indeed careless and failed to notice the camera.

Click...click——

After passing through the secret door, the view suddenly opens up and a large European-style restaurant appears in front of you.

After taking a few steps, the secret door behind him closed automatically.

When it closed, Gin realized that this secret door was actually the entire fireplace...

"Mr. Gin, please take a seat. The master will be down soon."

The white-haired servant stood at the corner of the dining table, bowed slightly, said only one sentence, and then went upstairs along the wooden stairs.

Gin opened his mouth, but the words he wanted to say were stuck in his mouth. After thinking for a while, he decided not to stop the somewhat old servant and ask him how he knew him.

Gin found a chair closest to the secret door and sat down, his heart filled with excitement.

It can't be that coincidental, right?

If that's really the person...

Gin took a deep breath, crossed his hands and supported his chin, trying his best to keep himself calm and composed.

About ten minutes later, Gin heard a ding sound, and the wooden board under the stairs slowly opened, revealing two old men standing in the elevator room.

Gin: "..."

He never expected that this place could be made into an elevator.

In the elevator, an old man sitting in a wheelchair looked a little listless, and his condition was much worse than the old servant who was pushing the wheelchair.

The two walked out of the elevator one after the other and looked around the restaurant.

The old man in the wheelchair has confusion in his eyes:

"Where is the man?"

Gin: “…” In front of you, old man!
The old servant was also a little stunned: "Master, he was still here before I went upstairs..."

Gin: “…” He is here too!
"...Has he left?" The old man in the wheelchair seemed even more exhausted. "But how did he trigger the mechanism?"

"This one……"

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Gin finally had to speak up to show his presence.

The air fell silent again.

Six eyes facing each other.

Everyone was somewhat embarrassed.