Yuji Kudo, the manga artist behind Detective Conan.

"Is this the exciting program that the Prime Minister told you I like?"

I don’t know why there’s a small stage in Segawa Shoichi’s room, but when the actors came on stage, Kudo Shinichi sat down and watched the Sherlock Holmes play with peace of mind, while enjoying the snacks and ice-cold beer on the coffee table next to him.

However, as the case progressed, Old Kudo felt more and more uneasy. Watson, who was just an assistant, seemed to be on the same wavelength as Holmes for some reason.

“I think we should talk about your request, Section Chief Segawa.” Shinichi Kudo took a big gulp of his drink. “I think the client’s needs take precedence over my own interests.”

Segawa Masaya nodded, then used his arm to support himself and moved closer to Old Kudo: "So... is this appropriate?"

How exactly did that guy describe me to you?

"I can't wait to enjoy this cruise ship. How can I feel at ease going to explore it if you don't explain this clearly to me?"

Old Kudo took out a folded firm contract from his pocket, preparing to start drafting. As he picked up the pen, he pressed the side of the pen cap to turn on the recording function.

"The Star of the Sea" was the name of a ballet musical in Kyoto decades ago. In fact, due to the defeat in the war, the Japanese high command was deliberately training singing and dancing troupes to serve the American generals stationed in Japan.

Segawa Shoichi pulled a paper document from under his buttocks; it was sealed in a document bag. "George, Paul, I think you're familiar with that name."

"A high-ranking American general died in an assassination attempt at a theater. The assassin was said to be the lead dancer of a ballet company. Her mother was Japanese, and her father was a capitalist who went to Japan to do business in his early years, but fled Japan after the war and was never heard from again." Shinichi Kudo wrote George Paul's name in the contract details.

"You mean, he died in that musical called 'Star of the Sea'?"

"As one of Japan's top detectives, I'm sure you've already guessed it. There's actually some information online that a bloody case occurred during that musical."

Segawa Shoichi looked at Kudo Shinichi with a smile, as if to tell him that he wasn't stupid and didn't believe that Kudo Shinichi hadn't connected the ship's name with that incident at all.

"Back then, because they were afraid of retaliation from the United States, the Japanese high command did everything they could to suppress this matter. Apart from you intellectuals who are curious about mysteries, the average person probably doesn't know about it."

Segawa Shoichi took a handwritten letter out of the file bag.

[An American general was found disemboweled and murdered in the theater's dressing room, next to a scantily clad, unconscious ballerina who also died en route to the hospital. A masked detective, speaking fluent English, solved the case and disappeared before the police arrived.]
"So what does this case have to do with... Sheng Hai Zhi Xing? I mean your cruise ship." Getting down to business, Segawa Shoichi straightened his tone slightly.

"Actually, I learned by chance that someone was planning to assassinate me recently because of the 10 billion dollar investment plan that the Dongdu government is negotiating with the United States."

As the head of the Department of Foreign Economic Affairs in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Segawa Masakazu was the most prominent figure in the entire Department of Finance and Economics, and naturally, he was also hated by those anti-American elements.

"The bigwigs thought Japan couldn't resist the Northern Independence Army, so they proposed this plan as a prelude, intending to sell Japan directly to the United States. Somehow, this plan reached the ears of the police agents and underground resistance fighters in the south, so they turned their guns on me."

He thought that killing him would stop the Southern government from betraying the country, which was impossible. But as a man with blood in his veins, Segawa naturally had no intention of running away or waiting to die.

"I plan to explain this clearly during lunchtime, in the banquet hall where all the guests will be, and tell everyone on board today what the Sheng Hai Star represents."

Segawa smiled and said, "I know they want to kill me. If they have the guts, they'll come."

"So Sheng Hai Zhi Xing is just a declaration, and your own situation is not related to the murder case from decades ago, is that right?"

Faced with Shinichi Kudo's helplessness, Segawa took a sip of champagne and said, "I knew you must have investigated beforehand. If you hadn't come here today with some knowledge of the case, our commission wouldn't have needed to continue, and you would have just treated it as if I had invited you here to have some fun for a few days."

"Oh, it seems that when I was searching for Sheng Hai Zhi Xing after receiving the commission, this murder case link right next to it was also related to you."

Shinichi Kudo immediately understood that Segawa Masaya's test of the detective had begun from the very first time he arranged for other people to communicate with him.

"In this day and age, it's too easy to control the websites someone browses."

Segawa Shoichi waved his hand: "Now I believe that you can completely fulfill my request and get the remaining 500 million yen."

“Maybe Mr. Segawa will even give me an extra bonus.” Shinichi Kudo placed one hand on the chair.

[Hmph, if it weren't for the fact that you're rich, I would have confronted you long ago...] (End of Chapter)