People are in Conan, but Ace Attorney

Chapter 978 The Password Box
Xiang Yuanguang's bedroom in his hometown was unexpectedly simple and plain.

A desk, a bed, a small bookcase, a wardrobe—that's about it. There's nothing else noteworthy, and even Xiang Yuanguang can't find a single prop for decoration.

This is actually normal.

Xiang Yuanguang did not find any decorative items in Xiang Yuan Law Firm.

The original Xiang Yuanguang was a pragmatist who had no demands on life and focused on practicality in everything, somewhat similar to the current Xiang Yuanguang, but not exactly the same.

At least Xiang Yuanguang will still choose to have fun when it's time to play.

"These……"

Xiang Yuanguang placed his hand on the desk.

A strong sense of nostalgia spontaneously arose, as if he had seen this place before, but there was no related content in his memory.

This is similar to a software program about to run, but at a crucial moment it displays that the database is missing.

It's frustrating and annoying.

"So this is your old bedroom, Mr. Xiang Yuan?"

Asai Narumi's voice rang out.

This greatly reduced Xiang Yuanguang's frustration and irritability.

The best way to deal with nostalgia for the past is to be content with the present.

Xiang Yuanguang didn't turn around, but his fingers were groping on the desk as if he was looking for something. Then, under Asai Narumi's surprised gaze, Xiang Yuanguang pressed a wooden switch under the desk.

One of the drawers in the desk came loose, and Xiang Yuanguang pulled it out directly.

—There was a wooden box in the drawer.

However, Xiang Yuanguang did not know what was inside the wooden box, as he had no related memories. Yet, a voice seemed to be telling him in secret.

This is what he put in.

This belongs to him.

"The wooden box... is a bit strange."

Asai Narumi came to Genji Hikaru's side.

He stroked his chin, examining the wooden box that Xiang Yuanguang had taken out, but he didn't see a switch to open it. Instead, he saw something that shouldn't be on the box.

Combination lock.

A simple six-digit combination lock.

Although it is simple, cracking it would take a considerable amount of time or require a high level of lock-picking skill, which Asai Narumi clearly lacked.

Xiang Yuanguang was not very proficient in this either.

It's possible that the magic of the True Flow does indeed involve knowledge about opening boxes and picking locks.

But that was for the purpose of performing escape acts. He didn't learn lock-picking techniques like keyholes to open treasure chests or knowledge of picking combination locks.

Of course, it's also possible that Naruhodo Minamoto himself doesn't know how either.

Xiang Yuanguang placed his hand on one corner of the wooden box.

If he were to throw a powerful brick at that moment, there is no doubt that the wooden box would not be able to withstand the violent demolition by the Dragon of Beika Town.

However, Xiang Yuanguang did not make a move.

He hesitated.

Although he was curious about his past memories, Xiang Yuanguang did not intend to explore them by destroying the things that Xiang Yuanguang truly liked.

Fortunately, the professionals in this field arrived late.

After exploring the room, Conan and Chiaki Nanami arrived at Hikaru Mugen's bedroom. Chiaki Nanami also had no good solution for the combination lock box in Hikaru Mugen's possession.

Although she is a top-tier gamer and has performed similar actions in games many times, in reality, Chiaki Nanami has absolutely no experience in this area.

Let alone picking the lock, even smashing the wooden box open would be a difficult task for her.

However, this is not the case for Conan.

The elementary school student named Death took the wooden box, lifted it, and held it to his ear.

The next moment, Conan began to turn the pulley of the combination lock.

A faint, almost imperceptible creaking sound suddenly came from inside the wooden box.

Only Conan, who was closest to the wooden box, and Hikaru Mugen, who had the best hearing, could hear the sound.

Upon seeing this, Xiang Yuanguang immediately knew how Conan planned to crack the combination lock.

Brute force is absolutely not an option to crack this kind of combination lock.

The best way is to listen for any noise while unlocking the door.

When the pulley of the combination lock turns to a certain position, a different sound will be heard from inside. Once this sound is heard, it means that the number is correct.

Conan's method of unlocking locks requires at least seventy-two attempts.

Moreover, the real password is most likely not an extreme number like 99999.

Without a doubt, the person most skilled in this area is Kaito Kid.

It is said that Phantom Thief Kid once challenged a heavy mechanism built by a master craftsman in the past. The slightest mistake in that mechanism would trigger a deadly hidden weapon, taking the life of the person who tried to unlock it.

However, in the end, Phantom Thief Kid succeeded in his challenge.

Although Conan's skills are certainly no match for his cousin Kaito Kuroba's, the combination lock in front of them is just a combination lock on a wooden box, not some kind of complex mechanism.

For Conan, who has relevant knowledge, this isn't a big problem.

Soon, accompanied by a clicking sound.

All the combination locks on the wooden box turned to the correct positions, and the box immediately popped open, revealing its contents—a small notebook.

Xiang Yuanguang gently grasped the notebook, placed it on the table, and turned to the first page.

All that could be seen on the first page behind the blank book cover was Xiang Yuanguang's name, along with a date... a date from the 1990s.

"It looks like Mr. Xiangyuan's diary from his high school to college years...?"

Asai Narumi said with some surprise.

It's not that he thinks respectable people don't keep diaries.

Why would Xiang Yuanguang's diary be kept in his hometown and locked in a wooden box? Normally, shouldn't it be kept in his office, or perhaps burned because he felt too ashamed?
The way Xiang Yuanguang did this was almost like he was determined to lock away his past.

"..."

Conan looked up at the table.

Because of his height, he couldn't see what was written in the diary lying flat on the table. Suddenly, he had the urge to take an APTX-4869 antidote.

However, because there were two other people present who did not know his identity, he deliberately suppressed his emotions.

Although Ai Haibara couldn't see it either, she appeared remarkably calm.

She doesn't like digging into other people's past, and she wasn't particularly concerned about this situation anyway. Now it's perfect, saving her the trouble of deciding whether to look or not.

Chiaki Nanami, standing next to her, has the advantage of being two heads taller, so even if she stands on tiptoe, she can still look down at her.

Inside the diary, it was written...

(End of this chapter)