The establishment of the Time Travelers Alliance began in the first year of Conan

Chapter 260 The Delayed Adagio (Part 1) - Requesting monthly votes and continued reading.

The present moment on Moonshadow Island.

The first movement, Adagio sostenuto – “Delayed Adagio”.

The sound of the tide crashing against the shore made the whole island seem to slow down the pace of time, and even the afternoon sun carried the salty taste of the sea.

Chiba Wakako leaned against the railing beside her, shielding her eyes from the sunlight with one hand.

She gazed toward the medical clinic in the distance from the dock, a gentle yet resolute smile on her face.

"I'm fine, Uncle Cangren."

She gently shook her head, her tone as light as a sea breeze, yet revealing a familiar, ocean-like stubbornness.

This is the unique brightness and stubbornness of a child who grows up on an island, accompanied by the sea.

She urged Taguchi Aoto not to worry about her and to help Mouri Kogoro complete his request to go to the island.

"Since Detective Mori is investigating Keiji Aso, why don't you help him complete his request first?"

"I'll go get my medicine from Dr. Cheng Shi first—"

Taguchi Aoto has absolutely no confidence in this child he watched grow up.

He looked at Kogoro Mouri with some hesitation, his tone carrying a hint of pleading.

“Mr. Mori, if you don’t mind…”

"Of course I don't mind!"

Before Kogoro Mouri could speak, Ran stepped forward, smiling as she took Chiba Wakako's hand. She then turned and glared at her father.

"Right, Dad?"

"Huh?" Kogoro Mouri was taken aback, quickly scratching his head and forcing a smile. "Of course I don't mind, haha..."

"After all, it's a good thing to get to know the doctor on the island..."

“Yes, yes!” Chiba Wakako nodded in agreement. “Dr. Narumi is the only doctor on the island!”

"Besides, she's from Tokyo!"

A hint of admiration for Asai Narumi appeared on her face.

“In the past, there were medical ships that would come to provide support regularly, but they all left later. Only she stayed... She was the only one who was willing to stay.”

"Although she always says it's because she likes the climate and scenery of Moonshadow Island..."

She looked up at the clear, cloudless sky, the sunlight falling on her eyelashes and shimmering with a subtle golden light.

Chiba Wakako felt that this ray of sunlight was as warm as the image of Dr. Narumi, who often reminded her to take her medicine on time, that came to mind.

"Actually, we all know that she stayed because she wanted to help everyone. After all, there are many small islands like Moonshadow Island nearby, and there aren't any famous scenic spots here."

"So if you're investigating Keiji Aso, Dr. Narumi might be able to help!"

She paused, a slightly mysterious smile playing on her lips.

"After all, that rumor about the 'cursed piano' had been circulating in the village for a very long time!"

"A cursed piano?"

Conan slightly raised his head, his eyes flashing, while Kogoro Mouri and Ran Mouri also showed curious expressions.

At this moment, Taguchi Aoto, who had been standing quietly to the side, seemed to have his memories awakened by these words, and his expression became slightly solemn.

"Yes, that's true."

He sighed, his voice low and somber.

"That piano was the one Keiji Aso used for his last performance. Not long after he finished playing, a fire broke out—you know, nobody wants to talk about what happened after that."

"It was probably on that full moon night two years ago."

"That kid Hirata found Kameyama Isamu's body on that piano that hadn't been used for a long time."

As he spoke, Taguchi Aoto shook his head. "It was Dr. Narumi who personally examined the body at the time."

"Ah..." Xiaolan subconsciously covered her mouth gently.

"But don't be scared by those rumors."

Taguchi Aoto suddenly changed his tone and gave a heavy "humph".

"That's just something that others have spread. Kameyama Isamu's death had nothing to do with that cursed piano."

As a fisherman who has battled the sea for decades, Taguchi Sōjin believes in nothing but God.

……

Just as Chiba Wakako led the group to the clinic, the wooden sliding door creaked shut.

Asai Narumi was just about to leave.

She was dressed in a simple, well-tailored outfit without any unnecessary embellishments, except for a necklace around her neck that caught her eye.

At the bow tie is a sea-blue gemstone, set in a silver-based necklace, which sparkles in the sunlight, yet reflects a clear white light.

A neat ponytail was tied behind her neck, swaying gently in the sea breeze, revealing her delicate features and slightly furrowed brows.

Her slender figure, combined with her picturesque features, made her appear exceptionally delicate and beautiful.

—Her gentle and graceful temperament is like water.

This was the only thought that arose in Kogoro Mouri's mind when he first saw Narito Asai.

Asai Narumi glanced briefly at the three "strangers" following Chiba Wakako, then turned her gaze back to Wakako.

"Please wait a moment," she said softly.

Then, before Kogoro Mouri could even exchange pleasantries or ask about Kameyama Isamu, she had already reopened the door she had just closed and turned to walk into the clinic.

A few minutes later, the door opened again.

She was carrying a transparent plastic bag containing two boxes of medicine that Chiba Wakako recognized very well.

"Ruozi, I was just thinking that you should have finished the two boxes of medicine you got from me by now."

She handed the bag to Chiba Wakako, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"That way I won't have to wait for you for so long every time—after all, it's really frustrating when I can't get you to open the door every time I knock."

"Dr. Narumi..."

Chiba Wakako lowered her head instinctively, as if something had been revealed—she avoided Asai Narumi's encouraging gaze, as if escaping some unbearable concern.

"Thank you……"

"I should be saying thank you!" Asai Narumi's face showed a slight look of distress. "This is the first time you've ever come to me for medicine on your own initiative—"

She sighed softly, "Ruozi, life is the most important thing..."

"As long as you persevere... there will always be a way to treat it later."

"Yes, I will persevere."

Chiba Wakako nodded, a stubborn smile playing on her lips. "I will persevere."

She turned to the side, revealing the figures of an adult, a high school student, and a child behind her, and finally introduced the three guests behind her.

"This is Mr. Mori. You might know him, Dr. Narumi. After all, Mr. Mori is a very famous detective in Tokyo!"

A glimmer of anticipation immediately appeared in Kogoro Mouri's eyes.

Asai Narumi shook his head, frowned slightly, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

"It's... that really famous one..."

Ran and Conan, standing to the side, already had expressions that said, "Uncle Mori/Dad is about to start again..."

Meanwhile, Kogoro Mouri nodded frantically under the slightly disgusted looks of Ran Mouri and Conan.

"It's the one you're thinking of!" he said hastily, trying to hide his nervousness. "I am—"

"It's Mr. Kogoro Mouri, right?"

Asai Narumi gave a polite smile and extended her hand. "I've heard of you before."

"Pfft-"

Two soft laughs from behind made Kogoro Mouri freeze instantly.

"Ahem, I am Kogoro Mouri."

Kogoro Mouri forced himself to maintain a facade of "elegance and composure".

He forced himself to remain calm, shook hands with Asai Narumi, and then immediately changed the subject.

"Actually, we wanted to ask about something related to Mr. Kameyama."

"Mr. Kameyama..."

Asai Narumi recalled for a moment, a flicker of emotion crossing her brow, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Indeed, I was the one who dissected his body."

Then she gave a somewhat apologetic smile.

"However, I'm about to head out now, because today is also Mr. Kameyama's memorial service, and I'm going to the village residence—"

"Oh my, what a coincidence! We're going to the village mansion too!"

Conan's clear, childlike voice drew Kogoro Mouri's attention.

"After all, if we were to investigate what happened on Moonshadow Island... there should be relevant records in the village mansion."

Conan looked up at Kogoro Mouri.

"Uncle Mori must think the same way, right?"

Kogoro Mouri clapped his hands, a confident glint in his eyes, as if he had just thought of it:
"That's it! As expected of me... uh, I was brilliant and decisive!"

Xiao Lan covered her forehead with a helpless expression: "Dad..."

Asai Narumi smiled slightly, as if she was already used to the scene before her.

“If you’re also going to the village mansion…” she thoughtfully suggested to Kogoro Mouri and the others, “then you can ride with Mr. Shimizu in his car.”

She turned to the side and gestured to the man who was tidying up his car not far away.

He was tall and dressed in a black suit; he was Shimizu Masato, one of the fishermen's representatives from Tsukikage Island and a candidate in this election.

"Although you probably can't participate in the ritual, you can stay outside the castle and wait until it's over before going in."

"castle--?"

"Ah! You guys don't know, do you!"

The gentle smile on her face deepened, and a hint of smugness flashed in Asai Narumi's eyes.

"I only discovered after arriving here that the village mansion on Moonshadow Island is actually an entire castle!"

She pointed to the green forest that climbed up the ridge.

The green forests undulate like waves along the mountain ridge.

Further east on the island, a steep cliff juts outwards, resembling a fractured continental plate, standing tall amidst the thick sea fog.

"That's the village mansion."

A huge shadow could be vaguely seen in the thick sea fog blown up by the sea breeze below the sea cliff.

"I heard that a wealthy person once dismantled an entire castle in Europe, moved it here, and rebuilt it."

"That place is now the village mansion of Yueying."

"If you want to walk there, it will probably take you most of the day, and—"

Asai Narumi smiled, turned to look at Mouri Ran, and his tone suddenly softened, as if reminding her, or perhaps deliberately scaring her.

"And if you don't know the way, it's easy to get lost in that forest."

"I've heard that someone once got lost and starved to death in the woods, and when they were found, all that was left was a skeleton..."

She finished speaking casually, her gaze sweeping over the three detectives in front of her without making a sound.

"Goo-"

Kogoro Mouri subconsciously swallowed.

Conan's eyebrows furrowed slightly, while Ran suddenly hugged him tightly, it was unclear whether she wanted to protect Conan or was afraid.

……

In the end, however, the four of them said goodbye to Chiba Wakako and Taguchi Aoto and boarded the SUV driven by Shimizu Masato.

The vehicle smoothly entered the mountain road.

Masato Shimizu seems to be a bit taciturn.

He gripped the steering wheel intently, only occasionally glancing at Asai Narumi in the back seat through the rearview mirror, his eyes revealing a hint of complex emotions.

Kogoro Mouri sat on one side of him, while Narumi Asai and the two children sat in the back—Conan was being held in Ran's arms. Unfortunately, this time the ride wasn't bumpy.

After listening to Asai Narumi's account, Kogoro Mouri frowned, crossed his arms, and looked thoughtful.

"Okay... So, Mr. Kameyama's cause of death was actually a heart attack, not some ghost, right?"

“Yes.” Asai Narumi nodded gently. “The cause of death was heart failure, and it went unnoticed for a long time.”

"In other words, it was just a coincidence..."

Looking out the window at the forest rushing past, Kogoro Mouri murmured to himself. He had just asked a series of questions and ruled out many possible errors.

"But it's Narumi-neechan."

Conan couldn't stand watching Kogoro Mouri ask questions for so long without getting to the point, so he tilted his head and spoke with the childlike seriousness in his voice.

Why did he die on that piano that Keiji Aso played?

"Furthermore, the village mansion is so far from the village, why would Mr. Kameyama go there alone to play that piano that night?"

"Conan, don't cause trouble for Dad's work!" "Sorry, he didn't mean to interrupt..."

Amid Ran Mouri's apologetic apology, Narumi Asai glanced at the child beside her with some surprise.

She shook her head, a melancholy look appearing in her eyes.

"You are right..."

She looked out the car window at the mist still swirling in the distance.

"I thought about that question too."

Her tone was low and slow, as if she were trying to retrieve a memory from the depths of her heart.

“That piano hadn’t been used for many years, but that night… it played.”

"It rang?" Kogoro Mouri perked up.

"Yes." Asai Narumi's gaze became somewhat distant, as if she were looking at something through the trees.

"It is said that someone heard the music from this side of the village, followed the mountain path, and then discovered the body."

“That sound…” she paused, “was like Keiji Aso had been resurrected and was playing the instrument.”

She sighed, "Maybe that's why people say it's a cursed piano."

"Moreover, Mr. Kameyama, like Keiji Aso, died on a full moon night."

"What?! The same way of dying?!"

Suddenly, the silent Kogoro Mouri yelled and sat up straight as if he had been struck by lightning.

His shout finally put Conan at ease.

This confused old man has finally realized what's happening.

Regardless of when, where, or how Kameyama Isamu died...

It is clearly closely related to the "disappearing shadow" mentioned in that letter of entrustment.

In retrospect, Kameyama Isamu's death two years ago may have been related to the owner of that "letter of authorization".

It's even quite possible that they were all in cahoots—

Premeditated murder.

Thinking of this, Conan's gaze darkened.

Judging from the letter of authorization, which was deliberately spelled out using words cut from a newspaper, the client had made thorough preparations to conceal their identity in advance.

This letter... seems more like one deliberately sent to the detective—

A murder warning letter!

If that's really the case, then it means:

The killer had already started the operation two years ago, and—it may not have stopped.

The thought that the murderer who killed an innocent person two years ago might continue to commit crimes...

A surge of anger burned fiercely in Conan Edogawa's mind—

He must prevent the next murder from happening!

Moreover, he will definitely bring the murderer to justice!
Kogoro Mouri finally realized what was happening thanks to Conan and Narumi Asai's reminder.

He pulled the familiar yellow envelope from his pocket, his expression solemn.

"Dr. Chengshi, you may not know this, but someone has asked me to investigate this matter."

"And the client... is Keiji Aso."

The air inside the car suddenly felt heavy.

Kogoro Mouri's words caused Masato Shimizu's expression to change as well.

"This letter asks me to investigate his cause of death, or to be precise, to investigate matters related to the shadow of Moonshadow Island."

"squeak--!!"

The sound of brakes suddenly rang out on the mountain road, the off-road vehicle jerked violently, accompanied by the screeching sound of tires scraping against the gravel.

"oops!"

Conan almost bounced out of Ran Mouri's arms. He touched his forehead, which was red from hitting the car roof.

"it hurts!"

Ran's worried voice rang out at the same time as Shimizu Masato's apologetic voice.

"Conan! You've scraped your forehead!"

"Is the child alright?"

"I have a Band-Aid here."

Asai Narumi pulled a band-aid out of her bag.

She tore open the seal and said softly, "It's a little chilly."

Conan watched as Asai Narumi approached him, carrying that pleasant scent of perfume.

Her gaze was as gentle as the jewel on her chest—it still shimmered even in the dark shadows cast by the lush forest.

—Like the gentle moonlight.

That gentle yet firm gaze made Conan pause for a moment.

……

After Asai Narumi gave Conan a quick bandage, the atmosphere in the car quickly calmed down.

Masato Shimizu restarted the engine, but just as the vehicle was about to move again...

"Please wait a moment." Kogoro Mouri stopped him.

His tone was stern, and he stared intently into the eyes of the fisherman's representative with the sharp, hawk-like gaze he had when he was a criminal investigator.

Kogoro Mouri spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Moon, Shadow, Island's Shadow, Child".

These words made Shimizu Masato's body stiffen slightly.

"Mr. Shimizu".

Kogoro Mouri's tone became serious, leaving no room for evasion.

"It seems you might be hiding something from us."

However, Kogoro Mouri's interrogation of the prisoner had actually angered him.

Masato Shimizu's fingers froze on the steering wheel. His face darkened, and his voice turned cold, completely devoid of the enthusiasm he had shown when he picked them up.

“Mr. Mori, I have no obligation to tell you anything, understand?”

In fact, if it weren't for his disadvantage in the village chief election and his need for the help of the highly respected doctor on the island—

He had already kicked those three outsiders off the bus.

But at this moment, Kogoro Mouri surprisingly displayed an unprecedented level of wisdom.

A seasoned shrewdness emanating from detectives and adults.

He smiled slightly, his tone meaningful: "What if... I could solve this case?"

"I think, if I had come to Moonshadow Island at Mr. Shimizu's invitation to solve this cold case—"

"Mr. Shimizu's approval rating might increase... or even surpass Mr. Kawashima's."

Kogoro Mouri's words were like a fishhook, hooking Masato Shimizu's thoughts.

Masato Shimizu's eyes flickered—

The phrase "the shadow of Moonshadow Island" carries far too much weight.

But from this perspective, if I had actively invited this detective to investigate, perhaps I could have truly uncovered the truth of what happened back then.

No, I could even pin it on Hideo Kawashima. That guy's source of wealth has always been suspicious. I could even manipulate that detective and bring down my opponent in one fell swoop...

But if this matter is leaked to the outside world afterward, the island's fisheries and its international reputation may be affected...

Ultimately, the desire to become the village chief—

No, it was the "sense of responsibility" and "sense of justice" to expose old crimes that overwhelmed Masato Shimizu's last hesitation.

“Detective Mori, you must promise me that this matter must not be published in the newspapers or told to any media outlets.”

“This…” Kogoro Mouri frowned.

Masato Shimizu stared at Mori, his tone becoming unusually resolute:
“If you can’t make this promise as a ‘famous detective,’ then we’ll stop here right now.”

Seeing Conan's somewhat anxious expression, Kogoro finally nodded gently: "Okay, I guarantee it in the name of 'Sleeping Kogoro'."

……

Masato Shimizu did not speak immediately.

He looked towards the far end of the dirt road, knowing that there should be a long-forgotten side road there.

On the other side of the road leading straight to the village mansion, at the end of a side road hidden by overgrown bushes and branches—that was the mansion of Keiji Aso, now reduced to ashes.

But more importantly, it is further west.

That sea cliff is like a staircase leading straight to the sky, and the castle located on the edge of the cliff goes down and down.

Looking down from above, a stone lighthouse sits on a dilapidated dock.

Yes, you can only describe that magnificent building as "a piece".

It was a complete port site, almost the same size as the present-day Moonshadow Harbor.

The only difference is that, unlike people's restoration of Moonshadow Harbor, it is dilapidated, abandoned, and ruined.

The top of the lighthouse, just like in the photos GSSRA had received, was now only the stone window frames, like two empty eyes.

Now, the tower looks out at the distant sea and the depths of the swirling forest.

It was a cemetery, now just as dilapidated, its iron gate collapsed due to rust on the hinges.

The aerial branches of the banyan trees pushed the equally rusty railings outwards, causing them to flip over.

"Dr. Asai, who has only recently arrived, may not know, no—"

Masato Shimizu even took the topic a step further.

“Even if I hadn’t become a candidate for village chief, very few villagers would know about this now.”

"Then... what about that old man named Taguchi Aoto?"

Ran Mouri suddenly remembered something and looked up with some confusion.

Taguchi Aoto had not previously reacted to the "shadow of Tsukikage Island".

"We also read the letter of authorization back then, which mentioned 'the shadow of Moonshadow Island,' didn't we?"

The phrase "the shadow of Tsukikage Island" in her voice made Shimizu Masato's fingers tremble violently once again.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down, trying to pull himself away from the horrific photos and records that surfaced in his memory.

"Now, almost no one knows how the name Moonshadow Island came about before Moonshadow Village was established."

"You should know that Moonshadow Harbor was built on the basis of a remnant naval base."

"There was already a village on the island before those soldiers arrived."

Sunlight filtered through the trees, its rays fragmented, and fell upon Shimizu Masato's ever-changing face.

“Long ago, there was a village called ‘Red Demon Village’ on Moonshadow Island.”

"The shadow of the flames cast on the sea cliff during the fire festival looks exactly like a full moon, hence the name."

"Many people died at that time... even tens of thousands..."

……

Thus, the "future" magically became the past of the "past".

At this very moment, at a more distant juncture where the "present" and the "past" intersect—

Twelve years ago, Moonshadow Island.

[Third Movement - Allegro da Fierce]

boom! ! !
Thick smoke billowed, and flames surged backward.

Hattori Heiji's shout sounded so insignificant amidst the explosion of flames that suddenly surged forth.

They now have to retreat.

He slammed the red alarm button, and alarms sounded throughout the entire edge of the forest.

"Evacuate everyone! Evacuate everyone!!"

Facing the half-damaged time display device that had been carried out of the fire, he roared at the entire communication channel.

"Damn it, the [story timeline] is going to drag us all into the past victims!"

"At the dock! Isn't the guidance for the [Red Team] ready yet?!"

……

Every change, past, present, and future, is part of the original...

Every moment in time, every detail of conversations among people situated on the "delayed adagio," every "ripple of history"...

That was all due to the power struggle between the three parties, the influence of the alliance on the "case," and the "admission" by [Conan Edogawa].

(End of this chapter)