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

Chapter 299 "The World's Number One Detective Paradise: A Piece of History"

On a small hill next to the world's number one detective park on the western outskirts of Beika Town.

The afternoon sun gently swept away the snow from the trees, allowing tender, verdant buds to sprout from the rejuvenated old trees.

On the layered branches, adult swallows fluttered their strong wings and landed. Their melodious songs gradually turned into soft chirping, and finally, with their newly sprouted downy feathers, they leaped into the now empty nest, turning side by side into several eggs with black spots.

After the snow comes spring, then the coolness of autumn, or another lush summer, or a desolate winter.

Children are both joyful and sorrowful, the elderly are both aged and full of energy, the living die along their proper course, and then emerge from death along the same course.

Today, the scale by which everything is measured, the timeline of the universe, swings back and forth with the movement of the watch hands on that child's wrist.

But the courtyard on the hill seemed to have remained miraculously unchanged.

What remained unchanged was the construction site facing the hill.

Outside the blue construction site fence, the slogans were as vibrant as agate, shining even brighter under the ravages of time.

World's No.1 Detective Paradise

CYZ Alliance Sustainable Infrastructure Department – ​​Under Construction

"Is this place... really being developed into an amusement park?"

"Those slogans look like they're from the last century."

"Are you kidding me? I've only ever seen that font in my grandfather's old movies."

Just as the tourists who come and go see, and as the discussions behind their backs—

These signs seem bizarrely unbelievable, just like the detective park itself, which appears to have been built even before the Big Bang.

That's how it was written in the beautifully printed introduction, which seemed to be called "The World's Number One Detective Paradise: A History".

"The history of this park can be traced back to the third day before the birth of the universe. The idea originated from the mind of a detective, the troubles of a witch, and was funded by an unlucky businessman."

Who would call the investors of the entire detective park, their own client, an "unlucky businessman"?

That's incredibly disrespectful.

And the names of the six detective park areas are just as bizarre as these slogans, even challenging other people's understanding of the word "detective".

A decisive judgment, clear eyes, the shadow of the full moon, fearless courage, dusk and dawn, and the cocoon of time.

See? Isn't it strange?

Apart from "Decision-Making Judgment" and "Fearless Courage," the other names don't seem to have much to do with the detective theme.

It even sounded more like a departmental grouping in a magic academy, or a stage name in some ancient religious ritual.

Anyone who hears this story for the first time will think it's a complete fabrication.

However, this amusement park is actually under construction.

Moreover, it has never stopped construction throughout recorded history, as if the construction permits were written into the laws of nature and taken for granted.

And its investors—

A mysterious group called the "CYZ Alliance" is almost unknown to the outside world.

Even some of the Beika Town municipal officials interviewed revealed that all they knew was that it claimed to have been "founded in 1888" and "established by a London nobleman who loved Sherlock Holmes."

According to anonymous sources within the government, the reason they approved the case was entirely because the promised investment and the jobs it would create were indeed real.

even--

"The speed at which the funds arrived and the sheer size of the amount were simply astonishing!" This is the exact quote.

However, even if you disregard all the pretentious, gimmicky stories and promotions, this detective park truly deserves to be called "the world's number one".

The first thing you notice is its immense size and grandeur; it looks like a giant metropolis.

According to the displayed plans and information, this detective park consists of six zones under construction simultaneously, covering a total area of ​​33 square kilometers.

While it doesn't cover the full 101 square kilometers of Disney World in Florida, please note that that includes undeveloped wasteland.

For a detective-themed amusement park, an area the size of 46 Forbidden Cities is enough to make it the "world's number one".

Moreover, every inch of the 33 square kilometers of this detective park is under construction.

In fact, for a purely detective-themed amusement park, you can't even call it "huge," but rather "somewhat absurd."

Especially when you realize that the total area of ​​Beika Town itself is only about 10 to 15 square kilometers.

In fact, as the construction of the Detective Park gradually came to an end, people often heard rumors such as "we've ended up in another Beika Town".

But the tourists quickly got back on track after being persuaded by the "staff" and realized that the rumor was actually true.

In fact, even now, if someone uses extremely precise satellite maps to check the location of Beika Town, they can still easily confuse it.

On the map, there seems to be some indistinct boundary, as if a line was drawn along a forest on the western outskirts of Beika Town, and then a photocopy was pressed down hard on the left side and then flipped to the right.

Of course, this is also the point that the residents of Beika Town are most proud of in this detective park.

—Because this is because a Beika Town was built almost exactly as it was built.

Moreover, aside from these strange occurrences that only happen in this "mirror city".

The moment the park project was announced, it was as if the whole world was promoting it.

It's unclear how much capital the investors actually have, but many government agencies and institutions have been advertising for it in a strange and discreet manner.

For example, that book that is popular all over the world today.

"Detective's Code of Conduct, Number One!"

"When you visit the amusement park, don't confuse the two parks!"

—Rules for visiting the World's First Detective Park.

This book has become a must-read for almost every child who aspires to become a detective.

It is a set of visitor guidelines designed by Yusaku Kudo, the author of "The Baron of the Night," and the first page features two maps of Beika Town.

A "spot the difference" game that is both simple and difficult.

You can easily find the 333-meter-tall Star Tower slightly to the right of the map's central axis, and at the very edge of the forest, you can discover an artificial island called "Moonshadow Island".

There are also buildings such as ports or train stations.

—These are all listed as features of the scenic area.

But apart from these six differences, in general, the other parts are exactly the same.

Furthermore, the construction company called the "Sustainable Infrastructure Department" even made a bold statement:

"Once the construction is completed, any visitor who discovers a difference between the two 'Beihana Towns' at any time will be able to win a grand prize of ten million US dollars!"

Since the award was established, only one girl named Ran Mouri has managed to discover something different through sheer luck.

—Of course, that's a story for another time.

……

In fact, Conan watched as the construction site gradually took shape, day by day.

He watched as parts of it would sometimes suddenly disappear, sometimes suddenly decay, sometimes turn into a prehistoric forest, and sometimes become molten lava before the earth was stable.

However, those materials seemed incredibly tough. Whenever a section or part of the structure collapsed, the building materials would be replaced with a material that shone with more gold, and then the structure would be stabilized.

"Uncle Mori, we'll be able to go into the park soon!"

Conan jumped off the bench in the courtyard, which had hardly changed, and his gaze silently fell on the drunkard who was sleeping on a deck chair.

The detective who calls himself Mori Kogoro.

This man seemed to have been wandering for a long time, or rather, he seemed to have walked alone through the cycle of reincarnation again and again.

He was wearing a coat that looked like it belonged to the Victorian era, but the wool on the coarse cloth had been wiped clean by the wind and sand, leaving only the fibers that had become hard as pebbles from the dust.

A tattered hat, propped up by tangled hair that looked like it hadn't been washed in ages, had a few words scrawled crookedly on the relatively smooth brim, as if someone had drunkenly picked up a child's crayon.

"Detective Mouri".

The man is now fast asleep, clutching his wine bottle.

On the thick glass bottle, all the markings had been smoothed out by the Mosuo people, and the neck, which they often gripped with their hands, was even slightly dented.

Now, hearing that strangely familiar voice calling his name, Kogoro Mouri groggily sat up, blinked his bewildered eyes, and looked at the boy named Conan.

"How much longer..."

He yawned. For some reason, he'd been sleeping longer and longer lately.

"It should be in the next day or two. Anyway, we need to go and queue up first."

Conan pulled Kogoro Mouri, who was sitting up, up directly.

But the next second, the man slumped back onto the cushion on the recliner, and just a few seconds later, the familiar sound of him snoring rang out again.

Conan sighed.

He pushed out a "bed van" that looked like it was made up of several skateboards from under the recliner, half-pulling and half-pushing the sleeping man onto the van, and then pulled the tow bar in front.

Conan knew that the time when he would be named after himself was approaching.

Today, with each tick of the watch on his wrist, he would "wake up" Kogoro Mouri.

And the time he was lucid became less and less.

—The first year of Detective Conan is almost here.

"If we can't bring Uncle Mori in with us the moment the park opens, he'll end up like the arsonist caught at the printing factory."

"Criminal" and "Detective" are completely different identities.

Moreover, this is especially true for Kogoro Mouri.

Conan knew very well what was going on.

If I can't bring Kogoro Mouri to the other side of the Möbius Case Loop before the start of Conan Year 1, then he really will only be "Kogoro Mouri the Rascal".

Conan took a final inventory of his belongings.

The antidote for APTX-4869, the two amusement park tickets they found, the last cyanide pill, the watch...

Everything is ready.

Looking down at the park's first-day opening entrance at the foot of the mountain, Conan gritted his teeth, fastened the leash, and dragged Kogoro Mori towards it.

Conan doesn't know how many different seasons he'll have to go through, but in any case, he absolutely cannot use the [Cosmic Narrative Engine] anymore.

because--

Dorobi Tropical Paradise.

At the entrance to the roller coaster queue in the park, there were excited discussions among the children and sweet conversations among the many couples.

Yes, it's winter today. [Ran Mouri] is wearing a light blue down jacket, her chestnut hair is tied in a high ponytail, and her bangs are slightly swaying. Her youthful face looks a little... a little angry.

"Shinichi! What's with that look on your face?!"

She put her hands on her hips, glared angrily at Shinichi beside her, and spoke with a hint of irritation in her voice.

"You're so unhappy about coming on this date with me?!"

"No, no, that's not how it is!"

Ran Mouri's question made Shinichi Kudo gasp. A look of panic flashed across his face, and he quickly waved his hands to explain.

"Haha, I'm so happy!"

Clearly, everyone could see the reluctance and struggle on the detective's face. Even when he spoke, Shinichi's gaze unconsciously drifted into the distance.

In his heart, Shinichi Kudo was, of course, extremely regretful—

Today is the opening day of the "world's number one detective park"!
He couldn't help but groan inwardly, and the image of the Sherlock Holmes-themed area called "The Phantom of Baker Street" even appeared in his mind.

He could even piece together the exciting scene from the few photos that were leaked in advance on the official website.

—The misty Baker Street, the texture of the cobblestone pavement, the dim glow of the gas streetlights, and that towering clock tower are simply a perfect replica of London in 1888!

Ahhhhh!

That's a detective paradise themed around Sherlock Holmes!
Not to mention, he and his father, Yusaku Kudo, were even invited to become the park's mascots!
"In fact... it's said that the organizers used special construction methods, employing visual illusions and various psychological cues to make people feel that an entire real London was contained within a small park—"

"Shinichi..."

Ran Mouri frowned, her voice trailing off with a dangerous undertone, interrupting his reverie.

What are you muttering about?!

A girl who had been waiting for this day for a long time and had meticulously prepared for this date finally couldn't hold back any longer as this reasoning fanatic muttered to himself.

She took a step forward, closing in on Shinichi, her eyes blazing with fury.

Then the next second——

"boom!"

Ran Mouri threw a punch, the air bursting with a sharp whistling sound. The wind from the punch grazed Shinichi's cheek before slamming him hard into a nearby concrete pillar.

The surface of the pillar cracked instantly, and spiderweb-like cracks spread out, before rubble fell to the ground.

"I said Shinichi—"

The girl clenched her fist, and the compressed air in her palm made a terrifying, chilling sound.

"Didn't you suggest riding the mystery roller coaster?!"

For Shinichi Kudo, the situation has now reached an extremely dangerous point!

Looking at the cement pillar that had been punched, Shinichi Kudo swallowed hard, his forehead already covered in cold sweat.

"Okay, okay, Lan, I was wrong! I'm coming right now!"

He quickly followed Xiaolan's pace, secretly making a decision in his heart.

Okay, the Sherlock Holmes park... I definitely have to go next time!
Of course, it's obvious that Shinichi Kudo didn't have that opportunity.

Because what happened afterward was obviously the same as at the beginning.

……

"I am a high school detective—[the washing machine]."

"When I went to the amusement park with my childhood friend Ran Mouri, I witnessed a suspicious transaction by men in black."

"I was so engrossed in watching that I didn't notice another accomplice approaching from behind. That man then drugged me, and when I woke up, I found..."

"My body has shrunk!"

Behind the camera, Lin Sheng slowly turned his head from in front of the monitor.

Now, he had a kind of gleeful smile on his face.

He glanced at the boy reciting his lines in the camera lens, then picked up the megaphone and shouted towards the center of the set.

"Cut—cut—cut—stop this part!"

He stood up, his face showing the director's "heartache and indignation".

"I said Conan, no, Shinichi," Lin Sheng deliberately emphasized, "when you say 'Kudo Shinichi,' your tone can't be strained, and your expression needs to be natural—"

"You need to project the confidence of a master detective. Confidence! Understand?!"

Shinichi Kudo's forehead twitched. He glanced at Ran Mouri and the others in the distance, who were all smiling, and his face immediately turned red.

"I am... [Shinichi Kudo]!"

The detective finally lost his temper, as if he had suffered a great injustice, and finally exploded.

"If you want me to read it properly, then don't write 'washing machine' as my name in the script!"

The moment these words were spoken, the entire room fell silent for only a second before the set erupted into a sea of ​​joy.

"Pfft, hahaha—I never expected Shinichi to be shy?"

Vodka's loud voice, and the teasing tone in it, made Conan's face turn even redder.

"yes……"

Gin shrugged, raised his hand to open his phone, and forwarded the video to the "Detective Conan" filming group without changing his expression.

"Ding, ding, ding..."

Almost everyone present had their phones vibrate.

Soon, the laughter on set reached its peak when a detective, feeling "unable to bear the humiliation," stormed off the set with his fists raised, heading straight for the culprit who had made the meme popular.

Yukiko Kudo opened a "close friends and family group" and posted several photos there as well.

"Look! Even when Shinichi is angry, he's still cute!"

Vermouth quickly saved all the photos, a playful smile playing on her lips.

"I never expected Cool Boy to have a scene like this."

At this moment, Ran Mouri, who was standing to the side, turned her head and looked at Ai Haibara, who looked slightly confused:

"Um... excuse me, why does the nickname 'washing machine' make Shinichi so angry?"

To be honest, when everyone first saw the lines, they were just as confused and puzzled as Shinichi Kudo was at the time.

But after Shigenobu Hitomi kindly explained that the "drum washing machine" was actually a Chinese blind listening exercise for "Kudo Shinichi"—

This nickname became popular, much to Shinichi's dismay.

Watching Conan furiously chase after the director, Shiho Miyano couldn't help but smile.

The scene did indeed resemble a washing machine spinning wildly.

She coughed lightly, then explained the real reason to Ran Mouri, who was standing to the side, looking somewhat puzzled.

"Saying he was angry... is more like he was embarrassed? After all, there were so many people around."

She paused and added:
"It's also a bit... socially awkward."

……

"Alright, alright, that's enough for today."

After solemnly promising Conan that he would thoroughly revise the script that "seriously disrespected the dignity of a famous detective," Lin Sheng clapped his hands and waved like a true director wrapping up work.

As he looked around, he called over everyone still gathered on set—Gin, Vodka, and Vermouth from the Black Organization, as well as Kogoro Mouri, Tooru Amuro, and others from the Red Team.

While the famous detective was still burning with anger and staring intently at him, Lin Sheng coughed lightly, his tone slightly guilty.

"Ahem... Anyway, that's what everyone needs to do next."

He glanced at the terminal in his hand, discreetly splitting the screen to save the photos sent by Yukiko Kudo, then explained to the others with a serious expression:

"In order for the [fixed time and cosmic event propulsion system] to operate smoothly, we need to 'reproduce' the [historical inertia] of Detective Conan as much as possible."

"In other words, it is necessary to film [the series] like today."

Lin Sheng waved his hand, and a row of screens immediately appeared in front of everyone, replaying the highlight of the birth of the famous "drum washing machine" quote.

"Ah! Not this—"

Seeing the detective's face turn red instantly, Lin Sheng brought up the next slide of the PPT.

"In short, the filming will take place inside the 'Cocoon System' of 'Universe Two'."

"As for the relevant historical inertia and character information, they will be automatically and synchronously inputted after you enter the 'Cocoon System' and filming begins, so you don't need to worry too much about not being able to remember your lines."

He paused, then his tone suddenly became indistinct, and his gaze drifted towards the sky.

Lin Sheng had a strange feeling that if this matter was not handled properly, it could very well bring about a real "catastrophic disaster".

"As for whether or not to keep those things in the future..."

He coughed violently a few times, "Cough cough—you can decide for yourselves."

"Then comes the part you're most concerned about."

Lin Sheng suddenly stopped smiling and looked at the pure white tower in the center of the park not far away—the Star Tower.

"This is what everyone has been asking about: the plan to reveal the details of 'The Ritual Cycle'."

"Because the content involved this time is very important."

Lin Sheng scanned everyone present, his tone turning serious.

"So I can only explain it once, and most of you will probably lose all memory of this explanation after you hear it."

As he paused, a series of invitations appeared out of thin air in everyone's hands.

Now he looks exactly like an amusement park guide.

"If you are interested, please present your ticket to the guided tour hall on the 49th floor before 3:33 pm today."

"However, considering that everyone will probably forget about this, so—"

and so--

In the end, of course, everyone participated.

P.S.: Tomorrow will be the day the plan is fully revealed.

So, with only one day left, I'd like to ask if any expert in the mystery genre has deduced the beginning of everything and posted it in the book review section?
I will definitely highlight this post and pin it to the top!
Please, everyone, prove that what the author wrote isn't too obscure or difficult to understand!

I can do anything!
(End of this chapter)