Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

“This matter is very important,” Hattori Heizo bowed slightly, his tone earnest, his eyes fixed on Yamazaki Keiko. “Please think about it carefully. Even the smallest detail could be a breakthrough for us.”

The museum's exhibition halls were unusually quiet, with only the low hum of the central air conditioning system echoing in the air.

Sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor, while dust motes floated slowly within the beams of light.

Everyone subconsciously lowered their breathing, their eyes all falling on Keiko Yamazaki, waiting for her answer.

Keiko Yamazaki frowned, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing her chin as she desperately searched her mind for memories from ten years ago.

Her brows furrowed deeper, her eyes filled with conflict. After a long while, she finally shook her head helplessly, her tone tinged with apology.

"Sorry, I really can't remember."

"Ten years ago is too long ago. I had just started working at the museum and was a complete novice."

Keiko Yamazaki sighed, her eyes filled with helplessness.

"The work I have to do every day is already overwhelming. I'm busy organizing cultural relics, receiving tourists, and recording exhibit information. I simply don't have the mind to pay attention to anything else."

Seeing that Keiko Yamazaki's expression didn't seem fake and that she genuinely couldn't remember, Hideaki gently patted Heizo Hattori's shoulder, shook his head at him, and signaled him not to ask any further questions.

After all, ten years have passed, and it's really unreasonable to expect an ordinary employee to remember all the details.

Hattori Heizo understood this as well. He sighed heavily, his face full of disappointment, but he could only helplessly give up asking further questions.

The group followed Keiko Yamazaki up the wooden staircase to the second floor. The handrails of the staircase were worn shiny from years of being touched.

The light on the second floor was dimmer than on the first floor, and the stale smell in the air was also stronger.

The Tokugawa family's artifacts exhibition area is located on the east side of the second floor. You can see the wooden sign at the entrance of the exhibition area from afar, which reads "Exhibition of Tokugawa Ieyasu's Life and Artifacts" in black calligraphy.

Just as everyone was about to enter the exhibition area, Lingzi suddenly tugged at Lin Xiuyi's arm, her little face showing a hint of embarrassment.
"Onii-chan, I need to go to the bathroom."

Lin Xiuyi looked down at her younger sister, smiled, and ruffled her hair: "Okay, I'll take you there."

"Keep going straight ahead from here, and turn left at the end to find the restroom."

Keiko Yamazaki quickly pointed to the corridor not far away and added a special instruction.
"By the way, please don't make too much noise when you pass by. Director Shinkawa's office is over there, and he doesn't like noise."

"Senior, I'll go with Reiko. You and the others can visit the exhibition area first. Don't wait for us."

Midori Orikasa smiled, took Reiko's little hand, nodded to Lin Xiu, and then led the little girl to the end of the corridor.

Lin Xiuyi turned around and followed Yamazaki Keiko into the Tokugawa family's cultural relics exhibition area.

The lighting in the exhibition area was soft, and the spotlights on the ceiling shone precisely on each exhibit.

The exhibition area displays many items used by the Tokugawa family, including rusty armor with traces of the original paint still visible on the helmets.

There were yellowed letters, the edges of which were slightly curled, but the handwriting was still clearly legible. There was also an exquisite tea set, with delicate chrysanthemum patterns painted on the teacups, clearly items used by nobles in the past.

In addition, the exhibition area also displays some replicas of swords, with exquisitely carved patterns on the scabbards.

The only empty glass display case in the very center of the exhibition area is now completely empty, with only a small metal plaque at the bottom that reads in white lettering, "Tokugawa Ieyasu's sword (stolen ten years ago)".

This empty display case stood out starkly and desolately among the many display cases filled with exhibits.

Kawada Yuko quickly walked to the empty display case, pressed her face against the glass, and carefully examined every corner of the case, muttering to herself.

"How exactly did the thief manage to steal the knife ten years ago? Logically speaking, even if the museum's security system is terrible, they should have left no clues at all, right? Could it really have been an inside job?"

“We haven’t cleaned this display case since the samurai sword was lost ten years ago.”

Keiko Yamazaki walked to the display case, gently ran her hand across the glass, and spoke with a hint of regret.

"At first, Director Shinkawa still held a sliver of hope, thinking that if the scene wasn't disturbed, someone might discover a clue and find the samurai sword someday."

"Later, although the curator lost trust in the detectives and police officers who came to investigate, he still kept the habit of not cleaning the display cases."

She paused and added,
"The curator said that this is a sign of respect for the lost samurai sword, and also a punishment for his dereliction of duty back then."

Upon hearing this, Maeda Yoto immediately crouched down and carefully examined the floor beneath the display case.

A thin layer of dust had accumulated on the ground, and some messy footprints could still be seen, clearly left by tourists who had visited in recent years.

He reached out to touch the ground, but then hesitated, afraid of disturbing the last remaining trace, and finally withdrew his hand helplessly.

"Although we understand the curator's intentions, it's impossible to find any useful clues in the current situation."

Hattori Heizo frowned as he looked at the dust beneath the display case, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"Ten years have passed. Even if any clues were left behind back then, they would have long been covered by dust or destroyed by tourists."

Lin Xiuyi walked up to the empty display case, but her gaze did not fall on the empty case itself, but on an old photograph on the outside of the case.

The photograph was framed in an exquisite wooden frame and hung on the right wall of the display case.

The photo shows the Tokugawa family exhibition area ten years ago. In that now empty display case, the legendary samurai sword was on display.

The blade is long and narrow, the scabbard is engraved with exquisite chrysanthemum patterns, and a deep blue gemstone is inlaid on the hilt, which still shines faintly in the photo.

“Ms. Yamazaki,” Lin Xiuyi pointed to the old photograph and turned to ask, “when was this photograph taken? It looks very well preserved.”

"This photo was taken a month before the katana was lost, when it was for the production of the museum's annual brochure."

Keiko Yamazaki looked up at the photo, her eyes filled with nostalgia.
"Unexpectedly, this photograph became the last image of that sword remaining in the museum. Not long after the brochure was printed, the katana was stolen, and this photograph became many people's only memory of that sword." (End of Chapter)