Daily Spy Life in the Detective Conan World

Chapter 895 I Smell My Father's Scent

"Don't worry, the rate at which your body temperature rises will slow down significantly after you put on the robe. As long as you seek medical attention quickly, there shouldn't be any problems."

"Then I'm relieved." With a double entendre, Kaito plopped down on the ground, panting heavily as if he had turned into a Labrador.

Having expended a great deal of energy, the three rested for a short while before crossing the cave entrance.

After walking a few steps past the cave entrance, the view suddenly opened up.

Under the beam of the flashlight, the group was able to see the entire cave.

They are now on a high platform, not very large, but with a staircase leading down to two more platforms below. The first platform also has a granite door in the wall.

Further down is a large platform.

All three platforms show signs of human intervention, suggesting they were built upon existing foundations.

In front of the third platform was a pool of water of unknown depth, its calm surface contrasting sharply with the storm raging outside.

This is indeed a very good safe haven.

On the water, an old single-masted sailboat floats quietly, looking like a frozen oil painting from a distance, full of historical atmosphere.

The ships were small and had triangular sails. This type of ship was very popular in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was agile and lightweight, suitable for small groups of pirates, and could generally carry about 20 to 50 people.

The sailboat was incredibly old, covered in cobwebs, and had numerous gaps and cracks in its wooden structure, likely caused by falling rocks from the top during geological shifts.

Strictly speaking, this pirate ship was only considered average in an era when piracy was rampant.

Anne and Mary, these two pirates, seem to have a great reputation, but in reality, their fame is limited to Poseidon Island. Their international reputation is only so-so. Even if people know their names, it's mainly because of their bond and the legendary treasure.

Is there really treasure on this ship?

Kaito raised an eyebrow. The further he went in, the less he felt there was any treasure, especially after seeing this old, dilapidated ship. The so-called Pirate Goddess seemed to be something the Seagod Island marketing team added themselves to increase its mystique and tourism value.

"If I'm not mistaken, the so-called treasure is probably the bond between Anne and Mary. Even if Anne did leave behind the capital to start anew, it would have been taken away by her children or the island's inhabitants later on."

"Those treasure hunters were really unlucky; they were thoroughly fooled by the island's marketing tactics."

Other places' advertising might at most fool tourists, but Poseidon Island's advertising has directly attracted a large number of pirate hunters.

Xia Chuan pointed to the passageway they had just entered: "There must be quite a few people who know about the passageways of the ruins. Perhaps Annie had prestige and influence when she was alive, but after she died, what she left behind will definitely be divided and eaten by the people on the island."

"Oh, how boring." Kaito frowned.

Joel didn't quite understand and asked, "Then why are there still so many pirate hunters coming here, even sacrificing their lives for them?"

“That’s normal.” Xia Chuan shrugged. “Seagod Island needs tourism to support the islanders’ expenses. Even if the treasure has been divided up, they will try their best to hide the secret so that they can have a continuous stream of money.”

Joel was speechless. It really was possible, and quite likely.

"But Section Chief Iwanaga, he..."

Xia Chuan knew what Yoel wanted to say and interrupted him directly: "I've investigated. He's from Shikoku and was sent here because of the development of tourism here."

"By the way, speaking of him, I remembered something interesting."

"What?" Kaito's eyes lit up.

Xia Chuan showed this interested expression, much like the expression he had after tricking someone.

"This guy seems to have borrowed a lot of money from the gangs of the four countries in order to find the treasure, and he even contacted the gangs there yesterday for help."

"How did Natsukawa-nii know?"

Only Frank, Natsukawa, and Joel knew about this. Since it wasn't a big deal and Ran and the others had Makoto Kyogoku protecting them, they didn't take it seriously. Besides, gangsters are unreliable anyway, and who knows whose side they'll be on in the end.

Xia Chuan smiled meaningfully and didn't delve deeper into the topic.

While Yoel looked after Aoko, Natsukawa and Kaito went aboard to inspect the ship. They found that there were more holes on the deck than could be seen on the surface, and the wooden planks creaked when people's weight was on them.

Kaito felt uneasy. It was pitch black, with only a flashlight illuminating the way ahead. The rest of the area was almost completely dark, and he had to be extremely careful every time he landed.

"There was nothing there, everything was taken away. I thought there might have been something valuable on the ship because of the sudden tectonic activity at the time."

Kaito looked regretful, showing no signs of being the kind of wealthy landowner.

Xia Chuan carefully inspected the ship. It wasn't exactly clean; there were still some valuable items on board, such as the pirate flag overhead and some metal objects in the cabin. Time and seawater had eroded their appearance, but their value had increased many times over.

This ship, in particular, is very valuable!

The only drawback is that ships cannot leave the cave.

Analysis suggests that this was originally a cave beneath a cliff, but because it sank to the seabed, the cave's exit has been buried by seawater. To bring it out, it would have to be dismantled into pieces and then slowly pieced back together.

The cost is too high, so Poseidon Island probably wouldn't even consider it.

"Xia Chuan!"

"What's wrong?" Xia Chuan turned his head to look into the darkness.

That was Joel's voice just now; she seemed to have discovered something.

"There seems to be some noise coming from the middle platform, like there are people there."

Joel's perception was astonishing, and given the absolute silence of the surroundings, he could detect even the slightest sound.

"Is there a sound?"

Xia Chuan pondered for a moment. Logically speaking, Conan shouldn't have been able to find this place by now; it should have taken at least another hour or two.

The two followed each other off the boat and arrived at the middle platform.

Kaito lay on the granite gate, listening intently.

"There was definitely some noise, and it sounded like people were talking."

"It really is Conan and his group. It's a bit too fast."

Kaito, however, didn't care about any of that. He was overjoyed, and his heart, which had been in his throat, could finally be put at ease a little.

Opposite the stone gate, a group of seven people stood at the entrance, looking at the ancient stone gate with amazement.

Yes, because this passageway had recently experienced another earthquake, even the slightest tremor would stir up dust on the ground, let alone with so many people arriving at once, so it has a very strong ancient atmosphere.
"Father. Father"

Anya patted the stone gate.

The solid granite gate remained completely still, leaving him covered in dust.

"What is she doing?" Sonoko asked, puzzled.

"I don't know. Didn't Natsukawa and the others go diving? The storm outside is so strong, they must have gone home early, right?" Shinichi Kudo frowned as he looked at Anya. His expression didn't seem fake; he seemed genuinely nervous.

Anya was inexplicably bewildered when he arrived at the stone gate, but he couldn't understand it. However, it was his habit to be skeptical of everything.

So he walked up to the stone gate and put his ear to it to listen.

"Move aside, let me see!"

Feeling a bit overshadowed, Kogoro Mouri grabbed Shinichi Kudo by the back of his collar and shoved him aside before moving closer himself.

Although he knew it was a waste of time, listening to the sounds coming from the stone door seemed interesting; it could enhance his sophistication and showcase the detective's attention to detail and keen observation skills.

Kogoro Mouri originally had no interest in this childish treasure hunt game, having long forgotten his promise to Iwanaga, but he couldn't resist Shinichi Kudo's appearance!

Ran was wearing a bikini with only a long T-shirt over it today, which he already found suspicious. After learning that Shinichi Kudo was also there, he immediately followed her out.

I'm doing this for no other reason than to preserve my precious daughter's innocence.

There wasn't a sound at all.

He listened for a few seconds but heard nothing. The entire passageway was so quiet that it seemed only his own breathing and Anya's tapping could be heard.

Just as Kogoro Mouri was about to remove his ear, a loud "boom" rang in his ear.

The sound was extremely sharp and abrupt. The famous detective, who was sticking out his buttocks and trying his best to show off, was almost shocked. His eardrums were nearly shattered. His head was buzzing and resonating with the stone door. His vision was blurry and he almost couldn't stand up.

"Are you okay!?"

Xiaolan quickly helped her father up, feeling both concerned and confused. The voices coming from the stone gate were real; not only her father, but she and her friends also heard them. There really were people inside.

"Ania, what did you find?"

Ai Haibara moved closer and pulled Anya away, maintaining a safe distance from the stone gate, before looking at her solemnly.

“Father, I can hear it. I can smell your scent.”

“Gagaga——” ×n
Everyone felt as if a flock of crows flew overhead.

Who would believe that?
In the world of science, do you rely on intuition rather than evidence?

Anya's eyes darted around, but she still insisted that her father was behind the stone gate and needed their help.

"This is a connection and bond between my father and me. Haibara and everyone else, you must believe in me."

"Even if you don't believe it, the commotion just now is enough to prove it."

Shinichi Kudo nodded solemnly and placed his palm on the wall.

Not long after, there was another sound.

The sound was muffled, and the vibration could be clearly felt by the palm of the hand placed on it.

The walls were very thick, and someone was knocking on the stone door with a heavy object to alert them.

No. This time, the sound wasn't just one sound, but a continuous, rhythmic one.

"Morse code?"

Shinichi Kudo softly murmured the words, turning the sound into a dotted diagram in his mind, which immediately combined to form the "SOS" distress signal.

"It looks like there are indeed people here. We must open this stone door."

"How to open it?"

Kogoro Mori had regained his senses and pounded on the stone door, even resorting to punches and kicks, but it was all a waste of his energy.

Kyogoku Makoto then spoke up: "The groove above might be the key to opening the stone door, but I still have a question."

When everyone looked at him, he said, "We came in from what is already the edge of the island. We've walked at least a kilometer along the way, and the direction and depth are all extending towards the seabed. If there are people on the other side of the door, how did they get in?"

“The treasure hunters on the island must have searched for other entrances, but they haven’t found any after so long, so they probably don’t exist.”

"I see."

Shinichi Kudo suddenly revealed a confident smile.

"What?" Makoto Kyogoku asked, "What did you find?"

With just a slight mention, the famous detective discovered something new.

It's unbelievable. The treasure hunt has been going on like this all day. Someone in the group suddenly mentions something, and then Shinichi Kudo is like he's got a cheat code. Every time, he manages to turn the topic into a hint or a clue, and quickly solve the mystery.

Even now, it's enough to terrify someone like him who invests all his points in strength; he might even have to help count the money if he gets sold out someday.

Unaware of Kyogoku Makoto's ulterior motives, Shinichi Kudo explained in detail: "If it really is Natsukawa-san inside, then it's very likely because he found the entrance while diving. If I remember correctly, everyone on the island goes to the Azure Sea for diving, and after we solved the real mystery today, we also got a string of numbers, which, if I'm not mistaken, are the precise coordinates of the underwater passage."

"Although I don't know how Brother Xia Chuan found it, there is no other possibility but this answer."

After he finished speaking, everyone stared at him in shock.

These gazes thrilled Shinichi Kudo. It had been a long time since he felt this way, as if he were under a spotlight, with everyone's attention focused on him. This was a wonderful feeling he could never have experienced when he was still Conan.

other people:"."

Ran looked at her father with concern. Given Shinichi's thought process, was it really possible for her father to compete with the other party in detective ability?
Or should I knock my father unconscious myself?
Perhaps things will turn around after he becomes a sleeping Kogoro.

Noticing his daughter's strange gaze, Kogoro Mouri suddenly shivered. He directed his negative emotions at a certain target and said with a look of disgust, "What's the use of knowing this? The key is Kyogoku Makoto's question just now: how to open the stone door!"

Kogoro Mori pointed to the stone door and then spread his hands to show everyone the red marks on it: "Brute force is useless. I guess these grooves point to the way to open the stone door."

Scanning the room to make sure his words had captured everyone's attention, the middle-aged detective felt immensely satisfied and continued, "This groove is definitely related to Anna and Mary's pirate flag, the pirate scimitar and flintlock pistol we saw at the museum yesterday!"

He finished speaking in one breath, then winked at Shinichi Kudo, his eyes filled with undisguised provocation.

However, the hypothetical enemy didn't take him seriously at all, crossing his arms and nodding, "Yes, that's right."

“There are four slots here, but I remember there’s only one pirate scimitar and one flintlock pistol,” Sonoko reminded her.

“No problem. Actually, there are specific placement rules, and I already know how to place them. As long as you bring the items over, I will definitely be able to open this stone door.”

hateful!

Kogoro Mouri cursed inwardly. He thought he had pointed out the key point, but Shinichi Kudo had already figured out how to place it, even faster than him.

"But that would take at least two hours round trip, and we wouldn't make it in time!"

(Ask for monthly ticket)

(End of this chapter)