Conan: I've been linked to the tech tree system.

"Yes, what happened today was quite frightening. It would be better to get some rest soon," said Kimie Shimabukuro with a smile, but Toru Tono could see the disappointment cleverly concealed in her eyes.

I could tell from my intuition that the murderer's invitation was definitely planned.

If I'm not mistaken, Shimabukuro Kimie is trying to find a witness to fake his death and escape, right?

It was nothing more than the fire reigniting in the warehouse, and the addition of a charred corpse of Kadokawa Saori that had been prepared beforehand. Tohno Toru had no interest in going on such a trip late at night.

[Ding, Detective storyline system quest triggered: Save the Mermaid]

Mission objective: To prevent a repeat of the tragedy of three years ago.

Mission completion reward: 500 Detective Points

Ok?

Did the system issue the task at this time?

Toru Tono was stunned for a moment, completely unprepared.

Moreover, based on his years of experience in completing missions, a reward of 500 points is clearly not the value of a daily mission. It probably belongs to a mission with a certain degree of difficulty, but in reality, it is not dangerous and has nothing to do with the main storyline of the Black Organization.

The system's wording is quite interesting: "saving the mermaids." What kind of rescue method is it?

"Mermaid" undoubtedly refers to Kimie Shimabukuro. If it's just about saving the shrine maiden, she is the murderer herself, so how could she be in danger?

Besides, hasn't the tragedy already happened? What's the point of talking about saving them?

Tohru Tohru pondered for a while, completely clueless.

He looked up at Shimabukuro Kimie and Conan, who were chatting about various case details, and pursed his lips.

It seems I have no choice but to follow along this time.

Tohru Tono joined the three's "discussion group": "I was just thinking, since I have nothing to do tonight anyway, why don't I go with you guys to take a look at that list?"

"Eh?"

......

After the party ended, Ran and Heiji helped the group, who were both very drunk, to their door. They heard that the group was going to Shimabukuro Kimie's house to see the list, and Kogoro Mouri, who still insisted on going with them, walked out the door.

"Jun Hui."

Rokuro suddenly called out to Shimabukuro Kimie, who was following behind.

She turned around.

"I know it's not the right time to think about this, but could you please reconsider what we talked about before?" Lu Lang's expression was very serious.

"Don't do this." Shimabukuro Kimie looked somewhat troubled. "Not only would this be unfair to the deceased Kotomi, but I also have my great-grandmother to take care of."

"Therefore, it is impossible for me to leave this island, and I am sorry."

After saying this, Shimabukuro Kimie turned and left resolutely.

Tohru Tono and Shiho Miyano, who were hanging at the back of the line, happened to witness this scene.

He looked on thoughtfully, comparing the beautiful female shrine maiden Shimabukuro Kimie with "that woman" Ebihara Toshimi, whom he had met before, and thought that this Rokuro was quite insightful.

Seeing his approving nod, Shiho Miyano sneered, "Ha, men."

"Hmm?" Toru Tono glanced back at her. "This has nothing to do with gender. The eternal themes of human art are the resistance against a destiny that cannot be controlled by oneself and the yearning for beautiful things."

“I think the Rokuro brothers are perfectly justifiable.” Tohno Toru stood firmly on Don Quixote’s side.

"So it's just a case of wanting what you don't have while eyeing what you don't have," Shiho Miyano said dismissively.

"Hey, didn't he say before that his so-called fiancée was arranged by his family? It's normal that there's no emotional foundation, right?"

"Forced arrangements are not an excuse. You're all grown up; surely you can refuse?"

"..." Tohru Tohru didn't want to continue the discussion; there was no point in talking about it.

"Beauty is justice, you know?"

"You see, they start rambling on and on when it comes to important issues."

"...I don't argue with women."

Tohru Tohru was helpless.

Chapter 168 As expected of a winery

The sound of raindrops pattering on bamboo leaves gradually intensified, and the damp sea breeze, carrying a salty and fishy smell, still filled the dense forest.

Kimie Shimabukuro's black sleeves trembled slightly in the wind, fluttering up and down with the swing of her arms.

"So all five of you went to the same university?"

When the weather is nice, the island must be very beautiful, with lush forests, making it a great place to get close to nature.

On the way to Kimie Shimabukuro's house, the shrine maiden told some stories about the past between several people she had grown up with.

"Yes, because we all love movies, and we even joined the university's film study club."

“A few of us even made a film about the story of a Buddhist nun, and it later won a gold medal at an exhibition.”

"Everyone was very happy and said that we could make it in Hollywood."

"Shikoku!" Ran exclaimed in surprise.

"But later..." Shimabukuro Kimie's mood dropped considerably, "Everyone still came back because they could never forget life on the island."

"I never imagined something like this would happen between Kotobuki and Naoko..."

"Miss Shimabukuro..." Ran didn't know how to comfort her.

After all, when someone close to you is murdered, you have to slowly overcome the grief on your own. What others say is useless and may even cause resentment in the person involved.

......

In a somewhat somber atmosphere, the group quickly arrived at the home of Kimie Shimabukuro at the other end of the dense forest.

Hattori Heiji put down the middle-aged man, who was so drunk he could barely walk, after finally getting him to the place. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow and sighed.

He remembered that Kogoro Mouri had promised his mother, Shizuka Hattori, that he would take good care of him, right?

Now look at it, who's really taking care of whom?

Heiji Hattori now looks at Ran with a touch more admiration.

Having a father like that... must be tough!

Once in his room, Kogoro Mori couldn't resist and fell asleep on the table.

Shimabukuro Kimie was rummaging through drawers and cabinets looking for the roster.

"That's strange, what happened?" Her expression didn't seem fake. "I clearly remember putting it in this drawer."

"Is the roster missing?" Hattori Heiji asked, leaning closer.

“Yes, and only this year’s are missing.” Shimabukuro Kimie was very confused.

"Could it be that your great-grandmother took it?" Hattori asked.

“That’s absolutely impossible.” Shimabukuro Kimie rejected the guess without even asking.

"Does anyone else know that this roster is kept here?"

Conan also came over.

"Almost everyone on the island knows about this."

Kimie Shimabukuro stood up. "Just to be on the safe side, I'll look in another room."

"I'll help you look too!" Xiaolan suddenly volunteered.

“Me too,” Kazuha Toyama followed.

Shimabukuro Kimie paused for a moment, then replied calmly, "Alright then."

"Haibara, are you coming along?"

Before leaving, he also called Shiho Miyano.

Shiho Miyano glanced at Toru Tono's raised eyebrow, responded, and followed him.

Although it is said that Ran and Kazuha are both martial arts masters, as the only woman present who knows that Shimabukuro Kimie is the murderer, she still has to join the girls' group to go there just in case.

After the girl left, Kogoro Mouri fell fast asleep, while Hattori and Conan, pulling Toru Tono along, enthusiastically picked up the rosters from other years and began to look at them.

"Wow, the people who've been here are all quite influential," Hattori Heiji remarked, recognizing the names on the sign. "There's a former Foreign Minister, a former Home Minister, and the Governor of the Bank of Japan..."

Most people wouldn't be interested in the names of these top figures, but Heiji Hattori had occasional contact with them due to family reasons and knew a little about them.

"So everyone wants to live forever, huh?" the high school detective, who was still very young and not even twenty years old, exclaimed.

"After all, immortality is an ancient pursuit," Toru Tono replied casually. "Legend has it that the development of island civilization is related to Qin Shi Huang sending his men with young boys and girls into the sea in search of the elixir of immortality..."

"Ah, you're talking about the legend of 'Xu Fu's eastward voyage'?" As expected of a man with a library at home, Conan even knew about this. "But this legend is a bit too exaggerated. After all, according to archaeological research dating back to the Stone Age, there was already human activity on the islands of Japan 3 years ago..."

"Well, it's just a legend, there's bound to be some exaggeration." Toru Tono shrugged. "It's just a myth, I just used it as an example."

While chatting, Tohya Tono picked up a roster from not long ago.

The slightly yellowed paper was covered with neat calligraphy, bearing the name "Shiho Miyano".

Sure enough, hanging next to it was a rather rough-looking inscription of "Uozuka Saburo" and a particularly sharp inscription of "Kurosawa Jin".

So, do the people from these wineries not use pseudonyms when they go out?

Tohru Tono couldn't understand it at all.

Despite spending time with her, Shiho Miyano is a rather cautious person, rarely going out despite wearing a mask... Could it be that the Black Organization's flamboyant style can subtly change a person's level of caution?

Tohru Tohno expressed his understanding when he thought of Gin brazenly confronting the "King" and crossing the road recklessly.

Chapter 169 Masaka!

While flipping through the pages, Toru Tono came across another unexpected name.

"Misaki Ichijo, Kenichi Ichijo," two relatively familiar names lay there quietly.

So, was the so-called search for "immortality" on Mermaid Island a consensus once held by people with a little social standing?