Conan: Science Cartoonist Kudo Yuji

"An evil monster? He kidnapped you and did nothing but put on a show right in front of you? Conan, are you out of your mind?"

Higashino III sat on the deck, slowly slurping a bowl of instant noodles. After Conan caught up with Segawa Shoichi and disappeared into the restaurant, due to the ship's violent explosion, he went down the stairs from the guest room floor to meet up with Conan and the others, but coincidentally encountered Kudo Shinichi running upstairs.

"I'm going to Segawa Masakazu's side, he's in danger!" That's what the old man said, and then he ran upstairs.

That's illogical, so illogical. If the incident of being knocked unconscious after catching up with "Segawa Taikei" didn't happen in the original timeline, Old Kudo's first reaction should have been to desperately search for him. After all, if he died in the present, then the historical Kudo Shinichi and the past would also disappear. Why would his first reaction be to protect Segawa Shoichi?

Conan doesn't deny that he gets a surge of justice when facing cases and murderers, throwing all considerations out the window and acting on the orders of his adrenaline. But old Kudo is definitely not that kind of person. After being beaten down by society, he now has his family on his mind. Even if he still tries his best to nip murders in the bud, he would never risk his life to protect someone he doesn't know very well.

"But breaking a steel plate with one punch is a bit of an exaggeration. Do you even remember where you were?" Higashino III took out a map he had casually picked up from the reception desk before boarding the ship and spread it out on the ground.

"I only remember it being very dark, and the surroundings looked very high-tech, if those things weren't props."

"Why would an American spy kill Segawa Masakazu? It doesn't make sense. Anyone with even a basic understanding knows that this guy was a staunch supporter of the Tokyo government's traitorous plans."

"Then... what if it's a fake betrayal?" Conan believed that every plan has a backup plan. The Tokyo government, or rather his brother, couldn't possibly have prepared no backup plan at all; that wouldn't be in his character.

“Killing him won’t do any good. There are so many wealthy people from Tokyo on this ship. Wouldn’t it be better to blow up the ship? Public opinion will immediately drag the Prime Minister into the fray.”

Seeing that Conan couldn't recall the laboratory-like place, Higashino put away the map and said, "Even if there really were American spies, they would be the guys who bought this cruise ship with Segawa. Only they could secretly set up a room on the cruise ship without anyone else knowing."

"A joint acquisition?" Conan looked puzzled. "Didn't Segawa Shoichi buy it himself?"

"Even if the Prime Minister allowed him to embezzle freely, he, an ordinary head of the economics department, couldn't possibly afford such a large cruise ship. There must be a powerful backer behind him." The Third Prince snapped his fingers matter-of-factly. "Things aren't like they were decades ago. Those big businessmen are afraid of being targeted by the government, so they all rely on members of parliament to make money."

“If they were spies, the reason why Segawa Shoichi was killed would be clear: he must have known too much about espionage, and the other party killed him to protect themselves. But I’m afraid it’s not that simple. These guys are too afraid of dying to do such a thing.”

Those who colluded with Segawa to make deals with American spies and planned to escape while the cruise ship was far from land are now kept in the dark, filled with doubt and fear, and suspicious of each other.

“The secretary just mentioned that Segawa Masakazu brought some documents. Spies and Northern agents will definitely not give up. I think after... Uncle and the others finish checking Segawa Masakazu's room and then seal it off, someone will definitely jump out. We'll wait in that corner on that floor!” Conan said seriously, “Although I still think Segawa Taikei is the murderer who killed Segawa Masakazu.” “Then why didn't he and the man in black kill you? They even put you in the shade on the deck, right in front of the swimsuit-clad ladies playing in the water.”

Conan thought of Spider-Man and desperately tried to find a plausible reason in his mind, but in the end he hesitated and said, "As for me, it's probably because they used some kind of drug on me that I have this kind of hallucination."

"But you don't have any injection sites on your body."

"Perhaps it's taken orally?"

"Oh, so they forcibly pried open your mouth and then shoved something in and forced some kind of stuff in? You know what, that feels pretty American."

"Shut up."

Conan walked into the elevator with a dark expression, pressed the button for the floor below Segawa Shoichi's floor according to his memory, looked at Higashino who was smiling happily, and glanced at the security camera inside the elevator. He remembered that someone had said that the elevator surveillance had not been restored because of the explosion.

[This guy, he's just like that kid... wait, could it be...]

"Hey, even if I did drug you, the effects are taking way too fast..."

"I don't want to talk about this anymore, please don't say anything."

No, no, no, it couldn't possibly come to that. After all, they're cousins. Definitely not. But this guy… how could he be worthy of his daughter? Maybe we should just kill him now, take him to a secluded spot on the deck or something…

The elevator was quiet for a while, and just as they were about to arrive, Higashino couldn't help but lean close to Conan's ear again.

"I've heard that no matter what kind of medicine it is, injection from below works faster than oral administration..." (End of Chapter)