Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

Judging from Sano's experience, as long as you follow Conan, there will definitely be no problem.

Following the location Heiji Hattori heard over the phone, Sano arrived first at the abandoned Gyokuryu-ji Temple, located deep in the mountains, to conduct reconnaissance.

Kazuha Toyama's hands, feet, and mouth were tied, and even her eyes were blindfolded.

He was temporarily detained in a teahouse.

Dressed in what resembles a ronin's uniform, wearing masks and carrying long swords at their waists, Sano has only seen about forty or fifty people so far. These people are scattered throughout the Gyokuryu-ji Temple. Some are standing in the open guarding and patrolling, while others are hiding in the shadows observing and tailing. In addition to swords, they also have bows and arrows... But putting aside the fact that they are sword masters...

They're just a bunch of thugs.

Is it that they disdain using guns, or that they simply don't have the means to obtain firearms?

After wagging its tail, Sano lay quietly on the roof, not making any rash moves.

Sano needs to eliminate all members of the Yoshitsune school.

Sano wasn't entirely clear on the exact number and identities of the Yoshitsune school.

It's quite possible that the leader has arranged for his men to keep an eye on Hattori Heiji.

Or perhaps some members are resting elsewhere.

Although Sano could have chosen to leave the two men barely alive before taking action, and then use special methods to torture and interrogate them.

To ensure that nothing is missed, or that any missed items can be recovered, but who knows if the fish that slipped through the net will have already gotten wind of it while he is taking action, and if they are not caught within the mission time limit, Sano himself will be the one who suffers the loss... In short.

Wait until the time agreed upon by both parties.

Under such circumstances, the Yoshitsune school would not assign anyone to do anything unnecessary. Instead, to ensure everything goes smoothly, they should concentrate all their forces here. This would also be a good opportunity to wipe out Sano in one fell swoop.

As the sun gradually sank below the horizon, the sky grew darker and darker.

New people were arriving at the temple every now and then, and the number of Yoshitsune-ryu members was increasing.

Sano finally got to see Conan arrive.

...However, to outsiders, this is Hattori Heiji.

That's right, Conan asked Ai Haibara, who had just arrived in Kyoto at noon under Professor Agasa's guidance, for a temporary growth-enlarging drug, cough cough cough.

Of course, it's a proper increase in size.

Because Heiji Hattori ran out of the hospital before his injuries had healed, and possibly due to the shock and anger caused by the news of Kazuha Toyama's kidnapping, he became too emotional and fainted on the spot.

As a result, Conan is now isolated and helpless, and can only go to the appointment alone.

Of course, Conan did try to find reinforcements... but Sano didn't answer the phone, which was an old trick, so he didn't panic. After sending a text message explaining the situation, he hesitated for a long time before choosing to call Yamanoji to see if he could ask Black Fox for help.

Unfortunately.

The monks at Sanonji Temple told Conan that the two had already left.

There was no other way, so Conan had to bite the bullet and go for it... Damn it, he was just one step away from finding out whether it was the Buddha statue or the murderer.

But then, out of the blue, a real showstopper arrived.

Conan… oh no, Shinichi Kudo adjusted his hat. Although he hadn't been idle in trying to impersonate Heiji Hattori, some things aren't guaranteed to succeed just by putting in the effort. He wasn't really sure if simply changing into the other's clothes and darkening his skin would be enough… But based on their earlier experience at the school fair, the two did seem quite similar in facial features and build. Unless someone knew them very well, they should be able to tell…

Should we be able to get away with it?

The premise is that Toyama and Ye don't foolishly reveal themselves.

"Are you alright, Kazuha?"

After casually sticking the wooden sword, which he had brought for the purpose of a successful disguise but could only be used as a decoration, into the ground, Shinichi Kudo asked Kazuha Toyama, who was still bound hand and foot by the masked man to prevent him from suddenly struggling and escaping. Sure enough, he found...

Upon hearing just one of her greetings, Toyama Kazuha's expression subtly changed, clearly indicating that she had discovered the truth behind the disguise.

Fortunately, Kazuha Toyama did not act rashly. Instead, she shook her head and said, following Shinichi Kudo's words, "I'm fine, Heiji. Be careful."

...he emphasized the name again.

Shinichi Kudo quickly pulled a small crystal bead from his pocket and diverted attention, saying, "Your real target is actually this, isn't it? The white hair on the forehead of the Buddha statue you stole from Sanonji Temple back then..."

"Oh."

For the next full five minutes.

Sano only saw Shinichi Kudo and the leader of the Yoshitsune school exchanging nonsense.

To be precise.

It's reasoning.

The mystery revolves around why Hattori Heiji was attacked, why the people at the teahouse died yesterday, how they died, and the identity of the person in front of him.

After his identity was exposed, the masked man who had been listening to Shinichi Kudo's nonsense also took off his mask without any attempt to hide it, and then started rambling on... basically explaining his motive for killing someone.

Well... overall.

Aside from what Sano already knew, it was basically the same as what he had imagined.

This leader of the Yoshitsune school was one of the three pilgrims from the Sanno-ji Temple who invited Kogoro Mori to dinner at the teahouse yesterday, and he was also a member of Genji-kai.

His position seems to be quite high, probably equivalent to being the second-in-command?

The Yoshitsune school, founded by a man named Yoshitsune in the Yoshitsune Chronicle, is naturally closely related to Genji Kitaru. The original "Yoshitsune," who was also the leader of Genji Kitaru, was the master of the Yoshitsune school.

Simultaneously.

That person was the abbot of this temple called Yulong Temple.

This Yulong Temple was actually a training ground for the Yoshitsune school of Buddhism.

The current leader of the Yoshitsune school had long been dissatisfied with his position in Genji-kai... but it hadn't reached the point where he needed to rebel. The original leaders of both Genji-kai and the Yoshitsune school had simply died of illness.

Three months ago.

This led to the possession of the precious Buddha statue at Saneng Temple, which he personally kept.

They have vanished without a trace.

Only a treasure map remained.

So, this person conspired with the Genji member who died in the teahouse last night to kill the other members and take the Buddha statue for themselves. This person really intended to take it all for himself and kill his collaborators as well, on the grounds that he needed money to buy the Gyokuryu-ji Temple, which was about to be demolished after losing its abbot, so that the Yoshitsune school's last dojo would remain in Kyoto.

And so on.

To ensure the preservation of the Buddha statue's value.

In any case, it was the crystal bead called Shiraho that had accidentally ended up in Hattori Heiji's hands that caused the attacks on him to continue until this exchange.

...Sano listened to the two sides talking nonsense back and forth.

I don't even know how to complain anymore.

The first issue is that Shinichi Kudo, like Er Lengzi, went to the meeting alone.

Can't find any help?

Aren't the police officers the best helpers?

what?

Are they worried that the Yoshitsune school will kill the hostage?

So you're saying that just because you're a weakling, you can guarantee that Toyama Kazuha won't die?

Let the police sneak over here, at least give it a try.

Since you're gambling anyway, why not gamble on the side with the higher odds?

Secondly, there was the leader of the Yoshitsune school.

...Never mind, even a master swordsman would only do petty theft.

What else is there to say?

At last.

Why can't these two just get straight to the point, get themselves out of there, wrap things up, and go home? What's with all this whining?

Sano scratched his head awkwardly.

In this situation, it would feel wrong to suddenly jump out.

"Alright, hurry up and give me the white hair!"

Finally, we got down to business.

"Then you have to give the person back to me first."

"Then tell me where the Buddha statue is first!"

"Return the people first!"

"Let's start with the Buddha statues!"

"..."

After a period of back and forth, Kazuha Toyama was ultimately handed over to Shinichi Kudo.

However, the leader of the Yoshitsune school, who seemed to be named Saijo, did not seem to intend to make any peaceful deal. Instead, he was prepared to take a hard line and wanted to launch a sneak attack from behind to take out Toyama Kazuha first.

So why is that?

Wouldn't it have been the same if they had just killed the hostages from the start?

Completely bewildered by the situation, Sano watched as Shinichi Kudo stepped forward to defend him, only to have his wooden sword snapped in two by a single blow, his hat even being knocked off, revealing his true identity. Shocked and enraged, Saijo gave an order, and the Yoshitsune-ryu disciples, who had been hiding in the shadows, immediately jumped out and surrounded Toyama and Kazuha.

It's a dead end.

Sano straightened his back; it was his turn...

"Ha, being a detective might be alright, but you're completely unsuitable to be a samurai."

Just then, amidst the jeers, a Yoshitsune-ryu disciple ripped off his hood; it was Hattori Heiji... What kind of amazing talents are these?

Disguising oneself as an enemy to infiltrate might be the right thing to do.

But what's the point of tearing off the disguise now?

Shouldn't they have stepped in to save people in a crisis, or even taken a hostage?

Furthermore...

If a guy who was taken to the hospital can infiltrate, why can't the police infiltrate? Even if they can't infiltrate, they can at least break in, right?