After the Detective Kudo Shinichi disappeared from the news in Mihua Town, a mysterious legend circulated within Mihua Town.
It was said that every night, a man dressed in black, using two guns, would wander around Mihua Town.
He would not hesitate to make all criminals who dared to commit crimes in Mihua Town pay the price.
Some said that the man came from another country, a modern Zatoichi who punished evil and promoted good.
Some said that the man was actually the disappeared Detective Kudo Shinichi, but this Detective realized that reasoning alone could not make Mihua Town better, so he resorted to force.
Others said that the man was not actually alive; he was merely a legend of the night, a vengeful ghost.
However, even with such legends circulating within Mihua Town, there were still those who defied evil and dared to commit crimes in Mihua Town at night. For example, someone in the Owatari Press on the third floor of the Renhe Building was so brave.
“Boss, the color-changing ink and other things have been bought back, very smoothly, no one followed!”
A man carrying large and small bags appeared inside the hidden room of the Owatari Press, saying with a grin.
Inside this hidden room, there was a machine specifically used for drawing banknote portraits, and next to it was a young man with a gun pointed at his head, forced to engage in criminal activity.
The “Boss” in the man's mouth was a woman dressed in black, with a black hat covering most of her face, and a string of pearl necklaces around her neck, looking quite striking.
If Inspector Megure of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department were here, he would surely recognize this woman's identity at a glance.
She was the leader of a notorious counterfeit money printing group wanted by the police, code-named 'Silver Fox'!
“...Who told you to take out the one-thousand-yen counterfeit bills that didn't have the watermark yet?”
Silver Fox's gaze was extremely dangerous, making the man instinctively tremble.
“I told you, you should endure this period of time. Those Soseki Natsume (one-thousand-yen portrait) are not worth much!”
“Soon, the portrait of Yukichi Fukuzawa (ten-thousand-yen portrait) will be carved. These yen banknotes will be worth more than ten times that of Soseki Natsume! Don't ruin our big plans because of your petty greed!”
Just as Silver Fox was furious about the man secretly taking a one-thousand-yen counterfeit bill that was not yet ready for use.
Outside the Renhe Building, the Detective Boys, who had tracked them all the way to the Renhe Building, had already arrived.
The Death God Elementary School Student, Edogawa Conan, whose true identity was the disappeared famous Detective Kudo Shinichi, looked up at the sign of the “Owatari Press” hanging on the third floor of the Renhe Building, feeling a little surprised.
Although the saying “the most dangerous place is the safest place” is not wrong.
But the Owatari Press actually opened right next to the Owatari Police Station, which is truly surprising. If the kidnapped artist were to shout from the third-floor window, wouldn't the police from the Owatari Police Station come over directly?
“Conan, do you really think Junya's brother is in this building?”
Ayumi, the only other girl in the Detective Boys, asked worriedly.
Although the Detective Boys had encountered dangerous situations many times, coming to a place that was highly likely to be a kidnapping scene again still made her a little nervous.
“Never mind, didn't the Owatari Police Station police say they couldn't search without evidence? Then wouldn't it be fine if we went in?”
Genta, the nominal leader of the Detective Boys, rolled up his sleeves, ready to go in and make a big fuss.
Looking at the eager members of the Detective Boys, Conan felt an increasing headache, only feeling a little relieved when he saw the calm expression of the new member.
Although he didn't know why, this new classmate named Ai Haibara seemed less impulsive, which was a great thing.
At least when he wasn't around, there was someone who could stay and persuade Genta and the others not to do stupid things!
“You guys stay here and don't move! Definitely don't enter the Renhe Building! I'm going to leave for a while, wait for me!”
The Death God Elementary School Student repeatedly instructed the members of the Detective Boys not to act rashly.
Only then did he turn and run to the phone booth, preparing to call Inspector Megure of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department as Kudo Shinichi, asking Inspector Megure to come and make arrests.
However, as soon as the Death God Elementary School Student left the sight of the Detective Boys, the death-seeking elementary school students were already itching to move.
“The more you tell us not to go, the more we want to go! Let's go, let's go!”
Genta led the way, Mitsuhiko followed closely, and Ayumi immediately caught up, even turning around to pull Ai Haibara along, not forgetting to whisper.
“Ai Haibara, let's go together! The Detective Boys should always act together, investigate together, and solve cases together!”
...So you're not waiting for Kudo Shinichi?
A hint of speechlessness flashed in Ai Haibara's eyes.
If it weren't too dangerous to let these elementary school students investigate the kidnapper's den themselves, she wouldn't have followed...
Buzz—
It was as if a white light pierced Ai Haibara's head, and she instantly widened her eyes.
The Black Organization radar activated!
Tap, tap, tap.
Footsteps were approaching.
Ai Haibara subconsciously stopped in place, her limbs somewhat stiff and difficult to move.
“W-what's wrong?”
Ayumi, who couldn't pull Ai Haibara, was a little strange. She followed Ai Haibara's gaze to where she was looking and saw a strange figure.
It was a strange young man.
He was wearing a black overcoat and sunglasses, even though it was night. If it weren't for his steady steps, one might even suspect he was blind.
“How strange, Big Brother, why are you wearing sunglasses at night?”
Ayumi asked curiously.
This simple question sent a chill through Ai Haibara's heart. She subconsciously wanted to stop Ayumi, because it was too dangerous to casually approach someone suspected of being a Black Organization operative!
If it were someone like Gin...
“It's just a decoration.”
Ai Haibara heard the young man say.
He bent down, smiled and stroked Ayumi's head, then took out some loose change from his pocket and placed it in Ayumi's hand, saying in a gentle tone.
“Mihua Town at night can be very dangerous. Even children need to be careful.”
“Take your friends to the convenience store nearby and buy some candy. After you eat the candy, go home quickly. If you don't have money for the way home, I can help you buy your train tickets home...”
“We're not children, we're the Detective Boys!”
Genta loudly mumbled, making Ai Haibara feel even more exasperated.
He heard the nominal leader of the Detective Boys loudly declare.
“Our client's brother has been kidnapped, and he might be in this building. We're here to rescue him!”
“...Oh, Detective Boys? Rescuing someone?”
Nara Hikaru looked up at the third floor, the only one with lights on in the building, where the Owatari Press banner hung.
So, he said with a smile.
“Alright, then I'll go in with you to take a look.”