"According to the police report, the Italian robbery gang responsible for a recent major heist is now believed to have infiltrated the city of Beika."
"Their leader, Dino Cabana, and his crew have stolen a total of 15,000 maple leaf gold coins, with an estimated value of 600 million yen."
"The Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigation Division is currently pursuing the group. Citizens are advised to remain alert, as the suspects may be armed and dangerous."
The news broadcast played clearly on the television screen, accompanied by a flashing wanted poster of the suspects.
Hayashi Yoshiki looked over at the screen from his seat, but wasn't especially interested.
Thanks to royalties from his publisher and quiet payments from the Organization, it was unlikely he'd ever worry about money again. At this point, his morning ritual of checking the news was more about staying current and maybe finding inspiration—or useful targets—for the Death Note.
What did catch his attention, however, was a letter placed neatly on his desk.
"On the night of the next full moon, shadows will begin to disappear again on Moon Shadow Island."
"Please investigate the reason."
He'd found the envelope in the mail slot of his newly opened agency. The "Kindaichi Detective Agency" sign had only gone up a few days ago, but with his rising popularity, he wasn't exactly low-profile anymore.
The letter itself was made of clippings from newspaper print—anonymous, cryptic, and impossible to trace. No handwriting, no return address, and no indication of the sender's identity or gender.
If it had been just the letter, he might have dismissed it as a prank.
But there were ten crisp 10,000 yen bills included.
"Is Aso Keiji for real…?"
The name Moon Shadow Island triggered something in his memory.
That case was legendary—just like the one at the Mihua Library. Haunting, poetic, and filled with eerie symbolism. Hayashi Yoshiki remembered the story well.
This is going to be interesting.
He recalled how the man—Aso Keiji, the pianist—had taken revenge on a house full of evil and then perished in a sea of flames, Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" echoing through the inferno.
A case like that stirred something in him.
The sky was gray, and the sea choppy. The ferry cut through the waves, trailing diesel fumes and brine in the wind.
On the deck of the ferry, Kogoro Mouri leaned heavily against the railing, a look of frustration on his face.
"Seriously? I was supposed to go see the cherry blossoms. Why does the great detective Mouri Kogoro have to ride out to some tiny island?"
"So you had plans for hanami, Uncle Kogoro?"
"Yeah! Would've been much better sipping sake under the sakura than bouncing around on this tub!"
Hayashi Yoshiki turned to Conan, who stood nearby. His friendly smile made the boy squint suspiciously.
What's with that smile...?
"What a coincidence, Yoshiki-nii. I didn't expect you to be coming to the island with us."Ran Mouri smiled warmly.
"Yes. Seems like fate brought us all together."
"You too, huh?" Mouri asked, eyes narrowing. "You took the job because of the advance payment, right?"
Hayashi Yoshiki nodded lightly, but his expression remained relaxed—even excited.
"It's my first official case. And I've rarely left Beika City, to be honest. I heard Moon Shadow Island has a very serene, natural atmosphere."
"Tch. It's not summer though."
Mouri grumbled, clearly disappointed that bikini season hadn't arrived.
"So you don't travel much, Brother Yoshiki?"
"Not really. Traveling alone is kind of boring, don't you think?"
Ran hesitated, realizing Yoshiki didn't seem to have many people close to him. That made her feel unexpectedly… sad?
About half an hour later, the ferry docked at Moon Shadow Island.
The island wasn't isolated or primitive. It had homes, a small marketplace, a police substation—more like a peaceful rural community with picturesque landscapes.
Their first stop was the local administration office, where Hayashi Yoshiki suggested they ask about the identity of their mysterious client: Aso Keiji.
Unfortunately, the young staffer behind the counter searched the island's resident registry for a long while, then looked up apologetically.
"I'm sorry. I can't find anyone by that name."
"Look again!" Mouri barked. "He sent both of us a letter of commission!"
The community director had overheard the conversation and came over. The staff explained the situation briefly.
The director's face immediately paled.
"What did you say...? Aso Keiji!?"
He stared at the letter in Mouri's hands like it was cursed.
"That's impossible. Aso Keiji died over ten years ago."
The story that followed was haunting.
Aso Keiji, a once-renowned pianist born on the island, returned twelve years ago to host a concert. But that night, after the music stopped, he locked himself and his family in their home and set it ablaze.
"They say he killed his wife and daughter first, then sat at the piano, playing Moonlight Sonata as the flames engulfed everything..."
Ran, who was terrified of ghost stories, had gone completely pale. She looked at the letter like it might bite her.
"Sounds like a case with a lot of secrets."Yoshiki spoke calmly.
"After all, the advance payment was real. Maybe someone is impersonating him, hoping we'll uncover the truth."
"Impersonating...?" Mouri echoed.
"Surely you don't think he really came back from the dead to hire us, do you?"
"Hah... true. That'd be absurd." Mouri rubbed his chin, nodding.
"Why don't we start at the community center? That's where his concert took place, right?"
Hayashi Yoshiki turned politely to the locals.
"Could you point us in that direction, sir?"
"Yes... yes, it's just down that road."
Even though he looked spooked, the community director was still helpful.
Conan, for once, had little to add.
But in his silence, he observed Hayashi Yoshiki with a thoughtful look.
His thinking really is clear. Almost… too clear.