"Who exactly…?"
The repairman blinked, a look of genuine confusion crossing his features as if he hadn't quite grasped the question.
"Never mind," Conan muttered. His eyes narrowed as he finally caught sight of a certain figure in the distance. Without another word, he turned and sprinted away.
Meanwhile, toward the center of the hall, the atmosphere shifted. Dressed in a magnificent, floor-length gown that shimmered under the chandeliers, Mio Tokiwa stepped gracefully onto the stage.
"I want to thank you all for joining us today to celebrate the grand opening of the Tokiwa Group's Twin Tower Skyscrapers," she began, her voice smooth and practiced. "To mark the occasion, I thought we might indulge in a little diversion. I invite you all to play a game!"
Her voice, amplified by the high-end sound system, cut through the ambient chatter and commanded the attention of every guest in the room.
The rules were deceptively simple.
To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Tokiwa Group's founding, Mio Tokiwa had devised a "Thirty-Second Challenge."
"For the person who stops the clock at exactly thirty seconds—or whoever comes closest—this red convertible parked here in the banquet hall will be yours as a gift."
A low murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd. This wasn't just any car; it was a high-end imported convertible. To offer such a prize for a simple parlor game was a staggering display of the Tokiwa Group's financial might.
"However," Mio added with a playful smile, "should two people tie for exactly thirty seconds, the winner will be decided by a game of rock-paper-scissors. The runner-up will have to settle for the mountain bike standing right next to it."
It was a surprisingly whimsical way to settle a tie.
The children's eyes lit up at the mention of the bicycle. They couldn't drive a car yet, and most of their families already had garages full of luxury vehicles anyway—a high-tech mountain bike was far more appealing.
"For those who wish to participate, please deposit your wristwatches with our staff. Later, as a token of our appreciation, we will gift you a gemstone of equal value to the watch you surrendered."
"What?!"
The guests gasped. The prize for the game was one thing, but this was a level of extravagance they hadn't expected.
"Did she just say they're giving away gemstones equivalent to the value of our watches?" Ran turned to her best friend, wondering if she had misheard.
"The Tokiwa Group really isn't holding back, is it?" Sonoko remarked, glancing down at her own expensive timepiece.
Given the status of the attendees, none of the watches were cheap. To return the watches and add a matching gemstone was a massive undertaking.
As the rules were finalized, staff members moved through the hall, collecting watches and handing out small colored flags to the participants. The premise was simple: once the game started, you were to raise your flag the moment you felt exactly thirty seconds had passed.
The children gathered at the front of the stage, flags in hand. Along with the usual trio, Haibara found herself pushed into the fray by her sister.
"You're playing too?" Haibara asked, turning a deadpan look toward the man beside her.
"Of course. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for gemstones," Tsuneo replied, clutching a small yellow flag and nodding with faux-seriousness.
"Very well, let us begin," Mio Tokiwa announced, gesturing to her young secretary. "Once Miss Sawaguchi says 'start,' please raise your flags when you believe thirty seconds have elapsed."
From her vantage point on the stage, Mio could see every guest clearly.
"Bring it on!" Kogoro Mouri exclaimed, his competitive spirit flaring.
"Ready… and start!" Miss Sawaguchi pressed the button on her timer.
"One, two, three…"
A heavy silence fell over the hall, broken only by the faint, rhythmic whispers of guests counting under their breath. Many had their eyes squeezed shut in deep concentration.
Standing next to the Great Detective was a young mother cradling an infant. Kogoro had barely reached his first few counts when the baby's fussing broke his rhythm.
"Wait, what number was I on?"
The "Sleeping Sleuth" looked momentarily dazed. Around him, flags began to pop up like spring flowers. Even Professor Agasa had already raised his.
"Waaaaah!~"
Suddenly, the baby behind him let out a piercing wail. Startled, Kogoro's hand shot up instinctively, flag waving in the air.
"And—time! The guest over there with the blue flag, congratulations!"
At that exact moment, the thirty seconds were up. On stage, Mio Tokiwa was pointing directly at the bewildered Kogoro Mouri.
"...!!" Kogoro's jaw dropped so low it looked like it might hit the floor.
"What strange luck," Haibara remarked, looking at her own flag. She had raised hers a few seconds too early.
Next to her, Tsuneo was even further off; he hadn't raised his flag until the very last second.
Up on stage, Mio Tokiwa began introducing Kogoro to the crowd. Since he was a famous detective, she gave him the floor for a brief victory speech.
"With this, I can finally say goodbye to my days of driving rentals!"
The crowd laughed; Kogoro was, as usual, playing the part of the comic relief perfectly.
"So close… I only got to twelve seconds," Genta muttered gloomily, staring at the stage.
"Genta, you do know how to count past twelve, right?" Tsuneo asked, looking down at the boy. The little guy had been counting at a glacial pace.
"Of course I do! It's just… hard," Genta huffed, feeling defeated.
As the awards ceremony concluded, a professional host took over the stage. The lights in the banquet hall dimmed until only a single, sharp spotlight remained on the platform.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is now my honor to introduce our most prestigious guest—a national treasure of the art world, Master Hosui Kisaragi, and his latest works!"
As the host spoke, a massive screen descended. A slideshow began, projecting Master Kisaragi's breathtaking paintings of landscapes for all to see.
While the host described each piece with practiced eloquence, the three key figures behind the curtain were preparing themselves in the dark.
From left to right stood Toshihiko Kazama, the building's architect; Mio Tokiwa, the woman in charge; and Hosui Kisaragi, the elderly artist leaning heavily on his cane.
Suddenly, Mio Tokiwa, standing in the center, felt a sudden looseness around her neck. The clasp of her prized pearl necklace had snapped. The strand slipped from her skin and tumbled toward the floor.
"Don't worry. Leave it to me."
The old man's voice came from her side, low and steady. It was a comforting sound in the dark.
"No—please stop right there, Mr. Hosui Kisaragi!"
Behind them, a beam of light cut through the darkness. A small, solitary figure emerged from the shadows.
"Who's there?"
Mio Tokiwa turned around, squinting against the glare of what looked like a high-powered flashlight.
"Conan Edogawa," the boy said, adjusting the dial on his wristwatch flashlight. After a long wait, he finally delivered his signature line with cool confidence: "I'm a detective."
"You? You're that kid from earlier!" Toshihiko Kazama, standing on the far left, took two steps forward, intent on ushering the "reaper child" away. "The curtain is about to rise!"
Hosui Kisaragi, meanwhile, stood motionless, clutching the pearl necklace in his hand with a look of profound complexity.
"Master Kisaragi has a profound love for Mount Fuji," the host's voice boomed from the other side of the curtain. "He has spent over thirty years capturing its majesty. Today, to celebrate the completion of the Twin Towers by his student, Mio Tokiwa, he has gifted us with a brand-new masterpiece!"
The host finished his introduction and stepped off the stage. It was time for the guest of honor to speak.
As the heavy velvet curtain slowly drew back, the scene revealed to the audience was not the poised, prestigious tableau they expected.
"Conan?"
The guests stared in utter confusion at the sight of the young primary schooler being held in Mr. Kazama's arms.
"That brat! How dare he go back there and cause trouble!"
Kogoro Mouri began rolling up his sleeves, his face flushing with embarrassment. If that kid ruins this, will they let me keep the car?!
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