Suddenly, the door burst open, and a figure walked in.
[Heiji?]
Miwako Sato's eyes widened in shock.
"Miwako."
Heiji sighed in relief and ran over, carefully tearing the tape off her mouth.
"Hei... Heiji..."
After 12 hours, her throat was too dry to speak.
"Don't talk."
Heiji gently untied her ropes, intending to pick her up.
However, Miwako Sato frowned, a look of pain on her face.
Heiji frowned. He lifted her pant leg.
Two raw, bloody lines were on her white skin.
His face changed. He pulled up her sleeves. Her wrists were the same.
He didn't need to look to know her body was covered in them.
"You struggled?" His voice was helpless, but also angry.
Miwako Sato looked at him, her lips moved, and she nodded weakly.
Heiji sighed, and carefully lifted her, avoiding her wounds. He placed her on the sofa.
"You're weak. Rest here. I'll be right back."
Miwako Sato nodded, closed her eyes, and drifted off.
Heiji sighed again and looked at the note he'd written. Looks like that warning was useless.
He had tied her over her clothes specifically to prevent this.
But those marks could only have come from a violent struggle.
Heiji went out and bought some instant hot porridge and a bottle of water.
Miwako Sato opened her eyes and smiled.
"Heiji... thank you." Her voice was hoarse.
"It's okay. I'll give you some water."
Heiji knelt and held the bottle to her lips.
The water was warm.
Miwako Sato glanced at him, then slowly opened her mouth.
Heiji carefully controlled the flow, letting her drink a little at a time.
After she had some water, he fed her the porridge.
Watching the calm Heiji, Miwako Sato's heart fluttered.
"Does it still hurt?"
After she ate, Heiji looked at the raw marks on her fair skin.
"Mhm. I feel much better," Miwako said, looking away, her face a little red.
Heiji nodded. "You know, you didn't have to struggle. The Night Baron didn't mean to hurt you."
Miwako Sato looked at him, confused. "Heiji, are you saying this was all a setup by the Night Baron?"
Heiji picked up the note. "This last part of the note was unnecessary. He added it to tell you to save your strength. He wanted you to not move."
Miwako Sato stared at him.
"And this phone's timer is more proof. It was to cheer you up if you weren't rescued."
"I'm sure there's another timer, too. One that would ensure you were found."
Heiji showed her the phone.
Miwako Sato's eyes widened. There was a second alarm, set for 1 PM, right during lunch break.
Her finger tapped it.
Loud DJ music blared from the phone.
She quickly turned it off. "Why would he do this?"
Someone would definitely have heard that. I would have been found.
Heiji shook his head. "The 'Sunflowers' is here, too. He kidnaps you, but only plans to hold you for a day."
"All signs point to one thing: he's stalling for time."
"Stalling for time?" she asked.
Heiji smiled. "That's just my deduction. Only the Night Baron knows his real purpose."
The room went quiet.
Just then, footsteps sounded, and Inspector Megure and the others burst in.
"Miwako!"
"Officer Sato!"
Megure and Takagi were overjoyed.
"Inspector, Takagi. I'm sorry to make you worry."
Miwako Sato carefully sat up.
"Your hands are injured?"
Seeing the gauze on her wrists, Megure's face changed.
"And your legs! Officer Sato, did the Night Baron torture you?" Takagi asked angrily.
Megure's eyes burned with fury.
"No, that's not what happened..."
Miwako Sato explained everything, including Heiji's recent deductions.
The room fell silent.
[If her description is right, Hattori's deduction is correct. But why stall for time? What's his goal?]
"Hey! Isn't that the 'Sunflowers'?" Kogoro Mouri suddenly shouted.
Inspector Megure's face lit up.
"Heiji, my boy, we owe you one again."
Heiji shook his head. "I just did what I could. Besides, Miwako and I are friends. I couldn't just ignore it."
Miwako Sato smiled gently. "Heiji, when you have time, let me treat you to dinner."
[Officer Sato is so gentle...]
Takagi stared, shocked. He'd never seen this side of her.
"Of course. I won't be polite."
Heiji felt bad. Miwako was the real victim of this system mission.
But he couldn't risk the Sin Value. He'd make it up to her later.
"Big Brother Heiji, how did you know Officer Sato was here?"
Conan asked, just curious. After last night, his suspicion was gone.
"Yes, Heiji. You've never been here, have you?" Megure asked.
"No, I haven't. But the Night Baron already gave us the location."
"He did?"
Megure and the others were even more confused.
"'The beautiful officer has three days to live. After three days, she will be reborn, back at the starting point.'"
"'This little gadget is the clue. We hope you can crack it quickly.'"
Heiji recited the riddle. "This riddle also revealed Miwako's location."
Megure and the others frowned, completely lost.
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