After enjoying an authentic local meal at the family restaurant Narumi had recommended, the two men headed for the community center.
Since tonight's exchange was scheduled to take place on the beach nearby, scouting the area in advance was standard practice for Organization operatives carrying out missions.
Ritsu originally hadn't wanted to go, but after a second thought, he realized that everyone who had come to Moon Shadow Island before had been Macallan. Since he was supposed to be visiting for the first time, he deliberately slowed his pace and walked behind Rei.
"Down with Mayor Kuroiwa!"
"Mayor Kuroiwa, get out!"
"Give us back our farmland!"
"Stop polluting our fishing grounds!"
"Mayor Kuroiwa, leave this island immediately!"
Before they even reached the community center, they could hear the commotion. Looking over, they found dozens of villagers gathered outside the building, holding protest signs and shouting toward the entrance.
With both hands tucked into his pockets, Rei glanced back at Augier and smiled.
"Looks like Kuroiwa-san's actions have really stirred up public resentment. Interested in making a bet, Mr. Augier?"
"What kind of bet?"
"For example... who'll become Moon Shadow Island's next mayor?"
Ritsu glanced at the villagers shouting themselves hoarse, then recalled the two candidates connected to the Organization.
"My guess is it'll be either Kuroiwa or Kawashima."
"Then I'll bet on Mr. Shimizu. His name just sounds righteous."
"Heh. Hearing the word 'righteous' come out of your mouth is quite a rare sight, Bourbon."
Maintaining his cheerful smile, Rei tilted his head innocently.
"Is that so? Saying things like that every now and then sounds pretty cool. Come on, let's get moving. We've only got two hours until the exchange."
Ding.
His phone chimed.
Ritsu took it out, glanced at the message, and chuckled.
"Looks like there's no need to rush after all."
"What do you mean?"
He waved the phone casually.
"It says there's going to be a memorial service tonight marking the third anniversary of former Mayor Isamu Kameyama's death. The exchange has been postponed by another two hours."
"Oh, I see. Four hours to kill, huh?" Rei rested both hands behind his head and sighed. "That's going to be a little troublesome. This island barely has any tourist attractions."
'Besides,' he silently complained, 'I don't exactly want to go sightseeing with someone from the Organization.'
"Since we're already here, why don't we stop by the memorial service? Maybe something interesting will happen."
Ritsu was still curious about the request letter Kogoro had received.
'Who used Keiji Aso's name to lure a detective to Moon Shadow Island?
What was their objective? A notice of an impending crime? If so... wouldn't that essentially be a challenge directed at Kogoro-san?'
Rei's interest was piqued.
"Sure. Let's have a look."
As outsiders, neither of them had any intention of participating in someone else's memorial service. They simply walked around the community center once before waiting outside.
Moon Shadow Island's midwinter weather was bitterly cold. To warm himself up a little, Ritsu lit a cigarette.
Unable to stand the smell of smoke, Rei immediately took two steps away with an obvious look of disgust. Folding his arms, he found himself regretting not bringing a heavier coat.
Footsteps approached from behind.
With the cigarette still between his lips, Ritsu turned around and saw Kogoro's group.
'So they're investigating the community center too?
Come to think of it... if Keiji Aso had played the piano in that room... could his death have had something to do with heroin?'
Ran noticed the two men standing outside. Setting down her backpack, she took out two disposable heat packs.
"Excuse me, would you two gentlemen like these?"
Rei blinked in surprise. Not bothering to act tough, he accepted them politely.
"Thank you. This really helps."
Ritsu thanked her as well. Then, deliberately changing both his voice and his accent into a Kyoto dialect, he asked,
"Are you three here sightseeing too? You look like tourists."
Ran shook her head.
"Not exactly. My father came because someone on the island requested his help. Sightseeing is just a bonus."
"Hm?"
Ritsu's eyes lit up as he feigned surprise.
"Don't tell me... you're that famous detective from Tokyo? If I remember correctly, you're the famous Kogoro Mouri?"
Rei narrowed his eyes speechlessly.
'This guy obviously knows Kogoro Mouri already. Why put on this whole act? Is he performing for my benefit? But what's the point?'
"Ahem!"
The moment Kogoro heard someone recognize him, he immediately straightened up. Running a hand through his slicked-back hair, he struck what he believed was an incredibly handsome pose.
"I am indeed the great detective Kogoro Mouri. A pleasure to meet you."
"I'm Shinichi Wada from Kyoto. Pleased to meet you, Mouri-san. The dark-skinned fellow beside me is my friend, Tooru Amuro. He's from Tokyo."
The moment Rei heard himself described as "the dark-skinned fellow," his fist nearly clenched.
'Seriously? Your skin is practically the same color as mine right now!'
"So you're from Kyoto? That's a wonderful place! Hahaha!"
'Shinichi Wada?'
Ran gave the tanned young man with black hair a puzzled look.
'If I remember correctly... Shinichi once mentioned that Watson's alias was Shinichi Wada.
Still, he has no reason to lie in a place like this,' she thought.
'I shouldn't jump to conclusions. Maybe he's just another Sherlock Holmes fan whose parents gave him that name.'
Her gaze dropped to Conan, who was deep in thought.
'Then again... Conan's name is pretty unusual too.'
"Hello. I'm Ran Mouri, and this is Conan Edogawa. He's staying with our family."
"Conan Edogawa? That's a pretty unique name. Nice to meet you, little guy~"
Seeing Conan fail to respond, Ran crouched down and gently patted his shoulder. "Conan, that's not polite. Go say hello to the two big brothers."
"Huh?"
Still thinking about the strange piano he'd just examined, Conan finally realized there were two unfamiliar young men standing before him.
In his childish voice, he greeted them,
"Hello, onii-san-tachi!"
"What a polite little—"
Ritsu was about to crouch down and ruffle Conan's hair when a graceful melody suddenly drifted out from inside the community center.
His outstretched hand froze.
That tune was—
"Moonlight Sonata."
'Damn!'
"Huh? Conan, where are you going?!"
As Rei watched both Augier and the little boy named Conan dash into the community center, he frowned.
Something felt off.
Not just Augier.
The boy as well.
'Could there be some connection between them? Looks like I'll have to ask Hiro and Kazami to investigate that angle.'
Listening to the unmistakable strains of Moonlight Sonata, Rei naturally recognized the famous piece.
Combined with what he had heard aboard the ferry earlier, a murder had most likely just taken place inside the community center.
The corner of his mouth curled upward.
'To think someone would commit murder right under the police's noses...
Now that's a killer with remarkable nerve.'