On a bitter winter night, only a handful of stars glimmered faintly in the sky.
The full moon hung high above the pitch-black heavens, scattering shimmering reflections across the sea.
A mischievous ray of moonlight slipped through the glass windows facing the shore beside the community center. Accompanied by the creaking sound of a door opening, it illuminated an unknown gentleman dressed in a white shirt...
His lifeless hands hung limply at his sides, and with the slow melody playing in the background, it was as though they were silently accusing his killer.
Ritsu clenched his fists. He had never expected the murderer to strike this quickly.
'Who killed him? Calm down... Rei is still here. I can't expose my identity.'
His gaze lowered to Conan's small figure.
'Looks like I'll have to leave the deduction to him this time.'
As a detective, Kogoro naturally rushed to the body first. He reached out, searching for any sign of life, but the only thing his fingertips felt upon touching Hideo Kawashima was coldness.
There was no doubt about it.
The man had been dead for some time.
"...It's too late. He's already dead."
Kogoro shook his head with a sigh.
"How could this happen... Why would Kawashima-san be killed?"
"What on earth is going on?"
Listening to the whispers spreading among the villagers who had come for the memorial service, Kogoro displayed the reliability expected of an adult.
"Ran, go notify the police immediately!"
"Right!"
"As for everyone else, please remain where you are. Dr. Narumi, could I trouble you to examine the body?"
Narumi nodded. Rolling up her sleeves, she walked toward the corpse.
She was the only licensed physician present. Although she wasn't a forensic examiner, she was unquestionably the most qualified person there to perform a preliminary examination.
Rei walked over to Augier and lowered his voice.
"Can you tell who the killer is?"
"So you're interested in detective work?" Ritsu raised an eyebrow. "It is rather interesting. But the culprit's methods are far too amateurish. They left behind quite a few flaws."
"From the sound of it, you've already figured something out."
"I have. Look at the water stains on the floor. It's obvious the killer lured the victim to the beach, drowned him there, then dragged the body into this room in an attempt to pin the blame on—"
"I-It... it's a curse! It's the curse of that piano!!"
Ritsu's analysis was abruptly interrupted. He glanced at the panic-stricken man with glasses beside him.
'Only someone with a guilty conscience would believe Keiji Aso's ghost was responsible.'
"There's no curse."
Kogoro pulled a cassette recorder out from inside the piano and said exasperatedly,
"The piano music wasn't played by some curse or ghost. It was this tape recorder."
"Huh?"
Hearing Kogoro's deduction, Ritsu was a little surprised.
The last two times he'd met the man, the detective had been utterly unreliable.
'As expected of a former police detective. He really does have some skills.'
Then, Ritsu felt someone leaning against him. Turning his head, he found Rei's face inches away.
Both of them startled each other, their eyes widening like shocked cats before they quickly stepped apart.
"What is it this time? You've already figured out who the killer is?"
"Yeah. And I'm planning to stop whatever they intend to do next. Otherwise tonight's exchange is going to fall through."
'The exchange will fall through?'
Rei immediately pieced it together.
'So the killer plans to murder Mayor Kuroiwa as well?'
"Then what are you going to do?"
"I'm not interested in killing someone this incompetent." Ritsu shoved both hands into his pockets.
"And I can't be bothered killing anyone who wasn't part of the original plan. We'll just wait for the rabbit to come to us. The culprit won't make another move for now."
The reason he had identified the killer so quickly... was because he had seen through their disguise. Anyone willing to spend three whole years disguised as the opposite sex had to have a purpose.
He should have realized much earlier who had invited Kogoro to the island.
Unfortunately, he'd fallen into a mental blind spot, causing him to miss the chance to prevent a murder that never should have happened.
"Hm? What's this? Sheet music? That's strange... I definitely didn't see this during the day."
After Kogoro closed the piano lid, a yellowed piece of paper fluttered to the floor. He couldn't read sheet music, but he trusted his memory.
That score definitely hadn't been there earlier.
As an undercover Public Security officer embedded within the Organization, Rei immediately sensed a subtle shift in the atmosphere the moment those words were spoken.
Several people's expressions changed dramatically.
'What's going on? Sheet music... could it be Moonlight Sonata?
So this entire case really does revolve around Keiji Aso, who died in the fire twelve years ago.'
"AAAAAHHH!!"
The black-haired man with the spiky haircut let out a terrified scream and bolted for the exit. It couldn't have been a more obvious giveaway.
Rei leaned close to Augier again.
"He's one of the killer's intended victims too, isn't he?"
"How would I know?"
Ritsu shrugged.
"But I think it probably has something to do with the Organization's deal. Keiji Aso, who died twelve years ago, was most likely framed and killed by the people who just reacted so strongly."
"Then stay here. I'll go protect him. It'll be a problem if tonight's exchange gets disrupted."
Ritsu narrowed his eyes as he watched Rei hurry after the fleeing man.
He let out a quiet sigh.
'He's still far too righteous. Good thing I'm the one here today. If it had been any other Organization member, they'd probably already be suspicious of him.'
"Dad!"
Panting heavily, Ran hurried into the room while leading an elderly police officer who was clearly well over fifty.
After catching her breath, she announced,
"Dad, I brought the police!"
The elderly officer adjusted his glasses, whose lenses were as thick as the bottoms of soy sauce bottles.
"Who was it that called for me?"
"It was this gentleman. His name is Kogoro Mouri."
"Oh!!!"
"Oh???"
Hearing the old officer's excited shout, Kogoro immediately brightened. He naturally assumed the officer recognized him.
'Looks like I'm finally famous!'
Unfortunately, his excitement lasted only a moment. Even Ritsu, quietly watching from the sidelines, couldn't suppress a laugh.
'This old man ought to retire and become a comedian instead.'
"...Who are you again?"
Though exasperated, Kogoro couldn't exactly argue with an elderly man.
He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Ahem... In any case, it's already very late. Let's wait until morning before taking everyone's statements."
"Everyone, please head back and get some rest."
'Now that's a good opportunity.'
Ritsu's gaze settled on a certain individual.
'They're probably planning to tamper with the estimated time of death.
Tomorrow morning, detectives from Tokyo will arrive... and then... Hm? Detectives from Tokyo?'
The corner of his mouth twitched.
'A bad feeling... The ones coming are probably people I know. Thankfully, my disguise and voice-changing are both solid. I shouldn't give myself away.'
"Hm? Wada-san, aren't you going back to rest?"
"Ah, I'm just interested in detective work."
Ritsu smiled.
"But Mouri-san... are you really planning to leave this place?"
His question caused Conan to freeze for a second. Then he suddenly shouted, "Uncle! Can I see the invitation? The one from Keiji Aso!"
"Huh? What do you want that thing for?"
"Just give it to me!"
Although Kogoro sounded reluctant, he honestly took out the invitation and handed it over.
"Can a little brat like you even read kanji?"
Conan lowered his head and carefully examined the letter.
Then realization struck him.
"Uncle, we can't leave! This invitation... it's a murder warning!"
"What did you say?!"
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