Genshin Player in the World of Detective Conan

But as time passed, that ingrained habit would gradually fade. His behavior would become increasingly like that of his actual peers, only more mature—more like "Conan, who had inherited Kudo Shinichi's memories and emotions."

"Thank you, Paimon."

After coming back to his senses, Conan also thanked Paimon with a serious expression.

He could sense the goodwill emanating from the little fellow. Though her words could be rather sharp, she was kind at heart.

Sure enough, Professor Agasa had been right. Someone who traveled with such a kind little girl probably wasn't a member of the Black Organization.

"Looks like you've gotten your energy back," Paimon said, nodding in satisfaction. "Then hurry home already. We've still got a mystery to solve here."

Naturally, Conan ignored Paimon's suggestion that they go home the moment he heard that word, asking curiously, "Huh? What mystery? Yin Kong, didn't we already find all the stolen Maple Leaf Gold Coins?"

This kid had suddenly become well-behaved?

Yin Kong glanced at Conan in surprise. He could tell that this "Yin Kong" was no longer spoken with the ulterior motives Conan had shown before, but sincerely.

"It's fine to tell you. I just feel like there's something suspicious about this case, especially the leader of that robbery gang. I have a feeling he didn't do all this simply because he wanted to keep the Maple Leaf Gold Coins for himself."

Shikanoin Heizou

Now that he put it that way, it really was a little strange.

Prompted by Yin Kong, Conan could not help falling into thought.

Indeed, if the robbery gang's leader had merely wanted to hide the stolen goods, then he had done quite a few "unnecessary" things.

For one thing, this "treasure map" alone was already highly suspicious.

Strange. Why hadn't I noticed this before?

Had my competitive spirit blinded me so badly that I overlooked even such an obvious detail?

It seemed that when investigating cases in the future, he had to guard against arrogance and impatience. He could not let such pointless emotions affect him again.

Just as Conan was reflecting on himself, Inspector Megure placed a hand on Yin Kong's shoulder and quietly reminded him, "Yin Kong, isn't this a little inappropriate?"

After all, these were real criminals who had dared to commit robbery. Was it really a good idea to let a group of elementary school students get involved?

Yin Kong chuckled. "Don't worry, Inspector. We're only asking whether they have any additional clues.

"Besides, Conan has been clever since he was little. Since none of us has any leads at the moment, perhaps he might give us some inspiration."

The task restriction preventing him from seeking help from others had already been lifted when Yin Kong contacted Takagi and Sato, then had Inspector Megure lead a team to seal off the entire abandoned building.

As for the follow-up task, the key was probably the so-called [Twelve Trials], not the deduction itself.

If Conan's involvement could speed up the reasoning process and help him obtain the final reward sooner, Yin Kong did not mind letting Conan participate. In fact, he welcomed it.

Even Yin Kong had no clues?

Naturally, Conan could not guess what Yin Kong was thinking. The moment he heard that even Yin Kong was at a loss, he perked up completely. "Huh? Wasn't that robbery leader arrested? Didn't the police get any key information out of him?"

Conan, who had entered investigative mode in an instant, had clearly thrown his earlier vow to guard against arrogance and impatience right out the window.

Inspector Megure shook his head. "No. That guy is extremely stubborn. No matter how we question him, he refuses to say a word."

That was obviously because you hadn't found the right method. Yin Kong felt that if Shinobu were allowed to handle it, things definitely would not have turned out this way.

Unfortunately, the robbery leader was already sitting in the police station. They clearly had no way to act openly.

Of course, if they still could not find any breakthrough before the timed event ended, Yin Kong would no longer be able to worry about such things.

As Yin Kong told Conan about the clues in his possession, Takagi came out with an excited expression and saluted Inspector Megure. "Inspector Megure, we've finished taking inventory. These are indeed all the stolen Maple Leaf Gold Coins, and the numbers match exactly. Nothing is missing."

Inspector Megure patted his shoulder approvingly and praised him. "Very good. You and Sato have rendered great service this time. There may even be commendations from above. Keep it up!"

Takagi scratched his head and said embarrassedly, "Actually, it was mostly Yin Kong's doing. I only reported it truthfully..."

But Inspector Megure smiled. "That's exactly your contribution, Takagi."

Never mind that Yin Kong had obviously called the police specifically to report it to Takagi—even if Takagi had merely found the stolen money while taking a walk by the roadside, it would still have been a huge merit.

However, while they were talking, Conan suddenly asked, "Have you authenticated those gold coins? Are you sure they're all genuine?"

This was the first and most likely possibility that came to his mind.

That both the treasure map and the Maple Leaf Gold Coins in the building were nothing more than a smokescreen used by the robbery leader to divert attention.

The real Maple Leaf Gold Coins had most likely been swapped out by him and secretly hidden somewhere else.

And once the police found the fake gold coins, they would give up the investigation.

"This... I don't think that's very likely, right?"

Although he did not quite understand why Conan was also at the crime scene, since Inspector Megure had not stopped him, Takagi answered honestly:

"Because we've already conducted a preliminary appraisal of these coins. There are too many to inspect one by one in time, but we can already confirm that they are all genuine gold coins."

Still unwilling to give up, Conan immediately pressed on:

"Then, is it possible that they could be counterfeits?"

Takagi replied:

"That possibility is also unlikely. According to our appraisal experts, making fakes convincing enough to this degree would be extremely costly."

The estimated value of fifteen thousand Maple Leaf Gold Coins was roughly six hundred million yen, averaging around forty thousand yen per coin.

To make them indistinguishable from the real thing, the cost would have to be at least thirty thousand yen per coin, perhaps even more.

"Anyone who could afford that kind of cost wouldn't possibly be reduced to robbery, would they?"

"That's true."

Hearing this, Conan naturally looked disappointed.

However, Yin Kong nodded thoughtfully, because he knew that among those Maple Leaf Gold Coins, there were actually twelve cursed coins.

What if the force behind this had never been after money from the very beginning?

Still, he did not need to rack his brains like Conan.

Because after Takagi finished counting all the Maple Leaf Gold Coins, his first limited-time event had been completed.

In other words, he could now invite his first Anemo character.

Yin Kong almost impatiently opened the system interface and sent an invitation to Shikanoin Heizou.

"So it's you. It's been quite a long time... Hm? I can smell the scent of a case on you. Do you need my help?"

After Little Deer's character illustration flashed across the system interface, Yin Kong wasted no time and immediately entered the party configuration.

As an exploration dispatch, Kuki Shinobu could directly accompany Yin Kong at the cost of reduced Mora income, so he temporarily replaced her in the party.

"Little Deer, what do you think?"

"A case in another world? Now that's interesting."

After listening to Yin Kong's brief explanation of the case, Shikanoin Heizou's voice immediately became excited.

He pondered for a moment, then spoke in Yin Kong's mind:

"Can you show me that treasure map again?"

Yin Kong paused slightly. As he took out the photo of the treasure map again, he asked curiously in his mind:

"You mean there are more clues on this treasure map?"

Shikanoin Heizou's voice began to analyze the matter methodically within Yin Kong's mind:

"Based on your description, that bandit leader was clearly unfamiliar with this city. Otherwise, he would not have resorted to such an unusual method to record the location of the treasure.

Under those circumstances, how much time and energy do you think he would have had to select an entirely new hiding place?"

Ready-Made Memories

Even if this treasure map was nothing more than a diversion, that bandit leader had clearly put considerable thought into it.

"So that's how it is? Yin Kong, do you think those gold coins might also be hidden in this abandoned building?" Paimon immediately floated over and guessed excitedly. "As long as we search the whole building, we'll find them."

When characters in Yin Kong's party spoke from the background, aside from Yin Kong and the other party members, it seemed that only Paimon could hear them.

Shikanoin Heizou quickly shattered Paimon's fantasy:

"No, I'm afraid it isn't that simple."

After all, what if the police found the stolen goods, sealed off the scene, and then decided to search the entire building just to be safe? Wouldn't he be finished then?

"I see, I see."

Paimon nodded lightly and quickly came to a realization:

"I get it. You mean the gold coins are probably somewhere along this route, right?

So instead of making a simple mark that only he could understand, he deliberately wrote [ORO], which represented gold, purely to mislead everyone.

In reality, only he himself knew the true location where those gold coins were hidden..."

Conan had naturally been silently watching Yin Kong's reactions the entire time. When he saw Yin Kong suddenly take out the photo of the treasure map and then whisper with Paimon, he froze.

Clearly, Yin Kong had discovered some new clue, and it was on the treasure map.

Frowning in confusion, Conan could not help picking up the treasure map and studying it again.

Unfortunately, no matter how he looked at it this time—left and right, up and down—he could not find any new clues.

After all, he should already have identified every image on that sheet of paper and every neon sign they represented.

However, just as Conan habitually leaned in to listen to the conversation, he bumped into a small figure.

Paimon, as if she had eyes in the back of her head, suddenly turned around, planted her hands on her hips, and glared at him with an unfriendly expression.

"Hey, you look awfully suspicious. Are you trying to eavesdrop?"

Caught red-handed, Conan gave an awkward laugh and explained, "I-I-I just saw how excited you all were and wanted to know whether you'd found some new clue."

Hearing that, Inspector Megure asked curiously, "Yeah, Yin Kong, what did you find?"

"I did find a clue." Yin Kong nodded and continued before Inspector Megure could press him further. "But whether things are really as I suspect will have to be verified first."

Seeing Yin Kong's move, Inspector Megure froze for a moment. "Wait, Yin Kong, are you planning to go alone? Wouldn't that be unsafe? How about I have Takagi or Sato go with you?"

After all, if there really was more to the robbery than met the eye, the people behind it definitely would not be ordinary, unarmed civilians.

What surprised Inspector Megure, however, was that Yin Kong, who was usually so easygoing, actually rejected his suggestion this time, shaking his head. "There's no need. They're just a bunch of petty crooks. They can't hurt me."

Hearing the disdain in his voice, Inspector Megure finally remembered that Yin Kong did not seem to be an ordinary person either.

Who knew what method he had used, but when the three members of the robbery gang saw the police, they had acted as warmly as though they had seen their own fathers.

They had even spilled every crime they had ever committed, pouring it all out without holding anything back.

"Oh, right, Inspector Megure. Rather than worrying about me, I think you should keep an eye on this little guy who's itching to make a move."

How did he figure out that I wanted to secretly follow him?