Options system in my brain: Detective Conan

"If we consider this situation, it's possible that Mr. Tsukino knew from the beginning that the display case would explode."

"To protect the valuable collections of the Tsukino Foundation from the explosion, he used bulletproof glass and polycarbonate."

"Therefore, the bomb in the display case was most likely installed by Mr. Tsukino."

Conan agreed with Sera Masumi's hypothesis and continued reasoning based on her assumption.

---

"Then I don't understand. What's the purpose of this second, and possibly third, explosion?"

Sera Masumi said, confused.

The explosion couldn't damage the collection inside, nor could it precisely harm anyone.

So, what was the point of Tsukino Takashi orchestrating this explosion? Was it merely to appear like a terrorist?

---

"It's like how some murderers deliberately stage a crime scene to look like a serial killing," Conan replied.

"The most likely scenario is that Mr. Tsukino designed the explosions to appear as a series of incidents to cover up his original intent—"

"For example, to kill Kaitou Kid."

Conan speculated softly.

---

Just as Kaitou Kid unlocked the display case's code, the metal base of the case exploded.

Conan felt that if this were the case, Tsukino Takashi likely realized that Kaitou Kid was attempting to crack the display case's password and remotely activated the bomb.

Alternatively, after the Scarlet Heart was placed back into the display case, it might have been designed to automatically explode if the corresponding password was entered.

But what Tsukino Takashi hadn't anticipated was—

Although the bomb's explosion was powerful, it couldn't achieve the intended result when faced with the extraordinarily agile Kaitou Kid.

---

Tsukino Takashi planned this series of explosions solely to cover up his attempt to kill Kaitou Kid.

To understand Tsukino Takashi's motives, they needed to find him in person.

Sera Masumi turned to Nakamori Ginzo and asked, "Officer Nakamori, can you contact Mr. Tsukino?"

---

Nakamori Ginzo took out his phone and attempted to call Tsukino Takashi, but after a moment, he shook his head.

"I can't reach him."

---

"Um."

Conan fell deep into thought, his suspicions of Tsukino Takashi growing stronger.

At the same time, Masumi Sera also contacted Kyousuke Akikawa.

---

She didn't have much time, so while Conan pondered, she stepped aside and pulled out her phone to call him.

"Hello, Mr. Akikawa, I have something to ask you."

"Yes."

---

Soon, Kyousuke Akikawa's voice came through again.

His voice was still calm, devoid of the background noise from the scene or the long Showa song that had echoed earlier.

---

"There was another explosion in location C-2, and then we discovered that the display case glass for the Yuehua Necklace was so strong that not even a bomb could damage it."

"Mr. Akikawa, you originally predicted an explosion in the B-2 Arena. Did you discover something?"

Sera Masumi asked.

---

Before the explosion in the Scarlet Heart collection room, Kyousuke Akikawa had predicted that something would happen there and had also assumed that Kaitou Kid would steal the gem.

Therefore, Sera Masumi believed that Kyousuke Akikawa must have deduced some information that she hadn't noticed.

---

"The gem in the Scarlet Heart Collection Room is fake."

---

"Eh?! How is that possible?"

When Sera Masumi heard this, she immediately showed an expression of disbelief.

"Mr. Tsukino clearly identified it at noon and didn't touch the treasure at all."

Sera Masumi voiced the doubts in her heart at once.

---

However, midway through her words, she already realized something was wrong.

"You must have noticed as well."

"Mr. Tsukino, who was supposed to handle the gem, didn't touch it."

"But the collection room, which didn't need to explode, actually exploded."

"Every action seems too deliberate, as if trying to hide something."

---

Sera Masumi listened to this and fully understood.

She carefully recalled what Kaitou Kid had said before being shot down by the organization's snipers: "We've all been deceived."

This was why Kaitou Kid had left the gem behind after disappearing.

---

Because it was a fake gem, there was no need for Kaitou Kid to take it!

"Thank you, Mr. Akikawa."

---

After thanking Kyousuke Akikawa, Sera Masumi hurried back to the collection room.

After learning that Tsukino Takashi had been using fake gems to deceive everyone, she also thought that Tsukino Takashi was likely repeating his old tricks.

---

If you deliberately try to understand Tsukino Takashi's behavior, you might fall into his trap.

'Akikawa really is different,' Sera Masumi thought to herself.

Then, she relayed to Conan what Kyousuke Akikawa had pointed out.

After thinking it over carefully, Conan also felt that Sera's pure judgment was highly likely.

---

Just as Conan and Sera Masumi were exchanging ideas, Amuro Tooru received another call.

After confirming that the phone used by Bourbon, the organization's member, was ringing, he quietly distanced himself from those around him and answered the call in a secluded corner.

---

The caller was Vodka, a member of the organization.

"Bourbon, did you get the gem?"

---

Vodka's deep voice came from the other end of the line.

"No."

---

"Korn didn't kill Kaitou Kid? Why didn't you get it?"

"The police took the gem."

"Then tell me which officer has the gem. Bring them to a spot visible through the window, and let Korn deal with them."

"The boss said there's no room for failure this time, so act quickly."

---

"I'll find a way. I won't need your help for now," Bourbon replied before hanging up.

---

A sense of frustration welled up in him.

He had thought everything would go smoothly if he let Kaitou Kid steal the gem.

Unexpectedly, Kaitou Kid had returned to the scene and was shot by Korn.

---

Now the situation was back to square one.

The gem was once again under official protection.

It seemed impossible for him to deliver the gem to the organization.

---

But if he failed to obtain the gem, Korn would certainly take action against the police.

By then, if he continued to hide the identity of the officer who had the gem, Gin would definitely grow suspicious of him.

It was simply a dilemma.

---

'I must never hand over the gem to the organization unless absolutely necessary,' Amuro Tooru thought.

If he had to choose between the two options, he would protect Nakamori Ginzo's life while safeguarding his undercover identity in the organization.

No matter how expensive that gem was, its value could never surpass that of a human life.

---

(End of the Chapter)