Compared to the old Nagayama family estate on the mountain, this mansion at the foot of the hill, built ten years ago, appeared far more luxurious and grand.
"Um, actually, I read this diary a long time ago."
As they reached the front door, Shinji Nagayama noticed Ikumi Kyoda flipping through the diary left by his grandfather and felt the need to speak up. The diary was mostly filled with trivial daily matters written during his grandfather's youth; no matter how one looked at it, there were no clues regarding any "treasure."
"Ah-le-le? This diary looks like it's from a very long time ago!"
Indeed, only one person in the world could use that specific tone and phrasing as a first-grade elementary student. Just as the Junior Detective League always said: there was only one Conan.
Hearing the familiar voice, Ikumi Kyoda immediately looked down. A child with glasses was blinking at her, wearing an innocent smile.
"When did you show up?"
Seeing Conan, she couldn't help but look around. The Nagayama couple also exchanged confused glances. A child suddenly appearing silently beside them in the middle of the night was certainly strange.
"Brother Tsuneo is already inside!" Conan pointed toward the front door of the Nagayama residence, knowing exactly who Ikumi was looking for.
The Great Detective had spent some time walking around the perimeter of the estate looking for clues, only to run into the three of them coming down from the mountain.
"I... I see." Ikumi Kyoda showed a rare moment of embarrassment, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Excuse me..."
Shinji Nagayama was curious. Who exactly was this man who brought a child here in the middle of the night and had already entered his home? Besides his elementary-school-aged son, there were only the old butler and the maids in the house; they shouldn't just let strangers in.
Judging by the situation, the newcomer was related to Ms. Kyoda. He didn't think of anything sinister, especially since a child was involved.
"Let's head inside and talk," Ikumi Kyoda said, holding the diary with a smile. Hmph, rushing all the way here in the dead of night... that cold-faced, warm-hearted guy...
Inside the drawing room.
Tsuneo was currently in conversation with the old butler.
"The master will be very happy to know you've arrived," said the wrinkled butler, who was well over seventy.
The family had been facing some trouble lately. They had hired a detective this morning, but to his surprise, another one arrived tonight—someone he frequently saw in the morning newspapers.
"Mr. Ono, since you've been here so long, have you never heard the elderly talk about a treasure?" Tsuneo asked after taking a sip of tea. A treasure guarded for generations was certainly intriguing.
"That..." The old butler racked his brain before shaking his head. He had heard nothing of the sort.
"This is?"
Shortly after, Shinji Nagayama walked in first. Seeing the face of the man sitting there, he felt a sense of familiarity. Where have I seen him before?
"Shinji, he's the one from the newspapers," Mrs. Nagayama whispered.
When they were looking for a detective, they had considered this man. However, they ultimately followed a friend's recommendation and contacted Ms. Kyoda, whom the friend had dealt with in the past.
"Oh, I remember now! But... do you two know each other?" Shinji Nagayama nodded quickly and looked toward Ikumi Kyoda.
"Hehehe..."
Conan chuckled softly to himself, walking to the side with an exasperated look. I got woken up in the middle of the night and took a two-to-three-hour boat ride to get here—you tell me if they know each other!
This repairman... he should have just come with her this morning. Instead, he claimed he wanted to go out to "help his digestion." I don't believe you for a second!
"We can talk about us later. This diary actually contains some very interesting content."
Ikumi Kyoda sat down next to the repairman and gave him a nudge with her elbow—likely her way of welcoming him.
"Ms. Kyoda, have you deduced something already?" Shinji Nagayama didn't care to ask about anything else once he heard that.
"Yes. This diary is the key to finding the treasure." Ikumi nodded with a smile and handed the aged notebook to Conan.
"?" Shinji Nagayama's face was full of curiosity.
"Before that, did you notice anything strange about the contents of this wooden box?" Ikumi opened the box they had carried down from the old estate.
"Grandfather really did love plants," Mrs. Nagayama said, shaking her head.
"The order is wrong."
Tsuneo stepped forward and flipped through the items. There was no chronological or sequential relationship between these books, so why say the order was wrong?
"I understand!"
The butler, Mr. Ono, looked at the two stacks of books and clapped his hands in realization. It was indeed strange; a normal person organizing books would put the larger volumes at the bottom. But as the master took them out and stacked them on the floor, it clearly wasn't the case.
"Exactly. I believe someone already carefully flipped through these books one by one, just as we are doing now, and then..." Ikumi Kyoda picked up a stack of books and tossed them back into the wooden box.
This reversed the order, making the stack top-heavy.
"Read them beforehand?" Shinji was stunned. Did the person writing the threatening letters go to the old estate?
"Let's have a professional look at this," Ikumi said, handing the lock from the box to Tsuneo.
"It hasn't been picked. There are two faint scratches—very fresh. It was likely opened with a key recently," Tsuneo said confidently. He knew his locks.
Conan, who was sitting to the side flipping through the diary, suddenly looked up with a smile. It seemed he had also found the truth.
"Someone used a key to open this lock recently?" Shinji shook his head. "How is that possible? Even I don't know where the key is."
"This is a farce."
Tsuneo tossed the lock back into the box and stood up. If there were no key, one would just smash the lock; there's no need to go through the trouble of forging a key to open it.
There was only one possibility: the culprit had obtained the key long ago and had been hiding that fact.
An inside job! These three million yen are going to be a bit too easy to earn...
"Mrs. Nagayama," Ikumi Kyoda suddenly called out.
"Yes? What is it?" Mrs. Nagayama seemed a bit dazed, as if lost in thought. She snapped back to attention and looked at the group.
"You said earlier that it was your first time going to the storage room at the old estate, right?" Ikumi was referring to the room where the box was found.
"That's correct," Mrs. Nagayama nodded.
Hearing this, Shinji Nagayama looked at his wife and then asked, "Ms. Kyoda, can you tell us what the treasure actually is?"
(End of Chapter)
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