The revelation hit the room like a physical blow. The members of the Hatamoto family stood frozen, their faces twisted in a mixture of terror and suspicion.
Kitaro Hatamoto, the balding man, stared at the groom in disbelief. "Takeshi... or should I say, Takehiko Zaizen? Are you here for revenge? Because Gozo seized your family's conglomerate ten years ago and drove your father to suicide? Is that why you're here? To kill the man who orphaned you?"
Natsue's pupils dilated as she trembled. "Takeshi... tell me the truth. Are you really the son of the man my grandfather ruined?"
Takeshi's expression shifted rapidly through a dozen emotions. Seeing the family recoil, he let out a harsh, manic laugh. "Fine! If you've figured it out, there's no point in hiding it. I am Takehiko Zaizen, the only son of the man you people murdered with your greed. I admit, I approached Natsue with a motive at first... but Natsue, I truly fell in love with you! And I swear, I didn't kill that old man!"
Natsue didn't wait to hear more. Tears streamed down her face as her heart shattered. Unable to bear the sight of him, she turned and bolted out of the room.
"You think we'll believe that?" Joji Hatamoto, the man in the white suit, lunged forward and pinned Takeshi against the wall. "Who else but you had a reason to kill him? He probably confronted you tonight, didn't he? You knew if the wedding happened tomorrow and he exposed you, you'd lose everything. You killed him to secure your place in this family!"
"He's right!" Akane chimed in, her voice shrill. "You were the last one to show up for dinner. You had plenty of time to drive a knife into his gut!"
"I didn't do it! Let me go!" Takeshi struggled, but the family was looking for a scapegoat.
Yuu Hoshiyama watched the scene with a cold, detached amusement. A classic drama, he thought. Family feuds, blood vengeance, and dirty secrets. Usually, this would take an entire season of television, but in this world, it's wrapped up in a single night.
Joji turned to Richard Mouri. "Detective Mouri, we're certain this outsider killed my father. What do you say?"
Richard looked uncomfortable. His professional ethics told him things were moving too fast, but looking at the furious Hatamoto clan, he wiped the sweat from his brow and nodded. "Given the motive and the timing... it seems likely."
It was clear what was happening. To these vultures, the identity of the true killer didn't matter. They needed Takeshi to be the murderer to protect their own interests and ensure the inheritance stayed within the 'family.' They were a collection of filth, and it was no wonder Gozo had chosen his youngest granddaughter, Natsue, to inherit it all.
Yuu squeezed Ran's hand, giving her a reassuring look. He had planned to target Natsue for a while, but he needed to be sure she wasn't as rotten as the rest of them. Seeing her genuine grief for her grandfather, he decided she was a prize worth taking. Not just for her beauty, but for the power she now held. With Gozo's will, she was the future head of the Hatamoto empire. And Yuu intended to be the man standing right beside her.
As Conan and Richard searched the rooms for clues, the rest of the family gathered in the dining room, already celebrating their newfound wealth.
"With Dad gone, Kitaro, the conglomerate is practically ours," Mariko whispered gleefully to her husband. "Our son Ichiro can finally focus on his painting while we run the show."
"Don't get ahead of yourselves, Auntie," Kamon sneered. "You think we're letting you take everything?"
The bickering was interrupted by the old butler, Suzuki. "I have something to announce. To prevent this exact situation, the Master drew up a will years ago. It was to be made public after Miss Natsue's wedding."
The room went silent. Mariko's voice trembled. "Butler... don't tell me he left it all to Natsue?"
The butler nodded solemnly. "The Master left everything to Miss Natsue. He signed it the day she got into Tokyo University."
The family collapsed into their chairs, faces pale with fury. Kamon stood up, shouting, "Damn it! I should have married Natsue instead!"
Akane slapped the table. "What did you say? You only married me for the money?"
"Of course! You're a shrew! Every day with you is a misery!"
Yuu shook his head. These people were pathetic. Their lack of character was exactly why Gozo had bypassed them. He noticed Natsue slipping out toward the deck, completely isolated by her family's sudden hostility. He followed her.
He found her leaning against the railing, her slender frame shaking as she sobbed. She looked so fragile in her light blue dress, a lone flower in a storm of greed. Yuu prepared to move in and comfort her when—
SPLASH!
A heavy sound hit the water, followed by a blood-curdling scream from Kamon. Before anyone could react, the entire ship plunged into darkness. The power was out.