Chapter 151: The All-Stake Movie — Countdown to Heaven
This Dream Bubble was an informational world sculpted by Mo Yu's Divine Authority; operating it was as fluid as thought itself. Although the timeline began to fast-forward, Mo Yu could still see the "Special Historical Nodes" occurring within it with perfect clarity.
Using Ran Mouri's descent into madness as a starting point, and passing through a vast, meaningless amount of daily cases, the second major event arrived: Professor Agasa emerged from his basement. He brought with him his meticulously developed "Shinichi Kudo Assassination Device #10086"—a bomb of staggering yield.
With the resolve to completely level Beika Town, Agasa put this assassination device into practice without hesitation. Small mushroom clouds began to bloom across the city.
Amidst the ruins of half of Beika, Conan—surrounded by darkness and appearing as an abstract humanoid silhouette—walked up to Agasa entirely unscathed.
"Are-re? Professor Agasa, the fireworks you made this time are very beautiful! Is this your latest invention?"
Agasa grabbed Conan by the collar, roaring hysterically: "That's not a toy! It's a quasi-antimatter state bomb based on a breakthrough in fundamental physics! Look closer! A charge the size of a fingernail is enough to flatten three blocks! See my technical level? It's a super invention worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize! Fine... I've flattened half of Beika. I'm a criminal now, right? According to the rules of your game, you can kill me now, Shinichi Kudo!"
Conan, still gripped by the collar, merely smiled. "Professor, this firework show was very successful. If Beika ever holds a festival in the future, I'll definitely come to you. You must believe in yourself; your inventions will surely be a great success someday."
The non-sequitur dialogue highlighted the despair beneath the madness. And the reality reflected Conan's words.
The citizens killed by Agasa's bomb scrambled back up from the ground, picking up their scattered limbs and reattaching them. The collapsed buildings reconstructed themselves eerily. The super bomb that leveled half a city left no trace or result, exactly like a "firework show."
A crime worthy of death? It was just a firework show; why take it so seriously?
Seeing this, Agasa released his grip and began to laugh—a slow, hysterical, manic laughter.
"To engage in scientific invention in this mad world... I'm the one who's insane. I should have realized it the day Shinichi Kudo returned as this unnamable monster, Conan... Science has been dead since then."
The second special event of the first loop: the "Beika Bombing Case" that failed to achieve any result... and Professor Agasa's madness. Following this, Agasa returned to his basement, locked the door from the inside, and never came out again. What he did in that basement while struggling in despair no longer mattered.
After another vast stretch of time, the third special event concerned Kogoro Mouri. Having drunk himself into a stupor and gambled on countless races for years, he was finally jolted awake by a phone that wouldn't stop ringing through the night. After answering, he sat in silence for a long time. Then, he washed up, changed his clothes, and stepped out of the Mouri Agency for the first time in an eternity to meet his wife, Eri Kisaki.
Eri, the "Ice Queen of the Legal World" who had never lost a case, was on the brink of collapse.
"Goro... I don't know what's happening to me. I keep working hard, but the work only increases. I have over 800,000 case files and lawsuits waiting for me. I can't remember how long it's been since I saw you or Ran. I'm too tired... What is going on with everything?"
The "Muddled Detective," whose IQ occasionally returned to his brain, looked deeply at his ex-wife, as if etching her image into his soul. He comforted her gently: "It's alright, Eri. Everything will pass soon. I promise."
That night, Kogoro did not return to the agency. He vanished into the night.
When Ran next saw him, her father had become unprecedentedly haggard, as if the single night had been a journey of thousands of miles. But within that weary face burned eyes like fire.
"Ran... I'm sorry, I can only leave all this to you. But there are things I must tell you. This world is a never-ending game of cat and mouse between detectives and criminals. That guy whose name cannot be spoken occupies the position of the 'Detective' according to the rules. Therefore, we have only one choice left. Ran, I am not a competent father. Whether I succeed or fail, the only thing I can leave you is this experience..."
Simultaneously, outside Beika, Gin stood in his black trench coat, leaning against his Porsche. Vodka arrived to report:
"Aniki, the man who joined the Organization long ago and has been lurking in Beika—codename Sake, Kogoro Mouri—has risked everything. He has finally torn a path through that demonic lair that allows us to approach that Evil God. He has proposed a plan..."
Gin smoked, standing atop a carpet of countless cigarette butts. His cold face showed a trace of exhaustion and a sigh.
"Kogoro Mouri? I remember him. Lurking beside that Evil God for so long... I thought he had been devoured. To think he lasted until today. Has the intel been sent? What do the world governments say?"
"The high-ranking officials who still possess a shred of sanity say this is a chance," Vodka replied. "For the survival of human civilization, the Evil God must be annihilated at any cost!"
Gin looked up at the boundless darkness spreading from Beika toward the rest of the world. Even though the world had built monumental defensive walls to besiege the city, they couldn't stop the darkness. Many people, walking like the dead, trekked from all corners of the globe, ignoring the walls as they phased through them into Beika.
Gin couldn't remember when the world became so twisted. He only knew that across immeasurable time, more people went mad, were captured by the darkness of Beika, and threw themselves into the lair. More and more "awakened," perceiving the world's abnormality and realizing the center of it all.
Beika: The terrifying playground of an Evil God.
Gin took a deep drag. "Annihilated? What dreams are those politicians having? If it were easy to kill that god, the Organization wouldn't have sacrificed so many members. And they say 'at any cost,' but in the end, it's the Organization they expect to lead the charge!"
"Aniki, there's no choice. We're the only ones left who can trade blows with that god and survive. If we have needs, the world's support is limitless."
Gin didn't speak. He vaguely recalled being a cadre of a simple crime syndicate. But after the Boss, Renya Karasuma, went insane for unknown reasons, the syndicate nearly collapsed. It was only then—because Gin had worked in Beika years ago and had survived close encounters with the Evil God—that the Organization found its turning point.
Known globally as the "Man who survived the God," he became humanity's last hope. As every national attempt failed, the weight of expectation grew. The world supported the Organization with everything it had.
Gin couldn't remember the last time he handled a "criminal" business. His life was now entirely consumed by investigating, researching, and sniping the Evil God. But it didn't matter. Killing the god was a sinful career worthy of his entire life.
Dropping his cigarette, Gin said coldly: "What is Sake's plan?"
"Comrade Mouri has used his years of research and exhausted all his connections to facilitate a complex criminal plan. According to him, ordinary cases are just trivial pastimes for the god. Only a Movie-Scale Case can trigger the god's game rules and create a chance for a direct confrontation. He named his plan: [The Fourteenth Target]."
Gin listened, then whispered into the smoke: "Lurking for an eternity beside a god while maintaining sanity and research... Kogoro Mouri is a remarkable man. What does his 'Movie Plan' need from the Organization?"
"Comrade Mouri says one plan might not be enough. For insurance, he requests the Organization to formulate a second Movie Plan to run concurrently through the channel his case tears open. Also... he has one strong requirement."
Vodka hesitated. Gin looked at him. "Speak. The Organization will not let such a man's sacrifice be in vain."
Vodka's voice dropped. "Comrade Mouri hopes that in the Movie Case, the Organization will use a frame-up to kill his wife... and himself. If both cannot be achieved, he insists the first target must be completed at all costs!"
Gin stood against the Porsche, staring at Beika, smoking one cigarette after another. Finally, he spoke with icy resolve:
"Tell Comrade Mouri through the intelligence channels: the Organization will not fail him. This time, I will personally strike. They will not die. They do not need to. They only need to live long enough to witness the moment that Evil God falls..."
Vodka was frantic. "Aniki! Direct confrontation in a Movie Case is unverified! It's too dangerous! The world cannot risk losing you, its strongest killer!"
Gin turned to him. "Vodka, do you remember how long the Organization—and human civilization—has been entangled with that Evil God? Do you remember how many have been sacrificed?"
Vodka froze. "I... I can't. I can't remember."
Gin looked back at Beika. "I don't remember either. I only vaguely recall the sacrifices of countless members paving the road, and countless more, like Comrade Mouri, ready to rush into the abyss. Therefore, I know: humanity must defeat the god Edogawa Conan. To that end, there is no risk or price too great. Whether for me or anyone else, it is the same!"
Gin didn't finish his thought. With more people falling into madness every day, he sensed humanity had no future left. But as a killer, he didn't need to overthink. That was for politicians.
Gin only had to grip his gun. He would turn every sacrifice into a bullet, chamber them, and finish everything with slaughter!
Vodka opened his mouth several times, but ultimately said nothing. He accepted Gin's resolve. "I understand, Aniki. I will notify the governments to mobilize everything to prepare a case worthy of being a 'Movie' in Beika."
Gin nodded. "Let the officials design the plan; we will execute it. I have only one requirement: the codename for this Movie Plan shall be... 'Countdown to Heaven.'"
The third special event played out under the weight of a Double Movie. Starting with a seemingly ordinary case, a sequence of events cascaded like an avalanche—or a blade swung with unprecedented ferocity. Gin and Vodka, with the resolve to die, charged into Beika to play the "Heavenly Countdown."
Ambush and counterattack, deduction and explosion. Killers carrying the name of Humanity hunted the Evil God carrying the name of Detective. Beika became more "lively" than ever; even the darkness blotting the sky seemed to waver.
In the mixed case of The Fourteenth Target and Countdown to Heaven, Eri Kisaki disappeared. All clues pointed to her death.
"Are-re? The case isn't over yet! Eri Kisaki might not really be dead!"
The massive, abstract dark silhouette questioned the scene with a crisp, childish voice. His movements were slightly awkward; he had been injured during a skyscraper explosion in the case.
Standing before him, Kogoro Mouri wore a slightly crazed smile. "Oh? Is that so? Then, O monster named 'Detective,' begin your deduction..."
It was a game, a contest. Conan investigated and solved until the final clues gathered and the truth came out. At that moment, for the first time, Conan's confidence faltered.
"Are-re... impossible... how could the killer be you, Uncle Mouri? This must be a frame-up! It has to be!"
Kogoro took a step forward, standing inches from the boundless darkness. He leaned down and laughed manically—a hysterical mockery mixed with sorrowful despair.
"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. Monster named 'Detective'... you've muttered that line enough. Now... Respect the Truth!"
Conan went silent. He tried to find a way to flip the board, but in this "Detective Game," Kogoro had used every possible resource. Finally, he won.
Eri Kisaki was dead. Her death was absolute. The "Truth" dictated it, and even Conan had to "acknowledge" it. The killer was her husband, Kogoro Mouri. The motive: resentment over failed reconciliation. The MO: assisted murder and hiring hitmen.
The truth was born, but the case wasn't settled. Kogoro pulled a gun and aimed it at Conan. The case was solved, but the criminal refused to surrender. Endless black tentacles lashed out.
Kogoro, the legendary marksman of the police force, ignored the horror and aimed at Conan.
A shot rang out. Conan dodged, but his left arm was hit. This time, he didn't just stand back up. He clutched the wound, whispering: "How is this possible? Why is this happening!?"
The loss of his "Are-re" catchphrase showed his state of mind. Whether "impossible" referred to Kogoro being the killer or the fact that Kogoro could actually wound him was unclear. But the result was set. Kogoro was alone; the tentacles reached him. He could no longer resist.
Suddenly, another shift:
"Comrade Mouri... rest in peace. I swear to you: no matter the price, the Organization will defeat Conan!!!"
With a cold, heavy whisper, a bullet fired from the darkness struck Kogoro. The killer, Kogoro Mouri, died before Conan's eyes. Cause of death: "Silenced by the Organization." A clean headshot.
"How... no... it shouldn't be like this!" Conan seemed unable to accept it. Faintly, the darkness on his body dissipated slightly. Within the silhouette, a pair of eyes flickered—filled with disbelief and pain.
But the truth of Kogoro's "death" was logically perfect. The process was confirmed. As the killer, his death served as the period for both Movie cases. There was no room for reversal.
In the clearing, Ran Mouri watched. She had been there the whole time, hovering on the periphery of the Movie plots. Her gaze fell on the body of her father—specifically, on the gesture he made in his final moment.
A slight thumbs-up. His final will.
"Ran... from here on, you might have to walk the road alone..."
Those had been the last words Kogoro said to her that morning after returning from his night out. And he had given her that same thumbs-up.
Ran watched for a long time, then a smile touched her lips. It was gentler than ever. And crazier than ever.
In the fast-forwarded timeline, Mo Yu finished watching the third special event. In this event, Kogoro went mad, committed a massive crime to kill Eri and himself, but left an indelible legacy for humanity.
The nearly omnipotent Evil God was not truly invincible. The "Game Rules" he followed were his weakness.
Taking up Kogoro's unfinished business was Ai Haibara—who had reconnected with the Organization during the case and found a spark of motivation through Kogoro's sacrifice. Reclaiming her codename Sherry, she regained her brilliance. She analyzed the logic, explored the rules, and began formulating even more advanced "Movie Plans."
Since the Organization couldn't stay long in Beika, Ai—who couldn't leave—established a permanent Branch Office with the Mouri Agency as the center. She and Ran formed the "Ai-Ran Crime Duo," using Beika as a testbed across infinite cases, searching for hope.
The path to the end was becoming clear. Mo Yu now knew how the original characters obtained liberation:
They didn't necessarily have to be killed by Conan. They had to be "Acknowledged" as dead by Conan.
End of Chapter
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