BWDC:SDDK Chapter 121: The Sudden Appearance of a Famous Detective
"Are you serious? Kamen Yaiba is dead?"
Ren Ichimonji froze.
Was this guy too dedicated to the craft? To go so far as to actually die just because the script called for it?
Isn't this a bit much?
Under normal circumstances, Ren certainly wouldn't have believed Suzuki Sonoko's outburst. But these were not normal circumstances.
As Sonoko cried out in shock, a system light screen flickered to life before his eyes.
[Detection: A violent incident threatening the public order of Gotham City has occurred nearby!]
[As Batman, you have the duty to maintain Gotham's peace. Please proceed quickly to the incident location. Capture the criminal before they flee the scene, or stop them in the act!]
[Difficulty Rating: Low. Completion Reward: 20 Points!]
Ren: "?"
Being an actor in Beika Town—whether on stage or screen—was clearly a high-risk profession. One moment you're faking a death for the plot; the next, someone's made it a reality.
He turned toward the stage where the announcement "Next Episode: The Death of Kamen Yaiba" had just been made. However, Kamen Yaiba was nowhere to be seen. The actors playing the villainous Dark Star and the Heroic Princess were standing frozen in place.
Ren's brow furrowed. He immediately scanned the surrounding area, finally locking his gaze onto a crowd gathering near a popular attraction:
The Bungee Jump.
Atop the bungee platform, a staff member was shouting desperately toward the water below.
"Hosono! How are you? Are you okay?!"
—So, the victim's surname this time is Hosono.
Ren looked at the panicked Sonoko beside him.
"I just saw the actor playing Kamen Yaiba jump from the platform," Sonoko stammered, looking shaken. "Then the cord just... snapped in mid-air! He fell straight into the water! Ren, from that height, what happens when someone hits the water?"
"They die. That goes without saying," Ren thought, shaking his head.
Bungee platforms had to be high to provide the necessary thrill, but the safety risks increased proportionally. Engaging in extreme sports like bungee jumping was essentially gambling with one's life; the number of people who died doing so every year was countless.
"I'm going over to take a look," Ren said softly.
Sonoko nodded worriedly. "Then... be careful."
Ren offered a small smile. "I'm Batman. This little bit of danger is nothing."
He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked toward the waterway beneath the bungee tower.
The edge of the water was already swarming with people—adults and children roughly Conan's age. However, as Ren approached, the crowd instinctively parted, carving a path for him. For reasons they couldn't explain, they felt an unsettling, formidable aura radiating from him.
Ren reached the water's edge unimpeded. He squinted at the dark, murky depths, a sense of doubt rising in his mind.
—Normally, hitting the water from this height would kill a person instantly. If so, why hadn't the body floated to the surface? Even if the person hadn't died or lost consciousness, there should be signs of struggling. Why was the surface so eerily calm?
Recalling the system notification he had just seen, Ren understood. This was likely another vicious murder.
He needed to check the backstage area.
However, just as Ren turned to leave, a familiar voice rang out.
"This is likely a case of aggravated murder."
"Smoke was emitted from the bungee harness on the victim's legs during the fall. Only then did the harness detach from the cord and snap into two pieces before falling onto the water. While it looks like a quality defect in the equipment..."
"In reality, someone planted a small amount of gunpowder on one side of the harness to blast it apart."
Ren glanced toward the source of the voice. Standing by the waterway was Saguru Hakuba, the famous detective who had returned from England, whom Ren had encountered just last night at the Suzuki Financial Group's museum.
The detective scanned the area and immediately addressed the workers.
"Staff, please begin recovery operations immediately. This pool connects to the waterways surrounding Nichiuri TV Land, doesn't it? Have the rescue team bring a boat over right now. Forget whether this is part of the show or not; getting the person out is the priority."
"Otherwise, Nichiuri TV Land might follow in the disastrous footsteps of Tropical Land."
Hakuba issued commands with natural authority, but the staff, not knowing who he was, hesitated to follow them.
That changed when he pulled a credential from his pocket: a Consultant ID for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.
This ID had been specifically arranged by Superintendent General Hakuba to facilitate his son's work and communication with the police. Even without his father's help, a detective of Hakuba's caliber could have obtained one easily. With the ID displayed, the park staff immediately jumped into action.
Despite giving orders to the staff, Hakuba's eyes remained fixed on Ren, glinting with curiosity.
"It seems violent murders always happen whenever you're around?" Hakuba asked.
Ren replied simply, "I'm not the unlucky one here."
Without further elaboration, Ren sent the information and location to Inspector Megure. On the other side, Hakuba was also reporting the incident to the police.
The two men locked eyes and spoke in unison:
"Head backstage first?"
Both Ren and Hakuba had reached the same conclusion. They had noticed faint water stains on the ground near the base of the bungee tower. A detail easily missed by the average person, but one that suggested someone had climbed out of the water and fled. That person could be the real culprit—or perhaps a victim yet to be found.
Ren turned, gave Sonoko a quick nod, and headed for the backstage area.
On the other side, after ensuring the staff were dredging for the body and securing the scene, Hakuba quickened his pace to catch up with Ren.
By now, several children near the bungee tower had burst into tears. Their righteous hero had vanished before their eyes, while the evil Dark Star still stood triumphantly on the stage. How could justice possibly defeat evil now?
As parents and staff struggled to manage the chaotic scene, Sonoko sighed heavily.
Seriously, who would want to murder a stunt actor playing Kamen Yaiba?
End of Chapter
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