King of Games C33 Ambition

Shinro narrowed his eyes as he observed the middle-aged Kikkawa's dramatic reaction. The man's response seemed excessive, and Shinro couldn't help but suspect he might be more involved with the mayor than he let on. Conan and Haibara shared a glance, both of them silently coming to the same conclusion.

Kogorou cleared his throat, effectively breaking the tense silence that had settled over them. "Whether the mayor did it or not, we still need to investigate." He continued, "For now, Mr. Kikkawa, please call the police."

Kikkawa hesitated, but eventually nodded, "Yeah, right!"

Kikkawa rushed to a distance and dialed a number on his phone. "Mr. Takahashi, our plan has changed. Your men failed in kidnapping Lady Kimiko, and there's this young man named Shinro... He knows you're the mastermind!"

The speaker on the other end blared with the middle-aged man's voice, "What!? How could this have happened..."

Kikawa's voice trembled, "They want me to call the police!"

"Wait there," the man on the phone ordered, "Don't let them leave. Stall them by saying a police officer is on the way. In the meantime, I'll send my men to deal with them."

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Kikkawa, Shinro's sharp ears caught every word of his hushed conversation.

"I knew it," Shinro whispered under his breath, but Conan's observant eyes caught on to him.

"What is it, kid?" Shinro asked with a forced chuckle.

Conan played dumb, "Ah, hehe, nothing!"
Shinro smirked, dialing a number on his phone.

Kikkawa returned to the group, feigning composure, "The police are on their way. They'll be here any minute now!"

Kogorou glared at the tied-up men, "You lot will wait here. The police will deal with you scoundrels."

Conan, however, couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. The men, who should've been terrified, were smirking, albeit fleetingly. He also noticed Kikkawa wiping his brow.

Shinro's features remained relaxed. He had called in a favor from a high-ranking contact in the Shimane Prefectural Police he'd made prior to this trip with Sonoko. And true to his word, help was on the way.

However, the sound of the approaching vehicles didn't belong to the police. Instead, men in suits similar to the tied-up ones emerged from the cars.

Kogorou's frown deepened as the truth dawned on him.

"And here I thought Kikkawa really called the police," Conan thought aloud.

"Free them, please," one of the suited men ordered.

"No way," Kogorou asserted, glaring at the tied-up men, "So, these are your colleagues?"

"You're quite perceptive, old man," the bound man laughed.

The suited men began to encircle them, their intentions clear.

Just as the men in suits were about to make their move, the blaring of sirens cut through the tense air. Both sides turned to the source of the commotion, and to everyone's surprise, a police car screeched to a halt on the road. Officers poured out of the vehicle, led by an inspector.

The suited men's faces paled, then frantically tried to flee, but Shinro and Ran quickly blocked their escape routes.

Kimiko breathed a sigh of relief as the police apprehended the culprits.

Shinro and Kogorou explained to the officers about the mayor's involvement in the kidnapping plot. The police assured them that they'd take care of it, especially since the Suzuki family, one of the most influential families in the country, was now involved.

Once the perpetrators were apprehended, Shinro couldn't help but grin. "Now that the bad guys are gone, should we still continue with the treasure hunt?"

Everyone, except for Sonoko, Ran, Conan, Haibara and Kimiko, erupted in excited cries of "Of course!"

Genta's stomach growled, "If we find the treasure, I'm eating all the foods! Especially rice!"

Mitsuhiko and Ayumi nodded in agreement, "Me too! I want to buy more toys!"

Shinro chuckled, but then noticed Kikkawa kneeling on the floor, head bowed before Kimikio. Everyone turned to watch as Kikkawa confessed his betrayal and his involvement with the mayor's plan.

Kikkawa's voice trembled, "I'm sorry, Kimikio-sama. I was desperate, and they blackmailed me into helping them find the treasure. Please forgive me."

Inspite of Kikkawa's betrayal, Kimiko's kind heart couldn't hold a grudge. "I forgive you, Kikkawa-san. Let's put this behind us."

With that burden off their minds, the group continued the treasure hunt, decoding the remaining hints with Shinro's keen mind and Conan's hints. Finally, they reached their destination, the hidden treasure just within their grasp.

The treasure, it turned out, was not gold or jewels, but a simple piece of parchment hidden within the cave. It was a message from Kimiko's grandfather, Shigetoshi Kobayakawa, a disciple of the great Yoshida Shoin.

Kimiko's eyes shone with tears as she read aloud, "It is the ambitions in life that are the beginning of all things. It is the ambitions in life that give rise to everything."

The message went on, urging its reader to remember Shoin's teachings and strive to make a difference in the world, no matter how harsh the winds of change may be.

Ran, though a bit perplexed, was also moved by the profound words. "So this is the great treasure that could buy a country? Inspiring the ambitions of its people..."

Sonoko glanced at Shinro, understanding now why her big brother wanted to forge his own path with his own company instead of inheriting the family business. He, too, had ambitions he wished to see come to fruition.

As Kimiko finished reading the letter, a strange energy surged within Shinro's being, causing the world around him to blur. Through the haze, a misty figure with an uncannily familiar silhouette materialized before him.

Transfixed, Shinro felt a surge of ambition welling within him, so potent it felt as if it would consume him whole.

Suddenly, the vision vanished, and the cave came into focus.

With a newfound sense of urgency, Shinro excused himself from the group and practically sprinted towards his car. Sonoko chased after him, her heels clacking against the pavement.

"Wait, Onii-chan!" she called.

Shinro stopped, but his expression was that of a man possessed.

"I'm sorry, Sonoko, but I need to return to Tokyo earlier than planned. I... I just... I have something important to do."

Sonoko's eyes widened, but she knew there was no deterring her brother once he'd set his mind to something. Reluctantly, she nodded.

As the siblings parted ways, Shinro's mind was a whirlwind of ideas and ambitions. His company's project, "PUBG," the online gaming servers, it all clicked into place. He needed to push their timeline forward, now more than ever.