King of Games C30 Mysterious Diary

In the headquarters of Konami, the CEO's eyebrows furrowed as he received the news that the CEO of KiShin had refused to even meet their representative. The room seemed to darken with his growing displeasure. "They've met with representatives from other companies, but when it comes to ours, they outright turn us down?"

The Konami representative, usually composed, couldn't hide the sting of rejection in his voice. "I'm... I'm so embarrassed."

Nakagawa Shoichi, the Konami CEO, slammed his fist on the table, rattling the papers on its surface. "Well, if that KiShin CEO doesn't want to work with us, then fine by me. They're not as great as they think they are anyway." The uncharacteristic bitterness in his tone was palpable, but he straightened his posture, a defiant glint in his eye. "We'll show them what they're missing out on. Double our efforts in R&D and marketing. Let's prove to them why Konami is a force to be reckoned with."

---

In his office, Shinro sat hunched over his desk, oblivious to the brewing tension at Konami. His focus was solely on the development of their new game, "PUBG." The papers strewn across his desk were covered in notes and doodles, a testament to his dedication. Outside, his recently hired secretary screened calls and meetings, only allowing representatives from companies like Microsoft and Sony Entertainment through.

Shinro didn't have time for takeovers. He had made it clear that KiShin wasn't for sale, but he was open to partnerships. Nurturing a steaming cup of green tea, he contemplated the potential benefits of collaborating with these gaming giants. "Entering the console market...," he mused in his mind, "With the right partnership, my company could dominate both the PC and console markets. PlayStation and Xbox, here we come."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city skyline, Shinro's phone buzzed on his desk.

Glancing at the caller ID, he smiled and picked up. "Hello? Sonoko-chan, what's up?" He munched on a handful of chips as he spoke.

"Onii-chan," his younger sister began hesitantly, "I… I had an interesting day today. Mind if I tell you about it?"

Shinro's smile widened. "Of course, go ahead. I'm all ears."

Sonoko took a deep breath before continuing. "Well, me and my friends were at the shrine dedicated to Yoshida Shoin, and we met this girl named Kimiko. And there were these men in sunglasses and suits… they were bothering her."

"That's just terrible," Shinro said aloud, feigning surprise, but inwardly he thought, "I'm sure that meddling brat Conan is involved in this again."

Sonoko continued, "I know, right? They were so relentless. And get this, they're after a diary that her grandfather left her."

Shinro's interest piqued. "A diary, you say?" He leaned forward, chips forgotten in his hand.

"Yes, and it's supposedly filled with puzzles or some kind of hidden mystery. The thing is, before she could solve it, her grandfather passed away, so she's been left to figure it out on her own."

Shinro rubbed his chin thoughtfully. If this was connected to that meddling Detective Conan, then the diary must be something special to attract both the criminals and the infamous "Death God's" attention.

"I see… It sounds like Kimiko's grandfather left her something quite special," he mused aloud.

Sonoko hummed in agreement. "Yes, and you won't believe this, he supposedly knew about a treasure so valuable it could buy an entire country."

Shinro raised an eyebrow. "Really now?"

"That's what she said," Sonoko confirmed.

"And the treasure is supposed to be revealed on November 30th, at sunset."

"So specific," Shinro muttered, skepticism lacing his voice.

"Well, that's the date written in the diary, along with something called the 'Fox Puzzle.'"

"I see," Shinro mused, intrigued by the prospect of solving the Fox Puzzle. "Where are you guys meeting up tomorrow? I might try my luck at solving this puzzle myself." He couldn't help but feel a competitive edge against the infamous Detective Conan.

Sonoko's voice brightened. "We're catching a train tomorrow morning and getting off at Shin-Yamaguchi station. From there, we'll head to Tsuwano City in Shimane Prefecture. I managed to buy tickets this evening."

Shinro raised an eyebrow. "You were able to get tickets at such short notice?"

"Are you forgetting who we are? We're part of the rich and powerful Suzuki family!"

Sonoko said with a playful smirk.
Shinro chuckled. "Right, right. You're definitely not shy about using your connections."

"Hmph, I'm not as stubborn as someone I know, insisting on doing everything on their own," Sonoko retorted, but her tone was lighthearted. "If you're interested, Onii-chan, you can meet us at the station... if you're not too proud, of course."

Shinro pretended to ponder the offer, but inwardly, he was already mentally rearranging his schedule. "Fine, fine, I'll be there. I wouldn't want to miss out on a good mystery."

"Great! I'll text you the details later. See you tomorrow, Onii-chan!"

"See you, Sonoko-chan. And be careful, alright?"

"I will, Onii-chan. Goodnight!"

As the call ended, Shinro couldn't shake the feeling that this "Fox Puzzle" was more than just a simple treasure hunt. He picked up his phone and dialed a trusted contact within the police force. "Hi, it's me. I have a favor to ask..."

---

Early in the day, Shinro emerged from his office, dressed casually in a jacket, jeans, and a stylishly disheveled haircut that accentuated his handsome features. His brown eyes seemed to absorb the surrounding Mana, making them appear even more captivating. A natural glow emanated from him, as if he had just stepped out of a photoshoot. The female employees couldn't help but gasp at their boss's transformation since joining the company.

"Good morning, Boss," one employee greeted him, and the others followed suit.
"It seems you're going somewhere special today, Boss," another employee remarked, unable to hide her curiosity.

Shinro flashed them a charming smile. "Just taking a short trip with my sister to Tsuwano City."

One of the employees perked up. "Wow, you're going there? That's my hometown!"

Shinro engaged in a brief conversation with them before bidding them farewell and leaving the building.

Shinro drove his modestly priced car, a 700k yen vehicle that he had barely used, to the Tokyo train station. He believed in practicality over luxury, especially since he was still building his company.

Upon arriving at the station, he spotted Sonoko, Ran, Kogoro, Conan, and the rest of the Detective Boys, including the hot beauty Ai Haibara, who also happened to turn into a child like Conan. Standing with them was a young woman named Kimiko.

As soon as Sonoko saw him, she squealed and hugged him tightly. The others looked on, some more surprised than others.

Kogoro's eyes widened in recognition, but couldn't remember. "Wait, where did I saw this kid?"

Ran blushed slightly on her father's behalf. "Dad, this is Sonoko's older brother, Shinro. You met him during the time you tried to catch Kaito Kid."

A lightbulb went off in Kogoro's head. "Oh, right! It's been a while, Shinro-kun."

As Shinro joined the group, Conan and the Detective Boys couldn't help but stare at him.

Genta's eyes widened. "Look! It's the big brother who created 'Super Mario Bros.' He's here too!"

The Detective Boys had met Shinro during a previous case at an internet cafe, where the popular game 'Super Mario Bros' was involved. They had learned that Shinro was not only the creator of the game but also the owner of the up-and-coming company, KiShin. At that time, KiShin wasn't as well-known as it is now.

Mitsuhiko nodded in agreement. "That's right! He's the one behind those addicting games that are taking the world by storm. His company, KiShin, is really gaining popularity these days."

Ai Haibara observed Shinro thoughtfully, exchanging a knowing glance with Conan. The two of them communicated silently with their eyes, sharing their observations about the newcomer.

"Really? Shinro-san owns that company, KiShin?" Ran asked, clearly impressed.

Kogorou frowned. "Wait, what's KiShin?"

Ayumi explained, "It's the company that makes those popular and innovative video games, Oji-san."

Kogorou huffed. "Video games, huh? Figures it's for kids."

Conan couldn't help but smirk. "And here's someone who's addicted to horse racing games on TV."