Akashi glanced over at the treasure map clutched in Genta's pudgy hands.
The markings and patterns on it matched exactly what he remembered from the animation in his previous life.
Thanks to his exceptional memory and heightened intelligence, every detail from his past life remained vivid in his mind. All it took was a moment of concentration to recall even the smallest fragments.
The treasure map, as he knew, had been drawn by the leader of the criminal gang. Starting from Tokyo Tower, it used the surrounding neon lights and landmarks as clues, leading to the final destination: a ghostly, abandoned building by the river.
The treasure itself was hidden in that building, and its exact location could be determined by looking out through a specific window. The lights of the bridge and the river's reflection would form the shape of a fish. That was where the stash of Maple Leaf Coins lay.
Now that he knew the treasure's final location, Akashi saw no reason to linger. Let Conan and the three kids struggle with the clues. They wouldn't find the treasure until nightfall, when the neon lights appeared.
But Akashi? He wasn't about to waste time waiting.
Hailing a taxi, he gave the driver instructions to head straight for Tokyo Tower.
---
Using Tokyo Tower as his starting point, Akashi retraced the steps from the anime he remembered so vividly. From the clothing store to the Ferris wheel, each landmark aligned perfectly with his memories.
Finally, he arrived at the Tsukimi Bridge.
After a quick survey of the area, he spotted it: an unfinished building with a dilapidated signboard, faintly bearing the words "Ghost Tower."
"That's it," Akashi muttered, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
---
The building was deserted, its skeletal frame silent under the midday sun.
Without hesitation, Akashi began climbing the stairs. Since the neon lights that revealed the exact location wouldn't appear until night, he opted for a more straightforward approach: methodically searching every floor, scanning the ceilings for signs of the hidden treasure.
It didn't take long. On the fifth floor, he found it—a cluster of bags tied to the ceiling with thick ropes.
"There it is," he murmured, his grin widening.
The Maple Leaf Coins were right there, just as he'd expected.
Untying the ropes, he let the three heavy bags drop to the floor with a loud 'thud', sending up a cloud of dust.
Opening one of the bags, he saw them: antique coins stamped with maple leaves, gleaming faintly in the dim light.
They were real.
The entire stash was worth an estimated 600 million yen.
"What a windfall!" Akashi said to himself, his excitement barely contained.
But his triumph was short-lived.
He quickly realized the next problem: transporting the bags. Each one was taller than him and far heavier than he'd anticipated.
---
"If I'd known this earlier, I would've hypnotized a few people to act as my porters," Akashi thought with a sigh. "This is just inconvenient."
With that, he reached into his item space and pulled out his specially prepared spinach in a bottle.
Pouring it into his mouth, he swallowed the strange-tasting concoction in one go.
The taste was unpleasant, but he endured it.
Moments later, he felt a surge of raw power coursing through his body. His muscles brimmed with energy, his strength multiplying exponentially.
Though his outward appearance remained unchanged, he knew the effects were real. Unlike the exaggerated transformations of a certain green monster, this spinach gave him strength without inflating his arms to ridiculous proportions.
The only downside? The effect would last just two hours.
"Better not waste any time," he muttered.
Akashi quickly stuffed the scattered coins back into the bags and tied them securely to prevent any from spilling out.
Lifting all three bags onto his back, he found that his enhanced strength handled the load with ease. In fact, he barely felt the weight at all.
"So this spinach is even more powerful than I thought," he mused as he descended the stairs, carrying the massive haul of coins.
Of course, the sight of a child casually hauling three oversized bags of gold coins was bound to draw attention, but Akashi didn't care.
Hailing another taxi outside the building, he climbed in and gave the driver an address: the location of a trusted acquaintance who could help him exchange the coins for cash.
"I've got the strength to handle anything," Akashi thought confidently. "No need to worry about any trouble."
---
As for Conan and the Junior Detective League, they would eventually piece together the clues and arrive at the ghost building. But by the time they got there, it would already be too late—the treasure would be long gone.
Those bumbling kids wouldn't even realize they'd been beaten to the punch.
And the gang members trailing them? Well, Akashi figured they wouldn't harm a bunch of brats who didn't have the treasure.
Even if they did do something, Akashi chose to trust in the wisdom of future generations—or to be exact, on Conan.
——
The journey went smoothly.
The taxi passed through Beika Town and Asuka Town before finally arriving in Inunaki Town.
It stopped beside a quaint coffee shop.
Opposite the coffee shop stood a police station.
Little Shota, carrying three large bags of gold coins, opened the door confidently and stepped into the café.
"Welcome! Huh? A kid?"
Behind the counter, a lively voice rang out. A young girl with short hair peeked out, her expression filled with curiosity.
"Oh my gosh, so cute!"
"Are you playing the robber from 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves'?"
"It's not Halloween, kiddo. No candy here!"
"But if you call me 'big sis', maybe I'll treat you to some cake!"
The girl chattered incessantly, her tone playful.
But Akashi cut through her banter with a stern expression.
"I want to see your boss. I have business to discuss with her."
The girl's playful demeanor shifted instantly to one of suspicion.
Business? At a café? With a child?
Her thoughts spiraled.
'Are these people from the underworld? Who sends a kid for this kind of thing? What a scumbag!'
After a moment, she replied reluctantly, "Kid, my boss isn't in the best mood right now. I don't think she's up for any business deals."
Akashi pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to her.
The card bore the image of a black bat.
"Show this to your boss," he said calmly. "She'll change her mind."
The girl hesitated, then took the card upstairs.
Moments later, she came rushing back down. Without a word, she grabbed the boy and guided her upstairs.
The second floor served as the café's living quarters.
Seated on a plush green sofa was an exotic woman with black wavy hair and striking red lips.
Her elegant face bore the allure of a mixed-race beauty, leaving a lasting impression at first glance.
She wore a flowing purple dress that perfectly accentuated her proud figure, her long, ivory legs exposed just enough to captivate attention.
Her dignified yet alluring presence was enough to stir desire with a mere glance.
This woman was the true owner of the café—an underground legend.
Rui Kisugi. She was a master thief and a leader within Tokyo's dark web.
The café, Cat's Eye Café, was a front. Beneath its ordinary exterior, it operated as a hub for the underground world—a place where information was exchanged, weapons were purchased, and missions were commissioned.
Rui sat on the sofa with a murderous glint in her eyes, ready to lash out at whoever dared to interrupt her.
But when she saw the child brought before her, she froze, her fierce expression giving way to confusion.
She glanced at her little sister and raised an eyebrow.
"Is this the kid with the Bat Card? Did you bring the wrong person?" she asked coldly.
"Sis, do you really think this child has any connection to that scumbag?"
"It's disgusting—using a child as a shield! He tricked both you and Sis Hitomi, and now he's too much of a coward to show his face. Pathetic!"
Her words dripped with venom as her sharp gaze flicked to the child, her intent unmistakable.
Akashi, however, responded with an awkward smile, attempting to defuse the growing tension.
'At least we agree on one thing—I'm a scumbag. But how did this turn into me being the liar? This girl really has a talent for twisting things!'
[Note: The Eldest of the sisters, Rui Kisugi (the woman with a mole), Hitomi Kisugi, the middle sister(the girl on the left), Ai Kisugi, the youngest(Middle).]