Chapter 234: Missing

"Brother Akikawa, what a coincidence."

Conan showed an extremely stiff smile as he greeted Akikawa Kyousuke.

"Hello, Conan-kun."

Akikawa Kyousuke responded with a simple greeting, then moved to a spot far from Conan and the others and sat down.

Conan noticed Akikawa Kyousuke's deliberate attempt to avoid him and felt extremely awkward.

To prevent the observant Conan from noticing anything about Akikawa Kyousuke's condition, Sera Masumi refrained from greeting him.

She only glanced briefly at Akikawa Kyousuke before walking straight toward Nakamori Ginzo to listen to the guests' accounts.

---

"When was the last time you saw Mr. Tsukino?"

Nakamori Ginzo asked.

"It was around 5:00 PM yesterday. After we finished rehearsing and were about to leave, Mr. Tsukino mentioned wanting to check the venue's security system."

The host, Nakamura Harina, replied.

"Are you the only one who knows this?"

Nakamori Ginzo asked again.

"No, Mr. Tsukino said it in front of everyone last night. Everyone present should have heard him."

After finishing her statement, Nakamura Harina turned to look at the other guests in the room.

They all nodded in agreement.

---

"In that case, we should first check the separate collection room."

Sera Masumi suggested.

Nakamori Ginzo had no objections and sent two officers to remain in the room while he headed to the separate collection room.

Sera Masumi and Conan followed him.

---

"The Tsukino Foundation has prepared a total of three separate collection rooms for this exhibition. Each room has been specifically designed to showcase high-value collections."

"However, under normal circumstances, it's most likely that Mr. Tsukino went to the room housing the Scarlet Shadow Heart."

"After all, everyone knows Kaito Kid primarily targets gemstones."

Sera Masumi explained softly.

Nakamori Ginzo and Conan both agreed with her analysis, but their faces carried slightly puzzled expressions.

---

The group passed through the retractable isolation barrier set up to manage queues outside the Scarlet Shadow Heart collection room.

Nakamori Ginzo took out an access card and opened the door.

As soon as the door was opened, they saw a man lying on the ground.

His hands and feet were bound with ropes, and a towel had been stuffed into his mouth.

---

Nakamori Ginzo and the others rushed over, quickly untying the ropes binding the man and removing the towel from his mouth.

Once they had freed him, they confirmed it was Tsukino Takashi, who had not attended the earlier meeting.

At that moment, Tsukino Takashi was unconscious. Even after being untied, he showed no reaction.

---

Sera Masumi immediately knelt down, placed her hand on his neck, and confirmed he had a clear pulse. She decided there was no need to check his pupils.

She then placed her hand under his nose and, upon confirming he was still breathing, sighed in relief.

"His pulse is normal, but his breathing is a bit slow. He likely fainted temporarily."

"No need for a defibrillator."

After hearing this, Nakamori Ginzo and the others relaxed slightly.

The police quickly called for medical personnel.

---

As Sera Masumi continued assessing Tsukino Takashi's condition and searching for the cause of his unconsciousness, a sudden voice rang out:

"The gemstone is gone."

Sera Masumi and the others turned to look.

They saw a police officer staring wide-eyed, pointing toward the transparent display case in the room.

Only then did everyone realize the display case that once housed the [Scarlet Shadow Heart] and its written description was now empty.

The ruby, revealed at a press conference three days ago, had disappeared.

---

At that moment, a security guard came rushing into the room.

Upon seeing the unconscious Tsukino Takashi and the missing Scarlet Shadow Heart, he let out a terrified cry.

"This... how is this possible?"

"Didn't you inspect the gemstone even once between last night and this morning?!"

Nakamori Ginzo repressed the anger surging within him and questioned the guard loudly.

He felt the entire situation was utterly outrageous.

Even if the gemstone had been stolen, how could no one have noticed from last night until this morning?

The jewel was missing even before the exhibition had begun.

Nakamori Ginzo suddenly felt that all the reassurances he and Tsukino Takashi had made before the exhibition were meaningless.

---

"Wait a minute, Inspector Nakamori, something doesn't add up."

Sera Masumi interjected.

"According to Ms. Nakamura's description, Mr. Tsukino should have come to the collection room last night to check on the Scarlet Shadow Heart."

"It doesn't make sense that none of the security staff saw him enter this room."

"If anyone saw him, his prolonged absence would have surely raised suspicion."

"But Mr. Tsukino has been unconscious in the collection room for so long without being discovered. This is highly unusual."

---

Hearing Sera Masumi's analysis, Nakamori Ginzo continued questioning the security guard:

"Do you know when Mr. Tsukino entered the collection room?"

"No, I'm not sure," the guard replied, trembling.

Seeing that Nakamori Ginzo was about to lose his temper again, the guard quickly added:

"But I checked this room last night when it was locked. The gemstone was still here at that time, and Mr. Tsukino wasn't inside either."

---

After hearing the guard's statement, Nakamori Ginzo suppressed his anger and asked:

"What time did the building close?"

"At 10:00 PM."

"Who remained in the building after closing?"

"Only the security staff."

"The gemstone was stolen between 10:00 PM last night and this morning, and the criminal tied up Mr. Tsukino."

Nakamori Ginzo furrowed his brows.

---

"It seems we'll need to hear Mr. Tsukino describe what happened in person," Sera Masumi said.

This case was different—this time, the victim was still alive.

They would likely get crucial testimony directly from him.

---

"Mr. Tsukino, Mr. Tsukino, wake up!"

Sera Masumi knelt beside Tsukino Takashi, calling his name loudly while gently shaking his body.

---

(End of Chapter)