Volume 24

Chronology
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Volume 24
Information
Release date:	July 17, 1999
Chapters:	232-242
ISBN:	ISBN 4-09-125494-2
Publisher:	Shogakukan
English release date:	July 15, 2008
English ISBN:	ISBN 1-4215-1676-4
English Publisher:	Viz Media
Featured Detective & Keyhole
Perry Mason Tomoaki Araide
Aoyama's death & Conan side images

Volume 24 was released on July 17, 1999 in Japan.

Cast

Characters

Conan Edogawa

Ran Mouri

Kogoro Mouri

Ayumi Yoshida

Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya

Genta Kojima

Ai Haibara

Hiroshi Agasa

Eri Kisaki

Juzo Megure

Ninzaburo Shiratori

Miwako Sato

Wataru Takagi

Gin

Vodka

Shiho Miyano

Shinichi Kudo (background)

Sumiko Kobayashi (dream)

Gadgets

Gadgets

Power-Enhancing Kick Shoes

Voice-Changing Bowtie

Stun-Gun Wristwatch

Button Speaker

Earring Cellphone

Transmitter

Microphone

Criminal Tracking Glasses

Chapters

Innocent Suspect Case

File 232 - Finding Evidence

Sato sings Conan's praises.

Takagi blushes at the thought of his recent interaction with Sato, but immediately falls to a slump after remembering that Sato's feelings are reserved for Megure. Takagi and the Detective Boys are then hounded by a construction worker who points to the "Off Limits" sign at the base of the building. Sworn to secrecy, Takagi paints his presence as a cop-roleplaying excursion with the children.
Meanwhile, Higashida expresses his concern with Takagi's abilities. Sato admits that while success may be a long-shot, she does have faith in both Takagi and the "boy with glasses."
The Detective Boys note the increasing police-presence on the streets as they enter the izakaya that Higashida stopped by before the murder. Once inside, a worker informs them that after Higashida blacked out, he was carried out of the establishment by his friend, Kitagawa, who is currently sitting across the walkway. Takagi says Kitagawa was the individual who discovered Muranishi's body, having returned to their shared apartment building to check on them after they both failed to report to work. Takagi soon has his hands full with Kitagawa shrugging off his attempt to interview him, the Detective Boys shifting the conversation topic with the worker to soccer, and the children asking to call their parents.

Conan calls Professor Agasa to help spin the narrative of the children's location. The Professor agrees, alerting Conan about his special day tomorrow where one of his inventions debuts to the public, calling it the "Tropical Rainbow." Conan waves off Agasa's rambling and returns to the investigation, suggesting they visit the victim's apartment.

Seemingly the entire Tokyo police force joins forces to search for Sato.

In a police vehicle speeding down the road, Inspectors Megure and Shiratori discuss the possible outcomes faced by Sato and Takagi, the latter fearing the absolute worst. Growing increasingly desperate, Megure begins expanding the operation to involve officers from other departments. Hearing the call, countless individuals from the kōban, motorcycle patrol, and even riot police rally together under their shared infatuation with Sato and begin scouring the city streets.
Back at the museum, Higashida thanks Sato for her confidence. She replies that she did it for his daughter, sharing that she had lost her father at a young age and did not want another person to suffer the same fate.
At Muranishi's apartment, Conan outlines four oddities. First, the bed sheets and curtain are the only non-beige items in the apartment. Second, the fully-marked Tokyo Spirits calendar was moved from the wall and into the closet. Third the furniture had been slightly moved; the closet in particular had squashed a match box containing Muranishi's marriage certificate. Lastly, Muranishi's cacti are left outside on the balcony during a frigid time of the year. All four factors come together to suggest that another person had recently adjusted the landscape of Muranishi's apartment. Ayumi and Mitsuhiko then find the golden barrel cactus that the izakaya worker said she gifted Muranishi the night she died. They find several of its thorns broken. Takagi slowly begins to put the pieces together and heads for Higashida's apartment.
The sun begins to rise on the next day as Takagi confidently leaves the apartment building, having cracked the case.
At the museum, the construction workers discover the lock Sato had destroyed with her gun and remark that it was likely the work of Takagi and the Detective Boys. Despite the imminent demolition of the building via the "Tropical Rainbow," they nonetheless fix the lock.

File 233 - Countdown

  Show spoilers »

Kitagawa gets an inebriated Higashida to lock the door on his behalf.

Takagi and the Detective Boys arrive at Kitagawa's house, having identified him as the true culprit. The confrontation immediately derails after Genta, Mitsuhiko, and Ayumi begin viciously accusing the suspect. Still, Takagi manages to bypass Kitagawa's antagonistic demeanor by informing him that the nearby department store clerk confirmed that Kitagawa had purchased the gray bed sheets and curtains now found in Muranishi's apartment.
The Method:
Takagi explains that Kitagawa strangled Muranishi and altered her interior layout to look like Higashida's apartment. He then carried a severely drunk Higashida into Muranishi's apartment, instructed him to perform basic door-locking tasks, and then allowed him to wobble his way into the bed—oblivious to the details that would otherwise alert him to the new environment had be been sober. Thus, the gray sheets and curtains were changed to match those found on Higashida's bed, Muranishi's cacti were removed from inside, and the woman's Tokyo Spirits calendar was hid in the closet as Higashida would have noticed if merchandise depicting his least favorite team appeared on his wall. Shocked, Kitagawa points to the cord used to strangle Muranishi, saying that Higashida's finger prints were found all over it. Haibara then appears from the man's hallway, having snuck by to count his video cords. She reports there is one missing. Takagi deduces that Kitagawa had called Higashida to his house to fix his AV device, creating a cord riddled with Higashida's finger prints.
The Evidence:
Conan highlights Kitagawa's injured thumb. Takagi removes his bandaid and deduces that he sustained the injury when transferring Muranishi's golden barrel cactus onto the balcony. Since Muraishi was given the cactus by the izakaya worker only hours before, Kitagawa's blood appearing on its broken thorns will prove he had entered the apartment on the night Muranishi was strangled.
The Motive:
Megure and Shiratori then arrive at the house demanding to know what Takagi had been doing. The Sergeant hands over the true culprit, Kitagawa, who confesses to murdering Muranishi after she attempted to force marriage onto him. He then tried to frame his office rival, Higashida for the murder.

Conan prevents Agasa from demolishing the museum.

Sato says that Megure is like a father to her.

Loud trumpets blare outside of the forty year old Haido Art Museum, and a special celebratory demolition event commences. Hearing the announcement about imminent destruction, Sato and Higashida begin to panic. Outside, Professor Agasa takes the stage and warmly greets the crowd, announcing his plans to use the "Tropical Rainbow" bomb to beautifully disintegrate the structure. As the timer gradually counts down, Sato frantically tries to call for help but finds her phone without battery. With no more bullets in her gun, the two are helplessly trapped behind the toilet pipe. Although, with Takagi having found the true culprit, Megure manages to inform the event staff about Sato and Higashida's presence inside the building. However, Agasa rallies the crowd into a frenzy, causing the commotion to delay the information from getting to the event organizers. The army of police vehicles are unable to arrive at the scene before ten second countdown, forcing Conan to climb atop Shiratori's car and kick the Inspector's detachable siren into Agasa's head, incapacitating the Professor before he can press the detonator.
The police proceed to raid the building and save Sato and Higashida from certain death. Sato is reunited with Takagi and desperately asks for directions to the nearest working bathroom.
Later at noon, Takagi and Sato see Higashida off at Narita Airport as he successfully catches his flight to Chicago. She recounts being horribly scolded by Megure for her reckless behavior, prompting Takagi to ask her if she has feelings for the Inspector. Sato answers that she does, but clarifies that said feelings are not romantic and that she sees him like a surrogate father. Hearing the news, Takagi conceals his elation and skips off to see Megure.
Meanwhile, the Detective Boys' play is altered from a story about Kamen Yaiba to about a police crime thriller.

People

Higashida
	Company employee

Masami Muranishi
	Victim (strangled)

Kitagawa
	Company employee

Major Events

• Romantic Development between Takagi and Sato.
  • Takagi learns that Sato does not have romantic feelings for Megure.

Blackout Murder Case

Characters introduced

Tomoaki Araide
	25 years old Doctor Teitan High basketball coach

Hikaru Yasumoto
	22 years old Household maid

File 234 - Another Half Year...

Ran collides with Tomoaki Araide.

Conan notices that Ran is increasingly becoming more aloof towards him (Shinichi) during phone calls. Additionally, she spends more evenings outside, citing a rigid practice schedule for an upcoming karate tournament. Conan remains skeptical; he keeps an eyes open.
One day, Kogoro, bringing Ran and Conan, attends an appointment with his physician, Yoshiteru Araide. The doctor tells Kogoro that he has "just half a year”, which Kogoro and his company misinterpret as him only having half a year left to live. Kogoro erupts on Yoshiteru about his callous tone, only to learn he was referring to reducing alcohol consumption for a six month period to prevent further damage to his liver. Yoshiteru's wife, Yoko Araide, enters the room and informs the doctor about a phone call from a persistent "patient." Yoshiteru sighs about the case and exits the room. As her husband leaves, Yoko mutters derisively under her breath that the case is more sexual than medical, believing her husband to be engaging in an extramarital affair.

While looking for the bathroom, Ran runs into the doctor's son Tomoaki Araide. They introduce themselves. Tomoaki mentions that he will take a job at a hospital in the Aomori Prefecture starting the following month. The household maid, Hikaru Yasumoto, breaks a flower pot and is reprimanded by a furious Yoshiteru. Tomoaki attempts to calm his father down while Kogoro prepares to leave. Yoshiteru laments the lifestyle of Kogoro, saying that he does not want to see Kogoro dead while still in the prime of his life, especially when he shares a name with Detective Kogoro Mouri. Kogoro corrects Yoshiteru, affirming that he is the famous detective, which sparks astonishment in the doctor. He believed his patient was too uninformed about medicine to be the real detective, and assumes he was feigning his ignorance during the examination. Yoshiteru then invites Kogoro and company for dinner. Conan protests, not wanting to reveal Kogoro's true ignorance, and looks to Ran for reinforcement. However, the girl uncharacteristically bends her tight schedule and agrees to stay, adding to Conan's wariness.

The group finds the doctor deceased in his bathtub.

At the dinner table, much to Conan’s consternation, Ran stares at Tomoaki, and both Kogoro and Yoko say that the two would make a good married couple. Yoko then leaves the room to make a phone call about an alumni reunion with a friend. With Yoshiteru nowhere in sight, Kogoro questions his whereabouts. Mitsu Araide (Tomoaki’s grandmother) then enters the room and explains Yoshiteru has a habit of taking his bath before dinner. She also reveals her bitterness towards Yoshiteru as he married into the Araide name before remarrying with Yoko. As the old woman leaves to eat alone, Tomoaki apologizes to his guests. He explains that Mitsu's bad temper is the result of Yoshiteru's recent Western bathroom renovations to the otherwise Japanese house.
Suddenly, the lights go out, causing Hikaru to accidentally drop a dish. After finding a flashlight, Hikaru rushes off to switch the fuse box back on. The lights flicker, briefly sparking back on before shorting again. A few seconds later, the lights return permanently. Conan and Kogoro find Ran tightly holding onto Tomoaki. She explains she mistook him for her father; Conan does not seem entirely convinced. Yoko and Hikaru go to the bathroom to check on Yoshiteru, who they suppose is furious about the power outage. While the remaining members discuss causes for the blackout, they hear the screams from the direction of the bathroom. Everyone rushes over only to find Yoshiteru's lifeless body half submerged in the bathwater.

File 235 - In the Darkness...

Conan warns that the water is electrocuted by a connected electric razor. Once unplugged, Tomoaki attempts to resuscitate his father, but to no avail. Conan notices an electric burn on Yoshiteru's right shin. Inspector Megure and Takagi arrive and open their investigation. Yoko shares that Yoshiteru often shaved while he bathed, while Mitsu adds that her deceased daughter and Tomoaki's mother, Chiaki, often warned him against doing so. Kogoro and the police label the death an accident caused by the razor's extension cord junction touching the bathwater. Conan points out both the body's improper orientation and the chargeable razor being set to "off"—the latter indicating the water was electrocuted by the extension cord and not the razor. Megure considers someone could have shorted the house's electricity with a timed contraption, and then sneaked into the pitch-black bathroom to surreptitiously move the extension cord junction into the bathtub, which would electrocute the water once the fuse box was pulled. With murder now on the table, the police begin interrogating the four suspects.

Conan suspects Ran has feelings for Araide.

Yoko recounts her phone call, noting she was momentarily interrupted by a different call but the line was silent. Tomoaki's alibi is confirmed by Ran, while Mitsu recalls sensing the presence of something upstairs, but its significance is quickly dismissed. Tomoaki notices a burn on Hikaru's left arm and urges he treat the wound. Before the pair can leave, Megure questions him about his absence between 17:00–19:00. Tomoaki explains his role as the interim basketball coach at Teitan High School. Ran confirms. Conan begins to suspect that Ran's ostensible evening karate practices were instead a facade for visiting Araide.

File 236 - The Unbelievable Link

The labyrinthine corridors of the Araide house.

Tomoaki also notices that Mitsu has wounded on her left foot, having stepped on something in the darkness. Takagi arrives with a report from Yoko's caller who states the blackout lasted for roughly one minute. The Sergeant asks to cross examine his findings with Yoko, leading Ran to offer to treat Mitsu in her stead. Conan wishes to follow her, but is stopped by Kogoro. The investigation continues as Yoko mentions Hikaru met the family through Tomoaki when he treated her appendicitis. Additionally, she mentions she was classmates with Yoshiteru's first wife, Chiaki, at medical school, and that she had died due to drunk driving despite being averse to alcohol. As the police are unable to piece together the mystery, Megure accepts Conan's proposal to simulate the blackout using the suspects.
At the treatment room, Ran tells Tomoaki that her skills with first-aid comes from constantly having to treat a rambunctious friend as a child. She then accidentally cuts herself with a pair of scissors. As Tomoaki takes her hand for a closer look, Ran blushes and prepares to say something to him. At that moment, Conan and the police arrive to request their attendance in the simulation. Conan checks the floor plans and finds where Hikaru had previously broken the vase. He has an epiphany but is distracted by Ran's relationship with Tomoaki.
The simulation reveals that Hikaru took an exceptionally long time to turn on the lights, suggesting the faultiness of several alibis. Tomoaki, on the other hand, does not see that the simulation has led to any new information and slams the investigators for unreasonably suspecting his family without consideration for their mental wellbeing. Conan is still unconvinced the death was an accident but is still without an answer. The boy soon finds his answers when he stumbles across a small ceramic fragment on the second floor and notices something in Hikaru's room. With the murder solved, he tranquillizes Kogoro and makes Megure carry him to the bathroom. Conan then announces to everyone that Kogoro solved the case and that he will reveal the truth behind the murder once he finishes taking a bath.

File 237 - From the Bottom of the Heart

Conan announces that Kogoro will demonstrate a relevant alibi trick. Twenty minutes pass. Conan notices Ran glancing at Tomoaki again and tries to ask her a question. Before the boy can finish, another blackout occurs and Hikaru is sent to flip the fuse box again.

  Show spoilers »

Hikaru inadvertently pulled the trigger on Yoshiteru Araide's death.

The lights turn on faster than expected as Hikaru finds Takagi by the fuse box. The premature re-illumination catches Yoko Araide in the bathroom attempting to electrocute Kogoro. The detective accuses her of using a timed contraption to short the houses' electricity before using a small flashlight to navigate to the bathroom where she moved Yoshiteru's extension cord into the bathroom—electrocuting him when the fuse box was switched on. Kogoro explains that she created her alibi by switching from the corded landline to the handheld landline shortly after the blackout, thus allowing her to maneuver through the house while maintaining her phone call. She then used her cell phone to call the landline in order to briefly interrupt her call while she entered the bathroom. She distracted Yoshiteru with her flashlight and assured him that the power will return soon while she slipped the extension cord into the water.
Hikaru had to reset the fuse box twice as the first attempt had triggered Yoshiteru's electrocution and re-shorted the electricity. Furthermore, Kogoro deduces that Yoko wished for the police to label the death an accident by solidifying everyone's alibis—a plan which depended on a speedy resetting of the fuse box. Unfortunately, Hikaru was delayed. The blackout caused her to break yet another dish. Fearful that Yoshiteru would fire her, Hikaru took a detour to her room where she concealed the dish's fragments, leading to the burn on her arm (from embracing the dish). She additionally dropped a fragment during transportation, causing Mitsu to injure her foot. Therefore, the broken dish in Hikaru's room, Mitsu's physical limitations, and Tomoaki's tactile link to Ran absolve all suspects except for Yoko.
Meanwhile, Tomoaki clashes with Megure, infuriated by the detective's usage of a "trap."
Yoko confesses to her crime after Kogoro mentions the inevitability of uncovering the timed contraption she used to short the lights somewhere in the house. Yoko shares she was motivated to kill Yoshiteru after she discovered Chiaki's diary in the house. Yoshiteru's late wife had succumbed to alcoholism and eventually committed suicide because of Yoshiteru's continuous extramarital affairs. Having broken through Megure's blockage, Tomoaki reaches bathroom exterior and hears the rest of the conversation.

Kogoro reveals the reason he set a trap was to perform the confrontation in private, with the ulterior motive of concealing the truth from Hikaru. Ultimately, Hikaru had effectively pulled the trigger on Yoshiteru's life by pulling the switch on the fuse box. Knowing she would sustain irreparable trauma to her soul if she were to learn the truth about her involuntary role in her employer's death, Kogoro proposes an alternate story: instead of the fuse box triggering the electrocution, Yoshiteru was drugged and electrocuted by the extension cord which was sparked by a timer; the blackout was only used to shroud the culprit's actions. Kogoro says for the plan to work, the culprit must agree to uphold the fabricated narrative in court. Not wanting to harm Hikaru, both the police and the culprit agree.

Conan receives Ran's sweater.

With the case resolved, Kogoro and Conan prepare to leave but realize Ran is missing. The two track her to a hallway where she converses with Tomoaki. The latter wishes for Ran to relay a message to Kogoro—an act which Conan fears is a request for betrothal. Instead, Tomoaki apologizes for his obstructionist attitude and he commits to cooperating with the Detective going forward. Conan's relief is short-lived as Ran begins blush. She musters up the courage to ask if she could borrow Tomoaki's hand-woven sweater. Conan is confused. Tomoaki accepts.
Some time later, Ran is with Eri in her office as she attempts to knit a copy of Tomoaki Araide's sweater. Eri offers to fix an error but Ran refuses, insisting she knits the final product herself. Eri rolls her eyes and tells her to "dispose" of the two copies she knit as demonstrations. One month later, Professor Agasa delivers Shinichi's sweater to Conan who thanks Ran on the phone. Behind Ran, Kogoro is seen wearing Eri's copies.

People

Yoshiteru Araide
	Victim (electrocuted) 51 years old Local practitioner Tomoaki's father

Yoko Araide
	46 years old Yoshiteru's second wife

Mitsu Araide
	74 years old Tomoaki's grandmother

Chiaki Araide
	Deceased Yoshiteru's first wife

Major Events

• Introduces Tomoaki Araide, a young successful doctor.
• All parties agree to alter the crime report to prevent Hikaru Yasumoto from learning the truth about her role in Yoshiteru Araide's murder.
• Romantic development between Ran and Shinichi.
  • Conan suspects Ran has a romantic interest in Tomoaki Araide.

Hotel Party Murder Case

Characters introduced

Kenzo Masuyama
	71 years old Automobile manufacturer chairman

Chris Vineyard
	29 years old Actress

Naomichi Mugikura
	43 years old Announcer

File 238 - The Secret Corner of Betrayal

Haibara's worst nightmare.

Haibara jolts awake in a sweat, having dreamt of an unexpected reunion with Gin.
In the morning, the Detective Boys gather before class where they witness light snowfall. The falling snowflakes triggers Haibara's memories of her nightmare the night prior, causing her to snap on a well-intentioned Ayumi. Concerned, the Detective Boys ask what is the matter. Haibara responds she is fed up with her predicament and wishes to disappear. Misunderstanding, her friends beg her not to switch schools. Haibara assures them she will not, instead blaming her outburst on a mild cold. Everyone except Conan appear to accept this explanation.

After school, the Detective Boys leisurely stroll through town on their way home. The group splits at an intersection and Conan and Haibara walk down a separate road. Conan infers Haibara's state-of-mind—assuming her discontent is about performing as an elementary schooler while risking the lives of innocent children via association. He calms her but the girl remains hopeless, truly aware of the enemy's immense scale and might. Suddenly, Haibara stops dead in her tracks as she stares petrified at a black Porsche 356 A parked on the side of the road. She explains that Gin owns this car. After an initial shock, Conan immediately calls Professor Agasa on the Earring Cellphone and directs him to bring a set of pliers and a wire hanger to his location.

Conan and Haibara discover Gin's Porsche 356 A.

Agasa soon arrives with the requested materials as Conan pulls the wire hanger from his hands and slides it into the retro car window, causing the door to unlock. The boy crawls into the front seat and begins to install a transmitter and microphone. To her horror, Haibara notices Gin and Vodka approaching the car. The two men cross the street and notice an unusual amount of foot-traffic on the snow around the car. After a brief pause, the two men resume and drive off, leaving Conan and Haibara who had hid behind the car. The two regroup with Agasa in the Volkswagen Beetle and follow the tracking signal. Conan hears Gin make a phone call with someone named "Pisco." Gin relays orders directing them to eliminate a liability who is scheduled to arrive at the Haido City Hotel at 18:00. Hearing the name Pisco, Haibara shares that she is familiar with the name, but has never met them before. Back in the Porsche, Gin finds both a strand of Haibara's hair and Conan's microphone and transmitter. He destroys the latter and smiles, believing Sherry has made a move against them.

File 239 - The Black Burial Ranks

With their means of spying discovered, Haibara reiterates the severity of their situation. Conan assures her that he scrubbed their fingerprints from the car seats and that the only recoverable information from the chewing gum he used to install the tracker is his blood type. Still, the boy expresses his intentions to infiltrate the Haido City Hotel and sabotage Pisco's operation. Haibara mocks his sense of justice and plans to skip the mission. Conan agrees, citing the Black Organization's knowledge of her face. Instead, he states he will enter the hotel alone and recover a sample of APTX4869.

Conan disguises Haibara with his glasses.

Shigehiko Nomiguchi is crushed by the banquet chandelier.

Meanwhile, Vodka searches the car for more bugs while Gin updates Pisco on the situation. Gin is certain Sherry will be at the hotel as he had purposefully fed her information about the presence of the "Incomplete Detective." Above all, he orders Pisco to bring him Sherry dead or alive.
Haibara, having changed her mind, joins Conan at the Haido City Hotel. The two enter a large banquet attended by countless suspicious-looking individuals wearing dark clothing. Surrounded by danger, Haibara begins to hyperventilate. She tells Conan about the continuation of her dream the previous night, saying that Gin had executed the Detective Boys one after another just for associating with her. As her panic and self-doubt hit a crescendo, Conan places his glasses on her face, saying that its the ultimate disguise worn by Clark Kent himself. She feels slightly at ease.
Gin speeds towards the hotel, reassuring Vodka that Sherry will appear. With the knowledge that she is active in the Beika ward area, Gin states it is only a matter of time until they find where she has been hiding.
Haibara and Conan scout the banquet, finding it attended by famous and powerful people such as author Mika Nanjou, baseball team owner Yasuo Mihei, music producer Naoya Tarumi, actress Chris Vineyard, university professor Yoshiharu Tawara, and automobile manufacturer chairman Kenzo Masuyama. Haibara asks whether Conan has deduced Pisco's target. The boy affirms, stating that based on Gin's phone call, they must both arrive at around 18:00 and be an individual at risk of arrest. He points to politician Shigehiko Nomiguchi, a man recently accused of engaging in bribery. Haibara notices Inspector Megure and Takagi enter the banquet hall. Conan explains he anonymously informed them about the assassination plot and he anxiously awaits to see how Pisco will act now that their target is guarded by security. A few moments later, host Naomichi Mugikura announces they will showcase a slideshow and motions to turn off the lights. With the dimming of the venue, both Conan and the police lose sight of Nomiguchi. The two parties rush to regain visual. Suddenly a bright camera flash briefly illuminates the room followed by a piercing winding noise and punctuated by an enormous crash. Panic strikes the crowd as Conan finds a purple handkerchief that had fluttered to the ground. The lights return, revealing the banquet chandelier had fallen on Nomiguchi, fatally crushing the politician.

File 240 - The Sudden Parting

Megure controls the room and upon hearing confirmation of Nomiguchi's death, he immediately begins his investigation. He shares the police intelligence with the crowd, prompting Masuyama to ask about the identity of the anonymous reporter, suspecting they are the killer. The other banquet attendees float the idea of an unfortunate accident, an extreme coincidence which happened to fulfill the anonymous reporter's prophecy. Mihei resumes eating but bites down on something hard. He spits the object out onto the floor before demanding to see the chef. Conan emerges from his hiding spot under the table to inspect the object, determining it is a fragment of the chandelier chain. Haibara unexpectedly grabs Conan's hand and compels him to leave with her. The boy refuses, informing her he has a lead. Upon signing in, each guest was given one of seven handkerchief colors as a prop for the event. The handkerchief which Conan found fluttering to the ground is purple, meaning the culprit must be within the limited number of guests who received a purple handkerchief.
Conan and Haibara attempt to exit the banquet but are ambushed by a flurry of camera flashes from the restless press who are attempting to get a scoop on Nomiguchi's death. The guests, including Pisco, are alerted to the disruption. The assassin catches a glimpse of Haibara's face, suspicious, they pull out a pocket-laptop and enter "Sherry" into the database. Meanwhile, Conan receives the names of those given a purple handkerchief from the reception desk (Mihei, Nanjou, Tawara, Mugikura, Vineyard, Masuyama, and Tarumi). However, before he can proceed with his investigation, the event doors open. The police, unable to quell the agitated banquet-goers, had condoned their departure, leading to a clash between the fleeing guests and the ravenous reporters. Conan and Haibara are swept into the commotion which causes the former to lose sight of the latter. As Haibara jostles through the crowd to reach Conan, Pisco snatches her and pushes chloroform to her mouth. She slowly loses consciousness as Conan frantically calls her name.

File 241 - The Bullet from the Past

Haibara finds herself locked in a wine cellar.

Haibara hallucinates being in class beside a worried Ayumi. She begins to reflect on the day's events, amused by the absurdity of happening upon Gin and Vodka on the city streets. However, this false reality begins to crumble as Conan's voice booms in her head. Her eyes snap open and assimilate to the dimly lit atmosphere of a wine cellar. She manages to establish communication with Conan through the glasses and shares the details about her situation. Haibara infers that after being knocked unconscious, Pisco hid her in a box of janitor uniforms which they then transported on a cart from a bathroom to the cellar. Conan impels her to search for an exit, but Haibara understands of the implications of her capture and accepts her impending doom. She shares her knowledge on the APTX4869.

The Apotoxin controls apoptosis, the cell's self-destruct mechanism. The drug additionally alters telomerase activity and increases the cell's replicability.

Sherry rises upwards like Cordelia Gray.

Haibara notices Pisco's pocket computer on the table plugged into her belongings—analyzing its contents. She searches its database and confirms that Pisco had referenced Sherry's file before abducting her. Haibara notes that both her lack of handcuffs and the unprotected computer on the desk work to paint a picture of a kidnapper severely pressed for time. Conan confirms, stating that he had directed Megure to prevent the guests who received a purple handkerchief from exiting the building—meaning Haibara must still be somewhere in the Haido City Hotel. Fearing the Black Organization would harm anyone who physically aids in her escape from the cellar, the two elect to find an escape route she can use by herself. They inspect the fireplace, but Haibara concludes the chimney is too wide for her to scale. Remembering Haibara is confined in a wine cellar, Conan has an epiphany. He asks if she can find a bottle of Paikaru. The girl locates one, unaware about its effects, but drinks its contents per Conan's request.
While the police continue their interrogations with the seven suspects, Conan returns to contemplating about Nomiguchi's murder. He uses the news broadcast to confirm each individual's location at the time of the crime. He then gets a call from Haibara, who requests his help in deciphering the password to Pisco's pocket laptop. She shares that the password hint is "the Incomplete Detective." She also contextualizes the Organization's detective-based naming schemes by explaining that APTX4869's serial number spells Sherlock when converted through Japanese wordplay (4=shi, 8=ya, 6=ro, 9=ku: shi-ya-ro-ku = Sherlock). Thus, the drug itself is sometimes referred to as the "Incomplete Detective." Conan suggests entering "Shelling Ford," as it was the working name for the character Arthur Conan Doyle would later name Sherlock Holmes—therefore, the name of an incomplete detective. To Haibara's surprise, the password is correct. She proceeds to download several files pertaining to the APTX4869 to one of her devices. She states her intensions of hiding the data-filled device in the wine cellar for Conan to recover in the future, still believing that her gruesome fate is sealed. Before Conan can object, Agasa notices Gin's car arriving at the hotel. They see Vodka exit the car and open his pocket laptop, leading them to realize that they are tracking Haibara's location based on a locator beacon built into Pisco's laptop. Conan frantically tells Haibara to hide in the fireplace, but she begins to feel the effects of the Paikaru and falls to the ground in pain. Conan calls Megure with Shinichi's voice and compels him to stop Gin and Vodka at the door. However, with the vast majority of the banquet attendees and press wearing clothes which match their description, the two agents slip by undetected and arrive at the wine cellar. They scour the area and express disappointment in Pisco's absence before quickly leaving the room. With the coast clear, Haibara, now as Sherry, informs Conan that she has obtained the APTX4869 files, took one of the janitor uniforms, and is in the process of scaling the chimney. She asks if Conan has solved Pisco's identity but the boy responds that he still lacks information. Agasa then interrupts, telling Conan to look at the newest morning issue of the newspaper. In the celebrity gossip column, Nanjou and Tarumi are seen embracing, revealed to be lovers.

File 242 - The White World

Gin's long awaited reunion with Sherry.

With the final piece of the puzzle revealed, Conan checks the purple handkerchief and notices a small burn mark in the center of the cloth. He smirks before picking up the chandelier fragment and he declares he has cracked the case. Sherry reaches the top of the chimney and climbs onto the snowy hotel roof. Agasa informs her that Conan has rushed into the hotel after a brief phone call with Megure. He advises her to wait on the roof until they arrive to extract her. Sherry has a moment of relief. However, it is shorted-lived as a bullet pierces her right shoulder, causing her to weakly slide against the wall. She turns to see Gin pointing his smoking gun at her with a malicious grin on his face. Gin explains that he knew she was hiding in the fireplace after finding a strand of her hair by the ashes and hearing her faint breathing. He waited for her to complete her ascent as he deemed the white snowscape as a more fitting scene for her death. Sherry sarcastically expresses gratitude. Before Gin proceeds with his execution, he demands to know what means she used to escape the Organization's gas chamber.

Conan is seen at the hotel check-in desk asking the staff about a wine cellar. The workers are unaware of such a place in the main building, but talk about a dilapidated storage room in the old wing set for imminent demolition. Conan immediately rushes for the room, noting that Pisco is also likely on route as the police had dismissed the suspects. Aware of the consequences of allowing Pisco to communicate his findings about Sherry's shapeshifting disguise with Gin and Vodka, he rushes forward. The boy then receives a call from Agasa, who informs him about Sherry's dire state.
Gin fires a barrage of bullets into various non-lethal spots across Sherry's body, torturing his helpless victim. The girl remains steadfast, determined not the leak the hidden effects of her drug. At an end, Gin decides to end her suffering and deliver the killing shot. Before he can fire, he feels a numb sensation in his shooting arm seemingly caused by a small needle. Conan stands in the rooftop doorway out of breath. He sees Gin fall to his knees clutching his shoulder while Vodka expresses concern. The boy then alters his voice with his bowtie and directs Sherry to retreat into the chimney. Vodka opens fire on the rooftop entrance before directing his attention back on Sherry who feebly crawls into the hatch. She is grazed by yet another bullet but successfully evades a lethal strike. Her wounded body tumbles down the shaft and back into the wine cellar. Gin slowly begins to lose control as his body succumbs to the anesthesia. He forces his gun into his arm, pointing the barrel at the spot he received the dosage. He fires a round and jolts his slipping senses back to functioning form.

Meanwhile, Sherry screams in agony as she crawls out of the fireplace while slowly returning to her Haibara form. Pisco, who has returned to the wine cellar, witnesses her transformation and ominously approaches her. He explains that he has met her several times when she was still a baby, and that he was good friends with her parents. Seeing the fruit of Sherry's continued development of the drug first hand, Pisco congratulates Haibara, stating that her parents, who died in an accident, would be proud. Nevertheless, he commits to his assignment and points a gun to her head. Finally, Pisco asks her not to hold a grudge against him, calling her "Shiho."

Conan, the detective, confronts Pisco.

However, before Pisco can shoot, Conan interrupts and exposes their identity as Kenzo Masuyama. The agent is shocked and frantically demands to know who is speaking. The boy alters his voice and hides in the room while presenting his deduction. He begins by stating that Pisco had laced the chandelier chain with a fluorescent paint which would reveal itself in darkness. He then covered the nozzle of his silencer with the purple handkerchief to conceal the sparks which would fly when the gun is fired. Based purely on the positions of each of the seven suspects at the time of the crime, Conan deduced Masuyama was the culprit by process of elimination: Tawara and Vineyard were under the chandelier, meaning they could not aim at the chain; Mihei had overtly spit out the chandelier fragment, thus revealing a vital clue; Mugikura was holding the banquet's attention; and Tarumi and Nanjou were caught embracing shortly before the incident. Conan lastly adds that the Organization likely placed another fluorescent marker under the chandelier and threatened the politician to stand on it prior to the banquet.

Gin executes Pisco as ordered by the Boss.

Pisco notices Conan's altered voice emanating from a box. He impulsively shoots at it only to find the Button Speaker inside. The boy suddenly appears behind Pisco with no disguise, proclaiming he is a detective while blocking the passage to Haibara. Conan asks the dumbfounded agent how he obtained a second purple handkerchief before he was interrogated—citing that it was the primary reason why the police could not label him as the culprit and had to release the suspects. Pisco refuses to answer and prepares to shoot both kids. Conan points to the dozens of broken spirit bottles leaking highly flammable alcohol onto the cellar floor. By the time Pisco realizes, his cigarette had already sparked a rapidly expanding inferno. His adversary distracted, Conan takes the opportunity to lift an unconscious Haibara and move her to safety. Pisco suspects his targets have sought shelter in the fireplace and moves to investigate. A gun emerges from the darkness followed swiftly by Gin. He points his gun at Pisco's head and informs him that a newspaper cameraman has captured a photo depicting Masuyama ostensibly raising a gun towards the chandelier—incriminating him and endangering the Organization. Pisco pleads for his life, citing his crucial knowledge about Sherry's whereabouts and his long commitment to serving the Organization. Gin states his orders to eliminate him are from the Boss themself. He then pulls the trigger on a shaken Pisco, executing him and letting the raging fire consume the evidence.

With Conan and Haibara safe, Agasa speeds away in his Yellow Beetle. He informs Conan that he overheard Gin's final conversation with Pisco through the tracking glasses Haibara had left behind in the cellar. Conan expresses surprise in learning that his plans for Gin's arrest were foiled. He is also suspicious about how the Organization was seemingly omniscient about Haibara's movements and intentions while at the hotel. Haibara asks if her identity has been uncovered, but Agasa reassures her that Pisco died with her secret. She further says that her files on the APTX4869 burned in the fire, and that she intends to go deeper into hiding and disassociate with them. Conan disagrees, stating there is no need.

Vermouth elects to remain in Japan.

Driving away from the crime scene, Gin and Vodka discuss their next course of action. Gin imagines Sherry would rationally flee from the city following her dangerous encounter, and thus he plans temporarily cease their manhunt. A female voice in the back seat expresses interest in Sherry and the identity of her male co-conspirator. Gin agrees with her, referring to her as "Vermouth." He also expresses sympathy for her, stating that someone of her caliber should not have been summoned to deal with such a fiasco, revealing that she had assisted Pisco by slipping her purple handkerchief to him before his interrogation. Vodka asks her if she intends to return to the United States. Vermouth, revealed to be Chris Vineyard, responds that she will stay in Japan for the time being as she is still curious about a few things.
The next day Conan, as Shinichi, calls Megure about the incident the night before. Megure states his confusion about the case; primary suspect Masuyama Kenzo's house had also burned down the night of his disappearance. Shinichi assures the Inspector that he will notify him if he learns of anything. After hanging up, Haibara asks if Conan now understands the might of their enemy. Conan nods and declares his strengthened resolve to destroy the Organization.

People

Mika Nanjou
	38 years old Novelist Tarumi's lover

Yasuo Mihei
	62 years old Baseball team owner

Naoya Tarumi
	35 years old Music producer

Chris Vineyard
	29 years old Actress

Yoshiharu Tawara
	58 years old University professor

Kenzo Masuyama
	71 years old Auto manufacturer chairman

Shigehiko Nomiguchi
	Victim (crushed) 56 years old Politician

Naomichi Mugikura
	43 years old Announcer

Major Events

• Conan and Haibara happen to encounter Gin's Porsche 356 A.
  • Conan plants a bug in the vehicle and learns that a Black Organization agent named Pisco is planning an assassination at a hotel banquet.
    • Gin discovers the bug and orders Pisco to intercept Sherry who he assumes will attempt to infiltrate the banquet.
    • Conan and Haibara infiltrate the banquet.
  • Pisco successfully assassinates his target.
• Pisco notices and abducts Haibara.
• Haibara shares some information about how APTX4869 functions.
• Haibara drinks Paikaru, returning as Sherry and attempts to escape.
  • Sherry is intercepted by Gin but escapes with the help of Conan.
    • Pisco witnesses Sherry transform into Haibara.
  • Evidence surfaces depicting Pisco in the act of killing his target.
    • Gin eliminates Pisco before the latter can inform him about Sherry's transformation abilities.
• Chris Vineyard is introduced as a Black Organization member named Vermouth.

Trivia

• The title for each chapter are worded as the following in Case Closed:

• File 232 - On the Spot
• File 234 - Six More Months
• File 235 - In the Dark
• File 236 - An Unbelievable Connection
• File 237 - The Remains of the Heart
• File 238 - The Street Corner of Betrayal
• File 239 - The Black Funeral
• File 240 - A Sudden Farewell
• File 241 - A Bullet From the Past
• File 242 - A World in White

Cover in other countries

• 

  China

• 

  China (2020 reissue)

• 

  Finland

• 

  France

• 

  Germany

• 

  Hong Kong

• 

  Indonesia

• 

  Indonesia (reprint)

• 

  Italy

• 

  Italy (La Gazzetta dello Sport)

• 

  Italy (New Edition)

• 

  Korea

• 

  Malaysia (Chinese)

• 

  Malaysia (Malay)

• 

  Norway

• 

  Rep. of China (Taiwan)

• 

  Spain (Spanish, Volumen 2, part 1)

• 

  Spain (Spanish, Volumen 2, part 2)

• 

  Sweden

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  Thailand

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  United States

• 

  Vietnam

• 

  Vietnam (New Edition)

See also

• Manga
• Volume 21-30
• Detective Conan