Special Volume 20: Difference between revisions
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{{InfoBox Crime | {{InfoBox Crime | ||
| crime = | | crime = Murder | ||
| image = Tsuyoshi_dies.jpeg | | image = Tsuyoshi_dies.jpeg | ||
| location = Pedestrian-only Tunnel | | location = Pedestrian-only Tunnel | ||
| victim = Tsuyoshi Hiruta | | victim = Tsuyoshi Hiruta | ||
| age = 47 years old | | age = 47 years old | ||
| cause-death = | | cause-death = Hydrogen cyanide poisoning | ||
| time of death = Unknown | | time of death = Unknown | ||
| suspects = | | suspects = Shozo Mimiraki and the homeless man | ||
| description = After walking just a short distance into the tunnel, Tsuyoshi clutches his throat, falls to the ground, and dies. | | description = After walking just a short distance into the tunnel, Tsuyoshi clutches his throat, falls to the ground, and dies. | ||
}} | }} | ||
When the police and | When the police and Inspector Meguire arrive at the scene, an officer wearing a gas mask confirms that no gas is actually being detected inside the tunnel, casting serious doubt on the initial accident theory. While the inspector concludes that leaking gas must have filled the tunnel earlier when Tsuyoshi Hiruta emerged agonizing in pain, the gas utility workers firmly protest, insisting they completed their repair construction work perfectly. Conan remains completely silent and deeply skeptical of the official theory as he analyzes the details, just as another officer suddenly brings forward a suspicious, bearded man caught loitering in front of the tunnel entrance. | ||
The bearded suspect loudly protests his innocence, but before the inspector can question him, Amy frantically interrupts to declare that the tragedy is actually a curse from the tunnel. As the inspector questions her claim and Conan looks on silently, Amy terrifiedly explains that the area used to be an ancient graveyard torn down to make a national highway, and they dug right through where bones were buried to build the tunnel. Mitsuhiko tries to calm her down, but she tearfully insists that the supernatural curse is absolutely real. | The bearded suspect loudly protests his innocence, but before the inspector can question him, Amy frantically interrupts to declare that the tragedy is actually a curse from the tunnel. As the inspector questions her claim and Conan looks on silently, Amy terrifiedly explains that the area used to be an ancient graveyard torn down to make a national highway, and they dug right through where bones were buried to build the tunnel. Mitsuhiko tries to calm her down, but she tearfully insists that the supernatural curse is absolutely real. | ||
Conan silently rejects the childish ghost stories, but the grim reality he uncovers is far more terrifying than any supernatural curse: this was a calculated, cold-blooded execution. The crime scene defies all logic, leaving a chilling paradox because the helpless victim was completely alone, trapped inside the claustrophobic darkness of the tunnel with no visible attacker in sight when he drew his final, agonized breath. As the shadows stretch over the lifeless body, a disturbing question lingers in the air like a nightmare—how could | Conan silently rejects the childish ghost stories, but the grim reality he uncovers is far more terrifying than any supernatural curse: this was a calculated, cold-blooded execution. The crime scene defies all logic, leaving a chilling paradox because the helpless victim was completely alone, trapped inside the claustrophobic darkness of the tunnel with no visible attacker in sight when he drew his final, agonized breath. As the shadows stretch over the lifeless body, a disturbing question lingers in the air like a nightmare—how could unseen forces brutally murder a man from afar without ever leaving a trace? | ||
=== File 2 - Part 2 === | === File 2 - Part 2 === | ||
Revision as of 11:02, 4 August 2026
| ‹ Special Volume 19 | List of Chapters | Special Volume 21 › |
| Volume 20 | |
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| Information | |
| Release date: | December 24, 2003 |
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| Original Work: | Gosho Aoyama |
| Manga: | Yutaka Abe, Denjiro Maru, Takahisa Taira |
| ISBN: | ISBN 4-09-142790-1 |
| Publisher: | Shogakukan |
| Back Cover Image | |
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| Conan Side Image | |
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Special Volume 20 was released on December 24, 2003 in Japan.[1][2]
Cast
Gadgets
The Grieving Record Player
File 1 - Part 1
During their walk to the lucky raffle lottery drawing, the Junior Detective League members (Conan, Amy, George, and Mitch) decide to take a dark eerie tunnel as a shortcut to save time. Mitch stops the group, remembering that the tunnel is reportedly haunted and a ghost regularly appears. While true, Amy suggests walking the sidewalk along the National Highway; it’s safer, in open public space, and more lighting. George refuses to listen, believing they are wasting time and tries to cut through the tunnel anyway.
Before George can step a foot inside, a shadowy figure walks up to him, catching the kids off guard and having them cower in fear with their hands over their heads. The figure turns out to be a harmless homeless man aimlessly wandering around for food and scraps. Conan recognizes the man, stating he has taken up residence with a mattress inside the tunnel. Amy’s suggestion turns out to be correct with her asking George if it wasn’t just a homeless man next time. During the conversation, a man named Shozo Mimiraki informsp the children that passing through the area is off limits as there is a gas leak present. The homeless man disappears in the distance.
Conan notices Shozo carrying a rare record player while George insists on leaving and using the tunnel, but construction inside has already started, though no road workers are present. With the equipment and construction scattered inside the tunnel, it will take an hour to walk through. Amy points out a raffle lottery that the kids would like to participate in but worry Behind Conan comes Tsuyoshi Hiruta, an acquaintance of Shozo, making a thunderous appearance. Tsuyoshi demands to know whose car is parked blocking his office and threatens to call a tow truck to have the car removed.
Upon reaching reaching the lottery venue for the drawing, the Detective Boys are upset to see the drawing over and done with. Genta throws his ticket away in frustration but Conan objects to it. Nearby is the "9th Record Appreciation Event” with an antique record player is playing music. Ayumi handles the record and Genta grabs it, attempting to eat after mistaking it for chocolate. Walking deeper into the store, they come across Shozo, the man from earlier. Shozo explains that even music can come out of plastic, revealing himself as a sound and phonetic expert, a professional who studies the physical properties of human speech sounds, acoustic signals, and how sounds are produced, transmitted, and perceived. Key subfields and applications include acoustic analysis, forensic speech examination, and speech technology development. Shozo Mimiraki is showing the kids a handmade device that records and plays back sound using a paper cup and a phonograph needle. Specifically, he demonstrates how sound vibrations can be physically carved into and played back from a non-electronic, everyday medium like paper.
Shozo explains that the brains hear sound when air vibrations hit the eardrums, sharing that he studies these vibrations day and night to bring beautiful music to everyone. Amy compares him to Thomas Edison inventing the phonograph, though she insists that modern CDs must have the best sound. However, once the music plays, the kids are completely amazed by the record player, with Genta and Mitsuhiko noting that the impact is way better than a CD because you can perfectly hear every single instrument in the orchestra. Amy points out that the music has a completely different depth that is loud yet incredibly gentle, while Conan agrees with the final realization that vinyl records have a warm, welcoming sound, whereas CDs feel powerful but sharp and cold.
When Mitsuhiko and Amy ask why Shozo Mimiraki’s incredible record players aren't selling well, the angry president, Tsuyoshi Hiruta, suddenly bursts in and demands they shut off the music. Hiruta furiously yells that they have completely lost the market to small, cheap, and lightweight CDs, pointing out that nobody would ever carry such a massive machine just to listen to music on a train. He complains that despite giving Mimiraki a week to make a sale, the only audience he managed to attract is a bunch of kids who could never afford an instrument worth hundreds of thousands of yen. Hiruta completely cancels the public demonstration and orders them to pack up immediately, prompting Conan, Mitsuhiko, and Genta to scramble so they can at least finish doing their lottery drawing before they have to leave.
Tsuyoshi, having grown fed up with the car due to the tow truck not come and move it, decides to walk through the pedestrian-only tunnel, completely ignoring the children’s pleads not to. Only a few steps insidet, Tsuyoshi notices that he isn’t breathing anymore. He desperately clutches his check and neck. George, Amy, and Mitch attempt to rush in but Tsuyoshi throw his hand out, signaling them to stop, lets out a loud scream that echoes throughout the tunnel, collapses on the floor, and tragically passes away.
When the police and Inspector Meguire arrive at the scene, an officer wearing a gas mask confirms that no gas is actually being detected inside the tunnel, casting serious doubt on the initial accident theory. While the inspector concludes that leaking gas must have filled the tunnel earlier when Tsuyoshi Hiruta emerged agonizing in pain, the gas utility workers firmly protest, insisting they completed their repair construction work perfectly. Conan remains completely silent and deeply skeptical of the official theory as he analyzes the details, just as another officer suddenly brings forward a suspicious, bearded man caught loitering in front of the tunnel entrance.
The bearded suspect loudly protests his innocence, but before the inspector can question him, Amy frantically interrupts to declare that the tragedy is actually a curse from the tunnel. As the inspector questions her claim and Conan looks on silently, Amy terrifiedly explains that the area used to be an ancient graveyard torn down to make a national highway, and they dug right through where bones were buried to build the tunnel. Mitsuhiko tries to calm her down, but she tearfully insists that the supernatural curse is absolutely real.
Conan silently rejects the childish ghost stories, but the grim reality he uncovers is far more terrifying than any supernatural curse: this was a calculated, cold-blooded execution. The crime scene defies all logic, leaving a chilling paradox because the helpless victim was completely alone, trapped inside the claustrophobic darkness of the tunnel with no visible attacker in sight when he drew his final, agonized breath. As the shadows stretch over the lifeless body, a disturbing question lingers in the air like a nightmare—how could unseen forces brutally murder a man from afar without ever leaving a trace?
File 2 - Part 2
In this continuation of the investigation, Inspector Joseph Meguire questions the elderly gentleman, confirming that the deceased victim, Tsuyoshi Hiruta, was indeed the president of his company. The focus of the investigation quickly shifts to the physical cause of death as they discuss the possibility of a gas leak inside the tunnel. However, an onsite gas company worker explicitly refutes this theory, confirming that they performed the construction work perfectly and pointing out that modern city gas is natural gas, which is non-toxic and wouldn't cause someone to drop dead from simply inhaling it. This revelation leaves the police force and Conan back at square one, ruling out a simple environmental accident and solidifying the fact that a deliberate, clever trick was used to execute the murder.
A forensic worker reveals that the victim's vomit carries a distinct almond scent, confirming the true cause of death as hydrogen cyanide poisoning. A mere 50 milligrams of this fast-acting, deadly toxin can instantly induce cardiac arrest, making it clear that Tsuyoshi Hiruta was deliberately murdered. The investigation shifts toward a homeless man living in the park near the tunnel, who aggressively defends himself by claiming he stayed outside due to the scheduled gas leak maintenance. The kids notice he is the same homeless man from before. Although Inspector Joseph Meguire notes that hydrogen cyanide is a highly restricted substance that a typical citizen or a homeless individual could not easily acquire, Conan Edogawa remains observant as the police struggle to pinpoint how such a lethal poison was surreptitiously administered.
Hydrogen cyanide is a volatile, colorless chemical agent with a deceptively faint scent of bitter almonds, first isolated in 1782 by chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele from the pigment Prussian blue. (Scheele is also known in the streets at the inventor of Scheele’s Green). It acts as a swift cellular asphyxiant by binding to mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase, an enzyme essential for cellular energy production. By disrupting this biological process, it prevents the body from utilizing oxygen at a cellular level, even when oxygen is present in the bloodstream. The central nervous system and the heart, which have the highest oxygen requirements, are particularly sensitive to these effects. Its toxicity is extreme and rapid: inhalation of concentrated vapors can trigger immediate respiratory distress, neurological symptoms, and cardiovascular collapse.
Inside a 20-meter tunnel ideal for murder due to low foot traffic, Conan questions why the culprit chose a location where they risked being easily caught by anyone entering from the outside. Nearby, a company representative expresses relief that an illegally parked car is being towed, noting it caused major trouble in front of their building. Ayumi and Mitsuhiko point out how strange and relaxed the gentleman seems, finding it highly suspicious that he is fussing over parking logistics immediately after his company's president has died. Conan quickly takes note of this odd behavior, agreeing that his misplaced priorities are incredibly unnatural.
Conan notices that the car window, which was closed moments ago, is now open, prompting him to wonder if the owner briefly returned or if someone else tampered with it for a specific reason. He then spots a brand-new dent on the vehicle's door that definitely was not there before, heightening his suspicion. While Ayumi and Genta comment on how the illegally parked car is a dangerous nuisance and feel bad for the owner, a sudden squeaking sound rings out. Mitsuhiko realizes that the noise is coming from a squeeze-toy horn being used in place of a regular doorbell, a crucial auditory detail that causes a sudden breakthrough for Conan.
Conan has a sudden breakthrough, declaring that he has completely figured out the culprit's deception and method. He takes immediate charge, instructing Ayumi to go call Inspector Megure while ordering Mitsuhiko and Genta to sprint over and stop the tow truck from moving the vehicle. As the children rush off to carry out their tasks, Conan concludes that only one specific person could have orchestrated this setup, confidently identifying them in his mind as the true killer.
