Guns and Coffee in the World of Science

The atmosphere in the community center was so tense that it was almost suffocating. Conan had already figured out the whole case clearly, but to convince everyone of the complicated truth, he needed a little help from the "sleeping Kogoro".

Conan seized the opportunity, taking advantage of everyone's momentary distraction, and silently pulled a sedative from his pocket. Ran Mouri couldn't help but glance at him, her eyes mingled with complex concern, clearly realizing what Conan was about to do. She bit her lip but didn't say anything to stop him, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Conan knew this, but there was only one way to uncover the truth, so he resolutely injected the sedative.

The anesthetic needle hit Mouri Kogoro accurately. With a slight sound, Mouri Kogoro fell asleep. Conan quickly activated the voice changer and began the reasoning in Mouri Kogoro's voice that made everyone dumbfounded.

"The truth of the matter is actually not that complicated..." Conan's voice was as confident and steady as ever.

Everyone fell silent, their gaze fixed on "Mouri Kogoro." Conan, posing as Kogoro, calmly analyzed every detail of the case. First, he revealed that Hirata was the culprit who had knocked Sawamura unconscious in the piano room. This news sent everyone glancing at each other in bewilderment, whispering among themselves.

"Hirata was just trying to steal the drugs hidden in the piano. Sawamura accidentally ran into him at the time. He knocked Sawamura unconscious out of an emergency, but he is not the murderer."

This remark caused everyone to wonder again. If Hirata wasn't the murderer, then who could it be? Furthermore, Hirata didn't seem to be at the community center at all. Had he fled? Inspector Megure also realized this and immediately arranged for someone to search for Hirata.

However, there is more to the story than meets the eye. Conan continued to reason, his tone becoming increasingly serious: "The real murderer is Dr. Asai Makoto."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire community center seemed to have suddenly paused. Everyone was stunned, clearly in disbelief at the result. Asai Makoto, the village doctor and always amiable, was the murderer.

"You must find this incredible, right?" Conan coughed lightly and continued. "However, Dr. Asai is not Asai Makoto. Her real name is Asao Makoto—the son of Asao Keiji!"

"Aso Keiji...son?" Everyone was shocked, almost unable to accept this sudden revelation of his identity.

Conan remained calm, unperturbed, and continued to uncover the astonishing truth. He meticulously reconstructed the three murders, explaining everything from the methods to the motives. The root of all this, surprisingly, lay in the coded music. Using the coded information left by Keiji Aso, Conan deduced the truth behind his murder.

"Back then, Keiji Aso was murdered by a conspiracy of four people, namely Kawashima, Kuroiwa, Kameyama, and Nishimoto, because he refused to join the drug trafficking. The four people originally wanted to use Keiji Aso's overseas performance opportunities to carry out drug trafficking, but when Aso decided to withdraw, they were afraid that the matter would be exposed, so they killed him to silence him."

"Oh my God..." A villager gasped, his face full of disbelief.

"This is the reason for Aso's honest revenge," Conan continued, his eyes calm and sharp. "His family was shattered by the drug trade, and he lost his parents and sister, so he planned this revenge step by step."

Mao Lilan stood aside at this moment, with mixed feelings in her heart. The doctor she had always admired was actually carrying such a heavy secret. Killing was wrong, but the pain and tragedy behind it made it impossible for her to completely hate honesty.

"Doctor Honest...where did he go?" Mao Lilan couldn't help but ask, with a hint of panic and concern in her tone.

Everyone then realized that Dr. Makoto hadn't been seen since Conan revealed the truth. Inspector Megure was also shocked and quickly ordered his officers to search for Makoto Aso. The hall was in chaos, and the villagers were talking among themselves, their eyes filled with shock and confusion.

"The truth has been revealed, but this story of revenge is ultimately a tragedy." Conan sighed silently in his heart, looking at the chaotic scene, his heart couldn't help feeling a little heavy.

---

Makoto Aso sat quietly in the center of the Aso family's living room, his head resting on the piano keyboard his father had loved so much. His fingertips gently touched the yellowed keys, and a long-lost expression of tranquility and relief appeared on his face. The evening breeze blew in from the window, ruffling his already somewhat disheveled hair. He had disguised himself as a woman, endured humiliation for years, all for this moment of revenge. Now that his revenge had been exacted, his life seemed to have come to an end, and he no longer had any reason to continue.

He stood up, glanced around the empty house, sighed, and poured gasoline into every corner before lighting a match. The flames reflected on his calm face, illuminating it with a tragic beauty. For him, life had long since been cut short that day, and it was only this body that continued to walk for revenge.

Just as the flames began to rise and the entire house was about to be engulfed in flames, a calm voice suddenly came from behind.

"Is it worth it?" The voice was calm, yet it carried an invisible pressure. "I'm not asking you about killing people. I'm asking, is it really worth it for you to die for a few poisonous insects?"

Masashi Aso was startled for a moment, but then he recognized the person coming—it was Chen Shuo. He didn't show any surprise, as if he had already expected this moment to come.

"I've always had only one goal: revenge." Honest's voice was calm. He didn't turn around, but his eyes drifted away. "Now that revenge is taken, my wish is fulfilled. The rest... I don't want to drag this exhausted body on any longer. I'm so tired, so truly tired." He closed his eyes, as if waiting for the embrace of the flames. "Right now, I just want to be reunited with my family."

Chen Shuo took a few steps closer, standing at the edge of the firelight, and stared intently at Masashi Aso, who was sitting at the piano. He didn't laugh at the other person's decision, nor did he try to persuade him, but just sighed softly.

"I understand how you feel," Chen Shuo's voice remained calm, yet contained a gentle soothing tone. "But you know what? Those poisonous insects aren't worth dying for. I've already taken out the last one for you. As for the mastermind, I'll personally take care of them. Your goal of revenge has been achieved, and it's time to let go of your hatred." At this point, Chen Shuo looked at Masashi Aso, who remained unresponsive. He knew that Aso was dead inside, and he couldn't help but sigh.

"Just go ahead and I'll take care of the rest."

Chengshi was slightly startled, turned his head to look at Chen Shuo, and a faint smile appeared on his face, which was a mixture of relief and gratitude.

"Thank you, Mr. Chen Shuo," he said, without a trace of regret in his tone, but full of gratitude and relief.

Chen Shuo nodded, said nothing more, turned around silently, and disappeared in the gradually spreading firelight. His figure quickly blended into the night, as if he had never appeared.

Makoto Aso watched his figure disappear and closed his eyes again. The flames gradually engulfed the old house, reflecting his final smile. His life had finally come to an end, but with a sense of relief and satisfaction.

---

A raging fire burned through the ruins of the Aso family home, its crimson glow illuminating a scene of despair. Conan stood at the edge of the flames, his eyes filled with anxiety and resentment. He had just rushed in to try and stop Aso Makoto's self-immolation, but failed. Aso Makoto, already determined to die, thanked him and threw him out of the house. It was too late, and the Avenger's fate was already sealed. However, this failure caused Conan's heart to waver for the first time: was solving the case, uncovering the truth, really enough?

"Honest Doctor..." He muttered to himself, gazing at the piano, nearly consumed by flames. A new realization suddenly dawned on him. As a detective, is he merely a mechanical tool for solving mysteries? Perhaps a detective's true mission isn't just to find the murderer, but to prevent tragedy from happening, allowing everyone to escape the shadows. However, he knew he had failed this time. He had... killed someone...

Meanwhile, across the island, in the old policeman's shabby home, a silence reigned. He sat on the sofa, his eyes dark, no longer the submissive man he'd been before. He muttered to himself, grumbling through gritted teeth, "I've lost all my subordinates at once! This is terrible... Who should I find to replace them?" He glanced at the teacup on the table, pondering his future strategy.

Suddenly, however, his thoughts were interrupted—a cold gun pressed against the back of his head. The old policeman shuddered, his entire body tensing up. He tried to remain calm, trying to find a way to escape. Just then, a calm voice came from behind him, its tone so calm that it was chilling.

"I didn't expect that you, an old policeman, are the mastermind." Chen Shuo's voice was cold and flat, with an unquestionable oppressive force.

The old policeman recognized Chen Shuo's voice and turned around in surprise, wanting to confirm, but the coldness of the gun muzzle prevented him from moving. The old policeman swallowed hard, trying to maintain his composure, and sneered, "I don't know what you're talking about. Even if you guessed something, what's the point? You have no evidence!"

Chen Shuo smiled faintly, a hint of sarcasm flashing in his eyes. "Evidence?" He spoke casually, as if discussing something insignificant. "I don't need evidence. I'm not a police officer. Besides, what you just said to yourself has already saved me a lot of trouble."

The old policeman's heart trembled when he heard this, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He realized that his monologue had exposed his identity, and Chen Shuo in front of him would obviously not leave him any chance of survival. He suddenly laughed arrogantly and tried to threaten with words: "Humph! You dare to attack me? It's useless to kill me. I've been operating on this island for so many years, there are plenty of people who can take my place!"

Chen Shuo remained indifferent, simply watching him calmly, as if he were looking at an enemy destined for destruction. Then, he said calmly, "That has nothing to do with me. I was simply helping a poor man fulfill his final wish." With that, Chen Shuo flicked his finger, and the sound of a gunshot shattered the stillness of the night.

The old policeman's laughter stopped abruptly. His eyes widened with disbelief as he slowly fell to the ground. Blood flowed from his head, staining the worn sofa red and taking his last breath.

Chen Shuo put away his gun, sneered, turned around and left this sin-filled place, disappearing into the night.

---

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the deck of the ship. A gentle sea breeze rustled, and the waves crashed against the hull, making a soft rustling sound. Conan leaned against the railing, gazing at the boundless sea, his eyes somewhat hollow. He continued to ponder the heavy lesson this case had taught him—even if he had solved all the puzzles, he still couldn't prevent Makoto Aso's tragedy. The thrill and sense of success from solving the case were replaced by a deep sense of powerlessness.

Chen Shuo had come over at some point and stood beside him, quietly gazing at the sea for a moment. Finally, he spoke calmly, his voice dripping with disapproval, "Aren't you the one who admires Sherlock Holmes the most?"

Conan was slightly startled when he heard this, and looked up at Chen Shuo, frowning even tighter. He had always had complicated feelings for this familiar yet unpleasant man, jealous of his relationship with Xiaolan, but in his heart he couldn't help but be attracted by his words.

Chen Shuo ignored Conan's doubts and continued, "Do you know what the most famous line in 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Return of Sherlock Holmes: Milverton' is?"

Conan was stunned for a moment, staring at Chen Shuo blankly. Of course, Conan knew about the case, but the most famous line -

After a moment's silence, Conan spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of weariness and helplessness: "'Dear Lestrade, I believe that when the law cannot bring justice to the victim, private revenge is justified and even noble from this moment on.'"

As the words fell, Conan's eyes dimmed even further. He lowered his head, sinking deeper into thought. Yes, he had solved the mystery, but this time, the evil within had been dealt with in a more direct and brutal way. It was a question he had never considered before—when law and justice couldn't prevail, were there any other options? As a detective, how far should he go?

Chen Shuo looked at him in silence, a subtle complexity in his eyes. He didn't often lecture, but this time he made an exception and said, "I've said what I want to say. As for whether you can figure it out, it depends on you."

He spoke calmly, as if it were just a casual conversation, but there was a deep meaning hidden in his words. Chen Shuo glanced at Conan lightly, then turned and walked away at a leisurely pace.

Conan remained standing, his mind resonating with Sherlock Holmes's famous words. He clenched his fists, his chest filled with a growing complex of emotions.

Before leaving, Chen Shuo suddenly looked back, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a disapproving smile: "If Xiaolan hadn't been worried to death, I wouldn't have wasted my time comforting a brat who clings to morality."

Conan looked up at Ran Maoli in the distance. Sure enough, she was looking at him anxiously, her face full of concern. His heart warmed, but the confusion and anxiety did not dissipate.

The sea breeze was still blowing. Conan stood in the wind, watching the backs of Chen Shuo and Mao Lilan walking away, and his heart could not calm down for a long time.