puzzled.

Hisamichi just nodded.

"Yes, an ace of spades card," he revealed.

Kogoro growled thoughtfully.

"Did this card have any meaning for Ikeda?" He asked.

Hisamichi nodded slowly.

"Yes, Ikeda loved to play cards, so no one thought anything of it. It was assumed he had lost the card and a burglar had committed the crime. But a week later, Mifune Masaru-san's body was found in his house. Mifune- san owned a butcher shop in the village, he actually had no enemies. Eventually an ace of diamonds was found on his torso. He was stabbed like Ikeda-san and now people are scared. A serial killer in a small town, imagine that ! ", Hisamichi sounded just too panicked.

His wife massaged his shoulder to calm him down.

"We'll be happy to take over the case.", Said Heiji and earned a critical look from Kogoro."That wouldn't be a bad idea. Without help or crooked methods, my father won't get anything done anyway." Came a voice out of nowhere.

Conan and Heiji looked around and then recognized a boy, barely older than them. Well, as Heiji at the moment. He had blond hair, the tips of which were dyed red. He looked stylish, but almost like a punk. He absolutely did not fit the image his father had.

"Atsushi, I'm talking, it is impolite of you to interfere!" Complained Hisamichi.

Atsushi kept nodding and greeting the group briefly before leaving the house.

"I'm sorry, my son and I have these arguments every now and then," the mayor admitted, but Kogoro showed understanding.

"It's okay, I would like to talk to the police, what they already know about the case.", Kogoro asked and Hisamichi did not mind. A little later, the butler, Toshino, had chauffeured them to the local police station.
Shirokyou - Local Police Department
Kogoro narrowed his eyes and then opened them again.

"Ohman, where have we got to?", He sighed and opened the door.

Heiji had to agree with him, the building in which the investigation apparently took place looked anything but luxurious. The group went inside and Kogoro rang a small bell on the desk in front of him. Immediately a young officer stumbled out of the back room and straightened his cap.

"Police sergeant Sutetsu, in your place!" He announced enthusiastically.

Kogoro eyed him skeptically.

"My name is Kogoro Mori, Mayor Takahashi asked me to help you with the investigation," he reported and the sergeant looked embarrassed.

"Uh ... I'd better get my superior.", He said and disappeared again into the back room.

The group waited a full three minutes until the young officer returned with two other men. One of them wore the same uniform as he, but the other looked familiar. He walked on a crutch and there was a scar where his left eye should have been. He stared at the newcomers, skeptical and resentful.

"Inspector Yamato!" Ran exclaimed in surprise.

Sutetsu introduced the two immediately.

"These are Sergeant Amano, the highest-ranking policeman in Shirokyou. And next to him the inspector from Nagano who arrived this morning and wants to support us in the investigation. Yamato Kansuke-san."

The Nagano inspector stepped forward immediately and examined Kogoro closely.

"You again? What is this guy doing to hire a private investigator of all people?"

Kogoro's expression also gave an idea of ​​what he thought of the encounter.

Only Amano was so friendly and greeted everyone individually. The policeman was old but looked extremely polite.

"Anyway. If we combine our strengths, we can solve the case all the faster."Heiji suggested, but Yamato just gave him a dismissive look.

"So ... isn't Yui-san with you?", Kazuha interested.

Yamato shook his head stoically.

"She is still in the process of solving the case in Nagano, in which, as I have to admit, you also helped a little," he explained.

Conan and Heiji managed to smile. In fact, it was they who had completely resolved the case, but kept it to themselves. In addition, Inspector Yamato was very knowledgeable, even if he was difficult to deal with. But hey, it could have hit her a lot worse. Shirokyou could also have been on the border with Gunma.

5 minutes later everyone was seated in the conference room, only Ran and Kazuha were standing in a corner, as they probably had little to contribute.

"I think the first thing we should do is find a connection between the victims. It is possible that the perpetrator chooses them randomly, but it would at least be a start," said Kogoro.

Yamato grunted contemptuously.

"I have already familiarized myself with the case and found what I was looking for. Well after a few hours."

He looked at the two village policemen, whom he apparently did not trust.

Conan and Heiji also looked surprised.

"Have you found something in common?" Asked the shrunken detective, interested.

Yamato seemed to think twice about working with the outsiders, then answered.

Ikeda Reiji and Mifune Masaru had only one intersection in their lives. And that was the popular pub in the village. According to witnesses, the three talked and often played cards together. "he said.

"Three?" Heiji asked puzzled.

Yamato nodded.

"A certain Abukama Eiichiro, a local useless if you can call him that. The three of them spent a lot of time together inside the bar.", He updated her about his investigation.

"Was the game about a lot of money? If this Abukama-san was ripped off by the two of them, he would have a motive.", Said Kogoro, but the inspector just shook his head.

"No, it was never about money. Nevertheless, I decided to speak to this Abukama, but then you showed up.", He informed him.

Heiji pulled his baseball cap lower over his face.

"Very good, so that's our first clue. If we go see this Abukama, if he has been around the two victims, he will surely be able to tell us a lot about them.", He decided.

"So ...", it came from Kazuha.

"Do we really have to go to this guy? Aren't there any landmarks that Ran and I can see now?", She wanted to know.

Ran nodded in agreement. She could also imagine more pleasant things.

Sutetsu scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Unfortunately, we don't have really fancy shops and our museum is also shabby.", he confessed, until his superior spoke up.

"But you are welcome to visit the main attraction of Shirokyou, namely the Hinomoto Pension. It is the main source of income for the village because tourists visit the onsen that rises just behind it," he suggested.

Ran and Kazuha's faces radiated joy.

"Onsen? So a hot spring? That sounds great!", Ran said and Kazuha agreed.

Heiji smiled politely.

"Well, then you can enjoy something from the village while I go to this Abukama with Mr. Mori, the little one and the policemen.", He decided.

Ran looked at him puzzled.

"Why doesn't Conan-kun have to come with us too? He could just as easily come with us and take a bath," she said.

Conan felt himself blush and Heiji cut a sneering grin.

"Yes, Conan-kun why not.", He teased.

"Yes, he'll wash your back too, Conan-kun.", Kazuha said now.

Heiji looked at her indignantly, then at his best friend.

"Well ... if I think about it, I'd rather take him with me. The little one wants to be a detective, right? So he has to learn from the best."

Conan just clapped his face with the palm of his hand.
Part 2

3 aces
Rizen district - main street
They were pictures. Quite harmless. He slept in his bed and his parents sang this song for him. Nanatsu no ko. The seven children.

Raven mother, why is she croaking like that? - Because she has seven children, so cute, high up on a mountain.

He liked this song, it became a real catchy tune.

And then how he drove this toy car around in the spacious living room.

"Cute cute",

croaks this wicked mother

"Cute cute",

croaks the mother raven.

And then this voice. Who did it come from? Someone right next to him?

"Aniki! Aniki!"

You should see the old nest

on the mountain

and there you become such

see big-eyed, dear children.

Gin opened his eyes and recognized vodka as the source of his interrupted sleep.

"Hey, I didn't mean to wake you, but your cell phone has been ringing for quite a while," he informed him.

Gin grunted and looked at the display.

"That too," he complained and took the call.

Short silence, then a rough voice.

"I haven't heard from you for a long time." The caller greeted him.

Gin sighed.

"Likewise. What can I do for you? Bourbon?"

Vodka unsettled the use of this name for some reason.

"It's about a new mission, I want to see you and your partner at headquarters in an hour," he confessed.

Gin's expression revealed what he thought of it. But Bourbon wouldn't call if the boss hadn't approved this mission, whatever it was.

"What is it about?" He wanted to know.

But Bourbon was silent and promised to explain everything to him in detail.

"One more thing. Wasn't it your job, too ... to track down the traitor Sherry?", Gin then asked sharply.

It took Bourbon some time to answer.

"Yes, and I'm making progress. You don't have to worry more at the moment," he replied and hung up.

Gin snorted and told Vodka to turn around and head to headquarters.
Meanwhile, Bourbon kept stroking the photo of a little girl with brunette hair in his hiding place.

"Yeah ... I'm making progress."
Shirokyou - Abukama Eiichiro's apartment
It was dirty, there was no other way to describe it. It was good that Ran and Kazuha hadn't come with them, the stench was unbearable.

"Are you sure he lives here?" Heiji asked critically.

Amano nodded and pointed to the door sign.

Abukama lived in a shack, Conan could hardly imagine that there was even water and electricity in it.

Yamato rang the bell, but nothing moved. He tried again, then