Detective Conan: Death Note-Chapter 338: 40 Seconds

After five consecutive bullets slammed into the deck, Matsumoto Mitsuji turned toward Hayashi Yoshiki with a ferocious glare. Ran and Sonoko

After five consecutive bullets slammed into the deck, Matsumoto Mitsuji turned toward Hayashi Yoshiki with a ferocious glare.

Ran and Sonoko's expressions changed instantly.

However, Hayashi Yoshiki smiled indifferently:

"Aren't you curious why I'm here?"

"What?"

"Based on the fingerprints your companion left on the business card I handed over, the police identified you last night as an internationally wanted criminal."

Hearing this, Matsumoto Mitsuji's face twisted in rage.

"—Damn it! You did all that just to get our fingerprints yesterday!?"

He instantly realized: there must be police watching him from the sea.

Damn it... What now!?

The boat they'd arrived on was likely intercepted, probably under police control. If they tried to return, they'd be walking into a trap.

But without the boat, how could he escape with only a diving suit and a single tank of oxygen?

What a joke!

The whole reason Matsumoto Mitsuji became a treasure hunter was to live a superior life. Not to end up as a pitiful prisoner!

Thinking this, he burned with rage. Glaring at Hayashi Yoshiki, he raised his weapon:

"Damn you... this is all your fault!"

"Please use your brain, Mr. Matsumoto."

"..."

Hayashi Yoshiki's calm voice stopped his finger on the trigger.

"Think with your muddled brain. I came here through a completely different route than you. There's no sign of diving gear on me... yet this ruin lies underwater. So clearly, I came here by boat."

"..."

"So now you understand, don't you?"

Hayashi Yoshiki stared coldly at the furious Matsumoto Mitsuji.

"Let's make a deal. I'll take you to the boat that brought me here. In return, you can save the two bullets left in your Colt .45."

"...How do I know there aren't police on your boat?"

"Does it matter? If I'm your hostage, I think my value should be quite high."

"Yoshiki-nii!"

Ran, startled by Hayashi Yoshiki's proposal, voiced her objection.

But he gave her a soft smile and gently raised his bloodied hand to his lips, pressing his index finger there in a "shh" gesture.

His relaxed demeanor silenced Ran instantly.

She looked at him, dazed.

"Can I hug you before I say goodnight...?"

Unlike his hesitant, slightly nervous face from the night before, Yoshiki-nii's expression now held no fear at all.

But why?

Why does he always take on these dangerous roles...? Why do I let him...?

"Fine. I'll do as you say."

Matsumoto Mitsuji had no other choice, but his eyes still burned with menace.

"Let me warn you—if you try anything, I'll take you down with me!"

Hayashi Yoshiki just smiled.

Even with a gun pointed at him, he calmly held a book in his left hand and walked toward him.

As he passed by Ran and Sonoko—

"Don't make that face."

He said this gently and raised his hand to touch Ran's cheek.

But just before he made contact, he noticed the shocking blood staining his hand and stopped.

He began to lower his hand—

—but Sonoko suddenly grabbed it, her expression urgent.

"Yoshiki-nii..."

"...."

A moment later, Ran, slower to react, also reached out.

She gently pressed his bloodstained hand against her face.

The girl's fair skin was instantly painted red with blood.

"Damn it, quit wasting time!"

Matsumoto Mitsuji snapped, furious. He nearly fired a warning shot to stop this sentimental charade.

But Hayashi Yoshiki didn't respond. He simply kept walking.

Matsumoto Mitsuji kept his gun aimed at him, following him off the boat.

"I thought you'd hesitate to bring your companions."

"Hmph. With all that blood, he'll be dead before he even gets far."

Matsumoto Mitsuji's voice was sharp and irritable.

Hayashi Yoshiki led them to a hidden passage tucked in a shadowy corner of the cavern. It led up to the surface of Raikin Island. So obscure was the entrance, it had gone unnoticed for over three hundred years.

The passage was winding and narrow. Matsumoto Mitsuji followed closely behind, tense, afraid to miss a step or lose his way.

But Hayashi Yoshiki showed no signs of deception.

Damn him...

Once I get out of this mess, I'll kill him myself.

Matsumoto Mitsuji burned with frustration—no treasure, exposed identity, and nothing to show for it.

But then, as he kept his eyes locked on Hayashi Yoshiki's back, he noticed something strange:

He kept checking the time.

"Why are you so obsessed with the time?"

40 seconds left.

Still facing away, Hayashi Yoshiki's eyes gleamed coldly.

He smiled, silent.

Matsumoto Mitsuji continued after him.

A 40-second walk isn't long, but in that tight passage, it was exhausting.

Finally, they reached a slightly wider space.

Hayashi Yoshiki stopped. He stared at the watch on his wrist.

"Hey, why aren't you moving? Why do you keep checking the time!?"

"Five seconds left."

"...What?"

Matsumoto Mitsuji suddenly felt something was off.

But he couldn't put his finger on it. He hesitated another two seconds, then snarled and raised his gun:

"Damn you! Do you really think I won't shoot!? I'll blow off one of your arms—"

At that moment, Hayashi Yoshiki smiled.

Mercilessly.

"The countdown is nearly zero. Unfortunately for you, Mr. Matsumoto... you're not going anywhere."

His words were cold and strange.

Matsumoto Mitsuji realized something was wrong. He moved to act—

—and then a bullet pierced his head.

Blood sprayed from the back of his skull as his eyes widened.

He collapsed wordlessly.

[Matsumoto Mitsuji]

Cause of Death: Gunshot

Time of Death: 17:45:13, August 27

Location: Underwater palace, Raikin Island

Details:

— Fired five bullets on deck, leaving two in his Colt .45

— Negotiated and followed someone out of the ruins

— Killed by a headshot during an escape attempt

Hayashi Yoshiki had already tested this before.

The Death Note could force a person to perform specific actions at a set time. Without a set time, the deceased would act according to the written script when the conditions were right.

He smiled and bent down to pick up the pistol that Matsumoto Mitsuji had clutched until death.

"Mr. Hayashi! Are you okay!?"

"Ah, I'm fine, Mr. Iwanaga."

Hayashi Yoshiki turned to the man rushing toward him with a rifle.

"I've been waiting for you."

"Waiting... for me?"

Jouji Iwanaga, of the Koumi Island Tourism Department, looked stunned.