Detective Conan [Vol. 67?], Files 700 to 704 (The “Target Located” arc) – Been holding out on posting this one since it’s a 5-part series about the “red shirt mystery.” Based on the chapter list titles in the DCTP site, I shall go with how they called it as the “Target Located” arc. This post tackles all 5 parts of the story, so it’s a bit long. Pardon me if I didn’t care much about the red shirts case because I was way more concerned about the Black Organization (BO) aspect of the story… The mystery surrounding Okiya/Bourbon/Akai continues! Please proceed with caution: **WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD**
Seriously, if you don’t want to be spoiled, stop reading right now. And you can’t say I didn’t warn ya.
**SPOILERS START**
A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE “TARGET LOCATED” ARC… This arc spanned 5 chapters (Files 700 to 704) with a little prologue concerning the BO arc which can be found in File 699. Our favorite FBI agents make an appearance along with the cunning BO members. There’s a 13-red-shirts mystery to be solved and a somewhat questionable “identity” case with regard to… *drumroll please*… Akai Shuuichi, Okiya Subaru, and Bourbon ~ZOMG!
File 700 (“Dangerous Area”) marked the beginning of this arc. Vodka tells Gin that he saw someone who looked like Akai Shuuichi on a news video about the recent robbery case, but says it might be just a coincidence since they saw Kir/Rena shoot Akai in the head at Raiha Pass. Gin asks Vodka to call Kir/Rena saying that it may not be coincidence, citing the incident at Haido City hotel with Sherry (in vol. 24, I think), Mouri Detective Agency at Beika (in vol. 34), the hospital where Kir/Rena was kept was at Haido Central (Clash of Red and Black! arc), and the recent robbery case was at Beika (in vol. 65)… Gin notes that Haido and Beika are very close to each other. Meanwhile, Ran said there’s a client for Mouri who’s getting mysterious red t-shirts every week. The one who called had a voice that sounded mechanical, so Ran couldn’t tell if it was a guy or girl. Their client asks to meet them at the the Beika Department Store. Conan notes to himself the department store is next to Teito Bank where the recent robbery case took place.
While tracing who could’ve bought red t-shirts at the department store, they run into Jodie and Camel who’re looking for someone with a burn on his right cheek who bought a black knitted hat, which was apparently an exclusive merchandise of the store. Conan realizes that Jodie saw the Akai-look-alike at the robbery too. After Conan and Jodie asked the store clerk, we see Okiya arrive, who apparently also has a few questions for the store clerk. While Camel was washing his hands in the restroom, he sees the the Akai-look-alike guy in the mirror, but he disappeared when Camel tried to run after him. While at a cafe in the mall, Jodie finds a hidden message under her glass coaster saying “run this place is dangerous!” – she thinks it’s from Akai. Meanwhile, Conan, Mouri and Ran meets a guy strapped with explosives and comes across a bag of explosives. The man strapped with the bombs said a masked man put it on him who said he’d detonate bombs if police were called to the store and demanded that the sender of the 13 red shirts inside another bag given to him must be found and that the sender is on the floor they’re on and the bombs won’t be detonated if the sender of the red shirts appeared…
File 701 (“Hint of Red and 13”) – We see Akai-look-alike and Okiya among the crowd on the floor with the bomber. At the cafe on another floor, Jodie finds out from the cashier that Akai-look-alike just left the shop a minute ago to answer a cellphone call. Camel tells Jodie he saw Akai, and Jodie tells Camel she saw Akai at the previous robbery case. Conan, Mouri and Ran try to figure out the red shirts mystery they are facing. The torn receipts and the way the shirts were folded give Conan a hint. Meanwhile, the riot police are at the stairway, waiting for a chance to go on the floor with the bomber. Outside, the BO members are on stand by. Armed with a sniper’s rifle, Chianti is at the hotel across the Department Store waiting for Akai-look-alike to come out, Gin is sitting in his car with Kir/Rena and Vodka, while Korn is near the mall entrance. Gin says that if he sees Akai-look-alike and he thinks it’s actually Akai, he’ll kill Kir/Rena right then and there…
File 702 (“The Bomber’s Aim”) – Kir/Rena insists that Akai is indeed dead since she shot him on the head with her own hands and Gin saw it through the monitor. Gin says she may have tricked him through the monitor. Kir/Rena says it’s impossible for her to trick Gin since she was under constant surveillance by the BO during that time, adding that she and Akai don’t have the ability to spot the finest details like Sherlock Holmes does so they couldn’t have tricked him. Korn who is near the department store, says that he saw the riot squad and bomb disposal team enter building. Gin wonders what could be happening inside. Meanwhile, Mouri questions the clerk on duty when the red shirts were bought. Ran notices the unusual creases on the shirt and Conan folds the 13 red shirts by following the crease. The arrangement of the shirts looked creepy and weird when lined up, Ran and Conan notes that it might be a code since it looks like a Holmes’ case concerning the dancing men.
The police notes that the bomber aims to find the sender of shirts, and there are at least 3 bombs on that floor. Jodie overhears this, notes it’s odd since the people on that floor can use cellphones and leak info out. Jodie sees a video of the bomb-strapped man via a person near her watching the event on his phone, she sees Akai among the crowd on the video. Meanwhile, Conan figures out the sender’s intent, which is related to a snowy mountain disaster case 10 years ago in which 1 climber died. He realizes the bomber has a past crime but wonders what the aim of the bomber is. Okiya who’s in the crowd also figures out the shirt case’s relation to the snowy mountain incident. He also spots Akai-look-alike in the crowd, Okiya manages to avoid being seen by Akai. Okiya gives a suspiciously creepy smile…
File 703 (“The Truth Amidst the Snowstorm”) – Gin and Vodka gets the gist of what happened inside building and realizes Akai-look-alike might have been stuck on that floor. Gin notes it’s the perfect opportunity for them to kill Akai because when people rush out of the building, Akai won’t be able to run or dodge Chianti’s bullets and Korn is near the doors. Kir/Rena asks Gin if Bourbon knows about this Akai incident. She says she heard that Bourbon started searching for Sherry. Gin doesn’t know what Bourbon’s been up to, adding that Bourbon is very secretive just like Vermouth. Vodka says Bourbon hates Akai too, even more than Gin does. Gin says Bourbon didn’t believe Akai was dead from the start since Bourbon thinks he’s the only one who could kill Akai. Back in the department store, while Okiya was looking outside the window, he sees Gin’s car below and Chianti aiming her rifle from the hotel across the store… Okiya makes yet another creepy smile and notes that people who are outside “holding their breath and waiting with impatience… he’d like to treat them to some hot bitter coffee…” *insert Okiya’s creepy suspicious smile*
Conan shoots Mouri with the tranquilizer and relates his deductions right in the middle of the crowd. It turns out that the cashier girl was the red shirt sender and the bomber is actually the guy strapped with bombs. Cashier girl is apparently the daughter of the guy who died in the snowy mountain 10 years ago, who she says was killed by the bomber. Bomber framed her father to take the fall on his embezzlement case. Bomber notes the red shirt sender sent him a letter saying that the sender has his son hostage. Conan figures out the bomber’s aim. Bomber wrote the threatening letter himself to pass the blame on the shirt sender. The folded shirts = code = “I saw you burying him.” At that moment, Mouri wakes up and explains the secret behind the code, which surprises Conan. Apparently, Mouri received the solution to the case through an e-mail/text message…
File 704 (series resolution: “Silent Clash”) – Conan learns that the e-mail/text message was sent by someone who borrowed a man’s phone… man’s description fits Akai. Conan runs to try and follow Akai, bumps into Jodie and Camel who’re also looking for Akai. Jodie wonders why the “place is dangerous” since bomb case is over. Camel notes he saw a sniper’s shadow in the window of the hotel across the street and a Porsche 356A (Gin’s car) parked below. Jodie and Conan scramble to find Akai and warn him. Jodie spots Akai, yells that he shouldn’t leave the bldg since he might get killed. Jodie keeps on running, then bumps into Okiya. Akai gets out of the building. Chianti and Gin both spot him, then Vermouth appears beside Gin’s Porsche. Vermouth calls off the operation, as ordered by their boss. Chianti is aiming at Akai. At that moment, to Chianti’s surprise, Akai stares right at her through her scope and gives her a rather creepy and mocking smile. Suddenly, everyone leaving the store all went back inside. Chianti loses Akai. Gin orders BO members to move out. He mutters “doing always as he pleases… that bastard irritates me” Kir/Rena who’s sitting beside him wonders who he’s talking about. Gin says it’s “someone you’d wish was only in a novel… a great detective like Sherlock Holmes.”
Apparently, Conan told everyone that the store is handing out free gift certificates that’s why the people rushed back inside. Okiya spots Conan and tells him he isn’t sure if that was the smartest method but it seems that customers’ criticism will be higher now (huh? I don’t know what he meant) Rans asks what he meant, Okiya answers “it’s nothing important… just a boring story about a pack of wolves who lost their easy prey…” Okiya notes he saw a person he used to know at a video from the robbery case, thought that person lived around that area. He says he happened to see that person on the floor with the bomber, although he it seems that person wasn’t who Okiya thought it was, so he didn’t talk to him… He tells Conan “I’ve known his face for a long time, there’s no way I could be mistaken.”
MY IMPRESSION… Argh! The arc is to be continued! Darn cliffhanger! Anyway, I’m quite surprised that Conan resorted to tranquilizing Mouri in the middle of that crowd, and right in front of Ran too. He didn’t hide like he usually does while speaking through his bow tie too. With their observation and deduction skills, I wouldn’t be surprised if Okiya and Akai noticed that Sleeping Kogoro act by Conan since they were both on that floor. Akai even sent a message containing his own deductions to Mouri’s cellphone.
Speaking of which, I initially thought the e-mail/text message that was sent to Mouri was from Okiya (I was reminded of the time when he solved the paper airplane SOS mystery)… to my surprise, it was from Akai. I wonder why Akai was so adamant on getting out of the building. It also looks like he knows that the BO is waiting outside to kill him as he stared at Chianti right through her scope. Why the heck does Gin and Okiya have to speak in a riddle-ish way like that?! Now I’m totally lost and I’m second-guessing most of my previous suspicions.
Okiya, Bourbon, and Akai… they’re totally messing up my suspicions! I don’t know what to think anymore! Heh. It seems Okiya is Bourbon, but it’s also possible that Okiya might be Akai and Bourbon might be posing as Akai to annoy Gin and company, or to mislead the FBI, Conan and the BO? (hey, just a thought) But WHY? Was it really Akai who left the message under the glass coaster for Jodie? If Okiya isn’t Bourbon, then Bourbon is still yet to make an appearance in the manga. I know Gin hates Akai because he managed to infiltrate the BO and also shot at Gin with his rifle. Why does Bourbon hate Akai so much, even more than Gin? And why does Bourbon think that only he can defeat Akai. Hmm. What could Vermouth’s reason be for appearing at that moment and calling off Gin’s operation? If it was ordered by their boss, I also wonder why. Obviously, Okiya now knows more about Conan, the FBI and Akai. All the Sherlock Holmes references in this arc is making me want to re-read my SH books, particularly the incident at Reichenbach Falls and his return. Did Gin think that the guy he saw leaving the building was actually Akai too? Well, he didn’t seem to be angry at Rena. But he can be cunning too. Either way, I think Kir/Rena seems to be in a tight spot, whichever way it goes.
**SPOILERS END**
Well, it’s pretty obvious that there will be another BO arc coming soon. Although, I’m not sure if it’s gonna be the next chapters right after this one. Either way… I can’t wait!!! I love these BO-related arcs. It annoys the heck out of me to think and wonder so much about what’s going on and what might happen next, but I love the suspense it gives. This mystery is totally sucking me in.
—————————————————-
You might also want to check out my other posts:
Aw, this is just so frustrating, file 705 is about — ugh. I don’t know if it still has something to do with BO, but I highly doubt it…
@ foomafoo: Yeah. The BO arc was really such a cliffhanger! I also think it’s highly unlikely that 705 has any relation to the recent BO arc. Although I don’t mind the change of pace much, at least it’s an MPD Love Story-related arc and not some random DB case. ^^
Are you’ll talking about detective conan??
@hazy: had a favour to ask………. if you knew could you tell me how to change my registered blog picture???
@ shisakura: Yep, we’re talking about some of the recent chapters in the Detective Conan manga.
About your blog picture, I think you can get one from [gravatar]. You just need to sign up (it’s free) and follow their instructions. 🙂
I’m wondering about Renas reaction in the car when Gin mentions that Akai has been spotted somewhere. Does that reaction seem like she didn’t kill him…?
@ Ting: Well, I think that Rena didn’t really kill Akai back then and that they have some kind of plan… or at least I hope so. Or maybe Bourbon is posing as Akai to try and trick Rena into confessing that she’s actually a CIA agent? But I’m not sure either. Aaah, I don’t know anymore. Haha, I’m so confused about this case too! @_@
Anyone know for certain … if there is a 14th movie to DC????? the sequel being shown at the end of the 13th movie…..
If there is then can anyone tell me the name for sure??
@ shisakura: Yep, there’s gonna be a DC movie 14. It was officially announced at the end of movie 13. Although at this time, there’s no announcement yet what the title of movie 14 will be.
@hazy: i’ve heard that the 14th movie will be the last of the movies…..it was confirmed……..is it true?????? :O
@ shisakura: I haven’t heard any detailed official news about it yet, so I can’t really say anything for sure either.
Is the episode of file 700 out yet or does anyone when will it come out?
@ David: Nope, at this time there’s no episode for file 700 yet. I think it will most likely be animated next year.
This BO think always get me…I just want 2 c is conan bust them and return 2 normal and see if another move come out
@ chris: Yeah, I’m itching to see who are the allies who will stand with Conan when the time to fight the BO head on comes. I think it’s bound to be an awesome confrontation. ^^
but do any of yall knw how many episode dey have n is der another movie cumin out??
@ chris: I think movie 14 is due out April 2010. So far, there will be 561 anime episodes by the end of Dec 2009.
cnt wait…..
wen other episodes coming out
@ chris: you can check the airdates for each episode in its [Wiki page]
thankz hazy
is shu really died???
@ chris: At this point, I’m not too sure either. There hasn’t been a follow-up to this BO/Akai arc in the manga yet. But I’ll be sure to post about it when it comes. 🙂
alrite..becuz i seen da episode wen the lady saw him in da bank during the robbery