Detective Conan: Death Note

"Halloween party? What month do they think it is?" Kogoro Mouri's voice, filled with disbelief, echoed across the dining table. He picked up

"Halloween party? What month do they think it is?"

Kogoro Mouri's voice, filled with disbelief, echoed across the dining table.

He picked up a fried dumpling and grumbled, "Halloween's on October 31st, right?"

"But the invitation also said it's an untimely Halloween party."

Ran replied while holding the ornate black-and-gold envelope.

"So what else did the invitation say?"

"It says: "The incompetent detective, Mr. Kogoro Mouri…"

At that moment, a large vein popped on Mouri's forehead. Ran continued reading aloud:

"On the night of this month's full moon, please allow me to invite you to a horrific banquet. It will be a bloody party on a boat.

Of course, whether you attend or not, the poor, dying lamb will curse his fate… and the sinner shall be drunk before his death."

After hearing this, Kogoro Mouri was so furious he laughed—a dangerous, twitching laugh.

When he asked who the sender was, Ran flipped the envelope and saw the signature:

"Vermouth."

Meanwhile, across town...

Conan had received a similar letter.

The content was nearly identical to Mouri's—but there was one chilling difference.

The envelope was addressed to Shinichi Kudo.

But inside, the salutation read:

"Dear Mr. Conan Edogawa."

That was no coincidence.

Someone knew.

Conan fell into deep thought.

The only member of the Black Organization who knew his true identity...

was Hayashi Yoshiki.

But this didn't feel like his doing.

If Hayashi Yoshiki truly meant harm, he wouldn't need such theatrics—and certainly wouldn't have waited this long.

Still, Conan dialed his number.

At that moment, Hayashi Yoshiki was seated at his desk.

The Death Note lay open before him.

"Vermouth? Ah... I know her."

His voice was composed as he answered Conan's question.

"You received an invitation too?"

"Also? So you got one as well."

Conan's voice turned wary.

"I want to know… what kind of person she is.

If my identity's compromised… doesn't that put you in danger too?"

After all, they'd both been invited.

And if this was a trap… then Hayashi Yoshiki—a known traitor to the Black Organization—could be walking straight into it.

"You don't have to worry about me," Hayashi said flatly.

He paused.

"How about this—I'll call you later. We'll discuss our move then."

"Alright."

Conan hung up, tension lingering in his chest.

Hayashi looked back at the Death Note.

And without hesitation, picked up his pen.

It was the night of the full moon, on the 15th.

Around 5:30 PM, a white Mercedes-Benz E-W210 raced along the expressway toward the port.

The sun hadn't yet set, but a huge, ghostly moon already hung above the distant mountains.

"This full moon is huge."

Sonoko, wearing a long cloak and fake vampire fangs, looked out the window, amazed.

"Yeah, it's perfect for a bloody party," said Ran, wearing a pointy witch hat and a black dress trimmed with purple stars.

She turned toward the driver's seat, smiling brightly.

"It's great that you came with us, Yoshiki.

Otherwise, taking a taxi to the port would've felt kind of embarrassing."

Ran's long black hair was sleek and glossy, shining like raven feathers.

Her skin was startlingly pale—on purpose.

She wore a white, eerie kimono and makeup mimicking the onryō—a ghostly woman from Japanese folklore.

A Sadako-style horror beauty.

"It's actually my first time going to a Halloween party," Hayashi Yoshiki said.

"Better to go with people I know."

"By the way, what are you dressed as?" Ran asked curiously.

"Me?"

Yoshiki was wrapped in a skin-tight black suit, his pale chest painted with skeletal markings.

Tattered cloth strips hung from his arms, and a necklace of tiny skulls clinked softly as he turned.

His head was styled into wild spikes, his face painted green, with huge sharp fangs, glowing eyes, and a ferocious grin.

"I'm playing the God of Death—

Ryuk."

"The God of Death?" Kogoro frowned.

"Aren't they supposed to wear black cloaks and carry scythes?"

"Usually, yes. But this one's a bit different."

"From a manga?" Ran guessed.

"Young people are so dedicated…"

Kogoro muttered, glancing at his daughter's ghostly appearance and Hayashi's extreme look.

He himself had only bothered to put in vampire teeth.

Hayashi kept driving toward the port—

But suddenly, flashing lights appeared behind them.

"STOP! Show your driver's license, please!"

The voice belonged to Yumi Miyamoto from the Traffic Department.

She strode up with a clipboard, her expression sharp.

"Excuse me, officer?" Yoshiki asked calmly.

"We've received multiple reports about a terrifying creature behind the wheel of a white Mercedes," Yumi said, clearly irritated.

She took his license and squinted at it.

"And what exactly is the purpose of this setup? Driving around like this could cause accidents!"

But as she flipped open the license—

She froze.

"...Huh?"

She glanced from the license to the "monster" in the driver's seat.

Then back.

And again.

"Wait... Mr. Hayashi?"

"That's me. We're just heading to a Halloween cruise party at the port."

"...You could've toned it down a bit."

Yumi sighed, glancing inside the car and seeing the girls giggling.

With a reluctant smirk, she waved them through.

As they pulled away, Hayashi muttered:

"Is it really that scary?"

"I think he's actually kind of... handsome."

"...Well..."

Even Sonoko, who usually flirted with any good-looking man, couldn't bring herself to lie.

At a red light, the rumble of a motorcycle grew louder.

Hayashi rolled down his window out of curiosity.

In the lane beside them, a motorcycle pulled up.

A ten-year-old boy sat on the back, looking around casually.

Then, his eyes met Hayashi's grotesque face.

"WAAAAH!!"

The boy screamed.

The man driving the motorcycle nearly lost control.

Hayashi calmly rolled the window back up.

Maybe… he should have picked a zombie costume instead.