Blackthorn Castle: The Ashen Hour

Conan and Haibara arrive at isolated Blackthorn Castle during a violent storm and find Lord Elias Vane murdered inside his apparently impossible locked observatory. Their early choices determine which witness speaks first, whether the wax-and-ash residue is preserved, how the heir and rival historian respond, and whether Haibara's chemical and historical analysis guides the investigation. The chapter ends with a choice between protecting an incomplete crime scene and making a dangerous premature accusation.