Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

Lin Xiuyi looked at the five girls in front of her, each staring at her with expressions of grievance, dissatisfaction, or anger, and suddenly felt overwhelmed.

He rubbed his temples. "I went to help Inspector Ikenami investigate the case. Mito Hayato is dead."

"what!"

Upon hearing this, the five girls gasped in surprise, their expressions of dissatisfaction and grievance instantly replaced by shock.

Reiko's eyes widened, and her grip on Lin Xiu's arm tightened involuntarily: "Mito Hayato? Is that the eldest son of the Mito family? How could he be dead?"

Ikeba Shizuka stepped forward, smiled at the girls, and briefly recounted what had happened that day.

The girls listened with great interest, occasionally letting out a gasp of surprise.

However, their focus is clearly different from that of ordinary people.

As Eri Kisaki heard Shizuka Ikenami repeatedly refer to him as "Shuichi," her brows furrowed even more deeply.

"Hmph, she just went out for a trip, and now she's calling me so affectionately."

Her voice wasn't loud, but everyone present could hear it clearly.

Lin Xiuyi's lips twitched, unsure of what to say.

Yukiko's attention was completely focused on the eye-catching red bow on Hayashi Shuichi's arm.

"Why didn't you invite me to something so interesting?"

Tomizawa Chikage complained, because of the incident at the department store a few days ago, and the fact that she had witnessed the Mito father and son arguing last night, she had no good feelings towards the Mito family at all.

"Senior and Shizuka-nee have competed?" Orikasa Midori asked with a look of disappointment. "I wish I had been there too, it would have been so exciting."

Reiko breathed a sigh of relief, patted her chest, and a relieved expression appeared on her face.

"Thank goodness, I thought Onii-chan was on a date with Shizuka-neechan. As long as it's not a date, that's good."

Hearing the girls chattering amongst themselves, Lin Xiu couldn't help but raise her voice.

"Aren't you focusing on the wrong thing? Mito Hayato is dead! That's a human life! How can you not be surprised at all?"

Eri rolled her eyes at him, her tone somewhat dismissive.

"So what if someone dies? We've seen enough dead people in the last six months, haven't we? We're used to it by now."

“Exactly,” Yukiko nodded in agreement, counting on her fingers, “I’ve experienced more incidents in the past six months than I’ve ever watched all the detective movies I’ve ever seen before. Now, I don’t feel anything when I hear someone has died.”

The remaining Midori Orikasa, Chikage Tomizawa, and Reiko all nodded in agreement.

Over the past six months, they have followed Lin Xiuyi and experienced many thrilling cases. They are no longer the girls who were afraid of even seeing blood.

Seeing the girls' calm demeanor, Ikeba Shizuka, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Lin Xiuyi looked at the carefree girls in front of her speechlessly, not knowing what to say, so she could only change the subject.
"By the way, where are Kogoro and Ruri? Why aren't they here?"

Eri Kisaki snorted irritably, "Those two went to the festival date a long time ago! When they saw us waiting for you here, they thought we were in their way and slipped away. They really value their lovers over their friends."

"Even if you're going to investigate a case, you should at least let us know," Yukiko stomped her foot in dissatisfaction. "You made us wait for you all day, and we didn't get to go to the festival or go shopping."

“Exactly,” Reiko shook Lin Xiuyi’s arm in dissatisfaction, “I was originally planning to go to the festival to have fun…” She stopped mid-sentence, remembering the injury on her brother’s arm.

"Don't worry, I'm fine,"

Lin Xiuyi patted her younger sister's head, and seeing the disappointed looks on the girls' faces, she felt a little guilty.
"Alright, everyone stop being upset. Tomorrow we'll go to the festival together. Whatever you want to eat or buy, it's on me."

"Really?" Reiko's eyes lit up instantly.

Midori Orikasa asked skeptically, "Senpai, are you sure you won't suddenly go off to investigate another case tomorrow?"

"Don't worry," Lin Xiuyi said confidently. "Leave the rest of the investigation and visits to the police. Even if I go, I can't be of much help. I'll definitely accompany you to the celebration tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, the girls' disappointment vanished instantly, replaced by excitement and anticipation.

Just then, Tomizawa Chikage suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, Shuichi, if Mito Shinzo is arrested and imprisoned, what will happen to the Mito family's assets? Will the victims of the Sennichimae Department Store fire still receive compensation?"

The question immediately silenced everyone present.

The fire at the department store a thousand days ago injured many people, some of whom are still in the hospital.

As the owner of the shopping mall, the Mito family should compensate the victims.

But if Shinzo Mito goes to jail and the Mito family's assets are frozen, what will happen to the victims?
"I don't know either," Lin Xiuyi shook her head helplessly. "It depends on the court's final ruling."

……

Hattori Heizo parked the rented SUV steadily in front of the hotel porch, watched as his tired classmates filed out of the car, said goodnight to each other, and went to their rooms.

He didn't go back to his room immediately, but instead lit a cigarette at the smoking area by the parking lot.

The hotel was brightly lit in the night, and the lingering echoes of the celebration could be faintly heard in the distance.

Amidst the swirling smoke, he reviewed everything that had happened that day: the Mito family murder, the museum theft, the power struggle at the hospital, and Lin Xiuyi's seemingly casual yet profound reminder.

After finishing his cigarette, Hattori Heizo returned to his simple single room and turned on the hot water in the bathroom.

The moisture quickly spread, blurring the mirror's surface.

He closed his eyes, letting the warm water wash away the day's fatigue, but his mind was unusually clear.

"Keep an eye on Ono Kayoko." Lin Xiuyi's words echoed in his ears again.

Hattori Heizo suddenly opened his eyes, turned off the tap, dried himself off, and changed into clean casual clothes.

He decided not to wait until tomorrow and to talk to Ono Kayoko now.

If she does know something, or is somehow connected to the case, honest communication might prevent things from getting more complicated.

More importantly, he did not want his classmates to suffer unnecessary harm or go astray in the case.

Arriving at Ono Kayoko's door, Hattori Heizo raised his hand, just as he was about to knock on the door.

"Hattori." A voice came from the side.

It was Commander Konoe. He came out from around the corner of the corridor, seemingly having just taken a shower, his hair still slightly damp.
"Young Master Jia said she wasn't feeling well and had already gone to bed. I think it's best not to disturb her rest. Let's talk about it tomorrow." (End of Chapter)