Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

Chima Kazuyo's tone sounded like ordinary gossip and curiosity, but Lin Xiuyi vaguely sensed the probing hidden beneath her calm gaze.

"That's right," Lin Xiuyi briefly explained the situation.

“Mito Shinzo…” Chima Kyouyo raised an eyebrow, seemingly having heard of the name before, but didn't say anything more; she was more concerned with the aftermath of the case.

"So, the Mito family's supposedly treasure-filled storage room has now been completely seized and taken over by the police?"

“Yes,” Lin Xiu nodded, “The specific handling will depend on the court’s judgment, which will likely be a long process.”

"So many antiques, including many rare and even national treasures..."

Chima Kazuyo gently waved her round fan, her gaze seemingly drifting into the distance, or perhaps lost in thought.

"Priceless...it might attract the covetous eyes of many greedy people."

These words were quite meaningful, and seemed to go beyond just expressing feelings.

Lin Xiuyi's heart stirred slightly, and he was about to ask again when Qianjian Jiangdai had already withdrawn his gaze from the distance.

She glanced at the crowd gathering in the distance, waiting for the next street performance, and then looked down at the antique-style pocket watch in her hand.

“It’s getting late,” Senma Kazuyo looked up. “I have to go see an old friend, so I won’t disturb you any longer while you enjoy the celebration. Farewell.”

After speaking, she nodded slightly, turned around, and walked calmly in the opposite direction from where the crowd was gathered.

It quickly blended into the bustling crowd and disappeared after a few turns.

Lin Xiuyi stood there, watching her leave. The relaxed smile on his face gradually faded, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"So many antiques might attract the covetous eyes of greedy people..."

This sounds like a logical deduction. Once the Mito family's collection is exposed, it's almost inevitable that it will attract the covetous eyes of all sorts of shady characters.

But why did Senma Kazuyo specifically mention him? Was it just a casual remark?
Could it be... that she received some information?
Or perhaps the "Kyoto commission" she is investigating is related to the Mito family's collection, or possibly to some force that covets those collections?

This thought sent a chill down Lin Xiuyi's spine.

Although the Mito family case has been closed, the undercurrents surrounding those artifacts may have only just begun to stir.

While the involvement of the police and official agencies provides a layer of protection, the cumbersome procedures and complex personnel involved may inadvertently create opportunities for exploitation at certain stages.

If criminals or underground organizations have their eyes on this batch of goods...

“Onii-chan! Onii-chan!”

Just then, Lingzi's clear and cheerful voice came from afar, interrupting his thoughts.

The little girl, holding two boxes of steaming hot takoyaki high in her hands, squeezed through the crowd and ran quickly toward him.

"Onii-chan, you have to try this! It's super delicious! Yukiko-neechan and I lined up to buy it!"

Lingzi ran up to him, stood on tiptoe, and stuffed one of the boxes into his hand. Then, she eagerly used a bamboo skewer to pick up a piece from her own box and popped it into her mouth.

Although he was scalded and kept gasping for breath, he still squinted his eyes in satisfaction.

Lin Xiuyi took the box of takoyaki, which was emitting an enticing aroma. The edges of the box were still a little hot to the touch. Seeing Reiko's expectant yet slightly smug look, he temporarily suppressed his thoughts about Chima Kazuyo and Mito's collection, and used a bamboo skewer to pick up a takoyaki and put it in his mouth.

The golden-brown crust is crispy, while the octopus pieces inside are tender and chewy. The combination of the sweet and salty teriyaki sauce, the rich mayonnaise, and the unique aroma of the seaweed flakes and bonito flakes sprinkled on top creates an explosion of flavors in your mouth, resulting in a rich and complex taste experience.

“Yes,” Lin Xiuyi nodded seriously, smiling as he looked at Lingzi, “It is indeed delicious, the cooking time and sauce are just right.”

"Right, right!" Reiko smiled even more brightly after receiving confirmation.

She pointed with her free hand to a small makeshift stage not far away, surrounded by layers of people.
"Onii-chan, let's go watch the show over there! Yukiko-neechan said there will be an acrobatic performance later! It seems to be an acrobatic troupe from China, they're really amazing!"

Lin Xiuyi looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a large crowd gathered there, with the faint sound of gongs and drums coming from the distance. The atmosphere was even more lively than elsewhere.

The other girls had gathered there at some point and were craning their necks to look inside.

"Okay." Lin Xiuyi agreed with a smile, letting Lingzi pull him towards the bustling center.

……

Late at night, at the Ikebami family mansion.

After a day of playing and having fun, everyone fell into a deep sleep.

Lin Xiuyi was also fast asleep in her guest room, but this peace did not last long, as a faint "tick-tock" sound came from the window.

The sound was soft, yet exceptionally clear in the quiet of the night, abruptly interrupting his sleep.

Lin Xiuyi suddenly opened her eyes and looked out the window, following the sound.

He saw Tomizawa Chikage standing outside, waving gently at him with a slightly anxious look on her face, as if afraid of disturbing others.

Seeing this, Lin Xiu sighed helplessly and slowly sat up, supporting herself on the edge of the bed.

In fact, he had noticed Tomizawa Chikage's unease during the daytime celebration.

Based on her identity as a phantom thief and her attention to the Mito family's collection room during the day, Lin Xiuyi immediately guessed her intentions, but he did not expect her to take action so quickly.

Lin Xiuyi tiptoed to the window, afraid of making too much noise and waking up the people in the next room.

As the window opened, a cool night breeze rushed in, instantly sobering him up considerably.

“Shuichi,” Tomizawa Chikage eagerly stepped forward and whispered, “Let’s go to Mito Shinzo’s collection room and get some antiques!”

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Lin Xiuyi sighed again, his tone full of helplessness. "The door to the collection room has been sealed off by the police. Breaking through the seal without authorization is a serious crime."

He tried to persuade Tomizawa Chikage to give up the idea, since the Mito family case had just been resolved during the day, and any further mishaps at this moment would only cause more trouble.

Before Lin Xiu could finish speaking, Tomizawa Chikage smiled smugly, her eyes revealing a hint of confidence.

“I thought of that a long time ago! I paid special attention to the collection room during the day. There’s a ventilation window in the top ceiling, big enough for us to crawl through. The police definitely didn’t notice that place!”

As she spoke, she gestured with her hands, her tone full of certainty, clearly indicating that she had made thorough preparations.

"Since you've already planned everything, why don't you just go by yourself?" Lin Xiuyi looked at her speechlessly. "Why do you have to drag me along?" (End of Chapter)