Conan: Death is Watching Me

Chapter 290 Jade Dragon Temple

Mizuo Mansion.

A burly monk, resembling a martial arts monk, pushed open the door and entered, only to find that quite a few people had already gathered in the tea room, including his friends and two outsiders.

"I'm late."

"This is Ryuen, a monk from Saneng Temple," the homeowner, Mizuo, introduced to Gao Mo and his companion.

Apart from the bookstore owner, who was dressed in modern clothes, everyone else was wearing kimonos, especially after the monks arrived, it was as if they had traveled back to ancient Japan.

"Who are these two?" Long Yuan knelt on the futon, took a sip of tea, and asked in confusion.

"They're detectives from Tokyo; they want to know where we were last night."

Shuiwei wrapped her arms around herself.

"After giving my statement yesterday, I went straight home to sleep. Of course, that doesn't prove I've been home the whole time, since I live alone."

“I’m pretty much the same,” said Taiga Hoso, the owner of the used bookstore, adjusting his posture. “I live alone on the second floor of a bookstore in Teramachi Street.”

The monk Longyuan put down his teacup: "As for me, I went straight back to the temple, read some scriptures in the main hall for a while, and then went to sleep."

After removing her makeup, the beautiful kabuki actress concluded, "After what happened, the landlady told us to go home and rest, and I live alone anyway."

"So none of you have an alibi," Shiratori said, frowning deeply. "May I ask, have any of you practiced kendo or archery?"

"As for kendo, apart from Ms. Chiga Rin, we have all practiced it, because we were originally kendo enthusiasts."

Mizuo shook his head helplessly.

"As for archery, you've all practiced to some extent, haven't you? I once drew an azusa wood bow for a Noh performance, and Ryuen seems to have used bows and arrows for religious ceremonies as well. Ms. Chiga Rin has also been practicing archery recently, and then there's Mr. Saijo..."

“I’ve never touched a bow and arrow,” Saijo Taiga quickly waved his hand. “Actually, I’m also the worst at kendo. I always wanted to open a kendo dojo when I was a kid, but now I can only open a bookstore.”

“I have been practicing archery,” Chiharu said softly, raising her hand, “but only for a few days, and I even injured my quiver.”

The arrow pillow is located at the position of the thumb and forefinger.

Chiharu put on a band-aid.

Gao Mo remained silent, seemingly just a follower of Bai Niao, yet he took in everyone's reactions.

Putting aside the alibi from last night, it's clear someone lied.

Taiga Saijo, the owner of an old bookstore.

Gao Mo's gaze swept over Saijo Taiga's hands.

This man was undoubtedly a master swordsman, and his hands also bore the marks of long-term archery practice.

The kneeling posture just now was also a standard archer's posture.

While this doesn't prove the other person is the murderer, they are undoubtedly the prime suspect among those present.

“Master Longyuan,” Gao Mo took out Hattori’s purse and poured out a crystal bead from it. “Do you know what this is? Hattori said he found it under the cherry blossom tree at Sanonji Temple eight years ago. It looks like a little girl bouncing a ball dropped it there.”

"The little girl bouncing a ball?"

Monk Longyuan was stunned.

“There are no women in our temple. As for this crystal bead, it looks familiar. I’ll ask the master about it later.”

Saijo Taiga's expression changed slightly, and he changed the subject, saying, "Ryuuen, isn't the day of the Medicine Buddha exhibition in a few days? Have you found the Buddha statue yet?"

“Not yet,” Monk Longyuan sighed. “That Hattori guy is the detective Master hired. We were supposed to find the Buddha statue by the day after tomorrow, but… Master seems to have given up and told me to let things take their course.”

"Hattori is a member of our detective agency, and I have already entrusted this case to another detective."

Gao Mo then took out more drawing paper.

"Actually, it's not that we're completely clueless. This picture should correspond to a map of Kyoto. The patterns represent place names or street names, and the colors are specially distinguished so that we can connect the lines."

"Connect the lines?" Saijo Taiga tried to connect the patterns. "It's the character '王' (wang, meaning king). What does that mean?"

"If you turn this picture upside down, you'll understand immediately."

Under everyone's gaze, Gao Mo pointed to a dot character in the upper right corner.

"What's written on the picture is actually jade, the jade among the treasures. The location of the Buddha statue is probably related to this."

"and many more……"

Unable to control his expression, Saijo Taiga's breathing quickened, and he hurriedly asked Mizuo for a map of Kyoto.

"If it's a map of Kyoto, it matches that song. Damn, how come I didn't think of that? There's such an obvious clue next to it."

Completely absorbed in the Saijo Taiga on the map, he paid no attention to the stares of those around him. As if possessed, he muttered lines on the map, and when he finally drew the last line, he jolted and his expression became complicated.

"Foguang Temple? No, jade... this location is the former site of Yulong Temple, it can't be, I clearly..."

“Yulong Temple?” Long Yuan recalled, “I remember Yulong Temple was moved deep into Ma’anshan, right? And it was abandoned a few years ago.”

“That’s right.” Saijo Taiga sat back down, her face stiff.

"That's wonderful!" Monk Longyuan exclaimed happily, "I'll go tell Master right away..."

“It’s too early now,” Saijo Taiga interrupted. “It’s not too late to tell him after we find the Buddha statue.”

Then Saijo Taiga turned to Gao Mo and asked, "By the way, I still don't know how to address this person."

"I am the owner of Kido Detective Agency."

Gao Mo put away the crystal beads.

"I'll leave the matter of the Buddha statue to Detective Kindaichi from our agency..."

"I remember now!" Long Yuan suddenly slapped his forehead. "This bead looks like the white urna used to decorate the forehead of a Buddha statue! No wonder those guys haven't been able to sell the Medicine Buddha statue for eight years, it turns out the white urna fell off!"

"White hair?" Shiratori was startled, then suddenly realized, "That's why Hattori-kun has been attacked one after another... No, Mr. Kido, it's best to hand this over to the police for safekeeping!"

"Tomorrow, I need to show Kindaichi my work."

"Kindaichi... is that the famous detective who was featured on TV the other day?"

“Yes, the secret of this picture was solved by Kindaichi.” Gao Mo left the tea room under everyone’s watchful eyes.

"Officer Shiratori, I'll go out for a bit. Thank you for your hard work today."

"You're going to see Kindaichi?" Shiratori asked, opening his mouth.

"Well, I'm not a detective after all, so I won't get involved in the rest. As for Jade Dragon Mountain, I'll have Kindaichi investigate it. We should have results by tonight... or at the latest by tomorrow."

“Then I will trouble you,” said Abbot Longyuan, bowing deeply on his knees. “On behalf of Shanneng Temple, I am extremely grateful.”

"It's nothing, as long as the commission fee is paid." Gao Mo waved his hand.

"A commission fee?" Long Yuan was taken aback. "But Hattori-kun said there was no commission fee, this..."

"Ok?"

Gao Mo's eye twitched.

That brat, does he even know what it means to disrupt the market?

Not all detectives are willing to give their services for free.

How are low-level detectives supposed to survive if things are done this way?
"Ah," Long Yuan quickly corrected himself, "but don't worry, we will definitely not skimp on the fees."

……

Kyoto Station.

The man with the mustache followed Takagi out of the station, repeatedly reminding the excited Ran and Conan beside him: "Listen, we're here to support Kido and the others, not to play around. Don't wander off!"

Xiaolan glanced at her father with a wry look: "I wonder who was it that was eyeing Kyoto's Kabuki before, saying they definitely wanted to experience it sometime... Are you really here for work?"

"Cough, of course, I've already felt Kido... Kindaichi's call!"

"hehe."

Conan's smile was forced and insincere.

He followed purely out of curiosity; the more difficult the case, the more he couldn't contain himself.

The series of incidents triggered by the Genji Firefly Bandit Gang, the murder that happened at the teahouse yesterday, and the repeated attacks on Hattori Heiji... all sound quite bizarre.

If Kido can't solve it, but he can...

"What? They already know the location of the Buddha statue? What about the murderer? Have they found the murderer? Is Kindaichi investigating?"

Suddenly, the man with the mustache started shouting loudly, seemingly having contacted Officer Shiratori.

"I understand, I'll be there in a bit!"

"Dad," Ran said, pulling Conan along, "we're going to the hospital to see Hattori and Kazuha first. Where are we staying tonight?"

"Accommodation has been arranged at Shanneng Temple. You can just go there directly." The man with the mustache said seriously.

Shiratori didn't know that Gao Mo was Kindaichi, which is why he didn't realize the seriousness of the problem.

He knew immediately that Gao Mo was using him as bait to lure the murderer.

This is too messy.

Why can't I ask him for help?

I heard that the murderer is also a master of swordsmanship and archery, and all his killings are instantaneous, clean and swift, making him an absolute dangerous individual.

"Xiao Lan, take good care of this kid, I need to get moving!"

The man with the mustache was covered in sweat. He didn't dare to delay for a moment. After leaving his daughter, he wished he could immediately take his men to Yulong Temple.

"What's wrong?" Ran stared blankly as her father pulled Takagi away, then looked down at Conan, who was deep in thought. "Do you want to come to the hospital with me?"

"Uh," Conan asked hesitantly, "should we find out what's wrong with Uncle first?"

“Great idea,” Ran said, pulling Conan along. “Actually, Kindaichi is Kido, right? I’ve always found it strange how a Kindaichi suddenly appeared and got along so well with Dad… Were you deliberately keeping it from me?”

"How, how could that be?"

……

At the foot of Ma'anshan Mountain.

Gao Mo has changed into Kindaichi's outfit.

He carried a bamboo knife borrowed from a student at his waist, just in case. He also put the prop gun in his pocket beforehand, and switched the bullets to mainly tranquilizer darts, with a few smoke grenades as well.

He had already set up the trap; now it was just a matter of whether the murderer would walk right into it.

If this series of events all originated from the theft of the Buddha statue eight years ago, the murderer would not give up so easily.

"Hoohoo!"

The sound of a notebook being turned by a gust of wind rang in my ears.

The crimson color faded, and Hattori Heiji's figure disappeared, replaced by the disguise he wore as Kindaichi.

Strong malice followed.

well.

He's not actually very good at protecting others; even a slight oversight could lead to an accident.

Protecting yourself is much simpler.

The appearance of the Mind Network allows him to foresee almost all threats. Combined with his innate sensory talent, he can provide all-round early warnings even without actively deploying it.

That guy was very cautious; not only was he wearing a mask, but his body was also completely covered up. I was hoping to at least leave something behind, but I was utterly defenseless… He also seemed to be wearing arm guards.

Hattori Heiji's voice echoed in Gao Mo's ears.

That was a swordsmanship I had never seen before. It was so fast, it was nothing like the swordsmanship of today; it seemed to exist solely for killing...

……

(End of this chapter)