The Pirated Onmyoji of the Detective World

Although she deliberately used a tone of regret, there was an obvious mockery in the corner of her mouth.

"Ok?"

Aragaki Yu merely glanced at Vermouth's sarcastic remarks and then returned a meaningful smile.

Then, without waiting for Vermouth's reaction, Aragaki Yuu started walking back towards the direction of the Head God Forest he had come from.

Upon seeing this, Vermouth was slightly taken aback at first, but soon seemed to suddenly realize something and unexpectedly chased after Aragaki Yu.

She patted Aragaki Yu on the shoulder with a strange expression and said, "Hey, you don't already know the secret in that suitcase, do you?"

Aragaki Yu: "..."

Vermouth is right.

After realizing his plan to "get something for free" had failed, Yuu Aragaki took the opportunity to thoroughly examine the sports newspaper in his suitcase before the police arrived at the scene.

The situation was exactly as Jinbo Masao and that imposter Kogoro Mouri had thought.

The sports newspaper from five years ago in the suitcase did indeed contain a clue about the 100 million yen embezzled funds.

The most eye-catching headline in that newspaper was the fifth one in the east section—"Akagi Maru's First Victory."

The foreground alludes to the fallen Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in the Head God Forest.

That is, the one that Aragaki Yu and Vermouth saw in the forest earlier.

Following the clues in the newspaper, all you need to do is walk to the side of the fallen Jizo Bodhisattva statue, then five steps east, and then eight steps to the right according to the original mark of Akagi-maru, and you will find the hidden item.

……

Since we're already here, it would be a shame if we didn't bring back some local specialties.

After arriving at the treasure location hinted at in the newspaper, to Vermouth's surprise, Aragaki Yuya picked up a thick tree branch and began digging at the soil on the ground.

Perhaps it was because there simply wasn't enough time for the man in red to hide the stolen money.

It didn't take Aragaki Yuu long to dig out a sealed ceramic jar from about half a meter below the ground. Inside the jar was a plastic bag stuffed with 10,000 yen banknotes.

Upon witnessing this scene, Vermouth's eyes flashed with an enigmatic glint.

She wasn't surprised by the bag of yen.

Judging from the weight of that bag, it probably contained at most around 100 million yen.

While it wasn't exactly a small amount, it wasn't enough to make Vermouth's heart flutter.

What truly surprised Vermouth was the young man, Aragaki Yu.

It seems I underestimated this guy.

I had been following Aragaki Yu closely, watching his every move, but I never expected that he would actually solve the clues hidden in the newspaper so easily.

It turns out that the reason I agreed to the "waiting for the bird in the back" plan was because I thought deciphering things would take too long and be tiring, while Aragaki Yu didn't want to use his brain at all!

Chapter 644 Could it be a broken bone?

Considering the 100 million yen, Aragaki Yu and Vermouth worked together to fill the pit with the excavated soil.

At the same time, to prevent future visitors from finding this place based on that newspaper and discovering traces of recent excavation.

Aragaki Yuya also threw the fallen Jizo Bodhisattva into the pit and buried it.

After all, if someone discovers that something that was originally buried in this place has recently been dug up by someone, they will easily associate it with themselves, who have seen that newspaper.

Of course, the weather also cooperated.

Just as Aragaki Yu and Vermouth filled in the pit, a torrential downpour began.

In this way, in just a short time, even the traces of their activities in the vicinity will disappear under the washout of the heavy rain.

……

The day after Aragaki Yu and Vermouth left.

In the Toujin Forest, three figures were hurrying towards the Aoi-ya Inn.

"Seriously, what kind of place is this?!" Kogoro Mori complained as he looked at his expensive suit, which was now covered in mud from walking through puddles.

Xiao Lan, who was following behind, glanced guiltily at the gloomy woods around her and replied nervously and reproachfully, "It's all your fault, Dad, for getting lost in the woods and then driving the car into the mud and not being able to get out!"

Upon hearing Ran's complaint, Kogoro Mouri's face fell at first, but he quickly defended himself, saying, "There's nothing I can do about it. The client gave such a vague address. I was just trying to find that Aoi-ya Inn, which is why I've been opening branches all over the forest!"

Because of the rainy weather these past two days, the Tou Shen Forest has been gloomy.

The already eerie forest appeared even more sinister under this atmosphere.

"Dad, I feel like something's off here. Could there be something unclean here?" Xiaolan's voice trembled slightly.

As the sky grew darker, Kogoro Mouri's expression became serious, and his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

A gust of cold wind blew by, making him shiver. He shoved his hands tightly into his pockets, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force, and looked around warily, muttering defiantly, "What a lousy place! How could there be any danger? I'm just scaring myself!"

Ran's face also turned deathly pale. She bit her lower lip lightly, her hands unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes, and she moved her feet almost right behind Conan.

Her gaze swept erratically through the woods, every rustle of wind sending shivers down her spine.

Conan, on the other hand, didn't show any particular expression, except for looking a bit disheveled from walking through the woods.

Just then, a mournful cry of a crow broke the silence, and a jet-black crow flapped its wings and flew low overhead.

Kogoro Mouri jumped in fright, while Ran screamed in terror and instinctively turned around to hug Conan.

It's important to understand that someone whose combat prowess is arguably at the pinnacle of the Detective Conan world can unleash astonishing power when startled.

Let alone a person made of flesh and blood, even someone with a body of steel couldn't withstand it.

"Woo..."

The sudden force left Conan breathless, his face turning bright red, his hands flailing wildly in the air, trying to break free but unable to muster any strength.

"Sister Xiaolan...I...I can't breathe! Help, help me!"

Conan managed to squeeze out a few words, his voice visibly strained.

Upon hearing Conan's cry for help, Kogoro Mouri quickly turned around and pulled the flustered Ran away, saying, "Ran, be gentle, don't strangle Conan!"

"what!?"

Ran finally snapped out of her daze, letting go of Conan's hand with a face full of apology. Looking at Conan crouching on the ground, gasping for breath, she felt both sorry and embarrassed. "I'm...I'm sorry, Conan, it's all my fault, I was so scared..."

"No...it's okay, Sister Xiaolan...hiss..."

Conan grimaced as he tried to comfort him, but the pain in his chest made him gasp.

Should……

Could it be a broken rib...?

After resting for a while, and after Conan confirmed that he was not seriously injured, Kogoro and the others decided to hurry on their way.

After all, who knows what this eerie forest will look like once it gets completely dark?

Kogoro Mouri was in a hurry to get to the inn so he could have a drink to calm his nerves.

Xiaolan, however, was worried that all sorts of creepy monsters and demons might appear in the forest at night.

As for Conan, he glanced at Ran beside him with lingering fear, and subconsciously took two steps closer to Kogoro Mouri.

Half an hour later.

The three of them finally saw the sign for the Aoi-ya Inn.

Only then did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.

However, for some reason, the hotel in front of me looked rather eerie.

It was clearly a hotel for guests, but the main door was not open.

If it weren't for the few rays of light shining through the hotel window, Kogoro Mouri would have suspected that this was a haunted house in the forest.

"Sorry for disturbing you."

However, Kogoro Mouri, who was starving, didn't have time to think about all that. He also ignored Ran's nervous expression and hurriedly went to the hotel entrance and pushed it open.

"call……"

Upon opening the door and seeing the scene inside the hotel, Kogoro Mouri, who had been on edge, was completely relieved.

Although the hotel looks a bit eerie from the outside, it's perfectly normal inside!

The hotel staff all seemed to be busy.

Meanwhile, departing hotel guests gathered in small groups in the lobby.

They leaned forward, their heads close together, their voices hushed, as if they were discussing some private matter.

Occasionally, someone would show surprise at their companion's words, and then their eyes would subconsciously begin to look around.

"excuse me!"

Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Kogoro Mouri could only raise his voice a little and step into the hotel.

Conan and Ran followed closely behind Kogoro Mouri into the hotel.

Unexpectedly, the atmosphere of busy conversation instantly froze the moment Kogoro Mouri stepped into the hotel lobby.