Conan: The Romantic Daily Life of a Ghost Detective

After the movie theater doors closed, much of the noise from outside was blocked out.

An unfamiliar detective led Sato Miwako and Numizu toward the screening room where the body was found.

As they walked, Miwako Sato asked, "How's the situation now? Have you found any suspicious clues?"

The unfamiliar detective shook his head: "Not yet. Our preliminary assessment is suicide. Because this movie theater isn't doing very well, they've decided to close tomorrow, so even on its last day, there won't be many people coming to watch movies."

There were only a few children and three adult guests, including the famous actress Yukiko Kudo, and all of these people who could have hanged the deceased had clear alibis.

"Is that so? Then why did Takagi tell me there were suspicious points in the case when I received the call?" Sato Miwako asked, puzzled.

The detective smiled wryly: "It was Ms. Yukiko Kudo who felt there were suspicious points in this case. She even called Inspector Megure and asked us to assist with the investigation."

Sato Miwako nodded and then inquired about other details of the case.

Wen Shui, who was following behind, couldn't help but click her tongue in amazement, thinking that this was probably Conan's doing.

Not wanting to reveal that Shinichi Kudo was still alive, and unable to find a suitable puppet like Uncle Mori, they had no choice but to bring out their mother to save face.

As they were talking, the group arrived at the cinema's screening room.

Because of the murder, all the lights in the lobby were turned on at maximum, making the entire screening room as bright as day.

The space here is about half the size of a basketball court, which looks quite spacious. However, many of the red seats are faded and peeling, and there are cigarette butts and empty cans scattered all over the ground.

A musty, decaying smell filled the air.

On the large screen facing the audience, the image was frozen on a close-up of the monster Gomera fighting its enemies.

The body of a middle-aged man in a suit hangs high up in the last row of the audience, near the projection window.

When Officer Takagi, who was investigating and collecting evidence, saw Miwako Sato, he immediately ran over to report on his investigation progress and his speculations about the case.

However, from the words of the police officers present, it was clear that most of them thought the case was a suicide, but they were forced to continue the investigation because of the personal relationship between Yukiko Kudo and Inspector Megure.

Wen Shui also saw the Junior Detective League members moving among the seats, with Conan being the most serious of them all.

Yukiko Kudo stood alone in front of the big screen, gazing at a close-up of the monster Gomera, seemingly reminiscing about her acting career.

Unlike last time, Mrs. Kudo wore a very casual outfit today. She wore a dark blue knitted short-sleeved top with a wide neckline, which clearly showed her slender collarbone and her snow-white breasts emerging from the water.

For her lower body, she chose loose-fitting wide-leg cropped trousers, which completely covered her long and voluptuous legs.

However, the delicate ankles between the white high heels and wide-leg pants, seemingly fragile enough to break with the slightest force, still evoke a sense of longing.

Not to mention, as a former popular idol, Yukiko Kudo has a unique ability to make ordinary clothes look stylish.

He had only seen this technique of warming water on Ai Haibara before, and he guessed it might be a result of reading a lot of fashion magazines.

While Wenshui was investigating the case, Conan suddenly spread his arms to block Kudo Yukiko's view: "Big brother Wenshui, what brings you here too?"

Conan's eyes subconsciously conveyed the message, "Aren't you looking at this too intently?"

Yukiko Kudo also snapped out of her reverie and gave him a dignified and elegant smile:

"Mr. Wen Shui, we meet again."

"Yes, what a coincidence," Wen Shui said politely, but looked at Kudo Yukiko, who exuded an air of nobility, with some curiosity.

Why did she change the way she addressed him this time to the more formal "Mr. Warm Water"?

Moreover, her demeanor is more in line with the image of "the wife of the famous mystery novelist Yusaku Kudo," rather than the impulsive mother who secretly followed male classmates to stand up for her son, as I had previously imagined.

Considering Conan's actions just now...

Could it be that Conan became suspicious because of the "human bomb hunger incident" that happened between him and Yukiko Kudo at the coffee shop last time?

Wen Shui's logical reasoning ability played a crucial role at this time.

But this is really hurtful! Who would be interested in their classmate's mother? Although this woman is indeed quite charming.

Wen Shui was a little unhappy.

He decided to find an opportunity next time to have Ran feed him in front of Conan, as a way to punish the kid a little.

.

After confirming the case information, Miwako Sato led a few people to re-examine the scene.

It seems she still believes in her own judgment.

Wen Shui also took the opportunity to conduct research and gather information in several places, including the screening room and the staff lounge.

In fact, when he saw the body hanging in the projection booth, he immediately recalled the events surrounding the case.

The murdered man was Zhang Tianzheng, the owner of a real estate agency and the person who acquired the soon-to-be-bankrupt movie theater.

The deceased was not a good person. He often deliberately smoked in the movie theater, damaging the environment and causing the business to decline. On the last day of the movie theater's operation, he even came to cause trouble.

This is precisely why Minoru Furuhashi, a film projectionist, harbored murderous intent and chose to kill him.

Although the method used in this case was somewhat complicated, Wen Shui still managed to recall the key points and figured that he could handle it after a little confirmation of the situation at the scene.

However, if acting is to be convincing, it would be too fake to make inferences without even investigating the scene, which could easily arouse unnecessary suspicion. Moreover, the progress of systematic research is also very important.

Meanwhile, after discovering that Wen Shui had focused her attention on the case, Conan's slight unease subsided considerably.

In fact, Conan himself felt that it was unlikely that Wen Shui and his mother would develop any romantic feelings for each other.

After all, there is such a big age difference between the two, and most people probably couldn't stand Yukiko Kudo's childish personality.

However, the real reason that Conan couldn't help but remind Yukiko Kudo was...

Actually, it was a comic book that he stumbled upon late at night after he had shrunk.

After Conan swallowed APTX4869 and shrunk, in addition to physical discomfort, he also experienced severe anxiety.

After all, you'll be treated like a child no matter where you go, and after the initial novelty wears off...

Forced to attend school with a bunch of kids, feeling powerless to speak in various situations, and losing all attraction to the opposite sex...

All sorts of negative impacts then surfaced.

Humans only begin to cherish what they once had after they have truly lost it.

Conan also began to miss his former self.

So one quiet night, he clicked on a mysterious website, trying to recapture the feeling of youthful hormones surging.

Then I happened to click on the featured work on the webpage's cover: "The mother of the delinquent in my class is actually very kind to me."

The result was naturally bland and uninteresting. After the body shrank, the secretion of hormones in the body also changed, just like losing appetite, and not feeling much emotional fluctuation.

However, it did give Conan some unpleasant associations after the last coffee shop incident.

Judging from what just happened, he was probably overthinking it. Wen Shui's behavior was quite normal, at least much more normal than when she was with Xiao Lan.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Yukiko Kudo suddenly appeared behind Conan and gently tapped his head.

Conan was startled: "I was thinking about the case. How did the murderer manage to create an alibi while hanging the body up there?"

"Really? I don't get the feeling that you're thinking about a case; you're probably thinking about something bad."

Yukiko Kudo looked somewhat suspicious.

"When your body shrinks, things naturally change too. Okay, don't interrupt my train of thought." How could Conan possibly reveal the contents of that manga? He'd be beaten to death if he did!

He had no choice but to pretend to be angry to change the subject.

Yukiko Kudo crossed her arms and said with slight dissatisfaction, "Yes, yes, I'm just an idiot who knows nothing about reasoning, of course I'm not as good as you father and son."

Conan looked helpless: "Don't drag me into your argument with Dad."

"Hmph, I'm not going to bother with you anymore, but you'd better find some clues that can prove this case is a murder as soon as possible. The detectives over there are getting impatient."

After finishing her sentence, Yukiko Kudo turned and walked towards the large screen in the first row.

Then she looked around and realized that she didn't have anyone she knew to chat with. She thought Inspector Megure would come, but instead a young female detective came.

Sigh, I should have gone shopping with Eri instead.

Unexpectedly, their attempt to recapture their youthful spirit through Shinichi led to a brutal murder case.

Is this God's way of telling her that lost youth cannot be turned back?

Yukiko Kudo felt a little melancholy.

However, at that moment, Yukiko Kudo suddenly noticed that Kazuki Onami was standing alone at the second-floor window, peeking out and furtively fiddling with the playback machine.

Strange, could it be that that kid Wen Shui found the clue before Shinichi?

Yukiko Kudo's curiosity was piqued. With a quick glance around her eyes, she slipped up to the second floor unnoticed.

.

Wen Shui is adjusting the machine's position, preparing to replicate the murderer's modus operandi.

Because he remembered that in the original work, Conan also recreated the murderer's method of hiding and hanging the body, and using a mirror to switch film reels.

Recreating the scene might improve the material gathering process.

However, just as Wen Shui turned around to go downstairs and discuss the matter with Miwako, she heard the crisp sound of high heels on the projection room floor behind her.

Yukiko Kudo leaned closer, looking curiously at the projection window with him, a delicate and sweet fragrance wafting into their nostrils.

"What are you fiddling with? Have you found a clue?"

Yukiko Kudo spent a long time observing the area around the screening room but couldn't figure out what was going on, so she simply asked Wenshui directly.

Wen Shui looked at the sexy woman in front of him. She wore light makeup today, with long, thick, delicate eyelashes and big, watery eyes full of curiosity.

At this moment, Yukiko Kudo was completely devoid of the dignified and composed demeanor of a noblewoman from before. She seemed to have reverted to the retired idol who disguised herself as a high school student to follow him.

So, is it true that some of Conan's personality traits are inherited from this woman?

Objectively speaking, this impulsive personality, combined with her unique identity, creates quite a contrast.

Moreover, regardless of the era, the type of female protagonist who is impulsive yet always full of curiosity about life and never gives up hope is always very popular.

I even feel that if Shinichi Kudo were replaced by a female detective, his impulsive and righteous personality might actually become a selling point.

Wen Shui: "I think I've figured out the killer's method."

"Huh? Really? Who's the murderer?" Yukiko Kudo asked in surprise.

Wen Shui smiled mysteriously: "It's a secret for now. I plan to replicate the murderer's modus operandi. You'll see it in a bit."

After saying that, he got up and left the screening room.