Detective Conan: Developing a younger version of Ran Eri, and the stunning Yukiko.

After the tea party ended, everyone left the lakeside and returned to their living quarters in the villa to rest.

Before they knew it, it was four o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, Ryoichi, Ryozo's son, came running back in a panic. His flustered appearance displeased Ryozo.

Ryoichi anxiously asked everyone present, "Has anyone seen Rie?"

"I didn't see her. What's wrong, Ms. Rie?" Ran replied.

"She's gone. I can't find her anywhere, and I can't get through on the phone," Liangyi replied anxiously.

Upon hearing this, the members of "410" speculated that Ryozo might have disapproved of the marriage, which hurt Rie and probably caused her to run home.

"She's probably gone home," Sonoko guessed.

“No, she won’t. I told her I would try to persuade my father to stay, and she agreed.” Liang Yi said with a worried look. “Besides, I asked the gatekeeper at the entrance of the mountain road, and he said no one has come down the mountain.”

"So... Rie didn't go down the mountain, but just disappeared into thin air on the mountain?" Sera Masumi said, stroking her chin.

At this moment, Shiraishihara stood up and said, "Since Ms. Rie is missing, let's all look for her together."

……

Scattered across the mountain are many wooden cabins, built for tea pickers. However, it's not tea picking season now, so the cabins are all empty. After his marriage proposal was rejected, Ryoichi took Rie to one of these cabins.

Everyone worked together to help Ryoichi find Rie Kawakita, but after searching the entire tea plantation, they still couldn't find any trace of her.

"What if she ran to the lake?" Masumi tentatively suggested.

This statement immediately sparked a thought among everyone: "That's right, we haven't looked for the area by the lake yet!"

Immediately afterwards, the group walked through the woods and arrived at the lake where they had previously drunk tea. They found the lakeside deserted and there was no sign of Rie.

"It seems Rie isn't here!" Ryoichi was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. "Rie...where did she go?"

Shiraishi said, "No, that's not right. Rie definitely came here. Look over there..."

Following the direction Shiraishihara pointed, everyone's faces instantly turned pale. On the grass by the shore lay a pair of sandals, the very same sandals Rie had been wearing earlier.

But why are Rie's shoes at the lakeside?

A somber mood crept over everyone, a sense of foreboding creeping into their hearts. Rie was missing, yet her shoes had appeared by the lake; the answer seemed obvious...

"Rie, Rie!" Ryoichi rushed forward without thinking, wanting to jump into the lake. Shiraishihara reacted quickly and grabbed him.

"Let me go! Rie is in the lake! I have to save her!" Ryoichi struggled frantically and roared, but was held tightly by Shiraishihara.

The lake appears calm on the surface, but it is actually fraught with danger. If it weren't for professionals going down to retrieve the bodies, they might have lost their own lives.

"Calm down first. It's too dangerous to go into the lake like this!"

"Shiraishihara solemnly advised, "Besides, Rie has been missing for so long. If she really sank into the water, she's probably already..."

"No! Impossible! Rie must still be alive!" Ryoichi insisted that his girlfriend was still alive.

……

After receiving the report, the police quickly arrived at the scene. The area is under the jurisdiction of Shizuoka Prefecture, and the detective in charge was Inspector Yokomizo.

Police learned that someone was suspected of committing suicide by drowning, so they brought in relevant water-related equipment.

After a diving search, the police successfully located Rie's body and brought it ashore.

Sunlight dappled across Rie's wet body, casting dappled shadows. Though she was gone, she seemed to retain a strange expression, presenting an eerie beauty.

Liang Yi suddenly knelt down with a thud, crying his heart out. Seeing this, everyone felt pity for him.

Seeing their master's son so grief-stricken, the disciples, Morio Yagura and Yukari Ichimura, wanted to comfort him but didn't know how to start, and could only let out a long sigh.

Xiaolan wiped away her tears, unable to accept this outcome: "Why did this happen?"

Sonoko was also too saddened to speak.

Afterwards, Inspector Yokomizo questioned everyone in detail about the whole incident.

"I see. After Ms. Rie went missing, you started searching for her everywhere. You found her sandals by the lake and then called the police..."

No signs of struggle were found on the body, and the deceased was carrying a bag filled with stones, presumably prepared to ensure her suicide.

The deceased had even taken off his sandals on the shore, and all signs pointed to suicide.

"The reason she committed suicide was probably because Ryoichi's father opposed the marriage," Sera Masumi analyzed.

Inspector Yokomizo also agrees with this statement.

However, Ryoichi suddenly shouted, "No! Rie didn't commit suicide, she was murdered! The murderer is my father!"

Ryoichi whirled around, pointing a finger directly at his father: "Don't think I don't know. Before Rie disappeared, you went to see her and met with her privately. You must have killed Rie!"

"Mr. Ryozo, is this really true?" Inspector Yokomizo inquired.

Aonoki Ryozo did not hide anything, and with his hands behind his back, he said, "It is true. However, I did not kill her. I called her here only to talk to her, hoping that she would leave my son. For this, I also promised her some benefits."

"Oh? So you killed her because she wouldn't agree?"

"That's utter nonsense!" Ryozo's face flushed with anger. "Would I need to kill someone over such a trivial matter? Besides, after some persuasion, she has already promised me that she will break up with Ryoichi."

"Impossible! Rie and I truly loved each other! How could she possibly agree to break up with me? Dad, you must be lying. Rie must have refused to comply, so you cruelly murdered her!"

Liang Yi glared angrily at his father and shouted at him.

"Outrageous! You unfilial and rebellious son, how dare you slander your own father like this! It's simply outrageous!" Liangzang was so angry that he blew his beard and glared at his father.

The father and son, who were once inseparable, are now like mortal enemies.

Listening to their heated argument, Shiraishihara was filled with doubt. Why was Ryozo so strongly opposed to Ryoichi and Rie's marriage?

Liangzang wasn't exactly a big shot; a kindergarten teacher was perfectly suited to his son.

...................................

No. .

167. Tomoko Suzuki in black stockings and a bodycon skirt; one can't help but admire her incredible stamina.

Chapter 167

Is this another one of those melodramatic Japanese soap opera plots where the lovers turn out to be siblings? The Japanese love playing these kinds of tropes.

The Imperial family has always been fond of these complex court dramas, and it's not hard to imagine that the lower classes would follow suit.

After investigation and analysis, Inspector Yokomizo and his team ruled out Ryozo as a suspect. After all, Ryozo was elderly, and his strength might not have been sufficient to kill a young woman like Rie. Furthermore, Rie's body showed no signs of struggle.

Since Ryozo has been cleared of suspicion of murder, it can be basically determined that Rie committed suicide by drowning herself in the lake. This was a suicide, not a homicide.

"The presence of mushroom-like foam in the deceased's mouth confirms drowning. However, whether the drowning actually occurred in this lake requires further analysis of the fluid sample," the forensic investigators reported to Inspector Yokomizo.

Sonoko asked, looking puzzled, "Shiraishi-kun, what are mushroom-shaped bubbles?"

Shiraishi casually explained, "Mushroom-like foam is a type of foam formed when respiratory mucus mixes with water. It is commonly found in the mouths of drowning victims and is an important indicator of whether death was caused by drowning."

"Wow, Shiraishi-kun is amazing, he knows everything!" Ran exclaimed in admiration upon hearing this.

Sera Masumi pursed her lips, thinking to herself that she already knew this knowledge, so what was the big deal?

Inspector Yokomizo addressed the crowd, saying, "We are now fairly certain that Rie committed suicide. The police will take her body back for a thorough autopsy to ensure that no clues are overlooked."

After saying this, the police took Rie's body away and returned to their station.

After watching the police leave, Sera Masumi immediately moved closer to Shiraishihara.

"Master, did Rie really take her own life? I don't think so... This is too sudden!"

Shiraishi rubbed his chin, unsure of what to do at that moment.

"...a more in-depth investigation is needed to find out."

The group then returned to the villa. Since Ryozo was going to announce his retirement the next day, he arranged for everyone to stay at the villa and assigned them rooms.

Although Ryozo arranged the guest rooms, the power to decide which room the children would stay in rested with Tomoko Suzuki, since these four children were brought by Tomoko Suzuki.

"What? Mom, you're going to share a room with Shiraishihara?" Sonoko exclaimed in surprise.

Ran and Masumi were equally puzzled. The resort had plenty of rooms; Shiraishi could easily have a room to himself. Why did Sonoko's mother insist on sharing a room with Shiraishi?

“I’m worried about Shiraishihara living alone. Who knows if the three of you will sneak over to his place in the middle of the night? Students should lead healthy and normal lives, understand?”

Tomoko Suzuki's expression was serious, and her tone left no room for doubt; the aura of a business queen was fully displayed at this moment.

then……

Tomoko Suzuki and Hara Shiraishi shared a room, while Ran, Sonoko, and Masumi shared another room.

Tomoko Suzuki led Shiraishihara into the room, closed the door, and then gave him a passionate kiss.

"Xiaoyuan, haven't you been itching to get started for a while now...?"

"No, actually I was thinking about the case."

"Oh dear, you're so clueless about romance."

"I always felt that Ms. Rie didn't commit suicide."

"I have no interest in listening to your reasoning!"

Suzuki Tomoko gave Shiraishihara a push, and Shiraishihara plopped down on the tatami mat.

Wearing a business uniform, Tomoko Suzuki took off her coat and unbuttoned the collar of her white women's shirt, revealing her full breasts.

"Aunt Pengzi, didn't you say you were going to keep an eye on me? You're clearly stealing from me!"

"Stop pretending!"

Suzuki Tomoko's beautiful feet, clad in black stockings beneath her bodycon skirt, stepped towards Shiraishihara. It was the same old routine, and Shiraishihara was instantly caught off guard.

"Wait, wait a minute..."

Shiraishi Hara quickly grasped Suzuki Tomoko's ankle, examining her beautiful feet up close. Her feet were soft and boneless, with slightly curved arches, and her toes, hidden in stockings, were faintly visible, translucent and radiant. Far from having any unpleasant odor, they exuded a captivating allure.

"It seems, Kohara, you really like Auntie's feet, don't you?"

Shiraishi's handsome face flushed slightly as he released Suzuki Tomoko's foot and said, "No, Aunt Tomoko, I'm thinking about something else. How about we continue after we take a shower?"

"It's not too late to shower after I'm done... There are quite a few people staying at the resort tonight, and there will be a queue for showers. I don't want to wait."

"Uh... then let's do as Aunt Tomoko said, and wash after we're done..."

"Giggle..."

Tomoko Suzuki smiled with extreme charm.

"Xiaoyuan, Auntie is here."

Suzuki Tomoko straddled Shiraishihara, so close that she could almost see the strange light emanating from him.

"Gulu."

Tomoko Suzuki swallowed, and a heart shape gradually appeared in her beautiful eyes.

at the same time……

Master Ryozo Aonoki was alone in his room, the door tightly shut. Holding a photograph in his hand, tears streamed down his face: "Mika, I'm so sorry!"

This photograph is about twenty years old. The woman in the photo is probably in her forties or fifties, yet she still retains her charm. She has long hair and a radiant smile on her face. Strangely, this woman bears a striking resemblance to the deceased Kawai Rie.

"What terrible things have I done... I'm sorry, Mika, I'm sorry Ryoichi, I'm sorry Rie." Ryozo cried out hoarsely.

Similarly, Master Liangzang's two disciples were not idle either.

At this moment, the eldest apprentice, Morio Yagura, and the second apprentice, Yukari Mimura (410), were gathered in the same room. The man and woman were discussing something together.

Yukari Mimura frowned and said, "Our master intends to pass the title of Grandmaster to Ryoichi. But Ryoichi has absolutely no interest in the tea ceremony. How can that be? Only his son is his true flesh and blood; we disciples are no different from his servants..."

“Actually, it doesn’t matter who it’s passed on to.” Yagura Morio picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said with a profound and inscrutable expression.

"How can there be no difference?" Yukari Mimura asked, her face full of confusion.

Morio Yagura chuckled a few times, looking completely unconcerned.

“If Master can pass on the Grandmaster position to Liangyi, Liangyi can also pass it on to someone else. Liangyi never wanted to take on this Grandmaster position.”

Upon hearing this, Yukari Mimura's expression changed instantly.

"You, have you already..."

"That's right, otherwise why do you think I've been trying to get closer to Ryoichi?"

"You! You're so despicable!"