Conan's All-Member Force Enhancement Plan

Chapter 552 Accepting the Commission

Since it was decided to entrust the task to Hattori Heiji and Sera Masumi, Ryuen briefly described the details of the task to them and briefly introduced the people in the temple: "I am the monk here, Ryuen.

This elder monk is the abbot of this temple, Yuanhai.

As for these three, they are the donors of this temple. The wealthy old gentleman is called Sakura Masazo, and he runs an antique shop on Teramachi Street.

The handsome and elegant gentleman next to him is the young master of the Noh Mizuo-ryu, Mr. Mizuo Harutaro.

This gentleman with a literary air is Mr. Nishijo Taikawa, who runs a used bookstore. "

Several people greeted each other.

Yuan Hai said: "Rather than being a donor, it's better to say that he is a fellow swordsman."

Sera Masumi said sweetly, "So you all practice kendo, no wonder the host looks so tough."

After introducing the few people to each other, Long Yuan made a bitter face and sighed as he talked about the theft of the Buddha statue.

That happened eight years ago. At that time, Long Yuan advocated calling the police immediately, but was stopped by the abbot. He said that if they were destined to do so, they would meet the Medicine Buddha statue again.

Just like that, eight years passed quickly, until today, when Long Yuan found a letter in the mailbox.

There was no sender on the envelope, and inside it was a note and a piece of drawing paper of unknown meaning.

The note read: [As long as you solve the mystery of this painting, you will know where the Buddha statue is.]

The painting shows something like a shelf with five layers of partitions.

From top to bottom, they are:

Fifth partition: orange cicada-like creature, green Tengu ghost mask, orange goldfish.

There is a black “丶” on the right side of the back panel between the fifth and second partitions.

The fourth layer: a yellow rooster with yellow tentacles and a long tail.

The third layer: empty.

The transition back panel between the second layer of partitions and the first layer: purple violet, green ghost face, purple Mount Fuji.

Fifth layer: empty.

There is an acorn somewhere beyond the shelf.

When Long Yuan opened the letter, the three donors were also there, and they gave him advice and asked him to ask Kogoro Mori for help.

Unexpectedly, a few high school detectives showed up and intercepted the plan.

Masumi Sera and Heiji Hattori were confused by the puzzle handed over by Ryuen. They were about to find Kudo Shinichi to discuss it, but when they turned around, they saw Kudo Shinichi with a depressed look on his face as if he was doubting his life.

Both of them: ...?

At this moment, Kudo Shinichi's heart was filled with shock, wailing, grievance and other emotions.

Why, why does Xiaolan only praise Hattori Heiji and Sera Masumi?

Why didn't Xiaolan mention Kudo Shinichi at all just now?

He's obviously an excellent detective!

Shouldn't we recommend him if there's a commission? He's also with Hattori Heiji!

Could it be, could it be that it is really because he has not been with Xiaolan for a long time that his presence has gradually weakened?

Is Xiaolan going to abandon him?

Kudo Shinichi suddenly remembered what Nakamichi had said at Kiyomizu Temple before - "You haven't been with her all the time. If you don't quickly find Mori to establish your status with her, you'd be careful of falling out of favor."

Falling out of favor…

Fall out of favor? !!!

No, no!

This is absolutely not okay!

This kind of thing absolutely!!! Absolutely!!! Absolutely!!!

Although Mao Lilan simply hides the name Kudo Shinichi from outsiders out of habit, this is also to reduce the attention on Kudo Shinichi as much as possible, making it easier for Edogawa Conan to continue hiding.

But Kudo Shinichi didn't know about this.

Kudo Shinichi suddenly raised his head and looked at Mouri Ran with a firm expression, as if he had made some kind of decision.

Everyone present: ...?

What does this person do?

Why is it suddenly so weird? Can I be possessed by evil spirits in a temple?

Hattori Heiji put his face directly in front of Kudo Shinichi: "Kudo? What's wrong with you? Why are you suddenly in a daze?"

Kudo Shinichi suddenly came back to his senses, and seeing that everyone was looking at him, he stammered, "Ah? W-what happened?"

Hattori Heiji said unhappily: "What are you thinking about? I say, you didn't hear what Long Yuan said just now, did you?"

He saw that Kudo Shinichi was in a bad state and thought that the temporary antidote had taken effect and Kudo Shinichi was about to shrink on the spot.

Scared him to death!

Kudo Shinichi glanced at Mao Lilan, and then said seriously: "I heard it, let's look at the painting quickly."

Sera Masumi examined him and asked, "Really?"

Kudo Shinichi nodded randomly: "Anyway, let's solve the puzzle first."

The non-detectives on the other side were whispering.

Suzuki Sonoko pulled Si Xuanyu and Shan Haijing closer to Mao Lilan and whispered: "What do you think Shinichi was thinking just now?"

Si Xuanyu spread his hands: "Who knows, doesn't he always talk nonsense like this?"

Suzuki Sonoko thought about it and decided, "That's right, so let's go to Sannoji Temple."

Si Xuanyu and Mao Lilan readily agreed, and Shan Hai Jing flew out happily.

After the group came back from the tour, Kudo Shinichi and the other two had already asked Long Yuan and Yuan Hai about all the details of what happened back then, but they still couldn't come up with the answer to the puzzle.

Toyama Kazuha suggested: "Since we suspect that it was Hotaru Genji who stole the Buddha statue, why don't we go to places related to Benkei and Yoshitsune to look for clues?"

Suzuki Sonoko agreed, "That's great! The three of them can solve the puzzle, and the four of us can play!"

The others also thought this was a good idea, so they left Shanneng Temple and went out to look for clues.

Unfortunately, they did not find any clues related to the pictures in those places.

After walking around, they decided to find a place to eat first.

While waiting for the food to be served, Toyama Kazuha finally found an opportunity to do what she had originally wanted to do with Hattori Heiji.

"Hey, Heiji, I've never asked you in detail about what happened between you and your first love."

When Hattori Heiji heard what Toyama Kazuha said, he was stunned for a moment, then frowned slightly: "Kazuha, why do you suddenly ask about this?"

Yuanshan Heye put his hands on his hips: "I just want to know. Why? Can't I know?"

Hattori Heiji scratched his head: "That's not the case, it's just..."

I just feel like something is weird and awkward.

But Hattori Heiji thought about it, and finally described the scene in a hesitant and dry manner.

Kudo Shinichi, who had just heard the dream scene described by Hattori Heiji, said: ...Hey, hey, hey, you didn't say that before! You said it so romantically and acted so infatuated before, but now you're talking like you just met a stranger on the street!

The others also felt that there didn't seem to be a feeling of "first love" in Hattori Heiji's words. Is it so barren?

Toyama Kazuha was stunned for a while. Hattori Heiji always acted affectionate and nostalgic before, so why is it that now...

But speaking of which, is there a girl in a kimono who was singing and playing with a ball under the cherry trees in the temple grounds of Sannoji?

Why does this scene feel familiar?

After thinking about it but couldn't remember anything, Yuanshan Heye shook his head to wake himself up.

No matter what, this guy Heiji! He actually unilaterally called the other person his "first love", and even picked up the other person's things and said they were keepsakes, and without the other person's knowledge, he publicized it in the news!

Really!

This behavior is really terrible!!!