Guns and Coffee in the World of Science

Chen Shuo curiously opened the envelope and found another letter sealed with red wax inside. It looked quite formal. He opened the envelope, glanced at the contents, and raised his eyebrows slightly. "So it's an invitation to Kudo Shinichi to attend an afternoon tea party."

He paused, as if recalling something, and continued, "Moritani Teiji... I vaguely remember him. He's a well-known Japanese architectural designer who designed many large buildings. I think you've heard of this name, right?"

Conan's face was filled with confusion when he heard this. "Moritani Teiji? I don't even know this guy! He's not even related to me, so why would he suddenly invite me to afternoon tea?"

After hearing this, Ran Mouri was also a little curious. Although she and Sonoko Suzuki were good friends, Sonoko obviously would not take Ran to such high-class gatherings. The gatherings they attended were mostly social gatherings.

Xiaolan's eyes sparkled with excitement: "Moriya Teiji's afternoon tea party, it sounds very special! I have never attended a real aristocratic style afternoon tea party like this."

As she spoke, her face flushed slightly. Imagining herself and Chen Shuo attending such a high-end party together, her heart beat faster and she even felt a little shy. She lowered her head and pretended to concentrate on the table, not letting others see the blush on her face.

Chen Shuo noticed the slightly expectant look on Mao Lilan's face and couldn't help but smile. He said gently, "Since Xiaolan is interested, let's go together. It's a good opportunity to satisfy everyone's curiosity and help Conan see what Moriya is up to."

Seeing that both of them were in high spirits, Conan felt relieved and nodded, saying, "Okay, it's decided then." Although he was a little annoyed by Ran's inexplicable blush, he also felt a little relieved.

---

On the day of the tea party, a dazzling yellow GTR400R slowly stopped in front of Teiji Moriya's house.

The car immediately caught the attention of passersby. Its sleek lines create a flawless aerodynamic design. The aggressive front grille, flanked by sharp LED headlights, resembles a pair of stern eyes. The rear, accented by dual exhaust pipes and a large spoiler, gleams in the sun, creating a powerful and swift look. Every detail of the car exudes a sense of poised power, ready to leap forth at any moment.

Chen Shuo stepped out of the driver's seat with a satisfied smile on his face. Conan and Mao Lilan followed him out. Conan, with a somewhat speechless look in his eyes, silently surveyed the dazzling new car, secretly admiring it: Chen Shuo's taste is indeed unique, always driving such a striking luxury car. Although he didn't drive often, he seemed to have a special obsession with buying cars.

Conan's curiosity finally got the better of him, and he couldn't help asking, "Brother Shuo, why did you suddenly choose the GTR? I thought you would continue to drive a Jaguar or a Hummer."

Chen Shuo smiled, as if he had anticipated Conan's question. "The Jaguar is great, but it only has two seats, which is not very convenient for a trip. The Hummer, on the other hand, is too flashy and sometimes not suitable. The GTR just came out, and I think it's a good fit. It offers both speed and a low profile, so it's a good compromise."

After hearing this, Conan couldn't help but frown, his eyes twitching slightly, and he couldn't help complaining in his heart: If this is a "compromise", then what is an ordinary car... He is indeed a rich man, his thinking is different.

Ran Maoli didn't think much of it. She was captivated by the magnificent mansion of Teiji Moriya, and she couldn't help but exclaim in amazement. The manor before her was vast, with symmetrical buildings, showcasing the grandeur and luxury of British architecture. As she looked at it, she couldn't help but sigh softly, "Wow, this mansion is so beautiful! It looks like a castle from a movie!"

Chen Shuo stood beside her and explained softly, "This manor is designed in strict English symmetrical style. The designer created it to be extremely solemn. I did some research on this Moriya Teiji. His real name was 'Moriko Sadaharu,' but he later changed it to 'Moriya Teiji', supposedly to make his name look symmetrical. This person probably has severe obsessive-compulsive disorder."

Mao Lilan's eyes widened as she looked at Chen Shuo in surprise, then at the building in front of her: "I can't believe that even the name can be changed so meticulously."

Chen Shuo straightened his suit and smiled faintly: "Okay, let's go in and take a look at this tea party." His tone was calm and confident, as if such an occasion was the most natural thing for him.

The three of them slowly walked into Moriya Teiji's manor, their footsteps softly echoing in the spacious courtyard. The surrounding English-style architecture gave the entire place a solemn and dignified air. Perhaps this atmosphere had an impact on Mao Lilan, as she suddenly and naturally took Chen Shuo's arm. Chen Shuo was slightly startled, but seeing the slight shyness on her face, he quickly smiled gently, making himself appear more natural. The two walked side by side, their coordination natural and harmonious, like a loving couple.

Conan, who was walking behind, saw this scene and immediately felt jealous. He curled his lips slightly and followed behind with an unhappy look on his face. Although his relationship with Chen Shuo had improved, the oppressive feeling Chen Shuo gave him was still there. Deep down, he always had a trace of fear of Chen Shuo, which made him dare not act rashly.

Conan secretly clenched his fists and encouraged himself in his heart: "No, this can't go on! I must destroy that organization as soon as possible and restore the original state as soon as possible. Otherwise, Xiaolan will really get further and further away from me..."

Mao Lilan was completely unaware of Conan's complex emotions. She still held Chen Shuo's arm and admired the architecture of the manor. She was mesmerized by the magnificent building before her, as if she had walked into a fairy tale castle, and a happy smile appeared on her face.

Chen Shuo lowered his head slightly, gazing tenderly at Mao Lilan, feeling a touch of warmth at her excitement. He smiled softly, not breaking the momentary calm. Walking along the flowery paths of the manor, to those around them, the trio looked more like a harmonious family, exuding a warm atmosphere.

Moriya Diji, who came out to greet them, was immediately drawn to Chen Shuo's calm demeanor. Although he didn't recognize the three people before him, he was certain they were no ordinary people. Chen Shuo's calm demeanor and indifferent smile, in particular, exuded exceptional confidence. Moriya glanced at them with a hint of doubt, then quickly stepped forward with a smile.

"May I ask who the three distinguished guests are?" he asked politely, with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

Mao Lilan smiled slightly and replied politely: "We are here to attend the party on behalf of Kudo Shinichi. He couldn't attend for some reason, so he asked us to come."

After hearing this, a trace of regret flashed across Moritani's face, and then he nodded: "Ah, what a pity. I have always wanted to meet Mr. Kudo Shinichi, but it is also an honor to have you guys come with me." He warmly invited them in and personally led the three of them to the gathering place in the backyard.

As they walked through the stately and exquisite corridors, Moriya occasionally chatted with Chen Shuo, clearly admiring his elegant demeanor and conversation. "This mansion was designed entirely according to my concept, and every detail has been meticulously crafted. I'm delighted that you're here to visit," Moriya said with a hint of pride.

Chen Shuo smiled slightly, nodded in praise, and said, "Mr. Moritani is indeed a renowned architectural master. This manor is full of rigor and elegance, and every detail shows a unique style."

After hearing this, Moriya's eyes lit up with satisfaction, clearly pleased with Chen Shuo's tact. With a touch of pride, he led the three of them to the backyard. The spacious garden was furnished with several ornate tables and chairs, and the courtyard was ablaze with flowers. The tea party setting was exquisite and full of classical charm.

"Please enjoy yourselves. Today's tea party is designed to provide everyone with an opportunity to relax. I hope you enjoy it." Moritani bowed slightly and made an invitation gesture.

Mao Lilan looked at the beautiful garden in front of her, her eyes sparkling with excitement: "It's so beautiful! Thank you Mr. Moritani for your hospitality."

---

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Chen Shuo and the other two, Moriya Teiji smiled and said goodbye, going to greet other guests. Chen Shuo looked around and found that this party was almost full of celebrities and elites from all walks of life. The atmosphere was full of luxury and elegance.

As the guests were chatting, Moriya Teiji suddenly threw a riddle to everyone, which aroused everyone's interest:

"Oyamada Riki, type A, born in October 31, enjoys hot springs; Sorahi Sasuke, type B, born in June 10, enjoys photography; Konori Ni, type O, born in January 32, enjoys walking. Everyone, can anyone guess the connection?"

The guests began to discuss in low voices, their brows furrowed, clearly puzzled by the puzzle. After pondering for a while, they gradually gave up. Conan pondered for a moment, a flash of inspiration in his eyes, and he shouted, "The answer is 'Momotaro'!"

When Conan confidently gave the answer "Momotaro", Moriya Teiji was slightly stunned, obviously a little surprised. He turned to look at Conan and asked with interest: "Little friend, how did you come up with this answer?"

Conan smiled, cleared his throat, and began to explain: "The key lies in the three people's zodiac signs, which are monkey, bird, and dog. And in Momotaro's story, his followers are exactly these three animals, so the answer is naturally 'Momotaro'!"

After hearing this, Moriya Teiji couldn't help but nod in praise, a hint of surprise on his face. He then applauded and said, "How clever! It's truly remarkable that you have such a sharp mind at such a young age."

The guests around him also applauded, cheering for Conan's cleverness. This made Conan feel a little proud, and a bit of smugness appeared on his face. It had been a long time since he had felt this kind of success in front of so many people.

However, Chen Shuo on the side noticed a subtle difference - the expression on Moriya Teiji's face did not seem to be completely confident, but rather there was some subtle doubt, as if he himself did not know the answer to the puzzle at the beginning.

As a reward for Conan guessing the riddle, he allowed the three of them to visit his exhibition room.

The three followed Moriya Teiji to the exhibition room, where photos of various buildings he designed were displayed, showing a great scale and style. Ran and Conan admired these exquisite buildings as they toured. Among the many exquisite buildings, Chen Shuo noticed that several seemed familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before, but for a moment, he couldn't recall the specific scenes.

During the visit, Moriya Teiji calmly expressed his dissatisfaction with some of his younger designs, lamenting the regrets his immaturity had brought him. Xiaolan nodded earnestly, offering him comfort. However, Chen Shuo noticed that during the small talk, Moriya Teiji would occasionally inquire about Kudo Shinichi's situation, as if he was deeply interested in him.

Xiaolan didn't realize what Moriya Teiji was up to. She just enthusiastically talked about Shinichi, mentioning that he had loved reasoning since he was a child, and even often disregarded danger to solve cases. She suddenly remembered, "Oh, right! May 5th is Shinichi's birthday!" She looked at Chen Shuo and Conan excitedly and said, "Then let's go to the movies together on May 4rd! Let's celebrate Shinichi's birthday!"

The moment Xiaolan finished speaking, Chen Shuo keenly noticed a slight change in Moriya Teiji's expression. A hint of cold murderous intent flickered in his eyes. Although fleeting, it made Chen Shuo feel a little uneasy. He calmly accepted Xiaolan's invitation and said, "I don't know much about Kudo Shinichi, and we rarely interact with each other." He tried to downplay her interest in Shinichi.

Moriya Teiji just smiled, as if everything just now was an illusion. But Chen Shuo still felt doubtful and became more alert. Xiaolan and Conan did not notice the subtle changes, but Chen Shuo had a vague feeling that there seemed to be some unusual intentions behind this tea party.

---

After afternoon tea, Chen Shuo slowly drove back, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, his mind secretly pondering Moriya Teiji's intentions. The murderous intent Moriya Teiji had flashed at the tea party earlier had made him almost certain his target was Kudo Shinichi. However, Conan clearly had no memory of Moriya Teiji; it was clear he wasn't an acquaintance. With Conan's exceptional memory, if he had come across such a celebrity before, he would never have forgotten him. So, why did Moriya Teiji harbor such deep hostility towards Shinichi?

With this thought in mind, Chen Shuo glanced through the rearview mirror at Conan in the backseat. He was currently discussing the May 5rd itinerary with Mao Lilan in the passenger seat, and the tea party had clearly been temporarily forgotten. Seeing Conan and Mao Lilan's relaxed and cheerful demeanor, Chen Shuo couldn't help but sigh inwardly: "This kid, how many people has he offended in the past? He always manages to provoke such a formidable opponent."

However, Chen Shuo had no intention of making it public. He knew it was best not to let Mao Lilan know about this, so as not to increase her worries. Furthermore, some things were best left to Conan to handle carefully on his own. He wanted to find an opportunity to remind Conan alone, to make him realize that Moriya Teiji was not as kind as he appeared.