The Cruelest Way to Die...
Everyone stared blankly at the little miss.
Mingmei patted her sister's head.
What on earth does this kid think about every day...
"We should save more food for Brother Lin Feng," Genta suddenly remembered. If that guy got hungry, he could turn terrifying.
Ai chuckled twice, shaking her head. "No, at that point, he might eat the glasses kid first."
Heh heh heh...
"G-Gr-Gray, Haibara, stop joking!" Mitsuhiko felt a chill. Can we skip this ghost story part?
Ayumi packed the remaining bread into a clean bag.
Brother Lin Feng eats a lot; pack more so Conan doesn't miss out.
"If they don't return soon, let's split up and search," Mamiya Takato glanced outside; dusk had fallen.
Though unlikely to repeat two years ago, with night coming, we must find them.
...
In the woods outside the castle, a "bang" sounded as a square patch of grass lifted.
"Hey, where are you going?"
Conan looked speechlessly at the repairman.
Flashlight in hand, twisting through paths to exit—why not head back to the castle?
"There's meat in the car cooler; aren't you hungry?" Tsuneo thought, can't let premium stuff sit overnight.
Grill it over charcoal!
"Return to the castle and tell the Doctor first?" Conan looked up at the repairman climbing the fence, rolling his eyes.
It's raining; where will you grill?
Plus, bad guys in the castle—I got knocked out; leaving them is dangerous.
"Your soccer ball?" Tsuneo laughed, jumping outside to fetch meat.
What?
Can't transform at key moments?
Encounter demons? Kick them dead!
"This guy..." Conan gave up complaining, heading toward the distant castle.
That skeleton I saw earlier—what was it?
That outfit...
"Conan, Brother Tsuneo, where are you?"
As the great detective pondered while walking, shouts came from afar.
The three kids led the search outside, calling their names.
"Weird, where could they be?" Dr. Agasa scratched his head, puzzled.
Shinichi aside, why hasn't Lin-kun returned for dinner?
"Right, the car cooler!" Mingmei suddenly recalled.
Could it be?
No way?
"Heh heh heh..." Ai smiled speechlessly.
That guy might already be grilling...
"Conan, stop hiding!"
"We're not playing hide-and-seek!" Genta cupped hands like a megaphone, yelling loudly.
Keep this up, and I'll demote you as strategist!
"Hey!"
In the drizzle, the bespectacled grim reaper elementary student stood by a tree, waving.
"It's Conan!" Ayumi smiled, carrying the bread bag, running over with Genta and Mitsuhiko.
"What's with hide-and-seek?"
Conan got hugged by Ayumi, blushing as the repairman predicted, asking Genta.
The detective rubbed his head.
This hide-and-seek is too violent... I was found by Tsuneo in the underground chamber by the burned tower.
Some distance from where I was attacked and knocked out.
Likely moved after.
"Conan, where're your glasses?" Mitsuhiko waved in front of him.
Seems he sees fine without.
Why wear them???
"No idea." The detective shook his head.
Maybe the culprit took them as a trophy.
"Right, where's Brother Tsuneo?" Genta looked around, no repairman.
Conan was about to speak when the shrunken scientist approached. "I bet he's found shelter from the rain, humming, eating grilled meat."
Conan eyed his bread. "Heh heh..."
Spot on!
"Your head?" Ai's expression grew serious.
Not simple.
That with rainwater—blood?
Conan touched his head, checked his palm, smiled. "This castle hides many secrets."
Wait for it; I'll catch you soon!
"Hey, Conan, bump into a tree?" Genta said, knocking the trunk with his fist.
"Am I an idiot to hit the back of my head?" Conan glanced at Genta clutching his fist.
You'll turn into a glutton like Tsuneo.
No, your case might be worse...
Mitsuhiko patted Conan's shoulder, smiling. "You don't seem sharp today..."
"Yeah, haha." Ayumi laughed too.
Anyway, Conan's fine—great!
Brother Tsuneo?
No worry; even wolves would get eaten by him.
Chatting, they returned to the castle.
"Call police first?" Ai crossed legs, watching her sister disinfect the detective's head.
His head seems fine; no hospital needed.
But a kid attacked...
"Tsuneo probably called already. Next, uncover the truth!" Conan's lenses glinted routinely.
He must know magic...
...
Outside the castle gate, a quiet, wind-sheltered spot.
"Hey, Officer Megure?" Tsuneo clamped phone with head and shoulder, calling the veteran.
"Brother Tsuneo?" Megure, just home, sensed trouble.
Another case?
Or something else!
"Big case..."
As expected, another case...
Noting the address, Megure asked puzzled: "Brother Tsuneo, what are you doing? I hear sizzling."
Thought his phone broke.
The repairman sat under an umbrella, glancing at the gardener beside him, rubbing his head, full of questions.
Good guy, lending an umbrella; good I almost hit you earlier.
(End of Chapter)
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