The group made their way down the bustling street, each member wearing a distinctly different expression. Conan looked thoroughly frustrated, Yang Chan gazed around with wide-eyed curiosity, Ran smiled gently at the afternoon scenery, Sonoko practically glowed with romantic fascination, Tezuka maintained his stoic mask despite internal turmoil, and the rest—Gustave, Fuji, Sengoku, and Eiji—observed the unfolding drama with varying degrees of amusement.
My teammates are absolutely useless, Tezuka thought with growing desperation. Can't they see the impossible situation I'm in? Not one of them is stepping up to deflect this attention. This world truly tests one's resolve.
Suddenly, Gustave came to an abrupt halt, causing Conan to walk directly into his back.
"Hey! What's the big idea?!" Conan complained, rubbing his nose indignantly. "You can't just stop without warning like that!"
But Gustave didn't respond. His attention had been completely captured by something in a nearby showroom window—something that made his eyes light up with the unmistakable gleam of a man who'd spotted his dream car.
Following Gustave's transfixed gaze, Conan found himself looking at an absolutely stunning vehicle. The car's sleek silver body gleamed under the showroom lights, its black roof creating a striking contrast. The streamlined silhouette and distinctive taillights were impossible to forget once seen.
"Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato," Conan breathed, immediately understanding Gustave's sudden fascination. "When did this model make it to Japan?"
The car was genuinely breathtaking—widely considered the pinnacle of shooting brake design, combining elegance with raw power in a way that few vehicles could match.
"Chan'er," Gustave said, crouching down to the little girl's eye level, "do you think that car is beautiful?"
"Uh-huh!" she nodded enthusiastically, though she was more interested in pleasing her beloved big brother than analyzing car aesthetics.
"Perfect! Then you and I are going to buy it," Gustave declared with the casual confidence of someone accustomed to making expensive impulse purchases.
Taking Yang Chan's hand, he strode directly toward the showroom entrance. The dealership was clearly upscale, featuring an impressive array of luxury vehicles—Porsche 911s, Mercedes-Benz SLS models, Ferrari 812s—but Gustave had eyes only for his silver obsession.
"Good afternoon! Welcome to our showroom," a professionally dressed saleswoman approached them with a practiced smile. "What type of vehicle were you interested in viewing today?"
Despite the group's relatively casual appearance, she maintained perfect courtesy. High-end dealerships trained their staff to treat every potential customer with respect, regardless of initial impressions. Even if personal judgment occurred, it remained carefully hidden behind professional facades.
"How much for the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato?" Gustave asked directly, wasting no time on small talk.
The saleswoman's eyebrows rose slightly, but she was pleased by his straightforward approach. Customers with specific goals were often the most serious buyers—they rarely haggled and typically made quick decisions.
However, today's situation was somewhat complicated.
"That particular vehicle is priced at 120 million yen," she explained smoothly. "It's the most expensive car in our inventory. This model is limited to just ninety-nine units worldwide, and this is the first one to enter the Japanese market..."
She launched into her well-rehearsed presentation, emphasizing the car's rarity and exclusivity. The price she quoted was roughly double the vehicle's original MSRP, but limited availability had driven up demand significantly.
"Excellent," Gustave replied without hesitation, pulling out his bank card. "I'll buy it."
He didn't even blink at the price! Conan thought in amazement. That's more money than most people see in a lifetime, and he's treating it like buying lunch!
The saleswoman hesitated, looking genuinely uncomfortable despite the massive commission awaiting her.
Noticing the situation developing, the showroom manager approached their group. After a brief consultation with his employee, he stepped forward with an apologetic expression.
"Good afternoon, sir. I'm the manager of this establishment. We're delighted you've chosen to visit us today."
Gustave simply nodded, waiting for the inevitable complication.
"Regarding the Vanquish Zagato, I'm afraid there are certain... prerequisites for purchase that we must discuss."
"What kind of prerequisites?" Gustave asked, though his tone suggested he already suspected what was coming.
He was well familiar with the games luxury car manufacturers played, especially with limited editions. Ferrari was notorious for such practices, and apparently this dealership had adopted similar tactics.
"To purchase this particular vehicle, customers must first achieve VIP membership status," the manager explained with practiced smoothness. "Membership requires a minimum spending threshold of five hundred million yen and ownership of at least eight vehicles purchased through our dealership."
Classic artificial scarcity, Gustave thought. They create exclusivity by forcing customers to buy multiple regular models before accessing the rare ones.
"Very well, then I'll—" Gustave began, prepared to purchase half the showroom if necessary. Money was rarely an obstacle when he could always fund additional dragon-hunting expeditions.
"Wait just a moment," Sonoko interjected firmly, stepping forward with unmistakable authority. "This dealership is owned by the Suzuki Group, correct?"
"Yes, miss, we are indeed a Suzuki Group subsidiary," the manager confirmed, his tone becoming notably more respectful.
"Perfect. I'm Suzuki Sonoko, and I'm authorizing the immediate sale of this vehicle to Mr. Gustave. No membership requirements."
Her commanding presence was impressive enough to give the manager genuine pause. The problem was that while he certainly knew the name Suzuki Sonoko—second daughter of one of Japan's most powerful conglomerates—he'd never actually met her in person.
"Ms. Suzuki," he said carefully, "I'll need to verify... that is, I should confirm..."
"Is there a problem?" Sonoko's voice carried the unmistakable edge of someone accustomed to immediate compliance.
"Please forgive me, but I'll need authorization from upper management before proceeding," the manager replied nervously before hurrying toward the back offices.
"Sonoko, that wasn't necessary," Gustave said once they were alone. "I could have met their membership requirements easily enough."
"Big Brother Gustave," she replied with surprising seriousness, "these people saw how much you wanted this car and decided to exploit that desire. They're trying to force you to spend far more than the vehicle is actually worth. Having money doesn't mean you should waste it on artificial restrictions!"
Despite her privileged upbringing, Sonoko's parents had clearly instilled proper financial values in their daughter. She understood the difference between spending money and throwing it away.
"Hey, Tezuka," Eiji whispered conspiratorially, sidling up to his captain with a knowing grin, "did you see that? Sonoko's not just wealthy—she's financially responsible too. If I were in your position, I'd definitely marry her."
Tezuka's expression grew several degrees darker, his internal stress reaching new heights.