When this familiar conversation unfolded before Lin Yi, he knew what was about to happen.
This made Lin Yi very surprised. He glanced at Kudo Shinichi next to him. Wasn't this guy still not reverted to childhood? How did the art museum murder case get triggered?
But on closer thought, what did it matter?
Whether it was Kudo Shinichi or Edogawa Conan, it wouldn't affect his grand plan of conquest in the slightest.
As for why the murder case happened earlier, Lin Yi thought it should be due to his own appearance.
However, none of these were big problems. As long as Ran and the others didn't turn into men, no matter how things changed, it wouldn't matter at all!
"I found it!"
Ran returned excitedly, pointing towards the exhibition room and saying, "The staff said that medieval armor is over there! Let's go!"
With that, Ran grabbed Sonoko's hand and started walking towards the exhibition room.
However, after taking two steps, Ran noticed that the two boys hadn't followed. Naturally afraid of haunted houses, Ran couldn't help but stop, turn back to them, and ask, "Why aren't you moving?"
"Where would there be any moving armor?"
Shinichi moved his feet lazily, his face clearly showing his reluctance: "It must be just a trick this art museum is using to attract customers!"
After Lin Yi recovered his senses, he followed them towards the exhibition room.
Lin Yi had read about the art museum murder case many times; he knew the details and outcome of this case like the back of his hand.
Frankly, he sympathized with Boss Manaka. Although Manaka had used some cunning methods when purchasing the art museum, business competition is brutal, and deceit is common. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't a major issue.
On the other hand, Lin Yi could never understand Curator Ochiai's thought process.
After confessing, Curator Ochiai tried to whitewash himself, claiming he treated the art museum as his child and wouldn't allow selfish people to defile this sacred place.
But the problem was, the art museum wasn't his; it belonged to his former boss. He was just an employee, so what business was it of his?
Boss Manaka was selfish, but wasn't Ochiai himself selfish? Just because he couldn't bear the art museum becoming a restaurant, he killed someone.
He killed the person, and he felt satisfied.
Did he consider how Boss Manaka's family would feel?
A husband (or father) goes out to discuss a business deal, owes no debt, commits no crime, and then is inexplicably murdered by someone.
Did he consider how the former owner who sold the art museum would feel?
The contract still had ten days until it expired. He killed the person, so who would the former owner demand the final payment from? It's possible the contract would even become void.
Did he consider how the staff working there would feel?
Working as a restaurant server would definitely pay more than working at a quiet art museum. They were hoping for a raise, and you just killed their boss?
Lin Yi wasn't targeting Curator Ochiai; he simply couldn't stand the curator's double standards.
In Ochiai's eyes, someone doing legitimate business was selfish and evil, deserving of divine punishment.
Yet, for his own selfish reasons, he inflicted that divine punishment on someone else, then righteously claimed he was protecting the art museum from defilement.
A complete hypocrite.
Lost in thought, Lin Yi followed them to the exhibition room.
As soon as he entered, Lin Yi saw Ran and Sonoko standing stiffly in place.
So, Lin Yi silently counted in his mind: Three... Two... One... Scream!
"Ah ah ah ah!!!!"
Ran and Sonoko immediately hugged each other, closed their eyes, and screamed hysterically, their voices piercing the sky.
Kudo Shinichi, as if receiving a signal, his lazy expression changed, and he immediately rushed to Ran and Sonoko. Upon seeing the scene before him, his face darkened: a knight's sword pinned Boss Manaka to the wall, blood splattering, the scene utterly brutal.
Soon, nearby staff heard the commotion and ran into the exhibition hall, also witnessing the gruesome scene, which made their faces turn pale.
After Shinichi regained his composure, he had to say:
"Ran, Sonoko! Don't let anyone near the crime scene!"
Thanks to Shinichi's 'God of Death' buff, Ran and Sonoko had seen more corpses than most police officers. So, they quickly recovered from their panic and nodded at Shinichi, indicating they heard him.
After Shinichi called the police, he noticed that the transfer student hadn't moved a muscle, but was still standing there in a daze, clearly terrified by the brutal scene.
This put him in a great mood—it's my time to shine! You just watch with wide eyes how I catch the killer!!
Shinichi was determined to regain the face he had lost earlier in the art museum lobby!
"Lin, don't zone out."
Shinichi, being a person of good upbringing, still reminded Lin Yi despite disliking him: "Help maintain the crime scene, stop others from coming in and destroying the evidence!"
"Oh…"
Lin Yi snapped out of it, took another look at the familiar crime scene, and then left with a sigh of emotion.
He was sighing because he could witness Boss Manaka's death with his own eyes, which was why he had zoned out.