“Waaaa, waaaa——”
Over seventy members of the Jūjikai were all killed, their deaths gruesome. This was undoubtedly the biggest murder case in Kyoto in this century.
The Kyoto Prefectural Police immediately mobilized, sealing off the scene near the hot springs.
More police cars blocked various entrances, meticulously checking the identities of everyone.
“This is terrifying.”
Upon hearing about this, the three kids in the Miyamoto Shrine immediately huddled together, trembling in fear.
Well, Mitsuhiko and Genta were holding each other.
Ayumi was hugging Miyamoto Yumi's younger sister, Miyamoto Yoshiko.
“Don't be scared, Ayumi.”
Eleven or twelve years old, a girl in her middle school years, Miyamoto Yoshiko comforted Ayumi, acting like a little adult: “I’m a shrine maiden, even if a monster comes, I can defeat it.”
“Yeah, after listening to ghost stories, the shrine maiden would hide in the covers and exorcise demons.”
Miyamoto Yumi whispered, teasing her younger sister.
Yoshiko immediately got angry, her face flushed as she said: “No, I was just tired, that's why I went to sleep.”
“Yes, yes.”
Miyamoto Yumi smiled and nodded, looking at the kids and Ran: “Ran, don't go out tonight, the culprit seems very dangerous this time, and some guests said he was a demon who could control bones.”
“Thank you for your concern, Yumi-san.”
Ran seemed distracted.
Not only because Conan had run out and still hadn't come back, but also because she could feel that what the God Tree said was true.
Their world was truly undergoing strange changes.
The demon who could control bones was probably real!!
“What should I do?”
Raising her hand, she clutched the crystal necklace around her neck. Ran was troubled, recalling the scenes she saw at the God Tree.
It seemed that her past life, the shrine maiden Kikyo, was so easy in dealing with those evil demons.
But could she do it?
“Ran!!”
At this time, Kogoro Mouri walked in with a loud voice, angry: “I found that little Conan, he seems to have been sent to the hospital by the Kyoto police.”
“Huh?”
The three kids all widened their eyes.
...
“Let me go.”
In a ward of Kyoto Municipal Hospital, Conan struggled against the female nurse who was walking towards him: “Nurse, I'm really fine, that policeman got it wrong.”
“Don't worry, little one, everything will be okay… I've already informed your family, just get some sleep.”
The nurse smiled gently, holding a sedative needle in her hand.
“No.”
Conan was in tears, he didn't know how things ended up like this.
Wasn't he just acting at the crime scene, analyzing Yukimura Ichiro's possible next move?
How did he get identified as having experienced a major psychological shock and exhibiting a stress response?
“Be good.”
The nurse had experience, having another colleague hold Conan down while she removed his pants and injected the sedative.
“Nani?!”
Ran and the others rushed to the hospital, their eyes wide with shock, while Mitsuhiko and Genta snickered.
“I'm finished, I'm finished.”
Seeing Ran arrive, Conan's eyes went blank, he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
“Haha——”
At this time, Mitsuhiko finally couldn't hold back and burst into laughter, and it got louder and louder.
“Mitsuhiko.”
Ran gave him a reproachful look, walked to the bedside, and asked with concern: “Nurse, is there something wrong with Conan?”
“Nothing serious, he was just frightened. Just have a good sleep, and then we’ll conduct some psychological counseling.”
The nurse smiled, throwing the empty syringe in the trash can, and pulled Conan's pants back up.
“Ran.”
Conan had a look of utter despair on his face, feeling as if he was not clean.
“Don't worry, I’ll be here with you.”
Ran held back her laughter, sat by the bed, and gently patted Conan's head.
“That's right, we won't make fun of you.”
Mitsuhiko nodded solemnly, signaling to Genta to quickly hide the photos he took earlier.
“They are so bad.”
Miyamoto Yoshiko, who also came with them, looked at the sleeping Conan with sympathy, and whispered to Ayumi: “Ayumi, let's go explore.”
“This shrine maiden feels a demonic aura in this hospital.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Ayumi nodded excitedly.
......
“Is it confirmed?”
Meanwhile, Gin and Vodka, who had rushed to Kyoto from Gifu Prefecture, had also arrived at the hospital.
“Boss, this time it’s definitely right.”
Vodka confidently said: “I’ve already checked, Yukimura Ichiro, a team leader of the technical department of Matsuda Electric.”
“Three months ago, because his daughter was seriously ill, he borrowed a large sum of money from the Jūjikai at a high interest rate.”
“He was supposed to be able to repay the money, but a month ago, Matsuda Electric laid off employees and Yukimura Ichiro was dismissed.”
“So he killed all those people?” Gin felt a little admiration for this ordinary office worker.
“No.”
Vodka shook his head: “The Jūjikai members came to his door to collect the debt, beat up Yukimura Ichiro's father, and forced his wife to her death, but Yukimura Ichiro still endured.”
“Until he had no way out, those Jūjikai members were about to attack his daughter, then he suddenly broke out, possessing a demon-like power.”
“......”
Gin thought for a while after hearing this, and nodded: “What about after that? Did you find out how he gained his special powers?”
“It should be related to a bronze box, he went to several shrines and temples to sell this bronze box, claiming it was a treasure passed down from his ancestors.”
“But no shrine or temple was interested in a box that couldn't be opened.”
Speaking of this, Vodka also became excited and asked: “Boss, is the bronze box our target this time? Do you think we might also gain superpowers?”
“Don’t ask so many questions.”
Gin frowned and gave him a look: “Assemble the men and set up an ambush around this hospital.”
“Since Yukimura Ichiro cares so much about his daughter, he will come.”
“Yes.”
Vodka grinned.
......