Chizuru Ikezawa, who had secretly visited Yoko Ogino’s house earlier today, was already feeling anxious.
She was in a state of unease.
When the Metropolitan Police Department officers came to her door and asked her to cooperate with the investigation, she tried to maintain a calm facade, but her heart was racing.
Could it be that Yoko Ogino had discovered her and called the police?
Fortunately, she was an actress after all.
Although her fame had faded compared to Yoko Ogino’s, her acting skills were still sharp.
However, upon arriving at Yoko Ogino’s house, she discovered a murder had taken place.
And the body on the floor seemed vaguely familiar.
Her initial nervousness eased slightly.
This had nothing to do with her.
Even though she had infiltrated Yoko Ogino’s house earlier.
She had been searching for some dirt on her, hoping to mess up her furniture as a prank.
Unexpectedly, a fat man suddenly appeared from a corner in the back.
His hand reached out towards her, just grazing her arm.
Chizuru Ikezawa, with a guilty conscience, was like a startled bird.
She hurriedly slapped back, then fled through the door.
After learning why she was called to assist with the investigation, Chizuru Ikezawa felt a surge of smugness, watching Yoko Ogino with a sense of schadenfreude.
"A dead body found in the home of a top actress! If the media gets wind of this, her image will plummet!"
Seiji Akiづき looked at Chizuru Ikezawa with a knowing smile.
The strong stench of envy and arrogance emanated from her soul.
Although her bloodline had only recently ascended to that of a Great Demon, gaining these Seven Deadly Sins desires wouldn’t likely improve her much.
But Seiji Akiづき wasn’t planning to let it pass.
Compared to Yoko Ogino, Chizuru Ikezawa had a taller frame and more alluring curves.
They were two different styles of actresses.
Over her red dress, she wore an expensive fur coat.
Beneath the hem of the skirt, black stockings subtly tightened around her fleshy legs.
Unlike Yoko Ogino’s cute style, she exuded a mature, big-sister vibe.
She was more alluring than the delicate and refined Yoko Ogino.
It was precisely because of their different styles.
Even though they debuted around the same time as Yoko Ogino.
In the early days of their career, Chizuru Ikezawa was more popular than Yoko Ogino.
However, as the economy declined over the past couple of years.
Viewers’ tastes gradually shifted from mature women to the cute and innocent style of Yoko Ogino, a bubbly and energetic girl next door.
Chizuru Ikezawa, with her voluptuous physique and mature actress image, had become an unappealing aesthetic to audiences.
Yoko Ogino’s debut idol group, Earth Ladies, disbanded, but she was the only one who thrived due to her sweet image.
Another member from the group, Humihito Hoshino, who had a similar mature style, also experienced lukewarm success.
Over the past couple of years, resources that had belonged to Chizuru Ikezawa were given to Yoko Ogino.
She lost her spots on programs, and her roles in TV series were replaced.
Many of these changes involved Yoko Ogino, and Chizuru Ikezawa harbored resentment towards her.
Consumed by her lingering anger, she acquired a key to Yoko Ogino’s home from the television station’s lounge.
She infiltrated her house several times, attempting to find dirt on her and create a scandal for the media.
Kogoro Mouri, protective of his idol, interrogated Chizuru Ikezawa.
"The apartment manager just said he saw someone who looked like you entering the building, and your earring was found at the crime scene!"
"It’s just that she looks similar. Besides, can you really determine I’m the culprit based on an earring?"
Due to her career setbacks, Chizuru Ikezawa had developed a smoking habit.
After being questioned by Kogoro Mouri, a hint of anxiety crept onto her beautiful face.
She took out a cigarette and said to Seiji Akiづき.
"Could I borrow a light?"
"Hm? I don’t smoke." Seiji Akiづき shook his head.
Chizuru Ikezawa went to the living room table and picked up a creatively designed lighter, using it to light her cigarette.
Conan, observing this scene, flashed a glimmer in his eyes, realizing something was amiss.
After lighting her cigarette, Chizuru Ikezawa seemed lost in thought.
She also froze when she saw Seiji Akiづき.
His face seemed familiar, as if she had seen him before.
She rummaged through her memories.
Chizuru Ikezawa remembered half a year ago, when her agency’s president, along with several other artists, including her, attended a banquet.
Kitarawa, the agency’s president, wielded considerable influence in the entertainment industry.
He always seemed interested only in the agency’s young male artists.
Chizuru Ikezawa, along with the other female artists, hadn’t experienced any problems at the agency.
In fact, she had been a top earner for the agency two years prior.
However, three months ago, she and a few other washed-up artists were taken to a banquet by Kitarawa.
Kitarawa was extremely deferential towards an elderly, white-haired man, greeting him with respect.
He was said to be the head of a large conglomerate, Gozo Hattori.
Near the end of the banquet, Chizuru Ikezawa saw Gozo Hattori standing obsequiously before Seiji Akiづき, speaking to him.
This left a deep impression on Chizuru Ikezawa at the time.
A few days later, she learned that Kitarawa had intended to offer them, the has-been artists, as gifts.
To be given away at the banquet.
One member of parliament took a liking to another female artist with a baby face.
Although she had escaped that fate, Chizuru Ikezawa was unwilling to be a companion for those old men in the future.
She believed that if she could destroy Yoko Ogino’s image, she would have a chance to make a comeback.
Remembering Seiji Akiづき’s background, she suddenly had an idea. She pretended to stumble and fall, throwing herself into Seiji Akiづき’s arms.
"Sorry, I tripped. Thank you for catching me, little brother."
While apologizing, she didn’t get up, instead pressing herself closer into Seiji Akiづき’s embrace.
Although Chizuru Ikezawa’s acting was natural, her awkward flirtation was immediately obvious to those around them.
"Is that so? Miss Ikezawa, don’t wander around the crime scene."
"Ok... okay." Chizuru Ikezawa threw out a blatant hook.
"It’s so late. Would you like to go out for some late-night snacks after this?"
Rather than being given as a gift to some old men by Kitarawa in the future, she might as well find herself a sugar daddy now.
Even Ran Mouri noticed that the actress seemed to be flirting with Seiji Akiづき.
Her beautiful eyes locked onto Chizuru Ikezawa with vigilance.
"Miss Ikezawa, since you’re fine, you can get up.
And it’s so late, Seiji will be going home soon!"
Ran Mouri pulled Seiji Akiづき away, as if protecting a cub.
Seiji Akiづき chuckled, it seemed that Miss Chizuru Ikezawa would be more than willing to enter into a soul contract with him.
He wouldn’t need to kill and steal souls.
The trading partner would also be happy to grant him one of his Seven Deadly Sins.
—