Suzuki Sonoko, Kudo Shinichi, and Mao Lilan stayed in the room together, and the three of them discussed what interesting activities and food stalls there would be at the fireworks display in the evening.
However, the main discussion was between two girls. Kudo Shinichi looked at these two best friends and felt that he was ruthlessly rejected by them.
"This was only started thirteen years ago. It is the fourth largest festival in Japan, the 'Rebirth Festival'!"
Suzuki Sonoko excitedly opened the travel brochure, and after a few clicks she came across the introduction to this festival: "I heard that there is a particularly famous chow mein stall. It is a stall set up by a nearby hotel. You can only eat it if you book a room there.
, you can buy it directly now!”
"There will be many handsome guys coming to this festival to enjoy the fireworks display that starts at 7 o'clock! There are handsome guys wearing various yukata..."
Kudo Shinichi rolled his half-moon eyes. He had long known the dignity of this young lady with no wealth, but he still felt speechless when he felt it up close.
Mao Lilan smiled helplessly: "Yuanzi, where is your sister?"
"My sister and her classmates from the university club went to visit scenic spots. This hotel is more expensive. Several of her other classmates stayed in other hotels and they left early in the morning."
"Then why don't you go with us?" Kudo Shinichi looked at her.
Suzuki Sonoko raised an eyebrow: "Please, they are all college students, why should I follow them? They have no common language at all, and I am not interested in hearing those topics."
Mao Lilan knew that this was just her excuse. She once said that there was a handsome guy among her sister's club classmates. This time she did not go to the scenic spots to meet the handsome guy, but stayed in the hotel all the time, just to accompany her.
she.
Kudo Shinichi’s emotional intelligence was rare and he didn’t point it out: “Did this festival only exist thirteen years ago?”
"Yes, this was specially organized when the new chairman of Karasuma Group took over. Because it was a grand event and attracted attention, it will be held every year in the future."
"But the chairman is really mysterious. He has been the leader of the Karasuma Group for so many years and has cooperated with my family a lot. However, my father and other chairman and presidents have never met him, and he has not been present.
No party, not even a photo."
As the eldest lady of the Suzuki Foundation, Suzuki Sonoko will still pay attention to these things even if she seems inconspicuous.
Kudo Shinichi's curiosity immediately arose: "Why don't you show up?"
"I don't know. There are rumors that he is very ugly. There are also rumors that he was seriously injured and his body was severely damaged. He just woke up from a vegetative state thirteen years ago. Because he finally escaped from the hands of death, the festival was
It’s called the [Rebirth Festival].” Suzuki Sonoko replied.
"Thirteen years ago..." Kudo Shinichi touched his chin. He was not even born at that time.
He heard his father mention the Karasuma Group. It was originally a top consortium with a bad reputation. It was richer than the Suzuki family. There were several unexplained suicides of employees and factory explosions but there was no subsequent negative news. However, after the new chairman took office,
Drastic rectifications were carried out.
Wages have been increased, overtime has been reduced, and vacations have increased, because the Karasuma Group covers a wide range of areas. Internal employees have corresponding subsidies and welfare systems for buying houses, shopping, childcare, medical treatment... and even post-retirement pensions.
The Karasuma Group has 200,000 employees in Japan and nearly 2 million employees in other countries. A large number of people want to join the company every year.
He is not the kind of shady capitalist who needs to hang street lights. Why would he refuse to show up as an ordinary entrepreneur who treats his employees well?
Kudo Shinichi was confused, and his detective's inquiring mind and intuition told him that things were not that simple.
Suzuki Sonoko was still discussing with Mao Lilan what to play at the festival and fireworks display in the evening. She turned her eyes and noticed the bag placed on the wall: "Xiaolan, what is that?"
Mao Lilan looked in the direction she pointed and saw a small bag under their travel bag.
"that is……"
She got stuck mid-sentence. She obviously didn't have this thing when she went to bed last night... She walked over and picked up the small bag, opened it and took out what was inside, which seemed to be a piece of clothing.
Mao Lilan shook off the clothes on the spot, and Kudo Shinichi was stunned when he looked at the clothes.
"Such sexy clothes!" Suzuki Sonoko praised, "I have some impressions from reading fashion magazines. This is a popular dress for girls in Italy. Xiaolan, how come you have this?"
Mao Lilan looked at the dress blankly.
——"Take this, this is my gift to you."
A strange woman's voice rang in her ears, and with it came a scent as sweet as candy.
…Whose voice is this? Who said this to her?
Mao Lilan stood there stupidly. Her lost look made Lingzuki Sonoko panic instantly. She gave up teasing and went over to shake her body: "Xiaolan? Xiaolan!"
Kudo Shinichi didn't know what incredible scene he was imagining, his face turned red, and when he saw Mao Lilan acting strangely, he ran over: "Xiaolan, what's wrong with you?"
Under the call of the two young men, Mao Lilan came back to her senses: "It's nothing, I was just wondering where this came from..."
As she said this, her hands tightly grasped this piece of clothing of unknown origin.
…
There were three minors in the house, and the adults outside were also busy.
Fei Eri went next door to find Yukiko Kudo, and Kogoro Mouri sat at the table and poured tea for the couple opposite.
"I didn't expect you two to be here. We haven't seen each other since we graduated from college."
Kazushi Nakamichi, a big policeman from Chiba Prefecture, smiled and said, "We haven't seen each other for a long time. If your wife hadn't happened to arrive at the hotel where Yumi and I booked last night, I wouldn't have known that you were also in Hakone...
How is Lan? I heard from the police who evacuated yesterday afternoon that she was found safely?"
"It's back."
Mentioning his daughter, Mouri Kogoro sighed: "But the criminal was not caught. She was the only one to come back safely among these missing cases. The police were worried that the criminal would continue to attack her, so they hired the police to protect her."
Horikoshi Yumi, who had been silent before, put her chin on her hand and looked at the only strange man in the room: "This policeman looks pretty good."
Yi Zejun smiled helplessly: "It's an honor for me to be praised by a beautiful lady, but you'd better not say such things in front of your boyfriend. The jealousy of a man is terrible."
Mouri Kogoro finally noticed that there was no decoration on Horikoshi Yumi’s fingers:
"You two...aren't you married yet?"
Nakamichi Kazushi smiled and waved his hand: "There are too many worries about getting married, especially when you have children... By the way, you will also go to the fireworks display at night, right? Why don't we do it together? As a criminal police officer, I
Can help protect your daughter."
"Would this be too much trouble for you?" Mouri Kogoro was a little moved.
"It's okay, it's the police's duty to protect minors." Kazushi Nakamichi smiled cheerfully, "The hotel Yumi and I booked is closer to the festival venue. Let's meet there first... How about 6 o'clock?"
"good."
As soon as Mouri Kogoro nodded, Horikoshi Yumi stood up suddenly: "You guys can talk, I'll go back first."
After saying that, he turned around and opened the door, opened it with a clang, and slammed it shut unceremoniously.
"..." Mouri Kogoro's mouth twitched, "Is this guy still going his own way? It's a shame you were able to stay with her for so long."
Nakamichi Kazushi looked at the door and said helplessly: "That's all she is, leave her alone."