"What a big mansion"
Shikamaru stepped from the car and see a huge mansion towering over him.
He wondered if there was a library containing interesting novels or puzzle games here?
It would be great if there was a mystery novel by Yusaku Kudo because he has recently become a big fan of his work.
Or maybe he just reads a book that Shinichi-kun likes? About Sherlock Holmes because that also sounds interesting.
"You came here to work Shikamaru-kun," Tooru said "You still remember the victim's identity right?"
while touching his aching ear, He began to recall the lectures that had been craved into his beloved ears along the way.
"…..The late Motoyasu Tsukumo was a world-famous magician"
"At least you heard what I was talking about in the car" Tooru chuckled.
Heh, childish.
Shikamaru looked up at the clear sky and started to think about what kind of food Nanae-san will serve?
Growl~
"….."
"Shikamaru-kun, you didn't eat breakfast today?"
"I live alone, usually when I want breakfast I come to Shinichi's house or the Doctor's house..."
"Huh, why didn't you tell me? I could have prepared your food."
"Okay. I'll pay you more for food three times a day" said Shikamaru happily while jogging towards the door of the mansion.
Of course, this mansion door is much larger than a typical door in an ordinary household.
where is the doorbell?~
DING DONG--
"..."
Shikamaru could have sworn he heard the door make a 'quack' sound. The door must be quite heavy.
"Ohayou, Nanae-san!" said Tooru after he saw the person behind the door.
Like yesterday Nanae Tsukumo was still wearing formal clothes with a knee-length suit and skirt. She has quite heavy bags under hir eyes, looks like she's been crying last night.
"Ohayougozaimasu, Detective Shikamaru and Tooru-san"
"I've prepared lunch for you guys"
"That's great! We can ask more about yesterday's matter at the dinner table!" said Tooru while walking next to Nanae.
Shikamaru who was behind them didn't say a word because he could feel the negative spirit of this mansion. It seemed true that what had happened was murder.
"Here we are…"
When the door to the dining room is opened, you can immediately smell the sweet and delicious aroma of the food.
On the table there is yakitori, whole chicken meat is cut into bite-sized pieces and alternated with small sliced pieces of spring onions.
There is also nabe, which includes various meat, seafood, vegetables, and noodles.
Chouji must have been delighted to see this. Well, at least this is the right choice to come when it's lunchtime.
Because Shikamaru has confirmed that there is a Soul Fragment in this mansion. So he had to eat a lot too.
Does it seem that when he always gets Soul Fragments when he eats? Like in the cafe and now in this mansion.
"Are there any other guests?" asked Shikamaru.
"No, it's just that there are a lot of people living in this mansion" explained Nanae.
"Hahaha, that's right. For lunch, I made it," replied a man with bangs in formal clothes. Whereas he came with a drink.
"Well, are you a new apprentice?" asked him.
"Not at all! This is Detective Shikamaru and his assistant Tooru-san" said Nanae.
"Eh, detective?! What would he be doing here? By the way, I'm Yuji Momochi the newest apprentice here" he said while placing the drink next to the dinner plate.
"Are you oblivious? He must have come to investigate the cause of Motoyasu's death. Right Mr. Detectives?" said a woman who came with red lipstick lips, shoulder-length black hair, and dark-colored clothes.
Wow, how troublesome.
Shikamaru saw 2 soul fragments on the woman. Did she kill two people or…..
Yuji gasped "An investigation? Why now? It was suicide, isn't it Mako-san?!"
"He wasn't the type to commit suicide. And I supposed she is bothered by the cards, too. Am I right?" sneer Mako as she sat in front of Shikamaru.
It's very understanding that this woman wants to sit in front of me so that I don't have to look for reasons to approach her.
Shikamaru immediately took the two soul fragments on the woman and turned them into soul stones.
He immediately put the soul stones into his trouser pocket. Every now and then work is good too.
Hopefully, the next clients can bring me a surprise like this or at least provide a comfortable bed or delicious food in large quantities.
"Oh right. The cards with the ace and jack of spades stuck back to back but couldn't this just be a setup for some trick? The police said it was suicide" exclaimed Yuji.
"Exactly."
"at this point, there's no sense in pawning through the contents of this house. The only thing left…"
"…. Is the fact, there were two geniuses.…"
"there's remains only one now," said Kazumi Sanada, the first apprentice of Motoyasu Tsukumo.
With this, everyone in the mansion had gathered at the dining table.
.....
"So can anyone explain what happened to Motoyasu Tsukumo-san?" Shikamaru asked as he took the food for the second time.
He had long felt the glare from his beloved assistant asking him to be professional. Well, asking about the commission is also part of being a professional detective, right?
Nanae-san also talked about the chronology of the case. She and her husband's three students were at the Baker Hotel for an event.
It should be her husband who should fill the event but he refuses. But then he said "I'm not doing any cheap gigs"
When I got home, I couldn't find him anywhere. I called him also to no avail. Just in case I went down to my husband's studio in the basement.
How surprised I was to find him lying on the floor with a cold and lifeless body condition.
The investigation result is he'd taken some poison. The police said it was something called Aconite.
"It's a type of toxin that numbs the nerves. It can be obtained from the leaves and roots of Aconite better known as wolfsbane or monkshood."
"Two milligrams is enough to be fatal. It's a powerful poison. Once it started to dissolve in the body, it's only a matter of minutes until death" explained Tooru-san as he heard the words Aconite.
But Tooru also felt that something was odd. Because it is a plant that grows on the hills and if you want to kill yourself, why not use the ingredients you have at home?
It seems my previous hunch was right that this was murder. Well Shikamaru-kun, how are you going to solve this case?!