Two hours later, the storm of passion subsided, and the clouds of desire dispersed.
Intricate, erotic marks flickered across the pop star's flat, snow-white abdomen before slowly fading into her skin.
Ruri Ujijo lay in Yuu Hoshimiya's arms, the sunlight bathing them both in a scene of serene beauty.
Ruri couldn't help but chuckle, feeling as though she were caught in a wonderful dream.
"Yuu-kun, why does this feel so unreal? Am I dreaming?"
Yuu grinned wickedly. "If you think it's fake, fine. Let's go again, and I'll show you exactly what's real!"
Ruri immediately begged for mercy; she was truly at her limit.
However, she couldn't stop smiling as she leaned in to deeply inhale the scent of Yuu's body.
Yuu didn't know whether to laugh or cry; in this state, Ruri really did act like a bit of a deviant.
He reached out and patted the diva's perky buttocks, speaking softly. "Alright, time to get up."
"No... no... just a little longer. Just a few more minutes!"
Ruri acted coquettishly, clinging tightly to Yuu's body, refusing to budge.
Yuu had no choice but to indulge her.
"Yuu-kun, let me sing for you. I have a very beautiful voice," Ruri bragged with childish enthusiasm.
She was acting entirely like a little girl trying to show off in front of her sweetheart!
Yuu smiled. "Alright. I request 'Passionate Beach.'"
Ruri immediately swatted at his chest. "That's a rock song! I'm a singer of healing love ballads."
"Okay, okay, don't hit me! Then let's have your signature song, 'Winter Love.' I'll keep the beat for you."
Yuu gently clapped his hands, and Ruri, lying on his chest with eyes as gentle as water, began to sing a cappella.
A warm and sweet melody drifted from her small mouth.
Holding the beauty and listening to the tune, Yuu felt exceptionally content.
...
In the afternoon, just before Ran was due to return, Ruri Ujijo left reluctantly.
She had already formed a contract with Yuu and learned many things, but she still needed time to fully process it all.
As for having Yuu accompany her to find Eri...
That was a complete lie.
She had already spoken to Eri on the phone ages ago.
Coming here today was purely to "claim" Yuu Hoshimiya.
Having fulfilled her long-held wish, Ruri was in a magnificent mood, her steps light and airy.
Finally, standing at the top of the stairs, she kissed Yuu goodbye three times before reluctantly getting into her car to leave.
Shortly after, Ran returned home from school.
Accompanying her was the snaggle-toothed girl, Masumi Sera.
Sera was dressed like a total tomboy—jeans and a leather jacket—looking incredibly handsome and radiating a dominant aura.
Yuu was already prepared to depart for the Twilight Mansion.
However, the distance was quite far, located deep in the mountains; it would take at least two hours to drive there.
Since it was getting late, Yuu wanted to leave immediately, but Sera mentioned they needed to pick someone else up.
Taking one was the same as taking two, so Yuu agreed.
As a result, Ran saw this and pleaded to come along as well.
After a moment of thought, Yuu agreed to that too.
Ran was no longer the naive "sweetheart" of his memories; she had seen plenty of the world's darkness by now.
It was only because Yuu doted on her and didn't want her tainted by the shadows that he kept her back; otherwise, Ran, with her "cheat-code" physical prowess, would be his most capable assistant.
As for the person Masumi Sera wanted to bring, it was Conan—who was already working deeply with the FBI.
Sera clearly already knew Conan's true identity, and the two had reached a certain level of cooperation.
The black Lexus arrived at the familiar detective agency building, and the "Death Child" in his blue suit quickly slipped inside the car.
Without a moment's delay, Yuu drove toward the Twilight Mansion.
The car soon left the Tokyo metropolitan area, and as they drove further out, the weather turned sour.
Before long, it began to rain.
It started as a drizzle but quickly intensified into a torrential downpour.
Ran, sitting in the back seat, looked at the darkening sky with worry.
Over an hour later, the Lexus was navigating the winding mountain roads. The so-called Twilight Castle loomed on the cliff to their right.
Masumi Sera remarked, "Whoa, that Twilight Mansion looks seriously eerie. It looks like a vampire's castle!"
Ran didn't see it that way; she spoke up with a face full of concern. "Brother Yuu, maybe we shouldn't go. What if we actually run into a vampire?"
Ran had always been terrified of ghosts and monsters. Knowing that supernatural powers like magic actually existed hadn't made her bolder; it had only made her more fearful.
Sera's voice dropped to a low, ominous tone. "There are no ghosts in this world. At most, just some mountain hags."
With that, she made a scary face at Ran.
Ran shrieked and fearfully pushed Sera away, while Sera burst into a triumphant laugh.
"Sonoko was right! Ran, you're terrified of ghosts. I've discovered your weakness."
"I'll definitely be the one to win our next sparring match!"
The girl was still obsessing over her previous loss to Ran.
Suddenly, in the center of the mountain road illuminated by the headlights, an old lady holding an umbrella appeared.
Yuu slammed on the brakes, the car coming to a halt just inches from the woman.
Seeing an elderly face appear so suddenly on a dark, rainy mountain road really did carry an unspeakable creepiness.
Ran's pupils contracted, and Sera couldn't help but shout, "Is that actually a mountain hag?!"
"Child, it is quite rude to speak of an elder that way!"
Yuu recognized her; scattered memories surfaced in his mind.
He spoke up to introduce her. "This is no ordinary old woman. Though she is up there in years, she is a detective. Am I right, Ms. Furuyo Senma?"
Furuyo Senma raised her eyes slightly. "I'm honored that Consultant Hoshimiya recognizes a withered old bag like me!"
Masumi Sera looked shocked.
"What? You're the famous Armchair Detective? The one who can find the culprit just by sitting in a chair, knitting a sweater, and listening to the news or a recount of the case?"
Furuyo Senma chuckled. "It's a rarity for such a young girl to recognize me."
Sera rubbed her head. "It's because I'm a detective too. Although I haven't solved that many cases, I keep an eye on my colleagues in the field, which is how I know."
"Oh? A female high school detective. Rare."
"Good eyes. You actually saw I was a woman at a single glance."
Senma couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"My eyes aren't that cloudy yet, old as I am. You might be flat-chested, but your feminine traits are still quite obvious."
Sera immediately countered, "While they may be flat as a plain right now, there will definitely be explosive growth in the near future!"
Conan rolled his eyes and asked, "Grandma, what are you doing standing in the middle of the road?"
Senma pointed to the car nearby. "As you can see, my beloved Felt just wouldn't start. I had to stand by the road to see if any kind soul would give me a lift."
"Consultant Hoshimiya, I presume your destination is also that Twilight Mansion?"
Yuu nodded. "No problem. Get in. Do you need help with your luggage?"
"Hehe, a gentleman as expected. Thank you."
Furuyo Senma closed her umbrella and got in. Yuu helped move her luggage and restarted the car.
The car continued its journey toward the mansion.
All the while, Furuyo Senma kept flipping through a book.
Because of her presence, Ran and Sera in the back seat were a bit stiff and stopped talking, making the interior quite somber.
Senma spoke up of her own accord. "Consultant Hoshimiya, did you bring your whole family for a picnic? That's a lot of people!"
"I can't help it. My girlfriend is very clingy; she can't bear to be away from me for a moment."
Sera cut in, "As for me and this kid, we just wanted to follow the Consultant to see the world."
Furuyo Senma closed her book, her eyebrows twitching.
"Oh? Aren't you afraid of the dangers this trip might hold, Consultant?"
Yuu offered a faint smile, sounding indifferent. "At most, it's just some stinking rats hiding in the dark. What's the danger? You just step on them and crush them. Wouldn't you agree, Ms. Senma?"
Senma adjusted her glasses and couldn't help but laugh.
"As expected of the only detective recognized by the police force. You are indeed confident!"
Yuu really wanted to say that if any of them were willing to give the credit for solving cases to the police, they could be consultants too.
But clearly, in the Conan world, even a kind old lady like Furuyo Senma wasn't willing to hand over the glory of her deductions to the authorities.
The car reached a fork in the road; a left turn led to the Twilight Mansion, while a right turn led to Inaho Village.
The Lexus turned left, crossing a narrow wooden bridge to reach the mansion perched on the cliff.
Several luxury cars were already parked there. Everyone opened their umbrellas and stepped out.
Ran couldn't help but comment, "There are so many luxury cars here—Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari."
Conan spotted the last car and couldn't help but lunge toward it.
"Whoa! An Alfa Romeo! This is so cool!"
"Kid, please don't touch my woman, okay? It took me five whole years to win this feisty lady over!"
A man emerged from the car, holding a purple umbrella.
He wore a green suit, a black fedora, an orange shirt with a blue tie, and black leather shoes. He was also a detective, named Harufumi Mogi.
"If another man touches her, she'll throw a tantrum that's hard to handle, kid."
Conan awkwardly let go.
Ran whispered to Sera, "Sera, do you know him?"
"Harufumi Mogi, the detective who loves cars as much as his life. He mostly operates abroad; the last news I heard of him was in Italy!"
Furuyo Senma spoke up. "Brother Mogi, how is your health? I recall you were targeted by the Mafia last week. How are you back in the country so soon?"
"Sister Senma, you're here too. That incident was ages ago; I can barely remember it."
Mogi turned to Yuu. "However, I did see your news while abroad. The rising star of the Japanese police, Consultant Hoshimiya."
Yuu offered a brief smile and said nothing more.
The group headed up the stairs into the mansion.
Furuyo Senma and Harufumi Mogi continued their small talk.
"Brother Mogi, I recall you'll be forty in three days. Still haven't married and had children?"
"My life is far too dangerous; what woman would be willing to stay with me? No one knows what the future holds. Right now, I just want to find something to fill my stomach."
It had to be said that the mansion showed its age, evident from the ivy on the walls and the weathered facade.
As they entered, a maid met them.
The maid had a face full of freckles and was named Aki Ishihara.
Everyone placed their umbrellas in the bin. Looking around the mansion, it was definitely in the style of the last century—quite gloomy and terrifying.
Soon, a bearded, obese man in a white suit walked out from near the stairs. It was the Gourmet Detective, Shukuzen Ogami.
He barked at the maid, "Hey! Why is there no food here?"
Aki Ishihara immediately bowed and apologized.
"Because the chef suddenly fell ill today and took leave, we can't prepare a meal. However, I have bought the ingredients. If you don't mind, I can help with the cooking later."
"Forget it. You're just a maid; what kind of gourmet food could you possibly make?"
"I'll do it myself. Only food and cases can pique my interest in this world."
With that, the massive Shukuzen Ogami turned and headed toward the kitchen.
The Gourmet Detective simply left without any thought of greeting the newcomers, his personality appearing quite reclusive.
At this time, Furuyo Senma questioned the maid.
"Why has your master invited us detectives here?"
Aki Ishihara shook her head. "I'm not sure. However, six detectives were invited in total, and two have already arrived."
Masumi Sera spoke up, "Could it be Saguru Hakuba and Heiji Hattori? Those two high school detectives are quite famous."
Since she already knew Conan's true identity, she subconsciously excluded the name Shinichi Kudo.
"Mr. Hakuba has indeed arrived."
Aki Ishihara continued to shake her head. "But the other person is not Mr. Hattori."
"Although Mr. Hattori's name was on the master's initial list, he couldn't make it due to other business."
After a pause, she added, "There was also Mr. Kudo—the one called the Savior of the Japanese Police—but we couldn't reach him."
"Later, Consultant Hoshimiya said he would come on behalf of Detective Mouri and would bring family and Detective Sera. After I confirmed with the master, he agreed, and we didn't invite anyone else."
It had to be said that while Conan courted death, he truly was impressive; despite being "missing" for so long, he was still remembered.
Harufumi Mogi asked, "So, where is this master who loves detectives so much?"
The maid lowered her head. "Actually, I haven't seen the master's true face to this day."
Senma inquired, "Didn't he give you a guest list to contact? How have you not seen him?"
"Yes, I received the list after my interview. But that interview was incredibly bizarre."
Aki Ishihara began to recall while biting her thumb.
"Because the salary for this job was very substantial, there were many applicants. The interview involved entering a small room with only a computer; I didn't meet a single interviewer."
"On the table inside were the instructions for today's banquet. While I was reading the manual, words appeared on the screen saying I was hired. After that, I came to work at this mansion, but I still haven't seen a soul."
"The details regarding today's hosting were discussed with the master via email, so I have never seen his face."
"Hehe, interesting. Even an old bag like me is starting to feel eager."
Mogi turned his head. "Actually, I was already excited the moment I saw the strange handle on the front door."
Ran immediately turned around with curiosity, looking at the golden handle of the main door. There were distinct traces of something splashed onto the door.
"What is this? How did it get there?"
Yuu explained, "Old bloodstains. They weren't cleaned properly at the time, so they've remained until now."
Ran immediately hugged Yuu's arm in fear. "Brother Yuu! Stop it, you're scaring me too."
Just then, a cold female voice drifted down from the stairs.
"No, Consultant Hoshimiya is telling the truth."
Everyone turned to see a mature woman in a white lab coat and white gloves standing at the top of the stairs.
She looked to be about thirty, radiating the unique charm of a mature woman.
She had an exquisite face, calm eyes, and black curly hair with a few strands falling over her forehead, adding to her allure.
Yuu's eyes lit up; he hadn't expected a pleasant surprise.
The beautiful woman before him was the former prosecutor and former forensic scientist turned private detective, Ikumi Koshida.
The female detective had quite a reputation, though he had only heard of her; this was their first meeting.
Ikumi Koshida sprayed a reagent on the staircase railing, shaded it slightly, and a faint blue glow appeared.
She spoke up. "This is likely blood that splattered at a 45-degree angle toward the door!"
"And it's not just the door. There's blood that flowed down the walls and on the floor. Although it's been wiped, every corner of this house bears the traces of blood having seeped into it!"
"It seems the owners of this blood were more than just one or two people!" Ikumi Koshida turned around to face the crowd with a smile.
Though she spoke calmly, Ran felt her skin crawl just listening.
She couldn't help but hug Yuu tighter, her soft breasts wrapping around his arm, as if only this could give her a sense of security.
"Impressive indeed." A young man's voice drifted down from upstairs.
A young man in a sharp blue suit with brown hair and red eyes appeared—it was Saguru Hakuba.
As he walked down the stairs, Hakuba said, "Luminol reagent! When sprayed on bloodstains, it reacts with the active oxygen in the blood, causing oxidation and emitting a blue-violet fluorescence."
"I didn't expect you to bring something so wonderful, former prosecutor Ikumi Koshida!"
Ikumi Koshida said modestly, "To be praised by you is truly an honor, little brother."
Harufumi Mogi recognized the youth. "Saguru Hakuba, the son of the Superintendent General..."
Hakuba smiled. "That's right. My father is the Superintendent General."
Suddenly, Hakuba gave a whistle, and a hawk flew out from the second floor, landing on his arm.
"His name is Watson. Perhaps because he's been on cases with me for so long, he's very sensitive to the smell of blood. I hope he didn't startle you."
"Still, it was worth the trip back from England."
"Reaching this site of a horror story that has been hidden for years and only heard of through rumors... this means the truth of the massacre forty years ago will be revealed today. Just thinking about it is enough to awaken my intellectual excitement."
The group of detectives was now fully assembled.
However, everyone would occasionally glance toward Yuu Hoshimiya.
After all, every detective who had arrived at the Twilight Mansion was exceptionally confident, believing they wouldn't lose to anyone else.
Seeing Yuu, who had recently been placed on a pedestal by the police, they didn't say anything out loud, but competitive streaks were definitely ignited in their hearts.
Aside from them, the brat Conan was also quite excited to see so many detectives.
If he could compete with so many people and win, even if he couldn't reveal his identity, it would still be a thrill!
Conan's eyes were full of a desire for victory.
Yuu, meanwhile, frowned slightly as he carefully observed the entire mansion.
Looking at this exceptionally gloomy manor, he felt a faint sense that something was off.
The maid wanted to invite everyone to rest in the first-floor drawing room, but they all refused.
Detectives like Harufumi Mogi and Masumi Sera showed looks of excitement.
Resting could wait; how could they not thoroughly investigate such a bizarre mansion?
Soon, everyone split up and began investigating the vast estate.
Some went down the left corridor, some down the right, and others headed straight upstairs.
In the end, only the pensive Yuu and Ran were left at the main door, along with Ikumi Koshida, who was watching them with a peculiar expression.