Miss Su Fang, You Wouldn't Want To

Honami lifted her long dress as she went upstairs, and Ai Haibara also lifted the hem of her dress.

Led by her, Fujino arrived at a door next to the stairs on the second floor.

It was a huge white wooden door, with delicate carvings and gray decorations.

"Minaho and I will help you retrieve your luggage."

Honami gave a polite bow. "Until then, please wait a moment in Professor Su Fang's mask collection room."

"Thank you for your help, Ms. Honami."

Fujino replied politely, then pushed open the door, revealing a magnificent room.

The room is located in the middle of the left-right structure of the mansion villa. It contains many glass display cases, and the surrounding walls are covered by a huge red curtain.

The display case contains all sorts of eerie masks, including Nuo dance masks that are only worn when performing ghost plays in China.

This old lady isn't picky about food.

They even dare to collect masks like this.

Fujino felt somewhat speechless.

'These masks must be very expensive, right?'

Ai Haibara, on the other hand, began to look around, appearing somewhat puzzled.

If it were just an ordinary tycoon, it wouldn't be a problem, but Su Fang Hongzi, whose career is dedicated to charity, shouldn't be this rich...

"Hey, Detective Fujino?"

Just then, a surprised sound came.

Fujino turned his head and saw the group of people who had just separated walking in through the other door of the villa.

Katagiri Masaki and Matsudaira Mamoru seemed somewhat surprised.

Nagara Haruka, however, remained calm.

She walked around the booth, thoughtfully examining the strange masks in the display case.

She had already taken off her coat, revealing the purple dress she was wearing underneath.

The collarbone, elbows, and waist are decorated with gold patterns, which further enhances its already mysterious aura.

Fujino felt like she was that witch, Koizumi Akako ...

Yeah, that's a bit cringey.

However, it seems that witches in the Conan World all have this style.

Pulling herself out of her thoughts, Fujino stepped forward and tentatively asked Nagara Haruka, "Miss Nagara, the bad feeling you just mentioned, could it be these masks?"

"Although these masks have an evil aura... they shouldn't be."

Nagara Haruka shook her head and said in a deep voice, "Compared to these masks, the evil aura behind those curtains is far more intense."

"An evil aura?"

Ai Haibara followed behind Fujino, and upon hearing this, she also curiously turned her gaze to the surrounding red curtains.

Fujino seemed lost in thought. After all, in his memory, behind that red curtain lay another Xiao Hei's murder weapon: two hundred Cursed Masks...

The fortune teller guessed correctly again.

"Welcome to my humble abode."

At this moment, Su Fang Hongzi walked into the collection room.

She was smiling, dressed in the same outfit as before.

Behind her was her current assistant, Inada Kazuyo.

"Excuse me, are all these masks from your collection?"

Nagara Haruka turned her head and asked curiously.

"Well, these masks are what I've collected over the years. What do you all think?"

When Su Fang Hongzi talked about her collection of masks, her smile became even brighter.

"Forehead..."

For a moment, everyone present was at a loss for words and didn't know how to respond.

After all, this hobby of collecting scary masks...

It is indeed somewhat niche.

"Miss Su Fang, what's behind those curtains?"

At that moment, Nagara Haruka suddenly asked, "Could it be a mask too?"

"That's right, those are my most satisfying collections..."

As she spoke, Su Fang Hongzi walked to a display case and pressed a button. "Legend has it that two hundred masks were made by the Spanish sculptor Chambru Gontiras before his death."

Everyone turned around and saw that the red curtains on both sides of the room were suddenly pulled open by a mechanism.

Behind the curtain were rows of wooden shelves, on which were displayed two hundred identical masks. The white masks had eerie smiles etched on their faces, making them look somewhat frightening.

"Xiao Bulu..."

Nagara Haruka suddenly remembered something, "Is it Cursed Masks?"

"A cursed mask?!"

Everyone present was stunned upon hearing this, and when they recalled Nagara Haruka's strange behavior just now, they couldn't help but feel a chill down their spines.

"Shobroo is a tragic sculptor who, despite his exceptional talent, was betrayed by his own brother... his status, reputation, and wealth were all taken away from him."

Seeing everyone's reaction, Su Fang Hongzi proudly introduced her collection, "After that, Xiao Bulu became extremely distrustful of humans. He locked himself in his room to make masks, as if he were possessed by something, carving masks without sleep until he finished the two hundredth mask and then committed suicide... The masks scattered next to his body were covered in blood, as if they had been drained of blood by the masks."

"After that, Shawbrook was restored to his reputation, and these masks became valuable collectibles, changing hands many times..."

Nagara Haruka glanced around at the white masks. "But most of those who obtained these masks did not have a good end... Most of them died in accidents."

"Cursed Mask..."

Fujino glanced at the masks displayed around the room and nodded.

Although the one who was about to take action was indeed Xiao Hei, he was indeed about to die.

To some extent, these masks are indeed a bit sinister.

If you think about it carefully, neither jewelers nor bankers are actually good people.

Their deaths were probably just a matter of probability.

It was just a coincidence that he obtained the mask and attracted attention.

Thinking of this, Fujino asked Su Fang Hongzi with a hint of deeper meaning, "But speaking of which, Miss Su Fang, if the power of just one mask is so great, aren't you afraid of being cursed to death by collecting all two hundred masks?"

"Haha, Detective Fujino can rest assured about that. Since I dared to collect these masks, I certainly have insurance measures in place..."

Su Fang Hongzi chuckled, thinking that Fujino was concerned about her. "Actually, after I obtained these masks, I asked a powerful spirit medium to seal them all. The structure of this villa was prepared for sealing these masks."

"So that's how it is..."

Fujino smiled in agreement.

He might believe in fortune tellers and magicians.

As for spiritual mediums...

Do you really think this is a corpse picker?

Yes, this silly old lady has definitely been completely fooled by the charlatan.

"Touya, why are you so late today?"

At this moment, Su Fang Hongzi suddenly called out.

Fujino turned around and saw a Blondie walk in, holding a letter in his hand. "I'm on a national tour right now... Please forgive me if I'm a little late..."

He recognized the Blondie at a glance; it was another Xiao Hei, the son of the female assistant who was murdered years ago, Aikawa Touya.

"By the way, Ms. Su Fang, our detective agency received a strange letter; it's for you."

Aikawa Touya handed a letter to Su Fang Hongzi, saying, "There is no sender's name on it, and the handwriting is very suspicious."

"It's this kind of letter again..."

Su Fang Hongzi opened the envelope, glanced at the contents, and said resentfully, "Who on earth is playing this prank?"

"Miss Su Fang, do you need my help with this investigation?"

Upon hearing this, Fujino turned to Su Fang Hongzi and asked her a question.

"There's no need to trouble Detective Fujino with that... I've been receiving these threatening letters ever since I decided to hold the charity gala, so there's no need to worry about them."

Su Fang Hongzi smiled, quite satisfied with Fujino's reaction.

Well, yet another naive young man has been fooled by her Mask of Falsehood.

I have to say, she's truly a talented actress...

Is that so?

Fujino genuinely felt a bit of regret, since the man was about to die. Now, if he accepted the commission, he could simply ask for the money in advance and make a profit.

After a lively dinner, it was already quite late, and the night was drawing to a close.

Fine snow gradually began to fall from the sky, and the brightly lit villa stood out starkly against the dark forest in the suburbs.

Just after finishing dinner, Fujino was called to the living room on the third floor of the west wing by Su Fang Hongzi.

The reception room was decorated in an exceptionally luxurious style.

Fujino sat on the single sofa, his gaze slightly unfocused. He touched the recording function of his vision-enhancing eyes and looked around.

Su Fang Hongzi sat elegantly on an expensive sofa, holding a glass of red wine, and said to Fujino, "Detective Fujino, I would like to ask you to help investigate a matter."

"You've commissioned me to investigate something?"

Fujino looked up at Su Fang Hongzi and asked, "What is it? Can you tell me?"

"It's like this..."

Su Fang Hongzi took a sip of red wine, as if to cover up her guilty conscience. "If possible, I would like to ask you to investigate the traffic accident that caused the death of Mr. Katagiri's wife."

"Mrs. Katagiri's car accident?"

Fujino narrowed her eyes slightly, but she knew in her heart that she wanted to investigate the cause of that traffic accident.

Just now at the dinner table, Katagiri Masaki brought up his wife, who died in a car accident twenty years ago.

Su Fang Hongzi was stunned when she heard keywords such as "car accident" from twenty years ago.

He recalled the woman he had run over and killed with his car twenty years ago.

The reason she wanted to ask Fujino to investigate the matter was to confirm whether the person she hit and killed was indeed Katagiri Masaki's wife.

If that's the case, it's such a coincidence...

It seems this old lady, who wears Mask of Falsehood, also knows she has a guilty conscience.

Since that's the case, then he won't stand on ceremony.

There's no need for such people to adhere to professional ethics.

He directly exposed his extortion skills... his unique talent.

Thinking of this, Fujino took a deep breath, leaned back against the chair, and looked somewhat troubled. "If it's the accident that happened to Mr. Katagiri's wife twenty years ago, it's a bit difficult... After all, twenty years have passed, and everything has changed. There are no useful clues."

Is that so?

Su Fang Hongzi's eyes widened upon hearing this, and she feigned disappointment, "That's such a pity..."

However, she felt a sense of relief.

If even the Great Detective in front of us couldn't do it, then naturally no one else could either.

If that's the case, then she can rest easy about the accident from back then.

That's what she was thinking, but Fujino's next words plunged her into despair:

"Although it's difficult, for me it's just a bit of a hassle..."

Fujino pretended to ponder for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Having investigated so many years ago, I have unique insights, but the commission fee might be a bit higher, requiring four million yen, and it will need to be paid in advance."

After a pause, Fujino continued meaningfully to her, "Miss Su Fang, you also... cough hum."

I almost revealed my old skills.

It would be bad if things were made public.

Fujino cleared his throat and continued, "Miss Su Fang, you understand what I mean, right?"

"Four million yen..."

Su Fang Hongzi was taken aback upon hearing this, sensing that the detective boy's words had a hidden meaning.

Four million yen, which is the same as the endorsement fee that was not paid before.

Could it be... that the detective has discovered something?

Or have you investigated everything thoroughly?

Now...

Could it be that he's blackmailing her?

Thinking of this, Su Fang Hongzi suddenly felt a cold sweat break out on her back.

But then she thought again, since the other party was Great Detective, she was being too naive to think she could get away with it.

But I really didn't expect that the seemingly kind and selfless Great Detective...

This is what they're really like behind the scenes.

Su Fang Hongzi sneered inwardly.

Indeed, people are all hypocritical creatures wearing masks.

Thinking of this, although her expression was still somewhat gloomy, she nodded in agreement and said, "In that case, I will have Inada pay the commission fee later. I hope Detective Fujino can find out the truth as soon as possible... Keep it a secret."

"When dealing with clients, confidentiality is of course essential."

Fujino nodded, looking professional, his eyes slightly narrowed, a sly smile on his face.

"Then I'll leave it to Detective Fujino."

Su Fang Hongzi's expression did not change.

She knew perfectly well that the other party was blackmailing her, but they just didn't say it outright.

However, since the other party has now agreed to settle the matter with money, it means that a community of shared interests has been formed...

If she is exposed, the other party won't fare much better.

Who knows, maybe we can continue to cooperate and share the spoils in the future...

Little did she know, after tonight there would be no more...

"Today is a good day~ Ah, a good day~"

Fujino hummed a little tune, having earned four million yen, and looked at himself [12.68 million] with exceptional pleasure.

Although he was entitled to the four million, in reality, he would never get it; it was just an empty promise.

Now that I have it in my hands, it's real money.

In short, they made a fortune!

I'll kill someone later and make another million on the spot.

He went to the window of the living room where everyone was resting, gazing at the falling snow outside. His eyes narrowed slightly as he thought to himself, "It's snowing. A good day to kill someone..."

"What's making you so happy?"

At that moment, a cool yet slightly gentle voice came from behind.

Fujino turned his head and saw Ai Haibara, dressed in a black Lolita dress, walking slowly over and asking curiously.

"It's nothing... I just had some happy things happen."

Fujino chuckled softly, then bent down and explained in a low voice, "I just received a big order."

Yeah, you don't have to do anything and you get four million for free.

"A big order?"

Ai Haibara didn't ask any further questions.

Because she knew that even if she asked, Fujino wouldn't tell her out of his detective ethics.

She thought for a moment, then leaned close to Fujino's ear and whispered, "I have a feeling that there's something wrong with that Su Fang Hongzi..."