Conan: Why the Hell Are You Blushing?!

After a long journey, the group arrived at a forest inn.

As soon as we got off the bus, the hotel manager warmly welcomed us and led us to the forest behind the mountain.

Although Matsutake Mushroom can be picked, adults are only allowed to pick three, while children are allowed to pick two.

That's normal, after all, Matsutake Mushroom mushrooms are quite expensive.

If they just picked whatever they wanted, this hotel would go bankrupt.

Inside a pine forest.

Fujino, with his hands in his pockets, followed behind the group in a tracksuit.

The pine needles around the trees gradually dried up, and the grass gradually turned yellow.

These past few days, autumn has arrived...

Although he has adapted to the change of seasons.

But it still makes one feel somewhat sentimental...

"Honestly, the uncle at the hotel clearly said there were lots of Matsutake Mushroom here, but I haven't found a single one."

Genta turned over the weeds on the grass, frantically turning over the soil until he was covered in sweat, and complained, "Could that uncle be lying to us?"

"That uncle wasn't lying; Matsutake Mushroom can indeed grow in this kind of environment."

Fujino glanced around. "But Matsutake Mushroom mushrooms are very hard to find without patience and luck. If you're unlucky, you might not find a single one in a whole day..."

"What?!"

Genta stood up. "What if we're unlucky and can't find a single one?!"

"If we can't find a single one, it shouldn't be that bad."

Fujino rubbed his chin. "At least we should be able to find one."

"One isn't enough to eat..."

Genta sat down on the ground helplessly. "If we only find one, then we won't be able to have Matsutake Mushroom feast tonight."

"It's all because you, Genta, wanted to come looking for Matsutake Mushroom..."

Ayumi also squatted down to the side, rummaging through the nearby bushes. "They originally wanted to pick apples."

"But Matsutake Mushroom are recognized as the number one best mushroom, and besides, their price is incomparable to that of apples."

When it comes to food, Genta's little mind immediately clears up.

"Besides its price, it is also a precious medicinal herb in traditional Chinese medicine."

Fujino wholeheartedly agreed with Genta's statement.

Matsutake Mushroom are indeed very expensive here...

In terms of price, one Matsutake Mushroom can be exchanged for several, or even a dozen, apples.

Hmm, I'll have to sneak in a few high-ranking and low-ranking players this time.

If I don't take a few more with me, I feel like I'm doing a disservice to the Pocket Dimension I've worked so hard to carve out for myself.

"It is precisely because of its medicinal properties and high price, coupled with the excessive deforestation, that wild Matsutake Mushroom are now very difficult to find..."

Ai Haibara picked up the thread, "But compared to Matsutake Mushroom, I feel that apples, as 'fruits that can distinguish right from wrong,' are more mysterious. After all, in the legend, Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden because they ate the 'forbidden fruit.'"

"Mmm, Ai knows so much!"

Ayumi smiled and remarked, then teased Genta, "Since it's a fruit that helps you distinguish right from wrong, Genta, you should eat more of it!"

"Hmm..."

Genta was somewhat speechless. "None of your business..."

Professor Agasa turned to Ai and asked with a smile, "By the way, Ai, is the idea that this apple is forbidden fruit from the Old Testament?"

"There are many versions of this story, and most of the stories about the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden are folk tales."

Ai Haibara twitched her chin. "I only remembered it because I heard the legend of the missionaries searching for the Golden Apple a hundred years ago in that village. But I heard Fujino say that the Golden Apple there was hemp."

Professor Agasa was momentarily speechless. "Marijuana..."

"Yes, it is indeed marijuana, but that's only a small-scale claim."

Fujino laughed and said, "Compared to a tangible fruit, I feel that the Golden Apple is more like some kind of ancient relic, such as ancient technology that can control people's minds. In the Bible or church stories, there are corresponding legends that defy common sense. Of course, these are just hearsay."

"Ancient technology?"

Professor Agasa, being a doctor, frowned. "The ability to control minds shouldn't exist, right? If it did, it would be far too unscientific."

"It's really unscientific."

Fujino glanced at Professor Agasa.

Just like the things you make are scientific.

It's unscientific, but it's a form of scientific inquiry.

'I never expected Fujino to be interested in something so illogical...'

Conan's lips twitched, somewhat puzzled by Fujino, who was also a detective.

However, Ai's words still piqued his curiosity.

He slowly approached Ai Haibara and asked in a low voice, "Speaking of which, what exactly happened to that village?"

Didn't it say so in the news?

Ai Haibara glanced back at her. "Didn't you see the news?"

"Of course I know..."

Conan was a little embarrassed. "It's just that the news didn't mention the detailed aspects. Could you elaborate on what exactly happened?"

"What happened..."

Ai Haibara was taken aback upon hearing this, and then thought back for a moment.

A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

Conan: "...?"

Why are you blushing?!

Something's definitely wrong!

Conan frowned, sensing that something was amiss.

He subconsciously pulled out a handful of Sunflower Seeds from his pocket. "Yeah, after all, something so big happened... Hmm, judging from your expression, you haven't made any progress with that Fujino guy, have you?"

"Ahem!"

Ai Haibara coughed lightly. "Of course there's nothing there, you're overthinking it."

She turned around and went to find Fujino to look for mushrooms together.

"Tsk..."

Conan watched Ai Haibara's departing figure and scratched his head.

He was cracking Sunflower Seeds when he turned around and saw Mitsuhiko standing behind him, stunned.

Her face turned bright red.

Conan: "..."

Why are you blushing?!

Another scandal?

Thinking of this, he smiled and walked up to Mitsuhiko, asking, "Mitsuhiko, why is your face so red?"

"Where can I find it..."

Mitsuhiko was startled by Conan, but after regaining his composure, he looked at Ai Haibara, "I was just looking at her..."

Conan was speechless for a moment. "You're not watching Haibara, are you?"

"Hmm... Haibara may seem aloof, but she is very knowledgeable and composed... and sometimes she can be quite adorable."

Mitsuhiko said wistfully, "Don't you feel that she has a mysterious aura about her?"

Conan: "..."

You wouldn't happen to have Ai Haibara, would you?

"Ahem!"

Mitsuhiko coughed lightly and quickly chuckled awkwardly, "Of course, that doesn't mean I..."

"Give up, Mitsuhiko."

Conan patted him on the shoulder like a Senior, and said earnestly, "Although I don't want to discourage you, I still advise you to give up as soon as possible."

"Ah?"

Mitsuhiko was completely dumbfounded.

It was clear that they were somewhat puzzled by Conan's appearance.

Conan shook his head, turned around, and put his hands in his pockets. "Although I don't want to say anything bad about her, believe me, a woman like her is someone you should never touch. You definitely couldn't handle her!"

Mitsuhiko was once again completely bewildered.

Women... I can't handle them...

What does that mean?

Does Conan also like Haibara?

"Well..."

Conan sighed, took out a Sunflower Seeds from his pocket, and cracked it open.

He was telling the truth.

In her eyes, these little devils were nothing more than children.

Despite looking like a primary school student, she was actually a girl a year older than him.

No matter what, it's impossible for someone to be attracted to a child.

In other words, it would be a miracle if someone were to fall for you.

On the other side, Ai Haibara also vaguely sensed that someone was watching her.

She turned around and looked at Conan and Mitsuhiko with a puzzled expression.

I was a little confused about what the two of them were talking about.

However, she didn't pay much attention to it and looked up at Fujino: "So, did you find the Matsutake Mushroom?"

"Hmm, we've found two..."

Fujino was using Eagle Vision, a system cheat, to scan the forest.

Soon, he found several Matsutake Mushroom.

Of course, I can only mention two.

He had to secretly store the rest into the system.

Fake Eagle Eye: A Powerful Tool for Crime Solving

A real eagle eye: used to find Matsutake Mushroom.

After searching for a while, with Conan's hint and Fujino's guidance, the group found some Matsutake Mushroom nearby.

However, most of the Matsutake Mushroom had already been secretly pocketed by Fujino.

"One, two, three..."

Fujino counted the Matsutake Mushroom he had secretly picked in his Pocket Dimension, feeling extremely satisfied.

Generally speaking, even if you search all day in the forest, you might not find five.

He harvested more than ten Matsutake Mushroom this time.

I must say, this forest is truly a treasure trove...

Such a large quantity of wild Matsutake Mushroom is truly rare.

Is this the charm of Detective Conan?

Ten Matsutake Mushroom, that should weigh about a pound, but he doesn't know their value yet.

However, it should be around 100,000 yen.

In this place, Matsutake Mushroom mushrooms are considerably more expensive than in China...

"Hey, have you guys seen where Genta went?"

Conan reunited with everyone, carrying a Matsutake Mushroom, only to find one person missing.

"I haven't seen him since the beginning..."

"Could he be lost?"

The others also failed to notice Genta.

"Wait, did he jump over to the Hunting Ground?"

Conan looked at the iron fence not far away. "I just said that there are quite a few Matsutake Mushroom under the yellowish-green pine trees..."

"If that's the case, then we're in trouble..."

Professor Agasa twitched his chin. "His Detective Badge has been getting repaired here for the past few days, and even using the Tracking Glasses, we can't find him..."

"In that case, I'll go look for him over there..."

Fujino turned his head and looked at the iron fence to the side.

He did notice that Genta had climbed over the railing.

However, he did not stop him.

After all, he remembered there were more Matsutake Mushroom over there by the fence...

That can serve as a reason for the past.

"I'll go too..."

As he spoke, Conan began to climb onto the barbed wire fence.

Then Fujino pulled him down again. "That's Hunting Ground. It's too dangerous for a child like you to go there."

"Hello, hello..."

Conan was about to say something when Fujino interrupted him, "If you go over there, those children will probably go over there too."

Conan thought about it and agreed.

If he goes, those kids will probably follow him again, claiming he's trying to show off.

"Call..."

Conan sighed, "Then I'll trouble you to bring him back."

"Okay, I'll be right back."

Fujino nodded and was just about to leave.

"Wait a moment..."

Ai Haibara handed the Detective Badge to Fujino: "If he comes back later, use this to contact him."

"Learn."

Fujino took the Detective Badge and put it in his pocket.

He turned around and glanced at the iron fence behind him.

It's about one or two meters tall.

You can skip over it...

After taking a look at the height of the iron fence, Fujino took a deep breath, then used his legs to propel himself high into the air, grabbed the netting of the iron fence, and then, with a single leap, vaulted over to the other side.

Conan's half-moon eyes. "..."

Fujino is getting more and more perverted.

Hunting Ground.

"Is it over there?"

Fujino moved swiftly through the forest, his eagle eyes constantly scanning his surroundings.

Soon, he spotted Genta bending down to pick up Matsutake Mushroom.

Fujino stopped and turned his gaze to a spot not far away. "There's no danger here for now, but the main concern is over there, isn't it?"

Not far away, there were four distinct signs of life.

Two humans, two animals.

In his memory, this case should be one where a person kills another for the sake of an animal.

About ten years ago, the old hunter accidentally slipped and fell down the mountain.

The black bear known as Jubei saved him.

But as a result, the hunter who was there to help him lost an eye.

Since then, the old hunter has been doing his best to prevent Jubei from being hunted down.

Just today, another hunter killed Jubei's cub and hung it on a tree, attempting to use animal instincts to kill Jubei when he came to save the cub.

But the old hunter discovered this.

To prevent his benefactor from being shot, he fired first, killing the hunter...

"Swish swish swish!"

Just then, a rustling sound came from the bushes.

Fujino snapped out of his thoughts, looked down, and saw a round Xiao Hei peeking its head out of the grass.

The little bear stared at Fujino, tilting its head in confusion. "..."

Fujino glanced at the Xiao Hei: "..."

The Xiao Hei is not very big; judging from its size, it should be less than a year old and still in its infancy.

Based on its species, it should be an Asiatic black bear, also known as Black Bear.

Black Bear are considered a very docile species; in Russia, they're only good for riding bicycles.

They are extremely rare in his world; they are a Class II endangered species, and killing one would land you in jail.

"Kumo!"

The Xiao Hei emerged from the bushes, looked at Fujino with a puzzled expression, and then rubbed against his trouser leg.

"A baby bear?"

Fujino crouched down and patted the black bear's head.

To be honest, the Xiao Hei is really cute...

I don't know what that person was thinking, wanting to hunt Black Bear.

However, regarding the abstract concept of Japan...

Thinking about it, it makes sense.

They don't even blink when they kill whales, so how can you expect them to protect animals?