Fujino: Can We Please Stop Talking About Kilns?

"Is that so?"

Ran was also puzzled for a moment, feeling that there seemed to be something else behind Fujino's words, but she didn't think too much about it and couldn't help but sigh, "So Fujino- Senior knows about brothels."

"Heh heh, of course, I know brothels inside and out, you know."

Fujino tried his best to keep a straight face, and patted his chest righteously to show that he was absolutely talking about brothels and nothing else.

"I see!"

Kikuemon next to him, was surprised. "I didn't expect that Fujino- kun not only knows about pottery, but is also interested in kilns."

"I'm just slightly interested, I don't really understand it..."

Fujino's expression turned strange for a moment. "But can we not talk about brothels and talk about something else?"

"Oh!"

Kikuemon didn't quite understand what Fujino meant, so he quickly introduced his apprentice who was working at the kiln, "Let me introduce you, this is the apprentice I just mentioned, named Ootani Kaoru."

Then he asked, "Otani, how's the brothel doing now?"

It should be ready before dinner.

Just as Ootani Kaoru responded, a child's curious voice suddenly came from beside her. "Hey, what's with these fragments?"

Since arriving at the brothel, Conan has been busy. He is currently examining a basket of fragments and asking the crowd a question.

'This guy, he really can't stay still...'

Fujino turned around and glanced at Conan, who looked like he was looking at a crime scene, and couldn't help but be speechless.

The fragments next to the large kiln, how could you not know that?

If it wasn't a defective product that was smashed, what else could it be?

Just as Fujino suspected, these fragments were all defective products, and the person who broke them was none other than Kikuemon's daughter-in-law, Masuko Tsuchiya.

Masuko Tsuchiya was actually a rare natural talent in pottery, able to spot flaws in pottery at a glance, even more so than Kikuemon. It was for this reason that she became the wife of Kikuemon's son.

However, just two years ago, Kikuemon's son died in a car accident, so now Kikuemon is considered to have lost his son in his old age and has no heir.

Kikuemon is a title passed down from master to apprentice, and the successor is the person who inherits the name Kikuemon. The selection of the successor will now be carried out among these three apprentices, and the person in charge of selecting the successor is Masuko Tsuchiya.

"That's why she's become very strict lately..."

The apprentice with the Arita Yoshihiko, patted another apprentice beside him Seto Ryuichi, on the shoulder. "Is that so?"

"Stop teasing me..."

Seto Ryuichi sighed helplessly, "I only have two works that passed the test this month."

"Sigh, are you all alright..."

Ootani Kaoru sighed, "I haven't had a single piece of work pass the young mistress's test in the past three months. I guess I've reached my limit."

"The author's mindset, just as Fujino Kotomo said before, will be reflected in the work."

At this moment, Kikuemon stepped forward, picked up the fragment from Conan's frame, and glanced at it. "Making a work with such a forced feeling will naturally distort the work."

As he spoke, he comforted her, "As long as you keep a stable mindset and approach your work with a clear and calm mind, the work will naturally present its best form."

"I understand, Master."

Fujino silently observed the master and his disciples, his dark eyes trying to analyze their relationships.

Seto Ryuichi and Arita Yoshihiko are both excellent disciples of Kikuemon, while Ootani Kaoru's talent and mentality have declined, and he may have already given up on competing for the position of successor.

Kikuemon, had a more relaxed attitude and treated each of his apprentices equally, offering comfort when they were in a bad mood.

That's how it seems, but the relationship between these apprentices and that young mistress is rather complicated.

Seto and the young mistress seem to have a special relationship; he even comforted her beforehand. If their relationship started three months ago...

Well, after all, Masuko Tsuchiya is only in her forties and has become a widow, so it's understandable that she'd be so aggressive.

As for Ootani Kaoru, she might be the most devastated. Amidst the constant production and failures, she might even develop murderous intent towards her master and Masuko Tsuchiya.

Masuko Tsuchiya and Seto could also become murderers. After all, if the two really had a secret relationship, and were caught, they could very well kill each other for it...

Arita might suddenly gain power and kill his master to seize the throne, or he might witness the two of them doing that kind of thing and become the murderer himself.

In short, in his eyes, everyone present was a potential murderer.

After all, the Beika people have far too many reasons to kill.

In the Conan World, any bizarre reason for murder is possible.

"Ah--!!"

Just then, a scream suddenly interrupted Fujino's thoughts as he pondered "Who is the murderer and who is the victim?"

"Um?!"

Conan frowned slightly, sensing that something was amiss.

Excitedly, he turned and ran out of the brothel, hurrying towards the source of the sound.

While touring a certain place, a scream suddenly rang out.

He was familiar with the script!

A murder has occurred!

"This kid..."

Fujino stared at Conan's retreating figure, and couldn't help but sigh helplessly.

He rushed out without caring about anything else when he smelled the stench of murder.

It's like how someone gets excited when they smell something.

This kid is definitely a Siberian Husky.

Ai Haibara nodded in agreement as well.

It seemed as if they sensed something, as if they were on the same wavelength.

She also felt that the back view looked a bit like a husky.

The sound came from Kikuemon's storeroom.

When everyone arrived at the crime scene... the warehouse, they saw shelves full of pottery and Masuko Tsuchiya sitting on the ground, looking startled.

In front of her lay a pile of shards.

"Feng Shui Pill?!"

"Sorry, I slipped while climbing the ladder..."

Masuko Tsuchiya looked horrified and turned around to Kikuemon, her chubby white feet pressed against the ground involuntarily clenching together.

"Never mind!"

Kikuemon stared at the fragments on the ground. "Everything tangible will one day disappear. The Feng Shui Pill has simply returned to dust..."

With that, he sighed, turned and left the warehouse. "I'm a little tired today. After you've tidied up, go and prepare dinner for Fujino and the others. Call me when you're ready."

"Yes..."

Watching Masuko Tsuchiya bow to Kikuemon as he left, Sonoko wondered, "He doesn't seem angry at all that this new work has been ruined."

"Perhaps this is what a master is all about."

Fujino twitched his chin, watching the other person's lonely figure as they walked away.

My hard work was accidentally destroyed, but I didn't feel any blame at all. Instead, I felt sad and disappointed, and in the end, I went to my room alone to sort out my emotions.

To be honest, the more he looks at this old man, the more pleasing he becomes.

Such a person has a truly good mindset; they are a rare find among good people.

However, given the nature of the Conan World —besides the main characters, anyone could get into trouble...

All I can say is that I hope this old man doesn't become the victim or the murderer.

After all, I had just given him a teacup worth millions.