Just as Vodka came to a new realization.
By the lake, Conan looked suspiciously toward the forest. "Did I just hear someone shouting for help?"
Jiang Xia tossed the fish he had just caught into the fish bucket, wiped his hands, and frowned. "Maybe someone's in trouble. Let's go take a look."
In the forest, the three high school girls had heard the same commotion, and it was far clearer than it had been by the lake.
"Someone's calling for help!" Toyama Kazuha came from a police family and was especially sensitive to such sounds. Without much thought, she hurried toward the source of the voice.
Dr. Araide, who had been about to pretend he had heard nothing: "..."
Mouri Ran snapped out of it and hurried after her. As she ran, she couldn't help whispering to Suzuki Sonoko, "This feels strangely familiar, like we've been through something like this before."
"Of course it does!" Suzuki Sonoko reminded her. "A few days ago at Mist Hill Villa, didn't Mr. Yamada also call for help like this?"
"!" Mouri Ran understood, sympathy appearing on her face. "Why does Mr. Yamada keep running into danger? He's so pitiful."
"Yeah." Suzuki Sonoko sighed too, but soon rallied on Vodka's behalf. "But it's fine now—he's run into Jiang Xia! If a friend is in danger, Jiang Xia definitely won't stand by and do nothing. Mr. Yamada has someone to rely on from now on! At worst, even if he accidentally loses his life, Jiang Xia will definitely clear his name, so he won't die with grievance like so many victims, unable to punish the murderer who harmed him. Great Detectives really are wonderful."
Dr. Araide couldn't help glancing at her. "..."
For some reason, Vodka suddenly seemed even more pitiful.
The group