The two high school girls had not thought as deeply as Conan had, but Lawyer Tachibana's words still worried them. "Since he didn't meet up with you, doesn't that mean your client friend is running around alone in the mountains right now? The bear claw marks on that tree were so fresh—if he accidentally ran into one..."
"No need to worry." Lawyer Tachibana smiled. "Didn't I say? He loves hunting. Every day, aside from work, he spends his time at various Hunting Grounds. He's no worse than a professional hunter—and he's been to these woods many times. Nothing will happen."
"That's good, then." Suzuki Sonoko did not dwell on it further. Looking toward the distant forest, she urged, "Don't just stand around. Let's find Jiang Xia and that little girl quickly, then head back."
Beside them, Yoshida Ayumi stared blankly behind her, her eyes widening in surprise.
After the others had walked some distance, Conan vaguely sensed that something was missing. He turned back and called, "Ayumi, what are you doing? Hurry up and catch up."
They could not find Jiang Xia and Haibara, only for Ayumi to go missing too. Then they would really have to spend all day searching for people in these dangerous woods.
Hearing someone call her, Yoshida Ayumi snapped back to her senses. She withdrew her gaze from the forest and hesitantly jogged after the group.
The two groups were walking and chasing each other through the woods, and at first glance, the atmosphere actually seemed rather relaxed.
But near the distant wire fence, the scene was entirely different.
Professor Agasa's face went deathly pale as he looked at the police officer before him. "A-a body?!"
"Yes." The young officer stepped aside and gestured behind him. "Following the pool of blood you mentioned, we