"Mm! It's really fresh." After tasting a chopstickful, Suzuki Sonoko could not help praising it. "Pork hot pot with river fish and wild mountain vegetables—this is quite an unusual combination."
Mayor Hachimaki smiled proudly. "These are all local specialties, and they will also be a major focus of the Vacation Villa's future promotion."
As they spoke, a faint ring tone suddenly drifted down from the second floor.
The female secretary listened for a moment, then looked at President Yamazaki while holding her bowl and chopsticks. "It sounds like it's coming from your study. Did you leave your phone there?"
"No." President Yamazaki patted her pocket and remembered. "Oh, it must be the landline phone. It was only installed a few days ago—how is someone already calling it?"
She rose uncertainly and said to the others, "I'll go upstairs and take a look. Please keep eating; there's no need to wait for me."
Stepping down from the Tatami and putting on her shoes, she was about to head upstairs when she suddenly remembered something. She turned to her secretary and said, "Right, go bring out our treasured specialties for everyone to try."
The secretary nodded. After the president had left, she called toward the kitchen while stuffing food into her mouth, "Mr. Aihara, the president wants you to bring out those specialties."
No one answered from the kitchen. All she could hear was the hum of the range hood.
The secretary sighed. She wanted to raise her voice, but shouting in front of so many guests seemed impolite. She could only set down her bowl, step off the Tatami, and head to the kitchen to call him herself.
Conan had long since grown tired of sitting at the table. Seeing this, he hopped down from the Tatami as well and curiously