This Time There's No Saving Them

"Tang Ze-kun!" Sonoko Suzuki dramatically leaned over Tang Ze's desk, "What happened to your face!"

Tang Ze was momentarily stunned. Seeing her reach out to touch his bandage, he quickly leaned back to dodge: "It's just a small scratch."

Sonoko Suzuki looked pained, her thoughts completely visible on her face. Reading it closely, it was clear she was thinking, "How could anyone bear to hurt a face like this."

Such a genuine fangirl.

Ran Mouri grabbed her best friend, who was acting up again, and smiled awkwardly: "Ah, Sonoko didn't mean to offend... Thank you for last night, Tang Ze-kun."

Mori Kogoro, full of high spirits, had downed quite a few cans of beer at the cafe. By the time the cafe closed, he couldn't walk in a straight line.

Although Ran Mouri's actual combat ability was that of a "weak woman" with speed and strength rated A, it was hardly gentlemanly for a high school boy and an adult to let a girl handle a drunkard who had turned into a puddle.

So, Tooru Amuro and Tang Ze worked together to help Mori Kogoro up to the third floor. Tooru Amuro left after his shift, while Tang Ze stayed behind to help Ran Mouri boil water and make hangover tea.

It wasn't entirely about gaining favor. The main reason was that Tang Ze, who had a history of long-term alcoholism, was so practiced at this routine. With a smooth, flowing series of actions, Ran Mouri and Conan hadn't even reacted before Mori Kogoro was tidied up and laid out flat on the sofa.

Now, Tang Ze's reputation with Ran Mouri had risen from "good-natured new classmate" to "gentle, kind neighbor."

"It's nothing, is Mr. Mori alright this morning?"

"Thank you for the hangover tea, Dad is feeling refreshed."

"That's good, I'm glad I could help."

The two of them smiled at each other, the atmosphere friendly and harmonious.

Sonoko Suzuki reached out, intruding between them with a sense of urgency, turning her head left and right: "What are you two talking about? You've only known each other for two days and you're already getting familiar! It's not fair, Ran, your detective boyfriend just left, you need to be loyal!"

Ran Mouri's smile instantly faltered: "Don't even mention it... that deduction maniac, he called to say he had a case with some trouble and had to leave for a while, and I don't know when he'll be back..."

"Detective?" Tang Ze tilted his head curiously, "Who are you talking about?"

"It's Shinichi Kudo, he's often in the news, you must have seen him." Sonoko Suzuki casually patted Ran Mouri's shoulder, "He's Ran's childhood friend! He's also a student in our class, but he disappeared before you transferred, so you didn't get a chance to meet him."

"He's a famous detective... Mr. Mori is also a detective, right?" Tang Ze was building his character logic, currently aiming for a melancholic youth who yearns for justice but cannot achieve it. He then put on the melancholic expression he had shown Tooru Amuro, "That's so nice..."

"Let's not talk about that deduction maniac, Ran. Shall we go to the art museum together after school?" Sonoko Suzuki, not wanting to discuss Shinichi Kudo and feeling that Tang Ze's mood had dipped, quickly changed the subject, "There are rumors these past few days that strange incidents have been happening at the Beika Art Museum!"

"The Beika Art Museum? They're having a medieval art exhibition recently, right? I wanted to go see it. I heard there are quite a few works by famous artists, and also many new acquisitions, but when I asked Dad to accompany me, he absolutely refused..." Ran Mouri got annoyed thinking about Mori Kogoro's slovenly demeanor.

Sonoko Suzuki snapped her fingers: "Yes, that art exhibition! There are night guards who say they've seen medieval armor that wakes up at midnight and walks on its own!"

"Eh, strange incidents like this are supernatural events?" Ran Mouri, who was somewhat afraid of ghosts, hesitated.

"Don't you think it's interesting? It perfectly fits the mystery of the medieval era. Since you wanted to go to the museum anyway, let's go together!" Sonoko Suzuki revealed her true intentions. She turned to Tang Ze, "Tang Ze-kun, you should come too. You haven't really gone out exploring Beika Town yet, have you?"

Your map of Yan Country is a bit short...

Seeing through Sonoko Suzuki's intentions at a glance, Tang Ze naturally wouldn't refuse: "Sure, but Ran-san still needs to pick up Conan from school. Why don't we invite him along?"

Today marked the official start of the fake elementary school student's long first-grade career. As a quasi-parent, Ran Mouri wouldn't let the child who was attending school for the first time go home alone.

"That brat... Fine." If they didn't pick up Conan, her best friend might abandon the plan. If it turned into her and Tang Ze going to the exhibition alone, the nature of it would be quite different, and she might be rejected.

Now there'll be an extra bratty third wheel. Sonoko Suzuki sighed.

After school, they picked up Conan from Teitan Elementary School. Tang Ze met the legendary Detective Boys group and, incidentally, received an unhappy sideways glance from Conan.

A handsome new transfer student had arrived, living right below them. He had just as many opportunities to interact with Ran Mouri as Shinichi Kudo did before, which sent Conan's love-rival radar into overdrive.

Tang Ze couldn't be bothered to argue with this "East Asian King of Vinegar." He good-naturedly responded with an understanding smile.

That's what happens when a man can't change back. He gets really anxious when he sees handsome guys around his childhood sweetheart.

When Sonoko mentioned the art museum, Tang Ze recalled relevant cases from his memory within a few minutes.

He quietly took out his phone and tried entering the names of the culprit and victims one by one, but unfortunately found that none of them triggered the navigation app.

Indeed, in Conan's world, apart from bombing incidents, there were rarely random killings. Murders were basically born from interpersonal relationships.

Although the victims were more likely to have committed misdeeds than the perpetrators—like the death of Maru Denjirou, which Tang Ze had just interrupted—many were personal grudges that didn't rise to the level of distorting personality. "Heart modification" wasn't a universal solution; it could only beat up perverts, not manage family disputes or sudden illnesses.

On a side note, Tang Ze had already tried entering a few names of characters with significant roles. You know, speaking of which, if there's one thing Conan's world has in abundance, it's Palaces.

It was a shame that the main characters were mostly involved in intellectual duels with opponents and were unlikely to be caught up in murder cases, which dampened Tang Ze's enthusiasm. However, the abundance of Palaces everywhere gave him plenty of room to maneuver.

As a multi-playthrough player, Tang Ze knew very well that the element for the birth of a Palace was "a powerful desire that could distort perception," regardless of good or evil. Distorted scumbags would produce Palaces, severely traumatized individuals would also produce Palaces, and even obsessive individuals pursuing ideals could potentially produce Palaces.

If he accidentally destroyed the obsession of a key character, it would be over. The Phantom Thieves just wanted to advance the plot and investigate the truth; they weren't here to destroy people's minds.

"This is it, the Beika Art Museum!" Sonoko Suzuki's shout pulled Tang Ze's wandering thoughts back, "That moving armor is in the medieval art exhibition hall that's currently on display."

"Sonoko-neechan, we're here to see the exhibition, not to visit a haunted house..." Shouting about supernatural legends at someone's doorstep isn't appropriate, Conan's mouth twitched.

Sonoko Suzuki waved her hand: "What does it matter? We're buying tickets anyway." With that, she naturally took Tang Ze's arm and pulled him along to queue.

Tang Ze looked up at the banner of the medieval art museum, bathed in the halo of the God of Death, and entered the future crime scene with a mournful tribute.

The second chapter today will be a bit later (:з」∠) I'm sleepy, going to nap first.