The Luxury Hotel Murder Case

Conan World.

"Ai, Ran, my darlings, I'm baaaack!"

With a whoosh, Lin Yu appeared in his living room, his face beaming with a brilliant smile. He had not seen the two women for months and had missed them terribly. During his time at the God of Destruction's Temple, Vados had put him through quite a lot. If not for the reward he had recently obtained, his waist probably would have given out long ago. The moment he found an opportunity, he rushed back without hesitation.

Lin Yu's voice echoed through the living room, but strangely, neither woman responded. The enthusiastic welcome he had been expecting never came either.

"Huh? Where are they? Where did those two girls run off to?" Lin Yu wondered.

A few days earlier, Kogoro Mouri had called to say that there was a missing-person case that required him to handle personally. Ran Mouri and Conan were to come along, and they could treat it as a trip while they were at it.

"Ran, who's this gorgeous beauty?" Kogoro Mouri asked as he gripped the steering wheel of the rented car, his eyes occasionally sneaking glances at Ai Haibara in the rearview mirror. This girl sure is pretty, he muttered inwardly.

"Dad, Ai is someone I just met. We're really close sisters now," Ran said, turning to Kogoro Mouri. Then she said to Ai Haibara beside her, "Ai, don't mind him. That's just how my dad is."

Ai Haibara nodded to show that she understood.

At that moment, Conan asked with a grin, "Ran, where have you been lately? Uncle Mouri and I have been eating instant noodles at home every day because of you." As he spoke, he put on a pitiful expression.

"Sorry, Conan. I've been a little busy lately, so I didn't get the chance to go back," Ran said, a flicker of apology passing through her eyes—though there was even more conflict in them. Ai Haibara had already told her Conan's true identity. The little boy she had always cared for like a younger brother was actually Shinichi Kudo.

Conan seemed to sense that something was off about Ran's gaze, and he could not help growing nervous. Afraid that she had discovered his secret, he hurriedly changed the subject. "Ran, it looks like you've gained quite a bit of weight lately."

"Oh, maybe I've just been eating too much lately!" Ran said with a giggle, rubbing her belly. Her eyes were full of tenderness, and a sweet smile rested on her lips. Looking at her like that, it seemed as if the whole world had brightened with her.

As they chatted, Kogoro Mouri drove them to their destination—the Jaren Hotel. It was the largest hotel in Niigata Prefecture, with five floors in total. Not only did it have hot springs, but it also offered ultra-luxurious five-star meals. Normally, only the wealthy and influential could enjoy such treatment.

Kogoro Mouri led everyone into the hotel and explained the purpose of their visit at the front desk.

"Ai, why do I feel like this place is kind of creepy? There isn't anything unclean here, is there?" Ran whispered to Ai Haibara, frowning.

"Mm, we just need to be careful. Looks like our husband was right—whenever that guy is around, nothing good happens." Ai Haibara glanced at Conan.

Just then, a bespectacled man in a sharp suit stepped out of the elevator. Well, wasn't he the hotel's lobby manager? The instant he spotted Kogoro Mouri, he hurried over with a radiant smile. "Oh my, Mr. Mouri, what a coincidence! I've heard so much about you, and today I finally get to meet you in person. We'll be relying on you for this case!"

Kogoro Mouri puffed out his chest and replied smugly, "Haha, don't say that, you're being far too polite! But rest assured—with Kogoro Mouri here, this case will definitely be solved with ease!"

Beside him, Conan helplessly shook his head. Looking at the smug uncle before him, he could not help grumbling inwardly.

The lobby manager nodded repeatedly and thanked him again and again before continuing, "Then I'll leave it to you. I have some other matters to attend to, so I won't keep you company. I'll have someone at the front desk show you around the hotel." With that, he hurried away.

Conan began looking around the hotel lobby. It was still early, and there were not many people around. A young girl in a burgundy dress sat quietly by the window, calmly sipping coffee. Her gaze drifted between the view outside and the book in her hands, and she looked especially relaxed and at ease.

Suddenly, a burst of noisy commotion interrupted Conan's thoughts. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a girl grabbing a boy by the collar, kicking and hitting him. Conan examined her carefully. The figure seemed familiar, but he could not remember who she was at first.

Heh, Conan decided to go take a look. Once he got closer, he finally saw the girl's face clearly. Well, well—wasn't she Sonoko Suzuki, someone he knew?

"Sonoko, you old hag! What are you doing here?!" Conan cried out in surprise.

Hearing someone call her, Sonoko Suzuki stopped swinging her handbag at the man. She turned to look around, and her gaze eventually landed on Conan.

"Ha! So it's you, you little brat. Then that means Ran must be here too, right?" Sonoko Suzuki said, the corners of her lips curling into a smile.