The Luxury Hotel Murder Case ②

"Sonoko, what are you doing here?" Ran asked curiously.

Sonoko Suzuki said indignantly, "Oh, don't even mention it! I came here for a blind date, but that guy was a complete scumbag! I accidentally found dozens of photos of different women hidden on him just now. After I exposed him, he actually dared to take advantage of me! Hmph, I slapped him hard right there!"

At that moment, Conan could not help muttering under his breath, "With your flat body, someone actually tried to touch you? What terrible taste..."

To his surprise, Sonoko Suzuki had sharp ears and caught every word. She instantly flew into a rage, rolled up her sleeves, and moved to beat Conan up, shouting, "You little brat, who are you calling flat? Just see if I don't smack you!"

Seeing this, Conan hurriedly hid behind Ran and cried out in panic, "Ran, save me!"

In the past, Ran would definitely have protected Conan right away and spoken up for him. But now, she had no such intention. Ever since deciding to be with Lin Yu, Shinichi Kudo had become nothing more than an ordinary friend in her heart.

When Conan saw that Ran had no intention of defending him, a wave of disappointment washed over him. Sonoko Suzuki caught him, leaving two bumps on his head.

At that moment, the girl who had been drinking coffee by the window walked over. Smiling, she approached Ran with light steps and said softly, "Hello. I can sense a mysterious power within you. Would you be interested in having a chat with me?"

Ran and Ai Haibara exchanged a glance, instantly understanding the meaning in each other's eyes.

"Of course. No problem," Ran said with a slight nod, readily agreeing.

After everyone took their seats, the girl got straight to the point. "Allow me to introduce myself first. My name is Akako Koizumi, and I am the inheritor of Red Magic. I came here to capture that earthbound spirit."

"An earthbound spirit? Isn't that a monster from legend? How could there be something so terrifying here?" Ran asked in shock, unable to believe it.

"It is absolutely true. According to my thorough investigation, this earthbound spirit was formed from someone who died with deep grievances several centuries ago. Its resentment has lingered for ages, and it has claimed many lives. I came here to eliminate it, but honestly, I do not have absolute confidence in succeeding. Miss Ran, would you be willing to lend me a hand?"

Conan stared at Akako Koizumi with a serious expression and said solemnly, "Ran, don't let her fool you. What era are we living in? How could something as absurd as magic still exist?"

But unexpectedly, Sonoko Suzuki suddenly reached out and covered Conan's mouth, leaving him unable to say another word. Conan struggled hard in her grasp, but it was useless.

Ran looked at Akako Koizumi uncertainly and asked, "But I don't have any special abilities. Can I really help you?"

Akako Koizumi smiled faintly, confidence gleaming in her eyes. She gently shook her head and said softly, "Don't worry. You can definitely do it. I can sense an incredibly powerful force within your body—perhaps even stronger than my magic. As long as you are willing to help me, I believe we will succeed."

After hearing Akako Koizumi's words, a trace of curiosity rose in Ran's heart. She immediately thought of the blue gemstone Lin Yu had given her. At the time, Lin Yu had told her that the gem possessed mysterious power and could continuously evolve. Perhaps the energy Akako Koizumi sensed came from that gemstone.

So Ran nodded and accepted Akako Koizumi's invitation. If there really was a monster killing people, getting rid of it would be doing the public a service.