Conan: The Man Behind the Romance

Chapter 36: Kisaragi's Pain and Conflict

——"Because you exist."

——"Because of your husband's existence."

——"The last bit of hope in my life has been destroyed. I no longer have the courage to live."

——"Goodbye, this ugly world."

——"I won't come again next time."

The above are the last words left by Gao Yuan Yi after he called Kisaki Eri.

One can imagine the mental impact these words had on Hibari Eri. When she clearly heard the faint sound of a sharp weapon piercing flesh, her brain went blank.

When she regained consciousness, all she saw was the pale ceiling of the hospital ward.

That paleness is so piercing to the skin, so cold to the bones!

Fortunately, there is still a trace of warmth in my hands.

When Kisaki Eri's empty gaze was drawn by that hint of warmth and she saw her daughter sleeping soundly on the hospital bed, a little crystal unconsciously emerged from the corner of her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Xiaolan."

Unable to understand, she whispered.

Recently, because of family matters... no, it has been since ten years ago, because of family matters, this child has been very tired. What position have she and Maori Kogoro placed Xiaolan in all these years?

Kisaki Eri's eyes were full of pity. She raised her upper body slightly and wanted to touch her daughter's head with her other hand.

But as soon as she moved, Xiaolan immediately opened her sleepy eyes. When she saw that the movement came from her, her eyes quickly cleared up, she smiled gently, and stood up and hugged her.

"Don't be afraid, mom. No matter what happens, I'm always here."

Her eyes trembled slightly, and Kisaki Eri could no longer speak.

What did she give up ten years ago?

The hand hanging in the air did not fall for a long time. When Kisaki Eri's stiff body finally became soft again and she wanted to stroke her daughter's hair.

Xiaolan gently pushed her away.

"I'm sorry, I'm too childish. I knew that mom was in a hurry to call the police, but I still took up mom's time like this." Xiaolan took out her rose-red smartphone apologetically and called Megure Jusan.

"My mother is awake and she has something to say to the police."

After saying this, Xiaolan handed the phone to her mother, turned and walked out the door, waving her hand and laughing.

"I'm going to the bathroom."

Since everyone wants to hide it from her, she might as well be more self-aware and stay away from them.

Watching her daughter leave, Hibiki opened her mouth but no sound came out. After hesitating for a few seconds, she got up from the bed, walked to the door of the ward, and confirmed that Xiaolan was not eavesdropping.

Sorry, Xiaolan.

But when you know about these adult matters, you will only be sad in vain, because your parents are worried about you.

Hearing Megure Juzo's question on the other end of the phone, Kisaki Eri walked back to the bedside and sat down, only to find an exquisite flower basket on the bedside table.

The flower basket is filled with light blue baby's breath, and is supported by several elegant lilies. The delicate petals sway gently in the wind, and are covered with a few dewdrops condensed in the night.

Kisaki Eri gently stroked the vines of the flower basket with her fingertips, and a trace of relief flashed in her eyes.

Xiaolan is a really grown up child.

"Aunt Eri?"

Kudo Shinichi's question came from the other end of the phone. Kissing Eri withdrew her hand, her eyes quickly calmed down, and she calmly recounted what had happened before.

After hearing Gaoyuan Yi's last words, Megure Jusan sighed softly. He was now 100% sure that he committed suicide, but why did he do that? "Kudo family, do you still think this was not an accident?" After explaining what happened before, Kisaki Eri asked coldly.

"Aunt Eri, you also saw the two words 'Beika Central Park'." Kudo Shinichi replied calmly.

"A lady's cigarette box with no fingerprints on it, and a faded kite that has been abandoned for who knows how long, what can this prove? You put those two words together yourself, who knows what they originally meant."

Kudo Shinichi was silent for a few seconds, "Aunt Eri said it was just a coincidence, do you believe that?"

Fei Yingli gritted her teeth: "Okay! Do you have any other evidence? Don't just guess."

Kudo Shinichi was speechless.

“Since there is no other evidence so far, let me ask you, Kudo family, if there really was a mastermind behind this, why did he leave such a message mocking the police?

You said his purpose was to defraud insurance, but the situation has developed to the point where the 500 million yen is being watched by so many people. Isn't this contrary to what he wanted?
The reason is that he left behind something that could barely be considered as evidence, isn't it?

Without that, I don't know if you can stick to your idea and the police can accompany you to investigate the case. But in any case, that kind of situation is beneficial to the mastermind, isn't it?
Don't tell me that it was out of the arrogance of a criminal. You said that he was meticulous and clever in his planning. He would never act on impulse for no reason!"

After Kisaki Eri finished her long speech, both hospital wards fell into silence.

Kudo Shinichi cannot answer these questions.

Because this is also what he can't understand.

What exactly did the mastermind behind this want to do? The sarcastic remark he made at that time could not have been just a momentary brain storm!

Without more evidence, this question cannot be figured out, so we have to put it aside for the time being and investigate other directions first.

Kudo Shinichi changed the subject: "Aunt Eri, could you please go to the Metropolitan Police Department now? We hope to compare the profiles of you and Miss Towako from all angles to confirm the specific reasons why Uncle Mori was used that night."

There was silence on the other end of the phone, except for the faint sound of bones creaking.

Kudo Shinichi thought for a moment and said, "I'm sorry to have you go so late, Aunt Eri, but the situation has escalated, and I'm worried that if I delay any further, something else might happen, so..."

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Megure Jusan interrupted and said, "Don't misunderstand, Attorney Hime. We have no intention of comparing you with Towako. We just want to investigate the truth of the case. As for what Mori said... that..."

Megure Jusan scratched his head and said with a wry smile: "I also think he is going too far, but he sounds quite sincere and doesn't seem like he is making excuses for himself. You..."

"Ha~"

Kisaki Eri sneered, "So he mistook that woman for me, right? It turns out that in his mind, I shouldn't be a lawyer, I should be a barmaid in a nightclub."

"It's definitely not like that!"

Megure Jusan quickly explained: "Brother Maori was just drunk at the time. He was probably thinking about you, Lawyer Hime, and he accidentally saw things."

"Then this is just a pure coincidence, let's close the case quickly, why do you want me to go there?"

Kisaki Eri's voice was cold, and Megure Jusan was sweating profusely, but he really couldn't find any words to say. After all, any woman with a legitimate job would probably not feel good if she was compared to a nightclub mama-san.

There is a saying that there is no distinction between high and low occupations, but the reality is...

Maybe so.

Megure Juzo looked at Kudo Shinichi for help. Kudo Shinichi thought for two seconds, took out his mobile phone and called Mouri Kogoro.

Don’t ask why Kogoro Mouri was still able to use his cell phone even though he was detained. This is just a little bit of the willfulness of “relationships”.

Kudo Shinichi explained the situation here to him and turned on the speakerphone, and five seconds later.

"Eri, I'm sorry..."

The voice sounded a little vicissitudes and a little trembling.

On the other side, next to the flower bed in the courtyard of the Mika Central Hospital, Xiaolan, who was sitting on a bench, sighed slightly and turned down the volume of her headset a little.

Mom and Dad, will you reconcile tonight?
(End of this chapter)