Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

"Mr. Morizono was given a suspended sentence, so he should have returned to Osaka by now, right?" Lin Xiuyi continued, trying to make conversation. "What happened to him afterward?"

Mentioning Mikio Morizono, Shizuka Ikenami sighed softly.
"Senior Morizono... He was heartbroken by what happened to Miss Kazumi and became somewhat depressed. Not long after returning to Osaka, he applied for a leave of absence from school and went abroad to clear his head."

"A school trip? It's good to be rich." Lin Xiuyi couldn't help but sigh.

For an ordinary person, it would be difficult to have such confidence to drop out of school so easily and travel the world without any worries.

Ikeba Shizuka glanced at him sideways, amused.
"What, Lin Jun, are you envious? With your abilities, you might be able to achieve whatever kind of life you want in the future."

She seemed to be implying something, though it was unclear whether she was referring to the detective's abilities or something else.

Lin Xiuyi smiled noncommittally and did not reply.

After running past a small community park, Ikeba Shizuka suddenly spoke, her voice lower than before, and a faint, almost imperceptible blush appeared on her face.

"Lin Jun, do you remember? Last time in Tokyo, the two of us chased after that thug who stole our things?"

"Of course I remember." Lin Xiu nodded; that experience left a deep impression on her.

He glanced subconsciously at Ikeba Shizuka's ankle, which was clad in sneakers, as if he could still picture her awkwardly twisted ankle.
"Back then, you were full of confidence arguing with me about whether kendo was practical in actual combat. But in the blink of an eye, you were ambushed by your opponent with a stray steel ball. Not only did you sprain your ankle, but your bamboo sword was also taken away."

“Yes,” Chibo Jinghua bit her lip, her voice filled with lingering fear and gratitude, “If you hadn’t been there that time and intervened in time to subdue them, I… I don’t know what would have happened to me.”

At this point, she paused, slowed her pace slightly, and her expression became unusually serious.

"After that, I practiced Kendo even harder. Not just for physical fitness or to maintain a so-called hobby, but to really think about the application of Kendo in actual combat."

"I don't want to be a burden to others anymore, or... unable to even protect myself when needed."

As the girl spoke, a scene that left Lin Xiuyi speechless unfolded.

Suddenly, Ikeba Shizuka reached inside her loose tracksuit and, as if by magic, pulled out a standard-sized bamboo sword with a "whoosh".

"Hey! You...you carry this with you when you go for your morning run?"

Lin Xiuyi was genuinely startled and almost tripped.

This scene instantly reminded him of another weapon girl, Midori Orikasa, who always liked to hide her wooden sword in all sorts of unexpected places.

Do all these girls who practice swordsmanship have this obsession with never being without their swords?
Ikeba Shizuka did not respond to his surprise, but instead stood steadily facing Hayashi Hideichi, sword in hand.

The girl's eyes became sharp and focused, as if she had become a different person, and the awe-inspiring aura of a swordsman quietly emanated from her.

“Lin Jun,” Chi Bo Jinghua said in a clear voice, “let’s have a competition.”

"A contest?" Lin Xiuyi frowned.

"That's right, a real-world competition."

Ikeba Shizuka nodded, and with a slight flick of her wrist, the tip of her bamboo sword drew a menacing arc in the air.
"The rules are simple: whoever subdues the other first wins."

“If you win…” a sly glint flashed in the girl’s eyes, “I will stop bothering you and let you call me Onassin.”

This condition immediately piqued Lin Xiuyi's interest. After all, being harassed by this young lady using that term of address from time to time was quite a headache.

But he still cautiously asked, "What if I lose?"

“If you lose,” Ikeba Shizuka seemed to have already planned it out, a confident smile playing on her lips, “I will help you persuade Uncle Gang Si to agree to let you participate in the follow-up investigation of last night’s Riverview Hotel case as an assistant investigator.”

"Are you sure this is the condition for me to lose? I thought you were going to make me call you 'One-san'." Lin Xiu looked surprised. "Whether I win or lose, it doesn't seem like I'm at a disadvantage?"

“Uncle Gangsi is at a crucial point in his promotion. With your help, he’ll definitely be able to solve last night’s case quickly,” Ikeba Shizuka smiled slyly. “How about it? This offer is fair, isn’t it? Want to accept the challenge?”

“It’s fair, I suppose,” Lin Xiuyi looked around, somewhat hesitant, “but to compete here? This is a street, and although there aren’t many people, what if…”

“It’s alright,” Ikeba Shizuka interrupted him confidently, her gaze sweeping over the empty streets and the relatively wide sidewalks at the edge of the park. “No one will come at this time.”

Having said that, she gave Lin Xiuyi no more chance to hesitate. Her eyes narrowed, and she gave a low shout.
"Be careful!"

Before she finished speaking, the girl moved slightly, her steps swift and steady. The bamboo sword in her hand sliced ​​through the morning air, carrying a clear sound of wind breaking and the momentum she had cultivated over the past few months, and she suddenly attacked Lin Xiuyi!

This attack, in terms of speed, power, and angle, was completely different from the one he had faced with thugs on the streets of Tokyo!

Ikeba Shizuka clearly viewed that defeat as a disgrace, but transformed it into motivation for her current efforts.

Lin Xiuyi dared not be careless and instinctively dodged to the side, barely avoiding the attack.

The bamboo sword grazed his shoulder, struck a tree trunk with a sharp "snap," and sent leaves rustling down.

"You reacted pretty quickly."

A hint of admiration flashed in Ikeba Shizuka's eyes, but her hands did not stop moving at all. She thrust her sword again, this time aiming for his chest.

While dodging, Lin Xiuyi quickly thought of a countermeasure.

Although he had not formally studied kendo, he was able to manage with his keen observation skills and agile movements.

However, this passive defense is not a long-term solution, and sooner or later a weakness will be revealed.

He seized an opening, and the instant that Ikeba Shizuka swung her sword, he suddenly ducked forward and reached out to grab the blade of the bamboo sword.

The bamboo sword was hard and slightly cool to the touch. He gripped the blade tightly with his fingers and pulled it back forcefully.

Ikeba Shizuka didn't expect him to suddenly adopt this close-quarters combat style. Caught off guard, her bamboo sword was almost taken away.

"You're cheating! Who grabs a sword with their bare hands like that!" Chi Bo Jinghua said coquettishly, increasing the force in her hand as she tried to take back the bamboo sword.

“You only said it was a swordsmanship competition, but you didn’t say we couldn’t use our hands.”

Lin Xiuyi's lips curled into a smile, her grip remaining firm.

"Besides, there aren't so many rules in actual combat; winning is the most important thing, isn't it?" (End of Chapter)