Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

"Ruri?" Eri noticed her best friend's unusual behavior, walked over and gently took her hand. "Are you alright?"

Liuli raised her head and forced a smile.

"I'm fine," she said softly, her voice a little hoarse. "It's just... I can't quite believe it."

Lin Xiu glanced at her but didn't say anything more.

He knew that this kind of thing needed time to process and couldn't be understood in just a few words.

"Let's go." Officer Matsumoto pushed open the door and walked out first.

……

The Arai family.

This is a very old Japanese-style house with black wooden exterior walls, gray tiled roof, and a small stone lantern in front of the door.

Several neatly trimmed shrubs were planted in the yard, and a pebble path meandered to the entrance.

The overall appearance is simple yet elegant, revealing the family's past peace and prosperity.

But at this moment, that peace has been completely shattered.

Officer Matsumoto went up and knocked on the door; the knocking sound was particularly clear on the quiet street.

Not long after, footsteps came from inside the door, and the door opened.

Mrs. Arai stood at the door.

She was wearing a plain-colored loungewear set, her hair casually draped over her shoulders, and light makeup on her face.

At first glance, she looks like an ordinary housewife who has just experienced the pain of losing her husband. She looks a little haggard, but still maintains a basic level of dignity.

Seeing the crowd standing at the door, she looked surprised, her eyes widening slightly, as if she had never expected so many people to come looking for her.

"Officer? Is there something you need...?"

“Otsuka has admitted that he deliberately drove his car into Mr. Arai,” Officer Matsumoto said bluntly, his eyes fixed on her face, not missing a single subtle change in expression.

"what?"

Mrs. Arai looked surprised, but her surprise was just right—neither exaggerated nor perfunctory.

"How could this happen... How could he... How could he..."

"Aren't we allowed in?" Officer Matsumoto looked around but didn't immediately respond.

At the door of Arai's house, many neighbors were curiously looking in this direction.

The Arai family has been plagued by a series of misfortunes in the past two days: a disappearance, a car accident, and police visits. This is clearly no secret in this peaceful community.

Seeing police cars and officers waiting in front of the Arai family's house, the neighbors started peeking out, some of them bolder, standing right in front of their own doors and openly looking in their direction.

"Isn't it a bit inappropriate to talk at the door?" Officer Matsumoto said, his tone carrying a hint of warning.

Mrs. Arai followed his gaze and glanced at the neighbors, her expression freezing slightly for a moment.

She took a deep breath and stepped aside to make room for the doorway.

"Please come in," she said, her voice a few decibels lower than before.

Lin Xiuyi and the others followed Officer Matsumoto into the Arai family home.

Liuli walked at the very back, her steps hesitant.

As she passed by Mrs. Arai, the woman glanced at her, her gaze lingering on the girl's face for a moment, her brows furrowing slightly.

There was a complex emotion in his gaze—was it surprise? Displeasure? Or something else entirely?
Liuli couldn't explain it, but she felt that gaze was like a thorn, making her feel very uncomfortable.

But she said nothing, and silently followed the crowd into the house she had entered and exited countless times.

The entryway is spacious, with several exquisite decorative items displayed on the wooden shoe cabinet.

Passing through the entryway, you enter a Japanese-style living room with tatami flooring, a low table, cushions, and a landscape painting hanging on the wall.

The overall decor was simple and elegant, reflecting the owner's good taste. As Officer Matsumoto entered the living room, his gaze was immediately drawn to something in the corner.

It was a television set, and a popular romantic drama was playing on the screen.

The male and female protagonists are gazing lovingly at each other under the setting sun, accompanied by melodious background music.

"Madam seems to be in a good mood," Officer Matsumoto said, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

Mrs. Arai's expression stiffened slightly, but she quickly returned to normal.

She explained softly, "When I'm home alone, the silence makes me feel even sadder. Turning on the TV and listening to the sounds makes me feel less empty."

As she spoke, she walked over, picked up the remote control, and turned off the television.

The screen went black, and the room fell silent instantly.

"What would you all like to drink? Oolong tea or juice?"

Mrs. Arai turned around with a polite smile on her face, as if she were truly just a hospitable housewife.

"No need." Officer Matsumoto shook his head, gesturing for everyone to find a place to sit down.

Hayashi Hideichi chose a seat by the window, with Yukiko and Eri Kisaki sitting next to him, Midori Orikasa and Ruri sitting side by side, while Kogoro Mouri sat cross-legged on the tatami in a carefree manner.

Mrs. Arai sat down on the cushion opposite them, her hands folded on her knees, her posture elegant and graceful.

“Madam, I’ve come to confirm a few things with you,” Officer Matsumoto said, his tone becoming serious.

"what's up?"

Mrs. Arai frowned slightly, a perfectly measured look of confusion on her face.

“When you took me to the Metropolitan Police Department before, I already said everything I needed to say. I don’t know if there’s anything else that needs to be confirmed.”

"Really?"

Officer Matsumoto chuckled softly, a laugh tinged with a deeper meaning.

"But Otsuka told us a lot of new things. For example... where you really went during the two days you were missing."

Mrs. Arai's expression stiffened slightly.

The stiffness lasted only a moment, so short as to be almost negligible.

But Lin Xiuyi had been observing her and clearly noticed this detail.

"I can not understand what you say."

Mrs. Arai spoke, her voice a few decibels lower than before.

"Didn't I already tell you? I went to a friend's house. If you don't believe me, you can ask that friend..."

"lady."

Officer Matsumoto sighed and interrupted her.
“Otsuka has already confessed to the murder, do you think he would still keep it a secret from you? He’s told you everything.”

Mrs. Arai remained silent.

Her face was slightly pale, her lips were pressed into a thin line, and her gaze was fixed on the low table, as if she were lost in thought.

"You were kidnapped by Otsuka, taken to a yacht, and left at sea for two days."

Officer Matsumoto continued, speaking at a moderate pace, each word clear and forceful.
"On the yacht, you and Otsuka talked a lot about your husband and his wife's relationship, your marriage, and... some other things."

"enough!"

Mrs. Arai suddenly raised her head and interrupted Officer Matsumoto sharply.

Her face changed completely, turning from pale to ashen, and her once gentle eyes were now burning with a flame of anger and fear.

"I don't want to hear about those things anymore!" (End of Chapter)