Daily Spy Life in the Detective Conan World

Chapter 995 The Mysterious Owner of the Villa

Nagano Prefecture.

"The Hall of Hope is actually also secretly called the Hall of Death. A few years ago, someone starved to death in a warehouse in another building here."

"About six months ago, another case occurred here, related to the case from a few years ago. This time, two more people died. Since then, the owner has taken back this villa, which was originally rented free to ambitious young people in Nagano Prefecture."

"About three months ago, the owner of the villa moved back here for some unknown reason."

The tour bus moved slowly forward, and the tour guide inside was introducing the history of this villa to the tourists.

"Since a case has occurred, why did the original owner move back in? I heard the original owner was a very wealthy person, so surely they should have somewhere to live, right?"

"I heard that all the works in this exhibition come from the easel that died in the annex half a year ago. He was also the husband of the woman who starved to death in the warehouse a few years ago."

"It seems that the wealthy gentleman intends to turn this place into a tourist attraction."

The people on the bus were talking about it.

Xia Chuan was also on this tourist sightseeing bus. He had undergone a makeover and now had a pure Asian face. His name was Wan Zhangju, and his background was that of a young master from a conglomerate.

Standing at 1.8 meters tall, he looked impeccably dressed in a dark gray suit, and the sunglasses on his face made it impossible to tell where his gaze was.

"I imagine everyone is curious as to why the owner of the villa, Mr. Masatsugu Fukayama, lives here and holds an art exhibition."

The tour guide's words drew everyone's attention.

"Hehe, actually I don't know either." The tour guide changed the subject: "But isn't that what makes this trip so interesting?"

"A two-day, one-night immersive art exhibition and annex experience will allow you to understand this place while also calming your mind and body."

The sightseeing bus stopped in front of the Hall of Hope, and six tourists got off one by one.

Led by the tour guide, the group of six entered this grand villa.

The annex has a distinct early 20th-century American hotel style, giving it a retro feel at first glance.

After briefly explaining the rules, the group of six entered their rooms under the guidance of the other party.

"Mr. Wanzhang, room 206 is your room."

The tourist stood at the door, looked around, and said mysteriously, "I noticed that Mr. Wanzhang hadn't said much before, so I don't know if he heard my warning. I'll reiterate now: it's best not to go up to the fourth floor unless absolutely necessary."

"No, you must not go up to the fourth floor."

Xia Chuan was even more eager to go upstairs after hearing this mysterious remark.

"What's on the fourth floor?" he asked directly.

"The entire fourth floor is Mr. Shenshan's area. Although he never said that people couldn't go up there, many tourists who went up were scolded by loud voices and forced to come down."

"Why not just put up a sign on the stairs?"

The stairs were right next to Xia Chuan's room, which was probably why the other party gave that special reminder.

"Actually, not all of them will be kicked out."

The tour guide gave a puzzled smile: "Mr. Shenshan is strange. Some people will not only not be kicked out, but will instead gain his favor and receive a sum of start-up capital."

So this is ah.

Xia Chuan narrowed his eyes, his curiosity about this remote mountain place growing stronger.

Yuga Kyosuke didn't mention this, and it's unclear whether he deliberately didn't, or whether this Mr. Fukayama had nothing to do with Karasuma Renya at all.

Unlike the others, Xia Chuan didn't wander around aimlessly. Instead, she stayed in her room all morning, only meeting the others at the restaurant around noon. There were six people participating in the event: Xia Chuan disguised as Ban Zhang Ju, along with one woman and four men.

They are financial broker Kazushi Nagashima, sushi restaurant owner Ryojin Furukawa, young painter Shinpachi Nagano, real estate agent Ryota Yasui, and shoe and clothing designer Sakurako Fuyuyama.

The purpose of these five people was very clear: it was not for the so-called art exhibition, but to meet Masatsugu Fukayama.

As for Xia Chuan's disguise as Wan Zhangju, it should be for the same reason. According to the information he received, the small financial family to which the other party belonged was recently facing a shortage of funds, and if no funds were injected, they would probably soon declare bankruptcy.

"Butler Ji Ming, isn't Mr. Shenshan eating with us?"

The tour guide has left, and the person who took over the responsibility of providing for the six people's daily needs is named Yoshiaki Yoshiaki.

Butler Ji Ming was around forty years old. When the group ate, he stood to the side and did not participate in the conversation, unless there was any question about the villa.

He spoke calmly, "The master will be dining on the fourth floor, so you don't need to worry about that."

"Butler Ji Ming, has anyone actually received a large sum of money after being appreciated by Mr. Shenshan, and then successfully started a business?"

"Yes, but only in isolated cases. The master has lived here for several months, and most of the people who ran up to the fourth floor were kicked out."

He scanned the room, seemingly aware of their purpose, and said without emotion, "I won't stop you from going up to the fourth floor, but the master doesn't want to see people all the time, so you'd better be prepared to be kicked out."

Everyone present fell silent and began to eat.

Towards the end of the meal, Xia Chuan asked, "What are the characteristics of the people that Mr. Fukayama has taken a liking to?"

The others' eyes lit up; it would be an honor for them to learn from the experience of their predecessors.

"They don't have any particular characteristics. If I had to point out any, those people all seemed quite composed and spoke in a logical manner, just like Mr. Ban Zhang."

Upon hearing this, the others immediately looked at him with a strange expression.

Xia Chuan's lips twitched; he felt that the butler was doing it on purpose.

"Does Mr. Shenshan have no family?"

Among them, Fuyuyama Sakurako, being a woman, asked, "He gives money to other people so casually, doesn't his family care?"

Before even receiving the money, this person was already thinking about whether someone would come to collect the debt later.

“Mr. Shenshan has a son, but he lives abroad and we haven’t been in contact for many years.”

It's the same old trick again.

Xia Chuan shook his head inwardly, suddenly realizing that there were quite a few lonely elderly people in the world of Detective Conan.

The meal was rather unappetizing because everyone was there for the investment opportunity in Shenshan Jiangci and didn't really savor it.

Only Xia Chuan was eating seriously.

Of course, he also devoted some of his energy to paying attention to the others.

If this villa is related to Karasuma Renya, or if Karasuma Renya lives here, then these people who appear to be tourists might actually be Karasuma Renya's confidants.

However, Xia Chuan hasn't noticed any problems yet.

In the afternoon, instead of staying in his room, he wandered around the villa.

The paintings left behind by deceased painters are mostly portraits or landscapes with figures; it is rare to see paintings of individual landscapes or objects.

"It seems there's nothing wrong with the paintings. Could the art exhibition just be an excuse?"

(End of this chapter)