Conan: Above all force, there is truth!

With the two men adding insult to injury, Sonoko covered her blushing face and fell silent.

At that moment, the man who opened the door smiled at Longye and Xiaolan: "You must be her 'girlfriends,' right? It's a bit cold outside, let's come in and talk."

"Okay, sorry to bother you~" X2

After Longye and his two companions entered, the man who opened the door began to introduce their identities.

"I am Aragaki Yoshinori, the owner of this holiday cabin, and a ventriloquist. The man in the black sweater is Mr. Sugawara Kiyohiro, who works here."

Those three are Kikue Tanaka, Toshiya Hamano, and Naoko Kuroda. You're probably more familiar with their online names than their real-life names, right?

Sonoko looked at everyone curiously, then asked in confusion, "Has that 'Red Herring,' that is, Mr. Doi, arrived?"

Before anyone could speak, footsteps echoed down the stairs in front of them.

A chubby man in a blue hoodie stepped down: "Huh? You're the magician's apprentice? I'm Doi... um?"

Before he could finish speaking, he noticed Tatsuno smiling at him from behind Sonoko, and he jumped in fright.

Impossible! My disguise was perfect this time! This guy can't possibly...

"Oh my gosh~ Isn't this Mr. Doi Takuki! It's been so long~~"

Kaito Kuroba: "..."

Before he could finish encouraging himself, Longye greeted him, walked up to him with a smile, and patted him on the shoulder heavily.

At this moment, Sonoko, who had just been stunned by Doi Takuki's "handsome face and figure", looked at Ryuno's actions with a puzzled expression.

Under the questioning gazes of everyone, Doi Takaki reluctantly made up a "story" about how he met Tatsuno.

After this brief incident, everyone followed the homeowner, Araki Yoshinori, into the living room.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the homeowner, Araki Yoshinori, and Sugata Kiyohiro, who had come to work, went to the kitchen to pour coffee for everyone.

At that moment, under the questioning gazes of Sonoko and Ran, Doi Takaki walked to Tatsuno's side and pulled him outside the living room.

Outside the living room

"How did you figure that out?!"

"Huh? What are you talking about, Mr. Doi Takuki? What do I know?" Ryuno smiled as he looked at Kaito Kuroba in front of him.

"Damn it, you really are..."

Seeing the sullen look on Kaito Kuroba's face, Ryūno stopped smiling and teasing him: "I'm not kidding you anymore. Why are you here?"

"Actually it is……"

After hearing Kaito Kuroba's explanation, Ryūno frowned, realizing something was wrong.

"Is it because the long-deceased 'Deceitful Child' has suddenly reappeared online?"

"Yes."

"Let me guess... are any of these people relatives or friends of the deceased?"

"how do you know?"

"..."

Seeing Kaito Kuroba's surprised expression, Tatsuno helplessly covered his face.

The situation is now quite clear—"Snow Mountain" + "Phantom Thief Kid" + "A Guy with a Grudge." What will happen next... is obvious even to a fool.

Does this happen every time I come to the snow-capped mountains? Is it really that exaggerated?!

Thinking of this, Ryūno gently patted "Kaito Kuroba" on the shoulder and said earnestly, "In that case, you must keep a close eye on that person. If nothing unexpected happens, her goal should be to avenge the deceased."

After saying that, Tatsuno turned and walked back to the living room, leaving Kaito Kuroba with a puzzled look.

"Revenge? Hmm..."

……

Upon seeing Ryūno return, Ran and Sonoko immediately went over to him and pulled him aside.

Ran asked first, "Ryūno, how exactly did you meet that Doi Takaki? I don't recall you attending any magic exchange parties..."

Sonoko had the same question on her face. She also remembered that Ryūno didn't seem to be very interested in magic and would never participate in any "magic exchange party".

The reason the two had such doubts was because of Kaito Kuroba. In a moment of panic, he made up a story on the spot that "the two met at a magic exchange party."

After glancing around, Ryūno leaned close to their ears and whispered, "Shh~ Keep your voice down. Actually, that 'Doi Takaki' is also a fake identity. His real identity is actually Phantom Thief Kid~"

"What?" X2

Thanks to Ryūno's prior warning, the two were surprised but managed to keep their voices down.

Upon hearing that "he" was Kaito Kid, Sonoko's eyes seemed to sparkle: "So, we'll get to see you beat up Kaito Kid today?!"

Ryūno: "?"

After hearing Sonoko's words, Ran covered her mouth and laughed, "Seriously, Sonoko, why do you always want to see Ryūno fight Kaito Kid?"

At that moment, Kaito Kuroba, who was in his room upstairs, inexplicably trembled.

"Hmm? Do I have a cold?"

……

Shortly after, the homeowner, Araki Yoshinobu, came out of the kitchen.

"Let's start our activities after dinner. I'll show you three to your rooms first. I already showed them the rooms before."

"Okay~" X3

Longye and his two companions followed the homeowner up the stairs and into the room.

"I'm sorry, since the other rooms haven't been prepared yet, the three of you will have to sleep in these two rooms."

"It's nothing, thank you for your help!"

"Okay, then you can look at the rooms first. I'll go downstairs to cook and I'll call you when I'm done."

"Okay~" X3

After the homeowner left, Longye and his two companions toured the room and then went to the terrace that the house had on its own.

Standing on the terrace, you can enjoy the snow scene outside more directly.

For a moment, everyone breathed in the fresh air and looked at the snow scene in the distance, and couldn't help but feel slightly intoxicated.

After a while, Xiaolan rested her head on Longye's shoulder.

After glancing at Ran, Ryūno said, "Sonoko, I just heard your family's butler say in the car..."

Before Ryūno could finish speaking, Sonoko gave a self-deprecating laugh and lowered her head: "Looks like you already know. Actually..."

Xiao Lan, who was standing nearby, also noticed the "sad" atmosphere in the air and couldn't help but feel nervous.

While Sonoko was still immersed in the snowy scenery before her, Tatsuno had already told her everything the old butler had said.

She never imagined that Sonoko, who was so cheerful in front of others, had such a tragic past!

Seeing Ryūno and Rin's cautious expressions, Sonoko couldn't hold back any longer: "Hahaha! It's nothing really~ I don't know why, but ever since Grandpa Butler got old, he's always going around telling everyone how miserable my sister and I are~"

Chapter 216 Oh~ my friend, are you a detective too?

"Ryūno, did he say something like 'we have no freedom'? He often says things that make us both laugh and cry~"

"But Sonoko, he said you always have to ask your parents' permission before going out, otherwise..."

"Oh, you mean that? Because my dad is worried about my sister and me, he always sends a lot of bodyguards to secretly follow us. So every time we go out, my sister and I have to warn them."

Hearing this, Xiaolan asked in confusion, "That's not right, Yuanzi! Why didn't you tell your father and the others before you came out with us?"

"That's because my parents have complete confidence in your abilities! They've never sent bodyguards when you and Longye were with me."

Ryūno and Rin: "..."

Seeing that Ryūno and Rin remained silent, Sonoko continued, "My dad seems to trust you guys, especially Ryūno's abilities! As soon as he knows I'm going out with you, he'll transfer the bodyguards. So I don't need to 'warn' him."

After saying that, Sonoko playfully stuck out her tongue: "Actually, I know he did it for our safety. But can you imagine?! That feeling of having bodyguards lurking nearby no matter where you go?!"

At this point, Sonoko stretched and then laughed with her hands on her hips: "So, you two might be the strongest bodyguards!"

Seeing Sonoko's smug expression, Ryuno and Ran suddenly felt like they had worried for nothing.

After laughing for a while, Sonoko seemed to remember something and stopped smiling: "Ryuno, Ran, actually I wanted to tell you about my sister. She's been..."

"The food is ready, everyone can come down and eat!"

The homeowner's call interrupted everyone.

Just as Xiaolan was about to ask Sonoko a question, she found that Sonoko had already walked to the door.

"Ryūno, Rin, what are you waiting for? Go eat! My stomach is already growling!"

Xiaolan: "..."

Soon after, everyone sat around the dining table in the living room.

Looking at the thick steak on the table, emitting an enticing aroma, Sonoko's eyes lit up with anticipation.

"Alright, everyone, please don't be shy, just eat!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Sonoko picked up the knife and fork beside her, cut off a piece of steak, put it in her mouth, and said with satisfaction, "Delicious!"

Seeing this, everyone picked up their knives and forks and began to eat heartily.

After eating halfway through the meal, the group of magic enthusiasts started talking about their most admired magicians.

The homeowner, Araki, spoke first: "My favorite magician is Kuroba Toichi; his stage performances are simply divine!"

Upon hearing the homeowner's name, a proud smile appeared on Doi Takaki's face: "That's right, me too!"

"Personally, I'd probably prefer Kinoshita Yoshiro, who won all the titles by the age of 20~"

"If I had to say who I admire the most, it would be Tsukumo Motoyasu."

"..."

Before long, everyone turned their attention to Longye and his two companions, seemingly anticipating their answer.

Seeing this, Ryuno glanced at Doi Takaki and chuckled, "If it were me, it would be Kaito Kid~ After all, he started practicing magic from a young age, and even more so..."

Before Ryūno could finish speaking, Takaki Doi stood up and casually pointed to the window: "Ah! Everyone, look! There seems to be a strange light outside!"