Conan: Above all force, there is truth!

She seemed to have overheard Sonoko's words and chuckled, "A treasure land, huh? I'm so sorry to have overheard your conversation, but there's really no such thing as a treasure land~"

"Eh?"

Upon seeing the woman, Sonoko was momentarily stunned, then exclaimed in surprise, "I remember now, weren't you last year's champion! I think your name was..."

"Ayukawa Saori~ The so-called 'fishing hotspot' doesn't actually refer to a specific place, but rather a spot that the angler determines is most suitable for them based on their understanding of fish, control of water currents, and their own fishing skills. It doesn't really have much to do with the number of fish in the water~"

After the woman finished speaking, Sonoko immediately introduced her to Ryuno and Ran: "This is Ms. Ayukawa, the champion of last year's fishing competition! Her fishing skills are amazing!"

Upon hearing this, Longye and Xiaolan nodded and smiled at each other.

After nodding to Ryuno and the others, Ms. Ayukawa carefully examined their fishing rods and bait, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Although I just boasted so much, you've probably chosen the right spot! When you're fishing later, you can try choosing a spot on an uneven surface."

"Thank you!" X3

"Okay, I'll be going now. Please go easy on me, okay?"

After saying that, Ms. Ayukawa carried her fishing rod and walked away into the distance.

Ran and Sonoko looked at her retreating figure and smiled at each other.

"What a kind person!"

"Yes, I heard she's been practicing fishing with her family since she was little! Mr. Mizui said she's one of the contenders for this year's champion!"

after an hour

"Ah!!! Why isn't there any sound at all?" Sonoko retracted the wire and twitched her lips in pain.

Seeing a few crocodile tears fall from Sonoko's eyes, Ryuno laughed, "It's only been less than an hour, right? Don't be impatient, Sonoko~"

Hearing this, Sonoko narrowed her eyes: "But you've already caught one fish, while Ran has even caught two!!"

Xiaolan turned her head and said, "Yuanzi, it's just that we were a little luckier. Don't worry, your fish are still ahead~"

Sonoko looked at the fish in Ryuno and Ran's cage and shed tears of resentment.

Evening

All the participants in the fishing competition gathered at the registration area.

According to the rules, each person can only submit five fish. Staff will weigh each person's five catches. After the several-day competition, rankings will be calculated based on the total weight of each person's catches.

At this moment, everyone is weighing the fishing data from the first day under the guidance of the staff.

Sonoko looked at the five "big fish" in Ryuno and Ran's boxes, then at the two "small fish" in her own bucket, and felt a pang of heartache.

Although Xiaolan and Longye didn't seem to be very good at fishing, for some reason, fish kept "finding" them. Xiaolan, in particular, caught five fish in less than three hours.

At first, Sonoko thought it was the bait, so she immediately changed it to the same bait as the other two, but still no fish took the bait. It wasn't until just before the end of the competition that two small fish, driven by hunger, finally took her bait, saving her from losing face.

However, two fish are not eligible to have their weight recorded...

Thinking of this, Sonoko covered her face in frustration.

Seeing this, Xiaolan immediately waved her hand: "Yuanzi, we're just here to have fun, we never intended to participate in this competition. So we don't need to register, right? What do you say, Longye?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Tatsuno and Sonoko understood what Ran meant.

Longye immediately nodded: "Yeah~ I'm more looking forward to dinner and the hot springs than fishing~ You two have been fishing all day, let's get some rest tonight!"

After saying that, Longye carried the three fish boxes to the forfeit area of ​​the match.

Seeing this, Sonoko looked at the two with teary eyes, then quickly stepped forward and grasped Ran's hands: "You two really are my best friends!!!"

The next second, before Ran could even speak, Sonoko cheerfully took Ran's arm: "You should have said so earlier! No more competition! I'm starving, we're going to have a good meal tonight!!"

Seeing how quickly Sonoko's mood changed, Ran couldn't help but smile: "Really, Sonoko~ you're still the same as ever!"

"Hehe, after all, I was the one who invited you to the competition, so it wasn't right for me to ask you for the invitation myself~~"

Chapter 225 "Gambling" - The Blonde Princess

The hot spring hotel arranged by the competition

After taking a bath, Tatsuno and the others sat in the lobby of the hotel.

"Eh? You guys forfeited! What a pity, I was hoping to have a good match with you guys, you might be my formidable opponents!"

After learning that Ryuno and the others had withdrawn from the competition, Ayukawa Saori covered her mouth, her face full of regret.

Around noon today, while changing locations, she saw Longye and his two companions again. To her utter surprise, the girl named Xiaolan had already caught five fish. At that time, even she had only caught three.

But Longye and Xiaolan, who looked like complete "fishing beginners," actually had a great catch.

Xiao Lan, in particular, has already caught five fish!

In this competition format of "calculating the total weight of five fish," the initial condition for completing the competition is to "catch five fish." Only those who have caught five fish are eligible to be weighed.

Under these conditions, the player who catches five fish first will undoubtedly have the greatest advantage.

Now that the basic requirements for weighing have been met, the next step for the contestant who has already caught five fish is quite simple.

— Continue fishing, and keep replacing the "light fish" with the "heavy fish".

For professional anglers like them, catching five fish in a day isn't difficult. But no one can guarantee the weight of the fish they catch. After all, no one knows which fish will bite.

In conclusion, "catching five fish as quickly as possible, and continuing to catch heavier fish while ensuring eligibility for weighing" is the necessary path to becoming a champion.

She won the championship last year because she caught five fish earlier than others, giving her ample time to replace the lighter fish she had caught earlier with the new ones.

After seeing that Ran had caught five fish so quickly, Ms. Ayukawa immediately equated Ran with a "formidable foe" in her mind.

However, what she didn't expect was that Xiao Lan and the other two had already given up.

"Ms. Ayukawa, you're too kind~ Actually, we're not here to win a prize in the fishing competition, but to relax and have some time with our friends~"

"A gathering of friends? I envy you guys~ I haven't contacted my friends in so long since I started working..." Ms. Ayukawa looked up at the ceiling, her eyes filled with deep reminiscence.

Seeing her like this, Sonoko immediately changed the subject: "Ms. Ayukawa, I heard that you started fishing when you were very young! Can you tell us how you came to like fishing?"

"Haha~ Actually, my father loves fishing. After I grew up, he often took me to the lake or river to teach me about fishing."

"Oh~ Did your father take you fishing when you were little? That's so sweet~"

Hearing this, Longye looked at Xiaolan, his thoughts wandering.

If Uncle Mori also liked to pass on his hobbies to Ran...

So... will Xiaolan turn into a girl who likes horse racing and drinking?

"Gambling" + "Drinking"

It seems that a certain blonde woman was dragged into doing this kind of thing by her elders from a young age, and grew up to become a remarkable gambler.

Thinking of this, Longye quickly shook his head, banishing the thought from his mind.

Just as Tatsuno was lost in thought, a man in a green hotel uniform approached them. The moment he saw Ms. Ayukawa, a malicious smile appeared on his face.

"So you're here, Ayukawa! How about we go grab a drink together?"

"No, no need!"

Upon seeing the person who arrived, Ms. Ayukawa immediately turned her head to the side.

"Oh? You don't want me to drink?!"

Ms. Ayukawa: "..."

Realizing something was amiss, Sonoko immediately stood up and said, "Uncle, who are you?! Inviting a girl like that is very impolite!"

Seeing Sonoko intervene, the man finally noticed her and Ran standing nearby. After scrutinizing their faces for a moment, he smiled frivolously: "Excuse me~ My name is Toshihiko Funaki, and I'm a freelance journalist. Since you two ladies have some free time, how about you join me for a drink? I can teach you some interesting things~"

Seeing that Ran and Sonoko were being bothered by the man in front of them because of her, Ayukawa Saori immediately stood up and said, "It has nothing to do with them, right? Okay, I'll talk to..."

"Ah!! Kid, what are you doing?! Heh heh..."

To Ayukawa Saori's astonishment, Tatsuno walked up to Funaki and grabbed his neck tightly with one hand.

Seeing this, Funaki immediately tried to pry open Tatsuno's hand with both hands. But to his surprise, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't pry the hand off his neck.

The hand was like an iron clamp, gripping his neck without moving.

Only when the man's face turned bright red did Ran and Sonoko speak up, "Ryuno! If you keep pinching him..."

Upon hearing this, Longye slowly released his grip.

After letting go, the man slumped to the ground, panting and coughing lightly.

After a long while, he looked up at Long Ye and said angrily, "Cough! Damn it! Kid, you..."

Just as he was about to utter some harsh words, he happened to meet Longye's gaze.

Upon seeing the crimson gaze fixed upon him, the man suddenly felt a deep-seated fear and immediately shut his mouth.

Just then, Longye leaned close to the man's ear and chuckled, "This is just a small punishment. If you dare to continue flirting with them..."

At this point, Longye paused, then whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Of course, you won't have that opportunity again."

After saying that, Longye walked back to Xiaolan and the other girl with a grin: "Sorry, he dared to speak so arrogantly to the two princesses, it wouldn't be right not to teach him a lesson~"

"Seriously~ what princess..."

The man on the ground wanted to say something more, but when he recalled Long Ye's terrifying gaze, he couldn't help but tremble. In the end, he silently got up and left the hall.

After the man left, Ran and Sonoko went to Ayukawa's side and asked with concern, "Ayukawa, are you alright?"

"It's nothing... Thank you so much for your help earlier!"

"Seriously! What's with that man?! Do you know him?"

"Yes, him..."

Ms. Ayukawa told Tatsuno and the others about the "Mr. Funaki" from earlier.

Ryūno clearly noticed that whenever that man was mentioned, a hidden murderous intent would flash in Ms. Ayukawa's eyes.

Then, recalling what the man had said to her earlier, Longye seemed to have guessed something.

That man must have something on Ms. Ayukawa. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so arrogant as to invite her for "drinks."

But... none of that matters anymore.

Because this Mr. Funaki is already a "dead man".

Thinking of this, Longye thought to himself, "Xiao Jia, help me check if there are any security cameras in this hotel."

【receive. 】