He's in Detective Conan, and he's the mastermind behind everything.

Hotaru glanced at Shinichi Kudo's neck, which was covered in bloodstains, but none of them were very deep. "Miss Shiho, do you need a vaccine for being bitten by a rose thorn?"

"No need, hiss—"

Shinichi Kudo cut his throat again, only then feeling the pain in his neck. He gritted his teeth and said, "Rose thorns are not poisonous. These small wounds will scab over quickly."

"What if pesticides were used in the flowerbed?"

"Um... well..."

"Just kidding, it's all-natural, come and have some food."

Hotaru picked up a long wooden ruler from the table, held it to Shinichi Kudo's feet, and swept the roses aside. Shinichi Kudo looked at the sumptuous side dishes on the table: braised beef, chicken wings, fried skewers, seafood, meatballs... Suddenly, his stomach started growling, and he quickly came over.

"Didn't they say there would only be rice and tempura for lunch?"

"Add more money."

"..."

Shinichi Kudo was speechless. Remembering what Hotaru had said earlier, he ate heartily while asking curiously, "Did you find a part-time job outside of school?" And this Miss Shiho looked to be about the same age as them, yet she had become Suigetsu's superior.

"It's not that I'm looking for part-time jobs, it's that part-time jobs are looking for me."

Ying Sheng said helplessly, "My parents used to work at a pharmaceutical research institute. They left half a month ago saying they had to go on a long business trip. A few days ago, people from that institute contacted me and said that my parents stole a new drug they were developing and might have used it on me. They asked me to cooperate with their research."

Shinichi Kudo was stunned: "You... you agreed?"

"Sigh, of course I refused, but those two guys who looked like bad people were standing there, insisting on drawing a vial of blood from me. What could I do? I could only give full play to my Ah Q spirit. I was lucky they didn't just take me back to be a guinea pig."

"This……"

Shinichi Kudo, somewhat at a loss for words, turned to look at Shiho Miyano, who coldly stated, "Most of it is true." Shinichi quickly shifted his position, moving further away from her, and declared righteously:

"Human experimentation is illegal!"

Shiho Miyano raised an eyebrow: "He did it voluntarily."

"That was voluntary!"

"..."

Shiho Miyano didn't bother to talk to him, and besides, she didn't really know much about what happened that night. The cold-blooded Gin only brought back a blood sample instead of bringing the person back by kidnapping, which surprised her quite a bit.

However, it seems that Shuiyue Yingsheng was quite pragmatic and decisively joined the organization.

Sigh, judging from his account of the organization, he probably doesn't understand the truth at all.

This organization has dragged another innocent person down with them; their crimes are truly heinous.

But what right does she, living in darkness, have to say such things?

She looked at Ying Sheng: "The person you're waiting for has arrived. When are we going to the training base?"

"It's up to you. Aren't you going to see your sister?"

"That's obviously just an excuse. I don't want my sister involved in this kind of thing." She picked up her handbag from the flower bushes, stood up, and walked outside. "Let's resolve this quickly so you two still have time for your date."

"Cough cough cough!!!"

Shinichi Kudo nearly choked to death. His gaze kept shifting between Ran and Hotaru. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but remained silent for a long time.

Ying Sheng shrugged: "She just misunderstood."

Chapter 44 Holmes Needs Watson

"They want to test my physical data at the training base, build a mathematical model, and conduct research. I thought since Xiaolan is having a karate competition next Friday, why not have her come over for a professional test to understand herself? It would be beneficial for her martial arts development."

Ying Sheng explained, then looked at Xiao Lan: "We'll probably have to practice later, so please."

Xiaolan nodded, a little nervously: "That kind of test must be very expensive, right? Is it really okay to take me there?"

"On the contrary, your physical data is very valuable, and they will even pay you for it."

"Ah?"

"Haha, just keep a calm mind. That research institute has plenty of funding." Hotaru looked at the stunned Shinichi Kudo. "Kudo, do you want to come over and take a look?"

Shinichi Kudo looked at Ran, hesitated for a long time, and said, "No, I have other things to do this afternoon."

"That's a shame. It's a case, isn't it? Is there anything we can do to help?"

"No, it's nothing."

"It can't be the case of Masato Yukimatsu again, can it? You haven't spent a single day properly at school this week."

Shinichi Kudo shook his head: "Your superior has already left, aren't you going to go after her?"

Ying Sheng pouted: "Anyway, I'm the driver. Don't try to change the subject. Just tell me what's bothering you. Xiao Lan has always wanted to help you."

Shinichi Kudo did see the expectation in Ran's eyes, but after hesitating for a few seconds, he shook his head and said, "The police have already closed the case. I came here for other reasons. You can go now."

The police had already given up, and he himself had no clue. Wouldn't telling Xiaolan only add to her worries?

Xiao Lan's eyes dimmed slightly. Just as she was about to get up, Ying Sheng pressed her down again. They heard:

What was the police's conclusion?

"Accident."

"So you don't think this was an accident?"

"..."

"Do you know what idle chess is? A person's thinking is always limited. Sometimes, placing a piece in a seemingly insignificant place can yield unexpected results. For example, in this difficult situation that's putting you in a bind, how can you be sure we won't stumble upon some crucial clue by chance?"

"...How could there be such a coincidence?"

"How would you know if you don't try? Or did you come to Shibuya to see Ms. Shiho? Did you know each other before? No wonder we just wanted to stay here for a while, and you arrived in less than half an hour."

"Hey! No way! It's just a coincidence!"

"Okay, you see, there are just so many coincidences in this world. Stop stealing glances at Xiaolan. If she's really jealous, shouldn't you be happy?"

"Ahem! I wasn't peeking!"

Shinichi Kudo quickly changed the subject: "I think what you said makes some sense. I came here because... um, have you talked to Kiyoko Yukimatsu? Do you know anything about her... um, her approach to romantic relationships?"

Ying Sheng looked at him strangely: "What do you want to do?"

"Relevant to the case! Absolutely relevant to the case!"

"Okay, I'm not sure, but I saw her moving when I went out this morning."

"What?! Moving?!"

Shinichi Kudo was so shocked he almost jumped up: "Where did she move to? Where did she get so much money?"

"How would I know? You're still investigating her, do you suspect she murdered her father?"

"No, no, there are just some things I don't understand."

"Hey, you're being way too much of a riddle."

Seeing that Shinichi Kudo still hadn't responded for a while, Hotaru simply changed the subject: "Never mind, when will Mr. Mori come out?"

"It'll probably be soon." Shinichi Kudo sighed softly. "Suigetsu, do you know how to make someone willingly commit suicide?"

"In my opinion, it is definitely faith."

"Faith? Religion?"

"It doesn't necessarily have to be religion; ideology, thought, or concept... well, it seems to be the same thing. In short, I think people would probably only give up their lives for something when they realize that there is something more important than life itself."

Upon hearing this, Shinichi Kudo seemed to be deep in thought. Could this be a factor in Yoshiyuki Takahara's suicide?

It feels like things have become more complicated.

buzzing-

Hotaru's phone rang, but it was hung up before he could answer it. He shrugged and said, "It's the young lady urging me, Kudo. Are you sure you don't want to make a single unnecessary move?"

Shinichi Kudo said helplessly, "Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't know the specific direction. At most, if you hear anything about Kiyoko Yukimatsu, please tell me."

"OK, see you later, the bill has been settled here."

Ying Sheng got up and was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something. He turned back and smiled, "There's one last thing. We'll give each of us a fair share of the blame, starting with Xiao Lan."

Shinichi Kudo was stunned: "What?"

Ran blushed slightly and pushed Hotaru out the door. "Let's go, don't keep your boss waiting." She closed the door from the outside and waved. "See you later, Shinichi."

"Don't forget the reading list," Ying Sheng reminded him.

"Yes."

In the last gap, Ran clasped her hands together and said to Shinichi Kudo, "Please, Shinichi, when you have some free time, give me a list of detective novels. I want to help you!"

thump!

thump!

thump!

Shinichi Kudo's heart was pounding!

"it is good!"

He nodded emphatically, all the jealousy he felt towards Ying Sheng before vanished. What? So that guy had been trying to match him up with Xiao Lan all along. He's a really good person!

bang——

The door closed gently, cutting off the view between the inside and outside.

Hotaru smiled slightly, turned around, and went downstairs. Ran quickly followed: "Considering what Shinichi just said, does Mizuki-kun have any new ideas?"

"Kudo probably believes that Takahara Yoshimi committed suicide because of Yukimatsu Kiyoko, and is now trying to find evidence of their contact. I don't know what kind of person Takahara Yoshimi is, and I don't know how likely this is. Let Kudo investigate it thoroughly."

Xiaolan suddenly realized: "So, Gao Yuanyi also came to this izakaya before his death?"

"It should be, and it's probably the private room that Ms. Shiho chose."

"I just wanted some peace and quiet. I was planning to go to a coffee shop." Shiho Miyano's cool voice came from around the corner at the bottom of the stairs.

Ying Sheng laughed and said, "Because everyone thinks like you, the coffee shop is actually not quiet at all."