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

"Ah."

Both people responded simultaneously through the earpiece.

Half an hour later, at 11:11 p.m., Hotaru and Ran took a taxi to Beika Central Hospital. After obtaining permission from the nurse on duty, the two went to Kogoro Mouri's ward and left the deluxe fruit basket they had bought in Kabukicho.

Kogoro Mouri was indeed fast asleep, but the psychiatrist sitting by his bedside was not. Hearing the noise, she looked up from her books at the two people who had entered. When they left, she followed them out and called out to them in the hallway:

"Mr. Shuiyue, there is something I need to tell you."

She was referring, of course, to Kogoro Mouri's surrender.

Hotaru kept a close eye on Ran's expression. Although Ran's pupils dilated when she first heard about it, she didn't lose her composure or look at Hotaru because of Harada Taro's name. This pleased Hotaru quite a bit.

Let's just say I've grown up.

In setting a trap for Nami Yukimatsu, Kogoro Mouri was merely a side target. Hotaru didn't bother to fix any obvious flaws, so even if Kogoro Mouri goes to jail, he probably won't be there for long.

Without a doubt, this was the punishment that Hotaru told Ran at noon—a punishment that wouldn't seriously injure Kogoro Mouri.

Although Xiaolan thought it was just forced psychological therapy in the afternoon.

"Water Moon Lord".

"Ok?"

When they returned to the ground floor of the Mori residence, Ran, who had been silent for a long time because of the previous news, finally spoke:

"See you tomorrow."

Chapter 113 Ying Sheng's Lullaby for Xiao Lan

As time passed and the clock struck 12:30, Ying Sheng finally dialed Xiao Lan's number.

“It’s the early hours of the next day,” he said with a smile.

Xiaolan naturally understood what he meant; she had said "see you tomorrow" an hour earlier.

She gave a soft snort: "What? You don't want me to come out now, do you?"

"I just wanted to ask if you need me to tell you a bedtime story."

"I'm not that fragile, I don't need comforting. If you hadn't called and woken me up, I would have already fallen asleep."

"Yeah, right, you're watching TV."

"Huh? Are you near my house? Are you a peeping tom? How scary."

"I'm telling you, you're really distracted. You dropped the remote when you answered the phone."

Xiao Lan, wearing a pale yellow nightgown, glanced at the floor in front of the sofa and saw that there really was a remote control.

That's amazing, she didn't even notice it herself.

How did you figure that out?

"The things that accidentally fall when you pick up your phone are probably placed near it, in a convenient location. The sound of them falling is somewhat dull, and there's also the sound of the battery popping out and rolling. Anyone who has had this experience can tell just by listening to it."

"Oh, so even Mizuki-kun has had this kind of experience?"

"Hey, that's going too far. What do you take me for? I'm a living, breathing person in this world too."

"Puch-"

Xiaolan smiled and said, "What? I just think Shuiyue-kun is very capable and wouldn't make such a mistake."

"You're better than me. You don't even turn the sound on when you watch TV."

"Because it's too noisy."

"Too noisy? It's not one of those prank shows that are replayed at night, is it? The kind where they put a few small windows in the four corners of the TV and watch all sorts of pranks through the monitor, making all sorts of exaggerated laughter that gives you goosebumps, and occasionally even adding canned laughter?"

"..."

Xiaolan was silent for a few moments: "Shuiyue-kun, you didn't secretly install surveillance cameras in my house, did you?"

"..."

Ying Sheng was speechless: "I actually guessed right. To be honest, I saw a middle-aged man watching this not long ago, and I figured Mr. Mori might have the same taste. And you probably wouldn't change the channel, so..."

"It's said that this stuff can improve your mood."

"How's the effect?"

"Hmm... I think it might be better to turn the sound on, but it's just too noisy."

"If you let the noise of the outside world flood your mind, then the world will always be noisy."

“I know.

On the way home from the hospital, Mizuki told me that her father was an accomplice. With the money returned and his surrender, plus the help of Inspector Megure and her mother, and with the help of Yukimatsu Nami, he probably wouldn't be prosecuted at all, and he wouldn't be sentenced.

But I just feel so empty inside, what can I do?

"Then let's analyze the reasons rationally."

"He's not rational at all; we'll have to beat him up first."

"Haha, then why not do it?"

"Aaaaaahhhhh—" Xiaolan scratched her head in distress, her once smooth hair turning into a mess: "Because I can only say these things to you, Mizuki-kun. It's impossible for me to do them in front of my parents."

"You're the one who would disagree with what you're saying. Your previous phone would be the first to disagree."

"That day was just an accident."

"What accident?"

"I secretly did something bad, and it was something really bad. I hadn't calmed down yet, and I acted on impulse."

"Tsk, you don't actually think you did something wrong, do you?"

"Hmm... well, I wouldn't say it's good."

"Then you're beyond saving, dear Ran Mouri, the virtuous wife and loving mother, the dignified and gentle lady of Yamato. Goodbye."

"No! That's not what I meant."

"uh-huh?"

"I just feel... well... I should have adopted a more rational attitude."

"Don't say such things against your conscience. I think you just think you should be a good child and always listen to your parents, no matter what they say, right or wrong."

"Hmph, I've been on two missions with you already, do you think I'm a good boy?"

"Hiss—that makes sense. I've corrupted you. Haha, how does it feel to be a bad kid?"

Xiaolan frowned and thought for a while: "It seems... I don't feel anything, it's just like this now."

"What about now?"

"I talk to you like this."

Before you know it, it's turned into a cryptic exchange.

Ying Sheng shook his head and chuckled. Just as he was about to speak, a rapid fire alarm blared past him, making him turn around to look in the direction they were heading. He saw that half the sky had turned orange.

Under the silvery moonlight, crimson flames churned violently, merging together in mid-air, turning the surrounding scenery into an illusory, blurry mess.

Only the ever-rising smoke was so clear, like a black ribbon fluttering in the air under the bright white sky cast by the moonlight.

Moonlight and firelight intertwined in his eyes, and Ying Sheng couldn't help but sigh softly:

"What a raging fire."

"Shuiyue-kun, are you still outside? What happened?" Xiaolan couldn't help but ask.

"I was hungry and went out to find something to eat. From a distance, it looks like there were fires burning down houses one by one. The fires are quite big. I don't know if anyone has escaped. I'll wait and see the newspaper tomorrow morning. I hope there were no casualties."

A distant siren wailed in the distance, and Xiaolan asked curiously, "Did the police arrive so quickly?"

"It's probably because the case in Kabukicho is over. Maybe it's on my way. I'll look forward to tomorrow morning's newspaper."

"Is Shuiyue-kun trying to get me to sleep? Sigh, I hope Xuesong won't be affected."

"If she doesn't ask for leave tomorrow, I'll find a reason to check on her and see how she reacts."

"I think so too, goodnight, Mizuki-kun."

"I haven't even started telling my bedtime story yet."

"That's enough. Let's save it for next time."

"Okay, good night."

After hanging up the phone, Ying Sheng looked at himself carefully in the mirror he held up with his left hand. He thought he was actually fine, and his eyes weren't that different from usual.

Sure enough, Shinichi Kudo said all that mainly to get him to find helpers to act as the rabbit that crashes into the tree stump.

By the way, where is Miss Rabbit?

Ying Sheng looked around but couldn't find anyone. Just as he was about to make a call, a taxi sped past him. The rear window rolled down a quarter of the way, and a white jade hand, like a kitten peeking out, peeked out and pointed at Ying Sheng.

"..."

Ying Sheng still called Qing Zi: "Give me a ride, it's hard to get a taxi now."

"Huh? But I'm currently..."

"Hey, don't scare the driver."

"Yes."

Kiyoko immediately lowered her voice to a very low level: "I'm a dead person now, so I can't ride in the car with Hotaru-kun."

"Heh, watch out tonight..."

Buzz buzz!

Another phone suddenly rang, and Hotaru glanced at it and saw it was Gin, whom he hadn't contacted in a long time.

"Hey?"