Detective Conan: Becoming a Zaibatsu - Starting with Joining the Winery

Ryoichi Takahashi trembled slightly.

He looked at Ayako in astonishment, clearly not expecting to hear those words.

His mind went blank, and he stood there stunned.

Much later.

He couldn't help but ask, "You said you've been investigating, so why haven't you found anything?"

"What am I supposed to investigate?" Ayako asked directly. "The Metropolitan Police Department can prove that this was a suicide!"

"Although I had a vague feeling that something was wrong, I didn't know anything about it."

"Although Dunzi and I had a good relationship, she kept saying that she would give me a surprise in a while."

"Therefore, in the months before Dunzi committed suicide, I only knew that she was busy with something, but I had no idea what it was."

This moment.

Takahashi Ryoichi understood everything in an instant!

Yes!

Ayako, who knew nothing, was unable to investigate even if she wanted to, as she had no leads and no clues to follow.

Thinking of this, Ryoichi Takahashi sighed and then said softly, "The Blue Kingdom is Atsuko's work; its original name was Sky-Colored Kingdom."

"Chikako Ikeda changed her name and published it before Atsuko did."

"In despair and despair, Dunzi ultimately chose to commit suicide!"

"This is also why Chikako Ikeda hasn't released any works in recent years, apart from Blue Kingdom."

"Since the Azure Kingdom itself wasn't her creation, how could he possibly create a work that surpasses it?"

"That's why she chooses to attend your gatherings every day!"

"Because she knows that the path of a writer has led to a dead end, she now only wants to rely on your power as the eldest daughter of the Suzuki family to change careers and return to the top."

"Then she can say that she gave up her creative career to help her friend Ayako."

"She just didn't expect that you, Ayako, were so heartless. You've been pretending to be stupid all these years, holding party after party, but never inviting her."

"This is also why Chikako Ikeda's personality is becoming increasingly irritable!"

"She can't wait!"

"If you don't extend an invitation soon, his reputation as a writer is going to be completely ruined."

Ryoichi Takahashi spoke angrily.

At that moment, he revealed everything, his eyes filled with boundless killing intent towards Chikako Ikeda.

After hearing these words, Ayako froze on the spot, a bitter smile appearing on her lips.

So that's how it is!

A long silence followed.

Ayako took a deep breath and couldn't help but sigh softly, "So the surprise Atsuko wanted to give me was this Blue Kingdom!"

Meanwhile, on the other side...

After a long silence, Ryoichi Takahashi finally glanced at Ayako with a complicated expression.

"Don't worry about this!"

"You, a rich heiress, have never lifted a finger since childhood and have no idea how cruel the struggles of the lower class are."

"You're not cut out for revenge!"

"I'm going to kill Chikako Ikeda tonight. If you really consider Atsuko a good friend, then just pretend this conversation never happened."

"Leave the rest to me!"

Upon hearing these words, Ayako was at a loss for words.

no way!

It seems my acting was quite good; I really fooled these classmates?

Obviously.

Ryoichi Takahashi is really thinking of himself as a naive and innocent person!

Thinking about this, perhaps to vent her frustration, she couldn't help but speak up.

"Takahashi..."

"You underestimate me, and you underestimate the power of the chaebol."

"I was exposed to elite education from a young age. The scheming and backstabbing between business tycoons is something you can't even imagine."

"A contract, a message, or even a glance can kill a company."

"Do you really think that the princesses of chaebol patriarchs are as carefree as you believe?"

"Never mind!"

"There's no point in telling you all this. In short, just give up your actions and leave the matter of taking revenge on Ikeda Chikako to me."

"die?"

"That's the easiest one!"

"You'll then give me Atsuko's original manuscript, and I'll have the Suzuki family's legal team handle it. Ikeda Chikako will then be sentenced, imprisoned, and forced to pay compensation..."

"I can give all of her assets to Atsuko's parents, and I can also ruin Ikeda Chikako's reputation."

"He might not get a long sentence, but don't think it's easy for him!"

"If I wanted to, I could just give a casual greeting and Chikako Ikeda could choke to death while eating, lock herself up until she went completely insane, or even have a conflict with her roommates. She was so badly injured that she died after failing to get to the hospital."

"There are countless similar methods!"

"Of course."

"I won't let her truly die, because living is far more painful than dying!"

"She will be beaten, humiliated, and isolated in prison. Even after she serves her full sentence and is finally released, she won't be greeted with a new life..."

"She has a terrible reputation and can't find a job. Even if you want to give the Suzuki family face, no one is willing to give her a job."

"For the rest of her life, she could only suffer and wait to die!"

Ayako's eyes were terrifyingly cold.

die?

She will let Chikako Ikeda know that death is the easiest thing, and that living a life worse than death is the greatest torment.

Ryoichi Takahashi was stunned, and fear began to appear in his eyes.

Obviously.

He never imagined that the kind and gentle Ayako he remembered would actually be so cold-hearted.

Is this still the woman I remember, the one who is like a Yamato Nadeshiko?

Too bad!

Upon hearing these words, Takahashi Ryoichi completely let go of his murderous intent.

Ayako is right!

Letting Chikako Ikeda die would be too easy on that woman.

However, the methods employed by the chaebols deeply impressed him.

Thinking about this, Ryoichi Takahashi couldn't help but ask, "Everyone has already graduated. If you don't really want to help them, then why do you hold a reunion every year?"

"After all, you've never really considered everyone as friends, have you?"

At this moment, Ryoichi Takahashi was genuinely surprised.

After hearing Ayako's words, he knew that Ayako was not as kind as she appeared, so he couldn't understand her actions.

And, in response to this.

Ayako narrowed her eyes slightly before slowly saying, "Actually, there's nothing I can't say. Although I don't know what's wrong with Atsuko, I just subconsciously feel that something's not right."

"Especially among those of us in the film club, there must be someone involved in Dunzi's death."

"I'm just looking for opportunities to attend those so-called annual gatherings."

"Every time I bring up Dunzi's death, it's to try and find out who's acting strangely."

Ryoichi Takahashi had a bitter smile on his face.

You really can't underestimate the children of chaebol families!

Those spoiled brats are alright, but these family elites are all cunning and scheming.

Thinking of this, he immediately nodded.

"Okay, I understand."

"I am willing to give up revenge and give you the original manuscript of Dunzi's 'Azure Kingdom' and all the evidence I have investigated."

"I'm truly happy for Dunzi that he has a friend like you!"