Detective Conan: The Ultimate Growth Space

"I don't know yet, but he asked me to bring my family, maybe it's a smokescreen," Kogoro Mouri shrugged.

"An illusion?" Xiaolan asked, puzzled.

"Yes, I'll bring my family with me so no one will suspect that Kikuemon asked me to investigate something. After all, I'm a detective, and when I go to someone's house, it's usually because I've accepted a commission."

"Is that so?" Xiaolan asked with some doubt.

“It must be him. He originally wanted to come in person, but Kikuemon is already an eighty-year-old man, so he asked me to go see him,” Kogoro Mori replied.

"Dad is so amazing, he sees things so clearly," Xiaolan praised enthusiastically.

Zhiyong was utterly speechless at the sight of this father and daughter.

……

Saturday afternoon.

Right now, Kogoro Mouri, along with Tomoyuki, Ran, and Conan, is in Kikuemon's living room.

Kikuemon is over seventy years old and is still a very witty old man.

Just now, Kikuemon showed Kogoro Mouri and the others his collection.

These collectibles are indeed all exquisite pieces.

It is said that a single piece by Kikuemon can fetch several million yuan, with the best works selling for tens of millions of yuan.

"Please have some tea," Masuko Tsuchiya said politely.

"Thank you, this is a cake I made. It's just a small token of my appreciation, please accept it," Xiaolan said, taking out a box.

"Great! I love cake the most!" Masuko Tsuchiya said happily.

"I wonder what brings you here today?" Kogoro Mouri asked in a low voice.

"I invited you here today for no other reason than to offer some advice to you, the famous detective," Kikuemon said with a smile.

"Huh?" Kogoro Mouri looked completely bewildered.

This approach seems a bit off.

Didn't you ask me to entrust you with a case? What's with this "giving feedback" nonsense?

"I think your reasoning is so chaotic and utterly untenable that it's unbearable to read," Kikuemon said seriously.

Kogoro Mouri and Conan were both completely baffled, having no idea what this person meant.

Especially Conan; most of the cases that Kogoro Mouri solves are with his help.

They say Kogoro Mouri's reasoning is flawed.

Doesn't that mean that the famous detective Shinichi Kudo's reasoning is flawed?

"That's right, just like last month..."

"Dad, stop pretending and just tell the truth."

Masuko Tsuchiya smiled and said to Kogoro Mouri, "Mr. Mouri, you may not know this, but my father is your number one mystery fan."

"Masuko?" Kikuemon was greatly embarrassed upon hearing this.

"A mystery fan?" Xiaolan asked, puzzled.

“Yes, every time I see in the newspaper that Mr. Mori has solved a case, he’s overjoyed,” Masuko Tsuchiya teased.

"Alright, alright," Kikuemon hurriedly waved his hand.

However, he noticed that Kogoro Mouri and the others were all looking at him.

Kikuemon also revealed his childlike side, scratching his head and laughing shyly.

Just then, two more young men arrived. Seeing that there were guests, they said, "You've really come!"

"It really is him."

Kogoro Mouri looked at them and asked curiously, "Who are these two?"

"These are my disciples. Let me introduce them. The one on the right is Yoshihiko Arita. His skills have improved rapidly recently, and his techniques are becoming more and more refined."

"Hello everyone," Yoshihiko Arita said with a smile.

Kikuemon paused for a moment, then said, "The one on the left is called Ryuichi Seto. He's very skilled, but he seems to have hit a roadblock lately, and he's producing fewer and fewer works."

"Hello everyone, actually, I'm just feeling down right now. I'm lacking inspiration, but I think I'll feel better soon," Ryuichi Seto said apologetically.

"It's all because he keeps imitating his teacher," Yoshihiko Arita joked.

"Seto, you have to keep it up! Everyone thinks you're the most likely successor to the sixth Kikuemon. You can't slack off or get discouraged," Masuko Tsuchiya said with a smile.

"Putting all that aside for now, Mr. Mori, which ceramic piece would you choose?" Yoshihiko Arita asked eagerly.

“Yes, that’s right,” Ryuichi Seto chimed in.

"What's the rush? I haven't even told Mr. Mori yet," Kikuemon said, waving his hand.

"Excuse me, what's going on here?" Kogoro Mouri asked, somewhat puzzled.

“Actually, I wanted to give you a piece of art. I originally intended to send it to you, but in the end, I decided to let you choose one,” Kikuemon explained.

Then, Kikuemon pointed to the display case next to him and said, "You can choose any artwork in this room."

……

Chapter 172 The student surpasses the master

"Is it really okay?" Kogoro Mouri asked a little shyly.

“Every piece here is a top-quality item worth millions of yuan on the market.”

Although Masuko Tsuchiya was speaking with a smile, her heart was bleeding.

Looking at Tsuchiya Masuko's smile, Zhiyong always felt that it seemed to be fake.

That's really interesting!

Kikuemon seems to want to give Kogoro Mouri a piece of art.

However, it seems that Tsuchiya Masuko has no intention of giving away Kikuemon's work.

Of course, did Kikuemon genuinely want to give Kogoro Mouri a piece of art, or was it just an act?

Zhiyong can't tell yet.

In fact, Masuko Tsuchiya really didn't want to give away Kikuemon's works.

People are easily swayed by self-interest.

Every piece by Kikuemon is priceless.

Now that Kikuemon is getting older, he doesn't have the energy to create as many excellent works each year.

Kikuemon still looks healthy, but he is getting old after all.

Who knows which night you'll fall asleep and be unable to get up the next morning?

"Millions of dollars?"

Kogoro Mouri was quite surprised as he looked at the various ceramic works in the cabinet.

There really is no way to compare people.

He took a risky job, but he didn't earn as much as someone else made from creating a single ceramic piece.

"Dad, you should be more polite. It's not right to take such expensive stuff from others," Ran whispered to Kogoro Mouri.

Ran was aware of Kogoro Mouri's greed, and therefore she was afraid that he might do something impolite.

"I understand," Kogoro Mouri replied softly.

Kogoro Mouri didn't understand these ceramic works, and he didn't know which piece to choose.

However, Kogoro Mouri agreed with Ran's earlier reminder.

After all, it was their first visit, and they were already accepting gifts worth millions of yuan.

Even though Kogoro Mouri is thick-skinned, he still felt a little embarrassed.

He looked around at the works in the cabinets.

Finally, his gaze fell on the table, on the cup he was drinking water from.

Kogoro Mouri pointed to the cup and said, "Then I'll choose this one."

"what!"

"what!"

"what!"

"what!"

Kikuemon and the other three looked at Kogoro Mori with great surprise.

"Is there a problem?" Kogoro Mouri was also a little confused.

"A great detective is indeed a great detective. He certainly has a unique eye. It seems I've won this bet," Kikuemon exclaimed.

"The bet?" Kogoro Mouri asked, puzzled.

“I made a bet with a few of my disciples. Let’s guess which piece you would choose. As I predicted, you chose the best piece here. This teacup is hailed by connoisseurs as a masterpiece.” Kikuemon said smugly.

"this……."

Kogoro Mouri stared at the glass of water he was drinking from, at a loss for words.

He never expected that he had originally planned to just pick any ordinary piece of art.

But I never expected it to be a famous instrument.

If it can be called a "famous instrument," it probably won't be cheap.

Kikuemon smiled and said, "I didn't originally intend to give this cup to anyone else, but it's an exception if it's yours."

“But, Dad…” Tsuchiya Masuko was about to say something.

Kikuemon glanced at Tsuchiya Masuko, and Tsuchiya Masuko dared not say anything more.