Chapter 24: Mao Li, who has super low magic resistance

Walking in the forest, the air is fresh.

It is very quiet all around, as if something is about to happen.

Conan complains with a dead-fish look: "Why would anyone build a villa in a place like this? You have to walk through such a remote path to get in and out; aren't they afraid of something happening?"

"Don't be afraid, I'm a karate champion."

As Ran says this, she casually punches a large tree nearby.

Leaves flutter down.

Akaso Kaze cannot help but curl the corners of his mouth.

Violent Ran is always so mischievous.

As the three of them walk past, a person wrapped from head to toe in bandages emerges from behind a tree.

Cold sweat keeps oozing out from under the bandages.

"This girl is too fierce. It's lucky I didn't jump out back then, otherwise I might have been punched to death."

Passing through the forest, they arrive at the Suzuki family villa.

Sonoko Suzuki greets them excitedly.

"Akaso-san, you're here."

"Sonoko, long time no see. Are we late?"

"No, no, come in quickly. I'll take you to your rooms."

Sonoko leans in excitedly, her eyes sparkling with infatuation as she looks at Akaso Kaze's face.

This big brother is simply too handsome!

The men upstairs can't compare at all.

"Ran, this is your and Conan's room. Akaso-san, this is your room, right next to mine."

Sonoko blinks her large eyes, hinting at him.

Ran coughs hurriedly, "Akaso-san, Conan is a boy, and it's inconvenient for him to stay with me. Could I trouble you to look after him?"

"No problem, I will take good care of him."

Akaso Kaze smiles and ruffles Conan's little head.

Sonoko looks at Ran with an unhappy expression.

The boat of friendship is about to capsize.

You already have Shinichi, yet you're still competing with me for Akaso-san.

Ran doesn't know what's wrong with her either; ever since the Tokyo Tower incident, she has developed inexplicable feelings for Akaso Kaze.

Those feelings are gradually intensifying.

Of course, she doesn't know that it's all because she and Akaso Kaze are currently in a couple relationship certified and protected by the system.

Everyone has arrived, and they sit in the living room on the first floor.

The women all scramble to introduce themselves to Akaso Kaze.

"My name is Ayako Suzuki, I'm Sonoko's sister, 24 years old this year, currently a graduate student at a research institute..."

Sonoko's sister is a typical squinty-eyed person.

Her eyes are narrowed into a line, trying to hook Akaso Kaze.

"Sister, don't you already have a boyfriend?" Sonoko interrupts quickly.

"Not at all, we haven't confirmed the relationship yet."

Ayako Suzuki blushes slightly and clarifies quickly.

In front of a handsome man, even sisters can fall out.

"I am Chikako Ikeda, 24 years old, a film director and screenwriter. I don't even have a boyfriend yet..."

Although this woman keeps casting flirtatious glances, Akaso Kaze has no intention of accepting them.

You're about to become a soul with your limbs dismembered, and you dare to seduce me?

Am I that kind of person?

After everyone finishes introducing themselves, they go off to attend to their own business.

Sonoko looks at Ran, who is following Akaso Kaze, and asks deliberately: "By the way, where did your Shinichi go? It's a pity he didn't come along."

If Shinichi had come, the handsome guy would be all mine.

"Who wants him to come?" Ran pouts unhappily, "He hasn't even called lately."

"Let's not talk about those unhappy things. Akaso-san, let's go for a walk outside."

Ran takes an umbrella and pulls Akaso Kaze out the door.

Conan and Sonoko follow behind, both looking unhappy.

"What is Ran doing? I was the one who asked her to invite Akaso-san." Sonoko mutters incessantly.

"I'm still here, you know..." Conan is about to explode with anger.

"Really, Ran is already with Shinichi and still acts like this. I'm going to seduce Shinichi!"

Sonoko says sulkily.

Conan turns his head to look at her, "Sonoko... let's just forget it."

"Is there still no news from Shinichi?"

Akaso Kaze asks while walking with the umbrella.

Ran shakes her head.

"I don't know when he'll be able to come back."

"Don't bother with such a cold and heartless person; just find someone new."

Akaso Kaze turns to look at Ran.

"If you're willing, I can teach you a way adults date."

Seeing Akaso Kaze lower his head, Mao Li Ran's little heart beats wildly.

Crack.

A sudden clap of thunder sounds in the sky.

Ran jumps forward in fright and dives into Akaso Kaze's arms.

"Wow, it's thundering."

Ran's voice is trembling, making one feel like bullying her upon hearing it.

Akaso Kaze hugs her trembling body and gently strokes her to comfort her.

Mao Li Ran has somewhat low magic resistance and often loses her combat effectiveness for no reason.

Akaso Kaze is happy to see such situations.

Watching the two hugging each other, Sonoko and Conan behind them are dumbfounded.

"Unforgivable."

Conan's face is as black as the bottom of a pot used for decades.

Because Ran was following Akaso Kaze the whole time when entering the villa, she didn't discover Ryoichi Takahashi's flaw.

Therefore, Ryoichi Takahashi didn't have the urge to kill to silence anyone.

The two of them took a romantic stroll in the forest, full of affection.

If it weren't for the two jealous people following behind, something delightful might have happened.

"No, this is bad."

Just as they return to the villa, Katsuhiko Ota runs in, panting.

"A strange person wearing a cloak and a hat attacked me."

"Are you all okay?"

Akaso Kaze glances at Ryoichi Takahashi.

This guy is likely doing it on purpose, wanting to create the illusion of an outside perpetrator.

"I've been repairing the roof the whole time and didn't see any strange person... However, I did meet one on the suspension bridge when I came to the villa."

Ryoichi Takahashi adds evidence as expected.

"Yes, yes, I saw it too." Hiroki Kadotani says as well.

Several people look around in a panic.

"Oh no, the suspension bridge has been destroyed."

"The telephone line has been cut too."

"Someone is deliberately trying to trap us here."

"It must be that bandaged monster."

"What does he want to do?"

"How terrifying."

Ran leans into Akaso Kaze's arms unconsciously, having long forgotten that she is a karate champion.

"Don't worry, Ran, I will protect you."

Akaso Kaze takes the opportunity to reach out and wrap his arm around her small waist, a gold coin flipping between his fingers.

Mao Li Ran looks up.

Their eyes meet, full of tenderness.

Conan next to them clenches his small fists.

"I can also..."

Looking at his own small arms and legs, he finally sighs.

Forget it, I can't.

It is already dark, and everyone agrees to go down the mountain together tomorrow.

Then they lock the doors and windows.

Chikako picks up a letter from under the door crack and then leaves the living room with a pale face.

Ryoichi Takahashi climbs back up to the second floor to repair the roof.

Watching him disappear outside the roof window, Akaso Kaze cannot help but curl his lip.

This is the Suzuki family villa; does he really need to keep repairing the roof?

Conan, that kid, didn't even notice such an obvious problem, yet he has the nerve to call himself a famous detective.

Akaso Kaze is too lazy to bother; he is very busy.

He has to flirt with Ran while dealing with the enthusiastic advances of Sonoko and her sister.

At the same time, he has to endure the jealous glares of two jealous men and one jealous child.

He is simply too busy to save anyone.

"It's time to eat, Takahashi, come down quickly."

Katsuhiko Ota finally can't take it anymore and organizes dinner.

He considers himself a handsome guy, but compared to Akaso Kaze, he instantly becomes invisible.

"Coming."

Ryoichi Takahashi's figure appears by the second-floor window.

"Who!" He suddenly screams loudly towards the outside, "Who is there?"

"What's wrong?" Katsuhiko Ota asks.

"There is someone by the window downstairs!"

His voice causes everyone to turn and look.

A black shadow drifts past outside the window.

In the light from inside the house, one can vaguely see that it is the bandaged monster holding Chikako.

"The bandaged monster?"

"What does he want to do to Chikako?"

Seeing a case occur, Conan's detective soul burns brightly.

He reacts quickly, moves with agility, grabs a flashlight, opens the window, and jumps outside.

While in mid-air, he hears Akaso Kaze say: "Everyone, don't move. I already know the truth of the case."

"Nani?"

The ground outside is slippery, and Conan, caught by surprise, loses his footing and falls flat on his face.

In the first-floor living room, everyone is gathered together.

Ryoichi Takahashi says anxiously: "Why listen to what he has to say about the case? Shouldn't we hurry to save Chikako?"

Akaso Kaze shakes his head, "It's useless. Chikako has already been dismembered. Going out now will only let the criminal escape justice."

"What! Dismembered?"

Everyone is stunned.

Ryoichi Takahashi turns pale and takes two steps back.

"How can this be? You must be lying."

"Exactly, we just saw Chikako a moment ago, how can you say she was dismembered?"