Chapter 285

"Not entirely sure, but I suppose so."

Hattori Heiji was just speaking casually when suddenly, a folding screen facing the door was pulled aside, revealing a short, elderly woman dressed in gorgeous clothing with heavy makeup on her face.

Seeing the old woman appear, people around whispered things like, "It's the Longevity Hag," and "The Longevity Hag has come out."

Everyone took out their numbered placards, waiting for the drawing to begin.

Inside the room, the Longevity Hag beckoned to the side, and the attending shrine maiden immediately handed over a stick wrapped in oilcloth at the tip.

The Longevity Hag took the stick and, using it for support, shuffled forward step by step, slowly walking onto the wooden floor outside the room.

She first extended the stick she was holding into the fire at the altar in front of her to ignite it, then extended it toward the paper door beside her. Immediately after, firelight appeared on the paper door, and it quickly burned out a number.

Three.

As the first number appeared, the Longevity Hag extended the burning stick to the other two paper doors, and the flames burned out the numbers "one hundred seven" and "eighteen" in sequence.

After the Longevity Hag finished these tasks, she put the stick back into the fire, then slowly walked back into the room and disappeared from everyone's sight.

Hattori Heiji watched this scene, let out an "ah," and blinked: "Is this what they call a drawing? It feels so casual."

Conan was also speechless.

Was this drawing just playing with us?

He thought they would bring out a box and draw on the spot.

As it turned out, the winning numbers were already decided, and the burning on the paper door was just for show.

Could it be that this drawing was rigged?

Hattori Heiji looked at the numbers above and suddenly felt they looked familiar.

"Huh? I won?"

"Hmm? What do you mean you won?"

Conan turned his head to look.

It really was!

Hattori Heiji had won a Dugong Arrow.

Conan looked at the placard in his hand and felt a bit heartbroken.

Why was his luck so bad?

It was one thing not to be able to compare to Akaso Kaze, but he couldn't even compare to this dark-skinned kid.

"I wonder who the other two winners are," Hattori Heiji asked.

Conan looked up and scanned the area. "I think it should be Miss Kuroe Naoko and Miss Ebihara Sumi, whom we met today, right?"

"Miss Kuroe Naoko is happily saying she won! As for Miss Sumi, although she didn't say it out loud, judging by how happy she looks, she most likely won too."

Hattori Heiji raised his hand to check his watch.

"The Dugong Arrows will be awarded in a while. How about we walk around the area? Anyway, the investigation is at a stalemate, and we have to wait until the festival ends and Miss Shimabukuro is free."

Conan nodded, and the two walked out of the crowd.

At this moment, Akaso Kaze was using his Eye of Space to watch Shimabukuro Kimie removing her disguise in the room.

This girl's level of skill was quite high.

Not only could she disguise her appearance, but she could also change her voice.

It was truly quite unscientific.

Shimabukuro Kimie lifted her skirt and uncrossed her legs.

Two long, slender, fair legs immediately stretched out.

The girl frowned, rubbed them a few times, and suddenly looked up in surprise.

Her gaze met Akaso Kaze's, which actually gave the Yin-Yang Master a start.

Shimabukuro Kimie looked around suspiciously a few times, found nothing unusual, and lowered her head to continue rubbing.

Akaso Kaze couldn't help but frown slightly.

No one had ever discovered his Eye of Space before; even Koizumi Akako didn't seem to have noticed it.

This girl was truly quite strange.

His train of thought was quickly disrupted.

Because Shimabukuro Kimie began to change her clothes.

Tsk tsk, the little shrine maiden really had a nice figure.

Akaso Kaze watched with an appreciative gaze.

His expression slowly turned strange.

Shimabukuro Kimie had actually stripped completely, wearing only a black coat over her, which covered her entire head.

Then, she quietly slipped away from the window and ducked into a path in the woods.

The island was filled with lush trees everywhere.

During the day, they formed a unique and beautiful landscape.

But once night fell.

The entire forest appeared eerie and terrifying, making one's hair stand on end!

Walking in the woods, Shimabukuro Kimie's mind was in turmoil.

She couldn't help but recall the events of the past.

It was also the night of the festival three years ago.

The shrine warehouse suddenly caught fire!

At the very last moment, she received a call from her mother inside the burning building!

"Kimie, I leave the festivals to you from now on!"

"Mom loves this little island so much!"

"So, please don't let the Longevity Hag die just like that!"

Even now, Shimabukuro Kimie clearly remembered every word her mother had said at that time!

Therefore, after her mother passed away, Shimabukuro Kimie took over the heavy burden and played the role of the Longevity Hag with all her heart.

From time to time, she appeared before everyone as the Longevity Hag.

Continuing this legend that belonged solely to Mermaid Island!

In Shimabukuro Kimie's view, her life would probably pass peacefully in this way!

Until a week ago, when Kadowaki Saori lost her Dugong Arrow.

Fearing retaliation from the mermaid, she panicked and found Shimabukuro Kimie to ask for another one!

Shimabukuro Kimie knew very well that the Dugong Arrow had no effect as rumored, and as for the mermaid's retaliation, that was complete nonsense!

So she smiled and told her the truth, trying to comfort her.

But she didn't expect that what Kadowaki Saori said next would leave her completely stunned.

"If you won't give me a Dugong Arrow, then tell me where the Mermaid's Grave is!"

"I want to find the mermaid bones hidden by the Longevity Hag."

"I want to be like the Longevity Hag and never die!"

"To be able to survive being engulfed by flames is truly miraculous!"

In her excitement, Kadowaki Saori finally revealed a terrifying past event.

It turned out that the fire in the shrine warehouse three years ago was not an accident at all, but a man-made event created by her three good friends!

Because they didn't draw a Dugong Arrow at the festival.

The three of them, dead drunk, wanted to set a fire to burn down the warehouse to vent their anger.

But after seeing the Longevity Hag, played by Shimabukuro Kimie's mother, walk into the warehouse, the three decided to change their plan slightly.

They wanted to test whether the Longevity Hag was truly immortal.

Just like that, Shimabukuro Kimie's mother died because of the three's dissatisfaction and curiosity!

Having learned the truth, Shimabukuro Kimie collapsed.

Especially after Kadowaki Saori said those words without any remorse, both her heart and body underwent indescribable changes.

From that day on, Shimabukuro Kimie began her revenge plan!