Chapter 34

"Maria, in detective stories and novels, doesn't the protagonist always run into inexplicable cases?"

"That's for sure. To keep the story going, detective stories must encounter many bizarre cases."

"Isn't a detective story just built up case by case?"

"However, most detective stories focus on the story content; the suspense and plot twists in the content are what make detective stories interesting."

Nagi Sanzenin looked at Maria with a bit of surprise.

"Maria, you know a lot about these things."

"Because when I have free time, I also read some books. In the great library, you piled up a lot of materials for drawing manga. When I have time, I also go to tidy them up and find some books to read."

Maria's answer made sense.

A maid's work is very complicated, especially when serving little Nagi. Besides daily cleaning, the biggest problem is constantly facing little Nagi's sudden whims.

Maids also need time to vent and relax.

So, occasionally reading some interesting novels counts as one of Maria's little hobbies as a maid.

But after speaking, Maria looked at little Nagi with a subtle expression.

"So, do you think that Conan Edogawa is the protagonist of some detective novel?"

"No, I don't think it's a detective novel."

Nagi Sanzenin directly denied it.

"Detective novels wouldn't create a nickname like 'Grim Reaper'."

"Which detective novel allows the protagonist to have such a nickname? How many people would have to die for that?"

"Indeed."

Maria also thought it was ridiculous.

If a detective novel could feature a death toll worthy of being called the 'Grim Reaper', that detective novel would definitely be trash.

"So, I think it should be a manga, or an anime."

This sudden, gasping addition made Maria's breath catch.

"Detective manga and anime... does the death toll come with serialization?"

"That's why that person is called the 'Grim Reaper'."

"... Indeed."

It was so logical and well-founded that Maria couldn't refute it.

"Connecting it with the situation in Beika City, I'm gradually understanding why the crime rate in Beika City is so high."

Nagi Sanzenin was a bit speechless, yet it seemed she had found the answer.

"It's just putting the entire nation's crime rate into one spot, just to send some cases to the protagonist, right?"

"..."

Such an answer was truly a bit speechless, but combining it with reality, it actually seems just like that.

"Conan Edogawa turning into a child doesn't look like an ending; it looks more like a beginning."

"Mm, the story's beginning is the famous detective Conan Edogawa getting hit by a strange organization member, being forcibly fed a strange medicine, turning into a child, and then it's the story of Conan Edogawa using a pseudonym to investigate that organization and the poison, trying to turn back into a Gao Zhongsheng."

Maria's deduction was as usual, and Nagi Sanzenin found it very logical to listen to.

That first hit and that one pill directly caused a Gao Zhongsheng detective and a strange organization to hold a grudge against each other; next comes the story of their mutual game of wits.

Mm, very reasonable.

"No wonder he despises being a student at Teitan High School."

Nagi Sanzenin understood a bit, but then she started to get curious again.

"Maria, what kind of story do you think we are?"

"As for us, it should be a story themed around little Nagi. I think it should be quite slice-of-life, a story with a lot of little Nagi's style."

Maria thought for a moment; it seemed only situations related to little Nagi were reliable.

"Little Nagi, if you want to know, you can ask directly later."

"Mm."

Nagi Sanzenin also had such plans.

Then she looked at the diary; next was today's lottery time.

However, with such a gem already presented, she didn't hold any hope.

【Genshin Impact】

【Obtained crafting recipe: Mondstadt Potato Cakes】

【Mondstadt Potato Cakes: Fragrant fried potato cakes, usable to restore vitality.】

PS: New book, seeking data.