Chapter 373 The Fire Was Extinguished by Your Scare
In the flames, three burning numbers gradually appeared on the paper: three, seven, eighteen...
From the Rear, Hai Lao Yuan Shou Ming looked delighted, "Excellent!"
"R-Ran!" Beside her, Kazuha Toyama excitedly gripped the Sign, "I won!"
After Longevity Granny went Inside the Room, and the Door closed shortly after, Shimabukuro Kimiie came out and said seriously, "Alright then, everyone please proceed to Mermaid Waterfall next. The Dugong Arrow will be distributed there."
...
An Hour Afterwards.
On the Rocky Beach in front of Mermaid Waterfall, four Torch were lit in the Framework that had been set up.
"Weren't there only two Torch last year?"
"Uh... Could it be because they're worried the Torch will go out?"
"What do you know? Longevity Granny was showing everyone her Magic Power earlier!"
Listening to the Whispering of the people around her, Kazuha Toyama was both nervous and excited, gripping the Wooden Plaque in her hand. "Heiji, could there really be some kind of magical power? Such a big Flame, even if the wind blew, it shouldn't have gone out, right? But it really did extinguish completely in an instant just now..."
"Idiot!" Hattori Heiji said, clearly annoyed. "How could there be any magical power? I bet it's mostly Tricks done beforehand, just like the Characters burning on the Door. If you add some Chemical Substance, it's completely possible!"
"Is that so..." Kazuha Toyama looked hesitant, but she already believed it in her heart.
"Of course!" Hattori Heiji suddenly thought of something and teased Chi Feichei with a smile, "Instead of thinking about some magical power, you might as well think it's because Brother Hassashi's Gaze is too Cold, and he froze the Flame and extinguished it!"
"You're so dark, in a Dark Place, you'd only see the whites of your eyes. The Fire was probably extinguished because it was scared of you." Chi Feichei retorted flatly.
Hattori Heiji: "..."
Listen to that, listen to that! Is that even human language?
Conan chuckled to himself. Just because Chi Feichei is usually serious and speaks his mind, doesn't mean he can't retort. Looks like someone with dark skin got the short end of the stick, huh?
"Alright then, next, the three people who drew numbers, please come forward." Shimabukuro Kimiie stood in the middle of the Torch and spoke.
"Ah, okay," Kazuha Toyama smiled as she went under the String that had been pulled up, and greeted them with a smile, "I'm going to get it now!"
Beside her, a Short Hair Woman with a cold Expression also pulled the String aside and walked over with her hands in her pockets.
"Hmm?" Shimabukuro Kimiie looked around and asked loudly, "There's still one person, is the last one not here?"
Benzou Kadowaki pulled aside the String and walked in, his Face still showing signs of drunkenness, "It's me!"
"Huh?" Hattori Heiji said, puzzled. "Weird, I thought Sumi had won."
Conan looked around, "She's nowhere to be seen."
"That Uncle is Miss Kadowaki's Father." Chi Feichei said, looking at the scene.
After the three Dugong Arrows were distributed, some villagers set off Fireworks.
Fireworks shot into the sky, illuminating the vertically falling waterfall, and also illuminating Ebihara Sumi, who was hanging in the waterfall, being washed by the water, looking like a Mermaid swimming against the current.
Conan was startled and immediately stepped forward, grabbing the corner of Shimabukuro Kimiie's Miko Outfit sleeve. "Older Sister, you're familiar with the Environment in these Mountains, right? Could you take us over there?"
"Ah, please wait a moment..." The Short Hair Woman who had drawn the Dugong Arrow earlier also followed.
"Kimiie, what's going on?" Fukuyama Rokuro in the Crowd asked.
In the end, the people who went to the Mountain Forest Above the Waterfall together, besides Conan, Hattori Heiji, and Mori Kogoro, were Shimabukuro Kimiie, Fukuyama Rokuro, and the Short Hair Woman Hei Jiang Nai Xu Zi, three locals.
Chi Feichei didn't go. He stood aside, lit a Cigarette, took out his Mobile Phone, and looked down at it.
"Huh?" Kazuha Toyama only then noticed Chi Feichei was still standing beside them. "Brother Hassashi, aren't you going to Check it out?"
"They'll bring the Corpse down anyway." Chi Feichei said, as he silently searched for reports from three years ago.
Although he remembered who the Culprit was, he still needed to refine some Details in his mind, like the specific Method, which he couldn't quite recall clearly.
Mouri Ran returned after making an Emergency Call and suddenly remembered the Incident with Ye Caisan last time. She smiled and said, "Actually, Brother Hassashi could have just said that Kazuha and I are too scared to go see the Corpse, worried that everyone would leave and we'd be frightened, so he specially stayed behind to Keep Company with us. Shinichi once Said that Crime Scene will leave behind many Clue, right?"
Kazuha Toyama was taken aback and looked at Chi Feichei. "Is that true?"
"Ran, when did you become so fond of calling people out?" Chi Feichei said without even looking up.
Mouri Ran said with a grin, "For someone like Brother Hassashi, you have to be direct and call you out!"
Kazuha Toyama was touched and a little embarrassed. "Thank You, Brother Hassashi. But if you want to go, you should go Check it out. I know Aikido, and Ran is a Karate expert, we definitely won't let anyone bully us!"
"If it would affect Hattori's Status in your heart, I'd go up there right away." Chi Feichei glanced at the report roughly. Finding nothing of value, he simply put away his Mobile Phone.
He just felt that since they knew each other, and someone had just died, it wasn't right to leave two Girl to face a large Crowd of strangers alone. His presence here could at least make them feel a bit more at ease.
He was considering it from a Friend's perspective. He himself didn't want to go up and make a fuss. If it would affect the Emotion between those love rival Couples, he would definitely keep his distance in the future.
After All, Hattori Heiji and that Conan Kid were also his Friends.
He didn't have any Girl who liked him anyway, why would he try to steal his Friend's girl?
"No way..." Kazuha Toyama said, her Face flushed. "That Fellow has no Status in my heart at all, and I don't want you to lose to him and see his smug face!"
Mouri Ran giggled. "Kazuha, your thoughts are all written all over your Face..."
"That's not true!" Kazuha Toyama retorted, flustered and annoyed. "How could it compare to you and your Shinichi!"
Chi Feichei didn't join in the two Girl's playful banter, and silently smoked his Cigarette.
He was still considering their feelings, but as a result, they were still being lovey-dovey right in front of him. That's just not fair...
Sure enough, it's still better to be with Amuro Toru and Gin. Being with them is better for my physical and mental health. At least everyone is openly Single Dog.
Actually, Saguru Hakuba would also be fine.
...
Almost two Hours Afterwards, Ebihara Sumi's Corpse was carried down by Fukuyama Rokuro.
Shimabukuro Kimiie, Hei Jiang Nai Xu Zi, and Mori Kogoro followed beside him, not seeing Hattori Heiji and Conan anywhere.
A Man rushed forward, hugging Ebihara Sumi's Corpse and weeping bitterly. From the Whispering of the people around, it seemed he was Ebihara Sumi's Father.
"Ran, did you Call the Police?" Mori Kogoro asked seriously. "What did the Police Say?"
Mouri Ran hurried forward and said, "They said the waves on the Sea are too rough, and ships can't set sail, so they can't come over for the time being."
Over there, Hattori Heiji, holding a Swim Ring, and Conan were walking back contentedly.
Good, a key Clue obtained!
Conan was sorting through the Clue in his mind. He looked up and saw Chi Feichei standing with Mouri Ran and Kazuha Toyama. He paused, stunned for a moment, and Stop Foot. "Um... Hattori..."
"Hmm?" Hattori Heiji asked, puzzled, also stopping. "What's wrong?"
"Just now, Chi Feichei didn't go up there, did he?" Seeing Hattori Heiji still looking blank, Conan decided to be blunt. "I think he was worried that Ran and Kazuha would be scared if they stayed down here alone, so he stayed behind..."
"Really? Brother Hassashi is so considerate!" Hattori Heiji Sighed in admiration.
Conan: "..."
(╯￣Д￣)╯╘═╛
Is Hattori really that oblivious?
Isn't he worried that Chi Feichei will steal his Girl away?
Anyway, he was quite worried, because... if he were a Girl, he'd probably also think that Chi Feichei is a very reliable, Gentle, and considerate person, a good Choice...
But as soon as he sees a Corpse, he just can't help himself.
When he's Conan, it probably doesn't matter, he can be a bit more impulsive. But when he turns back later, he must be careful...!
But, right now, they still needed to solve the Crisis.
"Kazuha is really touched, and then she's going to decide..." Conan didn't say it outright, but gently hinted.
Hattori Heiji was stunned for a moment, then Understood. He Turn Head to Look at Chi Feichei.
Chi Feichei noticed someone staring at him. He Turn Head, saw the two of them looking at him, and actively walked over.
Hattori Heiji waited for Chi Feichei to Go To his side, then clutched the Swim Ring in his arms a little tighter, his Face awkward, but he still looked directly at Chi Feichei. "Um... Brother Hassashi, you can't like Kazuha!"
"If you've misunderstood, I'll go with you next time and won't stay behind." Chi Feichei said.
"Uh..." Hattori Heiji was stunned for a moment, then Understood what Chi Feichei meant. With one Hand holding the Swim Ring, he freed up his right hand and awkwardly scratched his Head. "I didn't mean it like that. Actually, it's good that you stayed behind..."
Conan was also Speechless. He had already asked Chi Feichei and confirmed that Chi Feichei didn't mean anything by it. It was all his own guilt causing his unease. He shouldn't have blamed Chi Feichei... He was guilty, he Repentance.
But, since they were all Men, it was easier to talk. He couldn't exactly run over to Mouri Ran and Say, 'You're not allowed to fall for someone else, you're not allowed to like Chi Feichei,' that would be quite embarrassing...
"So, how's the Investigation into the Situation going?" Chi Feichei brought the conversation back to the main topic.
Speaking of the Case, Hattori Heiji's Expression turned serious. "Miss Ebihara was strangled with a Rope, with pressure on her Neck suspected to be the cause of Death. One end of the Rope was tied around her Neck, and the other end was tied to the Wooden Stake of the Rope that was set up by the riverbank to prevent people from falling into the Water. Uncle Mori thinks Miss Sumi fell into the Water in the Darkness..."
"Teacher's Reasoning... no, never mind Uncle Mori's guess." Chi Feichei interrupted.
Conan chuckled dryly. Behind his back, Chi Feichei was really blunt, not giving any Face at all.
Hattori Heiji's Expression also became complicated, as if he wanted to laugh but was also Speechless. He paused for a moment, also feeling that Uncle Mori's guess was pointless to mention. "Miss Hei Jiang Nai Xu Zi suspects that Miss Sumi went into that Pitch Black Forest to find the Mermaid Tomb. Three years ago, the Shrine's Warehouse caught Fire. After the Police moved away the collapsed Pillar, they discovered a Corpse. Because it was pressed under two or three collapsed Pillar, the Corpse's Bone was crushed, and surprisingly, that Corpse had no Foot!"
Conan refocused his thoughts and said seriously, "The Police's Judgment was that it was the Corpse of a middle-aged Female. Plus, there were Trace of Candle burning. The Police's Judgment was that after the festival ended, someone who didn't draw a Dugong Arrow wanted to secretly go to the Warehouse to Check if there were any spare Dugong Arrows in the Warehouse. As a result, the Candle lit the Warehouse, causing the Fire."
"But the fact that the Corpse Bone had no Foot is indeed unbelievable," Hattori Heiji said, pondering. "Originally, the Corpse Bone was collected and buried afterwards, but because tourists went to dig up the grave, wanting to steal the Corpse Bone, believing that eating Mermaid Bone was like eating meat and could grant Longevity, Longevity Granny entrusted a trustworthy person to move the Corpse Bone to the Forest. Miss Kimiie isn't clear on the exact location."
(End of Chapter)