Conan narrowed his eyes at Gojo Satoru.
"So? Who's the murderer? And can you really see curses on a soul?"
Gojo grinned. "Wow, two questions at once. Which one do you want me to answer first?"
"Satoru, stop messing with Conan," Geto cut in, arms crossed.
Gojo sighed dramatically. "Geez, you used to be more fun, Suguru. But whatever, since it's you, I'll behave."
Conan rolled his eyes. "Then just tell me—who's the murderer?"
Gojo's expression shifted slightly, and he scanned the room.
"It's the one shouting the loudest."
Following Gojo's gaze, Conan turned toward someone he hadn't considered at first.
Nakamichi Kazushi.
"Wait, why him? Just because you saw some cursed energy?" Conan frowned.
"Oh, no, this has nothing to do with that," Gojo said lazily. "When everyone rushed into this room after hearing the scream, their heart rates and breathing changed—some were in shock, some were scared. But Nakamichi? He was the only one who stayed completely calm."
"That could be because he's a police officer," Conan pointed out.
"Sure," Gojo shrugged. "But since stepping into this room, he's been getting more and more excited. And while I might not care about detective work, I know one thing—guilt leaves a mark, and I don't miss those."
Conan fell into thought. "Even if he was involved, why would he kill Yukawa Sakurako? He barely knew her."
Gojo grinned and leaned against the doorway. "That's your job to figure out, kid."
As if on cue, the room descended into chaos.
"Kazushi, come on. We're all suspects, but no one here has a motive!"
"We should leave. The police aren't even here yet."
"You can't just decide that! Nakamichi, you're a cop—shouldn't you be insisting we stay put?"
"Oh, like the police are gonna bother coming out here in the middle of the night," someone scoffed. "You barely make enough to cover a tiny debt, Nakamichi. You think they're sending backup for this?"
That last comment hit differently.
Debt?
Conan's eyes sharpened. He turned to Kogoro.
"Uncle, do you know why Nakamichi is in debt?"
Kogoro shrugged, uninterested."Probably gambling. Horse races, maybe? Who cares?"
Conan's mind clicked. If Nakamichi was struggling financially, then money could be his motive.
But what about that phone call?
Suddenly, something dawned on him.
He turned to the waitress. "Excuse me, who asked you to bring the fruit plate?"
The woman looked at him, startled. "The boss told me to bring it."
"And who answered the phone when Yukawa Sakurako called?"
"The boss again. He was the only one at the front desk."
Everything snapped into place.
Conan took a deep breath and strode over to Gojo Satoru.
"I figured it out. But I have one condition."
Gojo raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What's that?"
"When you go back to the haunted house, take me with you."
Gojo snorted."Why would you wanna go there? It's just a bunch of curses and creepy stuff."
Conan adjusted his glasses. "Call it detective's curiosity. And I want to know if what happened at Kawasaki's house is connected."
Gojo grinned, then made an exaggerated face—crossing his eyes and sticking out his tongue.
"Kid, the monsters there are way worse! The kind that eats people."
Conan gave him the most unimpressed look possible. Then, he turned to Geto.
"Is he always this childish?"
Geto paused, unsure how to answer.
Ichigo, meanwhile, burst into laughter."Hahaha! Gojo-kun, the kid's calling you out."
Gojo pouted. "Alright, detective boy, spill it. Who's behind it?"
Conan crossed his arms."The hot spring resort's owner—Taro Nakamura. He hired Nakamichi Kazushi to do the killing."
Geto blinked."Wait, him? Why?"
Even Gojo's expression shifted slightly.
Conan nodded. "It was all because of that fake phone call."
"That phone call to the front desk—it was planned ahead of time. It wasn't Yukawa Sakurako calling. It was Nakamichi, sending a coded message to Nakamura Taro, letting him know the job was done. And making sure the body was found tonight, not tomorrow morning."
"And why would Nakamura want her dead?" Geto asked.
"I don't have proof yet," Conan admitted, "but I think it's connected to the haunted house disappearing."
At that, Gojo's eyes flashed.
Using his Six Eyes, he quickly scanned the resort.
Taro Nakamura was in a back room on the first floor.
Gojo frowned. "A minute ago, that guy was alive. Now… he's not."
Conan froze."What?!"
Without hesitation, Gojo turned and vaulted out of the second-floor window.
Ichigo ran after him."Oi! Wait up!"
Conan gawked. "What is WRONG with them?!"
Geto sighed, scooping Conan up effortlessly. "Might as well follow."
Conan barely had time to yelp in protest before they landed outside the first-floor room.
The room was pitch dark.
A cold draft slipped through the open window.
Gojo stood at the doorway, his Six Eyes scanning every inch.
Geto and Ichigo flanked him, Conan still grumbling about being carried.
"Mr. Nakamura," Conan called, his voice bouncing in the eerie silence. "We know you're involved. There's no point in hiding."
No answer.
No movement.
Gojo's expression darkened.
"He's not hiding."
"What do you mean?" Geto asked.
Gojo stepped forward."He's dead."
Ichigo tensed."You just said he was alive a minute ago."
Gojo nodded. "Exactly. And now he's not. Someone silenced him."
Geto exchanged a look with Conan."This means there's another player in the game."
Conan's eyes narrowed.
Whoever they were dealing with…
They were one step ahead.
To Be Continued…