Fujino wasn't worried about being poisoned himself. He remembered the poison was applied to the teacup handle, right where the thumb rests. Since no one would be sucking their thumb, it was highly unlikely anyone would be poisoned. Of course, someone was definitely going to die today. Just to be safe, he still sniffed around and confirmed the poison was indeed there.
Looking up, Fujino glanced at Shuzen Ogami, who was standing nearby. The guy had been biting his finger ever since they started. That's a bad habit. But for someone like him, if he dies, he dies. No need to feel bad. After all, they were all invited here because of this guy, and he planned to kill everyone. Fujino wasn't some kind Samaritan who believed in repaying evil with kindness. If you try to kill Fujino, you'd better be prepared to die yourself.
After their rock-paper-scissors game, everyone took their seats. Fujino sat next to Conan and Ran, with Ikumi Soda on his right. Across from him, from left to right, were Harushi Mogi, Saguru Hakuba, Hideyo Senzaki, and Kaito, disguised as Kogoro Mouri, along with Shuzen Ogami.
Despite the risk of poison, everyone, after wiping their utensils, felt comfortable enough to eat dinner. Shuzen Ogami, being a gourmet detective, naturally had excellent cooking skills. And as someone who loved food, he wouldn't poison the dishes. On one hand, the motive would be too obvious. On the other hand, he might accidentally poison himself. In Shuzen Ogami's original plan, he was supposed to poison the maid after dinner. Though there were some changes, the plan was generally proceeding smoothly. He just had no idea that his accomplice had now turned against him and was planning to backstab him.
"This dish is delicious!" Kaito, imitating Kogoro Mouri's tone, let out a "Mouri-style" exclamation. He'd seen Kogoro Mouri before, so he knew the guy's tone and personality. People with such distinct personalities were the easiest to impersonate. As for someone like Fujino, who was so reserved, with a baby face that hid countless thoughts, he'd be the hardest to impersonate. At the same time, Kaito was relieved that no one had died yet.
But in Fujino's opinion, Kaito's disguise was still a bit unnatural. How to put it? The real Mouri-ossan should be a little more... lecherous.
"Now that all the dishes have been served, and no one among us has been poisoned," Hideyo Senzaki wiped her mouth with a napkin, "it seems that guy doesn't intend to kill us all here..."
"It looks like we were overthinking it," Ikumi Soda said with a relieved smile. "But it's always good to be suspicious. I wouldn't want to perish in a place like this."
Just then, the speaker-headed figure at the head of the table let out another muffled sound: "I trust everyone has eaten their fill now? My last supper for you all, I wonder if you're satisfied?"
The guests offered no response to the speaker-headed figure, who was just a head with a dangling tape recorder. There was only an awkward silence.
After a brief pause, the speaker-headed figure's deep voice resonated again: "Getting back to the point, I'm sure you're all curious why I went to such great lengths to acquire this house and make it the stage for this game... The answer lies on the spoons and forks in your hands."
"A bird?" Ran picked up a spoon curiously. "Why does this bird look so creepy with its big beak?"
"Renya Karasuma," Fujino said, crossing his arms and speaking in a low voice. "A famous millionaire from a long time ago. There are many rumors about him."
"Renya Karasuma?" Everyone looked at Fujino, somewhat puzzled.
"This is the emblem of Renya Karasuma, who died mysteriously half a century ago!" Fujino finished speaking, and then the speaker-headed figure confirmed his words.
The others, however, were already used to it. Shuzen Ogami, meanwhile, frowned at Fujino and began biting his thumb even more frantically. My perfect plan, why does this kid keep disrupting it?!
Fortunately, no one interrupted the speaker's next words: "Not just the tableware here, but the front door of this house, every part of it, was custom-made at his request. In other words, this is Renya Karasuma's villa. No, I should say it used to be his villa."
"Forty years ago, before the storm even arrived, a tragedy like hell unfolded in this house. That night, this mansion hosted a 'memorial service for Renya Karasuma.' Those present were all prominent figures from the financial world. But in reality, it was an auction for various treasures from Renya Karasuma's life. Because of the vast amount of treasures, the auction was even expected to last three days..."
"But on the night of the second day! Two men arrived at this mansion, handed the host a leaf, and then became honored guests at the auction!"
"The two men constantly urged others around them to also smoke the leaf, until smoke filled the entire room. Someone screamed, clutching an artwork. A girl sobbed uncontrollably until her tears ran dry. A gentleman repeatedly used a fountain pen to cut his wrists. Finally, they picked up the swords from the auction and swung them at each other... Hell had descended!"
"It is said that after the auction, eight people died, and those two men, along with the treasures, were long gone!"
"But still..." Kaito, after hearing the story, asked curiously in Kogoro Mouri's voice, "Normally, why would such a terrible case never be reported?"
"Perhaps it was because the identities of the invited guests were all very special," Shuzen Ogami picked up a cup of black tea from the table and took a sip, explaining according to his own script. "Those who came that day were all famous figures from the financial world and their families. In such a chaotic situation, it would be impossible to identify the culprits. Furthermore, the identities of both the culprits and the victims were extremely sensitive..."
Fujino wasn't surprised; he knew this was all a fabricated story, but he still pretended to ponder. "If they really investigated, it might have been better to let the matter cool down and suppress the news. After all, scandals like this are common in this country, Japan."
"As expected of the police's little detective consultant. You've seen the darkness of the world at such a young age." Ikumi Soda, as a former prosecutor, naturally understood such matters deeply. Then, her interest piqued again: "But if you ask me, such old dark histories are the real appetizers."
"Speaking of which, I'm sure you all understand why I chose this place, right?" The speaker-headed figure continued: "I want you, the esteemed detectives, to re-enact the tragedy that occurred here that year—to perform the hellish scene of mutual slaughter over treasures in this house."
"However, I understand that seeing through the fog isn't easy, so I'll give you some hints."
"Two travelers gazing at the night sky, a demon descends upon the castle, the king flees with treasure, the queen sheds tears into the Holy Grail pleading for forgiveness, the knight commits suicide with his sword, staining the fields with blood... I put a lot of effort into these hints, based on the characteristics of this house. Don't you think these hints are quite fitting for what's about to happen?"
"You must think we're all fools, don't you?" Ikumi Soda snapped. "Mutual slaughter? That requires someone to actually engage in mutual slaughter, and I have absolutely no interest in such a thing." She then asked Fujino, "What about you, little detective?"
"I'm not little, okay...?" Fujino muttered, then said seriously, "I'm not interested either. If I were to go after you all... I should say, it would be a massacre. None of you would leave here alive."
Shuzen Ogami took a sip of tea, calming himself. "Even if you're amazing, you can't possibly kill all of us, can you?"
Kaito: "..."
Hakuba Saguru: "..."
Conan: "..."
If it came to a fight, in their eyes, everyone there except Fujino was trash. They had no doubt that Fujino could indeed kill everyone present and then escape by himself.
"It's impossible for any of you to escape this game! You've already been drawn into the magic I've cast!" The speaker suddenly blared: "Just like forty years ago, when one of you lets out the first scream, this battle of wits will truly begin... Listen carefully, the person who finds the treasure, please go to the room in the central tower and input the treasure's location into the computer. I will keep my promise, give them half the treasure, and tell them how to escape this place..."
"Ughh!!" As soon as the voice finished, Harushi Mogi suddenly clutched his neck, letting out a choked sound, and painfully collapsed to the floor.
"Mr. Mogi?!" Everyone froze, then rushed forward.
Shuzen Ogami looked on, confused. This isn't right... This wasn't supposed to happen. Thinking this, he bit his thumb even more furiously.
"Sigh... Biting your finger really is a bad habit." Fujino glanced at Shuzen Ogami, then walked over to the collapsed Harushi Mogi, examined him, and shook his head. "His breath smells awful, it must be some extremely potent poison. I'd say it's Chinese-made paraquat..." He then pulled a needle from his pocket. "Luckily, I brought paraquat antidote with me. Mr. Mogi, I'm quite strong, so bear with me!"
"Wait! I was just joking, don't take it seriously!" Harushi Mogi quickly stood up, terrified that the little detective would actually inject him with something.
"Huh?" Fujino frowned slightly, putting away the needle impatiently. "You're a grown man, making jokes like that. This paraquat antidote was hard to import, and if I use it, it's gone."
The others quietly nodded, silently condemning Harushi Mogi's actions.
"Ugh..." Harushi Mogi felt a bit embarrassed.
"Uwaah!" Just then, another choked sound filled the air.
Everyone turned to see Shuzen Ogami clutching his throat, painfully tilting his head back and collapsing. His rotund body fell to the floor, his mouth wide open, his eyes completely lifeless.
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