"No!"
Genta shook head, jumped from Tsuneo's arms.
No lullaby!
"Uh, sir, we're not bad people." Dr. Agasa waved at hostile gardener.
"What do you want?"
Gardener eyed the intruder fatty.
"We passed by, saw grand castle, stopped—can we visit?" Dr. Agasa rubbed Genta's head, embarrassed.
Too shy to admit lost...
"Go back!"
"Not a tourist spot!" Gardener impatient.
Private, not museum!
"Eh?"
"Who are they?"
Square-faced, center-parted, suited middle-aged man approached behind gardener.
"Master."
Mamiya Mitsuru nodded, smiled: "No guests today."
"Kid tried climbing; dumb-faced old man wants tour." Gardener pointed front-row Dr. Agasa.
As he spoke, hand reached through bars at his back.
Doctor grabbed Tsuneo's arms: "Tsuneo-kun, stop!"
"Just greeting." Tsuneo smiled, withdrew.
Fat old man glared gardener: "Dumb-faced!"
"I'm a scientist!"
"Scientist?" Mamiya puzzled.
Can't tell...
Young man nearby familiar, seen somewhere.
"Yes, Dr. Agasa—somewhat famous!" Doctor twirled mustache, eyes closed, proud.
"Recognized beyond Block 2?" Tsuneo deadpan whisper.
"Hard say..." Conan chuckled.
One or two maybe.
"Your brain smarter than us?" Mamiya pondered, smiled, had gardener open, invited in, even overnight.
"Really?"
"Great!"
Kids cheered before adults spoke.
Dr. Agasa nodded; wandered woods half-day, near evening—stay fine.
"But, master, ask madam first?" Gardener cautious.
Trouble falls on me.
"Say my friends; mother-in-law's state, fine." Mamiya turned inside.
Gardener opened, invited Tsuneo group.
"Awesome!"
"Huge yard!" "Horses!" Ayumi by near-man-high chess pieces.
"Black ones here!" Genta opposite.
"Why horses neck-only?"
Mitsuhiko serious question.
"Those are knights." Ai approached, educated on chess pieces.
Owners love chess; lawn checkerboard, deep-shallow patches.
"No idea; followed late Teiaki master's orders." Gardener hands on hips, puzzled.
Teiaki followed long-dead old master's will.
"Late?"
"That man?" Dr. Agasa confused.
"Madam's second husband Afuku; Teiaki died illness six years ago."
Gardener sighed: "Madam burned in fire four years ago."
Bad memories; mood low.
Madam kind to servants.
"Fire?" Dr. Agasa eyed blue-white castle, no burn marks.
Conan watched distant Mamiya talk maid, point here, nod smiling—odd.
Attitude flipped at scientist, invited overnight.
"There, charred stone tower!" Gardener sidestepped, pointed beside castle.
Madam's old bedroom; returned for mother-in-law birthday.
Midnight arrival; before dawn, tower ruined.
Not just madam: friends, long-serving steward, servants—dozen dead.
Tower six-seven stories, blackened, original color gone—fierce fire.
"Speaking, Mr. Tsuneo, you looked familiar!"
Mamiya approached joyfully.
Asked others; confirmed newspaper detective.
Tsuneo: ...
Handshake strength: needs smart help...
Conan odder.
Not detective fan type.
"That one, madam and Teiaki's only son, young master Kijin."
Gardener by Dr. Agasa, warmed, introduced squatting nearby observing chess, twenty-something youth.
Young master more serious than kids.
"Truth, relationships messy." Tsuneo polite, dismissed Mamiya, whispered smiling to Conan.
"OK." Conan nodded.
Simply: castle Mamiya's, one daughter.
That madam.
Two husbands, son with first.
That's it...
(Chapter end)
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