"Ran, cheating isn't very nice, you know," Ikumi Kyosuke remarked, glancing at Tsuneo before offering a playful smile.
I'm sorry, but this round is mine!
Three Aces!
Ran's hand consisted of a Jack, Queen, King, Ace, and a Two. However, it was glaringly obvious that another card was stuck to the back of the Jack of Spades.
"Oh, you're right! I'm so sorry, I didn't even notice," Ran said, peering closely at the cards, her face flushing with embarrassment.
I'm not like Tsuneo-niisan... how could I possibly cheat on purpose?
"I believe I'm the winner," Tsuneo said, flipping his five cards onto the table.
Ikumi Kyosuke: "..."
Conan: "..."
Ran: "..."
Heh. You've really got a nerve, don't you?
Ran held the Ace of Spades, while Ikumi held the Aces of the other three suits.
Where on earth did Tsuneo find four more Aces?
"Ran, cheating is a very bad habit," Tsuneo remarked nonchalantly as he began sweeping everyone's chips toward himself.
"The patterns on the back of your cards don't even match..." Ikumi muttered, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Tsuneo-niisan is really amazing, isn't he, Ran-neechan?" Conan interjected quickly, blinking pointedly at Ran.
Better not to call him out right now. Just pretend we didn't see anything.
"Yes... yes, he is. Very amazing," Ran stammered, nodding along as she caught Conan's drift.
Conan smiled at Ikumi, picked up the Jack of Spades from the table, and carefully peeled the two cards apart. His eyes sharpened instantly. The substance holding the two cards together was a patch of dark, long-dried blood.
"I recall the maid, Ms. Ishihara, mentioning that everything in this annex has remained untouched since the 'incident,'" remarked Mogi Harufumi, leaning on his billiard cue as he glanced at the cards.
"Should we use my cards instead?"
Tsuneo produced three boxes of playing cards out of nowhere: one sealed, one opened but unused, and one missing exactly four cards.
"Which one do you prefer?"
Ikumi Kyosuke let out a dry cough.
This isn't a fairy tale about gold and silver axes. What is there to choose?
"Wait, if there's blood on these cards, does that mean this room was also...?" Ran trailed off, looking around the room as a chill ran down her spine.
Just how many people had died here? This vast annex seemed to be stained with blood wherever one looked.
At that moment, the maid pushed open the door and stepped inside.
"I apologize for the wait, everyone. Dinner is served. Please follow me to the dining room; the Master is already there awaiting your arrival."
The true host of this gathering was finally about to show himself.
"I've completely lost my appetite..." Ran sighed as they walked down the long, dimly lit corridor.
The thought of holding those blood-stained cards was enough to make her skin crawl.
"Is that so? Me too," Tsuneo replied from beside her.
He was carrying a square shopping basket. The snacks that had previously filled it to the brim were now mostly gone, leaving only crumbs at the bottom.
"Kid, what's the deal with this guy?" Ikumi Kyosuke whispered, rubbing her temples as she leaned down toward Conan.
"He..." Conan caught Tsuneo's gaze and immediately forced a bright smile. "He's a man with a very... unique personality!"
Unique, indeed.
As Ms. Ishihara pushed open the heavy dining room doors, the mysterious Master of the annex came into view, seated at the head of the table facing the guests.
"A purple Bugle..." Tsuneo muttered under his breath, glancing at one of his few remaining snacks.
The resemblance was uncanny.
"Oh, come on. What's with the getup? Have you been watching too many TV specials?" Mogi Harufumi let out a disparaging laugh.
The host wore a tall, pointed, deep-purple hood. Was he trying to create an atmosphere of mystery, or was he just trying to be a comedian?
Ignoring the detectives' remarks, the mysterious host sat motionless, speaking in a deep, resonant voice:
"I wish to extend a sincere welcome to the seven esteemed master detectives present here at the Sunset Mansion."
"Please, take your seats. Your names are placed on the table."
The group kept their eyes fixed on the enigma as they moved to their designated spots.
Ogami Shukuzen, the last to arrive, turned to the maid. "In a moment, please serve the courses in the exact order I specified."
"Understood," Ms. Ishihara nodded.
It was thanks to this gourmet detective's intervention that a proper meal had been prepared at all.
"As for the purpose of your invitation," the Master continued, "I require your assistance in unearthing a treasure hidden somewhere within this very annex."
"It took me many years to acquire this wealth. Even if it costs me my life, I refuse to leave without finding it!"
"Even if it costs you your life?" Kogoro Mouri blinked in surprise.
Hiring a group of detectives to find treasure was understandable, but the host's choice of words seemed a bit extreme.
Before anyone could react, a series of deafening explosions thundered outside the windows. Thick smoke and orange flames billowed into the night sky.
"W-what was that sound?!" Ogami Shukuzen bolted upright, his face pale with shock.
"There is no need for alarm. I have simply cut off your path of retreat."
"In the past, you were the ones constantly chasing me. I thought it only fair that we switch places for a change." Based on his words, the Master seemed to have a long and storied history with the detective profession.
"To be blunt: the suspension bridge you crossed on your way here has just collapsed into the ravine. Escaping by car is now an impossibility."
"Naturally, there are no telephones here, nor are there any mobile base stations nearby. Seeking help from the outside world is out of the question."
"Now, to whoever manages to find that treasure, I will not only grant them half of the fortune but also show them the way out of here."
"Those are the rules of the game. I trust you will all enjoy yourselves."
The Master had burned the bridges—literally—and set the stage.
Tsuneo stood by the window, watching the fire consume several vehicles. He turned his head toward Mogi Harufumi and spoke calmly.
"Your woman just blew up."
The "woman" Mogi had spent five years "chasing"—a car so precious he wouldn't even let a mustache-wearing man like himself touch it—was now a pile of flaming scrap.
"Woman?" Hakuba Saguru walked to the window with his hands in his pockets, a faint, amused smile playing on his lips.
"What a strange way to put it."
The young master's own luxury ride was likely among the wreckage, but even if it was, he didn't seem the type to grieve over steel and paint.
Mogi Harufumi clenched his fists. He strode over to the Master and snarled, "If you think I'm going to enjoy a game like this, wait until my next life. Cowering behind a mask because you're afraid to show your face... you've got no class."
With a swift motion, Mogi reached out and ripped the hood off the figure's head.
The "Purple Bugle" was offline.
The man behind the curtain was finally revealed.
(End of Chapter)
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