Chapter 99: Foot Odor Attack and Double Humiliation
"Mariko, do you really want me dead?" Hatamoto Gozo nearly choked on his own daughter's words, unable to catch his breath.
Was this something a daughter should say?
Hatamoto Mariko remained silent, glancing away without concealing or explaining her sentiment.
Natsukawa secretly rolled his eyes.
Looking at this family, Hatamoto Gozo was only still alive because Aoyama Gosho was being merciful.
"Father, these are my guests. Please show some respect."
Hatamoto Shoji emerged from the cabin, his expression calm, though his clenched fists silently expressed his indignation.
Over the years, he'd grown accustomed to his father's temperament.
"I'll remake dinner and prepare your favorite Japanese cuisine."
Hatamoto Gozo snorted coldly, his expression softening slightly. At least his son had given him a graceful exit.
But with his authority challenged, he couldn't let it go so easily.
It had been a while since he'd unleashed his tongue, and his mouth was itching for action.
No wonder I didn't sleep well today—so that's why.
Hatamoto Gozo's voice attracted everyone on the ship, all eyes fixed on him.
Then, Hatamoto Gozo, gathering his energy, began his tirade. He launched into a verbal assault against everyone present except Hatamoto Natsue. This included Hatamoto Takeshi, the newly adopted son-in-law, and even the bystander Suzuki the butler had a month's salary docked.
Anya, annoyed beyond measure, ran off to rest.
With nine family members plus the butler—ten people with eight hundred different thoughts—her head was buzzing with mental noise, making it impossible to hear anything clearly.
"Hello, police? I need to report a crime. Someone here won't stop talking."
Suzuki the butler showed no emotion at the salary deduction, his expression as calm as a still lake.
He seemed used to it.
Typical capitalist, always docking wages.
Natsukawa was greatly surprised but expressed understanding.
He put on sunglasses, placed his hands behind his head, and pretended to sleep.
He'd rest for a bit. By the time this farce ended, it would be almost dinnertime.
He wouldn't hold a grudge against Hatamoto Gozo's foul mouth—respect for the soon-to-be-dead was paramount.
Unintentionally, Natsukawa witnessed Hatamoto Ichiro's private actions.
Clenching his fists, veins bulging on his forehead, head lowered, lost in thought—he clearly harbored murderous intent!
Hatamoto Gozo, oblivious to his impending doom, spewed a torrent of verbal garbage for over ten minutes. From youngest to oldest, he seemed to despise everyone in the Hatamoto family.
His words overflowed with disdain and contempt.
The gist was: If it weren't for me, you little parasites would be begging on the streets by now.
Money-wasters who only know how to spend, not earn.
Always talking about money.
A capitalist reeking of money and corruption—truly disgusting.
This personality is exactly what you deserve to die with!
Because of Hatamoto Gozo's verbal rampage, dinner was delayed by an hour.
The group of six arrived at the restaurant, led by Butler Suzuki.
Hatamoto Natsue was also present.
"I'm so sorry. Grandfather's emotions are already unstable, and recently the conglomerate has encountered some troublesome matters, which is why he's like this."
Hatamoto Natsue bowed apologetically. "I'm truly sorry."
Natsukawa waved his hands dismissively. "We should be the ones apologizing. We didn't expect the head of the Hatamoto family to be so resistant to outsiders. If we'd known, we wouldn't have imposed."
It must be said that Hatamoto Natsue's popularity with the old man wasn't without reason. She seemed to be the only one in the family with a pleasant temperament.
She was also very polite—probably quite likable at home.
Hatamoto Shoji's humble and composed demeanor today was mainly because he didn't dare raise his voice in front of Natsukawa. Otherwise, he would have exploded earlier.
In short, apart from Hatamoto Natsue, everyone else in the Hatamoto family was rather volatile—like powder kegs ready to explode at any moment.
The restaurant on the luxury cruise ship occupied hundreds of square meters and looked exceptionally spacious.
The group chose a window seat.
Yor looked around curiously, then couldn't help asking, "Where are the others? Shouldn't everyone be eating at this time?"
Besides the six guests, only Hatamoto Natsue and Butler Suzuki were present.
Oh, right—there was also the second young master acting as chef.
He didn't participate in the family business, insisting on becoming a Western chef instead. That was the main reason Hatamoto Gozo had lectured him so harshly.
"They don't have much appetite today. Butler Suzuki will bring food to their rooms later."
"Heh, with your grandfather's outburst, who could eat dinner? They're probably all too angry to stomach anything." Mouri Kogoro scoffed. That head of the Hatamoto family was really insufferable.
What kind of attitude was that?
Does having money make you so arrogant?
He'd tried to stop Hatamoto Gozo's tirade, but after learning he was a detective, the old man actually looked down on him, saying detectives were a low-class profession.
Ugly capitalist demon. All he has is a few stinking yen.
After a period of conversation, the women got along well. Yor, Ran, and Hatamoto Natsue exchanged contact information and agreed to meet up for shopping after returning to Tokyo.
The butlers delivered the dishes one after another.
"Butler Suzuki, this is for Father."
Hatamoto Shoji kept his promise and prepared a Japanese dish.
"Understood."
Butler Suzuki, slightly hunched, slowly pushed the cart away.
However—
Not long after he left, the group heard a scream.
The voice came from the cabin below.
It was Suzuki, the butler who'd just departed.
"Wow, Suzuki-san's voice is so loud! Is Hatamoto-san deaf?" Anya asked Conan with a blank expression.
However, Conan had already vanished, leaving only lingering warmth and a ghostly afterimage on the seat as proof someone had been sitting there.
Σ(⊙▽⊙"a
Wow, so fast!
That rivals Bond's eating speed.
"I'll go check as well."
Natsukawa gracefully wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up.
Mouri Kogoro and Conan were the fastest, followed by Hatamoto Shoji, and then Ran was about to rise.
"Ran, stay here with Yor-san. I'll look after Conan."
Hatamoto Natsue looked worriedly in the direction they'd left, thought for a moment, then followed.
After all, this was her family's cruise ship. No matter what happened, it was best if she was present.
Butler Suzuki had gone to deliver dinner to her grandfather and suddenly screamed—something must have happened to him.
"What happened?!"
Conan, the number one responder, arrived at the scene immediately.
His eyes fell on Butler Suzuki, leaning against the corridor wall, staring into the room in terror.
His fingers trembled as he raised them.
"Master... Master is dead!"
Conan exclaimed in shock, waving his hand. "Go call the police!"
Then he was met with a punch from Mouri Kogoro!
The second responder arrived on the battlefield.
Bang!
"Ouch, that hurts!"
Conan winced and collapsed at the doorway, his head just barely touching the floor.
What is that smell?!
Conan jumped in alarm, his gaze refocusing.
Damn it!
A pair of feet in wooden geta sandals were right in front of his face, less than three centimeters from his mouth.
As for the smell!
This guy Hatamoto Gozo had foot odor—and not just ordinary foot odor.
Like fermented natto mixed with old gym socks.
Mouri Kogoro glared at him, stepped over his head, and entered the room.
Natsukawa followed closely behind.
Having endured a foot-odor attack and double humiliation in one night, Conan's face was extremely pale.
So unlucky, so unlucky, so unlucky!
(End of Chapter 99)
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