Chapter 834 Gaius

Hoshino Tsukasa didn't stay there long. After saying goodbye to the little kids who were reluctant to part with the dog, he left with the dog.

However, not long after he left, a scream rang out from the forest.

Conan, who is very sensitive to cries, immediately ran into the forest, and the Junior Detective League followed.

But when they ran over, they found only two women standing there in fear, and nothing seemed to be happening around them.

Conan looked around in surprise, then stepped forward and asked the two, "What happened?"

One of the women answered tremblingly, still looking shaken, "No...it's okay, we just saw a snake and got a fright."

"So you weren't injured, were you?" Kawasaki Machi asked, leaning forward.

“No injuries.” They shook their heads.

"That's good."

The children asked the two adults to go back to the line, and the two adults obediently did so.

Conan circled the area around the location, and finding nothing amiss, prepared to head back.

What are you doing here?

Hoshino Tsukasa's voice, tinged with doubt, rang out behind them.

When Conan and the others turned around, they saw him holding a dog on a leash in his left hand and a snake in his right.

"???"

Seeing that they were all staring at the snake in his hand with some shock, Hoshino Tsukasa smiled slightly and explained, "This is a snake that my husband keeps at home. I just don't know why it suddenly ran away, so I came out to look for it today."

Conan examined the snake and recognized it as a docile, non-venomous corn snake.

"Oh, I see." The members of the Junior Detective Club nodded in sudden understanding.

Hoshino Tsukasa stepped forward, squatted down in front of them, and showed them the corn snake in his hand. "This is a corn snake. It has a gentle temperament and is a beautiful and non-venomous species. Would you like to touch it?"

The corn snake flicked its tongue, and at first glance, its expression looked somewhat adorable.

Ayumi mustered her courage and reached out to touch its head. The corn snake only flicked its tongue again, and made no other movement.

However, when Genta and Mitsuhiko touched it, it opened its mouth, which startled them so much that they immediately pulled their hands back. It turned out that it was just yawning.

"Does your husband also keep other snakes?" Machi Kawasaki asked Tsukasa Hoshino while stroking the head of the corn snake.

“Yes.” Hoshino Tsukasa nodded. “Because it’s usually just the master at home, he keeps all sorts of animals when he’s bored. However, he loves snakes, so he keeps quite a few.”

"This sounds so interesting!"

Kawakita Machi's eyes lit up immediately.

"The gentleman's residence is not far from here. Would you like to go and take a look?"

Hoshino Tsukasa stood up and hung the corn snake on his shoulder.

“Okay!” Kawasaki Machi nodded repeatedly, then paused, “But we need to tell Kobayashi-sensei first.”

Hoshino Tsukasa nodded, then pointed in the direction of the castle, "Okay, if you want to go, just go to that castle. That's where the master lives."

At this moment, Ayumi and the others' eyes lit up.

They had always wanted to see the castle, and now that they had the chance, they certainly wouldn't let it pass them by.

So he immediately ran back to tell Kobayashi Sumiko, and after receiving permission, he happily headed towards the castle.

Conan followed behind helplessly, glancing at Ai Haibara, who seemed equally interested. "You don't actually think there will be lots of furry things there, do you?"

"Isn't that right?" Ai Haibara raised her chin slightly, neither confirming nor denying.

They made their way to the castle.

The castle looks very large, but it feels very quiet, as if not many people live here.

Kawasaki Machi stood on tiptoe and pressed the doorbell next to the large iron gate. A few seconds later, the gate opened automatically, and Hoshino Tsukasa's voice came from the doorbell.

"Just walk straight into the building."

"OK!"

They entered the main hall and were almost blinded by the luxurious decorations.

But what attracted their attention even more was the bunch of furry things in the house!

There are all kinds of kittens, puppies, and mice, and they get along very well with each other.

Their eyes lit up, and they pounced into the fluffy pile to play with them.

Ai Haibara couldn't resist squatting down and hugging the kitten that had snuggled up to her affectionately.

Just then, Hoshino Tsukasa came out, holding cat food and dog food in his hand.

He smiled at Conan and the others, "After I finish feeding them, I'll take you to see other places."

"good."

Kawasaki responded cautiously, afraid that the little hamsters piled on top of him would fall off.

After Hoshino Tsukasa fed the furry creatures there, he took them to the "zoo" inside the castle.

This includes, but is not limited to, tigers, wolves, leopards, crocodiles, and so on.

The Junior Detectives were shocked and dumbfounded.

No wonder it's called a zoo...

No, even zoos don't necessarily have that many animals.

The further they went, the more snakes they saw, and they spotted another figure there.

The other person had short, curly red hair, was sitting in a wheelchair, and was stroking a python in his hand.

Upon hearing their voices, the other person turned around and looked at them, a clear look of surprise on their face.

Hoshino Tsukasa walked over and introduced the children around him to him, and then introduced the middle-aged man to the Junior Detective League.

“These are students on an autumn outing nearby, and this is Mr. Gaiuskorn.”

"Hello," the juvenile detectives greeted politely. "Excuse me."

Gaius nodded with a smile, "Hello, I'm not bothering you. It's too quiet here. I'm happy to have someone come to visit."

Conan looked at him and felt that he seemed to resemble Asa in some ways.

They all had red, curly, woolly hair and gray eyes.

Just as he was thinking this, Mitsuhiko and the others asked the question aloud.

“Mr. Gaius, you remind us of someone we know.”

"Yes, yes, Mr. Gaius, if I may ask, do you know a brother named Asa?"

"Hmm?" Gaius looked puzzled and shook his head. "I don't know him."

"I see..."

The group suddenly realized what was happening, and then skillfully changed the subject.

They stayed there a little longer before leaving.

Hoshino Tsukasa escorted them to the outside of the castle, and although he offered to take them back to their teacher, they refused.

After watching them leave, Hoshino Tsukasa turned and went back into the castle.

Gaius was no longer in the same spot.