"Beep~"
A long and loud whistle sounded on the sea as the ferry slowly approached the shore.
We've arrived at Mermaid Island.
This is an isolated island, officially called "American Island," but locals call it "the island inhabited by mermaids," because, according to legend, there is an old woman on the island who eats mermaid flesh to maintain her immortality.
This legend caused a huge uproar on the internet three years ago and instantly became a hot topic.
As a result, it has attracted many young people to explore the island. Although the topic has faded in popularity, the island's abundant, fresh, and inexpensive seafood, as well as its picturesque scenery, still attract many tourists.
"By the way, Ai, haven't you been here before?"
Stepping off the ferry and onto solid ground, Yuzuru stretched and looked at the tourists coming and going at the shore. Then, as if remembering something, he looked at the little girl holding the Empress in her arms and asked her a question.
Upon hearing this, Ai subconsciously shifted her gaze, scanning the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings. She nodded and softly replied, "Yes, I came here once three years ago."
At the time, she was still using the identity of Shiho Miyano.
And it wasn't just her; Gin and Vodka also came along.
Yuzuru chuckled, “The organization really is obsessed with immortality.”
Ai curled her lip in disdain: "After all, not everyone can resist the temptation of immortality."
She paused, her gaze sweeping towards the misty mountains in the distance: "However, that investigation yielded no results, and Gin almost killed the shrine maiden on the island."
Yuzuru raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Is that so?"
"Because that priestess insisted that mermaid flesh doesn't exist in the world at all." Ai's lips curled up slightly. "Gin hates it when people say he made a wasted trip."
As they were talking, Kogoro Mori led everyone toward the island. The island's architecture was antique, with traditional Japanese shops lining the stone-paved paths, and the air was filled with the salty aroma of seafood.
"Let's go to the hotel to drop off our luggage first!" Xiaolan waved the map excitedly. "I heard the Mermaid's Tears Hot Spring here is super famous!"
Heiji Hattori followed behind with his hands in his pockets and a disgruntled expression.
His gaze kept glancing at Yuzuru, who was chatting and laughing with Ikebab Shizuka. His fists were clenched so tightly they cracked, as if he wanted to rush up and punch him.
However, it's uncertain who will punch whom.
Conan tugged at his sleeve helplessly: "Hey, calm down..."
"Kudo, how can you calm down?" Hattori gritted his teeth. "That guy actually made my mom laugh so happily! My mom isn't even this gentle with me normally!"
Conan: "..." (Actually, you're just jealous, aren't you?)
Just then—
"oops!"
A gasp rang out as a girl dressed in a red and white shrine maiden's outfit accidentally bumped into Hanyu Nan. The girl appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, with long, black hair tied back with a white ribbon, and her delicate face showing signs of panic.
"I'm so sorry!" She quickly stepped back and bowed.
Yu Sheng Nan held her shoulder, his gaze lingering on the girl's face for a moment before he smiled gently: "It's alright, are you okay?"
The girl slowly raised her head, and the moment she saw Yuzuru's face, her originally clear pupils contracted slightly, as if she had seen something that shocked her, before returning to normal: "N-nothing... thank you."
After saying that, she bowed again hurriedly and left in a flurry.
Ai looked at the other person's back and frowned slightly. She felt that this shrine maiden looked familiar, as if she had seen her somewhere before, but she couldn't quite remember where.
...........
The group didn't pay much attention to the little incident and walked towards the hotel together. Kogoro Mouri was also about to ask the receptionist for information about the client they were dealing with.
Mermaid Hotel.
"What? You're saying that Ms. Kadokawa Saori has disappeared without a trace?"
"Yes, she hasn't been going to work for about three days. But the neighbors are wondering if she took a boat to the mainland for fun."
At the front desk, a middle-aged man with a round face patiently explained the client's situation to everyone.
Mouri Kogo felt a little strange, but didn't think too much about it, since it wasn't impossible for the client to leave on their own.
Conan and Heiji Hattori, the two giant steamed eggs, both had their brows furrowed.
They had barely set foot on Mermaid Island when their client went missing. Considering the numerous mishaps that always occurred whenever they encountered Yuzuru, they couldn't help but think that this guy's "troublemaking ability" had indeed kicked in again.
Thinking this, the two best buddies exchanged a glance and then turned their gazes to Yuzuru Nan.
Yu Sheng Nan was looking around the hotel with great interest, completely unaware of what his two adopted sons were thinking. Otherwise, he probably would have also complained, "What do you mean by 'reversing the heavenly order'?"
"Mr. Kobayashi, it's time to go."
Just then, a voice came from the side.
"Oh, coming right away." The middle-aged man with the round face, Mr. Kobayashi, responded, then turned to the crowd and said, "Sorry, I still have to go and prepare for the celebration on the island."
"What celebration?"
Kogoro Mouri, who hadn't done any research beforehand, was completely bewildered.
Mr. Kobayashi smiled and patiently explained, "Today happens to be the day of our island's annual dugong festival. If you want to know anything else about Ms. Kazuya Saori, you can go to the local specialty shop on the corner where Saori works and ask the owner; he might know more."
After Mr. Kobayashi left, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.
"The client has disappeared?" Xiaolan looked at her father in confusion. "Dad, could this be some kind of case?"
Kogoro Mouri stroked his chin, deep in thought: "Hmm...it does seem a bit suspicious..."
Heiji Hattori and Conan exchanged a glance and nodded in tacit agreement.
"Let's go check out that local specialty shop first."
Hattori suggested.
Then it was seen that, apart from Conan, no one else present was interested; the girls were discussing where to go later.
Please, they came to Mermaid Island to enjoy a wonderful vacation, not to get involved in any complicated cases.
.........
In the end, only Kogoro Mouri, grumbling about how the job had been full of problems from the start, led Conan and Heiji Hattori toward a place where they might know the client's whereabouts, ready to begin their investigation.
Meanwhile, Hanyu and his group leisurely strolled around the island.
This small island is permeated with the atmosphere of mermaid culture.
The streets were bustling with activity, adorned with colorful flags and lanterns for the "Dugong Festival," and vendors on both sides hawked various mermaid-related souvenirs.
Regardless of whether mermaids actually exist on this island, the festive atmosphere alone is enough to satisfy the visitors.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
