"Huh? Running to the sea? Assist you in investigating things? ”

Mori Kogoro put down the newspaper in his hand with a blank expression.

"Yes, that's why I boarded the ship to Ogasawara because of this...... Looking at it now, it is very troublesome to run too far to deal with the commission. Hattori patted his head and sighed half-seriously.

In fact, there is nothing wrong with Tang Ze's complaining about this.

"Don't you think you have a high failure rate when you run out to deal with orders? Why do you always seem to receive a lot of vague letters of entrustment? ”

In this regard, Heiji Hattori said that he was very innocent.

He's really a serious detective, who knows what his client is all about.

And he complained so vigorously, didn't Tang Ze himself entrust him?

"That's why I'm looking for more than one?" Tang Ze took a strange expression that you were knowingly asking, and asked confidently.

…… Tang Ze, this guy.

Calm, calm, the purpose of this trip is the essence of their trip, or they want to find a reason to go out with Tang Ze, and if they continue to think about it, they will lose motivation.

"Can you ask me to help you counsel?" Mori Kogoro looked at him suspiciously, tilted his head again, and looked at the young people behind him who were nested on the sofa, "Are you serious?" If you pay for it, you won't be able to cover the income of this commission. ”

No matter how streamlined they are, they have to go out of six people.

How much commission does it have to be for the travel and accommodation expenses of six people to the island, so that there is enough income to squander like this?

"It's okay, my purpose as a detective is not to make money." Heiji Hattori also looked back, trying to find a reason, "I, uh, I think that a famous private investigator like you, uncle, should be better at handling commission situations than many people, right?" I do lack experience in this area. ”

"And then for this reason, you decided to pay such a large sum of money and ask us to play?" Maori Kogoro frowned, and looked at Hattori Heiji indescribably, "As a private detective, you shouldn't do this in the first place, right?" Taking this detective as a career should consider the input-output ratio. ”

When he said this, he also had some subtle thoughts in his heart.

When I received a letter with a strange expression, I didn't explain the content of the commission or the circumstances of the commission, so I ran to investigate it regardless of the cost...... It's because you're always like this that you receive so many strange commissions.

Because in this way, it is indeed much more cost-effective than finding private detectives like them.

"Hmm...... Anyway, you can't go wrong with asking experienced seniors for advice, right? Hattori looked away a little, stared at the chair behind Kogoro Mori, and tried to hold his expression and said, "It's because I don't understand that I need some advice and guidance." ”

"Well, since you have asked for ...... so sincerely," Mori Kogoro, who had been praised by him, finally stretched the wrinkles in his eyebrows, "Which island are you going to and what are you going to investigate?" ”

"The destination is the American island near Wakasa Bay." Heiji Hattori breathed a sigh of relief, "If you want to investigate something...... That's what's weird about this commission. ”

"What, another commission with no purpose?" Thinking of what happened to Heiji Hattori on a cruise ship two days ago, Kogoro Mori snorted subtly, "This kind of strange commission, if you don't have a clear client, it's okay not to take it." ”

Just like him, since he became famous, he also received strange letters from time to time.

Some are inexplicable crime teasers, others are strange invitations or riddles......

He's only going to deal with commissions that have a clear target or give money anyway, as was the case with the last trip to Moonshadow Island.

In his experience, some are strange pranks, and some are programs that don't want to spend money to invite him, but want to rub off on his popularity, etc., and they can all be solved by calling the police.

"There are clients." Hattori Heiji thought of the phone call he made before he came to Tokyo, and his expression became a little solemn, "The commission sent to my house was written in crooked and trembling handwriting - 'I will be killed by mermaids, please help me!'" ’”

"Huh? Merman? Maori Kogoro made a strange expression, and couldn't help but look at Maori Lan who was chattering and didn't know what to talk about, "You've already told them about this?" ”

No matter how you look at those two elated girls, it doesn't look like they're going to investigate a mysterious incident, but like elementary school students who are about to go out on a spring outing.

"I did." Hattori Heiji grinned, "It just so happens that a festival is going to be held on the island, so I think that if the commission is not a serious matter, then it will be regarded as a tour, and it will not be a loss to feel the island style?" ”

On the sofa, a few people gathered together to discuss were talking about the place where the interest was high.

"Three years ago, there was a sensation, the legend about 'immortality'." Yuanshan and Ye touched their faces, and had a little tangible yearning, "Forever young and beautiful or something, even if it's just a legend, it's a good thing to be blessed, right?" ”

"I've heard of that mother-in-law, who is very long-lived and over 100 years old." mentioned these magical weird stories, Mao Lilan's eyes also lit up, "It is said that she has obtained the blessing of eternal life because she has eaten mermaid flesh or something." ”

"It is as if you were no longer young." Conan, who was holding a biscuit, chewed slowly, and couldn't help but say when he heard this.

As he spoke, he couldn't hold back, lowered his head and looked at his little short legs and hands again.

For people of their age, it is really difficult to say whether "returning to the time of youth and beauty" is a blessing or a curse.

"Hey, no one takes this seriously, does it? Although it is true that people in their 100s are rare, the simple longevity is not completely without precedent. Toyama Kazuha waved his hand disappreciatively, "An island guarded by mermaids, this is romantic enough in itself. ”

"The island guarded by mermaids, and then there was an old woman who ate mermaid meat on the island......" Tang Ze, who was still stuffing cookies into Conan's hand, was a little nervous when he heard this, "This is really a romantic legend, not a horror story?" ”

"Eh, will you? It's also good to use this as a guardian god to protect the people, right? After thinking for a while, Maolilan asked in confusion.

"Generally speaking, if such legends are really taken as beliefs, is it not a blasphemy against the gods to do so? Eat its flesh raw and eat the totem that guards the island...... That is, there are quite a lot of tourists on this island, and if it happens in a very closed and conservative village, the cases of fanatical and ignorant villagers directly executing this person have happened. Tang Ze crossed his arms and commented very objectively.

"I've seen similar news." Finally swallowing the biscuit in his mouth, Conan said, "In a relatively closed environment, people's attitude towards rumors is indeed extreme. ”

"That means you think the legend of the merfolk is unreliable?" Yuanshan and Ye said, carefully paying attention to Tang Ze's expression, wanting to confirm his thoughts on this trip.

This is a little child's play, Hattori Heiji actually didn't take it too seriously, and put its processing priority after Furukawa's commission.

Without him, although the client left contact information but could not be reached, it is difficult to say whether this is a serious commission or another prank.

After becoming famous, no matter what kind of person you are, you will inevitably experience some trouble because of fame, and Hattori Heiji is no exception.

will use it specifically as a reason, and the main purpose is to invite Tang Ze to hang out together.

In the words of Heiji Hattori -

"It's rare to go on a trip once, and then get involved in a troublesome case, and even fall into the sea, and I feel a little sorry not to go...... And Tang Ze seems to be prone to accidents as soon as he goes out, and if he takes him with him, he may really be able to run into some cases. ”

Well...... Don't mention the second half of the sentence yet.

"No, I think it's a good tourist destination." Tang Ze shook his head and analyzed seriously, "Did you say it just now, if it is really a very convincing legend, it is impossible for the attitude of the locals to be so bland, then there is a high probability that this story is packaged by them to sell selling points." ”

“…… Can packaging be a selling point? Conan, who didn't feel the attraction at all, was surprised, "It's better to say that the island environment is pleasant and suitable for health." In that case, there are really rich people who will consider vacationing and living. ”

"As long as it's eye-catching, anything can be a selling point." Tang Ze pursed his lips and couldn't help laughing for a few seconds, considering that Conan also knew that Asai Narumi was actually fine, he said the second half of the sentence, "The sensation of public opinion brought about by the serial case on Moonshadow Island before, the new village head, that is, Mr. Shimizu Masato, took the opportunity to package the old site of Aso's house and activity center into a ruin......"

"Huh? That's a little too bad, isn't it? Mao Lilan looked incredulous, "Although Mr. Chengshi ...... But the fire at Aso's house really caused a lot of casualties! ”

Because of witnessing the scene when Joker rushed into the fire and grabbed Asai Narumi's hand, Mao Lilan also preferred that Asai Narumi was not dead and might have been rescued by Joker, so although this follow-up development was hell, it didn't cause her reaction too much.

On the contrary, it was Keiji Aso's matter, which made her even more disgusted.

It wasn't an accident, or as the islanders say, the curse of the piano, and Keiji Aso's family was killed en masse by the criminals.

Taking this as a selling point is really too lacking in morality.

Conan's face was just as incredulous and shocked, and he couldn't help but nod his head in agreement.

Narumi Asai himself did not die in the fire, as they say, and imagining his feelings, Conan sensed an indescribable black humor.

Considering that the last time they met, Asai Narumi confessed that he wanted to make a complete separation from everything on Moonshadow Island, including his past, and this matter was even a little more hellish.

- His revenge has made his name completely inseparable from the place of Moon Shadow Island.

"Well, it's better than continuing to engage in illegal industries." Karasawa shrugged his shoulders and relayed Asai Narumi's own evaluation after learning the news, "There is some consumption from tourism, coupled with the local traditional agriculture and fishery, which can be regarded as bringing some new atmosphere to the island." ”

"So, you said that the island of America is suitable for tourism, and you think it is a similar situation?" It seemed that he didn't understand, but he probably understood what they meant, and Toyama and Ye thought hard.

"Yes, at least it proves that they are indeed fully prepared for the tourism industry on the island, which means that they are very welcoming to tourists and will try to make good facilities." Tang Ze analyzed reasonably, "It's better to travel to this kind of place than to go to a place where there are really strange things to talk about and have an adventure experience." ”

"Seemingly, that's the truth......" Moriran, who had been listening to some lessons with her girlfriend recently, fell into deep thought, "Well, and if you want to be in Wakasa Bay, is it located in Fukui Prefecture?" Does it happen to be the birthplace of the legend of the 800 bhikshunis, from the same place? ”

"Yes, you see, that's a good business vision." Tang Ze was pleased with her inferences, "Generally speaking, the legend of the mermaid is easy to evolve into several commercial tourism directions, and there are many competing products in Japan, pearls, sea views, sea creatures, and there are already many famous scenic spots. Choosing such a legendary direction and creating differentiated competition is indeed a blue ocean that captures the pain points of users...... Ahem, I mean, longevity is a very good choice. ”

"According to this theoretical analysis, the direction of Moon Shadow Island is actually very innovative......

"Isn't it? I have to say that the new village chief has a little bit of a money-making mind. ”

"Ah, according to this theory, there are many locations in Tokyo......"

“…… It's really a 'suicide resort' or a 'shocking case' as a selling point. I only found out after I came to Tokyo. Amazing, isn't it? ”

"Huh?!"

Listening to the discussion that was completely off the beaten track behind him, Hattori twitched the corners of his mouth, turned his head, and continued to say to Mori Kogoro: "The client left his contact information, and it's a person named Saori Katori. So although there is only one sentence in the letter, I think it is not a joke. ”

"Well, okay, then you can contact this client again. Determine the time, we take advantage of the holiday is not over, and we should be able to catch up with the departure. After listening to his description, Kogoro Maori is not opposed to this method.

Although, Hattori's salary is only tens of thousands of yen sent with the letter......

It's this black-skinned boy who loses, and it's not him, it doesn't matter.

"I've tried to contact her every day since I received this message, but ah......" Hattori Heiji shook his head helplessly, took out his mobile phone, and dialed the number in the address book again, "It didn't get through at all, if it weren't for the very detailed address given, I might really think it was a prank......"

Not to mention, the other party is also provocative, and wrote on his head, Mr. Kudo Shinichi ......

Damn, who the hell did such a thing?!

"Dut...... Toot ......"

The regular prompt sounds rang one after another, and as Hattori turned on the phone, it clearly reverberated throughout the office.

"Click-"

Just when Hattori Heiji thought that this time it would be like every time before, he hung up automatically when it rang for a full time, and turned to a reminder that no one answered, and the call was suddenly connected.

After a few seconds of surprise, he quickly picked up his phone.

“…… Hello, hello? ”

On the other side of the phone that had been connected, there was no response.

Only the more regular, the sound of the waves, mixed with the sound of moaning or the sound of seagulls, constantly reverberated in it.

(End of chapter)