Ghost Detectives in the Detective World

Page 181

"The cherry blossoms in the mountains are really much prettier than those in the city!"

"Really? I think they're all the same," Matsuda whispered to Conan beside him.

“I think so too,” Conan nodded in agreement.

For these two straight men, driving hundreds of kilometers just for such a small view was a real waste of time.

"I used to enjoy the flowers in the park. Although the cherry blossoms in the park are also very beautiful, they are still much inferior to the scenery in front of me!"

Kogoro Mouri looked around with a relaxed expression, clearly very satisfied with the trip.

Chapter 221 Even monks need to eat.

"Hey you two, one big and one small, don't you even have the eye to appreciate the scenery?"

Mori glanced at Matsuda and Conan, whose faces were etched with boredom.

"There aren't many times in a lifetime when you can see such beautiful scenery, so you should cherish it."

"Wow, Detective Mori is really philosophical today!" Matsuda clapped his hands with a forced smile.

"Yes, Uncle is absolutely right!"

Conan quickly put on a cheerful expression and jogged over to Ran's side to accompany her as she admired the flowers.

……

However, as always, Kogoro Mouri's happiness came and went quickly.

After spending more than two hours exploring the mountaintop, the group drove down the mountain.

The Maori's enthusiasm for sightseeing had long since worn off.

In order to get back to Tokyo as quickly as possible and have an ice-cold beer, he insisted on choosing a somewhat secluded side street.

It is said that taking this route can save one-third of the return journey time.

Then tragedy struck; the car had just driven halfway down the road when it got a flat tire.

Seeing that it was getting dark, Xiaolan couldn't help but complain.

"Dad, it's all your fault! You insisted on taking this route. If we had taken the main road, even if the car got a flat tire, we could have hitched a ride home!"

"Okay, stop nagging, I didn't want to do this either!"

Kogoro Mori looked at the flat tire with a headache, but little did he know that misfortune never comes singly.

Suddenly, a thick cloud drifted across the sky.

Then raindrops the size of beans began to fall.

"Oh no, it's starting to rain now!"

"What are we going to do?" Xiaolan stamped her foot. "Just getting from here to the foot of the mountain is several kilometers away! Not to mention getting back to Tokyo!"

"No matter how anxious you are, there's nothing I can do. We don't have a spare tire, and there won't be anyone in this deserted place."

Kogoro Mouri yawned, then lay down on the ground.

"I just called the car rental company, and they said they can only send a car tomorrow, so I guess I'll just have to stay in the car tonight."

"What? I don't want to!" Xiao Lan immediately objected.

"I remember looking at the map of the nearby scenic area on the mountain earlier, there seemed to be a temple around here," Matsuda recalled. "How about we spend the night there?"

"And let me complete the system's tasks as well..." he thought to himself.

"Really?" Ran looked at Matsuda with surprise.

"I remember too, Sister Xiaolan, let me lead the way!"

Conan was worried that Matsuda would gain favor with Ran, so he quickly volunteered.

Three of the four wanted to leave, and Mori had no choice but to follow.

……

Shanni Temple is situated on the edge of a cliff in a valley.

The entire temple is supported by a wooden frame structure.

Surprisingly, there is a waterfall of moderate size on one side of the temple.

It can be said that the entire environment is truly elegant and tranquil, making it an ideal place for quiet contemplation.

The four of them jogged along the mountain path and soon arrived at the entrance of Shanni Temple.

"That's great! I never expected there would actually be a temple here!"

Kogoro Mouri was overjoyed, and without knocking, he pushed open the gate.

"Is anyone here?"

He shouted loudly as he walked inside.

"us……"

"Dad, that's so rude of you!" Xiaolan quickly grabbed Maoli.

"It's alright, Xiaolan. Temples should always be open and welcoming. It's raining so hard outside, I don't think the monks will blame us."

As Matsuda spoke, he stepped into the temple first.

Unexpectedly, a gloomy voice suddenly rang out behind the four of them.

"Esteemed benefactor, although the temple has opened its doors wide for your convenience, Buddha also needs to see the sincerity of you all!"

"Sincerity? What sincerity?" Xiaolan asked, puzzled.

"It's all about money!" Kogoro Mouri said irritably. "Are even monks this worldly now?"

“Even monks need to eat.”

The speaker was an old monk, wearing a straw raincoat and with a towering bald head.

Because of the dim light in the entryway, the old monk's two long wisps of beard looked like the protruding teeth of a spider.

With that sharp, hooked nose, if you threw this old monk onto a horror movie set, he probably wouldn't even need makeup to act in a horror film.

Ran was clearly frightened by him and quickly hid behind Mori and Matsuda.

"It's raining heavily today. May I ask what brings you four gentlemen into the mountains at this hour?"

The old monk slowly walked into the lamplight. His once dark face, though still terrifying under the light, finally seemed to have a glimmer of life.

"You wouldn't happen to be reporters from a newspaper or TV station, would you? Even with a child, you can't fool me!"

"what?"

Matsuda and the other three were somewhat taken aback.

How did they suddenly become reporters?

"Get out of here, everyone!"

The old monk suddenly changed his expression and began to roar loudly.

"This is not a place for worldly people like you!"

So afraid of reporters, just as the mission description suggested.

There must have been a wrongful murder case in this mountain temple!

Matsuda was secretly making plans in his mind.

"Master, are you mistaken?"

On the other hand, Mori hurriedly explained,

"We were just tourists visiting the mountains to admire the flowers. Our car got a flat tire and it started raining heavily outside, so we thought we'd take shelter here!"

"What? You're not reporters? And you're staying here tonight?"

After hearing Maoli's explanation, the old monk's eyes lit up.

His previously gloomy and terrifying face instantly transformed into a beaming smile.

"Oh dear, if that's the case, why didn't you say so earlier? This humble monk thought you were reporters, here specifically to interview about that matter!"

"That matter?" Ran and Conan were immediately intrigued.

"Actually, it's nothing much, just some private matters of the temple,"

The old monk laughed twice.

"Since you all wish to stay here, we must let the Buddha see your sincerity. This includes a vegetarian meal and the cost of the tour, which will be 10,000 yuan per person as an offering to the Buddha. What do you all think?"

"Ten thousand yen?" Kogoro Mori exclaimed in surprise, and then tried to bargain.

Matsuda, standing to the side, had already nodded in agreement.

"Okay! We'll stay!"

"Officer Matsuda!" Mori wanted to try and persuade him again.

Ten thousand yen is enough for him to play pachinko several times, or to buy several bets on horse racing!

“Mr. Mori, it’s dozens of kilometers from here to the foot of the mountain, and it’s raining outside now…”

Matsuda shrugged.

Do you think we have any other options besides staying here tonight?

Chapter 222 The Jealous Little Devil

"But this price is really a bit..."

Maori still wanted to try and save some money for his savings.

Unexpectedly, the old monk's face turned gloomy again.

He spoke slowly in a low, mournful tone,

"You may leave if you wish, but be careful not to encounter that thing on the way!"