After lunch, Ayako, who was planning to go to Suito Sanso Lodge to make chocolates, had already started packing with Sonoko.
After all, they were planning to stay overnight, so they needed to bring a few things.
As for Senichi, he used the excuse of going back to prepare some clothes and toiletries and left the Suzuki family's residence by car.
Of course, these were just excuses; the crucial point was that Senichi needed to go back to get some special equipment.
And these special tools were the main purpose for Senichi leaving the Suzuki family's residence.
As for why he needed to prepare these special tools, well, that goes without saying—it's for the upcoming case.
What?
You're asking how I know there will be a case?
Just because Sonoko and Ran are going together to make Valentine's Day chocolates?
Yes, that's exactly it. To be precise, as long as it's Valentine's Day, whenever there's the slightest movement in the protagonist group, there will inevitably be a case!
In the world of Detective Conan, do you want to celebrate Valentine's Day?
No problem, as long as you add the prefix "blood-stained" to this Valentine's Day, in the Detective Conan world, it's practically a rule that there will be a case on Valentine's Day!
So, as Valentine's Day approached, although Senichi outwardly enjoyed the "dog abuse activities" of Valentine's Day like any ordinary couple, he never let his guard down.
When he heard from Sonoko that she was going to Suito Sanso Lodge to make chocolates for her boyfriend, Senichi already knew which case was about to unfold.
Conan's "main story" isn't actually that long; it's just that the timeline is incredibly convoluted, with various independent cases mixed in. In this chaotic timeline, apart from clashes with the Black Organization, what propels the timeline forward is the emotional development of the various characters.
It can be said that anything that propels the timeline forward can be considered part of the main story.
As someone who has witnessed these main storylines, Senichi naturally wouldn't forget about these cases.
Moreover, this case about the progress of Sonoko and Makoto Kyogoku's relationship is also a memorable one.
It's not that the case is particularly memorable, but rather... Makoto Kyogoku's final appearance leaves a lasting impression.
There's nothing unusual about knocking out a strong man with a punch, but the final scene where the villain holds a hunting rifle directly at Makoto Kyogoku, and he casually dodges the bullets and still manages to flirt with a girl, is really a bit exaggerated.
In the later stages, after "Makoto Super Saiyan Kyogoku" appeared in the theatrical version.
In the videos tallying up the opponents' strengths, this exaggerated flirtatious act is undoubtedly one of the scenes that all major content creators will include.
So, upon learning that Sonoko was planning to give chocolates she made to Makoto Kyogoku, Senichi immediately locked in on the case.
As for the specially prepared equipment, it could finally come in handy today!
........
After returning to the Suzuki family's residence once again, Ayako had already arranged for a business van. The two of them loaded their luggage into the trunk.
After securing the luggage, Senichi drove to the Mouri Detective Agency, picked up Ran and the others, and then headed towards Suito Sanso Lodge .
"Ah... you young people are really..."
After getting on the van, Kogoro Mouri, who had just settled into the back seat, shook his head in disbelief, "I really don't understand why you guys insist on going to such remote places to make chocolates...
It would be much more convenient to do it at home. Why bother going all the way to some desolate mountain to make chocolates..."
"If you don't want to go, just stay at home."
Facing the complaints from her dad, Ran turned her head after settling down and said, "Anyway, with Detective Senichi driving us, there's no point in you going."
"What do you mean there's no point in me going!" Kogoro Mouri exclaimed in frustration, "How can you talk back to your dad like this!"
"Well, since you don't want to go, just stay at home." Ran looked at her dad and sighed, "Complaining after getting on the van is just being unreasonable..."
"Hehe... I think Uncle Mouri is worried about being left alone at home, so he insists on going to Suito Sanso Lodge with us." Sonoko teased with a smirk, "After all, it's Valentine's Day today. Uncle Mouri would feel too lonely if he stayed at home alone~"
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Kogoro Mouri, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, immediately bristled, "I'm not reluctantly joining you because I feel lonely being alone on Valentine's Day!
I just thought it would be a good choice to visit the resort in winter, so I came along with you guys!!"
"You've practically spilled your heart out..." Conan, sitting on the side, drooped his eyes like a dead fish and commented without expression.
Although he was making fun of it, Conan didn't say it out loud. After all, they were sitting in the middle row with only the two of them, while Sonoko and Ran sat in the back row. It might be fun to mock, but the taste of an iron fist pressing down wouldn't be pleasant.
With Senichi as the "A-rank chauffeur," even though the road was covered with white snow, he drove steadily and quickly. They soon arrived at their destination, Suito Sanso Lodge .
"Oh—I didn't expect the owner of the resort to be an old lady!"
After getting off the van and seeing the old lady welcoming guests, Kogoro Mouri, feeling a bit uncomfortable, grumbled, "Using such a boring legend, making girls willingly come to this remote place and spend money on making chocolates—she's a shrewd old lady!"
"Dad! You're being rude!" Ran hurriedly said on the side.
"Humph, I haven't deceived anyone!"
Pointing in the direction of the restroom, this self-introduced old lady named Chiyoko Yuasa, after hearing Kogoro Mouri's words, snorted dissatisfiedly, "The legend here is based on something real. About ten years ago, a man and woman became a couple after making chocolates at our resort. It was reported by TV stations and magazines, which attracted many girls to come here and make chocolates, hence the formation of this legend.
But since my husband passed away and I inherited this resort four years ago, because of the frequent appearance of ghosts, the number of tourists here has gradually decreased..."
"No way... ghosts?"
Ran, who was afraid of ghosts, looked around anxiously after hearing this news, asking with some unease, "What kind of ghosts are they..."
"They're the kind of ghosts that will give you strange gifts..." The old lady looked at Ran and the others, saying, "If you don't want to encounter the ghosts in the mountains, it's better not to move alone..."
"Ah? Ghosts give strange gifts?" Sonoko looked terrified, "It won't be some weird and terrifying thing, right!?"
"Well, it's not that terrifying." Just at this moment, a male voice suddenly sounded, "They just give you chocolates..."
At this moment, a man with a reversed hat, carrying a camera around his neck, smiled and said, "After all, there's a very winding mountain road around here, and many people have died here...
And the most peculiar thing is that every year at this time, if there are casualties in the mountains, without exception, chocolates will appear next to their bodies..."
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