Tokyo, Suzuki Mansion.
This is a small manor covering an area of 20 acres, with garden corridors, rockeries, fountains, and more. Occasionally, security guards in suits patrol back and forth, and large dogs are raised for protection.
Reception hall, left corridor.
Creak.
The gold-inlaid double doors of the corridor gently opened.
Then, Suzuki Sonoko, who had been playing all day, dragged her tired body to the living room on the first floor.
"Hey, sister?"
"It's almost time for dinner, why did you come to my side?"
"Don't you need help with your parents?"
Suzuki Sonoko looked puzzled.
Yes.
On the left corridor, the entire three floors are her exclusive rooms.
As for Suzuki Ayako, her exclusive room is located in the right corridor.
On the northwest side live their parents, Suzuki Shiro and Suzuki Tomoko.
Their uncle, Suzuki Jikichiro, lives on the northeast side.
Other areas are occupied by nannies, maids, gardeners, security personnel, and some warehouses and the family museum.
As for the middle area, that's where their father's study, reception hall, and other public spaces for family gatherings are.
That's why Sonoko was surprised by Ayako's sudden appearance.
"Sonoko, you must be tired."
"I just made tea for you. Come sit down and have a cup to quench your thirst."
"Don't worry about your parents."
"There's an emergency at the company. They will be back very late tonight, so we don't need to wait for them."
"Now, tell me."
"Have you apologized to your classmates?"
"Did they accept it?"
Suzuki Ayako narrowed her eyes slightly.
She always had a faint smile on her face, radiating the aura of 'Yamato Nadeshiko.'
Her eyes softened as she looked at Sonoko.
As for those questions, they seemed more like casual inquiries from a sister chatting with her sibling.
On the other side, Suzuki Sonoko relaxed completely.
She didn't notice the deeper meaning in her sister's words. She drank the whole cup of tea in big gulps before casually responding.
"Sister, don't worry."
"I apologized to Li Ze-kun properly, and he accepted my apology."
"Actually, it was just a misunderstanding."
"When I apologized to him, he was completely confused. He didn't realize I was unintentionally distancing myself from him."
"Of course, that's normal."
"He never thought of contacting me, the second daughter of the Suzuki family. Simply put, contacting me was a side issue."
"Sister, you don't know."
"He did try to approach us, but you don't think his real goal is what you expect."
"Sister, guess?"
Suzuki Sonoko spoke directly.
Her face was full of mischievous smiles as she tried to tease her sister.
And Suzuki Ayako, upon hearing Sonoko's words, showed a trace of surprise for the first time.
What?
That guy, Li Ze, isn't targeting Suzuki Sonoko?
Or...
Is he lying to Sonoko?
After considering this, she became serious.
However, on the surface, she still pretended to be thinking and then guessed with a smile, "Is it for Xiao Ran?"
"Haha, I knew it!" Suzuki Sonoko laughed. "Sister, you're wrong!"
"But it's normal."
"After all, ordinary people can't guess the answer."
"I'll just say it directly. Li Ze's real target is actually Kudou Shinichi!"
Suzuki Ayako was slightly surprised.
Kudou... Shinichi?
Why would Li Ze, a big shot, be interested in Kudou Shinichi?
"Is this true?" Suzuki Ayako couldn't help but ask. "Does he want to be a detective?"
At this point, the depth of Suzuki Ayako's eyes sharpened slightly.
Clearly, she wasn't as easily fooled as Sonoko. Since Li Ze had contacted her little princess, Ayako had naturally investigated him herself.
So she knew.
Li Ze wasn't a detective, nor did he have any particular interest in detectives.
Looking for Kudou Shinichi?
There had to be something wrong!
But before she could think it through, Suzuki Sonoko continued.
"Sister, you're wrong."
"In Li Ze's eyes, Kudou Shinichi's so-called detective identity doesn't matter. What interests him is the special aura Shinichi brings to a case."
"Li Ze did a thorough investigation of Kudou Shinichi and found that, among all the cases Shinichi was involved in, the mortality rate of the president role is the highest."
"So, sister, do you get it?"
"In Li Ze's eyes, Kudou is the God of Wealth!"
"And, he succeeded!"
"He transferred to our school within half a year and took over two clubs. Last night, he was involved in the murder of Seiwa Santoku."
"Although he didn't give all the details today, I could tell from his serious tone that he must have gotten a lot from the Seiwa Group last night."
"..."
Suzuki Sonoko beamed with joy.
Obviously, she also found this situation quite interesting, so she wanted to share it with her sister.
On the other side, exactly as Sonoko thought, Ayako was stunned after hearing the real reason.
Kudou Shinichi? The God of Wealth?
She really hadn't considered this possibility!
She wanted to refute it immediately because it seemed too ridiculous!
But...
When she thought about it carefully, it actually seemed plausible.
Others, she didn't think much about.
Now, recalling carefully, Kudou Shinichi has been involved in too many cases.
In fact, it's abnormal!
Also, since the Kudou family has a good relationship with her family, she naturally knows Kudou Shinichi.
So, now, looking back briefly, it seems that the death rate of the president in the cases involving this guy is indeed very high.
It can be said that someone whenever he encounters him!
And she had just read Li Ze's information recently.
It seems that it's true.
Before Li Ze transferred to Teitan High School, he was running a small shell company.
But now?
In just half a year, he had swallowed up two companies with Kudou Shinichi.
Especially last night.
When Seiwa Sontoku was arrested for murder, she received news that someone was attacking Seiwa Group.
Now, it seems...
It should be Li Ze's work.
In this case...
Am I really overthinking?
It seems to make sense. Compared to relying on the Suzuki Group, following Kudou Shinichi seems safer.
But the problem is...
Isn't this too idealistic?
However, even though she still couldn't fully believe it, Li Ze's success in just half a year made her have to believe.
It seems, maybe, possibly...
Kudou Shinichi, that guy, might really be a little bit wrong?
Wait...
Li Ze's issue is just a small matter right now. The key problem is still Kudou Shinichi.
That guy... he dies wherever he goes.
Should I suggest to my parents that it's better to avoid Kudou Shinichi in the future?
This is too scary!
After a long time...
Suzuki Ayako sighed.
Maybe I should just tell my parents about Kudou Shinichi's problem in the future.
It would be bad to sever the relationship directly.
The Suzuki family can't do that.
As for Li Ze...
It seems there's no problem for now, and he's never used Sonoko.
In fact, in a sense...
He's also a very interesting guy, and his ability is indeed impressive.
Let him and Sonoko interact like this.
Anyway...
Considering the power of the Suzuki family, they really don't care about such a small matter.
Thinking about this...
Suzuki Ayako smiled and said,
"Okay, I understand."
"It seems Sonoko, you really misunderstood me."
"But it's good that the misunderstanding is cleared up. Let's go to dinner first."