King of Games C32 Spiritual World

In the serene atmosphere of the Taikodani Inari Shrine, Shinro, Kogorou, Ran, Sonoko, Haibara, and the detective boys trudged up the stone steps of the shrine. Awe-struck, the detective boys' eyes wandered the premises, admiring the intricate architecture. Kogorou, on the other hand, scowled, "I don't see anything special here."

Meanwhile, Genta and Mitsuhiko engaged in a playful treasure-hunting competition, their faces flushed with excitement. Suddenly, Shinro's eyes flickered a vivid shade of blue, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, returning to their usual black hue. Sonoko and Ran, standing nearby, exchanged a puzzled glance.

"Eh? Did I just see your eyes turn blue for a moment?" Sonoko asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

"It's nothing, just your imagination," Shinro replied with a dismissive chuckle, hoping they wouldn't probe further.

Ran wasn't so easily convinced. "That's strange, I thought I saw it too..." she murmured, shooting Sonoko a knowing look.

Shinro's heart raced as he feigned innocence. "It must be your imaginations."

Unbeknownst to them, a surge of mana had momentarily tinted his eyes, granting him a brief glance of the supernatural. The shrine was teeming with restless spirits, Yokai lurking in the shadows, unseen by human eyes except for Shinro's now enhanced sight.

As Shinro's eyes adjusted to the supernatural, the most prominent figures were the fox Yokai, their ethereal forms glowing before him. They seemed to sense his gaze, their curious gazes locking onto his.

One spirit in particular caught Shinro's attention. A beautiful woman fox, clad in a resplendent red Kimono, her ethereal beauty almost mesmerizing. Her golden eyes bored into his very soul, as if she knew he could see her. As the chatter around him faded into the background, Shinro found himself entranced by the supernatural encounter.

"You..." she trailed off, a slight smile tugging at her lips, "It seems you're quite special. You can see through the spiritual world."

Shinro's heart pounded in his chest, but he remained still, not wanting to appear crazy in front of his friends.

"You can simply think and use your special power to transmit your thoughts to me," she purred, her voice like a gentle breeze in his mind. "We can communicate telepathically."

Intrigued and a little overwhelmed, Shinro focused his attention on the fox-woman. He shut out the world around him, channeling his mana into his thoughts.

"I can see you," he sent the message, awe lacing his mental voice. "It's actually the first time I've experienced this in my life. So, I'm very new to this."

The lady fox's expression softened, "Fascinating. It seems you possess the rare gift of perceiving both the physical and spiritual realms. It's quite a unique ability for a human."

Shinro focused on their reason for being there. "I'm here with my friends to look for a treasure, or at least a clue leading to it."

The fox-woman tilted her head, "Treasure, you say? As far as I know, there's nothing of that sort here. But I do recall a story about someone burying a bottle with a message long ago. It was hidden by this very Inari shrine."

Shinro's eyes lit up with interest. "Really? Where is it?"

"It's below the topmost stone of the hidden Inari." She pointed towards a less-frequented area.

Just then, Shinro noticed the detective boys and Conan already crowding around something they'd discovered. He smiled sheepishly. "I see they've already found it. Thanks for your help."

The fox-woman's eyes narrowed, and she looked at Conan with interest. "Your bespectacled friend there... I sense a familiar aura about him. Be cautious, lest his unruly Reiryoku influences you."

Shinro's eyes widened, unable to hide his shock. He'd always suspected Conan was the Shinigami, but just as a joke, but to hear a supernatural being confirm it...

"Thanks for the heads up." He sent the message sincerely.

The fox-woman bowed her head, shrinking down and transforming into a radiant red fox. She vanished in a swirl of leaves, the other Yokai following suit.

As the supernatural world faded from his perception, the mundane colors of the shrine returned to normal.

"Shinro-oni-chan! We're leaving!" Sonoko called, snapping him out of his daze.

"Coming!" he responded, hurrying after them, his mind reeling from the extraordinary encounter.

---

Following the cryptic clue about a treasure hidden in the "old town of Hagi," the group boarded a bus and set off for their next destination.

Upon their arrival, the detective boys splintered off, each trying to decipher the riddle of the "cat and mouse." Kogorou spotted a stray cat snoozing on a windowsill and excitedly pointed it out, "Guys, look! It's the cat! I bet the treasure's around here!"

Unbeknownst to the others, Shinro and Conan had spotted their tail – the dyed blond-haired man who had introduced himself as "Shigeru." The moment he realized he'd been spotted, he bolted down an alleyway.

Conan wasted no time, taking off in hot pursuit, leaving Shinro and the others behind.

Back at the old house, Kogorou attempted to coax the cat down with treat, but the feline proved to be too smart for him.

Mr. Kikkawa's suggestion to visit Hagi Castle was met with a chorus of agreement. Shinro, however, couldn't shake the feeling they were being followed. His enhanced sight confirmed his suspicions – the same suspicious van tailing them since the shrine.

Upon arriving at the castle, Shinro's hunch proved correct.

Sonoko and Kodoko were admiring the view, oblivious to the danger closing in. In an instant, Shinro was there, his fist colliding with the gut of one assailant, doubling him over. The other did not fare any better as Shinro's foot connected with his jaw.

The commotion caught everyone's attention, but it was over before they could react. Only Ran, with her background in martial arts, could appreciate the fluidity of his movements and the sheer strength in his blows.

Shinro turned to the stunned women, concern etched on his face, "Are you two alright?"

Both Sonoko and Kimiko stuttered their thanks, shaken but unhurt.

Shinro's expression hardened, his eyes boring into the downed assailants, "Who sent you? What do you want?"

The commotion attracted another assailant, who made a move for Mitsuhiko. Before Shinro could react, Ran was already there, defending her friend with a swift kick to the man's chin. He, too, crumpled to the ground.

Meanwhile, the driver of the van panicked and sped off, tires squealing as they made their escape.

The remaining assailants were no match for the enraged teenagers, but they remained tight-lipped.

"Talk, you imbeciles!" Kogorou growled, fists clenched.

"Like we'd ever talk to the likes of you!" One man sneered. "Our boss isn't someone you puny kids can handle!"

"Yeah! He'll rain hellfire on you fools!" The other added, cackling maniacally.

Kogorou and the others were fuming, but Conan and Haiba maintained their poker faces, their gazes boring into the tied-up assailants.

"Ms. Kobayakawa," Shinro said, unfazed by the commotion, "you recognize these men, don't you?"

Everyone, save for Conan and Haibara, who could sense the tension in the air, turned to Kimiko.

"Onii-chan, I doubt Kimiko-san's involved," Sonoko defended her friend. "She's a victim, too!"

Shinro's smile unnerved them more than the situation itself.

Kimiko sighed, visibly distressed. "Shigeru… the young man you saw earlier. He warned me that his father's men would come after me if I returned to town… something about a potential treasure my grandfather left behind."

Kogorou furrowed his brow and narrowed his eyes, a frown etched into his features. "Shigeru?" he asked, disbelief lacing his voice as he glanced at the boy in question.


Shinro rubbed his chin thoughtfully, expression turning contemplative. "I believe his father is the mayor of this very city," he ventured, his voice low but confident. "And correct me if I'm wrong, but his real name isn't Shigeru, is it? It's Atsushi." He glanced at Kimiko, silently seeking her agreement.

Kimiko's eyes widened for a brief moment, but she quickly regained her composure, giving a curt nod in confirmation.

Conan and Haibara exchanged impressed glances, their admiration for Shinro's deductive skills clear as day.

"Impossible!" Kikkawa-san spluttered, his voice laced with a hint of desperation rather than conviction. "Mr. Hisamichi Takahashi would never do such a thing!"

Everyone fell silent as the gravity of the revelation sank in.