"Even the most valuable pearl doesn't represent love," Hayashi Shuichi said irritably. "Did you forget? They were arguing in the lounge earlier."
"I heard Director Miyagi often harasses actresses under the guise of filming," Fujimine Yukiko whispered conspiratorially. "Even after marrying Nagashima, he hasn't settled down. Several tabloids reported his affairs."
"Miss Nagashima?" Mouri Kogoro, seeing no response, gently prompted.
"Oh, sorry, I was lost in memories," Nagashima Yuko apologized with a smile. She took the pen and photo, signing her name.
Handing it back to Kogoro, she added with a complex expression, "Nagashima Yuko no longer exists. I'm Miyagi Yuko now."
"Sorry for the trouble," Kogoro said, thrilled, rejoining Hayashi Shuichi and the others. "Just one signature left."
Hayashi Shuichi glanced at the remaining photo—it was Sharon Vineyard's.
"Where is she?" Kogoro asked. "Shuichi, did you see her earlier?"
"I…" Hayashi Shuichi hesitated, wanting to deflect. He didn't want his friends near Belmod.
But then, a commotion erupted at the party. A woman was arguing loudly with Nagashima's husband, Director Miyagi.
Sharon Vineyard stood right beside him.
Yukiko eagerly moved closer to eavesdrop, and Hayashi Shuichi, Eri, and Kogoro followed.
"You promised me the lead role if we got together!" the woman shouted. "So why's it someone else? Did she sleep with you too?"
Whoa, juicy! Yukiko listened with glee, while Hayashi Shuichi and the others were equally curious.
"What nonsense?" Miyagi's face darkened. "When were we ever together? Don't slander me!"
"Slander?" The woman sneered, pulling out a stack of photos and scattering them. "This is your 'innocence'?"
The photos, mostly intimate shots of Miyagi and the woman, fluttered everywhere. Their boldness made Yukiko and Eri blush.
"Tch, quite the player…" Kogoro gleefully picked up the photos, examining each one.
"Give me those!" Miyagi, face ashen, snatched them from Kogoro. "Goto, do you want to be blacklisted from the industry?"
"We'll see who gets blacklisted!" The woman grabbed a glass of red wine from a passing waiter's tray and splashed it on Miyagi's face.
"You wretch—" Miyagi began, furious, but his wife, Miyagi Yuko, slapped him hard.
Slap!
The crisp sound stunned everyone, including the other woman.
Moments later, she lunged at Yuko, and the two began grappling.
As the scene escalated, Miyagi pulled his wife back, while others restrained the other woman.
Once separated, Miyagi, panting, glared at his wife. "Why'd you hit her? This'll blow up now—"
"Blow up? It wasn't already?" Yuko scoffed. "Your mess, and you blame me?"
She stormed toward the lounge.
"Sorry for the spectacle," Miyagi bowed slightly to the crowd. Suddenly, he swayed, nearly collapsing.
"You okay?" Sharon Vineyard steadied him.
"I'm dizzy," Miyagi said, pale and sweating. "Can you get me water?"
A waiter with soda water passed by, and Sharon handed him a glass.
"Thanks," Miyagi said, sipping. "Sorry, Miss Vineyard, I was about to introduce you to—"
Before he finished, the glass slipped, shattering on the floor. Miyagi collapsed, shaking.
"What…" The crowd froze.
Miyagi Yuko, hearing the crash, rushed back, kneeling and clutching her husband. "Kazuya, are you okay? Kazuya!"
She called repeatedly, but he didn't respond.
"Passed out?" Kogoro guessed.
"Something's wrong," Hayashi Shuichi crouched, checking Miyagi's neck and breath. "He's dead. Get Officer Megure."
He glanced at Sharon Vineyard, who'd been closest when Miyagi fell. Was he the Black Organization's target?
Sharon frowned at his suspicious look, a flicker of confusion on her face.
"No, Kazuya can't be dead!" Yuko sobbed, clinging to her husband's body.
The commotion drew Officer Megure and Kudo Yusaku. Learning of Miyagi's death, Megure panicked, ordering officers to seal the hall and calling superiors.
"Mrs. Miyagi, let me examine the body," Yusaku said gently. "Finding the cause of death is crucial."
"You're right," Yuko said, tears streaming, eyes red. "He was fine—someone must've harmed him!"
Yusaku inspected the body. "Purple face, fine white foam at the mouth. Likely rapid death from a potent poison."
"Can you identify it?" Hayashi Shuichi asked.
Yusaku leaned in, sniffing Miyagi's mouth. "Bitter almond scent. It's likely…"
"Cyanide poisoning?" Hayashi Shuichi's expression turned odd. The top poison in the Conan world makes its debut?
(End of Chapter)
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