At the open-air café, Luo Shu met the sophisticated lady.
Sayuri Sawamura wore a light green casual outfit paired with a sky-blue striped maxi skirt today, resembling a refined lady out for a summer festival stroll.
Her seated posture remained as elegant as ever - the very picture of a well-bred noblewoman.
Seeing this madam and thinking of Eriri... Luo Shu couldn't help but sigh deeply as he approached, pulling out a chair to sit.
"Am I late?"
Sayuri, who'd been playing with her phone, looked up at the voice. Recognising Luo Shu, her face lit up with delight:
"My, Luo Shu's already here? My apologies, I got rather absorbed just now."
She stuck out her tongue playfully as she said this, setting aside her phone with an exceptionally charming expression.
Observing her demeanour, Luo Shu couldn't help but scrutinise Sayuri before remarking:
"Honestly, I'm quite envious of Mr. Spencer."
"Hmm?" Sayuri blinked in momentary confusion before covering her mouth with a laugh: "My, since when did little Luo Shu become such a sweet talker? Did Eriri upset you again?"
"Why would your first assumption be that Eriri angered me?"
Luo Shu desperately wanted to retort - what kind of experiences led Sayuri to immediately suspect Eriri's involvement?
"Because that child has a knack for unintentionally irritating people with her obliviousness."
Sayuri picked up her coffee, took a delicate sip, then smiled as she asked:
"The latte and mousse cake here are excellent. Would you like to try some, Luo Shu?"
"Certainly."
Luo Shu readily agreed, watching as Sayuri summoned a waiter to order. Glancing at her discarded phone, he inquired:
"Were you contacting Eriri earlier?"
"No, I was messaging one of my husband's friends."
Sayuri beamed at Luo Shu as she explained:
"Speaking of which, my relationship with her is quite similar to Eriri and Utaha's relationship."
"???"
Luo Shu was utterly baffled by this remark.
'Madam, could you please think carefully about what you're saying?'
'Similar to Eriri and Utaha's relationship??'
'Are these even compatible traits?'
At this thought, Luo Shu's lips twitched as he tentatively asked:
"May I ask... what was the relationship between your friend and Mr Spencer?"
Sayuri Sawamura's smile at this moment was radiant, like a weasel that had stolen a chicken:
"Emma and my husband were childhood sweethearts who once promised to spend their lives together."
"Of course, that was in their younger days~ Now, my husband and I are very close friends with her."
'Bloody hell, I can only say bloody hell...'
Luo Shu stared speechlessly at Sayuri Sawamura.
'You stole someone's childhood sweetheart and still became best friends with her?'
'Madam, with skills like yours, how did you raise Eriri to be like that?'
"So you were discussing Eriri's matters with your best friend?"
Luo Shu was somewhat curious about Sayuri Sawamura's earlier actions.
He remembered their last meeting was scheduled for two days later - tomorrow - yet she'd arrived a day early, which piqued his interest.
"No, I was talking about you, Luo Shu," Sayuri replied with a mischievous smile. "After all, Emma is Eriri's godmother. When a strange boy suddenly steals Eriri away, she naturally needs to be informed."
'So you were conspiring with your best friend about how to deal with me?'
Luo Shu mentally sighed, then accepted the latte handed to him by a waiter, placing it on the table before asking:
"So has Madam reached any conclusions from your discussion?"
"Absolutely none at all~" Sayuri clapped her hands together cheerfully.
"Emma is quite troubled, too. Eriri never shares her true feelings with her, and the girl has been particularly secretive about matters concerning you, Luo Shu. So we've reached a complete impasse."
"Then why have you asked me here today...?" Luo Shu's expression showed hesitation.
Sayuri looked slightly embarrassed: "After discussing with Emma, she suggested having my husband meet you."
She quickly added, "With Eriri present."
"What?"
Luo Shu was instantly dumbfounded.
...
At the hamburger shop diagonally opposite the café.
By the floor-to-ceiling window, Kogoro Mouri stroked his chin with a serious expression:
"Though it's hard to believe, that does appear to be the man himself."
Beside him, Ran Mouri's face was full of gossipy excitement: "Dad, is that Mr Luo Shu? The one Touka-chan mentions every single day?"
"Why is he meeting your surveillance target here?"
Ran's expression was utterly perplexed, barely stopping herself from outright asking if Luo Shu might be the mysterious lover in this wealthy woman's potential affair.
Kogoro himself looked uncertain, his face full of suspicion:
"How should I know? Maybe there's some misunderstanding with the client?"
"Heh."
Conan, sipping cola nearby, wore an expression of utter disdain.
This case about a wealthy woman's potential infidelity held absolutely no interest for him!
Come to think of it, they'd been staking out this place since early morning until 2 pm just to observe this?
Was this really the case that would make Uncle Mouri a famous detective?
"Uncle Mouri's reputation as a great detective isn't worth much, is it?"
"Ah, it looks like they're leaving." Ran Mouri exclaimed softly as she watched the pair below, then turned to Kogoro Mouri. "Should we keep following them?"
"Well..." Kogoro's face showed clear hesitation.
On one hand was a high-ranking official from the Metropolitan Police Department's secret division who paid him a fixed salary, and on the other was an English diplomat offering a lucrative private commission.
The choice was obvious.
Even Kogoro understood the difference between one full meal and regular meals.
Still, out of professional responsibility, he hesitated before saying:
"Ran, go develop those photos I just took. I'll explain the situation to our client and ask how we should proceed."
"Tch, what a mess."
Thinking about his aborted plan to gain fame, Kogoro couldn't help sighing.
This had been the perfect opportunity to establish his reputation as an infidelity specialist among high society, yet it had evaporated just like that. How frustrating.
His financial prospects!!
"Heh." Conan smirked again, wearing an "I told you so" expression.
'Real detectives make their name solving criminal cases through deduction. If you think you'll become famous catching cheating spouses, Uncle Mouri, you might as well wash up and go to bed. You can dream all you want there.'
Hearing Conan's sarcastic chuckles twice now, Kogoro finally lost his temper and rapped the boy on the head:
"Brat! What's with all your smirking over there?"
"Oww!!"
"Conan!" Ran glared at Kogoro as the boy clutched his head in pain. "Dad! Why are you picking on a child?"
"It's because this brat's face is just begging to be punched."
Kogoro made a disgusted face as he stood up, pulling a cigarette from his pocket:
"I'm going to move the car. Hurry up and come down - we still need to visit the client later."
"Dad!! You're not even going to apologise to Conan?"
Ignoring Ran's indignant shout, Kogoro lit his cigarette and headed downstairs, where he immediately spotted Luo Shu across the street just preparing to leave.
'So it was you spying on me earlier?' Luo Shu realised as he noticed Kogoro across the road, though he didn't dwell on it. Running into Kogoro Mouri and being stared at by the familiar face was perfectly normal.
The two men exchanged glances. Luo Shu gave Kogoro a slight nod before turning away.
"Did you see someone you know, Luo Shu?" Sayuri Sawamura leaned over curiously to look across the street.
"Just an acquaintance."
"Should we go say hello?" Sayuri seemed rather eager.
"Do you really think our current situation is appropriate?" Luo Shu pointed at Sayuri's arm linked through his, his expression somewhat disdainful.
"I'm just making sure you don't run away!" Sayuri declared righteously.
"Then by all means, keep guarding me."
Luo Shu sighed and led Sayuri towards their parked car.