Three haunted house thugs swiftly nabbed; the unlucky shoulder-shot one ambulanced out.
"Hayashi-kun, boss mentioned ruby," Megure hustled over. "Seen it?"
"With the purple-haired girl," Shuichi smiled. "Guarding it from them—why they hunted her."
"Stolen gem here? Whew," Megure exhaled. "Pity the jeweler boss is dead."
"Dead?" Kogoro blinked. "Thugs' kill?"
"Days back—your Agency visit day—sewer corpse report in Ochanomizu," Megure recapped. "ID: Kuroda Masakazu, ruby shop owner."
"Case open—thugs possible."
Shuichi recalled: Sameshima's office invite to scene—declined.
"Oh—she wanted me to hand it over," Shuichi said. "Claimed thugs and owner colluded; staged theft. Infight killed him."
"That so?" Megure bolted to brief Sameshima, then hospital-bound.
Shuichi eyed follow—girls clamored too.
"I..." Kogoro wavered, micro-shorts black-silk lingering—shot down: "Cruiser's packed—you izakaya first."
Truth: girls rear, Shuichi-Megure front—no room.
Kogoro sulked; quartet tailed Megure to Mihama Central.
Arrival: purple-hair stabilized, room-bound, anesthesia fading.
"Found this," doc handed Megure the ruby.
"Lost gem!" Megure beamed. "Wake time?"
"Half to one hour—varies by build," doc said.
"Hayashi-kun, you're on watch—I'm out with this." Megure dipped.
Billion-yen rock? No lingering—career-ruiner if lost.
With Shuichi's vouch, she was victim-hero—no suspect tail.
...
Ward:
Eri eyed purple-hair: "Phantom... so young? Pegged older."
"Her deeds aren't evil, but illegal," Reiko frowned. "Hiding her ID from cops—okay?"
Yukiko blanked their chat—gave up guessing.
Ask? Mock-risk from Eri-Reiko.
They bed-focused, she tugged Shuichi out.
Stairwell corner, clear: "Why the sneak?"
"Shuichi, purple girl's deal?" Yukiko burst.
"Still stumped?" Shuichi chuckled.
"Not cop-lawyer-prosecutor material—deduction flop's fine," Yukiko pouted, arm-shake coquettish. "Spill—I... did that!"
Blush-deep, victim-act: Shuichi wronged.
"Hey—you initiated! Just cheek peck!"
"Just?!" Yukiko stomped. "Lifelong, face-kissed guys: Dad or you! Deny it?!"
"...Fine," Shuichi relented. "Swear—lips sealed."
"Vow!" Yukiko hand-up.
"Simple: imposter frames you for crime—what's your move?"
"Hunt 'em, thrash..."
Click: "No way—she's Phantom... Explains their weird talk."
"Back?" Shuichi turned.
"Wait." Yukiko yanked—pecked his cheek.
"Answer reward!"
Flushed, she fled to ward.
"This..."
Shuichi touched damp—half-laugh, half-cry.
Peach blossom curse? Girls lining up?
...
"Where'd you sneak?"
Back in: Eri's suspicious probe.
Irked by interrogator vibe, Yukiko huffed: "Bookworm, Shuichi's not yours—our stroll needs report?"
"You!" Eri paled furious. "Not mine—sure as hell not yours!"
"Not your call," Yukiko smirked. "I..."
Shuichi cut—panic spill: "Air break—ward reeks of antiseptic."
(End of Chapter)
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/TripleCrown07
If you guys wanna check it out.