Let’s solve the case just like Conan!

Third Street was the liveliest food street in White Edge City, offering everything from staple dishes, side courses, drinks, to delicacies. As the saying goes, food is the foundation of the people, so it was hardly surprising that the street remained crowded from six in the morning until late-night snack hours.

At breakfast time, a certain someone sat upstairs in the most famous pastry shop on Third Street, nibbling on a dim sum. She wore a wig, changed her clothes, and used a potion to alter her eye color. At first glance, she looked like an unremarkable youth—someone who would disappear in a crowd.

Across from her, at a distant table, the beautiful young woman was having breakfast with a tall man. The certain someone recognized him: he was the baffling man who had tried to stop her from enrolling—the captain of the Lyon family's shadow guards, Su Yi.

Aisha's words echoed in her mind: "The reason I suspect you is that you're too familiar with the Grant family members—warriors, mages, even servants. It's hard not to question your motives. Jane's suspicious point is that she deliberately keeps her distance from the young miss, dodging every task or message too obviously. And the last one, whom I suspect most, is Knock; she’s had contact with the Lyon family."

She angrily bit into a sweet pastry. Early morning, and already she was playing undercover—why couldn’t she simply wait for the second miss to be assassinated by accident?

When she looked up again, the two who had been chatting vanished. A chill crept down her neck. Su Yi's deep voice sounded behind her: "Miss, good morning!"

Did everyone here like to ambush from behind? Though she wanted to complain, now was obviously not the time for idle words. She lowered her voice and replied, "Sir, you must be mistaken. I'm a man."

"Is that so? Then, pray tell, where is your Adam’s apple gone? And why does the magical mark I placed on Miss last time now reside on you?" Su Yi said.

She was stunned—he’d used a tracking spell on her! That was cheating, completely unfair! She remembered the first time she met Su Yi, when he pressed hard on her shoulder; she had thought it was just retaliation, not realizing it was part of a long-term plan.

"Stop!" Before she could react, pain shot through her neck and blood soaked her collar. The knife that had cut her throat, along with its owner’s hand, was frozen in place by ice, sparkling in the sunlight.

Clutching her wounded neck, she slowly edged away from the newly formed "ice sculpture."

The beautiful young woman stood behind Su Yi, her silver wand still shimmering with cold air. All the other diners had already fled. She glared at Su Yi, her face dark: "Didn't I say not to kill her? Are your ears worthless?"

Su Yi's expression was frozen as well, emotionless: "I believe she must be eliminated."

"Get out!" Anger contorted the young woman's features. "Go get whipped until you remember who is master!"

Su Yi bowed to her, turned without hesitation, and walked off—his right hand still encased in a layer of solid ice.

The young woman took out some basic medical supplies from her small bag and bandaged the wound. The certain someone remained perfectly still, letting her wind the bandage around her neck again and again, until something felt off. "Are you trying to save me, or strangle me?" She pointed at the thick bandage, her mouth twitching.

The young woman calmly tied the final bow. "Thicker, so you'll have a lasting reminder."

She was taken aback—true enough, who knew when she'd see the young woman again. She grabbed her, expression serious: "One last question!"

"Been in love!" The young woman answered with matching solemnity.

She nearly choked. If only she hadn’t taught the young woman those silly jokes! She asked, weakly, "How much do you know about the attempt on the second miss’s life?"

"The Lyon family has no such plan."

"One more question."

"No regrets!"

"…What is your name?"

"My name is Knock, indeed. Full name: Knock Lyon."

Running back to the Grant estate, she still didn’t know what the beautiful young woman was infiltrating for, but at least it wasn’t to kill the second miss, nor to capture herself. As for other motives—business rivalry and all that nonsense—those were beyond her jurisdiction.

Now only one suspect remained: Jane!

Jane lived under the same roof as Aisha, so naturally Aisha would investigate her. "Aisha, please stay safe," she prayed silently. Though Aisha’s investigative skills and enthusiasm were leagues beyond her own, overzealousness could sometimes backfire. "Comrade Aisha, don’t let a moment’s impulse lead to eternal regret."

Just as she reached the back gate of the Grant estate, two burly guards blocked her way: "This is Grant territory. No trespassers allowed."

"Brother, poor eyesight is an illness—get it treated." She gestured at her uniform. "I’m wearing the Grant family’s uniform."

The guard didn’t even lift his eyelids. "Can’t see."

Challenge accepted! She glanced provocatively at the towering guard, then used all her strength to drag a large box from a street away. The scraping sound cut through the air, raising goosebumps.

With a burst of effort, she climbed onto the box, shifting from a sorrowful upward gaze to a contemptuous downward glance—a reversal of status. "Brother, why are you closing your eyes?"

"Orders from the young miss. No trespassers allowed!"

She cursed inwardly—clearly, they were messing with her. Eyes narrowed, she swiftly tossed two fire stones onto the guards’ hair. Smelling burnt hair, the guards shook their heads to dislodge the mysterious incendiaries. She deftly caught the stones as they bounced off, ignoring the burns on her hands, and stuffed them into the guards’ collars.

"Off you go!"

The stones obligingly slipped down to their waists. The fitted uniforms made the guards suffer, as they slapped at the flames. Watching them struggle, she felt immensely satisfied.

Looks like the boss couldn't hold back anymore—this was shaping up to be a total wipeout for the second miss. Seeing unfamiliar corpses everywhere, a chill swept through her. These people might have been alive only moments before. Hours ago, perhaps thinking about tomorrow’s meals, waiting for their families, pondering what gifts to buy their children with their paychecks.

Her fleeting triumph over the dim-witted guards was crushed by the stark reality of death.

But she had no time to compose poetry or lay flowers for the dead. War began for profit, paved in blood, ended with power. Since ancient times, whether species, nations, families, or street gangs, all struggles fell within these bounds. Now, experiencing it firsthand, she couldn't guarantee she wouldn’t be next, but there were things that had to be done—like finding Aisha.

She never wished to find the place where Erica and Ada would face off, yet now she stood on the main battlefield.

All around, magical lights flashed, warriors clashed, and arrows occasionally flew astray. Hiding and searching for Aisha, she stumbled out of the thicket, and found herself in a seemingly safe, brightly lit, harmonious place.

To her left, Erica was doing what every comic-book villain loved—drinking tea. Amidst the battlefield of blades and bullets, Erica was dressed casually, entirely at ease, surrounded by guards ready to fight to the death. Jane stood openly in Erica’s camp, wielding not a low-level wooden staff but an ornate rod forged from red metal, radiating murderous intent.

To her right, Ada was engaged in a classic Mary Sue heroine activity—painting her nails. Apparently unaffected by betrayal, Ada wore pink and looked utterly blissful. Her guards, though fewer than Erica’s, maintained their usual trait: few in number, high in quality.

“Hi?” Mo Mi raised a hand awkwardly in greeting.

Used to her odd approach, Erica didn’t even look up. “Here to surrender or to die? You can still choose.”

Was this a choice? It was a naked threat… As she broke out in cold sweat, Ada spoke: “Indeed, you should think about your choice now, and also your future. I never keep secrets for free, especially for enemies.”

“Well…” With death on both sides, she steeled herself. “How about you two fight it out first, and I’ll side with the winner?”

She could swear she heard more than a couple of laughs.

“For those who play both sides, do you know what their usual fate is?” Erica and Ada exchanged looks—rare agreement.

“Death?” she ventured.

“Don’t worry, not death.” Ada tilted her head, offering an innocent look. “We promise to make you wish you were dead!”

Fine, she really had been naïve. She collected herself and tried again: “Instead of fighting, why not consider a joint-share system?”

“What’s that?” Erica was puzzled.

“Let me explain.” She went all in—some things you only learn by speaking up, even if you’re mistaken. “You’re fighting over the family fortune, right? Just split it into shares: master, eldest miss, second miss, third miss, each gets a portion. Profits shared, risks shared, disputes settled by vote—peace brings prosperity.”

“Nice idea,” Erica laughed, “but as I said—those who play both sides only end up wishing they were dead!”

As she finished, the guards behind her simultaneously lunged at Mo Mi.

Stardust Chronicles 006_006—Go solve the case like Conan! Update complete!