In the temple square, Yoko Okino gripped a sword with both hands. The blade was splattered with blood, and there were bloodstains on her face as well, her expression filled with terror.
At the bottom of the stone steps, Shingo Nachi lay motionless on the ground. His chest was covered in blood, and a pool of crimson had formed beneath him.
"How could this be? I didn't want to kill him. Why did this happen? No..."
Yoko Okino's heart-rending scream rang out across the temple grounds.
"Cut!"
A satisfied shout suddenly rang out from nearby, and Yoko Okino's screaming stopped instantly.
"Very good, Miss Yoko! That scene was perfect," Director Muneo Tondabayashi shouted with satisfaction.
"Thank you very much for your cooperation, Nachi-san."
Yoko Okino thanked Shingo Nachi politely.
"With a handsome guy like me cooperating, Miss Yoko is sure to be full of passion."
Shingo Nachi climbed up from the ground, brushing back his hair with his hand, looking extremely narcissistic.
Yoko Okino smiled politely and walked toward Heiji on her long legs.
"Miss Yoko, great work!"
Kogoro Mouri ran over with a smile, holding a pure white towel in his hands.
Yoko Okino smiled awkwardly. "Thank you, Mouri-san."
"I say, Great Detective, what kind of detective are you? You don't even have that little bit of insight. She isn't waiting for you at all."
Morio Anzai's sinister voice drifted over.
"Anzai-san, have I offended you?"
Yoko Okino frowned and looked at Morio Anzai.
Morio Anzai smiled sinisterly. "Miss Yoko, last night was quite comfortable, wasn't it?"
Yoko Okino's expression turned cold.
Heiji walked over, picked up a towel, and handed it to Yoko Okino. "Wipe the blood off your face first."
Yoko Okino paused slightly, then smiled brightly. "Thank you, Heiji."
Watching Yoko Okino wipe her face with the towel, Kogoro Mouri walked back dejectedly. "My Miss Yoko, gone."
He muttered to himself in a low voice, his tone full of sadness.
"Dad, really..."
Ran looked helpless.
[Heh, what is Uncle making a fuss about?]
Heiji walked up to Morio Anzai and looked at him indifferently. "You took the photos yesterday, right?"
Morio Anzai paused, then grinned, revealing a sinister smile.
"How did you know?"
"We haven't met, yet you keep mocking us and giving us cold looks. There are two possibilities for this: first, you have a grudge against me; second, you want to attract my attention. Since we haven't met, the first possibility is almost non-existent, so that leaves only the second. As for why you'd want my attention... apart from the secret photos taken last night, I really can't think of anything else."
Heiji looked at Morio Anzai calmly.
Morio Anzai was stunned, then let out a scoff. "Worthy of the name Heiji Hattori. Famous detectives are indeed different. Your observational ability is much more powerful than that old detective's. That's right, I have the photos. If you don't want the fact that you went to a hotel room leaked, you'd better bring ten million yen as my hush money."
"What did you say?"
Yoko Okino walked over abruptly, looking angry.
Heiji held Yoko Okino back and looked at Morio Anzai calmly. "Ten million yen?"
"Ten million yen as hush money isn't much, is it? If people find out that the innocent idol superstar actually went to a hotel room with a famous detective, will Yoko Okino still be as glorious as she is now?"
Morio Anzai glanced at Yoko Okino, looking incomparably arrogant.
"Hush money? You mean even after paying ten million, you won't give us the photos?"
Heiji raised an eyebrow and asked indifferently.
"Of course not, but I guarantee I won't show these photos to anyone else."
"You intend to continue blackmailing us, right?"
Heiji's words made Morio Anzai pause, then reveal a sinister smile. "I hold the initiative now. You can gamble on it. If Yoko Okino's reputation is destroyed, your money won't matter anymore."
"Post them if you want. There is absolutely nothing going on between Heiji and me."
Yoko Okino said angrily.
"Yo, worthy of a big star, your acting skills are amazing. However, people only look at photos, and they only believe photos. When that happens, I'm afraid your time as a big star will come to an end," Morio Anzai said disdainfully.
"If it ends, it ends. At worst, I just won't be a star anymore." Yoko Okino was furious.
The commotion attracted the crew's attention, and everyone gathered around.
"Hmph, then I'm not afraid either. Selling these photos to the tabloids should earn me quite a bit of money."
Morio Anzai pulled a stack of photos from his inner pocket. As he waved them, one could see photos of Yoko Okino holding Heiji's arm while shopping, and photos of them entering a hotel one after another.
The others exchanged glances instantly.
"No way, how could Heiji do this with Sister Yoko?"
Even Ran was suspicious, let alone the others.
Strange gazes from those around them were cast upon Heiji and Yoko Okino.
"Are these all the photos?"
Heiji asked suddenly.
Morio Anzai didn't understand why Heiji asked this and nodded subconsciously. Suddenly, he reacted. "What do you mean? You want to snatch them?"
He used to be a thug and had plenty of fighting experience. He wasn't afraid of the high school brat in front of him at all.
Heiji glanced at Morio Anzai. "Eyes didn't drift, facial muscles didn't twitch, reaction time within normal range, plus that confident expression. Mhm, looks like those are all the photos."
Everyone was baffled by Heiji's words.
Suddenly, Heiji took a big step forward and swiped his hand. Before Morio Anzai could react, the photos in his grip had disappeared.
Heiji flipped through the photos. Sure enough, every single one was a shot of him and Yoko Okino together. Some, due to the angle, even looked like they were kissing.
"Damn it, give the photos back to me!"
A sinister look flashed across Morio Anzai's face, and he rushed toward Heiji with his fist raised.
Heiji glanced at Morio Anzai and handed the photos to Yoko Okino. "Find a chance to burn them."
By this time, Morio Anzai had already rushed over.
A cold glint flashed in Heiji's eyes. He extended his hand, grabbed Morio Anzai's arm abruptly, and kicked him in the stomach.
"Argh...!"
Morio Anzai knelt directly in front of him clutching his stomach, spitting bile from his mouth, screaming in pain.
"Everyone, the show is over. Time to get to work, right?"
Heiji glanced around casually.
Instantly, everyone dispersed. No one cared about Morio Anzai; clearly, he was very unpopular.
Yoko Okino looked at Heiji nervously. "What if he calls the police?"
Heiji smiled faintly. "He has even more skeletons in his closet; he wouldn't dare call the police."
"Heiji, you brat, this is assault. You'll be sued." Kogoro Mouri looked at Heiji seriously.
[Exactly. What is this guy Heiji thinking?]
Conan looked at Heiji seriously.
Heiji glanced at Kogoro Mouri and smiled casually. "If he wants to sue, let him. I'm just afraid he won't dare."
Morio Anzai sat on the ground clutching his stomach, looking at Heiji venomously, gritting his teeth. "You will regret this."
-----------------
Currently on Patreon: 360 chapters available.
https://www.patreon.com/cw/LIZBETH1242