Kurosawa Hoshino agreed to Nishikawa Mutsumi's request.
He led everyone to the castle's main hall, where a giant portrait of the original master who built the castle hung on the front wall.
Kurosawa Hoshino didn't explain the secret of the chessboard—there was no need. He walked to the giant portrait and pushed it hard to the side, revealing a recessed passage leading upward.
"Ran, Sonoko, you two go up first," he said to the two girls.
"Huh? Us?" Ran and Sonoko exchanged glances.
Fortunately, because of yesterday's heavy snow, both were wearing long pants, not skirts, so there was no risk of exposure.
Kurosawa Hoshino smiled. "Go on up. Let's go see this treasure together."
"Uh, okay—" Seeing the others had no objections, Ran climbed up first.
Sonoko went second, Kurosawa Hoshino third.
The rest exchanged glances and discussed it. Kogoro Mouri would go next, and then it would be Nishikawa Mutsumi's turn—no need to worry about her trying any tricks once she was up there.
Above, Kurosawa Hoshino and the two girls quickly climbed out of the passage into a dark little room, with only a faint light coming from ahead.
Sonoko looked around and said, "Hoshino, could this be the castle's spire?"
"Yes," Kurosawa Hoshino said. He walked to the light leaking through a crack—it was a door. As he gently pulled it open, bright sunlight poured in, illuminating the dark room.
"Wow~" The two girls beside him gasped in unison.
Before them were mountains bathed in bright sunlight, displaying clear layers of green. The thin mist between the peaks had long since dissipated, and every ridge was clearly visible. In the distance, the lake at the foot of the mountains sparkled under the noon sun, the water's surface reflecting a dazzling light, like countless shattered diamonds glittering. The trees were lush and verdant, their leaves showing a rich green in the sunlight, brimming with vitality. The sky was a clear, washed blue, with a few white clouds drifting lazily. The whole scene was bright and full of life, displaying a passionate and vivid beauty.
"It's so beautiful~" Ran's eyes sparkled.
"Yeah, it's amazing~" Sonoko was also somewhat intoxicated by the gorgeous scenery.
"Heh." Kurosawa Hoshino chuckled and turned to look at the words carved on the door beside them. He read softly: "I wish to give this castle, and this view, to the first person to find this place."
"So, you called us up first because you were planning to give this scenery to us?" Sonoko asked with a smile.
"Correct," Kurosawa Hoshino nodded.
"But the words carved up here seem to say it can only be given to one person. So which one of us are you giving it to?" Sonoko still wore a smile.
Ran blinked her light purple eyes, feeling like this question was just like the "choose one of two" situations in a love triangle from a novel or TV drama.
"Of course, I'm giving it to both of you," Kurosawa Hoshino said, quite slyly, choosing an answer that would offend no one.
"How can you do that~" Sonoko pouted, but she didn't press further. The topic ended there.
Ran smiled too and turned to admire the scenery outside again.
"There's nothing here at all," Kogoro Mouri's voice came from behind.
The others climbed out of the passage one after another.
"The treasure is right here, on the door. Take your time looking. Ran, Sonoko, and I are going down first," Kurosawa Hoshino said to the group, then left with the two girls, not wanting to squeeze in with them.
His words made everyone gather around to see what was going on. But when they saw the endless scenery outside and the words carved on the door, they were all stunned.
Nishikawa Mutsumi, in particular, looked like she was about to collapse. She stared at the words on the door in disbelief, tears streaming down her face. She laughed and cried at the same time. "I finally found it—I turned myself into an old woman, and I finally found the treasure I was looking for. Hahaha—sob sob sob—"
Seeing her like this, everyone could somewhat understand her emotions. After all, if they put themselves in her shoes—knowing that after killing so many people and undergoing plastic surgery to become an old woman, the treasure she'd searched for years turned out to be just a view—they'd probably collapse too.
After that, Nishikawa Mutsumi revealed her identity: she had been the Mamiya family's head housekeeper. After learning of the old master's dying words, greed took hold of her, and it eventually led to this.
In the main hall downstairs, Kurosawa Hoshino's system panel popped up. His Source Points had increased, and he was now 3 points away from his next superpower.
"Hey, Hoshino, should we call Inspector Megure?" Ran suggested. "He might already be on his way here with Miss Tanaka."
Indeed, when they'd left the magician enthusiasts' villa, Inspector Megure had already been on his way with his team. Now they'd been delayed here for quite a while—Inspector Megure might have already picked up the people there and be heading back.
"I'll ask." Kurosawa Hoshino took out his phone and dialed Inspector Megure's number.
"Brother Hoshino, calling me at this hour—don't tell me you ran into a case on your way back? By the way, why didn't I run into your car on the road? Did you not take this route?"
"Inspector Megure, are you on your way back now?"
"Yes."
"Did you pass a castle?"
"I see it. Don't tell me you're inside?" Inspector Megure's voice grew louder. "Brother Hoshino, don't tell me you ran into a case in there?"
Sonoko couldn't hold back and quipped from the side, "Inspector Megure, why is it 'case' this and 'case' that with you!"
"Sonoko's voice? Haha, force of habit, force of habit. So it's something else?"
"No, it is a case," Sonoko answered cheerfully.
Inspector Megure fell silent.
Ran pressed her lips tightly together, trying not to laugh out loud.
Kurosawa Hoshino couldn't help but cough twice and said quietly, "Inspector Megure, here's what happened—"
So he explained everything that had happened after they arrived at the castle.
After hearing it, Inspector Megure said seriously, "Brother Hoshino, give me ten minutes. I'll be right there. I actually heard about that fire four years ago, but it wasn't my case at the time. I never expected someone to be so insane as to burn people to death."
Just then, Kogoro Mouri and the others came down with Nishikawa Mutsumi. Kurosawa Hoshino said a few words to Inspector Megure and hung up.