[AUTHOR NOTE: Hey guys, if you are not on my discord server and has been not updated with the news about my patreon. My patreon is dead. They rejected my appeal. I searched for other platforms that are friendly towards my country creators and created account on them. One got rejected(my bad luck) and other has the AI bot screwing with me. It kept asking for my documents again and again. I reached our to their support and they resolved my issue in under an hour. AN HOUR( YOU SEE THIS PATREON WHEN WILL YOU GIVE ME MY CHAPTERS DATA) I have to re edit them again. Some fics are still not done but I will be posting the ones that are done for now and we will be back to normal updates for all in few days. Just this platform that I will be working on Gumroad has high fees for me(I will earn less) but I have kept the tiers price same as patreon one. If you like these fics and want to support me. You can give me a tip on Gumroad(I will only use Gumroad for receiving payments and will post advance chapters on discord). Have a nice day!]
Tokyo
Sonoko Suzuki finally backed down.
The courage that was originally encouraged by her bestie had completely withered. After thinking that she might be pulled to bed to "rock and roll" as soon as she met Seiran, she lost her nerve.
She was not ready to become an adult yet.
So, she felt very ashamed.
There happened to be a Buddhist Temple in Kyoto that was said to be very lively recently, so Sonoko decided to go there to relax instead.
Well.
Drag Ran along too.
However, this erratic behavior pattern of thinking and doing whatever she wanted caused a lot of trouble for a certain blonde girl.
Ai Hayasaka.
Her current alias was Ai. She was sent by the Shinomiya Family to gather intelligence on the Suzuki Zaibatsu.
Of course.
The other party was a Suzuki, a rival conglomerate. The Shinomiya Family couldn't really do anything aggressive. It was just to keep an eye on some hidden secrets and maintain connections.
Therefore, Hayasaka became an NPC character that "regularly refreshed" around Sonoko—a schoolmate and friend.
But Sonoko, who was obsessed with chasing handsome men, made Hayasaka very tired.
It was more tiring than serving Kaguya-sama.
Are all these rich ladies so tormenting?
She didn't understand.
But she was intrigued by one thing.
Because of Sonoko's obsession, Hayasaka also investigated the boy named Seiran Mizunotsuki.
An orphan. A high school student.
That's all.
Simple character information, simple interpersonal relationships.
But that face... was indeed pleasing to the eye.
Staring at that face for a while every day could relieve her tired mind a lot. So Hayasaka would occasionally use his photo as "eye candy" when Sonoko was not around.
She just looked at it and didn't do anything else.
Naturally, she couldn't get her hands on the husband that the Second Daughter of the Suzuki Zaibatsu had set her eyes on.
Unless... Sonoko bought her from the Shinomiya Family and ordered her to serve him as a maid?
"Mingwang Temple?..."
Hayasaka was once again troubled by Sonoko's thick nerves.
Sometimes, Sonoko acted more like a commoner than a rich lady. She was infected with many "bad habits"—like impulsively traveling to Kyoto on a whim.
Kyoto: Mingwang Temple (Temple of the Wisdom King)
Until now, Eri Kisaki (Queen of the Courtroom) still could not understand the confusing operation of this temple.
Mingwang Temple is not too big. It is divided into the Outer Temple and the Inner Temple. Between the two, there is a living quarter for the monks.
The small shrine where the Kirin Horn is hidden is located near the forest area at the back.
Along the way, Eri saw a "Maid Cafe" team specially hired by the Temple, training in the Outer Temple grounds.
It is said that it can attract Otaku to contribute incense money.
The Inner Temple was even worse. Some monks were dishonestly touching the hands of female believers under the guise of palm reading, obviously taking advantage of them.
So Eri followed the Abbot of the temple in silence, trying to ignore the decadence.
Beside her, there was also a "Black-Skinned Kudo."
"...No, I've told you so many times, Mrs. Mouri! I'm not some 'Black-Skinned Kudo,' I'm Heiji Hattori!"
"...And I also said, call me Ms. Kisaki, or Lawyer Kisaki."
Yes.
Eri Kisaki has been separated from Kogoro Mouri for many years, and she uses her maiden name professionally.
She didn't want to say much to this impetuous kid who was not much different from Shinichi Kudo, but she still felt a little uncomfortable with this Mingwang Temple.
She had heard about the "unseriousness" of modern Japanese Buddhism a long time ago, and now she personally experienced where this reputation came from.
The monks of Mingwang Temple had no cultivation or virtue. They were no different from the many greedy people struggling in the flashy world that Eri saw in court.
And the reason why the Temple invited her was simple.
Since Kaito Kid had sent a notice, the Outer Temple would surely usher in a lot of tourists and media.
By then, if someone took advantage of the chaos to steal or cause damage, having a famous lawyer like Eri Kisaki there would allow the Temple to take legal initiative immediately.
Not only Eri Kisaki, but also the famous High School Detective, Heiji Hattori.
After that, there will be Inspector Megure of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (since Kid is under their jurisdiction).
It seemed like a big move.
But the Abbot leading the way, Abbot Ryōgen, was also helpless.
The treasure inherited by Mingwang Temple for hundreds of years must not be lost. Because the value is immeasurable.
Someone once offered 500 million US Dollars for the Amber Kirin Horn.
The Temple almost sold it. But the government stepped in and did not allow it. How can Japan's National Cultural Treasures be lost abroad?
"So, you are here purely for the monetary value of the Kirin Horn, and not for 'suppressing evil spirits,' right?"
Hattori, who is outspoken, despised the Abbot's inconsistency.
This behavior was quite disgusting.
If he were Kaito Kid, stealing the Kirin Horn, he would never return it to such greedy monks.
In fact, Kid often returned items after stealing them. It was hard to say if he would this time…
Regarding Hattori's accusations and Eri's critical scrutiny, Abbot Ryōgen smiled bitterly and was speechless.
Doesn't he know the morality of the Temple is low?
He knows.
Doesn't he want to change?
Of course he wants to.
But… it's difficult…
In ancient times, the Abbot was a Monk Official and had the power to enforce discipline. In modern Buddhist temples, the Abbot is a symbol, and he is answerable to the Buddhist Missionary Association (the Board of Directors).
What can he do?
Cut off the monks' financial resources?
Cut off the monks' desire for pleasure?
I'm afraid that if he brings it up on the first day, he will be fired and sent home the next day.
He is still a good person at heart. He has cultivated his mind.
Unlike the Nanchan Temple next door, which has completely become a tool for the rich and powerful to launder money. It is said that the Abbot there has been caught several times in Kabukicho. It is simply morally corrupt.
Shaking his head heavily, Ryōgen ordered the only disciple beside him to open the door of the small shrine near the forest.
Yes.
As the Abbot, Ryōgen has only one true disciple left. Like him, the boy is at least a moral person.
I just don't know how long he can last in this environment…
"Now we are here. Please pay attention to this. The treasures of our Mingwang Temple must not fall into the hands of others."
Hattori nodded without comment. He was here to catch the thief, and even if the host didn't say anything, he would do his best.
However, Eri pushed up her glasses and stared at this nominally small shrine.
It looked like it had been built a long time ago. The traces of decay left by years of wind and rain were reinforced by steel beams to prevent it from collapsing.
Even recently, alloy materials were used for reinforcement, which included a mechanical locking structure.
The shrine was surrounded by solemn and precious Buddha statues on all four sides.
They were the Five Wisdom Kings:
Acala (Fudo Myo-o), Trailokyavijaya, Kundali, Yamantaka, and Vajrayaksa.
On the roof of the shrine, there was a massive half-body statue of Acala, holding a copper pestle, with a majestic look of anger and burning flames.
After a little thought, Eri admitted that Mingwang Temple was worthy of its name in this regard.
The Five Wisdom King statues were lifelike. Against the backdrop of the bright sunshine, the statues stood in a lofty posture of burning away evil spirits.
"Please."
Abbot Ryōgen bowed solemnly.
Now he looked like a monk who cultivated virtues, not the decadent manager who kept silent on weekdays.
Nodding calmly, Eri Kisaki and Heiji Hattori followed him into the shrine.
Inside, there was a four-cornered pedestal with a Kirin Statue in the center.
The Amber Kirin Horn was located on top of the Kirin statue's head.
Deeper in, there was a dark underground passage…
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