Chapter 53: The Bandaged Monster

Nighttime.
Suzuki Estate, children's bedroom.

"May, when you are converting the jewelry into cash, don't be too hasty. For now, stability is paramount. It is better to find a few more channels and sell them in batches rather than drawing too much attention." Dressed in Pikachu pajamas, Suzuki Seimei was lying on a soft, large bed, communicating remotely with Tachibana Maya using his spiritual power.

"I understand, Master."

Currently, under Suzuki Seimei's command, Tachibana Maya was his only assassin. His forces had not yet fully formed, so it was safer to act with caution.

The jewelry Suzuki Seimei had handed over to Tachibana Maya had a market value of nearly two billion yen.

If they were all sold off at once, it would easily attract the attention of others. It was much safer to sell them in batches to different buyers.

Anyway, Suzuki Seimei was not in urgent need of those assassins right now. He would rather Tachibana Maya waste a little more time than have her take too big of a risk.

All things are difficult before they are easy. Once Tachibana Maya formed her first assassin squad, things would be much easier to handle in the future.

Ending his communication with Tachibana Maya, Suzuki Seimei checked his personal attribute panel.

[Name: Suzuki Seimei]
[Strength: 10 (+5)]
[Speed: 7 (+5)]
[Stamina: 19]
[Spirit: 17 (+5)]
[Skills: Golden Rule, Super Monetary Power, Karate (Mastered), Riding, Abnormal Status Resistance, Firearm Precision (Mastered), Charismatic, Alchemy (Basic), Assassination (Proficient), Word Spirit]
[Equipment: Crimson Bridal Gown, Mother's Food Box, Guardian Necklace, Pet Summoning Doll, Versatile Children's Wear]
[Items: Storage Ring, Lifespan (Six Years), Servant Contract, Substitute Doll (2)]

Looking at the much richer attribute panel, Suzuki Seimei closed his eyes in satisfaction and slowly drifted off to sleep.

***

The next day, the weather was bright and sunny.
Suburbs of Tokyo, luxury villa.

Changing into casual wear, Suzuki Ayako said calmly, "Yuhana, stay behind to help take care of Seimei. Everyone else can withdraw for now!"

"Yes, Eldest Young Miss."

Hearing this, the servants in the villa bowed respectfully and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Suzuki Sonoko couldn't help gossiping, "Sis, don't tell me your college classmates still don't know you're the eldest young miss of the Suzuki Group?"

The reason Suzuki Seimei and the others had gathered in this villa was because Suzuki Ayako was planning to invite a few good friends from college to get together and catch up.

However, judging by Suzuki Ayako's deliberate dismissal of the servants, it was obvious that her college classmates probably still didn't know her true identity.

"There's no help for it. Who told me to conceal my identity back in college? If I tell them now, it would only easily create a barrier between us," Suzuki Ayako shook her head and said.

According to Suzuki Ayako's original plan, she was going to confess her identity to those good friends after graduation.

Unfortunately, an incident that happened two years ago created a rift among the good friends in the film club—their good friend Atsuko had committed suicide.

Although Suzuki Ayako didn't know why Atsuko committed suicide, ever since Atsuko's death, the relationship among the film club members hadn't been as close as before.

Therefore, Suzuki Ayako had specially invited those friends to the villa, hoping to use this gathering to ease the tension and mend their relationships.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Mouri Ran, who had been invited by Suzuki Sonoko, was also bringing along Conan, that little tail of hers, making her unhurried way toward the suburban villa.

"Strange, I remember Sonoko's villa should be around here... Found it! Cross that suspension bridge ahead, and we should be there."

Mouri Ran led Conan wandering around the suburban woods for a good half of the day before finally finding the location of the suburban villa.

*Sigh...*

Conan let out a silent sigh in his heart. Ran was truly unreliable; her sense of direction was simply abyssal.
Mental exhaustion!

"Eh? There seems to be someone over there. I wonder if they're heading to the villa?" Mouri Ran brought Conan to the front of the suspension bridge and saw a figure walking slowly ahead on the bridge not far away.

Perhaps hearing Mouri Ran's voice, the man in black on the suspension bridge suddenly turned his head to look at the two of them.

The man in black had his face wrapped entirely in bandages, exposing only a pair of eyes filled with a fierce glare, startling both Mouri Ran and Conan into a shiver.

Although Mouri Ran was a karate expert, she had zero resistance against demons, ghosts, and the like.

In such a desolate place, suddenly seeing a freak wrapped from head to toe in bandages felt no different from seeing a ghost.

If it weren't for the fact that Conan was still around, Mouri Ran would have already screamed out in fright.

"Taptaptap..."

Before Mouri Ran and the others could react, the bandage-wrapped freak ran across the suspension bridge and quickly disappeared from their sight.

"He... he wouldn't happen to be heading to the villa as well, would he?" Watching the disappearing back of the bandage-wrapped figure, Mouri Ran clenched her fists nervously.

"Probably not~"
Conan's smile was somewhat stiff.

"Seimei, come out quickly! Ran and Conan are here~" Looking through the villa window and seeing two figures walking slowly across the suspension bridge, Sonoko hurriedly called out to Suzuki Seimei and went to welcome them.

"Ran big sis, Conan, you're finally here."
"Honestly~ Aren't you guys cutting it too close? It's almost getting dark. Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?" Sonoko complained as she led the two into the villa.

Mouri Ran smiled awkwardly, "I'm so sorry, we seemed to have gotten lost just now."

"You~ your sense of direction is still as terrible as ever." Sonoko shook her head helplessly, then turned to Suzuki Seimei and said, "Seimei, take Conan off to play first. I'll take care of Ran."

"Okay~"
Hearing this, Suzuki Seimei pulled Conan into his room and started playing video games with him.

After the two little ones left, Sonoko leaned over to Mouri Ran's side and said with anticipation, "My sister's friends have all arrived, and there are also three rather handsome boys. We can hang out with them here, surrounded by nature, and have a romantic romance. Don't you think that's very romantic?"

Mouri Ran's mouth twitched slightly as she put on a polite yet awkward smile.

"By the way, Sonoko, among Ayako-sis's friends, is there anyone with bandages wrapped around their head?" Mouri Ran quickly changed the subject.

"Bandages? No! None of the people who came today seem to be injured, right?"
"But just now... Never mind, maybe it was just someone living around here?"

"Alright, stop talking about those inexplicable things. You should go put away your luggage first. Your and Conan's room is on the second floor." Sonoko led Mouri Ran up to the second floor and guided her into the prepared room.