Oritis in the world of Detective Conan

Chapter 278: The Ghost of the Crystal Palace (Part 8)

Sonoko was shocked when she heard this: "What? The jewels were stolen? Could it be that Mr. Kidd chased him directly to the Crystal Palace for me?"

Xiaolan broke Sonoko's fantasy: "How is that possible, Sonoko? Kidd didn't even send out the notice letter as usual."

The prisoner held his forehead helplessly. "It seems the ghost incident is less important than the stolen gem. Let's go to the Duke's office and take a look."

The mechanic was giving directions while complaining, "Humph, that duke is just as stingy to himself as he is to others. His own office is so tiny."

Conan asked curiously, "Did the Duke do anything?"

"Increasing store rents, reducing maintenance costs, and setting exorbitant ticket prices, humph!"

Xiaolan sighed, "No wonder the Crystal Palace has become increasingly depressed year by year."

Maori Kogoro also complained: "Huh, this duke's management ability is not as good as mine."

Conan showed his half-moon eyes: Uncle, you too, when there is no commission, you just stay at home and watch horse racing.

At the door of the White Crow Duke's office, Conan and his companions met the Red Lady (the Diamond Lady). The White Crow Duke said to her with regret: "I am sorry for this sudden theft. I know that the Koh-i-Noor is very important to us."

"I know, you're useless. You can't even keep an eye on a gem." Madame Red sneered. "I'm telling you, today's jewelry exhibition must go on as usual. Have the ghost rumors here been dispelled?"

Duke White Crow humbly replied, "The investigators are working hard on the case."

"Hmph, don't forget that if this exhibition fails, the Crystal Palace will probably have to close its doors to visitors." Mrs. Red left unhappily after saying this.

Everyone except Conan and Dr. Agasa was shocked by the extremely similar appearance of "Lady Diamond" and "Mrs. Bella".

Sonoko rubbed her eyes and said, "Um, is that 'Mrs. Bella'? No, the temperament is not very similar."

Xiaolan was also puzzled: "What's going on? Didn't Mrs. Bella die?"

In order to quickly skip this topic, Conan quickly explained: "Maybe they just look alike."

The prisoner greeted the Duke of White Crow as usual: "Hello, Mr. Duke."

"Oh, Mr. Investigator, how is the investigation into the ghost incident going? Please don't use any weird words to deceive me!" Duke White Crow returned to his arrogant tone.

"The lady just said that the Koh-i-Noor was stolen. What's going on?"

"Hmph, that was a precious gem that was supposed to be on display at today's exhibition, but somehow it got stolen. Damn it, I'm the one guarding the gem, and I don't want to be held responsible... No, that baroness is also involved, and I can't take the blame alone!"

Duke White Crow cursed and went back into his office, locking the door behind him. The prisoner knocked on the door several times, but there was no response.

"It seems we can only go and talk to that baroness."

Inside the "Princess's Choice" jewelry store, Madam Red looked at the group of people who walked in with a haughty expression: "Are you the investigators that guy hired?"

When Maori Kogoro saw the beauty, he immediately said: "Yes, madam, I am the famous detective from Japan, the sleeping Kogoro, and I am willing to serve you."

Madam Hong looked him up and down and snorted softly, "Hmph, just a nobody."

This made Maori Kogoro very embarrassed, and Madam Hong continued: "I always judge people by their appearance, and I am very accurate in judging people. I hope you can give me a little surprise."

The prisoner stepped forward and asked, "I'm extremely sorry to disturb your rest, Madam, but our investigation has revealed that the ghost incident at the Crystal Palace a few days ago seems to be related to you, Madam."

"Oh, can you tell me how this matter involves me?"

"It was the mirrors you placed in the corridor that created the illusion of a 'ghostly clone,' Madam."

"Oh, I see. Those mirrors are for illumination. As for the illusion of ghosts creating clones... well, that's just the guards' poor eyesight."

The prisoner said somewhat helplessly, "Then could Madam please allow us to investigate this jewelry store?"

"As you wish, I'm going to check the display arrangements." With that, Madam Red walked out of the shop.

Conan took the opportunity to chase after her, which surprised Xiaolan. Maori Kogoro said that Conan must have been naughty and ran out to play, so there was no need to worry about him. So they began to investigate the jewelry store.

On the stairs going downstairs, Conan caught up with Madam Red: "Wait a minute!"

"What do you want to do, kid? When we were in the store, you seemed to be staring at me all the time." Mrs. Red was a little dissatisfied.

Conan asked seriously, "Mary Clayburgh, do you know this name? What is your past and your memories like?"

"You know that name." Madame Red took out a hand mirror and looked at her face.

"Desi Melodi is using you as a tool! Don't you have any desire to find your true self?"

"I know, so he has to pay the price." Madam Red put away her hand mirror and looked at Conan with a calm face.

"Ah?" Conan was confused at first because he thought that Madam Red was on the side of the Melody family.

Madame Red quickly approached Conan and grabbed him by the back of his collar: "Let me tell you what I, we, and all the 'Maries' have been through."

Madame Red dragged Conan to the studio that the toy seller had mentioned before. In front of a huge floor-to-ceiling mirror, Madame Red knocked on the frame, as if turning on a switch.

Conan saw the end of all the "Marys": their heads were chopped off by the guillotine, their bodies were pierced by the iron maiden's nails, they were persecuted by rumors, they committed suicide by hanging on a tree... and the last one was "Mrs. Bella" who took poison with a determined look on her face and fell from the stage.

"Memories will accumulate. Even though Nightmare has been studying this field for a long time, he still doesn't know how to manipulate memories precisely." Madam Red showed a look of disgust on her face.

"But I still want to thank him for all my memories, all the memories of 'Mary' being preserved."

"The hope I finally saw in the Clayberg family, that Melody actually wanted to take it away just like that! I won't accept this. Madam Bella's body has been corroded by the poison and won't last much longer, so she has to do this."

"Yes, only by doing this can a new 'Mary' be born, and I will have the opportunity to take revenge on him!"

Conan looked at Madam Red in shock. "So, even if your departure would cause Uncle Frederick immense pain, you would still choose to do this?"

Madam Red's eyes revealed a hint of pity. "He's a gentle child, but he's never been understood by others, just like Mary. Although he will be very sad, for the sake of my revenge, I have no choice but to let him suffer for a while."

"I think his friends will help him. I'll reveal my true identity to him after the Melodi family falls. I don't want him to live in the Melodi family's shadow forever."

"Okay, I'm leaving now. This theft is the beginning of my revenge against the Melodi family."

After saying this, Madam Hong quickly left the studio, leaving Conan alone in front of the huge mirror in a daze.