0p0 Chapter 258: Melodi Family Birthday Party (Part 8)
Chapter 258: Melodi Family Birthday Party (Part 8)
[Novelist: Stop, stop, stop, Mr. Joseph, aren’t you tired of doing this three times in a row?]
[Photographer: I'm in great shape now. I was just reciting my lines in the same tone I usually use when I'm arguing with Jack.]
[Jack: Oh, damn French, why don’t you let me go to the kitchen?]
[Priest: Um, Mr. Jack, please don't come and make trouble.]
[Ms. Farrow: Honestly, if this isn't acting, just what Mr. Joseph just said...]
[Air Force: Would instantly make him more annoying than Richard and his stairs.]
[Puppeteer: Correct, infallible, pertinent, rational, and to the point.]
[Fire Investigator: Hahahaha!]
[knight:?]
Composer: We'll talk about Mr. Joseph later. Orpheus, why did you hit me so hard? The slap mark hasn't gone away for ages!
[Novelist: Do you believe me when I say I didn't mean it?]
[Composer: Auntie, look at him!]
[Madam Red: (Throws mirror into water) (Turns mirror) (Hit) (Cleans knife) (Makes friendly gestures) (She doesn't actually hit Conan in front of him)]
[Novelist: I was wrong. I won’t do that again.]
[Composer: Let’s think of a way to remedy this first.]
[Entomologist: I'll lend you my foundation. It should be good enough to cover blemishes.]
[Explorer: I'll do it!]
(after a while)
[Composer: Ahem! How much powder have you put on?]
[Explorer: Apply it thicker, and it won't be noticeable.]
[Entomologist: Why is there so much smoke in the men's restroom?]
[Reporter: Madame Pliny, I think your foundation may be in trouble.]
[Explorer: Cough cough cough! That's choking!]
[Composer: Don't pour a box of powder in my face! Cough cough cough! Pfft! (Powder flies into mouth)]
[Entomologist: ...]
The novelist reluctantly continued the photographer's words: "Mr. Melody, you've driven all my companions away."
"Companion?" The photographer suddenly showed a surprised expression. "Speaking of companions, there's a lady who's been wanting to see you for a while, but I left her at my place for a snack. If you'd like to be interviewed by her, I'll have her come over right away. How's that?"
Here she comes! Conan perked up. From the photographer's words, he could tell that this lady must be a replica of Mrs. Dross, or perhaps the Ms. Erika Lamb who had appeared on the train before.
Of course the novelist agreed immediately, and soon the reporter came over with a camera.
"Mr. Orpheus, long time no see. The last time we met was on the Suzuki Express!" The reporter waved and looked very happy.
"Oh? Ms. Lamb actually took the Suzuki Express? Did she witness any interesting news?" the photographer asked with interest.
"Well, there was a murder on that train. I wrote down the details of the incident in my notes."
Conan speculated that this Ms. Erika Lamb was a replica of Mrs. Delos that Melodi got from his nightmare, and she was specifically helping the Melodi family collect intelligence under the guise of a reporter and interviewer.
Based on this speculation, Conan translated the conversation between the two people into another form:
"You actually ignored my orders and boarded the Suzuki Express? If so, you must have gathered some important intelligence."
"An incident did occur on the train. I have recorded it in detail in my notebook. You can check it at any time."
Strangely, the members of the Oritis organization on the train seemed unfamiliar with Ms. Lamb. If she was really a spy from the Melody family, they should have been on guard.
Moreover, Fool Gold seemed to have said that Mrs. De Ross was a person who could easily make people like her. Such a person should be very eye-catching in such an organization. How come no one was suspicious of Ms. Lamb?
If this is the case, then there are only two possibilities.
One reason was that after the accident at the Oritis Organization, Nightmare, to prevent information leaks, gave most people a memory-altering potion, rendering them unable to recall Mrs. Delos's appearance, only knowing her specific details. The remaining people who knew the truth likely reached some agreement with Nightmare not to leak the information.
Secondly, Ms. Lamb has the ability to reduce her presence. If she doesn't appear in front of people, no one can recognize her and will just think she's an ordinary passerby. This is actually a kind of psychological suggestion, a common technique used by those who are accustomed to infiltrating their work.
"I didn't expect to meet you here again, Ms. Lamb." The novelist's attitude towards reporters was much better than that towards photographers.
[Photographer: This arrangement is quite good.]
[Reporter: Well, since you mentioned "companions," I came out to see if Orpheus remembered anything from the past.]
[Novelist: Well, I've already written my setting. The so-called "Mrs. De Ross" is actually my sister. After losing my memory in a serious accident, I mistook her for my wife. I projected my past memories into the present, and subconsciously believed that I should have a daughter.]
[Little girl: So “I” was “cloned”.]
[Explorer: How are you going to explain your connection to nightmares?]
[Composer: How can I explain this? I'll just leave it to the almighty dual personality.]
[Adventurer: I can't see Lao Jie anywhere, but Lao Jie is everywhere.]
[Jack: Well, Conan will probably be haunted by the idea of having a double personality for the rest of his life. You guys are so mean.]
"Mr. Melodi, I would like to talk to Mr. Orpheus alone, is that okay?" the reporter asked.
Conan was a little surprised. As an invited guest, Ms. Lamb actually made such a direct request to the host? Moreover, wasn't Ms. Lamb a subordinate of the Melody family?
To Conan's surprise, the photographer readily agreed to the reporter's request: "Of course, Ms. Lamb, I can prepare a more soundproof room for you."
And this way of speaking doesn't seem like that of a superior or a subordinate at all, Conan thought, so his previous inference had to be revoked.
As the photographers clapped, Jack appeared in front of the group: "Sir, are you looking for me?"
Conan nodded. That's right, this is the normal way for superiors and subordinates to talk. Wait, why is Jack still here?
Conan was very sure that Jack had definitely glanced at him secretly just now.
[Jack: Daily Conan joke.]
[Composer: You just said we were being mean, but aren’t you doing the same thing yourself?]
[Adventurer: Next up is our Melodi family's top henchman, Lao Jie!]
[Jack: ...]
“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.”
Jack took the reporter and the novelist away, leaving only Conan and the photographer to confront each other.
Although Conan is now in a helpless situation, he still puts his hands in his pockets and looks up at the photographer without fear.