books44 Chapter 148 Mouth of Truth
Chapter 148 Mouth of Truth
"Wow! What a beautiful decor! It feels like stepping into a classic manor from a movie!"
Looking at the dazzling array of decorations on the wall, Ran Mouri exclaimed in admiration while listening to the butler, who was wearing sunglasses, explain.
"Hey, crow."
A pair of purplish-red polarized sunglasses crept closer. Koizumi Akako glanced back at the ball of light behind her, rubbing the goosebumps on her arms: "What's the meaning of bringing the Demon of Light here? Is it a threat to me?"
In mysticism, the first day of the new year often reflects one's fortune for the entire year. On such an important day, Koizumi Akako should have been nestled in her mansion, enjoying service and praise, but upon opening the door, she was almost blinded by the dazzling light!
The oppressive force of the laws covering her body was even more uncomfortable than a straitjacket in a mental hospital; every step she took felt restrictive. The inability to use magic at will made her feel as if she were missing an organ.
Kuromon Haruya followed behind her, admiring the paintings depicting various myths and fables: "Didn't I tell you, I'd be bringing my family today? Conan is one of only two members of my family's bloodline!"
Koizumi Akako: ?
Koizumi Akako glanced at the black fog obscured by her sunglasses, then at the moving "little sun," her doubts solidifying on her face.
Koizumi Akako: You mean, halfway through life, people in your family can suddenly mutate into completely opposite species?
Indeed, in Koizumi Akako's mind, this was no longer a simple matter of magical attributes, but a matter of miraculous mutation!
'But this also explains why this guy was able to move freely during the period when magic was suppressed; it turns out there's a causal connection through bloodlines.'
"Given that you two are such completely opposite contemporaries, I'm starting to wonder about your bloodline. If you're willing to join the ranks of the Red Magic, perhaps I might take pity on you someday..."
Kuromon Haruya smiled and politely declined, saying, "That won't be necessary. My sect leader just sent a generous gift yesterday; it would be too heartless to betray him the very next day. Let's wait a few months."
"As for you, Miss Hongzi, if you have any tricky or difficult-to-solve 'things,' you can entrust them to my organization."
When Koizumi Akako heard the suggestion, the name Kaito Kid immediately came to mind.
"No need. The number of people in the world willing to serve me could fill Mount Everest." She, Koizumi Akako, would personally capture Kaito Kuroba's heart!
Ran Mouri glanced at the two people whispering intimately in front of her, then looked at Kogoro Mouri beside her, whose eyes were practically popping out of their sockets, and said helplessly, "Dad, it's very rude to look at people like that!"
"Miss Akako... I can't believe there's such a beautiful and youthful woman in this world, just as stunning as Miss Yoko!"
Kogoro Mouri wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and said unhappily to Yoru Kuromon's retreating figure, "That kid Kuromon, he should have introduced me to him sooner."
"Seriously!!" "Ouch!"
Ran Mouri punched her elderly father in the ribs, then abandoned him, who was clutching his back and gasping for breath. She grabbed Conan and headed straight for the reception room, saying, "Conan, you absolutely mustn't learn this from your father!"
"Okay!"
After walking through the dark corridor, Koizumi Akako led everyone to the door of the reception room and waved them to stop: "Stop now, you all smell too much like foxes."
"perfume--"
"The perfume that matches today's moon phase is here, Lady Akako!" The butler appeared from the hidden door around the corner.
After spraying perfume all over everyone, making Uncle Mori sneeze nine times, Koizumi Akako was barely satisfied with the less intense fishy and feathery smell in the air.
"A fox?" Ran Mouri sniffed her sleeve. "Did we get something on the forest path we came from?"
“She’s referring to the Inari deity at the shrine, since we came directly to visit after our prayers.” Kuromon Haruya helped take the gifts brought by the Mori family and pointed to the depths of the mansion. “Then I’ll go and catch up with Miss Akako first, as we agreed, and then I’ll come find you. If you need anything, just ask the butler.”
"Okay, Brother Heimen, you should go now."
Just as the door blocked Conan's view, a flash of silver light appeared!
A sharp blade drew a line of blood on her cheek, but Kuromon Haruya stood calmly in place, looking at the fully armed witch with an accepting gaze.
"It's really a bit difficult for you to be so approachable. However," he said, his thumb rubbing the wound, which instantly healed, "consider this an apology for my abrupt visit. I didn't expect you to react so strongly to the Demon of Light."
Koizumi Akako snorted and put down her scythe: "I can't give a nice look to a crow that's been eyeing my family's wealth."
"You are now in the manor built by generations of Red Magicians, where every brick has been blessed by ritual. Even if you bring the Light Demon to guard the place, the manor's magic circle can subdue you at any time if I want!"
"Okay, okay, I apologize for my offense when I was younger."
Kuromon Haruya nodded: "Then let's talk about prophetic dreams. I have good news for you: I really didn't dream about anything last night."
Koizumi Akako frowned, making no attempt to hide her suspicion; after all, she had virtually no trust in the demonic forces.
“I will not believe what you say. If you dare to stand the test of the [Mouth of Truth], then come with me.”
The witch's cloak billowed, and a crimson ray of light shone through the crack in the door at the end. Kuromon Haruya followed Koizumi Akako into the dungeon.
Pink smoke of unknown composition lingered in the air. This place seemed to have been transformed from a natural cave. Simple and ancient torches were nailed to the rock walls, and the candle chandeliers hanging from the top of the dungeon were estimated to be at least three hundred years old.
Skulls of various wild animals, humans, and even species that shouldn't exist in reality are piled up on wooden shelves. From dried geckos that can be used as Chinese medicine to rare minerals that exude spiritual energy, the Koizumi family's centuries-old wealth is laid out before them.
Heimen Yaoye raised his head and carefully examined the nearly two-meter-tall stone statue in front of him.
In the center of the circular marble slab, a human face is sculpted in relief. His expression is solemn, and his dark eyes stare at each of the test-takers of sweet talk. His toothless lips are wide open, and if you gaze into the dark interior, you will feel uneasy because of the gazes peering in from all directions.
“Bocca della Verità, the Mouth of Truth.” Yoruichi Kurokawa rolled up his sleeves and put his right hand into the statue’s mouth. “This is one of the famous attractions in Rome, Italy. It is said that if you don’t tell the truth, this mouth of justice will close and bite off the hand of the liar.”
"I never expected to see a magical object with this function here."
"Although it won't do you any real harm, it can still detect lies to some extent." Koizumi Akako sat on the edge of the bubbling cauldron, twirling the ends of her hair around her fingers with great interest.
"The first question is, what was the content of your prophetic dream last night?"