That evening, the sun was setting, and the number of pedestrians on the street gradually dwindled.
Rin yawned boredly, preparing to hang up the closed sign and end the day's business.
Suddenly, the shop door was pushed open.
The five members of the Detective Boys entered one after another, and even Haibara Ai, who usually didn't participate in activities with everyone, had come.
And they didn't come empty-handed, each of them was carrying several bags of snacks.
"Rin-neechan! Ellen-neechan! Good evening!" The voices of several elementary school students rang out simultaneously.
"Oh? It's you guys."
Rin's face broke into a smile, an inkling that fun was about to begin.
"Why are you free to come today? And you brought so many things?"
Ellen also looked at the children curiously.
She had heard that the three real elementary schoolers had been scared and hadn't left their homes for several days, but now it seemed they had bounced back.
Ayumi placed the bag in her hand on the counter and said with a sweet smile,
"Rin-neechan, Ellen-neechan, these are snacks we brought for you! Thank you for always treating us to food before!"
Mitsuhiko also put down his bag and said, "Yes, we bought these together with our allowance. We hope you like them."
Genta, however, couldn't wait to open his largest bag, showcasing the potato chips, candies, and juice inside. "Look! It's all delicious!"
Rin looked at the snacks piled on the counter, a little surprised, yet feeling warm inside. "Wow, so many! Thank you all! But..."
She smiled and blinked, "Is there something you need help with from your big sister?"
Ayumi and Mitsuhiko exchanged glances, a flash of panic crossing their faces at being seen through, and quickly waved their hands. "No... not at all, it's really just to thank Rin-neechan for her usual care."
At this moment, Haibara Ai, who had been quietly following behind, mercilessly exposed her companions.
"They watched the recently popular paranormal exploration live stream videos by online celebrities 'Horror Hunter Sadao' and 'Toshiko Horror House' at an abandoned hotel.
They learned that filming such videos can earn a lot of tips and attention, so they want to borrow your portable camcorder, planning to explore the famous abandoned Beika General Hospital to film videos and make money."
"Haibara!" Ayumi and Mitsuhiko's faces instantly turned crimson, trying to stop her, but it was already too late.
Genta, however, puffed out his chest and said self-righteously.
"What does it matter! With the Detective Boys on the job, we can definitely film even more impressive videos than them! When we make money, we'll split it seventy-thirty, and Rin-neechan, you'll count as equipment investment!"
After hearing this, Rin couldn't help but let out a giggle.
So that's what it was for.
However, compared to specifically filming paranormal exploration videos, she felt that the cases these children usually encountered were already strange enough.
"An abandoned hospital... It certainly sounds like a good place to film paranormal videos."
Rin stroked her chin, feigning contemplation, then said to Ellen beside her,
"Ellen, go get them my small handheld DV, the one that's very easy to operate."
Ellen nodded, turned and went into the back room, and soon came out with a well-maintained small handheld camcorder.
"Here, use it carefully." Rin handed the DV camera to Genta.
"Great! Thank you, Rin-neechan!" Genta excitedly took the camera, cherishing it like a new toy.
Mitsuhiko and Ayumi also breathed a sigh of relief and quickly thanked her.
Rin looked at the three overjoyed children and added another instruction. "But you have to promise me, you must pay attention to safety, don't go to overly dangerous places, and don't play too late. Remember to go home before it gets completely dark."
"Got it!" The three children promised in unison, then, hugging the DV camera, dragged a speechless Conan out of the shop door in high spirits.
Haibara Ai was the last to leave. Before stepping out, she turned and nodded to Rin, then followed the others.
After the children had gone far, Ellen slightly furrowed her brows and said to Rin with some concern.
"Rin, is this really okay? That abandoned hospital has been deserted for a long time, and I heard there are rumors of ghosts. Letting those children go to such a place at night is too dangerous."
Rin wasn't worried at all. She picked up a bag of potato chips that Ayumi and the others had given her, tore it open, and crunched away, saying indistinctly. "Don't worry, don't worry~ It's fine~"
She swallowed the potato chips and wiggled her index finger.
"Don't forget, they're not ordinary children, they're the Detective Boys of Death-Seeking! (Teenage Suicide Group)
With Conan's protagonist halo, they'll be fine. As per usual, even if something happens, it's highly likely that someone else will be unlucky~"
Ellen rolled her eyes, looking at Rin with a disgusted expression.
"And besides."
Rin paid no attention to Ellen's gaze. She wiped her hands with a tissue and took out another, more professional camera from under the counter,
"How can I miss out on something so interesting? We should secretly follow them and watch the fun. Who knows, we might even get some great footage!"
With that, she skillfully checked the camera's battery and memory card, then waved to Ellen. "Let's go."
...The scene shifts to the abandoned Beika General Hospital.
The sky had already completely darkened.
Weeds grew rampant in the abandoned hospital courtyard. Most of the hospital's main building windows were broken, and the wind, when it blew, let out eerie wailing sounds.
"This is the place..."
Mitsuhiko held a flashlight, shining it on the eerie building in front of them, his voice trembling slightly,
"It feels... even scarier than what we saw in the video... How about... we come another day?"
Genta was excited, tightly clutching the DV camera in his hand. He had already turned on night vision mode, pointing the lens at the hospital's main entrance.
"What's there to be afraid of! This is what makes it thrilling enough! The video will get views! We'll make big money! Let's go in!"
With that, he was the first to pluck up courage and stepped into the abandoned hospital's ground floor lobby.
Although Ayumi was also a little scared, she still followed closely behind Genta.
Seeing this, Mitsuhiko had no choice but to brace himself and follow.
Haibara Ai, as usual, remained calm, silently walking at the back with Conan.
Upon entering the lobby, a smell of dust assailed them.
The beam of the flashlight swept across.
The hospital's front desk was in disarray, all the chairs overturned, and discarded papers littered the floor.
The previous wailing of the wind through the broken windows became clearer, and in the distance, a rhythmic drip, drip of water could be heard, making the atmosphere extraordinarily terrifying.
"Woo... woo woo..."
Just then, a faint sound drifted over.
"Did... did you hear that?" Ayumi suddenly grabbed Conan's arm, asking nervously.
Conan felt Ayumi was a bit too close and was uncomfortable under Haibara Ai's gaze.
"It sounds like a baby crying, but it's unlikely there's a baby in a place like this. Judging by the time, it should be a cat in heat."
"A cat's meow?" Mitsuhiko propped his chin, thinking Conan made sense.
Cats in heat indeed make sounds similar to a baby's cry, he quickly added.
"I read in a book that when cats are in heat, they do make cries similar to a baby's, but the timbre is more piercing. If you listen carefully, there is indeed a difference from a baby's voice."
Genta immediately aimed the DV lens in the direction of the sound. "It's over there! Let's go check it out!"
Driven by curiosity, they followed the intermittent crying to the outside of the obstetrics and gynecology department.
The sound was coming from inside!