THE KNIGHTS JUSTICE:
DIVINE PUNISHMENT PART 1
Tomorrow was the appointed day for their pilgrimage to the Medieval Art Exhibition.
The following morning, within the familiar, cluttered confines of the Mouri Detective Agency, a feminine voice resonated with a touch of impatient urgency.
"Are you finished dressing? Let us depart; Sonoko mentioned they would be awaiting our arrival there," Ran urged. She stood by the threshold, poised and ready. She was attired in a vibrant crimson jacket layered over a sleek black shirt, paired with a charcoal-brown miniskirt and ebony thigh-high socks that met the edge of her chestnut leather shoes.
Her father, Kogoro Mouri, was preoccupied with the meticulous adjustment of his silk tie. He wore his signature cerulean suit, a crisp white dress shirt as the foundation, and a charcoal necktie. Beside him, Conan was kneeling to secure his footwear. The boy was dressed in a sapphire-blue vest over a white polo, finished with his iconic scarlet butterfly bow-tie voice changer and pale azure shorts.
"Tch, let them languish for a moment," Kogoro grumbled, finally conquering the knot of his cravat.
Conan trotted toward the door where Ran stood sentinel. "Oji-san, pick up the pace!" he called out, casting a glance over his shoulder.
"Mataku..." Kogoro muttered, trudging toward the exit.
Once they vacated the premises, Ran ensured every lock was engaged and the agency was secure. The trio descended the narrow staircase toward the street level.
"Should we not partake in a bit of breakfast first?" Kogoro suggested, his gaze lingering longingly on the Café Poirot situated directly beneath their residence.
"We shall dine once we reach our destination," Ran countered, her eyes scanning the asphalt for a passing taxi.
Kogoro let out a defeated huff, retrieving a cigarette and nesting it between his lips. Conan stood patiently beside Ran, his hands in his pockets as he monitored the urban flow. After a brief interval, a taxi decelerated and glided to the curb; the three of them climbed into the cabin.
"To the Medieval Art Exhibition, please," Ran directed the driver.
"The art gallery?" the driver echoed, glancing at them through the rearview mirror. "Ah, are you also venturing there to witness the legend of the ambulatory knight?"
"Well, our curiosity was piqued," Ran admitted with a polite smile.
"Then you had best savor the experience. I've heard whispers that the gallery is slated for permanent closure," the driver added, his eyes returning to the road as he navigated the morning traffic.
"Closure? That specific gallery?" Conan and Ran asked in a startled chorus.
"Indeed. A man of immense wealth has reportedly acquired the property with plans to demolish the structure and erect a hotel. It's a tragic loss; that gallery is quite unique to this district," the driver explained, executing a sharp left turn.
Ran and Conan's eyes widened as the realization struck them with the force of a physical blow.
"Ah! So that is the impetus behind Leon-kun's inquiry yesterday!" they both exclaimed.
"Hmm? What nonsense are you two prattling on about?" Kogoro asked, flicking his cigarette ash out the window into the wind.
"Well, yesterday, Leon-kun petitioned Sonoko about the possibility of purchasing a museum... perhaps he was referring to the very gallery we are about to enter," Ran replied, her voice tinged with wonder.
Kogoro's eyes dilated momentarily. He leaned back into the seat and exhaled a plume of smoke. "Hmph... it truly is a marvelous thing to be obscenely wealthy."
"No, Ran-neechan, Leon-kun was definitively discussing this specific gallery. He brought it up precisely when you mentioned our visit," Conan interjected, his analytical gears already turning.
The driver, eavesdropping on their conversation, tilted his head. "Is your acquaintance the one who purchased the establishment?"
"No... he harbored the intention, but it appears a different buyer had already secured the deed," Ran clarified.
The driver nodded sagely. "I see. I thought perhaps if it were your friend, you might persuade him to spare the gallery. A shame."
"Well, if Leon-kun did manage to acquire it, I doubt he would ever permit its doors to close," Ran said, turning her gaze toward Conan.
"Exactly. Leon-kun would never allow such a thing. In fact, he would likely populate the halls with his own canvases," Conan added with a confident grin.
"Oho... your friend must be a true connoisseur of the arts for you both to speak with such conviction," the driver observed, finally engaging the clutch and the brake as they neared their destination. "We have arrived: the Medieval Art Exhibition."
Conan and Ran disembarked immediately, leaving Kogoro to settle the fare. Once the transaction was complete, Kogoro exited and slammed the door.
"Enjoy the sights!" the driver shouted as he accelerated back into the street.
Before them stood the Medieval Art Exhibition, a monolithic, rectangular structure defined by weathered, red-orange brickwork. The entrance was flanked by two massive square pillars, each bearing the name of the exhibition in bold, gothic script. They ascended the stone steps, passing through the threshold into the cool interior.
Directly inside, they encountered a reception counter staffed by a solitary woman. Ran approached her, and the woman stood to greet them.
"Excuse me, we are here to tour the gallery," Ran said.
The woman offered a somber nod and presented a blue pamphlet to Ran. "Please, enjoy your visit. There is no entrance fee today; consider it a farewell gesture to our patrons."
"I... I understand," Ran replied, noting the profound melancholy in the woman's voice.
The attendant nodded once more before sinking back into her chair, her gaze hollow. Ran returned to Conan and her father. They pressed forward, met by interior walls of glass that revealed the red-orange brickwork as a secondary skin for the museum. They moved toward the primary entrance of the gallery proper, which stood fully agape.
"Ne... Ran-neechan? Where are Sonoko-neesan and Leon-kun? I don't see them anywhere," Conan remarked, scanning the expansive foyer, but the familiar faces were nowhere to be found.
"They are likely already exploring the interior," Ran replied, her eyes fixed on the shadows beyond the entrance.
AM N. NOT.(っ－＿－)っ♤♤DRAFT♤♤