was stopped by Annan, and Kaphne was suddenly stunned.

Her body was a little stiff.

Kaphne's eyes widened slightly, her pupils as clear as red glass, and they were full of confusion and consternation.

…… At this time, is Kaphne's hands so soft?

Such a thought immediately popped into Annan's mind.

He was pulled by Kaphne many times...... But if you want to talk about the impression, it is that her hands are different from the appearance, and they appear to be extraordinarily powerful.

Although she didn't have any calluses and her skin was unusually fair, when she held Annan's hand, Annan couldn't break free at all......

And now Kaphne's palms are even soft to the point of being delicate and weak.

…… At this time, isn't Kaphne still extraordinary?

Annan was slightly stunned.

That is to say......

Is Kaphne an extraordinary person who has advanced from an ordinary person to a silver rank in four or five years?

She doesn't even have a basic career now......

This upgrade speed is too scary, isn't it?

But Annan suddenly noticed something.

When he was a child, Annan's palms had very obvious calluses - this should be the traces produced during sword practice.

…… Yes.

When Annan used the frost sword technique for the first time, the "young Annan" that came to his mind was almost his current age.

Has Annan already started practicing frost swordsmanship now?

"When we hold hands, we are friends."

Annan made a childish and serious voice: "If someone bullies you, I will help you beat him." ”

Before speaking, Annan pondered his tone several times. Eventually, I finally decided what I should say.

That's what a nine-year-old boy should say...... Right?

Annan suddenly felt that he should change his name.

His current situation should not be called Annan, it should be called Edogawa Conan......

Annan knew it very well in his heart.

The clue is in Kaphne...... In order to save time, he needs to attack Kaphne as efficiently as possible. Don't expect Kaphne to "join the team" right away, but at least make Kaphne willing to "provide information".

His grip on Kaphne's hand tightened.

But he kept it fine and didn't pinch her so that it wouldn't get her attention.

At this time, if Kaphne breaks away from Annan's hand or pushes Annan away because of nervousness or something, then the atmosphere between them will immediately become distant and cold.

If Annan tried to catch Kaphni again, she would firmly refuse him.

This is because, when Kaphne herself also has a good impression of Annan, she is actually unable to tell whether she should politely keep her distance or maintain her current state.

If she tried to push Annan away, or tried to break away, but it didn't work. She will subconsciously think that she really longs for such a friend in her heart...... And if, after she succeeded in rejecting Annan once, she would immediately come to her senses and remain calm and vigilant.

But Annan didn't want to use brute force to catch Kaphni -

After all, Kaphne's identity is basically as noble as herself. As a foreign guest, he can't be too rude...... The maid was just there watching.

However, in Annan's experience, he did not use brute force at all......

He just squatted down, kept shaking hands, and changed the subject very naturally: "What are you drawing?"

"Is it Hanada?"

Annan consciously took the pace of the conversation into his own hands.

Kaphne at this time is obviously much easier to fool than five years later.

Her attention was quickly diverted by Annan.

Or maybe she couldn't find anyone who could appreciate her crayon drawings - Kaphne replied softly, a little nervously and uneasily, "Yes...... These are the flowers. ”

She was worried...... Would this boy, who was slightly shorter than himself, laugh at the "weird and scary" paintings he painted?

He is one of the few people who is willing to talk to himself without being afraid of himself.

Kaphne was born with the ability to see through people's hearts and see the truth.

She knows...... This cute-looking blue-eyed boy really wants to be friends with him from the bottom of his heart!

Kaphne didn't want to lose such a rare and true friend.

But fortunately, Annan did not laugh at her.

He just nodded earnestly: "It's really a good drawing."

"You might become a great painter in the future, Kaphne."

- This is not Annan's boasting.

Because Annan does know that in the future, Kaphne's painting skills are simply superb. At the age of fourteen, she was already able to copy Amos's paintings. She herself can also paint bizarre "apocalyptic paintings", which have a mysterious beauty.

And now the sea of blood-red flowers in her pen ...... This crayon drawing, which is still very rough, already has a vague meaning.

Kaphni also looked back at Annan in some amazement.

She saw that Annan actually thought that she painted well from the bottom of his heart!

But even Kaphne herself felt that she didn't paint very well......

"What's wrong?"

Annan looked back with some confusion.

Did he say something wrong?

Why is he suddenly so shocked and confused?

Annan apparently didn't realize it...... Kaphni's spiritual vision can actually see through lies and people's hearts.

This is the ability of fourteen-year-old Kaphne, who has never shown in front of Annan.

“…… No, nothing. ”

Kaphne suddenly felt a little hot in her cheeks.

She looked away at the painting.

She uttered her trademark, long, soft voice and took the initiative to explain: "Because I see ...... The sky turned red. It was the color of fire...... There are red vines that climb from the ground to the sky and turn the sky red. ”

Saying such a long passage in one breath, Kaphne gasped twice.

Annan frowned slightly, thoughtful.

…… Red rattan ...... Climb to the sky ......?

What is it......

Kaphne is too young to describe it very clearly. But she has vision...... She definitely saw something we couldn't see.

While Annan stared at the painting and thought about it seriously.

Kaphne was secretly watching him.

Anna...... Seems to like my paintings?

Kaphne felt a little touched.

Until now, she didn't realize it...... His left hand and Annan's right hand have always been held together.

— but her dad saw it.

His Royal Highness Albert had just come out of the side hall in a hurry...... Looking in this direction, I should have come to find Kaphne.

But he saw the maid who was following Sister Wang, smiling and holding out a finger in front of his mouth to signal him to silence.

That's when Albert realized something.

He looked from afar—he didn't see Annan for the first time. After all, Annan was wearing a pure white dress, and in this sea of silver-purple flowers, it almost looked like a protective color.

And after he found the location of Annan and Kaphne, his gaze became a little complicated.

…… As far as he knew, His Highness Annan had gone to the garden just a few minutes before.

He realizes that his daughter, Kaphne, is still in the garden...... She is notoriously eccentric, aloof, and unrelenting. may crash into His Highness Annan.

That's why Albert rushed over in a hurry, wanting to resolve the conflict.

Annan set off five minutes earlier than him. And Annan is young, so he will definitely not be as fast as him...... It took less than three minutes for Annan to get here.

…… But in such a short period of time, can you already be so close to each other so intimately?

Still hand in hand......

It's only been less than three minutes!

Looking at the rare little excitement on Kaphne's face, and the eyes that were so bright that they seemed to be flashing, Albert even felt a little jealous...... On the other hand, he couldn't bear to spoil Kaphne's rare pleasure.

Annan didn't notice that Kaphne was staring at her.

He just pondered Caffne's words.

Red vines......

Red sky......

Suddenly, Annan vaguely realized something.

He leaned his head over and whispered to her in Kafni's ear - it didn't seem like he could ask, so Annan had to whisper as little as he could, "How many vines did you see, and where were they?" Do they make up some pattern? ”

Being so close to Annan, Kaphne's face turned a little red.

Her body leaned back slightly, and she avoided it a little in a bit of panic.

Then she quickly calmed down, leaned into Annan's ear, and whispered, "There are six...... Here's one. There are five other ...... Do you want to see it? I'll take you. ”

Sure enough—

Annan squinted slightly.

Be...... Hexagram?

The sixth is the number of wars, and the month of the Red Knight, the god of war, is June. If the purpose of this ritual is to cause war...... Then it is only natural to use "six" as the core to frame the ceremony.

From the earth to the heavens......

Does this mean that the whole palace was a ceremonial field?

Is it underground?

Annan put aside the speculation in his heart for the time being, and nodded seriously to Kaphne: "Okay, you can take me there." ”

Kaphne didn't hesitate.

She put her boots on, took her sketchpad and was about to take Annan with her - only then did she realize that they had been holding hands for so long.

She pursed her lips and took the initiative to extend her hand to Annan.

"Let's go, Anna."

She said seriously, "I'll take it to you." ”

“…… It's Annan. ”

Annan reluctantly corrected.