Chapter 78
The private room fell silent for a few seconds.
Date Wataru's brain couldn't help but short-circuit for a moment—how could someone actually call themselves a great detective? And the name Conan was too foreign, obviously a fake name...
Before Date Wataru could continue asking, his partner had already naturally picked up the conversation: "This must be a stage name for his detective debut, right? It really has that detective atmosphere—you can tell at a glance he likes Conan Doyle."
Date Wataru: "......"
Wait, why are you covering for him?!
But when Date Wataru's gaze swept over Usuha Izuki's appearance, his eyes started to sting—ah, this chuunibyou style, with stage names and calling himself a great detective, really did fit the character...
Vodka hadn't expected things to develop this way either.
Originally when something happened and Usuha Izuki said he wanted to go out and look around, he felt uneasy, very worried that Usuha Izuki would go crazy at this kind of scene and draw police attention.
But he couldn't stop Usuha Izuki's decision. If he could do that, he wouldn't be so thoroughly dominated by Usuha Izuki. He could only watch helplessly as Usuha Izuki swaggered out the door, not knowing what he intended to do.
Vodka had originally wanted to follow him. If Usuha Izuki suddenly had a mental breakdown, he would quickly try to distance himself and run. But his outfit was a bit sensitive at this time, so he could only stay in the private room, anxiously waiting for news.
Rather than let Usuha Izuki be conspicuous at a crime scene, he'd prefer Usuha Izuki continue going crazy with organization members—as long as it wasn't him...
Now it seemed Usuha Izuki hadn't exposed the organization, but this behavior of calling himself a great detective and helping police solve cases was hard to evaluate.
But no matter what, they weren't suitable to continue staying here. The police officer across from them was quite sharp, not one of those just going through the motions. Better to leave early.
Sigh, he knew nothing good would come of going out with Usuha Izuki. Really unlucky.
So Vodka spoke up: "Officer, this case has nothing to do with us, and we're not in the mood to continue eating. Can we leave?"
Date Wataru rubbed his eyes and came back to his senses: "Ah, it indeed has nothing to do with you. But this... uh, Detective Conan, if the police station wants to give you a commendation banner..."
"No need for a banner. Helping police solve cases is the duty of us ordinary citizens!" Usuha Izuki shouted slogans like some chuunibyou patient. "I think it's better to publicize that the police solved the case. This can also improve the police's reputation—everyone's prejudice against police is really too great!"
Vodka: "...???"
Is there such a duty? Isn't ordinary people's duty just answering questions honestly already giving face? Even police can't guarantee solving cases, but in your mouth it becomes a duty!
At least Usuha Izuki still knew he wasn't suitable to get too close to police, refusing further contact. He seemed to have some common sense.
Everyone else felt awkward, especially Date Wataru, who wasn't sure if this person was acting crazy to play dumb. Just as he was hesitating whether to probe further, his partner spoke up.
His partner said very emotionally: "So there are still good people like you! Many detectives like to step on us police to get ahead. Once they solve a case, they say we police are useless and it's all thanks to detectives..."
While speaking, his partner was also secretly tugging at Date Wataru's clothes from behind, telling him not to insist on giving people commendation banners—this was their police station's achievement!
Date Wataru: "............"
Morofushi Hiromitsu: "............"
Silently taking a deep breath, Morofushi Hiromitsu pressed his brow and told himself that regardless of the process, keeping Squad Leader away from organization-related people and matters was always right. As long as the outcome was correct.
"Since he doesn't mind, officers don't need to be polite either." Morofushi Hiromitsu chose to speak up and hint that Squad Leader shouldn't dig deeper. "It's getting late. Can we leave now?"
"Of course!" His partner had gotten a free achievement and was delighted. He didn't care what Date Wataru thought. He'd always felt that while Date Wataru was capable, he was too idealistic. What about being police? Police work was just a job. Being too serious pleased no one. "We won't disturb you. Please continue... Date, let's go. There's still cleanup to do over there."
Date Wataru sighed and bid farewell to the people in the room, leaving the private room together with the shop owner who still hadn't recovered from the shock that the murderer was actually the deceased's best friend whom no one had suspected.
Meeting the confessed murderer, the culprit had already composed herself and asked them: "Where's that detective?"
His partner was wary: "Are you going to take revenge on him?"
"No, I want to thank him. I was actually hesitating all along..."
It was too convenient. Everything went so smoothly. Sakai had heart disease and a drug history. Everyone knew she'd been unwell recently. Even if she died from an overdose injection, with Japanese police's case-handling attitude, it would most likely be treated as an accident.
Driven by hatred, she had set a murder plan, but when the person died, only emptiness remained in her heart.
The plan was indeed perfect. Even if they found the fingerprint-wiped syringe in the trash, it could be explained as Sakai not wanting to be discovered, so she handled it herself. It couldn't be used as evidence of her crime. It was about to be closed as an accident.
The culprit who tricked her into drug addiction and made her this way was already dead, but what would she do next? She could barely control herself now. If she continued like this, she'd just rot away after spending all her money.
At this time, that detective stood up.
At first, no one took him seriously because his outfit really didn't look like a proper person. Everyone was already in a heavy mood, and seeing such flashy, eye-hurting stuff made their emotions even more irritable.
But that inexplicable detective ignored the unwelcoming atmosphere, walked to her side, and quietly asked: "Are you sure this is okay? Under Japanese law, someone like you definitely won't get the death penalty. Instead, if you go to prison, you might get forced drug rehabilitation. Maybe you could live a good life again after getting out."
With just that one sentence, her already wavering defenses were instantly crushed.
She had originally planned to find an opportunity to commit suicide later, wanting to end her life before she became someone without principles just to buy drugs. Her refusal to confess was just habitual self-interest, wanting to protect her reputation before death. Actually, she didn't care about anything anymore. As long as someone gave her a reasonable excuse, she would waver.
So she went to confess.
Now coming back to her senses, she realized she seemed to have forgotten to thank that detective.
Date Wataru answered: "He left."
"I see... then forget it." Criminal Miss Yokoyama sighed. "Maybe later, if there's a chance to meet again, I..."
"There definitely will be." Date Wataru also knew what Japanese courts would decide. "As long as you properly rehabilitate and quit drugs in prison, you'll definitely have a day to come out and see him again."
Miss Yokoyama suddenly remembered something: "Speaking of which, I still don't know what that detective's name is. He seemed quite young..."
"Uh... he gave himself the stage name Conan, probably because he likes Sherlock Holmes."
Speaking of this, Date Wataru frowned.
Wait... he seemed young? What did that detective look like again?
He had clearly tried hard to observe, but why did only white and gold reflections remain in his memory when he recalled...
Even that four-leaf clover shaped earring was clearer than his face... so mysterious...
But judging by his behavior and way of speaking, his age should indeed be young, around seventeen or eighteen. It couldn't be higher—if it were, he'd have to question Japan's education level... Was this also a member of the organization that Morofushi Hiromitsu was infiltrating? Or was he just a target of that organization? The next victim?
Because of Morofushi Hiromitsu's interruption, he couldn't even ask for a name, only knowing he was "Great Detective Conan," let alone age.
Sigh... it felt like Morofushi was really doing dangerous things. Thinking about it, Furuya Rei who also disappeared might be undercover too. Hopefully both of them could safely complete their missions and return to the team...
Morofushi Hiromitsu, who was being worried about endlessly by Date Wataru, had already bid farewell to Vodka with Usuha Izuki and was heading to Usuha Izuki's apartment.
Of course, Morofushi Hiromitsu was driving. Usuha Izuki said he only knew how to drive tanks—whether this was true or just wanting to freeload a driver was unclear.
Morofushi Hiromitsu's mood wasn't as calm as he appeared. After all, he'd encountered Squad Leader whom he hadn't seen in a long time today, and the case was actually solved by Usuha Izuki. Things happened too intensively, making his mind a bit chaotic.
Fortunately, after getting in the car, Usuha Izuki sat quietly in the passenger seat with his eyes closed, not talking to him. Otherwise, Morofushi Hiromitsu would probably have had a nervous breakdown by now.
Of course, Usuha Izuki wasn't staying quiet for Morofushi Hiromitsu's sake. He was checking his harvest from today.
Date Wataru had become his number one big brother, contributing 80% of today's suspicion values! What an unexpected joy!
When he first saw him, Date Wataru contributed a wave of suspicion values. After learning he'd solved the case, suspicion values reached another peak. When he discovered Usuha Izuki refused commendation, he gave another wave... truly too generous!
Date Wataru looked like the type of cheerful, generous person who liked treating others when going out! When they met as Samukawa Shinryu last time, he hadn't felt much, but this time he finally enjoyed the feeling of points smashing his face!
At times like this, he had to specifically criticize Vodka and Morofushi Hiromitsu.
He, an organization member, ran to help police solve cases, yet these two people's combined suspicion values didn't even equal half of Date Wataru's!
Morofushi Hiromitsu was understandable—no need to be harsh on undercover agents at such times. But Vodka performed too poorly, really not loyal enough to the organization!
"Sigh..." Usuha Izuki suddenly spoke. "Scotland."
Scotland's heart tightened: "Mm?"
"I have a question I want to ask you." Usuha Izuki turned to look at Scotland who was driving. "You and that police officer today—do you know each other?"
This time Scotland didn't have any sudden braking situations. After all, he'd been mentally preparing for half the day, even mentally simulating what to do if exposed—the steering wheel was in his hands now. At worst, they'd perish together.
Therefore, he asked back: "Why ask this?"
Scotland kept doubting in his heart whether Usuha Izuki had really discovered something. If he had, why dare say such things while he was driving? If he hadn't, was this probing now?
"Intuition." Usuha Izuki pinched his chin. "I'm thinking, you couldn't be..."
Scotland's heart rose.
"Someone who almost got caught by him before for committing crimes, so he found you familiar, right?"
Scotland: "............"
Scotland: "No such thing."
"Oh, then I was wrong." Usuha Izuki noncommittally started dialing a phone call.
Scotland controlled his expression and body language to avoid obvious changes—who was this call to? Should he crash now? It would be better not to let Usuha Izuki make this call, right?
But what if Usuha Izuki was just randomly calling someone irrelevant? If he happened to crash at this moment, wouldn't that raise suspicion instead?
But if he didn't act now, even if Usuha Izuki's call didn't go through at the moment, he'd have plenty of opportunities to call after returning. And how to crash to immediately kill someone without letting him spread the message was also somewhat difficult...
Often, opportunities were fleeting. While Scotland was struggling internally, Usuha Izuki's call had already connected.
"Hello, Gin?"
Gin's side was succinct: "What is it?"
Scotland's heartbeat began accelerating.
You must know, ever since Usuha Izuki blocked Gin, he hadn't actively called Gin again, always communicating through Vodka. At this time, him calling Gin represented what meaning, exactly...
Usuha Izuki said.
"I think I've discovered a traitor."