Chapter 260
Because the conversation had reached this point, Haibara Ai's mental state collapsed, so Edogawa Conan couldn't continue asking... Though even if he continued, he probably wouldn't get anything more, so he temporarily gave up.
Based on current intelligence, the keywords he could extract about Botanist were: terrifying, and dark humor. Miyano Akemi's mention of a gentle and considerate nature was questionable and needed a big question mark.
...This felt even more like Samukawa Shinryu, since he had deep personal experience with the terrifying and dark humor aspects.
Even to the degree of terrifying—Samukawa Shinryu had a barrier between him and others.
However, Edogawa Conan also knew that focusing too much on Samukawa Shinryu based on intuition wasn't good, so he was very restrained, trying hard not to view people through colored glasses because of first impressions. Too narrow a vision would prevent him from seeing other problems.
If there were no new suspicious points, he would try to treat Samukawa Shinryu as a normal person.
At least Edogawa Conan had already removed the [Criminal Consultant] hat from Samukawa Shinryu's head.
Finally, Hagiwara Kenji drove to their destination.
It was a single-family house with the surname [Hamanaka] hanging outside.
Hagiwara Kenji went forward to ring the doorbell. When someone answered from inside, he said into the intercom: "I'm Hagiwara, who made an appointment earlier."
Soon, the door opened and the group walked into the house.
"Welcome." A middle-aged man wearing a flashy pink shirt, white vest, and slicked-back hair greeted them. "I didn't expect anyone would actually be able to find me here."
He looked very relaxed, not seeming worried at all that the visitors were police.
Hagiwara Kenji said: "I heard you usually do online transactions, so I was also surprised you'd agree to meet in person."
Hamanaka Tsukuru snorted twice: "Actually, I started with offline transactions too. I only switched to online to avoid retaliation after offending someone... But I understand some people's anxious feelings about not being reassured, so if they can find me, I welcome all comers. It's just that no one has found me these past two years. You guys are pretty good."
Hearing this, Edogawa Conan was already getting suspicious.
This location was quite far from where he first heard about [the Consultant]—that treasure case—and this Hamanaka consultant said no one had found him these past two years... But he clearly heard that criminal say he went in person to consult with [the Consultant]!
So to further confirm, Edogawa Conan asked innocently: "Are you that [Criminal Consultant]?"
"That's right!"
Hamanaka Tsukuru's emotions suddenly became passionate: "I am the contemporary Professor James Moriarty! My name is Hamanaka Tsukuru, and I am a criminal consultant."
Everyone: "..........."
He admitted it—he really just admitted he was a criminal consultant... Really not afraid of being arrested?
This intelligence level...
Hagiwara Kenji almost wanted to call back to the Metropolitan Police to ask if this was someone's joke.
But he still patiently continued extracting information.
Under everyone's dumbfounded gaze, Hamanaka Tsukuru unhesitatingly admitted to helping people plan crimes, and his house was stuffed with various criminal plans and tools needed to execute crimes, like guns, handcuffs, and bombs.
"In other words, as long as you follow my plans, you can definitely achieve the perfect crime—uh, except when encountering my nemesis, and the plan must be the complete version. If the simple or summary versions fail, I won't take responsibility."
Hagiwara Kenji's mouth twitched: "Nemesis?"
"...A police officer." Hamanaka Tsukuru sighed. "I don't know why, but according to my investigation results, after my clients encounter that officer at the scene, they mistake him for me, then let their guard down and leak information... I've always wanted a police officer or detective as a nemesis, so I've long wanted to have a good chat with him, but for some reason the police always keep his identity very secret, never letting him appear in interviews, always having his partner..."
Everyone: "..........."
That's Samukawa Shinryu, right? He's talking about Samukawa Shinryu!!!
The reason the police kept it secret was too understandable—if Samukawa Shinryu appeared in interviews looking like that, it would only create negative misunderstandings about the police among the public...
When Hamanaka Tsukuru mentioned the partner, he suddenly realized something and stared at Hagiwara Kenji: "Wait, I think I've seen you on TV—you're that police officer?"
Hagiwara Kenji showed an awkward but polite smile.
Mouri Kogoro cleared his throat, feeling slightly dissatisfied that he hadn't been recognized yet.
Date Wataru sighed: "Since we've already been discovered, let's just say it directly... That's right, we're the police."
Hamanaka Tsukuru looked at Date Wataru in shock: "I remember police work in pairs... Could you be his partner, my nemesis? This is quite different from what I imagined!"
As he spoke, he even showed an indignant expression, seeming very concerned about why Date Wataru could steal the title of [Moriarty Criminal Consultant].
Date Wataru didn't want to explain so much to a criminal. He asked directly: "You're doing these things, yet you're not worried at all when police show up at your door?"
"Why should I worry?" Hamanaka Tsukuru said proudly. "I never acted directly. These so-called plans are just fictional novel plots... All the characters, locations, plots, and names are completely fictional and have nothing to do with reality. Just because I wrote novels, should the police arrest me? If so, go arrest all the crime novel authors on the bestseller list first! Hmph, hahaha!!!"
Watching the maniacally laughing Hamanaka Tsukuru, everyone fell silent.
Even the usually unreliable Mouri Kogoro couldn't help showing a "subway elderly man looking at phone" expression.
Hagiwara Kenji sighed, stepped forward with a click, and handcuffed Hamanaka Tsukuru.
"Alright, Hamanaka Tsukuru, I'm now arresting you on suspicion of inciting crime, violating firearm control laws, and other charges—I really don't understand how you can be a criminal consultant when you don't even know you're breaking the law."
Hamanaka Tsukuru: "...??? How could this be!"
Edogawa Conan couldn't watch anymore, but he still managed to ask: "This... consultant, this year—"
Mouri Kogoro pressed down on his head: "Enough, stop making trouble here. There shouldn't be anything for us to do here anymore. Let's go outside and wait."
Inspector Megure had thought that to deal with a cunning criminal consultant, having a famous detective as backup would be more stable. Plus Mouri Kogoro had indeed been performing well recently, so he entrusted it to him. But the criminal started confessing the moment they arrived, making a detective completely unnecessary...
"But!" Edogawa Conan still wanted to ask if this consultant had helped anyone decode ciphers, but Mouri Kogoro didn't give him the chance, grabbing his collar and taking him outside.
Fortunately, Hagiwara Kenji quickly called for colleagues to take over, seal the materials and evidence here, while he stayed to wait for colleagues and had Date Wataru escort the criminal while driving Edogawa Conan and Mouri Kogoro back.
So when riding in the same car as Hamanaka Tsukuru, Edogawa Conan finally found a chance to extract information.
"Have you recently helped anyone decode ciphers or anything like that?"
Hamanaka Tsukuru: "Huh? I don't take that kind of business. I'm a criminal consultant! Can't you just find a proper detective for that kind of thing?"
Edogawa Conan: "...???"
Hamanaka Tsukuru suddenly became alert: "Why are you asking this kind of question? Could there be other consultants who take cipher-breaking commissions?"
Edogawa Conan: "Uh..."
Seeing this kid's expression, Hamanaka Tsukuru was heartbroken.
—Damn, he had actually become a decoy!
Edogawa Conan had no mood to care about Hamanaka Tsukuru's thoughts. His mind was in chaos too.
Wait, let him sort this out.
First, that night's criminal very clearly said it was the famous [Consultant] from the underworld who helped decode the cipher. Second, this captured [Consultant] denied doing this...
And that day, Officer Hagiwara had accidentally let slip "that guy is indeed good at decoding ciphers."
Due to various reasons, Edogawa Conan had felt he might have misunderstood Samukawa Shinryu, so he took Officer Hagiwara's reaction at the time as being because he heard the [Consultant] title and subconsciously thought wrong, thinking of the person he was most familiar with—Samukawa Shinryu, the Metropolitan Police consultant.
But now carefully recalling, Officer Hagiwara's reaction that day was very subtle...
And his constantly improving impression of Samukawa Shinryu was mostly due to Officer Hagiwara's continuous explanations and indoctrination...
Edogawa Conan suddenly felt a chill in his heart.
Recalling Officer Hagiwara's smiling farewell wave, it now seemed to have an additional layer of sinister filter, inexplicably seeping with an eerie feeling.
...It shouldn't be, right? Samukawa Shinryu couldn't really be the [Criminal Consultant], right?
If that were really the case, why would Officer Hagiwara bring him along to catch this consultant? Wasn't he afraid he'd notice something was wrong... Did he think he was just a kid who didn't understand anything, or was he misunderstanding?
After returning to the Mouri Detective Agency, Edogawa Conan quickly summarized what happened today and told Hattori Heiji.
"...You can't say I investigated the wrong person. Just tell me if he's the [Criminal Consultant] or not!"
Hattori Heiji stubbornly insisted, then seriously analyzed: "So you suspect that Samukawa Shinryu guy? But he's a consultant for the Metropolitan Police, right? He used to be a detective too..."
"A few years ago there was a case where a detective opened an agency, then went to prison for murder. It was on the headlines for two days." Edogawa Conan sighed. "I'm really not randomly suspecting people. You'd understand if you saw him."
Hattori Heiji frowned: "...Alright, how about this—I'll ask around through my dad first. Wait for my news."