Chapter 272
Although Usuha Izuki's email didn't explicitly state it, Edogawa Conan felt he had already interpreted this suspicion from it.
...Usuha-nii! Can't you have a little more trust in me?!
Forget it. For an elementary school student, it was indeed very easy to cause trouble, and causing big trouble was quite common. Since Usuha-nii didn't know he was actually a high school student, worrying about this was quite normal.
He was just about to find an excuse to reply when he noticed the next email had already arrived.
[Never mind, I saw those two poorly-mannered men in black again. It should be their doing. I'm calling the police now.]
Edogawa Conan: "...???"
He wanted to stop him, worried that the Black Organization members would hold grudges and might end up killing Usuha Izuki instead of being caught.
After all, he had directly called Inspector Megure using Kudo Shinichi's identity and requested confidentiality, so they couldn't trace it back to him. But Usuha Izuki's police report would definitely be a direct call to the emergency number, which could easily leave traces!
But thinking it over, Edogawa Conan couldn't find a reason to stop Usuha Izuki from calling the police. He could only pray for Usuha Izuki and send a reply.
[If you're worried about retaliation, you could go out and find a public phone booth to call the police.]
Haibara Ai asked with a twitching mouth from the back seat: "What kind of luck does this Usuha-nii of yours have? Why does he keep running into Gin and Vodka?"
She somewhat suspected this Usuha Izuki might have some strange accident-prone constitution...
"I don't know either!" Edogawa Conan was speechless. "But except for yesterday when he said he saw Gin and Vodka jaywalking, the other two times I was actually there too... so it's still okay."
Haibara Ai, weakened by her injuries, spoke with little energy but still insisted on complaining: "I don't think it's okay! This probability is really a bit strange."
Edogawa Conan sighed: "Cases summon detectives... Usuha-nii is also half a detective."
Haibara Ai: "..."
Thinking about the probability of Edogawa Conan encountering cases normally... Haibara Ai felt her worldview was slightly shaken.
Maybe encountering organization members so frequently really wasn't strange? After all, Japan wasn't big, but Gin and Vodka didn't stay in Japan every day...
That subtle suspicion in Haibara Ai's heart extinguished.
The system looked at the backend and clicked its tongue: [The organization contributed quite a bit today. Gin and Vodka's suspicion values are particularly high. They were probably suspicious all along that you were up to something. The Boss is still okay though. I really don't understand why he trusts you so much...]
Usuha Izuki: [Because the aspects where I'm untrustworthy are too prominent—even hanging on my lips. Expectations were low from the start, so when they discover I'm actually quite reliable, they become very trusting... Oh, mainly thanks to peer comparison. Say thank you to Gin for me.]
System: [Thank you Gin... like hell! You're farming suspicion values! What's the point of having such high trust values!]
[Because the days when the Boss will suspect me are still ahead.] Usuha Izuki said carelessly. [Just like with Edogawa Conan.]
System: [...?]
Usuha Izuki was too lazy to explain: [You'll know when the time comes. Anyway, gaining their trust now is all for the future!]
The system didn't pursue the question.
Usuha Izuki hadn't made any wrong moves so far, so it just needed to cooperate.
...With such terrible acting skills, how did he achieve such outstanding performance?!
By relying on deadpan and natural acting? Or by relying on Usuha Izuki's spectacular mental state?
The system was completely puzzled.
After slacking off for two days, Usuha Izuki returned to Samukawa Shinryu's office and happened to have familiar visitors.
Seeing Shiratori Ninzaburo who came with Hagiwara Kenji, Usuha Izuki said in surprise:
"What a rare guest."
Usuha Izuki swore he had no intention of being sarcastic—he just instinctively sighed, but for some reason, Shiratori Ninzaburo broke out in cold sweat.
Shiratori Ninzaburo tried hard to explain: "Well, since we usually see each other at crime scenes and can chat about what needs to be discussed then, I was worried that coming here specifically would disturb you..."
Hagiwara Kenji helplessly smoothed things over: "He probably means it literally."
Shiratori Ninzaburo couldn't help but laugh dryly: "Ah ha ha."
Samukawa Shinryu, as always, put so much pressure on people... Thinking of his purpose for coming today, he felt maybe he hadn't thought things through thoroughly enough.
"So, what's the reason for coming here 'specifically' this time?" Usuha Izuki asked.
Shiratori Ninzaburo coughed and took out an invitation from his bag, handing it to Usuha Izuki: "It's like this—my sister is getting married... They're planning to hold the wedding celebration next month. Inspector Megure, Chief Odagiri, and many other colleagues will be attending. Would you be willing to come, Samukawa-kun?"
Actually, Shiratori Ninzaburo felt that Samukawa Shinryu's aura didn't really match a wedding celebration, but since he was a consultant and colleague, and they had invited everyone else, not inviting Samukawa Shinryu would seem very inconsiderate.
Besides, he considered his relationship with Samukawa Shinryu to be decent. He mainly didn't know if Samukawa Shinryu would be willing, since Samukawa Shinryu hadn't attended when Administrator Matsumoto's daughter got married.
Usuha Izuki didn't immediately take the invitation but asked: "Are you sure you want to invite me?"
"...I'm sure."
There would be so many police officers there, and many of them looked fierce and menacing, serious and oppressive. Samukawa Shinryu mixed in among them shouldn't be too conspicuous, right?
Even if someone had thoughts, knowing there were so many police officers present, they should be rational enough not to immediately suspect Samukawa Shinryu's identity. After all, if there were really problems, would all the surrounding police be blind?
People with intelligence would understand after thinking about it.
Usuha Izuki thought for a moment and accepted the invitation: "Alright, I'll attend."
Shiratori Ninzaburo breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you."
With the main business done, Shiratori Ninzaburo didn't leave immediately but stayed to chat for a while.
Hagiwara Kenji sighed: "In the blink of an eye, Shiratori's sister is getting married."
Shiratori Ninzaburo smiled: "Indeed, and I also have someone I'm pursuing. You two are making slow progress though."
His feelings for Sato Miwako were known throughout the Metropolitan Police. Although he hadn't been able to win her over, at least there was progress.
Hagiwara Kenji and Samukawa Shinryu didn't even have targets!
"Eh? If I started dating, everyone would feel awkward asking me to organize matchmaking events, right? So I'll wait a bit longer before finding someone." Hagiwara Kenji said very righteously, as if thinking of others, then added, "Shinryu isn't completely without prospects either. He met a woman in America who had feelings for him, and they even traveled together for several days, right?"
Usuha Izuki was stunned for a moment before realizing Hagiwara Kenji was talking about Vermouth.
He pondered for a moment and answered: "Mm... but she's already passed away."
Hagiwara Kenji: "..........."
Shiratori Ninzaburo: "..........."
Shocked! How did such a safe topic turn into a landmine?! They didn't understand!
Hagiwara Kenji thought more deeply, remembering that Samukawa Shinryu's description at the time was of an older woman... and now she had passed away. Just how old was this "older," it was terrifying to think about!
Originally, Shiratori Ninzaburo had wanted to sit a while longer, but now he couldn't sit still. He felt as if ants were crawling all over his body, quickly found an excuse using the "every man for himself" principle, and fled, leaving Hagiwara Kenji behind.
Hagiwara Kenji's mouth twitched uncontrollably: "That Shiratori guy..."
He actually knew Samukawa Shinryu wouldn't get angry about this, so he wanted to ask more about what happened with that deceased woman, but seeing the other party looking down at his tea with an unreadable expression, he hesitated and gave up.
Sigh, there would be other opportunities.
Time passed quickly, and the day of Shiratori Ninzaburo's sister's wedding celebration arrived in the blink of an eye.
Mouri Kogoro and his group were also among those invited.
However, Mouri Kogoro had some resentment about this—not that he was ungrateful after being invited, but the timing felt somewhat awkward to him.
These past two days, two police officers had already been attacked and killed in succession. The perpetrator hadn't been caught yet, and it seemed the target was clearly aimed at police officers, so the atmosphere at the Metropolitan Police was very tense. Having a wedding celebration at this time and inviting so many police officers felt a bit...
Mouri Ran said helplessly: "The dates were set in advance, and besides, this isn't a wedding banquet, just a celebration... Come on, sign here quickly."
Mouri Kogoro was an invited guest of the bride's Shiratori family, so he was signing in the Shiratori family's registry.
One page had several names, and Mouri Kogoro immediately saw [Samukawa Shinryu] at the top of his page.
He was immediately shocked: "Samukawa is coming too?"
Really not afraid of ruining the atmosphere! The Shiratori family was really bold!
Hearing this, Edogawa Conan instinctively looked around, but didn't see Samukawa Shinryu's figure. He should have already entered the banquet hall.
Sure enough, upon entering the banquet hall, Edogawa Conan immediately spotted Samukawa Shinryu.
He was still dressed in black formal wear, with an indifferent expression, his cold dark red eyes making people afraid to meet his gaze.
However, because he was conversing with someone, the youth's unapproachable aura had faded somewhat. He still looked somewhat dangerous, and strangers would wonder what line of work he was in—
Oh, but here, there was no need to worry about that.
Because there were many police officers, all fierce and menacing, serious and oppressive. Those who didn't know might think this was a Metropolitan Police meeting!
Although the atmosphere was gloomy, it was also very reassuring.
Edogawa Conan thought to himself.
In this kind of setting, surely no case would occur!