On the Shinkansen train from Tokyo to Saitama Prefecture.
Mouri Ran, carrying a luggage in one hand and Conan in the other, followed her father, boarding a business class carriage with the crowd.
As she looked for their seats according to the tickets, she suddenly spotted two familiar figures in the row in front of her.
"Rin-san, Ellen!" Ran exclaimed, waving excitedly, "Are you two also going to Saitama Prefecture?"
Ellen, as usual, had a lollipop in her mouth and replied around it,"That's right. Rin has a friend who opened a Chinese dim sum restaurant called Yum Cha Shin in Hakurocho, Saitama Prefecture, and we're going to support her."
"Dim sum?" Mouri Kogoro yawned, clearly unhappy about catching an early train. "Isn't that just drinking tea? Traveling all that way just for tea? Aren't there plenty of teahouses in Tokyo?" He frowned in confusion.
Rin smiled and explained, "Detective Mouri, Chinese dim sum isn't just about tea. You can enjoy all kinds of dishes from morning until noon—steamed, fried, pan-fried, sweet, savory… things like rice noodle rolls, char siu bao, lo mai gai. They're all incredibly delicious."
Rin rattled off the dish names one after another, making Ran's eyes light up, and even Conan couldn't help swallowing.
At that moment, Mouri Kogoro's stomach rumbled. He cleared his throat awkwardly."Ahem… that does sound… kind of interesting."
"Ran, what about you all? Traveling with your family, are you also going for fun?" Rin asked with a smile.
Her gaze swept over Conan's head, thinking that a case must be calling the detective again, and a murder was surely about to happen in Saitama Prefecture.
Ran said with some regret, "No, not really. We're going to Saitama Prefecture this time because my father accepted a request from a President Yamazaki there. It seems to be about some blackmail incident. Father wouldn't say much about the specifics, he needs to protect the client's privacy."
Ellen and Rin exchanged glances, both having some suspicions.
They guessed that this time's victim would be President Yamazaki. Presidents are a high-risk profession in the Conan world.
Just then, a tall, steady figure walked over—it was Anton.
He was wearing a crisp dark suit and carrying a briefcase, looking meticulous.
His gaze swept over everyone, finally resting on Mouri Kogoro, his face showing just the right amount of surprise and delight at an unexpected encounter:
"Is this... perhaps the famous 'Sleeping Kogoro,' Detective Mouri, from Tokyo?"
Mouri Kogoro was momentarily stunned, then straightened his back, a triumphant smile appearing on his face: "Haha, that would be me! And you are?"
Anton smiled and handed over his business card: "Excuse me. I am Anton Ivanov, acting President of Belobog Heavy Industries. I've long heard of Detective Mouri's reputation and never expected to meet you here."
The business card had the name Baizhi Heavy Industries and Anton's title printed on it.
"Belobog Heavy Industries?" Mouri Kogoro took the business card and looked at it. He didn't know much about the construction industry, but Anton's demeanor made him feel like he was a big shot. "Is President Anton also going to Saitama Prefecture?"
"Yes," Anton nodded, his tone steady, "to attend the annual meeting of the Construction Association. It seems we're going the same way? And these are..."
His gaze turned to the others.
"Ah, this is my daughter Mouri Ran, and the little brat next to her is Conan, who lives with us. The other two are my daughter's classmates and friends," Mouri Kogoro briefly introduced.
"I see." Anton nodded slightly to everyone as a greeting, then turned back to Mouri Kogoro,
"Detective Mouri, if you don't mind, perhaps we could chat on the way? I've always been very interested in detective stories and solving cases."
Mouri Kogoro was worried about being bored on the journey, and having a respectable-looking person to chat with, who could also satisfy his vanity, was naturally something he couldn't refuse: "Of course, of course! President Anton, please have a seat!"
He immediately enthusiastically invited Anton to sit in the seat next to him, which originally belonged to Conan.
Conan watched his seat being taken, his mouth twitching slightly.
Recalling his rudeness to Kogoro that morning, he wisely remained silent, squeezing himself reluctantly into Ran's arms.
"This isn't my choice, there's nothing I can do," Conan mumbled, blushing as he nestled against Ran.
Just then, two tall figures entered from the carriage connection.
They were wearing almost identical black trench coats, with hats pulled low, and carrying travel bags that seemed to have some weight.
They walked directly towards the first-class section, the carriage in front of this business class where Conan was.
Conan's pupils instantly dilated, and his mind buzzed.
He would never forget those two people, even if they turned to ash!
They were clearly the men in black who had given him the poison that night!
No time to enjoy the gentle embrace. these two people hold the clue to me changing back.
Conan broke free from Mouri Ran's embrace, excused himself to go to the restroom, and quietly slipped out of his seat.
Taking advantage of the brief moment when Gin and Vodka put down their travel bags and went to the dining car to buy food.
Conan, like a little mouse, quickly scurried to their seats, swiftly pulled out Dr. Agasa's special miniature bug from his pocket, wrapped it in chewed gum.
Then he crouched down and precisely stuck the sticky gum in a very hidden corner under Gin's seat.
"Done!"
Conan was overjoyed and was about to sneak away.
However, a woman with pink twin-tails and a tear mole at the corner of her eye stopped him.
Nicole grabbed Conan's collar and admonished him, "Little children shouldn't litter, it's sticky and disgusting."
With that, she took the gum Conan had stuck under the seat, with a disgusted expression, and threw it into the ashtray next to Gin's seat.
She then turned and walked towards another carriage.
"This woman isn't a first-class passenger, so why is she here?"
Conan was a little puzzled, noticing that the mineral water in Nicole's hand was identical to the mineral water hanging on Vodka's suitcase.
But the mineral water hanging on the men in black's suitcase was not missing.
He didn't think much of it and quickly scurried back to his own carriage.
By this time, Mouri Kogoro was chatting happily with Anton, and the small table was covered with canned beer and snacks.
Mouri Kogoro's face was flushed, and he patted Anton's shoulder: "President Anton, let me tell you, that case... *hic*... it was so bizarre! If it wasn't for me, Mouri Kogoro... *hic*..."
Anton kept flattering him, saying how amazing Detective Mouri was.
Conan couldn't stand the noisy drunken talk, so he had to turn back and hide in the restroom at the connection between the two carriages.
After locking the door, he sat on the toilet lid, twisted his glasses' temple, and activated the eavesdropping function.
First, a rustling noise came through the headphones, and then, the low-voiced conversation between Gin and Vodka came through clearly.