The alarm in the exhibition hall was triggered, emitting a piercing siren.
"damn it! The lead is lost again,"
Conan, covered in dust, climbed to his feet and clenched his fists, looking at the miserable state of the restroom.
"I finally managed to confirm the identity of a Black Organization member, and now this…"Conan ground his teeth. "Damn it."
After the explosion, the Mantendo game launch event was forced to a halt.
Not long after the report, several police cars arrived with sirens blaring, quickly cordoning off the scene.
However, the people who emerged from the police cars made both Conan and Ran stiffened.
The arrivals were not the usual diligent Inspector Megure, who always showed up for every alarm, but Officer Zhu Yuan, Officer Qing Yi, and Officer Seth, the three officers they had met before in Saitama Prefecture.
"Officer Zhu Yuan, Officer Qing Yi, and Officer Seth." Ran greeted them in surprise, "Aren't you police officers from Saitama Prefecture? Why are you here handling a case in Beika?"
Conan was also curious: "Yeah, where are Inspector Megure and the others? I thought they would be in charge of this case too."
Zhu Yuan directed the officers to set up the cordon and explained with a serious expression.
"The situation is special. Beika Town's crime rate has surged recently, especially with frequent violent crimes, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is severely understaffed.
At the request of our superiors, the Saitama Prefecture Police temporarily dispatched some of our elite officers to assist. Once Beika Town's crime rate drops, our temporary assignment will end.
As for Inspector Megure..."
She paused, then said, "He's currently dealing with another tricky bank robbery case, reportedly involving 1 billion yen, and he's having a headache over it."
"1 billion yen?!" Ran gasped, startled by the massive sum.
"That's right," Qing Yi chimed in, with a hint of teasing in her tone, "And the troublesome part is that a large portion of the stolen funds was cash that a European investor had arranged to withdraw today.
Now that the money is gone, neither the bank nor the other party is willing to bear the loss, and they're in a huge dispute. Inspector Megure is afraid of causing an international incident, so he's trying to mediate while investigating the case. Who knows what the outcome will be."
As Qing Yi spoke, her gaze suddenly swept across the crowd, and she asked, puzzled:
"Huh? Where is 'Sleeping Kogoro,' the man who causes a murder wherever he goes? Why don't I see him?
Inspector Megure said that Detective Mouri is practically a walking Shinigami. I thought this explosion must be his 'handiwork' too. Seeing you two, I assumed he'd definitely be here."
Rin, listening nearby, couldn't help but let out a giggle.
She naturally linked arms with Qing Yi and responded, "Wherever he goes, someone dies? Isn't that just the Shinigami! Inspector Megure's description is quite apt. But, Detective Mouri isn't here, and there's still a murder case, so maybe the Shinigami is someone else..."
Rin reached out and ruffled Conan's hair, subtly trying to tease the 'Shinigami elementary schooler.'
However, Conan who heard this, didn't find anything wrong with it.
Instead, he recalled all the times he had gone out with Mouri Kogoro before.
Going to Tsukikage Island, a series of murders occurred, going to a hot spring inn, there was a poisoning case. even going to a regular restaurant for a meal, they could run into a robbery and murder... "It seems... that really is the case? Uncle Mouri's luck is indeed ridiculously bad."
Conan gave a half-moon eye, unconsciously attributing everything to Mouri Kogoro.
Just then, Conan keenly noticed the physical interaction between Rin and Qing Yi.
Rin intimately linked arms with Qing Yi, and Qing Yi didn't resist at all, instead showing a familiar tacit agreement.
This was definitely not how a normal police-civilian relationship should be!
"Rin-neechan," Conan looked up and asked curiously, "You and Officer Qing Yi seem very close? Are you old friends?"
Qing Yi looked down at Conan and naturally replied, "Yes, we are good friends. We've known each other for a while. Zhu Yuan, Seth, and Rin are also very close."
Good friends? First the Cunning Hares, and now the Saitama police. Rin, this video store owner, certainly has a lot of good friends.
Conan pouted, said nothing more, and turned his attention to the case.
The three members of the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team also got busy.
Rin wasn't worried about this case at all. because she is familiar with the plot, so she had a 'god's eye view.'
She knew exactly who the culprit was.
Simply put, it was a tragedy born of blind devotion—one man seeking revenge for a woman who never truly chose him, wanting to kill a scumbag, but accidentally killing the wrong person.
The murderer, Hironobu Takeshita's girlfriend, Yoshimi, whom he had dated since high school, was stolen by Hideaki Nakajima of the boxing club when she went to college.
Hironobu Takeshita respected his girlfriend's choice and silently wished her well.
However, Hideaki Nakajima quickly grew tired of Yoshimi, dumped her, and got a new girlfriend.
Yoshimi, heartbroken by the breakup, chose to commit suicide.
Hironobu Takeshita meticulously planned this explosion to avenge his ex-girlfriend.
As a result, Hideaki Nakajima was completely unharmed, while the unlucky Tequila suffered terribly, leaving no trace of his body.
Knowing who the murderer is, it's like drawing a bullseye after the bullet hole. Zhu Yuan and her team will surely find evidence to solve the case quickly.
What truly concerned Rin was Inspector Megure's frantic 1 billion yen bank robbery case.
That was the massive sum Miyano Akemi risked her life to steal in order to get her sister, Miyano Shiho, out of the Black Organization.
Miyano Akemi was too naive, believing Gin's lies, thinking that with this money, she could buy freedom for herself and her sister.
Ultimately, she died tragically.
Rin decided to intervene and save Akemi.
This would not only make up for the regrets in the original plot.
It would also allow Haibara Ai to greatly boost her Film later on.
As for who to send to save Miyano Akemi, she already had someone in mind.
Just a short while ago, she had drawn a new gift package.
It was the perfect opportunity for her new partner to show off their skills.