At 195, 3-chome, Ikebukuro, there was an Italian restaurant that offered an exceptional level of privacy. It had been recommended to Ritsu by Hayasaka. He had heard that many people from the entertainment industry gathered there, and that the owner, Tokugawa, had once been the popular bassist of a men's band.
Just from looking at the restaurant's exterior, Kogoro could tell that this place was in the upper tier in terms of price.
He hurriedly pulled out the small mirror and comb he always carried in his suit pocket, quickly fixed his hairstyle, retied his necktie, and smoothed out the wrinkles in his suit jacket.
Led by a waiter, the two of them were shown into a private room on the second floor. Ritsu lightly knocked on the wall.
Sure enough, it was soundproof.
After looking around to make sure there were no listening devices or similar equipment installed, he concluded that it really was the perfect place to discuss private matters.
Taking the seat facing the door, he picked up the menu and politely handed it to Kogoro across the table.
"Kogoro-san, let's fill our stomachs before we talk business. Order whatever you'd like... though no alcohol. We both drove here, so we should obey the law."
Kogoro laughed heartily.
"Hahaha! Of course I know that. Then I won't hold back."
Goose breast with beef tenderloin, pan-seared giant tiger prawns, oysters served with plum granita.
As Ritsu silently added up the prices in his head, he realized Kogoro truly wasn't being polite.
Every dish he ordered was either the restaurant's recommendation or one of the most expensive items on the menu.
The man certainly knew how to eat.
Having already been fed by several coworkers back at the office earlier that evening, Ritsu wasn't particularly hungry.
He simply ordered the restaurant's signature pasta and left all the side dishes included in the set meal for Kogoro to finish.
After a simple but satisfying dinner, it was finally time to get down to business. Kogoro didn't beat around the bush.
"Inspector Onizawa, to be honest, I've developed a strange condition lately. Every now and then, I suddenly fall asleep at crime scenes. And when I wake up, the case has already been solved."
"The worst part is... I'm apparently the one who solved it. I honestly don't remember any of it. Do you think that's normal?"
'Of course it's normal. Because Kudo has been shooting you with tranquilizer darts ever since he was shrunk.'
Naturally, Ritsu couldn't say that so bluntly. After hearing Kogoro's concerns, he smiled, took a sip of lemon water, and replied,
"Kogoro-san, I actually already guessed what you wanted to discuss with me. But before I answer your questions, I'd like you to promise me one thing."
"What is it?"
"Everything we discuss in this room... must not be shared with anyone outside it."
Kogoro froze for a moment.
His expression gradually became serious.
"Inspector Onizawa... what do you mean? Are you saying you already know what's causing my condition?"
"Yes. Your sudden sleep episodes have nothing to do with your health. They're simply caused by being hit with tranquilizer darts."
Ritsu had long planned to reveal Shinichi's current identity to Kogoro.
Rather than waiting for Kogoro to discover it himself and potentially make a huge scene, it was better to prepare him in advance.
As long as everything remained within his control, it would only help keep Shinichi's identity hidden.
"T-Tranquilizer darts?!"
Kogoro's eyes widened in disbelief.
Why would anyone shoot him with tranquilizer darts? What possible benefit could they gain?
'...Wait. What if the person shooting him couldn't reveal themselves publicly?'
Kogoro lowered his head in thought.
His mind began racing. If he remembered correctly... these strange incidents had only started after that bespectacled brat moved into his house.
Could it really be a coincidence?
No.
If it were just a coincidence, wouldn't it be too much of one?
But that kid was only an elementary school student. How could his deductive abilities possibly be that extraordinary?
It simply made no sense.
"It seems the rumors about you weren't entirely accurate, Kogoro-san. You actually have rather impressive reasoning skills."
"Huh?"
Ritsu had been observing Kogoro's expressions the entire time and could naturally infer what he was thinking. Smiling, he continued,
"You already have your suspicions, don't you? Trust your instincts. It really was Conan who shot you with the tranquilizer darts."
"It really was that brat?!"
"Yes. And what I'm about to tell you next must remain confidential. It concerns classified police matters."
Ritsu pulled out a wristwatch tranquilizer gun identical to Conan's.
"This is one of Agasa's inventions. It automatically generates one tranquilizer dart every twenty-four hours."
"Conan has been using this tranquilizer gun together with a bow-tie voice changer to solve cases while impersonating you."
"But that's not the important part. The important part is his true identity."
Almost instinctively, Kogoro rubbed the back of his neck.
Did that mean... the number of cases he had solved was equal to the number of times he'd been shot with tranquilizer darts?
'That damned brat!'
Getting hit with tranquilizers over and over again couldn't possibly be good for his health!
'...Wait. His true identity? That bespectacled little brat had another identity?'
"His true identity is your daughter Mouri-san's childhood friend, the only son of the Kudo family, the high school detective, Kudo Shinichi."
"What?!"
Kogoro slammed both hands onto the table. His face was filled with utter disbelief.
How could a high school student possibly become an elementary school child? That was simply too absurd!
Ritsu was startled by the sudden outburst. After composing himself, he raised a hand to calm him.
"Please settle down, Kogoro-san. What I'm about to tell you is what I need you to keep secret."
"Although I'm a detective with the MPD, my true role is as a Public Security officer investigating a mysterious Organization."
"The reason Kudo ended up like he did is because of a drug developed by that Organization."
'Public Security? A mysterious Organization? A drug they had developed?'
Kogoro struggled to process the flood of information.
He calmed himself and carefully considered whether the man before him was telling the truth.
Judging by his expression, Onizawa wasn't lying. Besides, there was no reason for him to fabricate such a story.
"So that brat was turned into a little kid because of a drug created by this mysterious Organization?"
"Yes."
The moment Kogoro remembered his daughter giving that bespectacled brat a bath, a thousand angry veins seemed to pop on his forehead.
After cursing Shinichi in his heart hundreds of times, he barely managed to suppress his anger.
"Will my daughter be in danger?"
Since Shinichi had provoked such a dangerous Organization, then his daughter would surely be investigated by them as well.
As a father, Kogoro naturally wanted nothing more than to keep his daughter out of it. Unable to stop himself, he grumbled,
"That little brat isn't even an adult, yet he insists on playing detective."
"Curiosity killed the cat."
"That saying fits him perfectly."
'You're absolutely right.'
Ritsu silently agreed in his heart.
"Please don't worry, Kogoro-san. As long as I'm alive, I will never allow your daughter to become involved. I'll make absolutely certain she remains safe."
"So I hope you'll cooperate with my mission and help me keep this secret."
Picking up the wristwatch tranquilizer gun on the table, Ritsu explained,
"I had Agasa modify this one for me. The button on the left fires a fake dart that's completely harmless. The button on the right fires the genuine high-powered tranquilizer dart."
"It'll keep someone unconscious for at least an hour."
After hearing the explanation, Kogoro asked,
"So you're asking me to cooperate with him? I'll continue pretending to be knocked out by the tranquilizer dart, while secretly memorizing the reasoning behind the cases, so if the media interviews me later, I won't be left speechless?"
"Exactly, that's precisely what I mean."
"As for convincing him that the left button contains only a mild tranquilizer, that's simple."
"Just tell him that repeated injections of the stronger tranquilizer will eventually build up resistance and also harm your health."
"Kudo would never risk your well-being just to solve a case."
After remaining silent for a long while, Kogoro stood up and walked toward the door. With his back still facing Ritsu, he said,
"I'll cooperate. But you have to keep your promise."
"Protect my daughter... and that brat as well."
"Of course. Protecting the public is my duty."
"Hmph. That brat is incredibly lucky to have a teacher like you."
After watching Kogoro leave, Ritsu looked at the wristwatch tranquilizer gun lying on the table. He took out his phone and dialed Agasa.
"Professor, I've already talked things over with Kogoro-san. The rest can be explained to him by Haibara."
"Alright. Thank you so much for your help."
"It's no trouble. I'll bring the watch back in a little while."
Of course, he had also quietly installed a miniature tracking program inside the watch. After all, Kudo had the same knack for stumbling into cases that he did.
If one day his luck ran out and he happened to encounter members of the Organization, having a tracking system in place would make protecting the little detective much easier.