The unscrupulous detective in Conan

Chapter 1412 Why do I feel so hot all over after drinking this tea?
Poirot Cafe remains the same as always.

However, many burly men were sitting inside the shop, looking rather mysterious.

This made the neighbors, including the wives, grandmothers, and grandfathers who frequently visited the store, feel a bit strange.

As a result of this strange atmosphere, Poirot Cafe's business was a bit slow today.

This actually made business much better for the Snow King Ice City across the street.

Fujino and Sato Miwako entered the shop, sat down, and ordered a meal.

Upon seeing Fujino, Enomoto Azusa's expression involuntarily changed.

His expression changed completely, as if he had lost his soul.

Fujino understood what she was thinking and could roughly understand why she was in such an awkward situation.

Immediately, he said calmly, "Sister Zi, you don't need to be too afraid. I'm here to help investigate the case."

"..."

Enomoto Azusa nodded slightly, naturally aware that the detective Fujino, who lived across from the shop where she worked, was a criminal consultant for the Metropolitan Police Department.

Realizing this, she realized that perhaps this person could help her.

So she said anxiously, "My brother didn't do anything, he's definitely innocent..."

“That’s what he told me, he definitely wouldn’t lie to me.”

Fujino slightly raised his hand, his expression unchanged: "Don't worry, the case is still under investigation. If your brother is truly innocent, I will help."

“Fujino-kun, you must find out what really happened…” Enomoto Azusa’s expression became even more agitated upon hearing this. “My brother is definitely not the kind of person who would kill someone and run away!”

“Indeed, Shanren would never be the kind of person to do such a thing.” At this moment, a voice came, and everyone turned around to see a man wearing a suit, tie, and trench coat, with a receding hairline, parted hair, and frameless glasses walking in.

The first impression he gives is that of a middle-aged pretentious jerk.

But look at that face, oh, that must be a pretentious office worker.

This somewhat sophisticated-looking office worker strolled over to Enomoto Azusa's table. His tone, like his demeanor, had a touch of refined scoundrel. He calmly said, "There must be some mistake. You must investigate thoroughly and clear Shan's name."

"Oh……"

Fujino nodded upon hearing this, giving the seemingly refined scoundrel a meaningful look.

Sato and I didn't tell you we were police officers, so you knew we were, right?
You little brat, you've already confessed without being asked...

I can tell at a glance that you are not human!

Narrowing his eyes, Fujino thought to himself, then put on a calm and polite smile and asked the man in front of him, "And this gentleman is?"

Enomoto Azusa clearly knew this seemingly refined scoundrel and introduced him, saying, "This is Mr. Kawase, a colleague of my brother's..."

Then she asked, somewhat puzzled, "But Mr. Kawase, what are you doing here?"

"I came here to handle some work matters..." the seemingly refined but actually scoundrel Kawase said, then looked at Enomoto Azusa and smiled, "I suddenly remembered your brother's matter, so I thought I'd come and see you."

Fujino stroked his chin and looked him over: "So, you and Azusa-nee really have a good relationship."

"No..." Kawase smiled and said, "Sugito is my good friend, and his sister is also my sister. In times like this, when he encounters something like this, of course I have to take care of him."

Fujino continued to scrutinize him: "Is that so?"

"So, in that case, do you know where he is?"

Kawase was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then said helplessly, "I don't know where he is either. If I can contact him, I will definitely persuade him to come back and turn himself in and cooperate with the investigation."

"Really?" Fujino looked him up and down with droopy eyelids. "But we can't be sure he's the murderer yet. You're advising him to turn himself in?"

"No, of course not." Kawase chuckled awkwardly upon hearing this. "What I mean is, let him cooperate with your investigation properly, and maybe we can clear his name."

Fujino smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you."

But as he spoke, he frowned again: "How can you be so sure he's not the murderer?"

"This..." Kawase was at a loss for words upon hearing this.

One minute you're asking me why I think he's the murderer, and the next minute you're asking me why I think he's not the murderer. Are you kidding me?
Fujino ignored him and continued calmly, "By the way, Mr. Kawase, what are your thoughts on the victims and Mr. Sugito?"

"Your opinion?" Kawase was taken aback at first, then pondered and said, "As for my opinion, I don't really have anything to say..."

"However, according to what Mr. Torahira said, Mr. Enomoto seems to be very capable, so it seems that he attaches great importance to Mr. Enomoto."

At this moment, Miwako Sato suddenly spoke up: "However, according to the transcript, Mr. Torahira's attitude towards Mr. Enomoto seems to be very bad."

Would Mr. Torii be like this to someone he values?

Upon hearing this, Kawase sighed, "Perhaps this is what they mean by 'disappointed in someone who doesn't live up to their potential'..."

"Although Mr. Torahira reprimanded Mr. Enomoto in front of everyone, Mr. Torahira still valued Mr. Enomoto very much."

"He even invited Mr. Enomoto to his apartment last time."

Suddenly, he seemed to remember something, and then exclaimed in surprise, "That's right, Mr. Torahira also showed him that gun back then, and he looked at it so carefully that he even looked inside the muzzle."

"I saw on the news this morning that the murderer killed Mr. Torahira with a gun. Could this be related to him being suspected of murder?"

Sato Miwako frowned: "Judging from the fingerprints on the gun, it is indeed his. However, the evidence that we are certain he is the murderer, besides the gun, is the blood-stained shirt found in the trash can near him."

"We found Mr. Shirt's fingerprints on the buttons of his clothes..."

"Is that so?" Kawase's face seemed to show disappointment, then she sighed.

He raised his hand, glanced at the time, and said, "I'll talk to you later. I need to go back to the company. It's an hour's drive from here."

But then, as if remembering something, he whispered to Enomoto Azusa, "If he contacts you, tell me, and I'll persuade him to turn himself in..."

"If I get caught while trying to escape, I'll definitely be mistaken for the murderer."

After saying that, he turned and left the store.

Fujino watched his departing figure and scoffed softly, "It seems this Mr. Kawase is quite concerned about Mr. Enomoto Sugito..."

“Well,” Enomoto Azusa noticed something amiss in Fujino’s tone and explained, “Mr. Kawase was recently transferred to the same department as my brother. Since my brother’s apartment is close to the company—after all, his company is in Kanagawa—he’s temporarily staying at my brother’s place…”

Upon hearing this, Fujino instinctively reached for his teacup and took a sip.

I just held it up briefly, and it was empty.

"Sorry, I was so busy chatting that I forgot..."

"It's ok."

Seeing this, Enomoto Azusa was extremely embarrassed and immediately turned to prepare, but Fujino stopped her.

"I brought my own tea, so I won't trouble you, Sister Zi."

Fujino twisted open the thermos inside the kettle and poured the contents into the teacup.

The pale red tea exuded a delicate fragrance, and warm steam rose and swirled around the rim of the cup. I picked up the cup and took a sip, and just as I was about to speak, I felt a warm sensation in my throat.

"...?"

Fujino frowned slightly, sensing that the black tea tasted a little off.

But remembering that Hongye had said there were tonics inside, I didn't think much of it.

Immediately, she turned to Enomoto Azusa and continued the previous topic, asking, "By the way, you just said that he lives at your brother's house, is that right?"

"That's how it is, after all, my brother has a pretty good personality..."

"Yes, so he'll be able to get your brother's shirt, right?"

"Nani?"

Enomoto Azusa was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Sato Miwako, who was standing next to Fujino, immediately understood what Fujino meant and then asked in confusion, "Do you think he killed Torii?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Fujino picked up his teacup again and took a sip. "I suspect that he prepared the shirt in advance under some pretext while they were living together, and then wore it or got it on when he committed the crime."

"After the murder, the body was dumped near Mr. Shan's house, and that's how this crucial piece of evidence was formed."

Enomoto Azusa looked completely bewildered: "But he was just speaking up for my brother..."

Fujino glanced at the seemingly clueless and ignorant girl: "What he said seems to be proving your brother's innocence, but in reality, he's just trying to pin the suspicion on him."

"I just asked about the relationship, and he said he had been to the victim's house, knew the location of the victim's house, and had conflicts with the victim."

"They might even try to persuade the other party to turn themselves in."

"This whole thing is basically saying, 'He was wrong, you shouldn't blame him anymore, he really didn't mean it...'"

Fujino scoffed lightly: "He really can say such green tea words."

"It's a case of trying too hard and making things worse."

Miwako Sato, having recovered her composure, said, "If you think about it that way, it makes a lot more sense."

Upon hearing this, Enomoto Azusa's mind raced for a moment before she focused on the conclusion and asked in surprise, "So, my brother was really wronged?!"

But as she spoke, she felt something was amiss: "But if my brother wasn't the murderer, why did he run away...?"

"Just explain it to the police."

Seeing Enomoto Azusa's puzzled expression, Fujino calmly said, "I think it's because of fear."

"Fear?"

“He had previously said that there were your brother’s fingerprints on the gun, and he specifically emphasized that your brother was very interested in the gun. I think that’s what he said to your brother at the time.”

Upon hearing Fujino's explanation, Enomoto Azusa's expression froze: "My brother, he really could have been fooled by him in a moment of panic because of something like this..."

At this moment, Fujino picked up his teacup again and took another sip: "But there's still something a little strange."

"Think about it, his company is in Kanagawa, why would he need to come all the way to Tokyo to do something?"

"Why did you have to get up so early to come when you could have come after get off work in the evening?"

“He came here with a purpose, and that purpose is very obvious.”

As he spoke, Fujino glanced at Enomoto Azusa, his eyes holding a meaningful look.

Seeing this scene unfold, Sato Miwako chimed in, frowning, "Could it be Ms. Enomoto?"

"I?"

Upon hearing this, Enomoto Azusa exclaimed in confusion, her eyes widening, clearly not understanding why she was being implicated.

Wasn't my brother framed?

Why did that murderer come looking for me...?

Fujino then looked up at Enomoto Azusa standing beside him and said, "As it stands now, that's how it is."

"But, I..."

“The police now suspect that you and your brother may be in contact, and he will definitely suspect the same thing.”

“I think he probably wanted to find out in this way whether you had been in contact with your brother.”

As he spoke, Fujino picked up his teacup and took a sip: "Do you remember, when he was leaving, he specifically told you to tell your brother this if he called?"

Enomoto Azusa looked on in confusion: "But even so, why is my target?"

Sato Miwako frowned as well: "He's keeping tabs on Mr. Sugiman's news in order to frame him for his own crimes."

"Could it be that he's feeling guilty and worried that if Mr. Shirtman is caught, the police will follow the trail and arrest him too..."

She spoke, pondered for a moment, and then seemed to suddenly realize something: "Or is it that he wants to kill Mr. Shanren again and fake it as suicide, so as to completely frame Mr. Shanren for this?"

Enomoto Azusa shook her head: "But according to Fujino-kun, he should be able to contact my brother now, so coming to me won't do any good..."

Upon hearing this, Miwako Sato lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, then sighed, "That's true. As things stand, we have more than enough evidence. His coming here would be redundant..."

Fujino, who was sitting next to him, listened while drinking tea without saying a word, but he felt as if his whole body had suddenly become warm.

This feeling seems to come from drinking tea?

How strange, let me have another sip.

Fujino felt the changes in his body, glanced down at the black tea, and then smacked his lips.

A warm current flowed from my heart and stomach through the tea, spreading throughout my body, much like the feeling of stepping from a snowy field into a warm room.

My palms, soles, and even my chest were burning hot...

Fujino sensed this and couldn't help but wonder: Why does this tea make my whole body feel hot after drinking it?
He recalled the black tea that Hongye had given him before, and after thinking about it carefully, he realized that there had never been such a strong reaction before...

Could it be that some kind of supplement worked?
Maybe so, after all, Xiao Hongye said that it contains supplements that can relieve fatigue.

As Fujino pondered this, he sensed that something was amiss.

But I don't know what's wrong.

He couldn't sense anything was wrong, so he simply stopped thinking about the things he couldn't understand.

Anyway, this warm feeling is quite nice, it really makes me feel more energetic.

Little Red Leaf can't possibly harm me, can it?

(End of this chapter)