Conan: I'm really not the mastermind behind the scenes

Morobuchi Kagemitsu had no particular feelings about the painting.

But he vaguely sensed that Aoyagi Akimitsu's emotions were a bit off at this moment.

Does he not like the painting? But if he didn't, he wouldn't have specifically asked him if it was good-looking.

But if we're talking about liking someone, Aoyagi Akimitsu fell silent after telling the story, and now the atmosphere between the two of them was so oppressive it was suffocating...

Morofushi Kagemitsu was somewhat curious, but he didn't rush to ask. He stood quietly and kept him company, without even taking out his phone to pass the time.

Of course, he didn't just wait idly; he also looked up and gazed at the painting again.

The despair of the two brothers above was so realistic. As he looked at them, for some reason, he remembered what Rei Furuya had told him about Aoyagi Akimitsu's experiences...

……

"...That FBI agent seems to have had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)."

Furuya Rei said this to Morofushi Kagemitsu.

It was midnight, three months after the two of them had left the organization. The organization's hunt for Scotch whisky had lessened, and Rei Furuya took some time to meet with his childhood friend.

Although he was also evacuated from the organization, he was usually much busier than Fushi Kagemitsu. In addition to the organization, the more troublesome bombing of the US military base was also secretly investigated by the police department.

He mentioned Aoyagi Akimitsu because the case officially ended today, and the other party returned to the United States.

Morofushi Hiromitsu was not familiar with Aoyagi Akimitsu, only knowing that the other party had been Bourbon's target: "You seem to have mentioned him to me before, that he was with the FBI Hostage Rescue Team?"

“Yes,” Furuya Rei affirmed.

“That’s not surprising,” said Morofushi Hiromitsu. “Rescue workers, emergency medical staff, and police officers who frequently handle emergencies are all high-risk groups for PTSD… Did you notice anything unusual about him when you were with him?”

Rei Furuya opened a can of beer and recalled the conversation: "No, his behavior was no different from that of an ordinary person. The bomb in the Minato Ward junior high school bombing was placed under his piano, and he didn't have any stress reaction."

“But that’s normal,” he said, adding, “If it were so serious that it could be observed in daily life, the FBI wouldn’t have sent him to arrest Pramie.”

Zhu Fujingguang asked in surprise, "Then how do you know he might have had PTSD?"

"...It was Rum who said it."

When this was mentioned, Rei Furuya's expression darkened: "Some members are very familiar with high-ranking FBI officials and can find out some of their movements, and even obtain some of the agents' investigation reports."

Morofushi Kagemitsu's expression also looked rather unpleasant.

This isn't about worrying about the FBI, but about worrying about themselves. Within the Metropolitan Police Department, the National Police Agency, and numerous other law enforcement agencies across Japan, there are also many corrupt individuals who have connections with the organization and are constantly betraying information about their insiders.

For example, the deceased Katsutoshi Teraoka.

Rei Furuya took a few sips of his drink. Having worked non-stop for three months, he didn't want to continue the topic, so he put the beer can on the table for the time being.

"Hiro, don't worry, the Public Security Bureau is already stepping up its internal investigation... Let's get back to the FBI. His PTSD is probably related to the hostage situation in the US at the end of May."

Rei Furuya doesn't like the FBI. Mentioning it now is just casual conversation, much like how many people like to discuss domestic issues while drinking, expressing their opinions at length.

Morofushi Kagemitsu was a sniper while working undercover, frequently traveling abroad on missions, and therefore paid close attention to major news events in various countries. He thought for a moment and knew what it was about:
"That hospital hostage bombing case?"

“That’s right.” Furuya Rei adjusted his posture, leaning back uncharacteristically. “Speaking of which, this case is also somewhat related to Pramia.”

Morofushi Kagemitsu also knew who Pramia was; his childhood friend had used her bomb to fake his death and escape from the organization. He listened patiently as Furuya Rei began to recount his story.

"In mid-April, Pramia orchestrated a bomb attack in Maine that killed at least seven people, including a congressman, and injured more than a dozen others."

"Four of the seven people were from the same family. They were out together as a family. The father told the others to wait for him while he went to the park across the street to buy ice cream. Then the explosion happened. His parents, wife, and only child all died in that explosion."

Zhu Fujingguang frowned slightly, but did not interrupt.

"Because it involved a terrorist attack, the case was handled by the FBI. They investigated for a month and determined that the perpetrator had already left the country. The bombing was a hired killing, and the killer was that congressman's political enemy. Some tabloids and commentators made some speculations, which were all rejected by the FBI."

"At the time, many people suspected that the FBI hadn't failed to find out, but rather that the people they found had unusual backgrounds, so they dared not make it public."

Upon hearing this, Morobushi Kagemitsu understood something.

Sure enough, the next second, he heard Furuya Rei say:
"The man who lost everything to his family couldn't accept it, so he hijacked a hospital with a bomb and threatened the FBI to release the results of their investigation."

Morobuchi Kagemitsu fell silent.

Investigations are a lengthy process, and it is common for criminals to temporarily leave the country or disappear without a trace. It's not that the police don't investigate, it's just that the investigation process has slowed down.

As for not revealing the identity of the person who hired the hitman...

As police officers, they do this occasionally... no, it should be said that they do it frequently.

After all, the public security authorities are responsible for maintaining national security and social stability. If exposure could cause unrest or damage Japan's national image, they would choose to keep it a secret.

—Compared to the whole, individual justice can be completely sacrificed. As for this case…

"Has the hostage rescue team been dispatched?" Moribushi Kagemitsu asked.

“Hmm.” Rei Furuya nodded. “However, it was a failed rescue. The bomb on the seventh floor was detonated prematurely. That floor was mostly intensive care units, and the patient transfer was very slow. The commander ordered the rescue personnel to temporarily evacuate… According to the intelligence Rum obtained, Aoyagi disobeyed the order and broke into a nearby ward, trying to continue the rescue.”

His tone softened slightly when he mentioned this.

He doesn't like the FBI, but he's also a person with normal values. He has some admiration for a rescue worker who risks his own safety to save people.

"In that ward was a thirteen-year-old boy. When the explosion happened, his mother—a single mother—and his younger brother were trapped inside because they didn't want to leave him behind."

Rei Furuya recalled the more detailed news reports he had collected:

"He gave his gas mask to the sick boy and led the three of them to evacuate. When they reached the fourth floor, the bomb on the lower floor was also detonated. He had no other choice but to break a nearby window and jump off the building with them."

That's the fourth floor... Listening to this, which sounded like something out of an American blockbuster, Morofushi Kagemitsu was a little dazed: "And then?"

“He succeeded,” Rei Furuya said. “He carried a middle-aged woman and two teenagers on his back and successfully jumped from the fourth floor to the ground without getting injured, and he also managed to catch the criminal.”

He paused for a moment, then changed his words: "No, to be precise, he trampled the man to death—he landed on the prisoner's head when he landed, crushing his skull. There are photos in the news."

Hostage rescue team members are fully armed when carrying out missions, with their faces completely covered. Rei Furuya's face wasn't visible; he was identified as Aoyagi Akimitsu based on his build.

Morofushi Kagemitsu, who felt that the action blockbuster had turned into an 18+ gore movie: "..."

Thinking of how his childhood friend had been ordered to investigate such a violent maniac, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat: "At least, the man survived."

“No.” Rei Furuya shook his head. “He still died in the end.”

Zhu Fujingguang was taken aback.

"Due to the hospital explosion, the existing patients had to be transferred to other hospitals for treatment, but the boy's family was not well-off."

Rei Furuya sighed softly.

"His family had given all their savings to that hospital to treat his illness. The kidnapping was an accident, and the insurance wouldn't cover it. They also didn't have the money to find a new hospital for treatment... He died three days after being discharged from the hospital. He died at home, and the specific cause of death wasn't reported."

At first, Morofushi Kagemitsu was just listening to a story, but as he listened, he gradually became involved and couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.

"So that's why he got PTSD? The person he risked his life to save still died in the end. It's definitely a huge blow to the rescue workers."

Fang Guling was silent.

When Morofushi Kagemitsu saw his childhood friend's expression, he instantly realized what he had just said, and his face changed immediately.

However, before he could apologize or change the subject, Rei Furuya continued in a calm voice:

"I don't know, maybe something else happened in between... Anyway, after that, Aoyagi's psychological test showed abnormalities, and he applied to withdraw from the hostage rescue team and took a three-month leave of absence. Then at the end of August, he came to Japan to arrest Pramia."

The story seems clear at this point.

A highly capable FBI agent, deeply troubled by the death of an innocent teenager, takes on this difficult task alone, which may involve troublesome political figures, and begins a transnational investigation.

Morofushi Kagemitsu did not see Aoyagi Akimitsu in person at that time.

He only managed to sketch out a rough image of the other person in his mind from the information relayed by his childhood friend.

An impulsive person, but kind at heart.

……

Three years have passed since that conversation.

The person who was talking at that time is now standing in front of Morofushi Kagemitsu, looking at the painting of two brothers separated by life and death without saying a word.

Morofushi Kagemitsu's gaze also fell on the faces of the two boys. He stared at them for another ten seconds or so, and then suddenly his brows furrowed.

Is it his imagination?

The boy in the painting, whose delicate face couldn't hide his panic and fear, doesn't he look somewhat similar to Aoyagi Akimitsu?
"Let's go."

A voice rang out, interrupting Morofushi Kagemitsu's thoughts.

Aoyagi Akimitsu turned to look at Morofushi Kagemitsu, his expression gentle: "Sorry, I was just thinking about something, so I got distracted. I'd like to go check out the other exhibition halls now... Would you like to stay with me a little longer?"

Morofushi Kagemitsu stared intently at that face, and when he met those light brown eyes, he slowly nodded.

"it is good."

He suppressed his doubts once again. (End of Chapter)