Ke Xue: The thief Cao is actually myself

Chapter 564 The True God of Death Lives in Your House! (Please give me a monthly ticket!)
"Conan? Why are you here?"

As soon as President Takei and Secretary Hanai went out, they saw the stone tools lying on the ground and Conan lying beside them, still dizzy.

Seeing that the 'eavesdropper' turned out to be Conan, Secretary Hanai couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise, his eyes full of disbelief.

Although the pain from the beating still remained on her face, the corners of her mouth were slightly red and swollen, and her hair was a little messy, she didn't care about it at the moment. Because at this moment, doubts were surging in her heart like a tide.

Didn't this child go back with Detective Maori and his friends? Why is he still here? And why did he appear at this extremely sensitive moment?

In addition to doubts, she also felt a little uneasy and worried.

As President Takei's secretary, she knows her president too well.

The other party is not a good person at all. He will do anything to achieve his goal.

In other words, a person who can even give up his own daughter for his own benefit is extremely cruel.

It is conceivable that once he finds out that Conan heard something he shouldn't have heard, this kid will definitely be in trouble!
When Conan heard Secretary Hanai calling out his name, his heart sank, knowing that his plan to eavesdrop had completely failed. He scratched his head in embarrassment, thinking of how to make an excuse to get away, but President Takei had already strode over, grabbed him by the back of the neck like a chicken, and lifted him up.

"How dare you eavesdrop, little devil!"

President Takei said through gritted teeth, his voice full of anger, as if he wanted to eat Conan alive.

If the little boy named Conan in front of him just heard some insignificant conversations, it would be fine.

But if the other party heard something that he shouldn't have heard, he wouldn't mind using some tricks to make it so that the other party would never be able to tell what he heard.

As for Conan trying to get rid of the other person so that he couldn't reveal his secret just because he heard something he shouldn't have heard, isn't that too cruel?

Haha, being kind to others is being cruel to yourself.

In his eyes, interests come first, and anyone or anything that may threaten his interests must be eradicated.

In other words, after years of working in the business world and running such a large company, how could he really be a kind-hearted person?

Conan was lifted in the air, his hands and feet flapping, an embarrassed and nervous expression on his face, but he knew in his heart that he must not let the other party see that he was afraid.

Because, once you show weakness, it will only make the other party more unscrupulous.

"Hehe, I... I came to use the toilet and accidentally fell." Conan laughed dryly and tried to cover it up, but the trembling voice exposed his guilty conscience.

As he spoke, he was thinking hard in his mind how to get out of the current predicament.

President Takei didn't believe him at all. He snorted and said sarcastically, "Borrow the toilet? Do you think I will believe it?"

If he believed even this excuse, he would be extremely stupid.

Then, he stared at Conan with a sharp gaze and asked, "You heard everything, didn't you?"

Although he was asking a question, from his determined expression, it was obvious that he was sure that Conan had heard the conversation between him and Secretary Hanai.

Secretary Hanai felt sorry for Conan as he looked so pitiful. She stepped forward and tried to plead for Conan, hoping that President Takei would show some leniency. "President, he is just a child. Maybe it is really a misunderstanding."

President Takei turned his head and stabbed Secretary Hanai with a look like a cold knife, which was full of warning: "Mind your own business!"

That cold gaze made Secretary Hanai shiver, and for a moment, she almost doubted that if she continued to persuade him, it was very likely that not only Conan, but even she, as a secretary, would have to stay in this place forever.

After warning Secretary Hanai, President Takei turned his head again and stared at Conan, his eyes as cold as an ice cellar, "You'd better tell me the truth, what did you hear?"

Conan knew that if he told the truth, he would be in big trouble. He rolled his eyes and pretended to be innocent and said, "I really didn't hear anything. I just wanted to find a toilet and got lost." As he spoke, he secretly observed President Takei's expression, hoping to find a glimmer of hope.

"If you don't tell the truth, don't blame me for being rude!"

President Takei obviously didn't believe Conan's words. He simply increased the strength of his hands. Conan cried out in pain and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but he still endured it.

At this critical moment, Secretary Hanai suddenly had an idea and thought of a way to save Conan. She cautiously suggested: "President, I think we can lock him up first and deal with him after the matter is resolved. If we make a big fuss now, it will be bad if others find out."

President Takei listened to Secretary Hanai's words and pondered for a moment. He felt that Secretary Hanai was right and that he really couldn't make a big fuss now, otherwise it would easily bring him some unnecessary trouble.

Although he was arrogant and proud, he looked down on private detectives like Maori Kogoro and thought that the other party was just someone who relied on some cleverness and luck to make a living in the detective world.

However, it is undeniable that Kogoro Mori is now well-known in the industry and his influence cannot be underestimated.

Moreover, Kogoro Mori has a complicated relationship with the police. They exchange information and work together on cases on a daily basis, and their friendship is very deep.

Not only that, Kogoro Mori also made friends with people from all walks of life by virtue of his identity as a detective, and his network of contacts is intricate.

If such a person knew that something happened to Conan, the little brat, it would be a big trouble.

Once the police intervene in the investigation, many internal affairs of the company will be turned upside down, and those problems and flaws hidden in the dark will likely be exposed one by one.

The media always react quickly to news. Once they get a whiff of such hot news, they will swarm in and report it extensively like sharks smelling blood.

By then, overwhelming negative news will come like a storm, his company's image will inevitably suffer a severe blow, and the stock price may plummet like a kite with a broken string; customers will also be shaken in the company's credibility and choose to terminate cooperation.

The business empire that he has painstakingly built up over many years may be shaken or even collapse in this storm.

Thinking of this, President Takei's face became even gloomier, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He raised his head and looked at Secretary Hanai and Conan. There was less toughness and indifference in his eyes, and more hesitation and worry.

"Conan, please don't tell anyone what you just said."

Sensing that President Takei was interested in her proposal, Secretary Hanai quickly walked over from the right side of President Takei, clasped his hands together, and looked at Conan with a worried look, his eyes full of pleading. "If the police knew about this, then Naoko would be in real danger!"

Secretary Hanai crossed her arms over her chest and as she spoke, tears began to flow down her face like beads from a broken string. Her voice was sobbing and heartbreaking.

"I, I know."

Conan couldn't stand seeing ladies crying in front of him, and after hearing Secretary Hanai's pleading, a look of pity suddenly appeared on his face, and in the end he could only agree with a stammer.

Seeing that Conan promised not to tell anyone what he heard, President Takei snorted coldly, then threw Conan to Secretary Hanai.

"Don't let this kid out yet, lock him up in your room!"

"Keep an eye on him for me!"

After saying that, President Takei walked towards the end of the corridor without looking back, his departing figure exuding a sense of coldness and determination...

……

On the second floor, Secretary Hanai's room.

With a "click", the door slowly closed behind Secretary Hanai. The sound seemed particularly dull in the silent space.

After entering the room, Secretary Hanai placed Conan on a chair and slowly walked to the window.

She stood there quietly, looking through the window, gazing at the scenery outside, her eyes extremely deep.

Conan looked around carefully, his mind racing as he thought of a way to escape.

He knew that he had to escape as soon as possible and tell Kogoro Mori and the police about the situation here, otherwise Takei Naoko's life would be in danger.

After all, judging from the old man's previous behavior, the other party did not seem to care about saving his daughter and might give up paying the ransom in order to save the company.

Once the kidnappers learn that President Takei refuses to pay the ransom, the angry and humiliated kidnappers will inevitably do something terrible to Takei Naoko.

"Secretary Hanai, I really didn't mean to eavesdrop. I just..."

Taking a deep breath, Conan tried to break the silence, while also trying to get more information from Secretary Hanai.

He has no hope on President Takei for the time being. If he wants to get out of his current predicament, he must find a breakthrough from Secretary Hanai, obtain more information, and win her trust.

Secretary Hanai slowly turned around, his eyes fell on Conan, and a bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, which was full of helplessness and fatigue: "Conan, I know you are a smart kid. But this matter is really complicated, you don't understand."

After she finished speaking, she paused for a moment, then slowly half-knelt down, looking Conan in the eye, with a bit of apology in her eyes: "Conan, I'm really sorry, I can only wronged you to stay in my room for a while. But don't worry, this time will not be too long. After completing the ransom exchange with the criminals tomorrow, I will let you go back."

Conan met Secretary Hanai's gaze, his eyes clear but revealing a firmness beyond his age: "I understand, President Takei is worried about the company's bankruptcy, so he is hesitant about paying the ransom to save Miss Naoko, right?"

Secretary Hanai was slightly startled when she heard this, with a hint of surprise in her eyes. She really didn't expect that this seemingly ordinary child could grasp the key to the matter so keenly. After a brief moment of surprise, she sighed softly and nodded slowly, "Yes, the president has been working hard to run the company, and he never wants to see the company ruined. But Miss Naoko is his only daughter, and if possible, he also doesn't want to lose her."

It’s a pity that although the only daughter is important, in President Takei’s heart, her status is obviously not as important as the company.

Judging from all the current signs, President Takei obviously does not intend to pay the ransom to rescue his daughter.

In other words, between protecting the company and his daughter's safety, he resolutely chose to give up his daughter.

"The criminals, did they make any special demands on you?"

Conan looked at Secretary Hanai's pretty face with curiosity and inquiry in his eyes, and asked cautiously.

Any subtle information about the criminals could be the key to saving Miss Naoko.

"Just like last time, bring 500 million yen tomorrow and exchange for Miss Takei Naoko."

Secretary Hanai looked at Conan and his tone softened unconsciously, as if he was talking to his own brother.

"Will you pay the ransom?"

After hearing the answer from Hanai's secretary, Conan pretended to be innocent and asked.

In fact, he wanted to use this to further confirm President Takei's true thoughts.

Hearing Conan's question, Secretary Hanai's expression instantly dimmed. She lowered her head slightly with a sad expression on her face, "As for the president, I think he is..."

She hesitated to speak, but from her tone and expression, Conan had guessed her thoughts. Obviously, Secretary Hanai did not think that her president would readily hand over the ransom.

Conan tentatively comforted Secretary Hanai, trying to get more clues from her reaction, "If President Takei cares so much about the safety of Miss Takei Naoko, he will definitely hand over the money."

Secretary Hanai raised her head suddenly, a trace of anger flashed in her eyes, and she stared straight ahead, as if President Takei was standing there. "What he cares about most is only his so-called business empire, do you understand?"

As she spoke, her voice trembled slightly with anger. The emotions that had been suppressed in her heart for a long time finally burst out at this moment like a flood breaking through a dam.

"Ah?" Conan pretended to be surprised, but he was thinking of a countermeasure quickly in his mind.

He could tell what kind of person President Takei was and what kind of choice he would make in this kidnapping incident from the conversation he eavesdropped on before.

However, he also understood that in order to successfully rescue Miss Naoko, he must break the current dilemma, and Secretary Hanai might be the key to breaking the dilemma.

Conan was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his head and looked at Secretary Hanai with a firm gaze, trying to arouse her fighting spirit and persistence with words, "Secretary Hanai, I know you are worried about Miss Naoko and don't want to see things get worse. We can't just sit there and wait for death. There must be a way to rescue Miss Naoko without causing too much loss to the company."

(End of this chapter)