Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 418 He thought it was a public case, that he could investigate whomever he wanted...

"Huh? Do we have to check it again? Could it be... something happened?" The manager of the abandoned factory was also surprised when he received the call.

"It's nothing, just something that's bothering me a little, so I'm troubling you again. Will it cause any trouble?" Tian Shu asked.

"No problem..." The administrator muttered to himself, but he quickly arrived at the scene and opened the door for the detectives from the Mikasa Police Station.

"No one usually comes in here, right?" Tian Shu confirmed.

"Well, it's been closed for four years, and there's nothing of value there, so nobody stays there for long... Oh, right, but I come here regularly to check if any homeless people have come in. After all, it would be quite troublesome if those guys stayed there for too long," the manager said.

His job isn't just to oversee this abandoned factory; he only comes to check on it occasionally.

Led by Tian Shu, the group went directly to the innermost room.

When they arrived at the door, Tian Shu specifically asked, "Do you have the parts for this lock?"

There's a U-shaped lock on the door, and it looks remarkably new here...

"This lock? Hmm..." The administrator looked at his key tray, then shook his head and said, "Sorry, I don't recall it. It doesn't seem like it was always there..."

"Okay, I understand. I'll get back to you after I've gathered the information," Tian Shu said.

Amagi and Narcissistic also joined in, and the four of them collected various traces, including some fingerprints, at the scene of the "suspected kidnapping." Kuroki and Kanzaki then returned to the police station—they were to compare the fingerprints from the scene with other fingerprints.

As for how the "other fingerprints" came about, neither Kuroki nor Kanzaki knew, and Kuroki didn't let Kanzaki ask any further questions...

……

After Narcissistic and Amagi, they came to the Capital Security Company...

Unlike his son-in-law's small foreign trade company, the Capital Security Company has its own high-end office building, which looks much more impressive than the Metropolitan Police Department. There are many such impressive private companies that are secretly associated with the Metropolitan Police Department, so they just won't openly renovate the Metropolitan Police Department and the Metropolitan Police Department.

"Hello, do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked after seeing the two of them.

"No, we... are just two ordinary detectives. We're not here for work-related matters, but to apologize to Chairman Kawaguchi. Please report this to your superiors." Amaki looked embarrassed.

Having just been reprimanded by Chief Shiraishi, Amagi and Narcissistic no longer refer to themselves as "Beihana Police Station Detectives," and instead emphasize that it is "not official business."

"Huh? Well... okay." After hesitating for a moment, the receptionist still made the call.

Soon, the other party said with a strange expression, "President Kawaguchi invites you two upstairs."

The receptionist led the two to the elevator...

Then, Narcissist and Amagi arrived at the top-floor office with large floor-to-ceiling windows, where they saw Kawaguchi with a serious expression, sitting behind his large desk with a long face—the two were very familiar with this demeanor... he certainly had the air of a high-ranking police officer.

"You two are detectives from the Beika Police Station, right? You're pretty brave... or is that Shiraishi backing you up? Has he finally set his sights on me?" Kawaguchi asked sternly.

The tone suggested that it wouldn't be surprising if eight hundred executioners were summoned immediately.

"No, no, no, you misunderstand. The director has already severely reprimanded us. We're here to apologize to you," Tian Shu said immediately with a grin.

"Apologize? If you really have any remorse, then from now on, stop bothering my family!" Kawaguchi said directly.

"This... I'm afraid it's not feasible yet, President Kawaguchi. Actually, we suspect that Kohinata was kidnapped before," Amagi said directly at this moment.

However, Amaki noticed that when this matter was mentioned, Kawaguchi did not react as if his secret had been exposed. Instead, he showed a slightly strange expression. Amaki then took advantage of his dazed state and continued, "If such a thing really happened, I hope you can call the police in time. You should also understand that the best way to deal with a kidnapping is... especially for someone in such an important position as you. If your family members are kidnapped and you remain silent, it will inevitably lead to some bad associations."

Upon hearing what Amagi said, Kawaguchi angrily retorted, "Damn it! What do you mean? Are you questioning my leaking of secrets based on something that never even happened?"

“Of course not, it’s just… you probably already know what happened last Monday. If it weren’t for someone driving away the attackers’ car in Beika Town, and if our chief hadn’t been there afterward, things probably wouldn’t have been able to be salvaged,” Amagi continued.

Although the tone and attitude were very polite, it sounded like an accusation against Kawaguchi!

"Enough! The reason for the leak of the security situation that day is still unclear, but it certainly didn't come from me. As for your slander, I..." Kawaguchi said angrily.

But at that moment, Narcissistic quickly said, "No, you misunderstand. We didn't say anything. We were just giving you advice... If anything really happened, we just suggest you call the police. We didn't mean any other accusations."

Kawaguchi stared at him for a while before saying, "Tsukikage Yozo... Heh, that guy said in his novel that I'm cowardly, indecisive, and timid? Kid, you can try if you want to continue."

"Eh? Moon Shadow... Ah! That's my dad's pen name, right? So you know him..." The narcissist was taken aback at first, then realized what he meant.

Kogure's father was named Kogure Yozo. At first, he didn't realize that "Tsukikage" or anything like that was his father's pen name.

After all, he really hadn't paid attention to what his father had written.

“Listen carefully, if you two still want to get promoted, you’re not allowed to…” Kawaguchi seemed very anxious at this point, and even started to threaten him.

But just then, he saw that Amagi was no longer looking at him. Instead, he was sticking his butt out and looking at a group photo on the stage, saying, "President Kawaguchi, do you have a problem with your son-in-law? He's already outside the frame."

Indeed, the photo is a family portrait of three, but only the mother and daughter—that is, Kawaguchi's daughter and granddaughter—are visible in the frame. The son-in-law is completely squeezed into the frame, with only his elbow showing.

Kawaguchi trembled with anger at this moment...

Narcissistic quickly said, "Sorry, this kid spent too much time in the lost and found center, and he's become overly concerned with the details of things..."

"If you don't want to go back to the lost and found, then you're not allowed to interfere in my family affairs anymore! Show him out!" Kawaguchi said directly.

As for their relationship as father-in-law and son-in-law, Kawaguchi clearly had no intention of explaining it to an outsider.

Kawaguchi's secretary walked in with a serious expression and asked the two to leave. The secretary was also a middle-aged man. Judging from his demeanor, he must have been a police officer before. Moreover, judging from his gait, Amagi and Narcissistic guessed that he was probably from the Security Department or Security Bureau. He had the feel of a security professional.

After the secretary saw the guest off, she returned to Kawaguchi's office, where Kawaguchi, with a gloomy expression, said, "Numata, go to the Beika branch and pay a visit to that Shiraishi Kuro." Kawaguchi didn't specify what for, but as Kawaguchi's old subordinate, Numata naturally understood his meaning and readily agreed.

……

On the other hand, the narcissistic man who had just left the Capital Security Company's office building said helplessly, "Kawaguchi is obviously hiding something, but... whether you ask him or his daughter's family, they probably won't tell you."

"Hmm, and... his attitude towards his son-in-law is a bit too forceful," Tian Shu said with some concern.

"Huh? Really?" The narcissist hadn't quite grasped it yet, and asked doubtfully, "Just because of a photo? Aren't you being too sensitive?"

"What level of hatred would it take to dislike someone so much that you don't even want to see their picture? Besides... that's their office, other people would find out, right?" Tian Shu analyzed.

I don't quite understand narcissism, but Tian Shu has experience dealing with his father-in-law...

"By the way, Narcissistic Senior, would it be convenient for you to call your uncle and ask about Kensaku Kawaguchi? Uncle Kogure seems to know him quite well," Amagi asked somewhat embarrassedly.

In Amagi's view, Kawaguchi Kensaku and his narcissistic father should be about the same age, and both of them are "superintendents-in-chief"—how many superintendents-in-chief are there in the whole country at the same time? They must be familiar with each other... In fact, judging from Kawaguchi's tone, the two should be very familiar with each other.

Amagi was a little worried. First, he was afraid that Kogure Yozo was too busy, and second... Kogure Yozo was a superintendent of police, while his son was just a regular detective? Amagi didn't want to ask about these things in detail, but he couldn't help feeling that their father-son relationship might not be very good...

However, as he fastened his seatbelt, the narcissist said, "Let's go to my house then... Dad is staying at my house right now, I'll have him cook more food."

Tian Shu: ?
"That's too much trouble..." Tian Shu said apologetically.

"Nothing much, he just suddenly showed up from his rural hometown, and he's got nothing better to do... Besides, I bet he got kicked out after arguing with my mom, so he's just staying at my house now!" the narcissist said confidently.

Tian Shu: ...

……

On their way back to Saitama, Kawaguchi's secretary, Numata, also arrived at the Beika Office.

After handing out his business card to the police officers handling the incident on the first floor, Section Chief Mado immediately came out to greet him personally.

Although Numata was just a secretary, and theoretically the "Capital Security Company" was only a private company, as the head of the General Affairs Section, Mado was certainly aware of the relationship between this kind of company and the Metropolitan Police Department...

"I am here on behalf of President Kawaguchi to visit Director Shiraishi. Please lead the way," Numata said directly.

"This way, please. Take a rest first... The director has guests right now, I'll go and urge him on right away," Yuanwei said matter-of-factly.

Numata immediately understood that Chief Inspector Shiraishi did indeed have guests, but...

They weren't any important guests!

Otherwise, his head of general affairs wouldn't have said something like "go and urge them on."

Numata then said directly, "No need to trouble yourself. I only have a few words to say. Section Chief Mado, please lead the way. I won't take up any more of Director Shiraishi's time."

Since they weren't any particularly important guests, Numata felt more at ease and prepared to put pressure on them!
He wasn't unaware of Shiraishi Kuro...

But now he's completely justified!
Numata used to be a police officer, and even a police inspector in the Security Bureau. He knew exactly what the police should do and what they could do. Given the current actions of the two detectives from the Beika Police Station, Numata felt that he had a legitimate reason to put pressure on Shiraishi.

What leak of classified information...?

Putting aside the fact that these are all baseless accusations, even if they were true, is this something a police station should be investigating? Are you the National Guard or the Public Security Bureau?
"Well... okay then." Yuanwei was a little embarrassed, but still didn't refuse his request.

In Yuanwei's view, the importance of the chief's current guests was indeed not comparable to that of the people from the "Capital Security Company," but he still had someone call the chief's office first.

Although Yuanwei didn't know the specifics, it seemed to be a police inspector visiting the chief of police for some personal matters.
……

Meanwhile, in Shiraishi's office, Kazami happily received a signed CD from Yoko Okino—Yoko's manager often sent her small gifts because of the previous case.

"Shiraishi... Chief, are you really alright?" Kazami suppressed his joy and looked at Shiraishi with some concern—are you really that kind?
"It's alright, it's just that there's no use for it here. I just remembered that Inspector Kazami is replacing you... Ah, I need to take this call." Shiraishi answered the ringing office phone.

"Okay... let him come over. Inspector Kazami, we won't keep him any longer," Shiraishi said to Kazami.

Although Kazami still felt something was off, he didn't want to stay with Shiraishi any longer. If it weren't for the tempting "bait" Shiraishi had offered, he wouldn't have come here at all.

“Then I’m leaving, Director Shiraishi… Don’t think you can bribe me like this…” Kazami emphasized, still not entirely convinced.

"Don't worry, it's really just a small gift. We're grateful to Inspector Kazami for taking care of the Beika Police Station before," Shiraishi said with a smile.

Kazami left Shiraishi's office after saying that, but...

I had just opened the door when I brushed past Mado and Numata.

Ok?
Of course, Yuanwei didn't recognize Kazami. He knew he was a police officer, but he didn't know his department. After all, police badges don't directly say "Public Security Bureau." He had a police badge from the Security Bureau.

but……

Numata naturally knew Kazami because of the nature of his work!

After all, the activities of the Capital Security Company often attract the attention of the police...

Both of them were somewhat surprised, but due to the nature of Kazami's work, they naturally didn't greet each other to avoid revealing anything, and simply nodded slightly.

However, Numata's heart skipped a beat—the Public Security Bureau? Could it be that Chief Shiraishi summoned him because… wait! How could Chief Shiraishi just call the Public Security Bureau into his office like that?
Kazami felt a pang of anxiety—would this guy find out I'm a fan of celebrities?

Numata looked at Kazami nervously, while Kazami patted his pockets to make sure everything was in place, giving Numata a glare that carried a hint of warning...

(End of this chapter)