Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 419 Gossip about the Kawaguchi family
Numata:......

Numata looked at the police officer's forked eyebrows, the man clutching "something important," and watched him leave with great vigilance... His heart felt incredibly heavy!

Actually, there were rumors when Shiraishi first overturned Inukai's table...

One version says that "Shiraishi is a pawn of Hakuba," meaning that the seemingly honest Director Hakuba secretly plotted against them. Another version says that "Shiraishi is a mole of the Public Security Bureau," implying that Inukai's connection with US congressmen actually betrayed the important interests of the Eastern Island Nation. Although they dared not do anything to the US, they still secretly sacrificed Inukai.

However, these rumors not only lack concrete evidence, but are also generally disbelieved by certain individuals.
Especially after Shiraishi arrived at the Beika Police Department, he continued to do as he pleased, and from civil servants and members of parliament to political and business brokers and judges... he was "vicious" in every way - this behavior is definitely not the work of Shiraishi or the Public Security Bureau.

Furthermore, Numata believed that someone must have already confirmed this!
Those people wouldn't just let Shiraishi run rampant in Tokyo without taking any action. Based on Numata's understanding of them, it was probably already at the point of issuing an ultimatum or a countdown...

However, Numata is now wavering...

Although Kazami is only a police inspector, he is still a police inspector in the Public Security Bureau. To be able to call him directly to his office at the police station... he must have a certain rank in the Public Security Bureau, right?

Furthermore, there's Kazami's reaction upon seeing him. Numata suspects that Shiraishi has already tasked him with investigating "Capital Security," and may even have given him some evidence!
"Secretary Numata, right? Does President Kawaguchi have any instructions?" Shiraishi asked politely when he saw that he didn't speak.

When Kuroki and Kanzaki returned and submitted evidence to the forensic department, Shiraishi learned about the case and naturally knew why Numata had come.

The main reason why Shiraishi sought out Kazami was, of course, because he was thinking of him for something good. However, there was also a minor reason: he wanted to ask Kazami to reveal some inside information about the "Capital Security Company".

Even if there's no "intelligence," at least you can sort out the relationships behind him, right?

But just then, Shiraishi received a phone call saying that Secretary Numata had arrived, and so...

Shiraishi simply didn't ask, but arranged for the two to meet by chance!

"No, Chief Shiraishi, you misunderstand. The president has always admired... cough, I mean, respected Superintendent Shiraishi. It just so happens... um, there will be a Constitution Memorial Day event at the Beika City Hall on May 3rd. The Capital Security will also be involved in maintaining order at the event. The president hopes to have a meeting with you. If Superintendent Shiraishi is available tonight, please do me the honor of joining us. The president has already arranged a hotel in Ginza."

Numata truly lives up to his reputation as Kawaguchi's right-hand man. Although he was once a police officer, he spent more time as a secretary, and this kind of "adaptability" has become second nature to him.

Originally, Numata intended to warn Shiraishi Kuro, but upon realizing the situation was amiss, he quickly devised an excuse to extend an invitation to dinner on behalf of the company president…

“I see… I have a date with my girlfriend tonight… But since Kawaguchi-senpai has invited me, I’ll gladly accept.” Shiraishi said with a smile.

Shiraishi understood Numata’s meaning—you didn’t consult me ​​about so many important matters before, but suddenly you think of consulting me, the director of this department, about such a small event.
Numata was nervous when Shiraishi initially declined, but breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Shiraishi accept the invitation...

"Then the president and I will be waiting for your arrival." Seeing that Shiraishi had no intention of keeping him, Numata bowed, took two steps back, and turned to leave.

Although Shiraishi returned the greeting, he never stood up throughout the entire process...

Section Chief Yuanwei was stunned—was this person really that polite before entering?
"Section Chief Mado, please see Secretary Numata off for me," Shiraishi said.

"Yes!" Yuanwei immediately replied.

……

After Numata left, he immediately called Kawaguchi to report what he had just witnessed.

"You're doing this? And you're hosting a banquet for him tonight?" Kawaguchi said, annoyed.

"President, the relationship between him and the Public Security Bureau is definitely not ordinary. That Kazami... the one with the forked eyebrows, he is very likely under the orders of Shiraishi, or at least he got some clues from Shiraishi!" Numata quickly reassured him.

He also knew that the president could be a bit short-tempered at times, but...

"Public security... I didn't know... Alright! Then hurry up and make the reservation at the restaurant!" Kawaguchi said irritably.

That's right. Although Kawaguchi has a quick temper, he can be flexible and adaptable once he catches his breath.

Kawaguchi certainly knew people in the Public Security Bureau too!
but……

At this point, Kawaguchi didn't learn anything from the police. What made him even more nervous was that there wasn't a single word... Could these guys really be secretly investigating me?

……

Meanwhile, Amagi and Narcissus returned to Narcissus's apartment in Saitama.

Although the narcissist is currently single, this apartment is huge, and even in Saitama, it has put him on a mortgage for thirty years.

After all, he had originally planned to use this house for his wedding, and he had even come up with names for his three planned children, so of course he needed a larger house.

result……

It's now a "huge single apartment"!
Not only was it deserted, but I also had to endure long commutes every day—now it's finally not so desolate, because my narcissistic father came here to "stay" after being kicked out of the house...

On the way there, Tian Shu thought that the narcissist was exaggerating a bit, but when he saw the short, fat old man in an apron open the door, he suddenly realized that the narcissist was not exaggerating at all; it was just that his narcissistic father was excessively easygoing.

"I see... You must have taken good care of me, right? Here, this is for you!"

"Not at all, it's always been the narcissistic senior who's been taking care of me. I apologize for bothering you..."

Amagi bought a cake downstairs, and his narcissistic father enthusiastically gave him a signed copy of his book, "The Darkness of the Metropolitan Police Department."

Tian Shu: ...

Yes, this is definitely a book you should never read while working!

"Uncle, I can do it myself..."

"Don't be shy!"

His narcissistic father even served him rice...

Amagi prided himself on being good at "judging people," and he had seen many seemingly amiable big shots. However... if he didn't know beforehand, he would never have guessed that the old man in front of him was a police superintendent before his retirement.

Seeing that the old man was so easygoing, Tenshu didn't stand on ceremony. After praising the food, Tenshu asked about Superintendent Kawaguchi.

“Kawaguchi, huh…yes, he was in the same class as me, we were pretty close.” Old man Kogure looked somewhat nostalgic, then asked, “You’re investigating him? Never mind, never mind, you don’t need to tell me about this…” Kogure was very secretive, and continued, “You’ve met him, haven’t you? Doesn’t he look fierce? He was like that when he was young, but actually he spoiled his family too much. He’s the type who’s not ruthless when he should be, and when he should be gentle, he puts on a sour face.”

Judging from Uncle Kogure's tone, Amagi didn't seem to be solely criticizing Kawaguchi...

“Uncle, I think Mr. Kawaguchi and his son-in-law don’t seem to have a good relationship. Do you know anything about this?” Amagi asked tentatively.

"Huh? This is also related to solving the case?" Xiaomu asked, surprised but also excited.

Seeing this, Tian Shu said confidently, "That's right, it's very important!"

"Really... I didn't want to say this, but since it's related to the case, there's no way around it..." Kogure's gossip was almost overflowing, so it was clear that she didn't really not want to talk about it.

……

Meanwhile, Shiraishi was also dining in a private room at a high-end kaiseki restaurant with the person Narcissistic and Amagi were gossiping about.

As expected of the upscale restaurant Kawaguchi chose, it not only boasts floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Tokyo, but the private room is also larger than Kogure's apartment, and the decor is antique, with screens, long tables, cushions...

If I had to say something, it would be that the food wasn't very good!
After all, high-end cuisine in the eastern islands of Japan is generally served in small portions, and kaiseki cuisine is the epitome of "exquisite"—three plates are not even enough for Shiraishi to have a single bite!
Of course, Shiraishi didn't come here tonight just for dinner.

"Superintendent Shiraishi, perhaps your two detectives have some misunderstanding about me... If they only suspect me, Kawaguchi, and want to investigate, I have nothing to say. But to keep harassing my family, isn't that a bit much?"

Kawaguchi was already being unusually accommodating, but his tone still carried a hint of threat.

"President Kawaguchi, please don't be hasty. First of all, I haven't asked anyone to investigate you, Kawaguchi. Secondly... Detective Kogure and Detective Amagi, I think they are being extra careful for your and your family's safety," Shiraishi said with a smile.

“I run a security company, and I will take care of my own safety,” Kawaguchi said coldly.

“Mr. Kawaguchi, I know you’re anxious, but don’t rush… You were once the head of headquarters, weren’t you? In Yamanashi Prefecture, is a so-called security company more trustworthy than a police officer?” Shiraishi countered.

"Shiraishi Kuro! What exactly do you want? Even if it's Hakuba Tobima, he's nothing in front of me..." Kawaguchi said angrily.

“Look, you’re in a hurry again…” Bai Shi calmly shook his head.

Kawaguchi:……

After being calmly deflated by Shiraishi, Kawaguchi calmed down and said serenely, "I know what you suspect... but this matter has nothing to do with you or the police force! I will not leak any classified information!"

"President Kawaguchi, you flatter us. This kind of thing is not our place to investigate. We are just taking normal precautions against potential kidnappings. If you feel that this investigation is bothering you, I will warn them to be careful later," Shiraishi said matter-of-factly.

However, to Kawaguchi, Shiraishi's words sounded like he was saying, "I can control the detectives at the Beika Police Station, but if the Public Security Bureau wants to investigate you, there's nothing I can do!"

Kawaguchi gradually calmed down upon hearing this...

Of course he knew that those guys in the Public Security Bureau were completely different from ordinary police officers!

Sitting in his seat, you can know many things that others don't, especially about public security...

Although there is no concrete evidence, Kawaguchi once discovered that when bomb threats occur, the police sometimes handle the situation passively and deliberately allow the explosion to happen, and then take advantage of the backlash from public opinion to expand the scope of the investigation. Unlike police officers, the police are not afraid of civilian casualties if they can take down a gang of attackers!
Of course, some unconventional methods are often used during investigations...

In the past, they could be considered "teammates," but Kawaguchi didn't want to be the target of the investigation.

“Investigate if you want… go ahead! But… if you touch my family, I won’t let this go!” Kawaguchi said, glaring at Shiraishi.

In comparison, it's better to be investigated by the local police station's criminal investigation team.

“If you’re willing to cooperate, that would be even better… By the way, President Kawaguchi, how is your relationship with your son-in-law?” Shiraishi asked tentatively.

After all, his son-in-law, Kanda, runs a foreign trade company and must know many people overseas...

However, Kawaguchi's face twitched, and he immediately said, "Inspector Shiraishi, if your daughter, while still in school, suddenly brought a good-for-nothing boy who treated traveling as his career to see you, and told you that she was pregnant... how would you treat him?"

Shiraishi:……

……

"That's how it is... If you ask me, we should have arrested him back then and let him know the darkness of the police force! But that guy Kawaguchi actually gritted his teeth and agreed to the marriage in the end..." Kogure then told his son and Amagi about the inside story of Kawaguchi and his son-in-law.

It's not surprising that he would know about this.

After all, normally, the two were police officers working together and were both superintendents. Even if their relationship wasn't good, they should have sent out invitations for their daughter's wedding—that was eight years ago, before they had retired.

However, it was all done secretly at the time, but less than a year later, they did hold a full-month celebration for their granddaughter...

At this time, Kawaguchi and Kogure also retired, and Kawaguchi's son-in-law also received financial assistance and opened a foreign trade company.

"Although it's not good to say it like that, and it sounds very unprofessional, but... that kid doesn't seem like a good person. It's one thing that he doesn't have any ability, but he also refuses to be down-to-earth. He's sucking Kawaguchi's blood on one hand, and acting like he's independent on the other." Although Kogure's tone was full of disdain for Kawaguchi, she was also a little angry for him at this moment.

Indeed, if Kanda had obediently gone to the Metropolitan Security Company with Kawaguchi, Kawaguchi might have been less likely to be robbed!
"Then it seems the relationship won't be very good..." Tian Shu said awkwardly.

Tian Shu never expected to find out such gossip.

……

Just then, both Shiraishi's and Narcissistic's phones rang simultaneously...

"excuse me."

"Feel sorry……"

Both of them answered the phone at the same time, and the people who contacted them were Kuroki and Kanzaki.

The fingerprint verification results are in, but...

This result is quite different from what I had expected!
(End of this chapter)