Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 437 Falling out?

"The Sakaki Group..." Shiraishi paused for a moment, then asked, "Detective Kogure, Detective Amagi, haven't you discovered any information about Inspector Minato's recent work?"

It was a complete accident that Narcissism and Amagi were able to obtain firsthand autopsy results.

The two of them originally went to investigate "Tetsuro Minato's recent work," since Tetsuro Minato is an inspector and it's easy for him to offend people.

Narcissistic and Amagi exchanged a glance and shook their heads helplessly—it was precisely because of the nature of the inspectors' work that they couldn't find out anything at all!
"Let's investigate further, focusing on the possibility that a third party was present and committed the crime," Shiraishi decided after a moment's thought.

Based on the "crime scene" and the "forensic records," it's quite clear that there's a very high probability that a third person was present at the scene.

In addition...

Based on visits to Nakamura's work environment, it seems that there are members of the Sakaki Group present, and that they have a motive for committing the crime!
But Shiraishi felt that something was off...

Therefore, the matter of the Sakaki Group was not specifically mentioned!
beep beep-

Just then, Kobe's phone rang, making Haiya glare at her—"You're not even muting your phone during the meeting, Chief?"

Kobe glanced at his phone, but instead of hanging up, he raised his hand and said, "Chief, it's the hotel calling... May I answer it?"

Shiraishi gestured for her to "go ahead."

The fact that Beika Hotel is calling Kobe at this time most likely indicates that there is something related to the case.

"Hello, I'm Kobe Detective from the Beika Police Station... Hmm, okay... I understand... No, that's not allowed... This is something the hotel can decide on its own, right? It's alright... Continue to preserve the scene... Then just don't let them go in again..." Kobe Miwako seemed to have said something very important to the hotel.

Gray Valley:? ? ?
"Kobe Detective, what happened at the hotel? What orders did you give?" Haiya asked immediately after she hung up the phone.

“There were officers from the Beika Police Station who questioned the Beika Hotel about why they let us in… But don’t worry, they already revoked the search warrant for the hotel. The Beika Police Station can’t decide what to do with the hotel rooms now. I’ve already told the hotel not to pay attention to them, and not to destroy the scene; they should preserve it.” Kobe said matter-of-factly.

Ash Valley:! ! !
"Who told you to say that? Do you know that the head of the Beika Bureau is the head of our Eleventh Division Headquarters?" Haiya immediately rebuked.

Although Haiya didn't think that his chief would be afraid of that Yan Tu Haici, as an ordinary police officer of Beika Police Station, he should still try not to provoke Beika Police Station... especially if the chief hadn't given the order!

"You found out so quickly?" Shiraishi frowned.

"Yes, it must have been Beika who made a special attempt to find out. The hotel staff aren't good at dealing with this kind of thing, so they let it slip," Kobe said apologetically.

Hotel staff are not special agents, so they have little to no awareness of counter-surveillance or secrecy. The Beihu Police Station quickly learned that detectives were investigating the scene.

After all, you can't expect all hotel employees to have Yamagishi's professional ethics...

However, when asked by the police detectives at Beika Police Station to "destroy" the scene, Kobe simply told the hotel manager to ignore him.

Kobe even told the hotel directly that they would refuse entry to the Beika Police Station officers!

Since the search of the crime scene has officially ended and the Beika Hotel has been issued a notice to lift the lockdown, the crime scene is now "the private property of the Beika Hotel" again, and the hotel certainly has the right not to open any rooms or floors...

If the police do not issue a new "search warrant," the hotel does have the right to refuse.

only……

As a large hotel backed by a conglomerate, it's one thing to be so assertive, but the problem is that the Beihu Bureau knows that the Beihu Bureau is behind this, yet it's still so assertive.

"Idiot! How could you..." Ash Valley became even angrier.

“Detective Haiya, don’t worry, I’ll explain to Chief Yan Tu… Detective Kobe, you’re right, have the hotel preserve the scene as much as possible.” Shiraishi stopped Haiya.

Upon hearing this, Gray Valley stopped yelling at her, but still muttered to himself, "Then you have to wait for the warden to give the order first!"

"Alright, you can adjourn the meeting and continue the search. This will help lift the cordon around the Beika Hotel as soon as possible... Also, the Sakaki Group, those guys are all lunatics. When you need to investigate them, remember to apply for firearms." Shiraishi gave a final instruction, fearing that his detectives might get hurt.

After all, criminal police officers generally don't have the habit of carrying guns.

Of course, it is easy to apply for gun ownership, since most police officers in the island nation are required to carry guns, with criminal police being the exception.

……

For the Sakaki Group, a new direct branch of the Tojo Clan that had only recently moved to Tokyo, Shiraishi's reputation had little effect—this group of rural militants were twenty years behind the times and still in the stage of being brave and aggressive.

Of course, Shiraishi's favorite is the martial arts style...

If Shiraishi were still in the duo, he would have been "defeated" within a year.

However, the problem is that Shiraishi is now the head of the Beika Bureau, and it's impossible for him to spend all his time not doing his job but trying to "win him over".

Therefore, the "Sakaki Group" is currently in a state of "resentment and dissatisfaction" towards Shiraishi...

This prevented Shiraishi from simply "passing through by facial recognition" as he had with other violent organizations in Tokyo.

but……

Even Shiraishi has a way!

After the investigation meeting, Shiraishi returned to his office and used his cell phone to compose a text message. The number he sent it to was not in Shiraishi's contacts, and the cell phone he was using was not the one he usually used, but a backup phone that Professor Agasa had handcrafted and that Yuto had modified for him.

Aside from some strange software, its biggest feature is that it is impossible to eavesdrop on, and even telecommunications companies have difficulty investigating it.

The text message content was obviously encrypted as well...

The real issue is quite simple—investigate who in the group has recently had a conflict with the police!
That's right, the recipient of the text message was the informant that Shiraishi had taken over from Deputy Director Heikawa.

Because he had just come of age when he went to prison, he hadn't actually joined any organization; he was just a small-time hoodlum—which is why Bi Chuan thought he might still be able to live an ordinary life.

After Shiraishi took over this young informant, he put him into the Sakaki Group...

After all, in the entire Tokugawa, there are only a few violent organizations that Shiraishi has no connections with, and the Sakaki Group is the weakest among them!

The other groups are strong enough that Shiraishi's influence doesn't seem as strong. For example, in the previous Japanese Knights Alliance, if Shiraishi went to inquire about some things, they would give him face, but it's hard to say that he has any real influence.

However, the Sakaki Group was just a bunch of "greenhorns," making it easy for informants to infiltrate and less difficult to become an undercover agent... This informant wasn't the kind you'd usually buy off with money; he was an informant with ideals and ambitions, who saw himself as an undercover police officer!

Shiraishi believed he could obtain the information he needed...

……

Just as Shiraishi sent the text message, the office phone rang. After glancing at the caller ID, Shiraishi couldn't help but think to himself, "As expected"—it was the call from the office of the director of the Beika Bureau!

Judging by the time, the detective who had been thwarted at the Beihu Hotel should have already reported the situation.

Shiraishi prepared himself briefly before answering the phone: "Hello, this is Shiraishi."

"Director Shiraishi, I apologize for disturbing you in your busy schedule..." Yan Tuhaici said politely.

"Not at all, not at all. If we're talking about being busy, how can it compare to the busyness of the head of the Yan Tu faction... What instructions does the head have?" Shiraishi asked more politely.

"I wouldn't presume to give instructions, but regarding the Beihu Hotel, is there any reason why your department has allowed the crime scene to remain unsealed?" Yan Tu asked directly.

On the other end of the phone, Shiraishi frowned slightly, then said, "What? Is that so? Beihu Hotel... Oh, you mean that young lady's hotel... Honestly, these young ladies and gentlemen just don't know the rules. I'll take her there during the regular meeting to broaden her horizons and apologize to the head of Yan Tu's department."

Shiraishi spoke as if he had just heard about it...

Today is May 10th, and the regular meeting is on the 15th. If Yan Tu is diverted by Shiraishi at this time, then the Mika Police Department will definitely investigate desperately in the next few days.

As for who should apologize during the director's regular meeting...

We'll have to wait and see how the investigation goes!
However, Shiraishi's delaying tactics were useless at this point. Yan Tu spoke directly: "Chief Shiraishi, I hope you understand that it is the higher-ups' order to hand over this case to Beika Police Station. Even if you go to Chief Odagiri, it will be the same."

"If you can get this chore sorted out, I'll be eternally grateful. If not... then please tell your people to stay out of it!"

Indeed, Chief Odagiri of the Criminal Investigation Department and Chief Tanaka of the General Affairs Department have never gotten along. During the Metropolitan Police Department's large-scale police competition, Tanaka specifically asked whether Shiraishi was considered "Odagiri's confidant".

Even so, under the current circumstances, Odagiri could not possibly choose between "double suicide" and "forced double suicide" just to make Tanaka feel bad—after all, that would bring shame to the entire Metropolitan Police Department.

Not to mention, although the inspectors are theoretically under the personnel section of the General Affairs Department, the department is actually relatively independent, and the inspectors' main leader is the "Chief Inspector", not the personnel section or the General Affairs Department.

Hearing Yan Tu speak so seriously, Bai Shi frowned even more, but still said, "Yes, I will be careful."

"It's not just about paying attention to a few things. If possible, please open the crime scene at Beihu Hotel now so my officers can search it again, okay?" Yan Tu showed no sign of being brushed off.

Shiraishi:……

It's obvious that if the people from the Beihu Bureau were allowed in now, the scene would change drastically!

“Chief Yan, I am merely the head of the local police station. I have no authority to order the hotel to do this, much less to damage the property of officers associated with my station without cause. I think you should call the court or the prosecutor’s office.” Shiraishi was no longer polite at this point.

Originally, Shiraishi didn't want to break ties with Yantu, just like their previous relationship...

But to Bai Shi's surprise, Yan Tu Haici was so proactive.
“Director Shiraishi, it seems you still don’t understand how to be a good director.” Yan Tu Haici’s tone turned serious.

"Yes, I'll need more guidance from the head of the Yan Tu faction," Shiraishi said calmly, seemingly oblivious to his hostility.

"Then let's wait and see!"

……

After Yan Tu Haici hung up the phone, Bai Shi was still puzzled—wasn't this guy a bit too "impulsive"?
Originally, Shiraishi was prepared to be held accountable by Yan Tu.

After all, the Metropolitan Police Department delegated the investigative powers to the Beika Police Station.

It's only natural that Shiraishi's meddling would provoke Yan Tu's displeasure.

but……

Bai Shi felt that the "decisiveness" Yan Tu had just shown should have exceeded the level of "the task assigned to me by my superiors was half-ruined by my subordinates".

Shiraishi felt there were only two reasons for this sense of disorientation—either the person who entrusted him with this task was more powerful than he had imagined, or… he himself had something he didn't want to reveal in the case!

"This is getting more and more interesting..." Shiraishi muttered.

Since Shiraishi directly rejected Yan Tu's request, he naturally had to inform Zong Fang that the investigation of the case should be conducted with more caution in some aspects, but also with more... recklessness in others!

The reason for being more cautious is that the Beihu Bureau will definitely show obvious hostility afterward, and we need to be prepared whether it is to cause trouble or to be caught red-handed.

but……

Since Shiraishi and Yantu have already fallen out over this case, there's no need to worry about "trying not to alarm the Beihu Bureau."

Shiraishi simply told Munakata about the matter, believing that Munakata knew exactly what kind of boundaries to maintain.

……

All day long, Shiraishi stayed in his office, waiting for a call from the Criminal Investigation Department—in Shiraishi's view, if Yan Tu really wanted to cause trouble for the Mika Police Station, he would eventually have to deal with it himself.

However, to Shiraishi's surprise, there was no news from Beito Town all day long, but instead... the case was progressing very smoothly!
First, Shiraishi's informant obtained information within the Sakaki Group...

A few days ago at Pink Holiday, the person who got into a fight over a hostess was none other than Ken Sakaki, the eldest son of the Sakaki Group.

The reason he was able to find out so easily is because Ken Sakaki recently mentioned this to many executives in his group, and he's been wanting to "teach them a lesson" these past few days!
The Sakaki Group, being "outsiders with a greenhorn's eye," had no fear of "an ordinary administrative police officer"—Minato Tetsuro was an inspector, but his status as an inspector wasn't reflected on his police badge, and even his file was sealed. Minato Tetsuro would never reveal this, and he probably wouldn't have imagined that such a wild and violent organization still existed in Tokyo...

Kuroki and Kanzaki later discovered evidence that Ken Sakaki had been following Tetsuro Minato. After working overtime all day to check the surveillance footage at the hotel in Kobe, they also discovered that Ken Sakaki had appeared in the lobby on the night of the incident!

only……

The smoother things went, the more uneasy Shiraishi felt. He had a feeling that some force was pushing the Beika Police Department to investigate Sakaki Kenjiro...

(End of this chapter)