Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 442 Resignation
Shiraishi also knew about the SL-9 case. There was no time to rush things, but he should start planning. He wanted to use the network of connections among the Beika Police Station officers to first connect two of the three "key investigators" from back then...

As for the third person, Tadashiki Michio, since he was still working at the Beika Bureau, Shiraishi did not contact him for the time being to avoid alerting him.

but……

Just after Shiraishi had arranged to "connect Ichigaya Hibiki and Jumon Kyosuke to gradually understand the case," he received something unexpected!

"Resignation letter? Take it back, we don't need it!"

Shiraishi looked at Muto's resignation letter, didn't even open the envelope, and threw it back, even glaring at him with displeasure.

"Director, I..." Muto said awkwardly, holding his resignation letter.

"It's just a few complaints. I've been complained about countless times when I was in the team before, but... I'm not exactly a pushover either!" Shiraishi said, indicating that he can handle things and doesn't need to resign.

Muto hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, but then gritted his teeth and said, "No, Director... actually, I also have a better place to go!"

“A better place to go?” Shiraishi frowned upon hearing this.

Shiraishi's first thought was "Suzuki Group." If Ayako was worried about putting him in a difficult position and directly hired Muto at a high salary, that would make sense—after all, the Suzuki Group has plenty of such positions.

but……

At the same time, Shiraishi felt it was unlikely, since if it were Ayako, she would know his personality better and wouldn't do such a thing behind his back.

Could it be Aunt Tomoko or Uncle Shiro?
"Well... I suppose it's because of you, Director, that the Capital Security Company has been talking to me about joining them recently," Muto said shyly.

Upon hearing this, Shiraishi understood. It seemed that Kawaguchi Kensaku had acknowledged the previous "favor" and was now taking the initiative to help Shiraishi solve his problems. In Kawaguchi's view, the situation at the Beika Police Station was not good, and Shiraishi would at least have a headache.

However, if Muto resigns at this point, all the problems will cease to be problems!

As for other matters within the police force, Kawaguchi may no longer have much influence, but when it comes to the departure and retirement of police officers, that's the specialty of the "Capital Security Company"...

"Capital Security Company... what do you think?" Shiraishi stopped objecting outright.

"Well... the salary will be much higher. I've started dating recently, so I'm a little short on cash, hehe." Muto said with a simple smile.

When Kawaguchi recruited Muto to the "Capital Security Company," he didn't really pull any strings or offer any special treatment, but...

Even so, it's definitely much better financially than being a patrol officer.

"However, in terms of stability and social status, there are losses as well... You should think it over carefully," Shiraishi specifically reminded him.

"Yes, Director, I've been thinking about this for a whole day. This is what I wrote after much consideration... Thank you for your care during this time!" Muto said, handing the resignation letter to Shiraishi again.

“Alright… since you’ve made up your mind.” Shiraishi took the document this time, then nodded and said, “Afterwards, coordinate your duties with your section chief, and… um, if there’s anything else in the future, feel free to come to me.”

Shiraishi is also planning to throw a farewell party for Muto.

Although it's generally not customary to give a farewell party to a police officer who is retiring, Muto's situation is different this time!
They say it's for the sake of compensation, but if it were really about compensation, they wouldn't have waited until now...

Ultimately, it's because Muto has become the Achilles' heel of the Beika Bureau, which is why he resigned as soon as he was invited.

Therefore, Baishi not only wants to hold a farewell party, but it has to be a large-scale one!

There's no need to tell Muto; Shiraishi will have his section chief arrange it later.

……

News of Muto Tomo's resignation quickly reached the Metropolitan Police Department.

Although I had no idea who Muto Tou was normally, he has now attracted attention because of the Sakaki Group.

Shiraishi had never allowed Muto to confront these issues directly; even when the Metropolitan Police Department invited Muto for questioning, Shiraishi refused to let him go...

Seeing that the two sides were deadlocked, Muto resigned on his own, which saved a lot of trouble and relieved the Metropolitan Police Department. "He has been persuaded to leave. If you are still not satisfied, you can file a lawsuit!"
Of course, although it was called "persuasion to leave," the Sakaki Group also knew that the Beika Bureau had even held a farewell party for Muto, which Shiraishi personally attended. However... there was nothing they could do about it.

Shiraishi held a farewell party specifically for this!

Not only the Sakaki Group, but Shiraishi also wants the people behind the scenes to know... this is not over!

……

"A farewell party? Heh, just putting on an act." Yan Tu Haici said with a hint of regret after learning about the matter.

That's right, the person who guided the Sakaki Group was none other than Yan Tu Haici...

Of course, it wasn't him personally who came forward.

Yan Tu had hoped that Shiraishi would have some conflict with the headquarters because of this matter, but he didn't expect Muto to resign so quickly.

"Did you go to the Suzuki Group?" Yan Tu asked disdainfully.

"No, it's the Capital Security Company...and I heard it was Kawaguchi who personally invited him."

The person who answered Yan Tu was a long-haired woman wearing a prosecutor's uniform.

"Capital security? Kensaku Kawaguchi?" Yan Tu's expression became slightly more serious.

If someone is assigned to the "Suzuki Group," it would be tantamount to Shiraishi Kuro "giving in."

but……

If the Capital Security intervenes to poach him at this time, especially if that old man Kensaku Kawaguchi personally gets involved, although the result will be that Muto Tou leaves "gracefully," the implications will be completely different!

The fact that Shiraishi went to the Suzuki Foundation meant that he was being punished in disguise, and that Muto was only being given some support after leaving the company.

After all, Shiraishi's relationship with the Suzuki Group is well-known; to put it bluntly, he's just sharing his financial burden with someone else...

However, if it were the "Capital Security Company," which has a completely different relationship, then it would inevitably imply that "Kensaku Kawaguchi is siding with the Beika faction."

Although "forced Muto to resign," which could still be considered a loss for Shiraishi, the current situation is completely different.

Seeing Yan Tu Haici's solemn expression, the female prosecutor disregarded his feelings and asked directly with a stern face, "So... what exactly happened with the matter of the inspector?"

"A crime of passion, didn't the Mihua Police Department find out?" Yan Tu replied nonchalantly.

"What a coincidence? Right here in Beika Town?" The female prosecutor continued to stare at him and asked again.

“Otherwise what? Do you think I would kill him, Baoyue?” Yan Tu said with a smile, but then his face turned serious. “In the end… I don’t need to do this, do I? But if it were you, Baoyue, you might do it! If I had known he was investigating SL-9 before he died, I might have thought you were a suspect.”

That's right, the female prosecutor in Yan Tu's office at this moment is none other than Chief Prosecutor Bao Yueba.

Hearing Yan Tu's seemingly "teasing" but actually warning words, Bao Yue said with a gloomy face: "That's a real pity. It seems that even if you know these clues, you can't compare with the Mihua Bureau. Instead, you'll only be heading towards a dead end!"

"There's nothing I can do, it's just that I know too much..." Yan Tu seemed unfazed by Bao Yue's sarcasm. Bao Yue: ...

……

On Friday, Shiraishi personally attended Muto's farewell party...

Saturday, April 5.

Shiraishi set off in the morning, taking Ai Haibara with him... He also picked up Conan and headed to the villa he had arranged to rent with Uchida Asami.

Today is Uchida Asami's birthday party, and more importantly, many members of the Tokyo University Mystery Club will take this opportunity to get together.

Because Uchida Asami had previously invited Shiraishi, and Ai wanted to "punish the scumbag," Shiraishi agreed.

Of course, the more important... or rather, the more practical reason, is that this is the "Daitoku Mystery Club"!
Shiraishi was not only their senior from the University of Tokyo, but also the legendary director of the Beika Police Station who had solved many strange cases. Naturally, these students were also looking forward to the arrival of the "Beika Police Station Director".

As for Shiraishi...

In the police force of the eastern island nation, most of the professional officers are graduates of the University of Tokyo.

Go out and show your face to these fans now, and maybe in a few years you'll have another "professional" follower.

However, at this moment, something is somewhat different from the plan...

"Conan... I never imagined that child would admire you so much," Ayako said with emotion after learning that she was going to pick up Conan.

That's right, Ayako was in the passenger seat at that moment.

When Shiraishi accepted the invitation, Ayako had an important meeting that weekend and was supposed to be too busy.

However, the meeting was canceled for some reason, so Ayako came along as well.

After learning the details of Shiraishi's sudden invitation to the "University of Tokyo Girls' Birthday Party," Ayako was very pleased!

After all, Shiraishi doesn't usually have much contact with the "Gold Watch Group." Since it's difficult to get along well with his seniors, he might as well try harder to get along with his juniors.

For students at the University of Tokyo who are truly committed to this field, the "professional group" exam isn't that difficult...

Even disregarding the police force, among those who pass the entire civil service exam (Category A), graduates from Tokyo University and Kyoto University make up about half.

These students are from the "Detective Club" and most of them admire Shiraishi. If we don't win them over now, when will we?
Although the reason of "attending a girl's birthday party" was really too bizarre, Ayako was initially shocked, but now, after the "meeting happened to be canceled," she personally accompanied Shiraishi.

Since Ayako was also there, Shiraishi and Ai could no longer openly treat Conan as a non-human being... cough cough, not as a primary school student. The reason Shiraishi brought Conan along was that he greatly admired him and also wanted to apply to Tokyo University, so he wanted to hear some stories along the way.

When they arrived at the Mouri Detective Agency, Ran saw Conan out...

"I'm sorry, Chief Shiraishi, Ayako-nee, Conan has caused you trouble again," Ran said apologetically.

"It's okay! Ran... Sister, you can come along too!" Ai said with ill intent.

"No, no need! Ran-neechan has invited Sonoko to go shopping!" Conan quickly changed the subject—Do you want Ran to come along? I think you want me dead!
Although Conan himself knew what was going on, Ai genuinely believed that Uchida Asami was Shinichi Kudo's "first love," and that she had even confessed to him.

"You should call her Sonoko-neechan," Ran corrected her before handing Conan over to Shiraishi.

Upon seeing Ayako in the car, Conan gave Shiraishi a resentful look—he had originally planned to take this opportunity to talk to Shiraishi about something "private," but...

Since Shiraishi brought his "family," Conan will just have to keep quiet!

"Edogawa-kun, you came here to hear about your brother's heroic deeds, right?" Ai asked after he got on the bus.

"Of course not..." Conan denied angrily.

Upon hearing this, Ai Haibara immediately feigned shock: "Could it be... that the others were just excuses, and that you actually came because you like that Uchida-neechan?"

Conan: ...

Have you had enough?

Hearing the conversation between the two children behind her, Ayako chuckled and said, "Ai, you're so cute, maybe Conan came here just for you!"

Conan: ...

I'm so grateful to you for getting me out of that predicament!

Ayako thought that Conan was embarrassed by being told that he "likes older women".

"Huh? Is that so? Then come to my lab after school next time." Ai immediately gave a cold laugh.

Conan: ...

"Yes, we can do some fun experiments, but we can't use dangerous materials," Ayako reminded him.

In Ayako's memory, there were no dangerous items on Ai's lab table. Professor Agasa would keep anything that was truly dangerous away.

Conan: ...

Is this a problem with dangerous goods? Or is it that this woman is too dangerous?
If she's allowed to play around freely, Conan is afraid that one day he'll end up like those lab rats and get blown up!
Faced with the unfavorable situation, Conan decisively took the initiative: "Brother Shiraishi, have you prepared a gift for Sister Uchida?"

You dare bring your girlfriend to the girls' college birthday party? I'll expose you...

“Conan is such a gentleman, he even knows to give a birthday present… Of course, Shiraishi has prepared a souvenir.” Ayako said with a smile.

In the trunk were the gifts that Ayako had prepared.

"Honestly, I told you there's no need for all that trouble." Shiraishi's original intention was to bring her a "Mihana mascot keychain" as a souvenir.

However, after Ayako found out, she casually bought some cosmetics when she passed by the mall.

Although Shiraishi was a "guest," it wouldn't be appropriate to come empty-handed since it was a birthday party.

Realizing that the gift was prepared by Ayako, Conan could only watch with envy...

Upon arriving at the agreed-upon rented villa, Shiraishi saw that several cars were already parked outside.

"Chief Mika, you've finally arrived! Everyone's been asking me about you." Uchida greeted Shiraishi warmly upon seeing him.

Although high school detective Shinichi Kudo didn't come, "Chief Beika's" fame will only grow!

As a result, more people came to the birthday party than originally planned; almost everyone in the company showed up.

After all, it's understandable that the members of the Tokyo University's mystery club might feel a bit resentful towards a high school student, but if the target is "Chief Beika," they all obediently worship him...

(End of this chapter)