Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 531 Mutual Doubt

Sure enough, the high-profile incident of a series of police killings, coupled with Minya's "Dedicated to My Father" song, immediately attracted many people trying to stir up trouble.

This correspondent named Yanase had been trying to stir up trouble for the Beika Police Station, spreading rumors about Shiraishi and implying that his relationship with Aida Yayoi was inappropriate...

At this moment, Shiraishi recognized him and immediately chased him away!
But at that moment, Shiraishi spotted a woman among the reporters who resembled Tamaki Nino. She was also holding a personal microphone and seemed to be trying to approach Shiraishi.

The guards initially dared not chase the reporters away, fearing they might fabricate something else, but upon receiving orders from the director, they simply pulled Yanase away.

"Wait! I'm a reporter too! A correspondent is a reporter too... Director Mika, you..." Yanase shouted.

Shiraishi ignored him and instead pointed to the woman who resembled Tamaki Nino, asking, "Where are you a reporter from?"

“I…I’m a news reporter too,” Tamaki Nino said hesitantly—she was indeed a news reporter, but she had come to the Beika Police Station to provide a lead, but…

"Yes, come in with me." Shiraishi said, calling Jinno Tamaki in.

Yanase: ? ? ?
Why?
Yanase shouted even louder, but no one paid any attention.

After calling in Tamaki Nino alone, Shiraishi went straight into the police station, leaving the reporters outside.

Back when Shiraishi first came to the Beika Police Station, he was in the eye of the storm and was very afraid of reporters, so he would avoid them when going to and from get off work.

However, Shiraishi has grown up now...

Firstly, it makes it clearer and easier to grasp the right balance; secondly, because Shiraishi's reputation has been established, he is less afraid of external influences.

After all, given Shiraishi's fame, negative gossip has been rampant for a long time—there's never a shortage of people trying to attract attention and gain traffic through such means.

At this time, multiple people spreading rumors had no real impact on Shiraishi...

When they saw Tamaki Nino follow Chief Shiraishi into the police station, the officers in the reception hall on the first floor all looked at him with some strange expressions.

But Shiraishi didn't care about any of that...

"Director Shiraishi, I have..." Tamaki Nino was about to speak.

"Don't rush, let's talk in my office." Shiraishi said, and went straight into the elevator.

Tamaki Nino: ...

After arriving at Chief Mika's office, before Nino could even question Shiraishi's purpose, Shiraishi asked, "Ms. Nino, are you also a reporter?"

Upon hearing this, Tamaki Nino immediately realized that Shiraishi already knew his identity...

“That’s right, I’m also a communications journalist.” Tamaki Nino nodded.

“I see… But I don’t think reporter Jinno came here today to ask me anything, right?” Shiraishi said matter-of-factly.

Upon hearing this, Tamaki Nino paused for a moment before saying, "Actually, I have an important clue that I want to reveal to Chief Mikasa. In the entire police force, I think the only person I can trust is Chief Mikasa..."

Jinno Tamaki, being very worldly-wise, flattered Shiraishi with a compliment...

Of course, that was indeed the reason she approached Shiraishi.

Aside from Shiraishi, she couldn't think of any other police officers she could trust, after all, what she was about to say was...

"Hmm? You're not trying to say that Odagiri Toshiya had an argument with your brother before he died, are you?" Shiraishi asked directly.

“Huh? No, that’s right…” Jinno Tamaki paused upon hearing this.

“I heard about this from Dr. Jinno’s colleague at the East Hospital, but… Mr. Jinno, you followed Toshiya Odagiri at the wedding celebration, right? You should know that he didn’t have the time to commit the crime.” Shiraishi asked in surprise.

In Shiraishi's opinion, since Tamaki Nino had been following Toshiya, he should have cleared his name of suspicion.

However, after a moment of silence, Renno said, "Isn't there another possibility? His minister father is still here, isn't he?"

Shiraishi:? ? ?
You reporters are really something else...

"Wait a minute, reporter Nino, do you know that this reopening of the investigation was ordered by Minister Odagiri?" Shiraishi was shocked by Nino Tamaki's wild imagination.

“Even if he didn’t give the order, those three detectives would remember this, right? And by giving the order in advance, he can also improve his reputation!” Jin Ye’s logic was complete.

If Odagiri doesn't reopen the investigation, he's deliberately protecting his son; if he does order the investigation to be reopened, he's just trying to play the good guy and then protect his son!
but……

Shiraishi shook his head and said, "If we're going to kill someone anyway, wouldn't it be better to just kill all three of them? Right now, two of the three detectives in charge of the same case are dead and one is injured. Even Chief Inspector Hakuba can't handle something this big, let alone Chief Odagiri."

Upon hearing this, Tamaki Nino fell silent for a moment, but Shiraishi could tell that she wasn't convinced, but was still thinking about how to explain it—specifically, by explaining it in the direction of "the Odagiri father and son joining forces to silence witnesses"!

“Reporter Renye, you’re being a bit suspicious of your neighbor who might steal your axe,” Shiraishi said helplessly.

“But my brother did have a heated argument with him before he died, and I even saw it!” Tamaki Nino immediately retorted.

Even Shiraishi could sense that Jinno Tamaki was somewhat resentful of his rejection of her guess.

Shiraishi then countered with, "So, do you know why we're arguing?"

"I don't know. My brother didn't tell me, and he wouldn't let me ask any more questions. Maybe he found some evidence against Odagiri?" Tamaki Nino said, his imagination running wild once again.

Shiraishi then shook his head and said, "No, I think it should be the opposite."

"Huh? What do you mean by the opposite?" Tamaki Nino was taken aback when she heard this.

“How about this? I was just about to look for Minya to ask about that argument. Would you like to watch from the sidelines?” Shiraishi asked in return.

Jinno Tamaki fell silent for a moment, looking at Shiraishi with a conflicted expression.

Clearly, she's become obsessed with conspiracy theories; if someone else had said that, Tamaki Nino definitely wouldn't have believed it.

However, with Shiraishi's reputation as a backer, Tamaki Nino did not immediately refuse.

Without hesitation, Shiraishi dialed Toshiya's number...

"RAZE!" Mina gave a unique self-introduction as soon as he answered the phone; it seemed to be his "stage name."

“It’s me, Shiraishi,” Shiraishi said, his face darkening.

"How did that old man react?" Min asked with great interest.

Shiraishi:……

"I asked you to write lyrics, and this is what you did? I... never mind, let's not talk about that now. Come to the Mikado Department!" Shiraishi shouted sternly.

but……

Given Minya's rebellious nature, "Brother Shiraishi" clearly doesn't have that much influence.

“No way! I have a bad relationship with the police station. Just ask me whatever you want!” Min-ye said nonchalantly.

Jinno Tamaki, who was standing to the side, held back and didn't say anything... Shiraishi then asked directly, "Okay, then explain why you had a conflict with Jinno Tamaki a year ago."

“Nino Yasushi? That’s…”

Min was about to play dumb when Shiraishi interrupted him, saying, "Enough! I don't want to hear you say you don't remember!"

"Tch... It was that guy who was secretly selling illegal drugs. He probably got them from the hospital, right? After I found out, I wanted to punish him a little." Min said righteously.

However, Shiraishi interrupted again, saying, "Punishment? Isn't it extortion?"

In fact, when Dr. Hara told him that Yasuyuki Nino had been embroiled in a scandal involving the sale of banned drugs, Shiraishi had a vague suspicion of this.

After all, Minya hadn't seen a doctor before, and his biggest connection with Nino Yasushi was probably this—after all, Minya was in a band, so it was perfectly normal for him to discover Nino Yasushi's actions through shady channels.

Minya paused for a moment, but then emphasized another reason...

“That’s right, I wanted to teach him a lesson, but the money wasn’t the goal. It was our band’s bassist who got involved with that stuff, so I wanted to mess with him… I hope he dies soon!” Min also said frankly.

In fact, although Minya is rebellious and plays rock music, he is very wary and disgusted by illegal drugs. He claims that it was because the band's bassist had been involved with them that he decided to "get rid of" this Ninobo out of resentment!

"Not the goal? The minister had already cut off your allowance back then, hadn't he?" Shiraishi retorted.

"Tch... So what? We also have performances sometimes... even if they're underground!" Min retorted, unconvinced.

"Is that enough for your band's expenses?" Shiraishi asked, skeptical.

"I... and also received a little help from my maternal grandfather," Minye had no choice but to say.

That's right, Odagiri was actually married into a wealthy family, and Min could also ask his maternal grandfather for money—Min really didn't care about the extortion price...

Shiraishi:……

Is having a wealthy maternal grandfather a standard requirement for starting a band?
"Come to the police station and give a statement about what you just said... Don't laugh it off. People suspect you killed Detective Nara and Detective Shiba, and seriously injured Detective Sato!" Shiraishi said bluntly.

“What? How is that possible…” Min also felt this was absurd.

“Why not? Those three are the detectives who supervised you before. Now they’ve been murdered one after another. Who do you think is the most suspicious?” Bai Shi exaggerated deliberately.

“Wait a minute, let’s put the other two aside for now. Detective Sato is the policewoman who was attacked at the Beika Sun Plaza Hotel, right? I was in the broadcasting room on the seventh floor back then!” Minya said immediately.

“Yes, that’s right, but… what if it was Minister Odagiri who killed him for you?” Shiraishi said matter-of-factly.

"Huh? That old man will kill for me? Hahaha, Brother Shiraishi, you don't really believe that, do you?"

"Whether I believe it or not is irrelevant; you are the one who must prove it," Shiraishi said seriously.

“Now that you mention it…right! I actually have someone I suspect!” Minya suddenly said.

Not only Shiraishi, but also Tamaki Nino immediately focused his attention.

Based on the previous conversation, Jinno Tamaki was somewhat convinced that this guy was innocent—unless Shiraishi had also been bribed by him and had prepared this conversation in advance, otherwise it seemed... that this guy really wasn't the one who killed him!

Putting aside Minya's "brainlessness," more importantly, if Minya was blackmailing Jinno, then Minya should not have had a motive to kill Jinno.

On the contrary, if Nino Yasushi is pushed to the limit, there is a possibility that he might turn the tables and kill Toshiya...

Minye then said in a deep voice, "Actually... I've noticed that there's a crazy female fan who's been stalking me lately."

Upon hearing this, Shiraishi glanced at Tamaki Nino.

"And then?" Shiraishi pressed.

"At first I thought it was some kind of 'bone and flesh skin' thing, but that guy seems to be a bit of a yandere. Every time I try to find her, she hides..."

“Brother Shiraishi, I suspect it’s because she also thought I was the real culprit in the case, so she killed the detective in charge of reopening the investigation in order to protect me! After all, I was recently questioned by Nara and the others, and it’s possible that that’s when she had such a terrible idea!”

Min also confidently stated that she actually suspected this "crazy fan" of killing three police officers for him.

Tamaki Nino: ...

"The exaggerated female fan you mentioned... is she dyed chestnut hair and not short?" Shiraishi asked directly.

“That’s right! Brother Shiraishi, you also noticed something wrong with this person?” Minya immediately confirmed.

Shiraishi:……

Clearly, these two people are suspicious of each other.

"Well, anyway, come to the police station right now!" Shiraishi said speechlessly, then seemed to remember something and changed his words, "No, wait, where are you now? I'll send someone to pick you up!"

Given Minye's personality, he certainly doesn't know what it means to be discreet, nor does he understand the police. He'll most likely just swagger into the police station, and if the reporters outside see him, who knows what they'll make up!

Therefore, Shiraishi still asked Gen to pick him up, and then they came up directly from the underground parking garage.

Forty-five minutes later...

"Ah! It's you?" Mina looked at Jinno Tamaki in surprise.

Immediately, Min adjusted her demeanor and said, "Girl! Don't be obsessed with me, I don't need flesh and blood..."

Shiraishi rolled his eyes – Tamaki Nino should be a few years older than Toshiya Odagiri!
"You wish! I...you..." Jinye Tamaki's doubts about him did indeed waver.

"Alright, you two stop arguing... Actually, there's someone else I suspect," Shiraishi suddenly said.

"Who is it?" Tamaki Nino asked quickly.

In contrast, Min also seemed uninterested.

The reason Shiraishi brought this up wasn't to "reveal the secret" to them, but rather...

“That person is in a dangerous situation now. I know there’s a dangerous guy who’s got his eye on him… To lure him out, Minya… I hope you can play along with me.” Shiraishi said directly.

That's right, that's why Shiraishi called the two of them to the police station!
It would be even better if we could catch Vermouth...

At the very least, we must prevent Vermouth from killing the real culprit.

"What? Me? Why? I'm not a police officer!" Minye immediately said.

Shiraishi knew that it wasn't that he was afraid of danger, but rather... he didn't want to do the kind of thing that only "police officers" would do!
"Don't you want that old man to look at you with new eyes? Right now, all the reports outside are about you. If you make a great contribution to the case... Oh, and about your extortion, if you cooperate with me, I'll get rid of it for you," Bai Shi said enticingly.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Dongdong: Today is September 9th. Remembering my brothers in Shandong, please vote for me with your monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)