I'm in Conan, I'm not a gangster

Chapter 471 Target: Hoshino Terumi (1st update)
Private parties in the entertainment industry are always like this: dim lighting, low music, and countless shady deals hidden in the clinking of glasses.

Shiraishi E, holding a glass of champagne, casually strolled through the crowd, her gaze sweeping over the impeccably dressed celebrities—some whispering to young artists, others exchanging business cards and knowing glances in the corners.

After his initial surprise, he's now used to it.

After all, desires are always naked in this circle; it's just that some people package them more elegantly.

Suddenly, his gaze fell on a figure in the corner.

It was a young female celebrity, sitting alone on a high stool in the corner, a slender cigarette between her fingers, her expression appearing particularly aloof amidst the swirling smoke.

Her makeup was exquisite, but her eyes were dull and lifeless, as if she didn't belong in this noisy world.

This person clearly has a story to tell!

With the mindset that she didn't mind the trouble of doing bad things, Shiraishi E walked straight over.

"Aren't you afraid of missing any 'opportunities' by hiding here all by yourself?" he said half-jokingly, his voice tinged with a hint of mockery.

The female celebrity glanced up at him, forcing a smile: "An opportunity?"

She exhaled a smoke ring and said in a light voice, "I can't afford the 'opportunities' here."

Shiraishi E sat down next to her, and only after getting closer could she see what the other looked like: "Hoshino Terumi, right? I've seen your acting, you're quite good."

She scoffed, "What's the use of good acting skills? Without connections or a sugar daddy, you can't even get a decent role."

Her tone was self-deprecating, but more than that, it conveyed exhaustion and disappointment.

Shiraishi E didn't respond, but simply observed her quietly.

Her fingers trembled slightly, and she didn't even notice the cigarette ash falling onto her skirt.

He suddenly found it amusing—in this decadent and extravagant place, there were actually people who suffered because their Dao heart was shattered.

"Why did it turn out like this?" she murmured, as if asking herself, "It shouldn't be like this..."

Shiraishi E laughed: "What do you think it should look like?"

Hoshino Terumi remained silent for a while, then finally shook her head: "Never mind, there's no use saying anything more... I can't change anything."

Her voice grew softer and softer, as if she no longer had the strength to complain; she just kept smoking and drinking.

Her world-weary attitude perfectly suited Shiraishi E's taste.

It is precisely this kind of person, who is talented but unappreciated, resentful, and harbors a burning anger, who is suitable to work for him.

Shiraishi E stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly spoke: "Do you want to know the meaning of life?"

Hoshino Terumi was taken aback, looking at him suspiciously: "What do you mean?"

Instead of answering directly, Shiraishi E took out a delicate little bottle from her pocket, containing a few inconspicuous pills.

He shook the bottle and smiled mysteriously, "This stuff is amazing. If you eat it and die, no one will be able to detect it. Even Sherlock Holmes couldn't figure it out. Do you believe me?"

Hoshino Terumi stared at the bottle of pills, first puzzled, then unable to help but laugh: "Even Sherlock Holmes couldn't solve it? How much do you underestimate Sherlock Holmes?"

Shiraishi E chuckled softly and said, "Don't believe me? Then we can do an experiment."

"An experiment?" Her smile froze. "You wouldn't be thinking of—"

“You guessed right. You can choose a lucky audience member.” Shiraishi E’s tone was as relaxed as if she were discussing tonight’s dessert.

Hoshino Terumi unconsciously tightened her grip on the cigarette. She hesitated for a few seconds before her gaze swept across the crowd and landed on a middle-aged man in a suit and tie—a famous producer who was currently holding a young actress around the waist with a greasy smile.

"Let's go with him!" she said in a low voice, a hint of coldness in her tone.

Following her gaze, Shiraishi E asked with interest, "Why him? Because he sexually harassed you?"

Hoshino Terumi took a deep drag of her cigarette and slowly exhaled, "Yes, but I refused."

Her eyes sharpened: "Then he went around telling people that I didn't know what was good for me, and he colluded with other producers to blacklist me."

Shiraishi E raised an eyebrow: "Oh? That much energy?"

“It’s not that he has a lot of power,” she sneered. “It’s just that this bunch of bastards are banding together.”

Shiraishi E nodded, revealing a meaningful smile: "I understand. A small circle monopolizing power makes it easy for them to do whatever they want... that is indeed a crime deserving of death."

He stood up and straightened his cuffs: "You wait here."

Before Hoshino Terumi could react, Shiraishi E had already gracefully walked towards the producer with her wine glass in hand.

She held her breath, her eyes fixed on his figure.

The other person naturally joined the conversation, and in the instant the producer turned around, they flicked their finger, and a pill silently fell into the other person's champagne glass, dissolving quickly.

The whole process took only a few seconds, and no one even noticed this subtle movement.

Shiraishi E returned to her side as if nothing had happened, a faint smile on her lips: "All done. Just watch the show unfold." Hoshino Terumi's heart suddenly raced. She stared intently at the producer as he raised his glass and downed it in one gulp.

The next five minutes felt like an eternity.

At first, everything seemed normal. The producer was still chatting and laughing, even flirting with the actress with his arm around her waist.

But soon, his expression suddenly twisted, and his fingers unconsciously gripped the shirt at his chest.

"Ugh..." He let out a muffled groan. Before anyone around him could react, he staggered back two steps and then collapsed to the ground with a "thud," clutching his heart tightly with both hands, his face turning deathly pale.

"Hey! What's wrong?" the actress next to her shouted in a panic.

The crowd instantly stirred.

The private doctor, who was waiting in the lounge, quickly arrived, knelt down to examine the patient, pressed on the chest, and attempted first aid.

But the producer's pupils had already dilated, white foam was spilling from the corners of his mouth, and after his body convulsed violently a few times, he became completely still.

The doctor tried CPR several times, but finally shook his head and said in a deep voice, "He's dead."

Some people felt uneasy: "How could he just die like that?"

"Could this be murder?" someone exclaimed in terror.

The private doctor calmly said, "It's impossible to be sure at the moment, but judging from the symptoms, it's very likely a sudden heart attack."

This conclusion eased the atmosphere somewhat.

After all, heart attacks are not uncommon in the entertainment industry.

It wasn't because of work pressure; it was simply because I was too dissolute and ruined my health.

Soon, several staff members came forward, carried the body out, and claimed that they would conduct further investigations.

Hoshino Terumi remained frozen in place, her fingers unconsciously digging into her palms.

Only when the crowd resumed its noise and the music started again did she snap out of her daze, turn to Shiraishi E, and ask in a trembling voice, "Really... we can't find anything?"

Shiraishi E took a leisurely sip of champagne: "Don't worry, if they can find out, I'll be the first one arrested."

Hoshino Terumi stared intently at him, seemingly trying to determine the truthfulness of his words.

Finally, she slowly exhaled, her eyes gradually becoming complex—fear, shock, and even a hint of...relief?
Shiraishi E could tell that Hoshino Terumi had a very high level of mental fortitude; she adjusted herself in just a few minutes. It was clear at a glance that she was suited for great things!
So he started chatting with the other person.

Upon learning that the other person and Yoko Okino had once been in a group, he immediately remembered.

Shiraishi E vaguely remembered that the person the other person admired was Shinichi Kudo.

After thinking about this, he had another idea.

After a long 40-minute wait, the forensic report came out: the deceased had indeed died of cardiac arrest, with no signs of homicide.

The party continued.

People raised their glasses and laughed, as if the death just now was merely an insignificant interlude.

Hoshino Terumi watched all this, then suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with irony and a new kind of resolve.

"Now," Shiraishi E whispered in her ear, her voice low, "Do you still think life is meaningless now?"

Her eyes changed.

This time, she did not answer.

But she knew that some things had changed.

Instead of pressing for details about the other person's attitude, Shiraishi E asked, "Miss Hoshino, do you know Shinichi Kudo?"

“He’s my idol! He’s so young, yet he’s so good at solving cases.” Hoshino Terumi didn’t hide anything and said directly, “To be honest, I also want to become a detective… but unfortunately, I don’t have the ability.”

At this point, her face was full of regret.

Shiraishi E smiled and said, "Then do you want to see Kudo Shinichi?"

Hoshino Terumi frowned and said, "I heard he hasn't shown up for a long time. Some people say he's disappeared, and others say he's dead."

“He’s not dead, he’s just hiding.” Shiraishi E said, taking out a bottle of APTX4869, “Although I can’t help you much, at least I can make your life less boring.”

"As for whether you use it to take revenge on your enemies or to clean up the entertainment industry... it's all up to you."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Hoshino Terumi watched the other person's departing figure, then looked at the bottle of medicine on the table. After struggling internally for a long time, she finally reached out and took it.

(End of this chapter)