Conan: Rice Flower Spring

Chapter 152 146. The Clues of Imminence

"Easy to find? How can it be easy to find? If it was really that easy to find, would I have wandered around this damn place for so many days?"

Shiratori knocked on the table excitedly, which startled Kuroiwa Tatsuji who was nodding.

Seeing this, Kawashima Hideo quickly picked up his wine glass and said to Shiratori, "Don't get excited, don't get excited, Section Chief Shiratori, don't get excited.

Let's have a drink and talk slowly. There's no rush. We still have a lot of time tonight."

Shiratori, who had been tricked by Kawashima Hideo into drinking half a glass of wine, put down the glass and sighed:
"Alas, you don't know how difficult my department head is to deal with."

"Difficult? Not really. Let me tell you something unpleasant, Section Chief Shiratori, your last name is Shiratori.

That's Shiratori from Shiratori Group. Even if your department manager doesn't give you face, can he still not give you face for your surname?"

Kawashima Hideo just didn't care about Shiratori's complaints. As long as Section Chief Shiratori is the Shiratori of Shiratori Group, let alone the head of the department, even if he is a director, he has to give face to this surname!
"What do you know? My last name is Shiratori, and I am Shiratori of Shiratori Group. Does that mean that the director's Shiratori is not Shiratori of Shiratori Group?

According to seniority, I have to call him uncle!"

The white bird rolled its eyes, not knowing who to tell about its frustration.

"Oh, this...that's really difficult." Kawashima Hideo had a sullen look on his face, but no one noticed the gleam of light that flashed in his eyes.

He secretly memorized the surname of the head of the third headquarters of the Shiratori Group that Shiratori had just mentioned.

Then he continued to ask Shiratori, "But Section Chief Shiratori, you haven't told me why your uncle is so difficult to deal with?"

Reminded by Kawashima Hideo, Shiratori explained in half-clear and half-clumsy words the "reason" why he came to Yueying Island.

According to Shiratori, the requirement given to him by his headmaster was that although he had to find a place far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the place should not be too remote.

At least it definitely won’t work in the mountains.

Then, although this director is old and doesn't want to join the crowds in scenic spots, others can't live in isolation like an old man like him.

Therefore, the team-building venue that Bai Niao looks for needs to have some "reputation".

No matter what special activities there are or whether there are former residences of celebrities, in short, this place cannot be crowded, nor can it be empty.

In modern terms, the white bird needs to find a niche, treasure-filled tourist attraction.

"To be honest with you, Mr. Kawashima, I have almost visited all the scenic spots and islands near Tokyo during this period.

Or it’s a popular tourist spot, full of people, it’s impossible to be quiet.”

"Or it could be a small island similar to Moon Shadow Island. Most people on the island make a living by fishing.

Do I have to go fishing with a large group of colleagues?
This is fate, a life of hard work!"

During the meal, Shiratori continued to complain a lot, the main point of which was that the damn director was not a human being and made a young man like him work so hard.

The company's team building is simply a bad habit. On weekends, everyone doesn't stay at home or go out for dates. Instead, they go to an isolated island with an old man to have a relaxing trip.

Who the hell needs to relax? Isn’t what everyone needs a happy weekend?
Just as Shiratori was talking, Kuroiwa Tatsuji, who was "nodding" suddenly straightened his neck and said to Shiratori:

"Section Chief Shiratori, you've really come to the right place!" "What?" Shiratori repeated subconsciously, and it sounded very consistent with his personality at the moment.

Kuroiwa Tatsuji touched his bald head and laughed, "Section Chief Shiratori, you are lucky to have come to the right place!
Our island is not empty, there are former residences of famous people on our island!
Is this the attraction that your headmaster requested?"

Shiratori's hand holding the wine glass tightened slightly - finally, these two thieves are finally going to get to the point!
Why did he spend so much time talking and making up so much nonsense? Wasn't it just to hear this?
There is only one person who can be called a celebrity on the entire Moon Shadow Island, and that is the pianist Keiji Aso who passed away twelve years ago.

But wasn’t this so-called celebrity’s former residence burned down by Keiji Aso twelve years ago?
Could it be that Keiji Aso's former residence was rebuilt after the fire? But Shiratori wandered around the village all day and didn't find any suspicious places at all.

"The former residence of a celebrity? That's not a tourist attraction at all." Even though Kuroiwa Tatsuji had already said what Shiratori wanted to hear most, he still chose to play hard to get.

"It's just a run-down house, at most there will be some explanations. Can it take half an hour to visit the entire house?

Come to think of it, I didn't know there was a celebrity on your island? Who was he?"

Facing Shiratori's casual question, Kuroiwa Tatsuji seemed much more excited: "He was a pianist! But he has been dead for twelve years."

"A pianist who died twelve years ago? Why haven't I heard of him?" Shiratori's doubts did not seem fake, but just as Kuroiwa Tatsuji was about to say something, he was suddenly interrupted by Kawashima Hideo.

"Well, let's stop here for today. We've all drunk quite a bit. Why don't we wait until tomorrow morning to discuss this serious matter after we wake up?"

"Huh? Mr. Kawashima, you'll be disliked if you stop talking halfway!" Shiratori's drunken eyes were full of dissatisfaction.

Kuroiwa Tatsuji standing by was obviously not happy about Kawashima Hideo's interruption. However, after a look, Kuroiwa Tatsuji finally "succumbed" to the richest man Kawashima Hideo.

"Kawashima is right. Why don't you just stay at home and rest tonight, Section Chief Shiratori?
I'll have someone sort out the information about the former residence on the island, and we'll discuss it tomorrow?"

"Okay, okay, I really don't know what you are doing." Bai Niao waved his hands impatiently, then stood up shakily.

The two police officers behind him immediately stepped forward to support Shiratori and walked out of the restaurant.

There was already a maid waiting at the door of the restaurant. Two police officers helped Shiratori out and immediately stepped forward to lead the way.

Soon, Shiratori and the others arrived at the guest room of the Kuroiwa mansion.

Since the style of the Kuroiwa family's residence is a Japanese garden, the guest room is also an independent building.

The maid covered the tatami on the floor with bedding, and then helped the two police officers to settle the drunk Shiratori.

After everything was done, the maid bowed and left the guest room.

Shiratori lay peacefully on the tatami, and two police officers quietly approached the door. They quietly opened the wooden door a crack, and after making sure that no one was eavesdropping outside, the police officers said to the "peaceful" Shiratori:

"Inspector Shiratori, there's no one outside."

The white bird, who had been extremely "peaceful", suddenly opened his eyes and sat up from the tatami.

"How's it going? Did you find anything?"

　Continue tomorrow

　　
　
(End of this chapter)