Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

"What you said is indeed a bit excessive, Lin Jun."

Even the usually gentle and mild-mannered Yoshida Aoi frowned, her tone tinged with displeasure, her eyes filled with disapproval.
"No matter what, we can't generalize like that. Tomizawa might have just asked casually and didn't mean anything by it."

Maeda Yoto stood aside, watching this scene with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. He wanted to offer advice but didn't know where to begin, so he could only stand silently in place as a quiet bystander.

Konoe Taisho scratched his head, looking troubled. Caught between Lin Xiuyi on one side and several girls on the other, he was caught in the middle and had no choice but to smooth things over.
"Alright, alright, everyone, don't be angry. Maybe it's just a misunderstanding. Lin Jun probably didn't mean it."

As the situation gradually spiraled out of control, it was finally Ono Kayoko who spoke up and said something fair.

"Miss Tomizawa must have said something to make Mr. Lin say that, right? Mr. Lin isn't the kind of person who would say something like that for no reason. There must be a reason."

Tomizawa Chikage blushed slightly, her eyes darting away, after Ono Kayoko had guessed her secret. She muttered softly,

"I didn't say anything, I just asked him what his relationship was with Ms. Ikebab..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, clearly aware that her accusations were somewhat one-sided, but she was too proud to admit it.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiu sighed helplessly.

“I just felt that the case was urgent and we should focus on the investigation instead of getting caught up in these irrelevant interpersonal relationships, so I said a few words to her. I didn’t expect her to get so angry.”

Upon hearing this, Kawada Yuko's expression softened slightly, but she still glared at Lin Xiuyi.
Even so, you can't generalize and condemn everyone! Be more careful with your words next time!

Yoshida Aoi nodded in agreement with Kawada Haeko's statement.

Seeing this, Hattori Heizo quickly smoothed things over: "Alright, alright, it's good that the misunderstanding is cleared up. Now is not the time to dwell on this. Let's focus on waiting for Miss Ikenami's news and discuss the follow-up investigation plan."

Tomizawa Chikage snorted. Although she was still somewhat unconvinced, she knew that now was not the time to throw a tantrum, so she had no choice but to back down and stop talking, but she still refused to look at Lin Xiuyi.

Seeing this, everyone stopped mentioning what had just happened, and the atmosphere gradually returned to the tense atmosphere of investigating the case.

However, Tomizawa Chikage would occasionally steal a glare at Hayashi Hideichi, clearly still harboring some resentment.

Just then, Ikenami Shizuka returned. She glanced at the crowd, her gaze lingering briefly on Hayashi Shuichi and Tomizawa Chikage, before clearing her throat.
"Uncle Gangsi agreed."

"Great!"

Kawada Haeko cheered and waved her fists in the air.
"I knew it! Minister Chibo is such a reasonable person, he would definitely help! Now we have official support!"

Hattori Heizo also showed a rare smile.

"In this way, our plan can be implemented. Ms. Ikenami, please convey our gratitude to Minister Ikenami."

“Uncle Gangji wants you to go to the Osaka Police Headquarters now to discuss the specific plan with him,” Shizuka Ikenami said with a smile, her eyes occasionally glancing at Chikage Tomizawa. “He said the sooner the better, as the other side may already be taking action.”

“Okay,” Hattori Heizo nodded in agreement. “I’ll drive there right now.”

The members of the Kyoto University Detective Club all rode in Hattori Heizo's car. Hayashi Shuichi and Tomizawa Chikage got into the car with Ikenami Shizuka.

The vehicles slowly drove out of the parking lot and merged into the traffic flow in Osaka city.

It was during the celebration, and the streets were adorned with bright lanterns and colorful flags. Vehicles and pedestrians came and went in an endless stream, creating a lively atmosphere everywhere.

However, the atmosphere inside the car was completely out of place with the lively atmosphere outside; it was unusually dull.

Ikeba Shizuka gripped the steering wheel, her face tense, her brows slightly furrowed, her gaze fixed on the road ahead. She remained silent throughout, radiating an aura that kept strangers at bay.

Lin Xiuyi, sitting in the passenger seat, could clearly feel the oppressive atmosphere emanating from her. Several times he wanted to break the silence, but he didn't know what to say, so he could only shut his mouth and lean back in his seat, pretending to look at the scenery.

In the back row, Tomizawa Chikage wasn't much better off. She turned her head to the side, constantly looking at the street scene rushing past the window, her arms crossed over her chest, and her lips slightly pursed, clearly still angry about what had just happened.

The air inside the car seemed to freeze, with only the faint hum of the engine and the sound of traffic outside the window remaining.

Lin Xiuyi knew that if the stalemate continued, the atmosphere would only become more and more awkward.

After a moment's thought, he could only try to ease the tension: "Well... although Chikage is a phantom thief, she always has principles in her actions, even when stealing..."

As soon as he uttered the word "steal," a sharp pain suddenly shot through his back.

The back of his seat was kicked hard, so hard that he almost fell forward.

Lin Xiu turned his head and saw Tomizawa Chikage glaring at him with her almond-shaped eyes, her gaze full of warning, as if to say, "Try saying another word."

Lin Xiuyi's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly changed her words: "It's not stealing, it's taking! She only takes things from those heartless rich people. She never harms the innocent or touches the property of ordinary people."

"Moreover, after she took those things, she would sell them and use the money to help those in need, such as poor children and disaster victims."

Upon hearing this, Tomizawa Chikage's expression softened slightly. She snorted and turned her head back to look out the window, but no longer as tense as before, clearly agreeing with Lin Xiuyi's statement.

Ikenami Shizuka glanced at Tomizawa Chikage in the rearview mirror, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "Last night, Mito Shinzo's collection room was robbed..."

"It wasn't stealing, it was taking!"

Before she could finish speaking, Tomizawa Chikage angrily interrupted her, her tone carrying an undeniable firmness.
“I already said that I only took what he was supposed to give me, it doesn’t count as theft.”

Chibo Jinghua glanced at her, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes. After hesitating for a moment, she continued speaking in the same vein.
"Okay, yes, you took them. Uncle Gangsi said that four items were missing from Mito Shinzo's collection room. Did you take those items?"

"Yes."

Chikage Tomizawa made no attempt to hide her true feelings, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone.
"As the owner of Sennichimae Department Store, Shinzo Mito shirked responsibility and failed to provide any reasonable compensation to the victims' families after the fire that occurred in the store, which caused so many injuries, deaths, and property damage." (End of Chapter)