Conan: Start from Lucky Three

Chapter 96 Dare to owe Gin money?

"Who are your new partners?" Tachibana Seiji interrupted Takei Katsuhiko's pretentiousness.

"They... Actually, I'm not very clear about them. I always find people through those 'intermediaries', you know?"

Tachibana Shizuka nodded. What was there to not understand? This "agent" was the so-called firewall.

If the group of people doing the work is caught or targeted, further online research will only lead to the so-called intermediaries. Even if the source is found, they can confidently say that this behavior was not their original intention.

It was the intermediaries and underground people who misunderstood.

These words were also said to Sato Miwako. At this moment, the way this policewoman looked at Takei Katsuhiko was no different from the way she looked at a scumbag.

If it weren't for the police regulations, Sato Miwako would have wanted to arrest Lao Deng and lock him up. If she had done so, it would probably have improved the atmosphere in Mika a lot.

"Alright, your partners are mainly working for you. You can't be completely ignorant of them, right? Tell me something useful, President Takei."

"I don't really know much about them, but I have met them a few times." After noticing that Tachibana Shizuka's expression was gradually becoming impatient, Takei Katsuhiko hurriedly said:

"They're a strange bunch, always wearing all black. I don't know if it's a uniform requirement or if they just like black.
I don't know much more about the details. Every time I met someone, they were different, and they were all strangers to me.

I really don’t have any impression of it.”

This is enough.

Men in Black.
The mere man in black obviously wouldn't cause any big reaction from Tachibana Shizuka, but coupled with the hair that was suspected to belong to Miyano Akemi left at the scene.

Is that you, winery?

Katsuhiko Takei, you are really awesome - how dare you owe Gin money?

Tachibana Shizuka was a little impressed by Takei Katsuhiko. Lao Deng owed Gin money and yet he was still alive and well. The souls who died at Gin's hands over the years must have let out a wail of resignation.

Why!

If Tachibana Shizuka was certain that the kidnapping was the work of the winery because of the double search of the black clothes and hair, then Conan, who was extremely excited at this moment, was simply excited because of the man in black.

Conan's intuition told him that this kidnapping was closely related to the group of men in black who made him smaller!

Although Conan is very excited now, he can still maintain basic calmness because of the presence of Tachibana Shizuka.

The last time Conan lost his mind, he not only brought bad luck to Tachibana Shizuka, but also caused Kudo Shinichi's identity to be distorted in front of Tachibana Shizuka. He was afraid that if he continued to show his true colors in front of Tachibana Shizuka, his own identity might really be exposed.

Thanks to his own great perseverance, Conan didn't show any abnormality. It was only through his big rolling eyes that Tachibana Shizuka could vaguely sense Conan's excitement.

Well, how can this not be considered a form of growth?
.
After getting enough information from Katsuhiko Takei, Miwako Sato immediately contacted Inspector Megure and asked him to investigate the "agent" mentioned by Katsuhiko Takei.

The rest of the people waited at the Takei family's villa for the "second wave" of kidnappers to contact Katsuhiko Takei.

In the evening, the kidnapper's call came as expected. Tachibana Shizuka, Maori Kogoro, and Sato Miwako picked up their monitoring headsets and signaled Takei Katsuhiko that he could start answering the phone.

"I'm Katsuhiko Takei." "President Takei, is the money ready?"

"I'm ready. Is my daughter really in your hands?!" After receiving a look from Tachibana Shizuka, Takei Katsuhiko asked according to the dialogue designed for him by Tachibana Shizuka.

"Of course your daughter is in our hands. Haven't you already sent the police to that abandoned factory to verify it?" The electronic voice on the other end of the phone paused, then continued:

"I get it. You don't trust us, or are you just hoping for the best? This is something you would do.

I'm a little pessimistic about our deal tonight."

"No, no! I'm not taking any chances! I just want to make sure my daughter is safe!"

Tachibana Shizuka silently observed Takei Katsuhiko's acting. Don't tell me, don't tell me, Takei Katsuhiko's acting skills are truly better than most people in Beika Town.

Especially those rice flower murderers whose acting skills are not very good. Since they are out to kill people, won’t they improve their acting skills?
You will learn as you live, don’t you understand?
"Hmph, it's good to let you hear your daughter's voice. Come on, say something to your father. After all, whether you can survive tonight depends on which is more important, you or your father's company."

Hearing the robber's words, Tachibana Shizuka and Sato Miwako exchanged a glance, and Tachibana Shizuka's analysis was strongly confirmed at this moment.

This second wave of kidnappers were indeed related to Katsuhiko Takei, and were very familiar with Katsuhiko Takei's character.

"Dad, Dad?" Naoko Takei's voice was not very panicked, and there was even a hint of doubt when she was talking to Katsuhiko Takei.

Perhaps she would rather talk to Hanai Akiko at this moment.

"Naoko, my Naoko! Don't worry, your father will definitely rescue you!" This is the most confident sentence Katsuhiko Takei said today.

Because he actually took out 3 million in cash from the bank, and it was now packed in boxes waiting to be loaded onto a truck.

"Alright, President Takei, now it's time to tell me how we're going to exchange ideas." The electronic voice took over the call again:

"Tonight, go to the Mihua Port container terminal by yourself with the cash, and someone will come to collect the money.

Once you give the money to the right person, we will release your daughter.

Then you and your daughter will be able to reunite as a family."

When he heard this familiar place, Tachibana Seiji was stunned for a moment - isn't this the place where Katsuhiko Takei and Akiko Hanai met during the day?

How come all the kidnappers in Beika Town were trained in the same training class? Why didn't they even choose a second location for the hostage exchange?
Tachibana Shizuka immediately realized that this second wave of robbers probably didn't know that they were actually the second wave of robbers.

It is also true that whose kidnapped hostages would be free from any restraints like Takei Naoko, with food and water prepared for them, and even the place of imprisonment was specially cleaned in advance.
No matter how you look at it, Takei Naoko, who is staying alone in an abandoned factory, looks like a young lady who has run away from home.

Thinking of this, Tachibana Seiji immediately picked up the notebook and quickly wrote a line of words, then showed it to Takei Katsuhiko.

When Katsuhiko Takei saw what Shizuka Tachibana wrote, he looked at her and asked her if she really wanted to say what was written in the book.
Tachibana Shizuka gave him an affirmative look in return.

Seeing this, Katsuhiko Takei gritted his teeth and said into the phone, "No, I don't agree to this kind of exchange!"

(End of this chapter)