Conan: Death is Watching Me

Chapter 129 I'm Back, Magical Talent

Tokyo.

Kido Detective Agency.

"The discovery of a golden mansion in Tottori Prefecture has caused a sensation... Seven famous detectives gather to solve a half-century-old cold case... Oogami Shuzen's astonishing scheme..."

"Da Shang Zhu Shan's only son was involved in a car accident on his way back to China..."

The midday sun streamed through the living room window as Ai Haibara, clutching her black cat, became engrossed in a television report.

The golden villa, viewed from above, appears to be bathed in holy light, resembling a work of art.

A day has passed since the Twilight Mansion incident, and more details have been revealed.

However, the most important character never appeared on screen, only being described as being in a coma and refusing visitors.

Reality was similar to the future she remembered, yet there were too many differences, making her feel increasingly unfamiliar with it. She wondered what changes had occurred in the Twilight Mansion this time...

I wanted to make a phone call several times, but I calmed down at the last moment.

Gao Mo's words, "Trust me," still echoed in my ears.

"Amo?"

A surprised shout came from outside.

"Why have you been going out so much lately? Ai seems so distracted all the time..."

"Shh!"

Ai Haibara didn't even bother to put on her slippers before leaping over the sofa and running towards the entryway. She left the black cat behind, craning her neck in a daze, looking around before following suit.

"I am back."

After Gao Mo dismissed the incessantly chattering professor, he returned home to find Ai standing quietly in the entryway.

"Sorry for the delay, I was just about to make a phone call..."

"Welcome back."

Ai turned her head away to hide her tears.

Having lost time and time again, she had reached a breaking point and could no longer bear the same tragedy.

Even if she were to live a second life, she still wouldn't be as strong as she imagined.

"Is there anything else to eat? I'm hungry."

Gao Mo noticed the girl's small movements and took off his coat, placing it on the coat rack in the entryway.

"I should rest for a while after I get back this time. How about we go see the cherry blossoms?"

The second-level notes allowed him to see the true nature of Death.

Although the Grim Reaper's mark remains and malice still lingers, the threat of death is no longer as despairing as it once was.

Strictly speaking, he is now on the offensive.

"Want to go see the cherry blossoms?" Professor Agasa peeked out cheerfully. "I just got a new car, how about we go to the mountains to see the cherry blossoms this weekend?"

"Now is indeed a good time to enjoy the cherry blossoms."

Wakita Kanenori, carrying a lunchbox, pretended to be passing by and struck up a conversation, reminiscing.

"When my eye was still intact, I was learning from a chef at Sakura Cuisine."

Gao Mo's eyebrows ached.

Why is this guy showing up at the firm?

I didn't sense any malice...

“Speaking of which,” Wakita Kanenori glanced into the room with his one eye, “hasn’t Detective Kindaichi returned?”

“He doesn’t usually come to the office,” Gao Mo replied. “The routine cases are handled by another detective, Amuro.”

"Amuro Detective?"

"it's me."

Rei Furuya stopped his scooter next to Kanenori Wakita, his smiling face under his helmet tightening slightly as he silently met Wakita's gaze as he turned around.

Although he had never met Rum before, he had a strong feeling that the chef in front of him was most likely Rum himself.

There's a legend within the organization that Rum lost an eye, and coincidentally, he was here as a cook the other day.

But what do you want to do here again?
"So it's this young man."

With his back to Gao Mo, Kenjiro Wakita suppressed his smile, displaying the authority of a superior facing a subordinate, before quickly brushing past him with a comical laugh. "I still have to deliver food, so I won't bother you any longer."

The Tottori mission still couldn't find any clues, and the boss remained silent afterward, only asking about his whereabouts.

This made him suspect that Bourbon had revealed his whereabouts.

This guy has been really out of touch with reality lately, spending a lot of time being a detective... Perhaps his real target isn't Kido Takami, but rather the elusive Kindaichi.

Therefore, it is understandable that he noticed his actions.

It seems I'll have to put my chef identity on hold for a while.

He believed in maintaining an air of mystery in front of these organization leaders, otherwise some traitors might try to kill him... The current organization could very well have that possibility.

“Mr. Kido,” Rei Furuya said with a forced smile, turning to Gao Mo as he suppressed his probing gaze, “I’m here to return Little Sheep… Also, I might need to take another vacation, so shouldn’t the agency hire another detective?”

He had never imagined that a small firm would have so many clients, which had seriously affected his daily work and life.

Moreover, it's entirely conceivable that Kindaichi's newfound fame will generate countless new requests.

He needs to lay low for a while.

"Hiring?" Gao Mo thought of the few detective aliases he still had that he hadn't activated.

He didn't really want to hire any unqualified people, but it was also impossible for him to run around specifically for those commissions worth tens or hundreds of thousands of yuan.

The Kindaichi vest also needs to be stored away for a while.

Perhaps we could outsource it to the guy with the mustache... if he doesn't mind.

“I don’t have any detectives I can trust right now,” Gao Mo said, shaking his head. “I’m not taking on those cases because I’m too busy.”

Unable to obtain the treasure of the Twilight Mansion, his desire for money instantly plummeted.

With the promised 2 million yen thank-you fee from Senma Shōdai, plus the firm's savings... there's no need to worry about money for the time being.

"Won't you answer?"

Rei Furuya was both amused and exasperated by Gao Mo's trust.

He doesn't have OCD, but he can't help but want to clear out the items in those lists.

"Amo, are we still going to see the cherry blossoms?" Professor Agasa, who had been ignored for half a day, looked at him with expectant eyes like a lonely old man.

He'd been waiting for this opportunity for days, having already gotten his new car.

"And Mr. Amuro..."

"I don't need it, I have other plans." Furuya Rei parked his scooter in the yard and left decisively after saying only a few words.

"I'll ask Ai later," Gao Mo replied to the Doctor, "but when did you change your car, Doctor?"

"In just a couple of days, I made a fortune on that voice-changing pen project," Dr. Agasa chuckled. "Anyway, it's settled then. I'm going to get ready."

"Meow!"

Inside, Ai went to the kitchen. The black cat circled around Gao Mo as if they were getting to know each other again, sometimes tentatively stepping on its paws to get closer, its eyes showing a human-like look of confusion.

Gao Mo was also quite surprised.

Within a few days, the cat had completely lost its initial fear.

Could it be due to the second-level notes?

Gao Mo tentatively summoned the notebook projection. The black cat, which was holding its head high and elegantly swishing its tail, suddenly froze, then turned back into a wooden figure with a look of fright.

There really is a connection.

This is good, as it's not good to always cause cats and dogs to have an overreaction.

Without further provoking the black cat, Gao Mo glanced at Ai, who was busy in the kitchen, and then turned to the living room TV with a slightly relaxed expression.

He lay down on the sofa and picked up a magazine to read the projected book.

He had received "Kaito Kuroba's Magic Guide" for over a day, but he still hadn't finished reading it. Now he could finally calm down and make the final purchase.

"Lunch is ready. Remember to wash your hands first."

Just as I was about to finish watching, Xiao Ai suddenly shouted from the kitchen.

Gao Mo was slightly distracted, and the next moment, new projected text appeared in front of him as he read the book.

[Bound Talent - Magic Hand]

(End of this chapter)