Conan: Death is Watching Me

Chapter 138 The Disappearance of Miss Nishitani

The next day.

During breakfast, Gao Mo picked up a newspaper and started reading.

As expected, the news about the fog-covered tengu made the front page, with photos of the mountain temple and waterfall taking up almost the entire page, leaving only a report about a bald old man barely tucked away in a corner.

This world case is already very popular, not to mention it involves monster legends.

The police investigation concluded that the old monk accidentally slipped while moving the wooden planks, while the media reporters focused their reports on the Foggy Tengu.

"The soul of the young monk who was murdered two years ago turned into a misty tengu... These reporters really know how to make things up."

“It’s not impossible,” Ai said, having also looked at the newspaper. “The Tengu I saw might be Tadani, but I don’t know why it turned into an evil spirit and attacked.”

"Perhaps it wasn't an attack on you? Or maybe you just wanted to ask for help?" Gao Mo put down his newspaper.

"Who asks for help like that?"

Ai and the black cat shook their heads in unison.

“Those things are completely different from living people; they seem to regard those who can see them as prey.”

"So, the crime scene is still too dangerous for you. There's no need to force yourself," Gao Mo advised at the right moment.

Since yesterday, Ai has been constantly thinking about investigating the case with him.

“As expected, you still think I’ll cause trouble,” Ai said calmly, looking directly at Gao Mo. “You said before that you would take care of everything.”

"That's different..."

"I think I can help you find some old cases, don't I?"

Ai has a keen intuition.

"Or... do you actually know what's wrong with your body?"

"How is that possible? I can't see any ghosts."

Gao Mo felt a slight tightness in his chest.

Ai knows too much; it doesn't feel like a good thing.

Seeing ghosts is nothing compared to trying to uncover the secrets of the Grim Reaper... He won't always be able to save you like he did before.

“Anyway,” Gao Mo paused, then continued, “Ai, don’t get too close to death. You and I are different.”

"How long are you going to hide?"

Ai gripped her chopsticks and lowered her head.

"This isn't the first time. It's Jiang Yuanzhi from the Dark Night Duke's Travel Group, and now it's Abbot Tianyong... That guy's been chasing you relentlessly, he won't let you go. If this continues, one day you'll be the one..."

Didn't you say you were going to trust me?

Gao Mo chuckled softly.

"I can't guarantee anything else, but if you want to kill me... even Death couldn't do it."

There's a limit to bragging.

All of Ai's pent-up emotions vanished into silence.

These words only made her more uneasy.

"Everyone who studies the rules of death dies for various reasons, including myself, who almost did..."

Ai seems to have made up her mind.

"But this time is different; the ghosts aren't as dangerous."

After finishing breakfast, Gao Mo still made a promise with Xiao Ai.

You don't have to take Ai with you when you're investigating cases, but you should increase the number of times you take Ai on trips—this woman seems to believe that traveling will lead to cases.

The determination is very firm.

His eyes seemed to hold the light of his own mission.

Well, let's just consider it giving Ai a little something to look forward to—being near him while doing research will keep an eye on things.

Gao Mo shook his head, wanting to help clear the dishes, but was chased out of the kitchen by Xiao Ai, and could only turn on the TV reluctantly.

"The top-tier magic troupe—the Fantasy Magic Troupe—will be returning from overseas this summer for a month-long tour of Japan…Founded 5 years ago…by the four apprentices of the genius magician Reiko Chikamiya…"

magic……

Since obtaining Kaito Kuroba's magic guide and acquiring the talent of magician's hand, he, who originally had little interest in magic, has gradually become fascinated.

As a detective, it's hard to like magic tricks that are easy to see through, but performing magic tricks yourself is a completely different experience.

Setting up puzzles is just as fun as solving them. Gao Mo picked up a reference book and prepared to continue studying "The Magic Guide" and "The Makeup Guide".

It's about time to combine theory with practice.

Perhaps we could go see a magic show...

As he lay down, Gao Mo suddenly felt something hard against his waist. He reached in and found a brown paper envelope with many creases and dried sweat stains on its surface.

After opening it, there was a stack of banknotes inside.

About 20 yen.

"Xiao Ai," Gao Mo turned and called out, "Why is there 20 on the sofa?"

"It's probably the fee that Ms. Nishitani prepared, which she didn't take with her." Ai came out and took a look, and was impressed by the young woman who came to the agency the day before yesterday.

"Service fee?"

Gao Mo also remembered the young woman.

Judging from her clothes and the traces of the envelope, the woman is in dire financial straits and is particularly concerned about the 20 yuan. She would probably come back to look for it as soon as she lost it.

They just happened to be out seeing the cherry blossoms...

"Do you have her contact information?" Gao Mo continued to ask.

"No," Ai shook her head and said, "I poured her a cup of tea and then came to find you... It's only been two days, you should be coming back, right?"

The image of the woman's unease flashed through Gao Mo's mind.

He felt that the other person was very similar to him when he first came into this world, and it wasn't just the trouble of being followed.

He wasn't very good at analyzing emotional states, but for that woman, 20 was definitely not a small sum of money.

Back in his study, Gao Mo turned on his computer and quickly reviewed the surveillance footage.

I was trying to find someone by taking a screenshot, but my finger suddenly stopped.

No.

They never came back.

With such a large sum of money involved, it's impossible that the firm wasn't considered—unless they didn't even bother looking for one.

"call!"

Gao Mo closed his eyes, his mind reeling, carefully recalling the woman's expression and actions at that moment.

Her hair had only been lightly washed and combed, and although her clothes were neat, there were some minor slopps that weren't styled...

A bitter expression... a hesitant look... absent-minded... depressed...

The area around the wrist is concealed, suggesting a possible abrasion...

When the topic of calling the police came up, there was a hint of disappointment mixed with a subtle fear...

Did the other party already call the police before coming to the law firm?

But the situation didn't improve; it might even get worse... So they had to seek help and even scraped together 20 yuan...

"What's wrong?" Ai followed him into the study.

"Something may have happened to Miss Nishitani..."

Gao Mo exited the analysis mode, feeling that the 20 yuan commission fee in the envelope was a bit too much to handle.

He rarely meddles in other people's business, and when he does act, it's always on a whim.

But this 20 yuan commission fee...

"You stay at the office and give it back to Ms. Nishiya if she comes," Gao Mo handed the envelope to Ai. "I'll go look outside."

"Do you know where she is?" Ai raised an eyebrow.

"These kraft paper envelopes are only sold at the station. Ms. Nishitani must have gone to the bank to withdraw money after exiting the station and then came straight over here."

Gao Mo continued his reasoning and analysis.

"Hair is still wet, and there is paint from construction on the soles of shoes... The place where you live should not be too far away, and it is most likely a cheap apartment or a regular apartment with a low rent, which is within walking distance... This means it is also very close to the station."

"There aren't many places combined. If there's road construction, then there's only one area left. Asking at the shops there should give you some information..."

"Really?" Xiao Ai chuckled and lowered her eyelids. "You really know a lot, and you're very observant."

"Ahem, it's a professional habit."

(End of this chapter)