Conan: Death is Watching Me

Chapter 185 Hattori Heiji: Kindaichi-sensei
"What? You're going to stay in Tokyo for another week?"

From the other side came Hattori Heiji shouting.

"What's going on? You've seen the magic show, bought the clothes, shouldn't you be heading back to Osaka by now?"

"Why should I go back if you're not going back?" Kazuha said confidently. "Besides, there's a very famous magic show to watch next week."

"Please, you want to see magic again?" Hattori pouted. "Didn't we already see it? How many more times do you want to see it? You were clearly terrified when Sakonji was burned to death. You're such a strange woman..."

“That’s different, and you’re here anyway,” Kazuha retorted, hands on her hips.

“I’m working for Kido-san here, so of course I’ll stay a few more days.”

"If you don't like it, I'll go by myself," Kazuha chuckled, then turned to Sonoko and called out, "Sonoko, let's invite Ran next week and go see Hoshigawa Dogo's amazing magic show together. I heard he's not only handsome, but his magic skills are incredible!"

"Hoshikawa Dogo?" Hattori's eye twitched. "Who is that?"

"That popular magician Hoshikawa Dogo, who was on par with Sanada Ichizo?"

Sonoko, who had long been a part of the magic enthusiast circle, raised an eyebrow, glanced at Gao Mo secretly, and then asked a question.

"But hasn't he been developing his career abroad all along?"

"That's why it's so special! It's Hoshikawa Dogo's first performance after returning to Japan. We can't miss it, right?" Kazuha said excitedly. "I heard that the atmosphere at his magic shows is amazing, like he's performing magic."

"Hmph, what kind of magic? Only an idiot woman like that would fall for it."

Hattori muttered something under his breath and got into the car before Kazuha could react.

"I'm definitely not going."

"Hattori-kun!" Inspector Megure led the arrested Hyuga Yuki out of the Nagato residence, in a very good mood. "This case really owes a lot to you. As expected of Hattori Heizo's son!"

"where……"

Hattori Heiji looked ashamed and hurriedly followed Gao Mo into the car.

"Kido-kun, you've really ruined me... No, after this, I want to become Kindaichi's apprentice and ask him to help me think of a solution, Kido-kun."

What can I do?

Gao Mo looked through the car window at Hinata Yuki, who had clearly been crying.

The tear stains on her face still lingered, but she looked much calmer. Her thin body appeared somewhat weak and lost in the night wind, but she no longer had the will to die that she had before, and seemed to have found a new meaning in life.

Gao Mo turned his gaze to the entrance of the mansion.

Chairman Nagato, supported by his butler, dragged his ailing body out, coughing as he waved goodbye to Asahita Yuki.

This family is really...

Gao Mo closed his eyes for a short rest.

Could his drawing "Nagato Hideomi's Guide to Novels" be a response from Nagato Hideomi's soul?
I don't think I've ever drawn a job book for a dead person before.

Moreover, Nagato Hideomi had already committed suicide the day before.

"Kido-san, I'm serious."

Hattori Heiji was experiencing a mix of emotions.

He used to only know how to solve cases and never thought about anything else, but since arriving in Tokyo, the cases have suddenly become much more complicated.

I'm increasingly realizing that there's still so much I can learn from this experience.

Although he hasn't met Shinichi Kudo yet, he has already repositioned himself—to learn from Kindaichi-sensei and become a true detective.

Perhaps this is why his father allowed him to stay at Kido Detective Agency?
“You just lack experience, you’re no worse than anyone else,” Gao Mo encouraged. “I feel you’re even better than Shinichi Kudo, just keep up the good work.”

"Really?" Hattori's eyes lit up.

“Of course it’s true,” Gao Mo added in his mind.

In terms of reasoning, it's hard to say; they seem about equal. However, there are too many influencing factors. The latter has a father who is like a demon king in the world of mystery, and as the protagonist of the world, he has handled too many cases and has a whole bunch of strange and wonderful talents...

In terms of kendo, Heiji Hattori would definitely crush Shinichi Kudo.

“But this is too strange,” Hattori Heiji frowned. “Where did Shinichi Kudo go? Logically, he should be around the Mori family’s house. The old man next door is terrible at reasoning, so his ability to solve cases must be related to Shinichi Kudo… Could Kindaichi be him?”

"Ahem." Gao Mo was pondering when to tell this guy his Conan identity.

But the Osaka Black Chicken isn't called that for nothing; it's definitely a big mouth.

The boomerang might end up hitting him.

"What's wrong?" Hattori Heiji asked, puzzled. "Kido-kun, is there something you're hiding from me?"

"Yes? No."

Gao Mo's phone vibrated; he received a message from Remnant Rimi.

"I almost forgot, the magic troupe I sponsor is about to have their official performance. Would you like to come and support them?"

"You're really going to enter the magic world?" Hattori Heiji looked completely bewildered. He thought Gao Mo was joking last time. "What's so great about magic anyway? Why are you like that idiot woman, Kazuha..."

"Who are you calling an idiot?" Kazuha, with her sharp ears, almost immediately leaned close to the car window. "I wonder who it was? They were completely fooled by someone's magic tricks before, and they still haven't figured out the principle of the puppet, have they?"

"I……"

Hattori felt as if he had been stabbed in the heart.

That's right, he can't understand living puppets.

That magic trick was practically mocking someone like him, resolving almost every point of contention, leaving only the need for someone to directly examine the mechanisms on the puppet.

Even now, it still seems unbelievable.

Unfortunately, it seems that Gao Yuanyao took the magic notebook afterward, so he never had a chance to look at it... Of course, he didn't want to either.

"Is it true, Kido-nii?" Sonoko asked expectantly. "Is Kido-nii going to become a magician too?"

“No, I’m just a sponsor,” Gao Mo shook his head and smiled. “The magic troupe is currently run by Satomi Zanma, and I haven’t had a chance to meet any of the other members yet, so…”

"Satomi the Remnant? Miss Satomi?"

Kazuha stared wide-eyed in surprise.

"An apprentice magician of the Fantasy Magic Troupe? She's certainly very skilled, but can she support an entire troupe?"

“Just consider it a test,” Gao Mo said, not taking it too seriously. “I think she has a lot of potential.”

His goal was simply to upgrade his magician profession, so his requirements weren't high.

Even if it were a well-known magic troupe, he wouldn't be able to get involved.

"But won't the magic show clash with Hoshikawa Dogo's?" Kazuha said, her face showing struggle and distress. "I finally managed to get these tickets..."

“No, our magic troupe’s performance is this week, and it’s not a big show.” Gao Mo looked at the address information sent by Canjian Rimi.

It's a commercial plaza.

Tsk, it looks like a street performance.

I don't know if this counts as a formal stage.

The number of stars in the storage pool is increasing rapidly, and I've already reached 40 stars without even realizing it. I only need to complete the prerequisite quest to upgrade to Magician level 3.

Too much time has already been wasted; we must finish this quickly.

(End of this chapter)