Conan: Death is Watching Me

Chapter 233 Assassination Scandal
Rice Flower Restaurant.

Luxury cars gathered under the continuous snowfall.

After signing his name at the reception desk, Gao Mo received a purple handkerchief and walked into the memorial service venue dressed in black.

Gao Mo didn't have a deep impression of this director, Jiu Juan, except for a brief collaboration with him once as an idol. Now it seems that the other party's status is quite high.

Not only film industry figures, but also celebrities from all walks of life attended the event, including many prominent figures who are active on television.

Naoki Prize-winning author, renowned music producer, distinguished university professor...

Politicians, financial tycoons...

If there's anything missing, it's probably the absence of police officers this time.

Gao Mo scanned the guests in the hall, recalling the assassination plan that Ai had mentioned.

Before level 3, he might have given way a little, but after level 3, there was absolutely no reason for him to do so.

but……

Thinking of Xiao Ai, Gao Mo's expression became slightly dazed.

He doesn't really like Ai Haibara in "Detective Conan". It might be because of her role. Like the three little ones, she always causes trouble at certain times and creates conflicts to highlight Conan, especially when facing the Black Organization.

Ai is undoubtedly much more mature now. Although she is still afraid of the organization's leaders and has a vulnerable side, she is quite calm and rational, willing to trust him, and carefully provides the organization with intelligence.

How much hardship did it take to achieve this growth?

Ai seems unwilling to say much about this.

"Pistachio?"

Gao Mo noticed the return to the meeting room.

He was also familiar with the distillery, and based on Ai's information, it basically matched the development in the "Detective Conan" anime.

A politician within the organization is about to be arrested for accepting bribes, and the distillery urgently arranges for another member to assassinate him to cover it up.

The member in charge of the assassination, codenamed "Pistco," was a well-known figure in the financial world and the chairman of a famous car company.

Kenzo Masuyama is 71 years old.

Gao Mo's gaze lingered briefly on the gaunt old man in a black suit at the table.

The reason he attended this memorial service was because of Pisco.

Because of his familiarity with Ai's parents, and being a veteran member of the organization, he was quite knowledgeable about drug development data, knew about the possibility of shrinking, and had even held Ai as a child.

Unlike others, Pisco can recognize Ai immediately upon seeing her.

This guy almost exposed Ai's identity in the anime, and even almost killed her, showing no mercy whatsoever.

"Kirouto-nii!"

Sonoko's surprised voice rang out behind Gao Mo.

“I knew you would come here, after all, I’ve worked with Director Jiu Juan before.”

"..."

Gao Mo turned around and saw Sonoko wearing a school uniform.

Surprisingly, Hattori Heiji, who was all smiles, was also with them.

"Boss, are you surprised? Unexpected?" Hattori Heiji grinned. "I heard the agency was short-staffed, so I came all the way here!"

Gao Mo asked expressionlessly, "Where's Kazuha?"

You're kidding me. If you really needed help from the firm, why don't you just go directly to the firm?

“Over there,” Hattori said, glancing at Kazuha who was constantly asking for autographs from celebrities. “We had just finished dealing with a case in Karuizawa and were planning to go back to Osaka when she heard about this memorial service and insisted on coming over.”

Hattori, his eyes sparkling, asked, "Mr. Kindaichi, have you been to Karuizawa? I met a strange fellow who solved all the mysteries right after the murder occurred. If the mastermind hadn't been someone else, I would have thought he was the one who planned the crime—"

He ruined most of the plan for the person behind me, so I wondered if it was Kindaichi... because he always appears and disappears unexpectedly, like he likes to tease me.

"Don't overthink it, Kindaichi doesn't have time to tease you."

Gao Mo patted Hattori on the shoulder, glancing at the entrance out of the corner of his eye.

A politician with a large nose was surrounded by reporters outside the venue, looking quite disheveled.

Shigehiko Tobuchi, 56, has indeed been making headlines recently and has become a discarded member of the brewery. The brewery seems to be undergoing a major purge at this time, with any member whose identity might be exposed being silenced.

I don’t know if that’s why, but in the later stages, it seemed like there were hardly any people left in the brewery except for Gin.

"Kido-kun!" Sonoko suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "Look over there! It's the big star Chris Vineyard! She's actually in Japan!"

Following the garden's gaze, a tall woman holding a wine glass stood in the corner of the venue. Her long, straw-like golden hair was tied back, exuding a sharp and shrewd aura. Even though she was trying to keep a low profile, she still radiated a powerful presence.

Sharon Vineyard's daughter, Chris Vineyard, is actually the same person as her mother, the top disguise expert, Vermouth.

Like Bourbon, he was in charge of intelligence, but he also possessed extremely strong combat abilities.

Huh?
Gao Mo's expression shifted slightly.

This woman was intentionally or unintentionally spying on Pisco and that big-nosed politician.

Moreover, several other people in the venue exhibited the same behavior, including a reporter.

What appeared to be a simple, ordinary glance could not escape his eyes.

Is this a memorial service or a gathering of the Black Organization?
There seems to be some inside story about the assassination that neither he nor Ai knows.

"Kido-kun," Hattori Heiji said, not particularly interested in the memorial service and soon getting bored and wanting to leave, "Do you have any requests lately? Preferably something challenging."

Gao Mo withdrew his gaze: "No, Mr. Amuro took care of it all."

"That guy is like a workaholic," Hattori thought to himself, feeling a bit annoyed.

He really couldn't understand another colleague with similarly dark skin. He would disappear at any time, but he was also very capable and had an incredibly strong work ability.

"Never mind, I'll go back to the office first," Hattori said, grabbing a quick bite to eat. "Is that girl at the office still there?"

"Xiao Ai is resting at home, don't disturb her. You should go stay at the professor's house for now," Gao Mo casually reminded her.

"Huh?" Hattori blinked blankly.

Does this count as disliking him?
"It's a pity Ran didn't come," Sonoko said happily, returning with Chris's autograph. "But I also got her a copy."

Kazuha, standing beside Sonoko, asked, "What's wrong, Ran?"

"It seems like he accompanied Uncle Mori to the hospital. The doctor said he should bring his family along... It's probably because he has some kind of health problem."

"Bringing family along, could it be a terminal illness?"

"How could that be? You usually look quite well."

“That uncle should have gone to the hospital a long time ago,” Hattori interjected. “It’s not just probably, there must be something wrong with his health, otherwise why would he fall asleep as soon as a case comes up?”

Even those cases might not have been solved by the man with the mustache.

Hattori muttered to himself.

He strongly suspected that the mustachioed man was merely a puppet.

However, the man with the mustache was quite adept at handling cases, and his reputation as the Grim Reaper was well-known in Osaka.

The man with the mustache isn't here today; otherwise, it would be questionable whether this memorial service could even proceed.

"Dear guests!"

The lights in the venue suddenly went out, leaving only a beam of light shining on the host.

"Thank you all so much for attending Director Sakamaki's memorial service. Next, we will be showing a slideshow of Director Sakamaki's works and his creative process..."

"boom--!"

A flash of light was followed by a loud bang accompanied by a scream.

Hattori Heiji, who was still yawning, was instantly startled awake.

As the lights came back on, the crowd parted in horror, revealing the body of a large-nosed politician who had been crushed to death by a crystal chandelier, his blood quickly staining the carpet red.

Hattori Heiji's brow twitched.

It looks like an accident, but it isn't.

Does he also have the Grim Reaper's constitution?
Come to think of it, I always encounter dead people every time I come to Tokyo.

(End of this chapter)