Conan: Death is Watching Me

Chapter 270 Halloween is Coming

The sun rises in the east.

On the Izu coast at dawn, Gao Mo stood on the edge of a cliff, gazing at the bay where it met the sea. His ear-length black hair fluttered in the wind, and the morning light shone on him with a powerful vitality that was the opposite of death.

He still doesn't know how the notebook came to be.

All that is known is that the rules of death, which have been separated from this world, are unleashing a wave of death in this world where time has stopped.

Faced with the rules of death, he was like a lone boat in a vast ocean. The difference was that the notebook, as the source of the rules of death, became his cheat code, giving him the ability to defy the rules.

Perhaps one day he will be able to illuminate this sea like the sun?
“There isn’t one at all! We’ve used up all the film and still haven’t captured a ghost! It doesn’t make any sense!” Sonoko’s questioning voice came from the other side.

Behind the cliff is a notorious local ghost restaurant, where, according to rumors, a woman who was murdered a year ago often lingered.

Before heading back, Sonoko was determined to try taking photos.

"Garden, garden," Xiao Lan said with a sullen laugh, "Let's forget about it. It wouldn't make sense if there were really ghosts, would it?"

"But doesn't Xiaolan think she's pitiful? Maybe she wants to be seen... Ah, Xiaolan, behind you!"

"Ahhh! It appeared?!"

"No, hehe, you laughed at me yesterday. Little Lan, who's afraid of ghosts, is really the cutest!"

"Garden!"

Conan walked up to Gao Mo amidst the shouts of the two girls chasing after him, his hands also in his pockets: "This isn't like you at all. What was the purpose of that agreement? It felt like you were deliberately stalling for time, and like you were worried about something..."

Although I don't think Sonoko is a good match for you, is this really the right thing to do? Sonoko might still be single in two years.

"Let's talk about it then."

Gao Mo glanced at Conan.

"But what about you? Did you tell Xiaolan the truth? I thought you were going to get a beating."

“Heh,” Conan’s smile froze. “I guess you could say I’ve only confessed halfway? I told her about the Black Organization, and she’ll pretend I’ve disappeared… Maybe she’s already suspicious of me and is waiting for me to confess completely.”

"You really are afraid of getting beaten up."

"Just kidding, how could Xiaolan really hit me?"

Conan proudly raised his head.

"Someone like you would never understand the bond between me and Xiaolan..."

"What would happen if I helped you confess?" Gao Mo grinned and ruffled Conan's hair.

"No," Conan said hurriedly, "It's fine as it is now. If we talk things out, we won't be able to get along like this anymore. I can't turn back into Shinichi Kudo... Let's wait until your partner gives me the antidote first."

“I told you you were wrong,” Gao Mo said with a knowing smile.

"..."

Damn it.

Conan gritted his teeth and quickly changed the subject: "You probably won't be playing the police anymore, right?"

"No need to dress up anymore."

Gao Mo looked at Takagi and Sato, who had been caught red-handed by Shiratori.

They can no longer play that role.

He just suddenly disappeared, and the Metropolitan Police Department should have discovered that his identity was fake by now. If he continues to impersonate someone else, wouldn't he be walking into a trap?

"And then? What are your plans?" Conan breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't think you'll stay put."

"I want to be a novelist."

"what?"

“That’s right,” Gao Mo laughed, “I want to become the next Yusaku Kudo.”

"Hehe." Conan chuckled dryly.

What's so good about being like his father? He's constantly being pressured to finish his work.

Besides, how can writing novels compare to being a detective?

"I think you should really develop your identity as the famous detective Kindaichi. Your uncle has been thinking about you more than once lately."

"I'm tired of pure detectives."

Gao Mo's eyes were calm.

He's not interested in being a Level 6 Detective for the time being, and who says novelists can't solve cases?
He's already developing into a full-time detective, dealing with cases in everything he does.

"I've already thought of a title for the novel: 'The Kindaichi Case Files.' The protagonist is an arrogant, narcissistic bespectacled brat whose body has shrunk, but his mind remains just as sharp..."

"Hey!"

"Officer Sato?" Takagi finally finished dealing with Shiratori, who was also on leave, and turned around to find Sato staring blankly at Takagi and the others.

"what?"

"Are you alright, Officer Sato?"

"N-nothing," Sato rubbed his temples. "Maybe I didn't sleep well last night. I think I saw that thing again just now?"

"that?"

“He’s the Grim Reaper who reaps lives,” Sato said, closing his eyes. “Actually, I’ve seen it on you several times before… I always had a feeling something bad was going to happen.”

“You’re overthinking it, Officer Sato,” Takagi laughed. “Hasn’t the serial bombing case been completely solved? The bomber was also killed in a car accident.”

“But the body has disappeared,” Sato’s brow remained furrowed. “Is it really over?”

Takagi couldn't help but swallow hard: "Officer Sato..."

"Alright, let's not think about these spoilsport things anymore," Sato smiled again. "We've got a rare vacation, how about we go out for a seafood feast?"

Shiratori: Stare!!
……

Tokyo.

Kido Detective Agency.

Sonoko, having made the promise, didn't prepare any further battle plans, but she was noticeably more affectionate and took on the task of cooking dinner for Ran, though her cooking skills were, to put it mildly, disappointing.

"You're sisters, so why is your cooking so much worse than your sister's?" Ai couldn't help but be sarcastic. "Did all your talents transfer to your sister?"

"Hate……"

Sonoko clutched her head in anguish.

"It looks very simple, and I did everything according to the book."

"You'd better sign up for a cooking class, although I don't need you to help me cook." Ai tossed her head and went into the kitchen, her small figure easily taking control of the entire kitchen.

"How did she do that?" Sonoko felt utterly defeated.

Aside from family background, she was inferior to a child in every other aspect.

Well, she's quite confident about her figure, but compared to a child, she's not that thick-skinned.

Sonoko discreetly scrutinized Ai's small frame, only to be met with a fierce glare from Ai.

Element awareness.

"Speaking of which," Sonoko hurriedly looked away, "Halloween is coming up soon, and I heard there will be a special event in Shibuya this year. Should our agency participate?"

"Halloween?"

Gao Mo was on the phone with Furuya Rei when he heard this, and his heart stirred slightly.

He was too lazy to care about the dates in this messed-up world. The bombing was supposed to have taken place after Halloween, but now it had been before.

"Could it be that you and your significant other are going to a Halloween event?" Gao Mo said casually.

"No, there are other things."

Rei Furuya looked at the group photo of his fellow police academy students in front of him and took a sip of red wine with a wistful expression.

"Sorry, boss, I really haven't had much time lately."

"It's alright. Nowadays, the firm doesn't need to work as hard to take on cases as before. We can transfer any extra cases to other firms."

Gao Mo knew that Furuya Rei usually had to deal with police or brewery matters. Besides, the other party probably wasn't in the mood to work part-time for him at this time.

Should we hire a few more detectives?
Gao Mo muttered to himself.

He doesn't feel comfortable letting outsiders join his firm.

Perhaps we could consider opening a few branch offices to expand our business and cast a wider net to catch more fish.

He doesn't lack money; he's just very concerned about those cases.

If you're too lazy, you won't get many cases.

Many cases are now being swallowed up by the neighboring sites because there are too many parallel timelines, and it's impossible to know when Mustache and Conan solved them.

For example, I only heard about the Spider Mansion case afterward from Hattori.

There are countless other cases that were missed due to being entrusted with other matters.

It feels like a loss just thinking about it.

With his talent for sharing information and his top-notch detective intuition, he can easily discern which clients will be involved in the case.

“That’s all for now,” Furuya Rei said, preparing to hang up. “I’ll contact you again after Halloween.”

“Mr. Amuro,” Gao Mo said finally, “I don’t know what happened on your end, but please let me know if you need any help.”

"Haha, no need."

Rei Furuya shook his head with a smile, then hung up the phone and resumed his serious expression.

After spending so much time together, he has given up on developing Gao Mo into an informant, even though Gao Mo seems increasingly unusual to him.

"People like Mr. Kido are better suited to a peaceful life."

Rei Furuya closed his eyes.

He saw the shadow of his friends from the same period in Gao Mo, and now Gao Mo himself can be considered his friend.

As if cursed, he no longer wanted to drag his friends into danger.

Visiting a friend's grave is not a pleasant experience.

“Mr. Furuya!” Kazami Yuya, disguised in a simple manner, secretly came to meet him.

"did you find it?"

"According to our informant, the stolen body has now been moved to a van, and the perpetrator doesn't seem to be an ordinary person," Kazami Yuya replied in a deep voice.

“He’s definitely not an ordinary person,” Furuya Rei nodded. “Being able to steal a body silently and completely ignore the police search, he’s definitely not an ordinary person.”

"But what exactly is their purpose? Why would they take such a big risk to steal the bomber's body?" Kazami Yu didn't quite understand either.

The Metropolitan Police Department is taking this bomber more seriously than ever before.

Making a move at such a critical juncture is highly illogical.

“Then we’ll have to ask them,” Furuya Rei frowned, a strange sense of foreboding creeping into his heart. He paused for a moment before continuing to Kazami, “This isn’t a police mission, so you don’t need to come with me.”

“How can that be?” Kazami Yuya retorted. “Mr. Furuya’s business is my business. Besides, there’s nothing that our police can’t handle.”

"Ok."

After some consideration, Furuya Rei did not refuse.

Because of his position at the winery, his actions were greatly restricted; he couldn't appear in public as a police officer, so he definitely needed help.

"Be careful during the operation. I have a feeling that the informant receiving the information was not a coincidence. The bombing case may not be over yet."

"Could there be a third bomber?" Kazami Yuya speculated. "If the person who died this time was just a puppet who was pushed out, then the murderer who killed Mr. Furuya might be someone else. Moreover, it's strange that the bomber was caught so easily; it's too simple..."

I don't look down on the people in the First Investigation Division, it's just that the bombing case ended too smoothly, and the sudden disappearance of Matsuda Shinichi is also strange. Is it possible that…”

“It shouldn’t be Shinichi Matsuda,” Furuya Rei recalled his several encounters with the Gomo alias. “That guy is indeed very powerful. If he really wanted to create a puppet, there would be no need to specifically defuse the bomb and save people.”

……

Kido Detective Agency.

The latest episode of "The Detective of the Left Character" is currently airing, and Ai Haibara is watching it with great interest while holding her black cat.

Gao Mo continued to gather intelligence from the police.

The rules of death are everywhere; the demon lurking in the heart of every murderer is an incarnation of death. It can be said that the whole world is the hunting ground of death.

The Grim Reaper he was fighting against could only be considered an omnipresent incarnation of this being. Unless a Grim Reaper agent grows up, it will be difficult for the rules of the Grim Reaper to have a unified consciousness.

This is also why he's blocking Takato Haruichi.

Without a unified consciousness, death is nothing more than a rigid procedure.

But recently this program seems to have been upgraded, and the Death Rule has become significantly more active.

Not only Sonoko, but when he was talking to Rei Furuya just now, he also sensed the aura of death. He vaguely saw Rei Furuya surrounded by flames and beheaded by a black-robed Grim Reaper shadow.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have specifically offered to help.

They genuinely wanted to help.

If Gin is the brewery's model worker, then Furuya Rei is undoubtedly the king of employees; such an outstanding employee deserves his protection.

Although I don't particularly like public security organizations that are usually considered spy agencies, Rei Furuya is an exception.

Unfortunately, it seems that Furuya Rei doesn't want him to get involved, and he won't reveal any information, so it's impossible to get any information out of him.

but……

It's not hard to guess, actually.

Generally speaking, it's either a police mission, a winery mission, or Rei Furuya's personal business.

If you sense subtle emotions in the other person during a brief conversation, it's most likely the latter.

At this time... could it be that the bomber's body has been stolen?

The situation regarding Gu Ling will definitely be investigated.

Is this a resurrected bomber or something else?
It shouldn't be a resurrection, otherwise Furuya Rei wouldn't react this way. It means there's been a follow-up to the bombing incident.

Was it a third bomber, or was it a setup?

Gao Mo crossed his arms.

Unfortunately, his intelligence-sharing talent doesn't include public security intelligence, and it mainly involves case-related matters; otherwise, he wouldn't be guessing here.

"call!"

Gao Mo closed his eyes, and the raging flames that had enveloped Furuya Rei reappeared in his mind.

The sound of an explosion, laughter from a voice changer...

It was a pinkish-purple explosion of flames, behind which stood a twisted figure, wearing a black hooded cloak and a strange, pointed gas mask, mercilessly entering Furuya Rei's field of vision.

"I have a feeling something bad is going to happen this Halloween."

Xiao Ai suddenly walked up to Gao Mo while holding the black cat.

At this moment, television was showing previews of Halloween activities that would take place a few days later.

"But I can't remember the specific events; it's like I'm in a different world."

"Nothing serious will happen." Gao Mo glanced at Xiao Ai, whose forehead was slightly sweaty, and shook his head softly.

He was fairly confident in his ability to predict the future.

I did not feel threatened.

The only person in danger around him is Rei Furuya.

Thinking of this, Gao Mo couldn't help but touch his nose.

Whether Furuya Rei is lucky or unlucky is unknown, but in any case, he certainly wouldn't stand by and watch someone die.

Perhaps we could try to get information out of Kazami Yuya? He seems easy to deal with.

(End of this chapter)