Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

The next morning.

Sato Miwako sat in a chair inside the Metropolitan Police Department, flipping through the newspaper in her hands faster and faster.

The news in front of me looks so unpleasant.

In that widely circulated morning newspaper, the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun.

The headline on the front page took up almost half the page, with bold and black font, making it visually striking.
Justice Group: A National Beacon Illuminating the Future – A Profile of Mr. Zheng Yi's "Great Love" Management Philosophy

The article begins with an extremely ornate description:
In today's uncertain era, Justice Group stands like a towering beacon, guiding the entire nation with its unparalleled business acumen and profound humanistic concern.

Its leader, Mr. Zheng Yi, is not only an outstanding entrepreneur, but also a philanthropist with a global vision and a far-sighted thinker.

Sato sneered and continued reading.

She slammed the newspaper down on the table with a loud "thud".

That's utter nonsense!

Journalists these days have absolutely no integrity.

Aren't you afraid of being scorned by the public for saying such things?
Sato's commotion successfully attracted the attention of others.

Yumi Miyamoto ran over and asked curiously, "What did you see? Why are you so angry?"

Haven't you become desensitized to all the media's sarcastic remarks about the Metropolitan Police Department?
Yumi Miyamoto looked curiously at the newspaper that Sato was pressing down with his palm.

"Look at this!" she said, pointing to an article by a special commentator.
“Every decision made by Mr. Zhengyi was filled with divine brilliance. He was like a kind father, silently watching over his people.”

"Those who have misunderstood him or even maliciously slandered him may have only temporarily lost their way, but Mr. Zhengyi's magnanimous heart will ultimately influence them..."

After reading it, Yumi Miyamoto couldn't help but shudder.

Is this really something a human could write?
Isn't this like recognizing a thief as your father?

Yumi Miyamoto was very curious to know what kind of person could write such an article.

Sato's gaze grew increasingly cold.

This guy isn't just one person.

She picked up another newspaper; the headline was strikingly:
From "Controversial Figure" to "National Idol": Mr. Zhengyi's Road to Success

Yumi Miyamoto swallowed.

When did Zheng Yi become a national idol?

“It even mentions those writers,” Sato said.
“In the past, some so-called writers with ulterior motives used their writing to slander and defame Mr. Zhengyi without cause.”

"But time has proven everything. Those people's works were eliminated by the market because of their low taste, while Mr. Zhengyi won the people's love and respect with his genuine good deeds."

"Moreover, the one is forgiving and does not care at all about their offenses."

"This is the best interpretation of 'good will always prevail over evil'!"

She crumpled the newspaper into a ball and threw it angrily into the trash can.

The "righteousness" in "evil cannot prevail over good" is the same "righteousness" as in "Zhengyi" (正一), right?
Normally, reports about Zhengyi are kept in a subtle "polite silence".

The media may report on his business activities, but rarely offer any personal praise.

It would never be like today—a full-page article with a banner title, as if it were a shameless collective celebration.

"The Justice Group Leads a New Era: Mr. Zhengyi's Vision and Responsibility"

Sato read the headline of the financial section to himself, a cold smile playing on his lips.

She turned the page, and another tabloid's headline was even more jarring:

National Hero Zheng Yi: His kindness warmed the entire cold winter.

As the two were talking, Takagi also came over and placed two cups of coffee on the table.

After Yumi thanked him, she picked up a glass and drank it.

But Sato had absolutely no interest in it.

"Takagi, look at this."

Sato pushed the newspaper in front of Takagi, who had just walked into the office. "Is this normal?"

Takagi picked up the newspaper and glanced at it, also showing a surprised expression:

"Wow...it's like Mr. Zhengyi bought the space himself. Weren't these media outlets usually very restrained?"

"At most, they'd just give a perfunctory itinerary report. What's going on today? Did they all suddenly turn against us?"

Sato did not answer immediately.

"Don't you find it strange?" Sato lowered his voice.

"Just recently, several writers subtly satirized him in their works, and some even spoke ill of him publicly. And what was the result?"

She paused, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the table: "Everyone knows what happened to those writers. Now, even the media is starting to... praise him without any bottom line."

Takagi's expression changed: "Officer Sato, you mean..."

"Those who dared to speak the truth have all disappeared. Are the remaining media outlets afraid that they will be the next to disappear?"

"Is that why they had to adopt a unified narrative, using such sycophantic praise to secure peace?"

She slammed another newspaper on the table; its headline read:
Mr. Zhengyi's smile is the warmest sunshine in the world.

They've really lost all sense of shame.

Sato gritted his teeth and said, "They're not praising him, they're begging for mercy."

"They are afraid of Zhengyi, so afraid that they don't dare to say a word of truth and can only fill the page with this kind of cheap praise."

"Trying to numb myself, and also to please Zhengyi."

Takagi fell silent.

Sato walked to the window and quietly gazed at the gray sky outside.

With a sliver of hope, Takagi weakly said:
"Maybe Zheng Yi isn't as bad as you think?"

Takagi scratched his head and said, "Maybe he's just... just being vain? He doesn't want to hear those harsh criticisms anymore, so he paid to have these publications done to pat himself on the back? After all, everyone likes to hear nice things."

Sato looked at Takagi and said, "Takagi, you're still too naive."

She walked up to Takagi and tapped her fingers lightly on the table, each tap feeling like a blow to Takagi's heart.

"If he just wanted to hear nice things, if he just wanted to satisfy his vanity, do you think he would have waited until today?" Sato's voice was slow.

Takagi was stunned.

It's possible that Zheng Yi was busy with other things and didn't pay attention to this.

Now that we have the time, we're starting to reverse public opinion.

But Takagi didn't say it.

Sato said, "He doesn't need to buy praise with money; what he enjoys is the feeling of being respected."

Praise bought with money cannot make people happy.

Sato and his group weren't the only ones to see these news reports.

Because almost all newspapers began praising Zhengyi, its influence was very wide.

Shoichi was at home, talking on the phone with Conan.

“I didn’t spend any money,” Zheng Yi said earnestly. “These people’s praise is completely sincere.”

"Why do they praise me? How should I know? Maybe they've discovered my true goodness and beauty."

"Whatever the reason, this is definitely a good thing."

Ai Haibara pursed her lips as she listened to the conversation between Shoichi and Conan.

It was definitely the deaths of those writers that triggered this reaction in the media.

They believe he was killed because those authors smeared Zhengyi.

Fearing retaliation from Zheng Yi, these media outlets began shamelessly praising him in order to avoid disaster.

Ai glanced at the various newspapers on the table and inwardly despised Shoichi, this vain man.

Then she looked at the manuscript in her hand and sighed.

Of the writers Zheng Yi invited to write his autobiography, only three remain. By the time the autobiography is finished, it's uncertain whether any will still be left.

Ai felt she was getting further and further away from the prize money, and Masakazu didn't seem to be planning to pay.

After Shoichi hung up Conan's call.

Holding the newspapers, he said to Ai, "After all this time, finally someone understands me."

He casually tossed his phone onto the sofa and picked up the thick stack of newspapers on the coffee table.

“Look, Ai.” Shoichi held up the newspaper in front of Ai, his tone tinged with pride. “I didn’t spend any money. These compliments are completely heartfelt.”

"Finally, someone understands me."

Ai was sitting on the carpet, holding an unfinished manuscript in her hands, letting out a barely audible hum.

You know best why they would say such things.

Why do they praise me?

Zheng Yi didn't seem to care about Ai's indifference. As he looked at the nauseatingly sweet words of praise, the corners of his mouth curved wider and wider.

"Perhaps they've finally discovered my personal charm."

"Hypocritical." Ai finally couldn't help but mutter under her breath.

Zheng Yi seemed to have heard him. Instead of getting angry, he smiled even more brightly: "Whatever the reason, this is definitely a good thing."

"They used to say bad things about me behind my back, but now they're all praising me."

"This is a victory for humanity, and it shows that society is progressing."

Ai is about to throw up.

How could you say such a thing? Aren't you ashamed at all?
Zheng Yi gently rubbed Ai's face.

He said, "The way these media outlets praise me is quite different from how they praised Shinichi Kudo back then."

"Back then, the media praised Shinichi Kudo, and they were definitely paid to do so. Moreover, their main purpose was to criticize the Metropolitan Police Department's incompetence."

"The praise you're giving me now is all genuine."

Zheng Yi's face was full of satisfaction.

Ai patted Shoichi on the back, didn't know what to say, and just sighed.

as long as you are happy.

Ai doesn't care how the media praises Shoichi.

Seeing that Shoichi was in a good mood, Ai asked:
So, are you still planning to pay for writing your autobiography?

“Of course.” Zheng Yi nodded and said, “I will definitely pay them once they finish writing.”

"Oh."

Ai nodded.

I understand. Those authors are bound to run into trouble before they finish writing.

She glanced at Zheng Yi with concern, then whispered, "I want to move out for a while."

"Hmm?" Masakazu looked at Ai and asked, "Your sister is still away on a business trip. Where are you planning to go?"

“Anywhere is fine,” Ai said.

"You're not worried that I'll hurt you, are you?" Zheng Yi cupped Ai's face in his hands, making her look like a pig's nose.

"No...no."

……

Mouri Detective Agency.

Ran was also looking at the newspapers, exchanging glances with Conan.

Conan said, "I just called Masakazu, and he said he didn't spend any money, so he's probably not lying."

Xiaolan fell silent.

If they didn't spend any money, then what are these newspapers doing?
People used to say that Brother Zhengyi was a bad person, but now they say that Brother Zhengyi is a great person.

'Loving father', 'hero', 'idol'...

All sorts of words were used.

"I feel that these media outlets are too extreme," Xiaolan said softly.

They've stopped reporting on people properly.

Conan nodded as well.

I wonder if these media outlets will turn around and continue to slander the top leader in the future.

Xiao Lan said, "Could it be that Brother Zhengyi sent lawyer's letters to these newspapers? That's why they started praising Brother Zhengyi."

"Who knows?" Conan shook his head, indicating that he didn't know.

But he believes that Zheng Yi Ge is not the kind of person who has the time or inclination for that.

"Forget it, there's no need to worry about this kind of thing," Conan said.

It's just something that happened in the last couple of days, it won't affect anyone's life.

"Hmph!" Kogoro walked over, rubbing his eyes, and said, "These newspapers are always distorting the truth. I think they should have been warned long ago."

He has also been smeared by these newspapers quite a bit.

The title "Shoichi's lackey" is almost more famous than "Sleeping Kogoro".

……

Inside a rented room.

Gin smoked a cigarette, staring blankly at the contents of the newspaper.

"Vermouth, you summoned me here just to show me this?"

He crumpled the newspaper into a ball and threw it into the trash can.

He had just killed an undercover agent that night, and was catching up on sleep in the morning when Vermouth woke him up.

Gin said coldly, "These guys will do anything for money, even sing praises to Zhengyi for money."

Vermouth leaned back lazily in the high-backed chair, her long legs crossed and propped up on the coffee table in front of her.

She parted her red lips slightly and let out a very soft sneer.

He slowly sat up straight, casually picked up the scarlet wine glass beside him, gently swirled the deep red liquid inside, and a hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.

"Zhengyi doesn't seem like the kind of person who would be willing to waste money like this."

“He’s so shrewd, he calculates the return on every investment.” Vermouth put down her glass, her fingertips lightly tapping the rim of the glass, making a crisp sound.

She froze for a moment.

I feel that what I said wasn't very rigorous.

Zheng Yi usually doesn't want to invest anything; he only wants a return.

"Oh."

Gin threw his cigarette on the ground, stomped it out, and said disdainfully:
"That means Zheng Yi killed some people who had been 'smearing' him. These media outlets got scared and worried about retaliation, so they started saying good things about Zheng Yi."

He glanced at the newspapers again and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

It seems that Zheng Yi killed more than one person.

Otherwise, these newspapers wouldn't be so shameless, even calling him a 'benevolent father'.

“You really know Zheng Yi well,” Vermouth said with a smile.

Gin took out another cigarette.

“He does things the same old way,” Gin said.

He still understands Zheng Yi very well. (End of Chapter)