Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

As a detective in the Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigative Division, Miwako Sato secretly follows Noguchi.

The goal wasn't to arrest him, but to save him as much as possible before he truly angered Zhengyi.

If Sera Masumi hadn't intervened in time in the park, Noguchi would probably be a corpse by now.

Sato pulled his hat down low, trying to blend into the crowd of flower viewers.

She maintained an extremely professional tracking distance, ensuring she wouldn't be detected while still being able to rush to the scene immediately in case of an emergency.

Zheng Yi is practically a ticking time bomb.

Sato walked along, making plans in his mind.

Representative Noguchi's tough and volatile personality is like a cigarette butt next to a powder keg.

Zheng Yi's powder keg is definitely going to explode soon.

No, I absolutely cannot let him out of my sight.

However, while Yuto Noguchi has a keen political sense, his counter-surveillance awareness is almost non-existent.

Or rather, he simply doesn't care.

He walked confidently down the street, even stopping occasionally to wave to the voters who supported him on the roadside.

"See this? This is our future!" Noguchi pointed to the bustling streets around him and said passionately to a member of his campaign team.

"This is the Japan we must protect! Not a chessboard to be played with at will by those wealthy young masters hiding behind the scenes!"

Those people naturally echoed his sentiments.

Sato, hiding in the street corner, sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation.

Just then, Noguchi suddenly stopped, turned around, and stared intently in the direction where Sato was hiding.

"Who's there!"

Sato was startled: "I've been discovered? Impossible, I've been very well hidden..."

She cautiously peeked out half her head.

Noguchi saw her.

"So it's you." Noguchi didn't come over, but stood still, calling out in an extremely contemptuous tone:

"What? That coward Zheng Yi doesn't dare to come in person? So he sent you, his 'lackey,' to stalk me?"

Sato Miwako was stunned.

She had prepared a whole host of explanations, such as "routine patrol" and "maintaining public order," but she never expected the other party to directly accuse her of such a serious offense.

She sighed, then stepped out of the shadows and showed her police ID.

“Congressman Noguchi, this is Miwako Sato from the First Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Department. Based on intelligence, your personal safety may be threatened, and I have the authority to…”

"Protect it?"

Noguchi strode back to Sato with a sarcastic smile on his face, and his campaign staff and reporters immediately surrounded him, their cameras focused on the scene.

“Save your breath, Officer Sato, I know you,” Noguchi said.

Female police officers in the Metropolitan Police Department, with the rank of Inspector.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is full of Shoichi's lackeys, except for Miwako Sato.

But Noguchi doesn't believe that anyone can remain untainted by the mud.

Why is everyone else a lackey of the Zhengyi sect, except you, and why haven't you been ostracized and forced to leave?

This is not normal.

He believed that Sato must be a two-faced person.

Take Kogoro Mouri for example.

Everyone knows he's a lackey of Zheng Yi, but that guy has publicly denied it on multiple occasions.

It's all for fame.

Noguchi shouted loudly, as if afraid that others wouldn't hear what he was saying.

"You think I don't know about the dirty dealings in your Metropolitan Police Department? The Metropolitan Police Department is no longer a place to uphold justice; it's just a private domain!"

Sato felt a sense of absurdity: "Mr. Congressman, what nonsense are you talking about? We are police officers, we are only responsible for the law!"

Sato's face was full of anger.

The Metropolitan Police Department has some scoundrels, but not all of them.

You're generalizing from a single instance.

Noguchi appeared even angrier than Sato.

"The law?" Noguchi asked as if he had heard a funny joke. "What is the law in the face of absolute power? Even the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency has to give way to that guy, Masakazu. In front of him, isn't your Metropolitan Police Department just a bunch of groveling lapdogs?"

His voice was loud enough that the accompanying reporters heard him and jotted it down in their notebooks to quote in their future news reports.

He looked Sato up and down, his eyes full of disdain: "But then again, he's probably scared now."

They were afraid that killing me would cause public outrage, so they sent a lowly police inspector like you as a lobbyist.
Or is this a form of humiliation for him?
Did he think that dealing with a 'small fry' like me wouldn't require him to lift a finger, and that sending a policewoman would be enough?

Although he said that, Noguchi was secretly very pleased with himself.

Just as he expected.

Without the help of the Sumitomo Group, Shoichi would have very few resources at his disposal.

They only sent a lowly police inspector.

Logically speaking, an officer of this rank should not be qualified to have a conversation with him.

But Noguchi, considering that this might be the maximum power that Shoichi could muster, didn't hesitate to waste some words.

Miwako Sato was so angry that she was trembling all over.

She vowed to find evidence of Zheng Yi's crimes, put him in prison, and restore peace to Japan.

Unexpectedly, one day she would be regarded as a lackey of the Zhengyi sect.

She can't accept it.

“Member Noguchi, this is the last time I’ll say it.”

Sato calmed the turmoil in his heart, gritted his teeth, and said, word by word, "I am here not to carry out Masakazu's orders, but to prevent you from doing something foolish that will lead to your death!"

She was extremely indignant at that moment, and her mouth moved faster than her brain; before her brain had even thought it through, her mouth had already started moving.

"If you don't want to be dead in the street tomorrow, go back to your campaign headquarters right now!"

"Died a violent death?"

Noguchi laughed even harder, turned around, and opened his arms to the camera:

"Did you hear that? Everyone, listen to this! This female police officer from the Metropolitan Police Department is threatening me! She said I would 'lie dead in the street'!"
Is this the true face of Sumitomo Shoichi? Is this what you call 'rule of law'?

Reporters around them started snapping photos like crazy.

Noguchi appeared unusually excited.

What could win more fervent support from voters than a “warrior who challenges the dragon”?

The more powerful Zheng Yi became, the more he tried to crush him with power, the more he stood on the moral high ground, unarmed yet fearless in his resistance.

Voters love this the most.

Noguchi straightened his tie, his eyes hardening.

I will show the people of Japan how these members of the Metropolitan Police Department are frantically tearing apart a lawmaker who speaks up for the people, all for the benefit of the zaibatsu.

This kind of oppression is my best vote.

Sato knew that whatever he said now would be misinterpreted as "intimidation by the zaibatsu".

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her anger, and said earnestly:

"Mr. Congressman, you should still be careful."

"At a time like this, are you still going to threaten me?" Noguchi's words were tough. He straightened his suit, his eyes turning cold.

"Do you think you can rest easy just by wagging your tail by Zheng Yi's side? Once I'm elected, the first people I'll deal with are 'Metropolitan Police Department dogs' like you!"

After saying that, he and his men got into the nanny van parked by the roadside and drove away.

Sato stood there, watching the taillights of the departing car, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness.

“What a hopeless idiot…” Sato took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Hey, Takagi? Check Noguchi Yuto's upcoming schedule for me... Yes, I need to make sure that idiot doesn't get into any trouble before tonight... What? You mean he's going to give a speech in Shinjuku?!"

Sato hung up the phone, looked at the road leading to the bustling street, and gritted his teeth.

"I was the one saving you, so why does it feel like I'm the one harming you?"

Zhengyi has such a great reputation, don't you know to be more careful and take precautions against him?
To say that Noguchi doesn't understand Shoichi is an overstatement. He knows that Shoichi has a lot of influence in the Metropolitan Police Department and that many of his officers are his lackeys.

To say he understands Zheng Yi is an exaggeration; he still has the leisure to give a speech, believing that an upright police officer would be the one to deal with his Zheng Yi lackey.

On the way to Shinjuku, Noguchi whispered to his secretary, "Are there any suspicious people around?"

"Nothing has been found so far," the secretary replied.

Noguchi nodded, feeling a little disappointed.

Zhengyi's reputation is so great, but this is useless.

He had thought that Zheng Yi would try to assassinate him to gain more sympathy.

He imagined himself alone on the street late at night, having just finished delivering a passionate speech, and preparing to get into his car.

Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed by, a cold glint in its eyes! A terrifying assassin, fueled by the tycoon's rage, pounced on him.

He, Yuto Noguchi, faced death without fear, righteously rebuking his opponent, and then, at the critical moment, was saved by his group of loyal bodyguards.

He didn't need to be actually injured; all he needed was disheveled clothes, a torn tie, and a look of fear mixed with unwavering determination on his face.

As long as that knife is swung, even if it only tears his sleeve, as long as that gunshot rings out.

The article includes phrases like "Brave senator narrowly escapes being harmed," "The corrupt hands of the tycoons reach into democracy," and "He almost paid the ultimate price for justice."

"I think the methods used by Zhengyi are all exaggerated."

Noguchi tilted his head and said to his secretary, "His methods aren't as powerful as the outside world makes them out to be. It's just that the Metropolitan Police Department and detectives collude to fabricate reasons to frame unlucky guys."

The idea of ​​a crime planner or someone who guides crime is just a rumor.

The next day, Zheng Yi was stunned when he saw the newspaper.

"A lackey of power! Miwako Sato exposed as completely subservient to Masakazu, Representative Noguchi intimidated by 'abuse of police power'!"

The Clash Between "Justice" and "Power": Why Did Officer Sato's "Guards" Cause Such Fear in Representative Noguchi?

Breaking News: Is Miwako Sato's "protection" actually an "assassination threat"?!

Both Shoichi and Ai were stunned.

Ai shook her head and asked, "I remember Officer Sato was one of the few righteous people in the Metropolitan Police Department, wasn't he? When did you bribe him?"

In her memory, Sato had been working tirelessly to find evidence of Masakazu's crimes.

He was a good person who was not afraid of Zheng Yi's power.

Now he's become Zheng Yi's lackey, even helping Zheng Yi threaten that councilor.

Moreover, it was exposed.

"I don't know either." Zheng Yi shook his head.

He did nothing, yet another lackey was created.

“Maybe,” Zheng Yi said uncertainly, “that she discovered I really didn’t have a single speck of dirt on me, so she went from being a hater to a fan?”

"Hoo~"

Ai made a vomiting gesture in disgust.

They've really lost all sense of shame.

Zheng Yi gently rubbed Ai's face.

"Although I don't know why, noguchi, the councilor, offended me, and Sato immediately stood up for me. She's a good person," Masakazu remarked.

Ai shook her head.

Hard to say.

Zheng Yi pinched Ai's cheek hard again: "Look at Officer Sato, and then look at yourself!"
We've lived and eaten together for so long, and you haven't said a single good word for me. You're not even as good as Sato, who misunderstood me before!

Ai couldn't open her mouth because Masakazu was squeezing her.

Zheng Yi then said, "Do you think I should put in a good word for Sato in the newspaper?"

He looked at the newspapers with concern.

They're all criticizing Officer Sato.

Zheng Yi was very indignant. Officer Sato was such a good person, why were you attacking her?
Whose money did they take?

"I think Officer Sato doesn't want you to speak up for her."

Ai's face finally escaped Shoichi's large hand and immediately scurried several steps away.

"Then forget it," Zheng Yi said.

He yawned, too lazy to pretend in front of Ai anymore.

Yes, he was gloating.

Sato had always held a prejudice against him, believing him to be a bad person.

Now that Sato has become his lackey, I wonder how he feels.

"I'll call Sato later and comfort her," Masakazu said.

Ai's lips twitched.

Is this really comforting?
However, Ai believes that Shoichi's call will definitely not go through.

"Oh, right, Ai, I'll use your phone to call," Masakazu said.

"Oh." Ai nodded.

She felt she had caught Masakazu's influence and wanted to know how Sato was feeling.

I'm even more curious about her reaction after receiving Zheng Yi's call.

"Let's put Sato's matter aside for now and talk to Conan first," Shoichi muttered softly.

Conan is a lively and active person. He must have been cooped up at home for so long, he must have been going stir-crazy.

As a good friend, Zheng Yi is finally going to invite him out to play.

The location was chosen to be in Mihana Park.

There will be a celebration there the day after tomorrow; it will be very crowded and lively.

"Ai, are you going?" Masakazu asked.

"I'm not going." Ai shook her head.

With so many people around, it would be very troublesome if they couldn't control their bodies.

I don't know what Conan was thinking. He has such serious health problems, yet he still dares to go out and play.

Even if you're not afraid of others knowing about your physical abnormalities, aren't you afraid of Xiaolan seeing them?
"That's a real shame," Zheng Yi said regretfully.

Ai yawned.

Not at all regretful. Just thinking that Masahiro wasn't home all day made Ai happy and want to eat an extra bowl of rice.

"Huh?" Shoichi stared at his phone in surprise and said, "Is Representative Noguchi giving a speech at Beika Park? Ha, is it on the same day as my appointment with Conan?"

Oh, what a coincidence! (End of Chapter)