Conan: Above all force, there is truth!

Looking at Kyogoku Makoto's hand, Ryuno smiled and shook it: "You're very strong too. Let's spar again sometime!"

After saying goodbye to Makoto Kyogoku, he got into a police car with Inspector Megure and the others and headed to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Watching the police car drive away, Makoto Kyogoku clenched his fist. At that moment, he felt both resentful and excited.

This feeling of encountering a peer rival filled him with ecstasy.

Seeing Kyogoku Makoto's expression, his coach had very mixed feelings.

He happened to see the boy "performing" dodging bullets.

That inhuman behavior…

The coach suddenly realized that his student might never be able to surpass the former.

After all, how many monsters in this world can dodge bullets?

But seeing the burning fighting spirit in Makoto Kyogoku's eyes, the coach didn't say anything.

What the coach didn't know was that although there weren't many monsters that could dodge bullets, he had already seen three today alone.

……

Near the Metropolitan Police Department

Outside the Golden Ball Barbecue Restaurant

Longye and the others walked out of the barbecue restaurant, completely satisfied.

This incident has had a very significant impact, and most of the police officers present were called to an emergency meeting.

Therefore, Longye and his group quickly completed the statement taking.

After leaving the Metropolitan Police Department, everyone was a little hungry, so they randomly found a barbecue buffet restaurant near the department.

Fortunately, the food at this restaurant was pretty good, and everyone was quite satisfied with their meal.

As soon as they stepped out of the barbecue restaurant, Yukiko came over and hugged Tatsuno tightly.

Longye finally managed to pull his face away and take a few breaths of fresh air.

"Thanks so much for you today, Ryūno! My little~knight~"

Although Yukiko's reaction was somewhat exaggerated, Tatsuno still sensed genuine gratitude in her eyes.

He waved his hand sheepishly and then lowered his head.

Don't ask. The reason I'm embarrassed is because of Yukiko's praise. It's definitely not for any other reason.

Seeing Ryūno's humble demeanor, Yūkiko smiled sweetly: "Time flies, you're already able to protect me!"

"Unlike Shinichi, who spends all his time either playing soccer or locking himself in his room to read. I don't know which idiot he takes after."

Shinichi was about to retort when he heard his mother's assessment, but then he saw her staring intently at him. He had no choice but to turn his head away and pretend he hadn't heard anything.

Seeing Shinichi's reaction, Yukiko nodded in satisfaction.

After exchanging greetings, everyone went their separate ways to go home.

On the way, Longye studied the reward he had received today—A-level aircraft piloting skills.

Unlike vehicle driving skills, this skill applies to all types of aircraft.

It is applicable to all types of aircraft, including small civilian planes, helicopters, and passenger planes.

This useful skill caught Longye's eye.

However, he had never seen this skill in the store, so it must be obtainable only through special tasks from the system.

……

Metropolitan Police Department meeting room

Everyone, including Superintendent Matsumoto and Inspector Megure, was listening attentively to Chief Detective Toshiro Odagiri's address.

In addition to investigating the connection between the victims and the perpetrators, the police officers also had to figure out the source of the illegal firearms, a significant task.

Just then, the conference room door opened.

A police officer rushed in, shouting to Inspector Megure, "Inspector, something terrible has happened! The prisoner is dead in the interrogation room!"

"What?! How did he die?!" Inspector Megure slammed his fist on the table and stood up, exclaiming in shock and anger.

Seeing Inspector Megure's imposing manner, the officer became even more flustered and replied in a trembling voice, "Initial assessment suggests poisoning."

"Poisoned? Damn it!!"

Inspector Megure pressed down on the brim of his hat, and the previously quiet meeting room erupted into a heated discussion.

They had already failed in their duty by allowing an armed prisoner to roam freely in the city.

After finally managing to catch the criminal with the help of the public, he actually died of poisoning right under their noses...

Not only have they run out of leads on the previous victim, but now they also have to investigate how the perpetrator died from poisoning.

Why did the perpetrator kill the contestant? How did he obtain the weapon? And... how exactly was he poisoned?!

If it was poisoning—then, someone capable of poisoning someone inside the Metropolitan Police Department…a mole? Perhaps even a high-ranking mole.

Inspector Megure lowered his head, deep in thought.

The supervisor, Matsumoto, patted him on the shoulder, gestured to him with his eyes, and then looked in the direction where Chief Detective Toshiro Odagiri had left, signaling him to follow.

The three entered the Minister of Criminal Investigation's office.

Odagiri Toshiro sat on the sofa, his expression unchanged, and said, "Inspector Megure, Matsumoto. This matter ends here. Find a reason to close the case; there's no need to investigate further."

"W-what?!"

Seeing the two people looking surprised, Chief Detective Oda calmly said, "This is an order from above. I know you are very unwilling, but this matter is no longer something we can get involved in."

"Minister! But..."

"This is what my superiors just told me. This case has been taken over entirely by the Foreign Affairs Section of the Ministry of Public Security! Do you understand now?..."

"..."

"Could it be...?"

“That’s right, this is not an ordinary criminal case. This matter has already involved…” Odagiri Toshiro did not finish his sentence.

But Matsumoto and Inspector Megure both understood. The Foreign Affairs Division of the Metropolitan Police Department's Public Security Bureau is responsible for foreign intelligence and security. This meant that foreign spies might be involved in this case…

"This matter ends here. This is not advice, it's an order! Also, forget what you just said as soon as you leave this room, understand?!"

Although Inspector Megure and Matsumoto were unwilling, they could only reply, "Understood..."

"Okay, you can go out now."

Watching the two leave the office, Toshiro Odagiri walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked up at the city.

His clenched fists behind his back showed that his mood was not as calm as it appeared.

Outside the office

Seeing Inspector Megure's gloomy face, Matsumoto advised, "Megure, even Chief Odagiri can't do anything about it. This case is definitely more complicated than we imagined."

"I know, sigh... never mind, let's think about how to explain this to the people below."

Megure sighed helplessly and turned to walk towards the conference room.

……

Chapter 37 Angels and Demons' Journey to a Foreign Land (Part 1)

Two years later

In the dimly lit cabin

"Could you please not smoke? This is a no-smoking area, and you're causing trouble for everyone."

The whispered advice and the faint smell of tobacco brought Xiaolan back to her senses. She reached out and took off her blindfold, turning to look at herself.

While contemplating the "White-Haired Highway Demon" incident, Tatsuno noticed Ran's movements and followed her gaze.

Although they were quite far apart, they were speaking quite loudly.

Therefore, Ryūno overheard the conversation between the smoking man and his companion.

"You should be happier! The other newspaper has agreed to buy these negatives from me at a high price."

"Only if those negatives are genuine."

"..."

Their conversation sounded intriguing, involving photos and money; it seemed like there was a story to tell.

Looking at Xiaolan's dazed state, Longye gently put an eye mask on her.

Not long after hearing Xiaolan's even breathing, Longye also put on his eye mask, preparing to take a short nap.

……

A few days ago, Ryuno and Ran suddenly received plane tickets from Yukiko, who invited them to travel to Los Angeles, USA.

Now that the plane tickets had arrived, and Tatsuno and Ran didn't have any particular plans for the time being, they contacted Shinichi Kudo and decided to accept Aunt Yukiko's invitation to go to America for a few days.

……

"what!!!"

Longye and Xiaolan were sound asleep when they were woken up by screams from inside the cabin.

The cabin lights were turned on, and the passengers who had been fast asleep got up to check the situation.

At this moment, the in-flight announcement came over the loudspeaker: "Attention passengers, we have just discovered an emergency patient in the cabin. If any of you are doctors or nurses, please contact the nearest flight attendant."

As the in-flight announcements began, the passengers gradually became restless.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

"I just went over there and it looks like someone died on the plane..."

Hearing what everyone was saying, Xiaolan grabbed Longye's arm, seemingly a little uneasy.

After comforting Xiaolan for a while, he suddenly remembered the case.

Previously, his attention had been focused on "the murderer who wore makeup."