Conan: Above all force, there is truth!

—What exactly is this group's purpose? Who kidnapped them? What is their connection to the previous cases?

Thinking about this, Inspector Megure was at his wit's end.

He turned to look at Longye, a sudden idea striking him: "Brother Longye, why don't you come back with us to take a statement?"

"There are still many things that haven't been clarified in this case. Don't you want to come back to the station with us to discuss them together?"

Under Inspector Megure's helpless gaze, Tatsuno quickly shook his head.

"Sigh~ You have a very good mind, so why don't you like reasoning?"

"If it were Shinichi, he would definitely accept the invitation happily and come back with us immediately..."

Before Ryūno could reply, Mitsuko and the others immediately raised their hands: "Inspector Megure! Can we go?"

"Yes! We can definitely help!"

"That's right! We're the Junior Detective Club!"

Seeing how enthusiastic Mitsuhiko and the others were, Conan also raised his hand: "Yeah, Inspector Megure! We know the whole story!"

At this moment, he really wanted to go to the Metropolitan Police Department to learn more intelligence and information.

There are too many suspicious points in this inexplicable hostage case.

Why did everyone suddenly lose consciousness?

Why are the prisoners all tied up? Who tied them up?

Who was the man we saw in the bathroom? And why did he run away?

Moreover, he had also vaguely overheard some of the conversation between Inspector Megure and the others.

Tetrodotoxin? Previous cases? What are they talking about?

Besides these, there is an even more important issue.

Thinking of this, Conan raised his hand again and touched the five big bumps on his head.

Why were he, Mitsuhiko, and the other two hit on the head?

Who attacked them? And what was their purpose?

So many and chaotic mysteries swirled in Conan's mind, like a cat toy, gripping his heart tightly.

He was eager to know the answers to these questions.

Seeing Conan and the others' enthusiasm, Inspector Megure thought for a moment, then looked at Professor Agasa and nodded, saying, "Of course, please come along, Professor Agasa."

……

Tatsuno's Home

As Ran packed Ai Haibara's schoolbag, she said, "Don't be afraid. Ai is so smart, she'll be fine!"

"However, if you encounter any problems at school, or if anyone bullies you, please be sure to tell us!"

"Um…"

Upon meeting Ran's doting gaze, Ai Haibara lowered her head and softly echoed her words.

After packing her schoolbag, Ran glanced at Ryuno and then gave Ai Haibara a look.

"Ai, are you interested in martial arts?"

"If you're interested in these things, feel free to ask me and Ryūno anytime!"

After saying that, Ran put a finger to her lips and recalled, "Come to think of it, Ryūno was really good even in elementary school~"

"The reason I fell in love with karate was because of seeing him..."

She had only spoken halfway when Xiaolan suddenly realized that she seemed to have said something very sensitive. She immediately covered her mouth, her pretty face slightly flushed.

Seeing this, Ai Haibara and Tatsuno both stared directly at Ran.

Xiaolan finally gave in to their blatant stares and shyly turned her head away.

"I didn't say anything just now!"

Upon hearing this, Longye gave a meaningful smile: "Oh?"

Ai Haibara's lips also curled into a smile.

……

same moment

Small conference room of the Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigation Division

After hearing the information that Officer Takagi had given him on an extraordinary occasion, Conan's brain started working at lightning speed.

The karate tournament a year ago?

That's not that Takeda guy...

Thinking of this, Conan looked at Officer Takagi expectantly: "Officer Takagi, did you catch the real culprit a year ago?"

Looking at Conan's eyes, which seemed to be sparkling with stars, Officer Takagi covered his eyes with his hand and gritted his teeth, saying, "We didn't catch him, and the case is closed."

Upon hearing this news, Conan asked curiously again, "It's over? Why?"

Officer Takagi paused for a moment, then said, "Conan, please spare me! I don't want to lose my job..."

Generally speaking, a case can never be closed until the real culprit is caught.

During the statute of limitations for prosecution, the police officers in charge of the case at the time would keep the case in mind and would not easily give up on arresting the criminals.

But now, the case has been closed without the perpetrator being caught?

Moreover, judging from Officer Takagi's words, this must involve high-ranking police officials.

After all, even Inspector Megure doesn't have the authority to directly order the case closed.

There must be more to this than meets the eye!

Just as Conan was enthusiastically preparing to uncover the hidden secrets in this incident, the door to the small conference room opened.

Officer Shiratori walked in with a report in his hand.

After entering, he glanced at Conan and the others and said, "The culprit who beat you up has been found. It's the red-haired man from that group."

"According to the forensic analysis, there were three different scalp tissue cells on the butt of his pistol."

"Judging from the current situation, it is he who hit you."

After listening to Inspector Shiratori's explanation, Professor Agasa frowned: "But why did that man hit them?"

Upon hearing this, Officer Shiratori shrugged: "I don't know. After all, you were all unconscious at the time, and no one knows what happened."

After speaking, Officer Shiratori looked at Officer Takagi: "The bomb they were carrying was defused. Based on Tatsuno's information, it must have been that mysterious man whose whereabouts are unknown who defused the bomb. Could he really be a policeman?"

Upon hearing this, Officer Takagi shook his head, and Conan also showed a thoughtful expression.

According to Conan's description, the artist from the First Investigative Division has already drawn the man's appearance.

They had already shown the portrait to everyone, but no one had seen this man before.

The room fell silent.

……

A moment later, Inspector Megure walked in.

He glanced at Conan and the others, and said, "It's getting late, you should all go home now. Leave the rest to us!"

After he finished speaking, he gave Officer Shiratori a wink.

Officer Shiratori immediately escorted Professor Agasa and the others out.

No one noticed that before leaving, Conan stuck a piece of chewing gum under the table.

Chapter 104: Too Much Experience Isn't Good

Officer Shiratori escorted Conan and his friends to the entrance of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Upon seeing Officer Shiratori turn and leave, Conan immediately used the excuse of needing to use the restroom to run into the restroom inside the Metropolitan Police Department building.

He casually walked into a restroom and locked the door.

After that, he took off his glasses, rotated the temples a few times to adjust the scale, and then put them back on.

"Oh! I can hear you..."

……

Inside the small conference room, Officers Shiratori and Takagi looked at Inspector Megure, whose face was grave, and couldn't help but ask, "Inspector, how's the interrogation going?"

Inspector Megure said in a deep voice, "One of the prisoners has already revealed their plan. Their purpose in taking hostages is to distract us so they can escape from here."

"The contents of their phones have been analyzed, and it seems they are trying to escape to a boat near Mihua Wharf. Their accomplices are there to meet them."

"But just now..."

At this point, Inspector Megure paused, pressing down on his hat with his hand.

Seeing Inspector Megure's complicated expression, Takagi and Shiratori couldn't help but feel nervous.

The next second, Inspector Megure continued, "But just now, other departments received news that some people reported hearing a loud explosion near Beika Wharf."

"After investigation, it was discovered that the boat that the prisoners used to escape was originally moored there!"

With Inspector Megure's explanation, Takagi and his companion understood what had happened.

Judging from the number of bombs the group took out of the sushi restaurant, they were likely carrying a large amount of explosives.

Based on the information available, it appears that someone on the ship accidentally detonated the bomb.

Although this explanation is far-fetched, there is currently no useful information to support their reasonable inference.

Therefore, this is the only judgment they can make for now.

Conan, who was hiding in the bathroom, frowned deeply upon hearing this.

Were their accomplices really that stupid?!

Just as Conan was making his own comment, Officer Shiratori's voice came through the bugging device.

"Inspector...so what did the higher-ups say this time?"