Detective Conan: Birth of the Demon Child

"That's right, it's Natsume Soseki."

Shunya Kumai nodded slightly and said, "Because my brother's idol is Natsume Soseki, he specially painted this picture and even sent it to an art museum for exhibition."

However, because the painting was based on a photograph, everyone who visited the exhibition seemed to have some complaints.

The only person who praised my brother's drawing was a strange woman wearing a black hat and dressed entirely in black from head to toe.

What?!

Upon hearing this, Conan's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly asked, "When? When did you meet that woman?"

"Hmm... about ten days ago."

"Besides the woman in black, were there any other men in black with her?"

"There were indeed two men dressed in black."

Upon hearing Shunya Kumai's affirmative answer, Conan unconsciously conjured up images of Gin and Vodka in his mind.

Could it really be them?

"Junye, your brother might be in those nearby places. Quickly take me to see those places!"

"???"

Seeing the puzzled look on Kumai Toshiya's face, Conan explained anxiously, "Your brother's wallet is at home, and his train ticket and student ID are also there. He certainly wouldn't have gone too far. Maybe he was kidnapped nearby."

"That's right! If we look around the neighborhood, we might actually find something!" Genta and the others suddenly realized.

"Quick, let's go!"

The thought that this kidnapping might be related to the black-clad organization that shrunk him made Conan unable to control his restless heart, and he grabbed Kumai Shunya and ran out the door.

"Conan, wait for us!"

Seeing this, Ayumi, along with Genta and Mitsuhiko, followed closely behind.

Watching Conan and the others walk away, Ai Haibara felt a surge of relief. Luckily, she hadn't revealed her true identity to Conan, otherwise she would have been too easily tricked by him.

Judging from Conan's behavior just now, Ai Haibara could guess that he must have mistaken the kidnappers for members of the organization.

Ai Haibara said she could understand Conan's desire to turn back into an adult, but his actions were still too impulsive.

The Black Organization is no ordinary criminal group; they are a powerful international criminal organization.

Let alone Conan leading a group of children, even if he led dozens of police officers, he would probably still be wiped out.

However, based on Ai Haibara's understanding of the Black Organization, she knew very well that the organization's members would not waste time kidnapping ordinary people.

Therefore, it is certain that Toshiya Kumai's brother was not kidnapped by members of the organization.

Otherwise, Ai Haibara, who avoids the Black Organization like the plague, would have already found a way to leave with Seimei Suzuki and the others.

"Ai, let's go!"

As soon as Suzuki Seimei finished speaking, he naturally took Ai Haibara's small hand and chased after Conan and the others in the direction they had gone.

Led by Shunya Kumai, the six boys searched all the nearby coffee shops, arcades, department stores, and other places their brother might go, but they still couldn't find any clues about him.

Because Suzuki Seimei's stamina far exceeded that of ordinary people, even after running for more than an hour, he still looked energetic.

However, Conan and his friends were different; they were all panting heavily from exhaustion.

In particular, the overweight Genta was drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

Noticing the thin layer of sweat on Ayumi and Ai Haibara's foreheads, Suzuki Seimei suggested, "Everyone seems quite tired. Why don't we go to the convenience store to buy some drinks and rest for a while?"

"I...I agree!"

"I'm so thirsty too!"

"Let's take a break then!"

Upon hearing Suzuki Haruaki's words, everyone expressed their full agreement, including Conan.

After his initial impulsiveness, Conan gradually calmed down, realizing he had too few clues.

Instead of flying around like a headless fly, it's better to relax your mind, reorganize the clues you've collected, and see if there are any important clues you've missed.

"welcome!"

"The total is 430 yen. Thank you for your patronage."

Welcome back next time!

"Could I have a pack of light cigarettes?"

"I've given you 770 yen in change."

Just as Suzuki Haruki and the others were choosing drinks and snacks, Conan's attention was suddenly drawn to the conversation in front of the counter.

"Conan, what would you like to drink?"

Seeing Conan standing there in a daze, Suzuki Haruaki couldn't help but ask, "Is something wrong?"

"Don't you find it strange? That person just spent 1,000 yen but only bought a pack of light cigarettes."

Upon hearing this, Genta, who was picking out snacks, replied without hesitation, "What's so strange about that? Maybe that person just didn't have any change."

"No! If he has a thousand yen, he can simply buy cigarettes from the vending machine at the convenience store. There's no need for him to queue up specifically to buy cigarettes."

Mitsuhiko thought for a moment and said, "Could it be that the cigarettes that person likes are all sold out in the vending machine, so he went to queue up to buy cigarettes?"

"That's possible, but I think there's another possibility: that the 1,000 yen note can't be used in the cigarette vending machine."

Suzuki Haruaki turned to Haibara Ai and the others with a smile halfway through his sentence and asked, "Do you remember the portrait of Natsume Soseki that we found in Toshiya's room before?"

"The portrait printed on the 1000 yen banknote is that of Natsume Soseki," Ai Haibara said instinctively, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

Mitsuhiko suddenly realized and said, "You mean, after those people kidnapped Junya's brother, they actually wanted him to help them make counterfeit money?"

"That's right!"

Conan nodded, quickly walked to the counter, and pleaded in his childish voice, "Big sister, could I see the 1000 yen bill that customer used just now?"

???

Upon hearing this, the beautiful shop assistant blinked, somewhat bewildered.

There's no time!

To verify his guess, Conan pounced on the counter, snatched the 1,000 yen bill, and shone it up to the light.

There's no watermark; it's definitely a counterfeit.

"Sister, I advise you to call the police quickly! This banknote is counterfeit."

Before the pretty shop assistant could utter a curse, Conan put the banknotes back in his hand, then jumped off the counter and chased after the man who had used counterfeit money.

"Conan, wait for us..."

Seeing this, Genta and the others rushed out without thinking.

Chapter 168 The Most Dangerous Place is the Safest Place (Second Update, Please Vote)

Holy crap! (‵o′)凸!

Watching Genta and the others rush out with their drinks and snacks, Suzuki Seimei's lips twitched. He could only settle the bill for them as quickly as possible.

Seimei Suzuki certainly didn't want to see the headline "Junior Detective League robs convenience store" in tomorrow's newspaper.

(* ￣︶￣)

Seeing this, Ai Haibara, who was standing close to Seimei Suzuki, couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth slightly.

Spending all day with these troublesome kids must be exhausting for Seimei!

However, this kind of life is quite interesting, much more fun than being cooped up in the research institute every day.

By the time Suzuki Seimei and Haibara Ai walked out of the store, Conan and the others had already vanished without a trace.

"Ayumi, where are you now?"

To Ai Haibara's somewhat surprised look, Seimei Suzuki took out his detective badge and contacted Ayumi and the others.

"Seimei, we're at the nearby station. That man is about to board the train and leave. Please come quickly."

"Okay, we'll be right there."

After finishing his conversation with Ayumi, Suzuki Seimei noticed Ai Haibara's gaze fixed on the detective badge and explained with a smile, "This is a detective badge that Professor Agasa specially made for the members of our Junior Detective League."

Now that you've joined the Detective Boys, I'll ask Professor Agasa to make you a detective badge too.

"Ah."

"Alright, let's go meet up with Conan and the others!"

After Suzuki Seimei finished speaking, he took Ai Haibara's small hand and hurried towards the nearby station.

Because the station was crowded, and Suzuki Seimei and the others were all children, the long-haired man who used counterfeit money didn't suspect that they were being followed.

The group followed the long-haired man and easily found their hideout.

What surprised everyone was that these criminals' hideout was not located in a remote suburban warehouse, but in the newspaper office in front of the train station.

What's most surprising is that there's a police station right next to this newspaper office.

This is a classic case of blinding one's own blind spot!

The most dangerous place is often the safest place.

Those police officers probably never imagined that someone would dare to print counterfeit money right next to the police station.

Do you really think the police never visit other people's homes?!

"Seimei, Conan, what should we do now?"

After locating the criminals' hideout, Genta and the others couldn't help but cast questioning glances at Suzuki Seimei and Conan.

Upon hearing this, Suzuki Haruaki replied without hesitation, "Of course we should call the police! Those criminals who print counterfeit money are very likely to be armed, so it's better to hand them over to the police."

"Then let's go tell those police officers now..."