Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

"It's just a gunshot wound to the shoulder, why stay in the hospital for so long?"

Ai Haibara glanced at Sano casually: "But there's someone who caused me to be shot and hospitalized, and didn't even bother to visit me. Ha."

...Is he talking about himself?

Sano mimicked Ai Haibara's tone and said, "It's just a bullet in the shoulder, he won't die, what's so interesting about it, it's a waste of time."

Ai Haibara: "...You bastard."

Sano suddenly took a half step back with his right foot, dodging Ai Haibara's stomp, and lowered his head slightly, curling the corners of his mouth into a disdainful smile.

"Stepping on toes, that's a childish trick for kids, so childish."

Ai Haibara's face darkened, and she stomped a second time, but of course, Sano dodged it again.

Then the two engaged in a crazy "you step on me, I dodge" battle in the yard, leaving Inspector Megure and the others speechless.

Please, this is a crime scene, not a place for you to play games!

In the end, Ran Mouri took the initiative to speak up and act as a peacemaker.

"Alright, Ai, your injury hasn't healed yet, so don't play such strenuous... games, or your wound will bleed. And you, senpai, why are you taking it so seriously with a child?"

...After the interlude, the main story begins.

Kogoro Mouri's reasoning is simple: Itaguchi deliberately trained John in attack signals, meaning that when given a signal, the dog would give the corresponding instruction.

This surprised Sano somewhat... because he thought so too, after all, before the case, he was still thinking about the training plan for Kuro.

It's normal to make this connection, but since Kogoro Mouri has also brought up this concept, doesn't that mean this path is wrong?

Sano snapped out of his daze, and under Kogoro Mouri's command, Itaguchi began to send "signals" to John, as he had predicted.

Takagi Wataru first played a recording of... bells, and then Itaguchi greeted John: "How are you, John? How are you, John?"

John remained motionless under the tense gaze of everyone.

"What? How could this happen?"

Kogoro Mouri was dumbfounded.

"Are you sure that's what Mr. Itaguchi said on the phone?"

Sano asked Inspector Megure.

"Yes, we have already asked Ms. Sugita. Since the deceased had the phone on speakerphone, the conversation could have been heard. That is consistent."

Chapter 284, page 283: I sent you to rescue dogs, not to kill them!

"That's what Inspector Megure replied."

"Are you sure that all the current conditions are consistent with the conditions at that time?"

Sano asked again.

Inspector Megure nodded again: "Yes, there's no mistake. Actually, we all thought that signal might be Mr. Itaguchi's greeting, but in fact, when he came back and we were exchanging information, he had already said that. But John, who was standing next to him at the time, didn't react at all. It was only later that Mori brought up the issue of the bell that we recorded the bell again to try... but it seems that it still doesn't work."

"...I'll ask you one more time, are you sure everything matches what happened last night?"

When Sano repeated the question, Inspector Megure paused for a moment, and after thinking for a while, he nodded hesitantly but solemnly.

"I...I'm sure."

When Sano asked him "Are you sure?" for the second time, Inspector Megure was inexplicably reminded of how he felt when his teacher asked him questions when he was in school.

It's so stressful... I always feel apprehensive and uneasy.

After receiving confirmation from Inspector Megure, Sano calmly continued, "Inspector Megure, could you explain to me why Itaguchi communicated with John by phone back then, but is now greeting him in person?"

"Hey?"

After Sano said this, not only Inspector Megure, but also many other people present who were focused on the two of them were stunned.

That makes a lot of sense!

Inspector Megure, disregarding his embarrassment, quickly turned to look at Itagaki, ready to conduct the experiment once more.

...If Sano's eyes were not the problem, Itagaki's facial muscles would have visibly tightened the moment he mentioned the word "telephone".

It seems to be correct.

"Wait a moment."

Suddenly, Sano stopped Inspector Megure, who was about to speak, prompting the latter to ask with a puzzled look, "What is it now?"

Sano did not answer immediately, but walked towards the board and raised his hand.

This is……

Sano's Judgment Hand!?

Inspector Megure's eyes widened; it seemed like he hadn't seen Sano do this in a long time.

Although Sano had been involved in many cases since the last time he patted Sano on the shoulder.

In all these cases, Sano never patted him on the shoulder; at least, Inspector Megure never saw it.

Seeing it again now always makes me feel... inexplicably excited!

It's something to miss.

Then, under the solemn, expectant, or excited gazes of most of the people present, Sano's hand landed on Itaguchi's shoulder, and the other party immediately let out a low cry and instinctively took a step back.

"It's working..."

Inspector Megure's stomach tingled, and he immediately straightened his back. What was once a suspicious look at Itagaki was now almost like looking at a criminal.

Even Conan, who considers himself a very materialistic guy, has a sharpened gaze.

Only Nakajima Keizo, who was completely unaware of the situation, Itagaki, the target, and a few children including Haibara Ai, remained utterly bewildered.

What the hell is going on?

Why are they all getting so... excited?

"...Excuse me, what is this?"

Although Bankou was confused, he still sensed that something was wrong and asked in a low voice with some hesitation and unease what was going on.

"Since we're going to replicate last night's events, we naturally have to make it 100% perfect."

Having confirmed that the clapperboard was incorrect, Sano glanced at the other person.

"After all, I think Mr. Itaguchi probably doesn't want to keep being questioned and making useless attempts, right?"

Bankou nodded with a smile.

"Let's go then."

At Sano's signal, the group went back inside.

“John was at the bottom of the stairs on the second floor yesterday, right? Take it up.”

"Draw the curtains to block out light, and turn on the lights."

"Set the time on that clock, and don't use the recorded chimes anymore."

"Bring over another speaker and play some music."

"..."

Under Sano's command, several police officers busied themselves with errands, while Conan and the others stood by with strange expressions.

It's not that there's anything wrong with Sano's attention to detail, but it just feels...

That's so nitpicky.

This description might not be quite accurate, but Conan and his friends' current feelings are indeed like seeing someone who claims to be just "clean" but is actually a person with severe mysophobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder, doing all sorts of outrageous things.

It's even more outrageous than that.

Because none of the group felt that Sano was investigating a case; instead, it seemed more like he was preparing for an upcoming party and setting up the venue.

Under the complex gazes of everyone, Sano had already pushed the necessary adjustments to the final step.

"Then came the phone call..."

However, when Sano turned his gaze to the telephone on the counter in the living room of the mansion, an unexpected situation occurred.

Because the phone is a landline.

"If I remember correctly, the situation at the time was that Maehara took the mobile phone to the second floor."

...Since Sano had not personally witnessed the crime scene, he first confirmed with Inspector Megure, and only after receiving an affirmative answer did he look at Itaguchi.

"Now, can you give me an explanation, Mr. Itaguchi? Why did a perfectly good mobile phone suddenly turn into a landline?"

"because……"

Sweating profusely, Bankou stammered and couldn't give a coherent explanation.

After much deliberation, he came up with what he thought was a good excuse, but before he could even utter it, Sano ignored him.

"Never mind, it's a trivial matter. Inspector Megure, just find a mobile phone to use instead. Make sure the ringtone is the same."

Without waiting for Inspector Megure's reply, Sano added the final touch to this "arrangement".

"Officer Takagi will pretend to be the deceased and take the phone upstairs. Just in case, please release the safety on your guns, aim at John, and if he shows any signs of trying to pounce, just shoot and kill him."

"……Why!??"

This surprised not only Ran Mouri and Conan, as well as the team members who had invited Sano to save John, but even Inspector Megure and the other police officers.

"Straight, just shoot him!?"

Takagi Wataru asked in disbelief, while Ran Mouri and the children stared wide-eyed, wondering if they should also question it.

Especially the three real children and Ai Haibara, after all, they are different from the others. In their eyes, Sano came here entirely because of their request.

To put it simply, they came specifically to rescue dogs.

But now this guy is actually saying he wants to kill the dog??

Could you be any more outrageous?

"Wait, wait a minute!"