Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

If what happened last night was indeed arranged by the other party, then what Fujiyoshi Saburo meant by saying that they could just grab any two people to take the blame.

However, to Fujiyoshi Saburo's surprise, Sano replied to his attempt to save face, "Ah, I'm sorry, those are temporary workers we hire from all over the place, so we can't find anyone at all."

"What?!"

Fujiyoshi Saburo stared wide-eyed in astonishment. Of course, he couldn't believe that the situation was really as the other party said, that those few staff members from Nadutong were temporary workers.

Putting aside the fact that this is such an unbelievable coincidence, it's simply too illogical. The fact that the other party could know those people were temporary workers without even doing any investigation makes the problem all too obvious.

This is clearly an attempt to cheat!

“Black Death, this isn’t something you can just decide with words; you have to explain…”

Before Fujiyoshi Saburo could finish speaking, Sano interrupted again, saying, "Mr. Fujiyoshi, as you just said, things can't be done just by talking. You have to provide evidence. If you don't believe me when I say those guys are temporary workers, then you have to provide evidence that they are not temporary workers."

"After all, this is what real official business should be like, isn't it?"

Upon hearing this, Fujiyoshi Saburo's breath hitched. Where the hell did he get the evidence to prove that those Nadutong employees weren't temporary workers?

...Wait a minute, evidence?

Fujiyoshi Saburo's eyes suddenly lit up. He finally noticed the recurring keyword and seemed to understand what Kokushi really thought.

It's right to handle things strictly by official procedures.

However, handling matters officially does not necessarily mean that there must be a result... although judging from the other party's attitude, there is a high probability that there will be no result.

Or you could say it's giving this matter a result that isn't a result.

This "business as usual" approach is actually the other party giving their side a suitable way to back down.

...If possible, the authorities certainly wouldn't want to confront a troublesome entity like the Black Reaper, but they have no choice but to do so due to external pressure.

To put it bluntly, the so-called "result" is just an "explanation" to the outside world.

However, if we just try to fob them off, the outside world won't believe our explanation, so we have to "take it seriously."

You want the truth, so here's the truth for you.

At that point, it won't be a question of whether you want to believe it or not, but rather that you'll have no choice but to believe it.

"...In that case, we will thoroughly investigate the Armed Detective Agency's commission records and the personnel information of Na Du Tong later."

Having figured things out, Fujiyoshi Saburo regained his composure: "We will inform you of the investigation results when the time comes. Thank you for your cooperation this time."

"Oh, you're exaggerating. Cooperating with the authorities to maintain social order is our duty."

Sano exchanged a polite greeting with the other party.

After both sides successfully reached an agreement, Sano arranged for someone to escort the other party away.

"That guy actually knows what's good for him."

The blond-haired man leaned closer to Sano and muttered something.

The third party chimed in, "According to the information in the intelligence database, this guy belongs to the more honest faction within the government, and he's also a hawk. So he probably knows that the president we took out had done a lot of bad things, which is why he's cooperating with us so much."

"...Even if he doesn't want to cooperate, he'll have no choice but to, right?"

The blond-haired man winked at the mistress.

Xiao San rolled her eyes and turned to Sano: "By the way, boss, after we spread the word about what happened last night, quite a few people have started tentatively asking us about similar requests. How should we set the price?"

Sano turned around and said, "You can do a quick screening. If they're not suitable for our target audience, just raise the price and send them away. If they are suitable, compile a list and send it to me so I can take a look."

"Yes."

...That's right, the reason why the incident last night spread so quickly was actually because Sano deliberately arranged for someone to do it.

The goal is to build a reputation and tell customers that their "professionalism" is no less than that of gangsters or hitmen.

On the contrary, it will be even stronger.

...For this reason, even the so-called "request" last night was made up by Sano himself.

They simply picked a notorious, high-profile, and difficult target from their intelligence database.

"Tell the others to get ready. We'll be moving out tonight. I'll only be leading you a few more times. After that, you'll have to do everything yourselves."

Upon receiving Sano's order, the blond-haired man immediately nodded solemnly in agreement.

...After all, this mission is about boosting the performance of the Armed Detective Agency as a whole, and how can Sano succeed by relying on his own efforts alone...Well, actually, after the incident of directing Kuro to rescue people, Sano realized that not all missions require him to do them personally, so he had the idea of ​​handing over this mission to someone else as well.

In this way, it can also be considered as training members of the special forces.

Even if the same situation occurs again, and even if Sano has the ability to create clones, he is still unable to do so, there are other ways to deal with it.

Yes, that's right. This is all to prevent any unforeseen circumstances, and it's definitely not because Sano wanted to be lazy.

Sano thought to himself.

Then I started selecting the commissions I needed to do that evening and setting prices.

Chapter 308, 307, Shuichi Akai: What are you looking at?

After successfully boosting the Armed Detective Agency's performance and training the special forces members several times, Sano became a hands-off manager and had a much easier time again.

One day, Sano received a call from Kuro, who said he had heard about Conan and was planning to visit him, and wanted Sano to come along.

Sano naturally gave a perfunctory refusal, since he had already gone once and there was no need to go a second time... even though Suzuki Sonoko actually chose that day and came to his door to forcibly drag him there.

When they arrived at Sano's location, they discovered that several members of the squad, including Ai Haibara, had also come to visit Conan again that day.

...Wait a minute, this lineup doesn't feel right.

Sano felt as if he had caught a whiff of a plague god's aura.

Is someone going to die in the hospital today? Should I be paying attention to my surroundings beforehand?

Looking at the doctor not far away who was talking to Ran about Conan's check-up results today, Sano narrowed his eyes. Suspicious character, is he the murderer or the victim?

Unfortunately, the doctor left shortly after being bowed to by Ran Mouri, without making any further appearances, suggesting he was just a passerby.

"...Conan's health has almost recovered. The doctor said he can be discharged in two or three days. However, he is prone to respiratory infections, so he needs to take precautions."

Upon hearing Ran Mouri's explanation, Sonoko Suzuki sighed, "Three days from now, isn't that the day we put on our play at the school fair? He could come and watch our play... By the way, Ran, have you contacted that guy yet?"

Ran Mouri shook her head with a smile, prompting Sonoko Suzuki to start complaining that Shinichi Kudo was unreliable.

Turning my head again, I saw Conan playing a video game, surrounded by the trio of real children.

"Cough cough."

As if to confirm Ran Mouri's earlier statement about "being prone to respiratory infections," Sano coughed twice as soon as he came next to Conan.

Upon seeing this, Ran Mouri immediately tried to take Conan back to the ward.

Pulled back to reality, Ayumi frowned and said, "It's all our fault for insisting on talking about a treasure hunt back then, which led to Conan getting shot..."

Before the little girl's eyes could even redden, Conan immediately smiled and comforted her, "Oh dear, so many days have passed, why are you still so concerned? Besides, who knew there would be danger in the cave back then? You can't blame yourselves."

"...In fact, it should be said that it is thanks to you that this case, which could have easily become an unsolved mystery, has been brought to light and the truth has come to light."

Conan said seriously, "After all, even if Black Death is watching them, if it weren't for us... well, we would have bought them time, and those guys might have been able to escape."

...This kid, it's one thing to comfort people, but why does he also try to make excuses for himself?

Sano glanced at Conan, then grabbed his wheelchair and pulled him toward the ward: "Alright, this isn't a movie, why all this fancy stuff?"

"Hey!"

Conan, who was nearly thrown off his wheelchair, gave Sano a speechless look: "You rascal..."

"What? I'm pushing you around myself, what other complaints do you have?"

Sano remained indifferent... After all, he had no missions, so he should hurry up and finish "visiting" so he could go home.

On the way back to the ward, Sonoko Suzuki brought up Shinichi Kudo again, asking Ran Mouri if she really didn't feel anything that he didn't come to see the play.

Ran Mouri replied that Conan should just go and see for himself.

"You'll come, won't you?"

Seeing Ran Mouri's eyes filled with hope for some reason, Conan paused for a second before smiling and nodding: "Yeah, I'll go."

...It seems that Ran Mouri is really certain that Conan is Shinichi Kudo, and Conan himself seems to be on the verge of collapse.

Are you planning to just come clean?

Based on normal development, that shouldn't be possible.

Moreover, this kid's true identity involves more than just himself, so the people who will affect the final outcome will not be limited to just him.

While Sano was lost in thought, Sonoko Suzuki, standing nearby, was disturbed by the conversation between the two and her expression turned strange.

"...Tell me, what's with this 'lovey-dovey' feeling between you two?"

Sonoko Suzuki leaned back strategically, her deadpan eyes widening as she said, "Ran, you wouldn't have fallen for this brat, would you?"

What are you saying?!

Just as Ran Mouri's face turned red, Conan noticed the bandage on Sonoko Suzuki's wrist and asked what was wrong. She immediately explained that she had twisted her wrist while performing in a play, adding that it prevented her from playing any more knights.

Instead of Sonoko Suzuki, a doctor named Araide took over the role.

It seems he's going to "date" Ran Mouri?

Seeing Conan propping his chin up with his pout and dead fish eyes, Sano quickened his pace.

As Sano approached the ward, he heard the voices of Hattori Heiji and Toyama Kazuha.

I have no idea what they're arguing about.

...Anyway, the number of troublesome people has increased.

Sano glanced at Suzuki Sonoko, and in the end, he didn't even bother to go into the ward. He simply said hello and left.

Go home, go home...

"Dudu."

Suddenly, Sano's phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and saw that it was an email from Gin.

"Go do a task, details below."

Sano: "..."