Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

That shouldn't be the case. Given Kyogoku Makoto's personality, even if such a misunderstanding really occurred, he shouldn't be rushing forward so hastily, unless...

There must be some special reason why Makoto Kyogoku was able to confirm the answer so readily that he felt there was no need for further "verification," which would be quite reasonable.

After a moment of hesitation, Sano did not intervene, but instead let Kyogoku Makoto do what he wanted while he observed the situation from the rear.

Noticing Kyogoku Makoto's approach, the group of blond-haired men who were already seated at the table mistook him for a waiter at the restaurant and rattled off a list of dishes.

...These guys are using their own operating funds to have a lavish meal?

Sano's eye twitched.

For "field work" like this, it's impossible for employees to pay for all expenses themselves. Even if the work should have ended, the subsequent "relaxation" expenses are implicitly assumed to be reimbursable.

Even Sano wouldn't be stingy in this regard.

These guys, aren't they a little too relaxed?

King crab, Australian lobster, caviar... what the hell is all this stuff??

Sano never imagined that he, who had always been the one to siphon off funds from the organization, would one day be swindled out of money by his own tool.

...No, judging from how practiced Huang Mao and his gang were, this kind of behavior is probably not a one-off occurrence, and it certainly didn't just happen today.

Is this what they mean by karma, and that no one escapes the wrath of Heaven?

...I'll set a cap on reimbursements later!

Sano made up his mind: "I've been hunting geese for years, how could I let a goose peck my eye out?"

Just as Sano was lost in thought, Kyogoku Makoto spoke up: "I don't have any of those things you're talking about, but I do have a pair of fists. Want some?"

...A provocation, a blatant provocation!

Not to mention Conan and the blond guy, even Sano was shocked by Kyogoku Makoto's words.

What's going on? Why are you so angry?

"You bastard, are you looking for trouble?"

Huang Mao was used to this kind of thing, and without any hesitation, he slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

Unfortunately, Makoto Kyogoku didn't even glance at the blond-haired man, his gaze fixed intently on the other person.

...Do you know the other person?

Sano frowned slightly, his gaze shifting back and forth between Kyogoku Makoto and the special forces member.

Sano's intuition told him that the main factor causing Makoto Kyogoku's unusual behavior was...

It was because of the existence of this special forces member.

The man stared at Kyogoku Makoto with a furrowed brow, until after a few seconds, his brow suddenly relaxed, and he widened his eyes: "You are, Kyogoku... Makoto?"

I do know him.

Sano narrowed his eyes and noticed that Ran Mouri next to him was stunned when she heard Makoto Kyogoku's full name, and then she also started to widen her eyes.

...As expected, Ran Mouri also "knew" Makoto Kyogoku.

Sano remained calm and continued to observe.

"It's me. It seems you still remember me."

Kyogoku Makoto looked at the other person coldly: "Then you should also know very well why I came to you, right?"

The special forces member paused for a moment, then frowned again: "That incident happened so long ago. I've already admitted my mistake, and you've already retaliated. Do you still want to use that incident to your advantage now?"

"Isn't this a bit too unreasonable? Don't think that just because my temper is better than before, I'm easier to bully!"

The special forces members all stood up immediately, looking like they were ready to fight Kyogoku Makoto at the slightest provocation... even though Sano knew very well that even if they outnumbered each other, these guys would probably just get a good beating.

"It's over?"

Kyogoku Makoto is Kyogoku Makoto after all. He didn't immediately take action, but instead inquired about the newly emerging doubts: "Then can you tell me why you are here?"

"Nonsense, of course we're here to dominate Izu."

"That's perfectly natural," said the blond-haired man.

"...You didn't come here for your senior?"

Makoto Kyogoku raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Senior? What senior?"

The blond-haired man was even more surprised than Makoto Kyogoku.

Then, as Kyogoku Makoto's gaze fell on Sano, the members of the special attack team also subconsciously looked over.

After staring at Sano for a while, the person from the special forces team recognized him: "Are you... Sano?"

...As expected, this guy actually recognized his true identity.

Could it be that this guy bullied me before, and then Kyogoku Makoto stood up for me and taught me a lesson?

As the situation gradually became clearer...

Makoto Kyogoku finally realized that the Black Reaper wasn't after Sano; he had misunderstood him. He immediately turned around and apologized.

...In fact, in theory, Sano had just "practiced" with Makoto Kyogoku that morning, and given his strength, he shouldn't have been "bullied" by delinquents.

However, Makoto Kyogoku knew very well that Sano's strength mainly came from his agility.

One-on-one is fine, but once surrounded by a large number of people, the options become very limited. In particular, Sano's endurance is not very good, making him more vulnerable to being outmaneuvered by a series of attacks.

That's why Makoto Kyogoku felt that it wasn't impossible for Sano to still be being "bullied".

When faced with Kyogoku Makoto's apology, Sano waved his hand, indicating that it was no big deal, and apologized again to Sano for "what happened before".

It roughly means being young and impetuous, being young and naive back then...

...Although Sano is still completely baffled about what happened "before" in the past.

Fortunately, Sano wasn't the only one confused. The blond guy asked directly, and the other person gave a brief explanation without any hesitation.

It is said that two years ago, when this person was just an ordinary delinquent, he had been bullying Sano, making him run errands and pay protection money all the time.

Later, Makoto Kyogoku learned about this and confronted the other party, which led to the exposure of the other party's "big brother"—a member of Tokyo's strongest gangster organization at the time.

Then, just like in a novel where you beat up the younger generation and then the older ones appear, Makoto Kyogoku beat up the entire rampaging organization... Doesn't this plot sound familiar?

Sano's thoughts paused for a moment, and just as he remembered where he had heard this "story," the blond-haired man shouted it out.

"Ah! So you're that legendary bad guy!"

...That's right, the "legend of the strongest delinquent" who "became" a delinquent two years ago, rose to the top of the delinquent ranks, and then disappeared in an instant was none other than Makoto Kyogoku!

So the so-called "black people" refers to this kind of blackness!

Sano held his breath in surprise.

Wait a minute, if that's the case, then the burst damage and agility boosts of his special attack suit are actually based on Kyogoku Makoto, who is ostensibly the pinnacle of Tokyo's delinquents but is in reality the strongest single combatant in Japan, as a template standard?

hiss--!

Chapter 339, Chapter 338, Euler Euler/Muda Muda!

This is just a bit outrageous.

...But all things considered, this should be a good thing, right?

To be less precise, if it weren't for Makoto Kyogoku, the maximum enhancement from the special attack suit might be a level lower than it is now.

It might even be more than that.

While Sano was still pondering after his initial shock, the "misunderstanding" had been cleared up, and the two sides, who could perhaps be considered "friends after a fight," immediately became closer and even sat down at the same table together...

This revelation immediately brightened Conan's eyes, and he began to probe the other party, hoping to extract some information about the "Black Death."

Unfortunately, no matter how Conan tries to steer the conversation toward the "Black Death" or not, the blond-haired guy and his gang will simply ignore him and change the subject.

This refusal to reveal a single word disappointed Conan.

Sano listened listlessly to the blond-haired guy and Michiwaki Masahiko bragging, but suddenly stopped biting his straw.

Because something else happened at the other end of the black cat clone.

Yesterday, while I was peeking at Sonoko Suzuki's table at the seaside house, the little ball suddenly appeared next to the car, peeking inside.

...So he really was spying on Sonoko Suzuki.

Sano narrowed his eyes, becoming wary. If the small sphere made any unusual movements, then it would be time for Kokushi to make his appearance.

Surprisingly, the small ball did not make any extra movements.

After glancing inside the car, he simply walked away.

However, just half a minute later, the car itself began to show abnormalities.

This is……

Sano crawled from one side of the car to the other, and sure enough, under the front right wheel, he saw a piece of ice that was almost completely melted.

So that's how it is. Was he trying to clear his name by using this delayed killing method?

His gaze then fell on the ground next to the car, on what appeared to be a lock-picking tool. Sano was now certain that the dangerous element was none other than Masahiko Michiwaki.

After wagging its tail, Sano stopped observing, immediately deactivated its black cat form, and transformed into a black-clad knight in a special attack suit. It then smashed the window with a punch, instantly waking up Sonoko Suzuki inside.

Before Suzuki Sonoko, who was staring blankly at the broken window, could react, Sano had already grabbed her and yanked her out of the car amidst her gasp.

"Ok?"

Ran Mouri and Makoto Kyogoku seemed to have noticed something was wrong and looked out the window with some confusion.

Then, Masahiko Michiwaki's car gradually slid, revealing the previously hidden Kokushi and Sonoko Suzuki, who was slumped on the ground, causing their expressions to change instantly.

"The garden!?"

Ran Mouri didn't have time to think and rushed out of the restaurant, with Makoto Kyogoku following closely behind.

Although the others didn't quite understand what was going on, they instinctively followed.

...After Sano deliberately blocked Michiwaki Masahiko behind him, forcing him to be stopped by the waiter to pay the bill, the group arrived at Suzuki Sonoko's side one after another.

"Boss, what brings you here?"