Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

Sano knew that Akai Hide was most likely testing him.

Testing the waters.

It is also a way to test the waters.

"No need. If you don't even have this much skill, what are you doing out here?"

Sano rejected Shuichi Akai's "kind offer".

While it might seem like getting a free FBI job and coasting into the cast isn't bad, who knows how reliable FBI resources actually are? Shuichi Akai's undercover work was entirely due to his own efforts, and he was eventually exposed.

It's hard to say what would happen if Sano joined another organization.

But there are countless ways to get into a winery.

Of course, while it's possible to get in, there are still differences in the specifics of how one gets in.

After hanging up the phone, Sano thought for a while and then took out another phone.

Finally, they found Ito Taka's number.

After making the call using the new alias's number, Ito Taka answered the phone shortly afterward.

"Hello, who is it?"

"Ito Taka, 29 years old, ostensibly an unemployed vagrant with mental illness, but actually a member of an external organization of the distillery, and his direct superior is Rye Whiskey."

Upon hearing Sano directly state the crucial point, Ito Taka remained silent for a while before laughing and saying, "I wonder who the other party is, and why they would be interested in a nobody like me. What is their purpose?"

"Let's meet in person; it's more efficient to talk face-to-face."

"Okay, but I'm a bit busy. Can you come over?"

"no problem."

After obtaining an address, Sano was no longer worried that Ito Taka would set a trap for him.

He got up and headed straight to the meeting place he had agreed upon with Ito Taka.

The weather in this world is awful.

She remains as fickle as ever.

Just like Sano's mood, it was hot and humid yesterday, but today it feels like winter.

So much so that Sano felt cold even wearing that single kimono.

Finally, the clothes were temporarily modified again, the fabric was changed to thicker material, and a pair of thick socks were added to the feet that were stuffed with wooden clogs.

It's much warmer now.

Upon arrival, we found ourselves at an ice rink located within an amusement park.

In addition to Ito Taka, what Sano saw was the trio of plague gods.

Conan, and the best friends Ran Mouri and Sonoko Suzuki.

The four of them gathered by the ice rink, chatting and laughing.

...How could I run into this? I wonder which unlucky guy is going to get himself killed.

Sano sighed, feeling slightly speechless, but he didn't hold back.

He went straight over and waved to Ito Taka: "Over here."

"Ok?"

Ito Taka immediately stopped chatting with the plague gods and looked at Sano. After a thorough examination, he could only come to one conclusion—a smiling tiger.

Sano's design for the new alias's appearance is not just about squinty eyes; or rather, the squinty eyes design comes with another inherent characteristic.

That is.

smile.

A kind smile.

A harmless smile.

At first glance, it gives the impression of a kind person or a stranger's smile.

...Sano's rye vest was originally designed with this in mind.

A pure and adorable boyish face.

But later, because of various things, anyone who knew Sano Black Rye's vest would not think that he was a harmless person... not to mention that with the cover of the passerby hat, Black Rye's face could not actually be shown.

As for Sano himself...

After learning about rye's example, Sano understood that maintaining a smile all the time was incredibly difficult, practically impossible.

Just like not everyone can compare to Gin, that cunning old fox, who can be on guard 24/7, 365/12, constantly checking for trackers and surveillance cameras or listening devices in the environment.

It's a similar principle.

Not everyone can be like Shuichi Akai, the veteran actor, who can maintain a smile even when facing the most disliked person or having the worst mood.

Even a forced smile is difficult.

Therefore, Sano chose to cheat—he gave the face a smiling lip.

...Of course, this is from the perspective of Ito Taka, who knows that "the newcomers are not friendly."

No matter how friendly Sano's smile is, he will only tense up.

"Wow, so handsome! I'm so lucky today, I ran into two handsome guys at once."

Sonoko Suzuki, however, looked over in the direction of Ito Taka and couldn't help but sigh... But what did those two handsome guys mean?

Sano stopped and looked around, finally raising an eyebrow and pointing at Ito Taka.

"Miss, the other handsome guy you mentioned, you wouldn't be referring to him, would you?"

Sonoko Suzuki paused, scratching the back of her head: "Isn't he handsome?"

Sano turned back and looked Ito Taka over again, pretending to be deep in thought.

"...If you put it that way, then I'm starting to doubt my own looks."

"Haha, you're so funny."

Sonoko Suzuki chuckled twice, then, feeling it might affect her image, quickly coughed and shifted her attention to Ito Taka, asking him a question.

"Is this your friend, Mr. Ito? You arranged to meet here?"

"...Well, I guess so."

Ito Taka nodded calmly, then spoke to Sano.

"Then let's find a place to talk."

"Ah."

Hearing this, Sonoko Suzuki was immediately disappointed: "Oh, Mr. Ito, are you leaving already? Can't we talk about this here?"

Chapter 526, page 529: Ito Taka: Don't lie to me about my lack of education.

Sano frowned inwardly—Suzuki Sonoko's words were a bit too much.

Or rather, did it cross the line?

Logically speaking, two people who are not very familiar with each other should not say such things, as it would be very impolite. Although this girl is a bit carefree, she shouldn't be so ignorant of social etiquette.

Unless, the two people are already very familiar with each other.

Based on what Sonoko Suzuki said earlier, it seems that the two only became acquainted today, and most likely it was through Ran Mouri's introduction.

While Sonoko Suzuki is naturally outgoing, she wouldn't be this familiar.

Unless, it's Ito Taka who's intentionally closing the distance... Sano narrowed his eyes.

Although he already had squinty eyes.

"gone."

Sano didn't give Ito Taka much of a chance to waste words.

A shout prompted the two sides to quickly create distance between themselves.

Sano's hands are tucked into his sleeves—just like the old men and women in many retro TV dramas, he puts his hands into the sleeves of the opposite person.

It's not that Sano is that cold.

The sleeves are a bit too wide, but that would make them more comfortable.

Ito Taka followed Sano into a café in the amusement park.

"Tell me, what exactly do you want from me?"

Ito Taka, too lazy for pleasantries, got straight to the point.

Two things.

Seeing that Ito Taka was so decisive, and that he had previously followed him very obediently, letting him take the lead, he realized that Ito Taka meant him no harm.

Sano didn't waste any time and said, "First, I want to learn hypnosis... it would be even better if I could brainwash people. Second, I want to join the brewery, but I'm undocumented, so I'd like you to help me arrange it."

Ito Taka frowned, stroked his chin, and thought for a few seconds.

"The first one isn't a big problem. Of course, I won't teach you because I can't. I can only give you some textbook notes that I think are useful. As for whether you can learn it or not, that depends on yourself. But the second one..."

Ito Taka clicked his tongue: "It really is a little difficult for me."

"What's so difficult about that?"

Sano picked up the coffee that was brought to him, crossed his legs, and said, "Do you think I don't know that you've already placed more than twenty people into the organization?"

...How could you even know something like this?

Ito Taka narrowed his eyes and smiled: "Then you should also know that even members I place in the organization have to have their backgrounds thoroughly investigated first..."

"But aren't you in charge of reporting these people's backgrounds?"

Before Ito Taka could finish speaking, Sano interrupted him.

Earlier, Sano and Gin had a minor disagreement over the background check on Itō Taka, but later on, the background checks on his puppets could no longer be ignored.