Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

The impact will be much smaller.

After letting out a long sigh, Amuro Tooru said with a headache, "I have my reasons for doing this. Can't you just trust me and go home to wait for news?"

"Nonsense, would I have given you that way of saving face if I didn't believe you?"

Sano's eyes flashed with disdain, which puzzled Amuro Tooru: "If you're willing to believe me, then why are you still making trouble here?"

"Nonsense! I already said it's a matter of reciprocity. I just said I couldn't let anyone be taken away, and you're already telling me to release them? Don't I have any pride? At least you have to give me a reason why I lost face, so I know how I lost face, right?"

Amuro Tooru choked again.

"...Are you really that curious?"

After scratching the back of his head in surprise, Amuro Tooru shook off his jumbled thoughts.

"Fine, now that things have come to this, I can't keep you from knowing. Come with me."

Amuro Tooru called Sano to a nearby alley to explain.

Meanwhile, the group of people in white on the other car were still wondering why the famous detective Kogoro Mouri had been handcuffed by the police. Only Corin frowned as he looked at the alley that Sano and the other two had entered, his eyes narrowed and his expression unfathomable.

……

Fei Law Firm.

Eri Kisaki's own law firm.

...The name is quite peculiar, illegal, hmm.

Sano watched as Suzuki Sonoko, who had rushed over after receiving the news, and Mouri Ran together explained the situation to Eri and inquired about the details.

to be frank.

Sano couldn't quite understand Amuro Tooru's thought process.

The claim of framing someone was indeed that guy's doing. His purpose was to create a false culprit so that the case wouldn't be treated as an accident. Another purpose was to drag Conan into the trap.

Hmm...that makes sense.

There were no clear clues to suggest that this was not an accident. Although Sano didn't think it was an accident either, it was still an official organization that arbitrarily framed a citizen for this reason, and it was none other than Kogoro Mouri, a former police officer and now a famous detective.

Sano is... speechless.

As for getting Conan into the trap, it was because Amuro Tooru was clueless and wanted to use his brain. Sano didn't know what to say about that.

Why not just honestly ask someone for help? If that doesn't work, ask Kogoro Mouri for help. Can Conan really just ignore it?

Furthermore...

Why don't they come to me for help finding Conan when I'm around? What does that mean?

Do you feel inferior to Conan?

...Well, Sano also felt that he was actually inferior to Conan.

But Sano has an unfair advantage, and on the surface, he's clearly the more powerful one.

Why did Amuro Tooru insist on going the long way around instead of the nearby option?

What the hell is this if not out of their mind?

Sano thought that this guy must have been blown up at the venue and his mind wasn't quite right.

That makes much more sense.

As for why Sano was so concerned about why Amuro Tooru did this...

It's not that I simply want the truth.

This case has a significant impact because that so-called meeting was particularly important.

Because of the explosion, the meeting has been postponed and may even be canceled. So, putting aside the benefits that could have been gained from the meeting, the key issue is that this matter has escalated to the international level.

The Japanese authorities were naturally furious, and the Ministry of Public Security, which was in charge at the time, was under immense pressure. This is the basis for Sano's earlier statement, but even so, they have yet to achieve anything.

Therefore, this case, in terms of both difficulty and danger, can probably be considered to be at the highest level, although in fact...

Sano has many channels to obtain inside information.

But since there's such a simple and fast channel as Amuro Tooru, why not use it?

"...What, you can't defend Dad?"

Distracted, Eri Kisaki, having learned the whole situation, gave an unexpected answer that left Ran puzzled: "Why, Mom?"

"There's no reason why, it's just that it's much more difficult for relatives to defend their children."

Eri Kisaki sighed and looked at Sano: "But don't worry too much. I will find an excellent lawyer to defend me, but just in case, it's best to do both at the same time. Detective Sano, can I trouble you?"

"Excuse me, senior?"

Sonoko Suzuki asked in surprise, "While the only ways to prevent Uncle Mori from being convicted are to prove he's not the murderer, prove the murderer is someone else, or simply find the murderer, the investigation of this case is highly confidential. Even for a senior like you, it would probably be difficult to obtain any useful clues, right?"

"We can definitely find some clues, but whether they are effective depends on the person."

Eri smiled at Sano: "I believe that with Sano's abilities, even if he can't find decisive evidence, he will still gain a lot, which may also play a role in the defense process. You don't need to worry about the commission fee."

"...Then why be so polite?"

Sano waved his hand: "Let's forget about the commission fee."

Upon hearing this, the shock on the faces of the three people beside Conan was visibly obvious.

"Good heavens! Senior didn't even ask for the commission fee! This is a once-in-a-century occurrence. It seems he really, really wants to be your dad, Xiao Lan!"

Sonoko Suzuki tugged at Ran Mouri and whispered, "But then again, since Senpai wants to be your father, then Uncle Mouri is the biggest obstacle. Will he really help this time, or will he end up making things worse?"

Ran Mouri: "..."

This makes so much sense that I couldn't refute it for a moment.

...As for Sano, the reason he didn't charge a commission fee wasn't actually because of Eri Kisaki.

If I had to say, I guess I could.

The key point is that Sano wasn't intentionally trying to please, but rather he was a little guilty.

Yes, I felt guilty.

Sano knew that Kogoro Mouri had been framed, but he didn't tell the truth.

That in itself is not wrong.

After all, it's an official arrangement.

Even though he knew there was nothing wrong, he still watched these people get anxious and even collected commission fees.

That would be a bit much.

...If he were unaware of the situation, Sano might be happy to make money from it, and if he happens to be in the right frame of mind, he might even rip off Sano outright.

It is not impossible.

But Sano Ryoshin is just more sensitive these days.

"That won't do. One is one, two is two. You must accept this money."

Eri Kisaki acted with extraordinary efficiency, actually paying Sano the money on the spot.

...This really doesn't make sense.

Looking at the bank card deposit record on his phone, Sano clicked his tongue in exasperation.

"Alright, now that things have come to this, I'll give you a heads-up."

"Hey?"

The three women were taken aback by Sano's statement, but only Conan came to his senses.

"Have you already discovered something, Sano?"

"Yes, but it's not decisive. It's just something that can ensure Kogoro Mouri's safe return home. That's why I want to hold back and find the real culprit before things get to the last step."

Sano said this.

"Yes, that's how it is with you, senior. You just keep doing things quietly until you're absolutely certain about the final step."

Sonoko Suzuki clapped her hands and said in a flash of realization, "But this time, it's unusual that the progress was revealed ahead of time... It seems I still don't want your mother to worry."

He winked at Sonoko Suzuki.

Ran Mouri's mood wasn't particularly special this time, because Sano had also given a heads-up during the case of the real and fake Shinichi Kudo.

"...Senior is still very gentle after all."

Ran Mouri smiled faintly, and Conan below nodded in agreement.

"That's all for now. Contact me if anything comes up. I'm leaving now."

that's it.

Sano left first.

Of course, this doesn't mean the day is over.

Putting aside Kurosawa's disguise as someone who came here with the group and was waiting in the car downstairs, nighttime is when Sano actually works.

"squeak--"

A black Porsche pulled up in front of me.

Sano skillfully opened the car door and sat in the back seat.

As soon as he got into the car, Sano noticed that Gin's gaze was fixed on him.

"What's wrong?"

"nothing."

Sano found Gin's reply strange, but he didn't bother to care.

I took out my phone, intending to watch the downloaded anime.

"The international venue where the summit was to be held today was bombed. Did you see that?"

"Ah."

Sano subconsciously responded, but a few seconds later he realized something was wrong, paused the anime that had just started, turned to look at Gin and said, "I didn't blow it up."