books44 Chapter 161 Kanto VS Kansai!
Chapter 161 Kanto VS Kansai!
"Next, let me introduce the next news item, a terrifying urban legend that has been trending recently—a haunted shrine."
On the 1st of this month, a wanted criminal gang that had been roaming the country was arrested at the Beikazuki Shrine. During the arrest, internal strife broke out within the gang, and their leader was killed by his comrades while resisting, leaving blood on the shrine.
That same night, dozens of people passing by the shrine reported that starting at 1 a.m., an incessant ringing of bells echoed from the shrine's altar, sounding like mournful weeping and wailing. Some even claimed to have seen the ghostly figure of a blood-soaked murderer haunting the place…
Kogoro Mouri pressed the radio switch button, crumpled the beer can in his hand, and slumped over his desk, muttering, "Seriously, what kind of news is this?!"
"Dad, you've drunk so much again! What if you can't get up for tomorrow's assignment?"
Ran Mouri shook his shoulders in dissatisfaction and smiled apologetically at Haruya Kuromon on the sofa:
"Hey, Brother Kuromon, we're counting on you for Conan this time! He secretly signed up for a detective tour, his cold from a few days ago hasn't gotten better, and Dad's been in a bad mood lately..."
"Hmph! Let that detective brat go if he wants, but he'd better not come back!"
Kogoro Mouri, who vaguely knew Conan's true identity, glanced at Haruya Kuromon and gave a cold snort without giving him any face.
No wonder that brat had been subtly and overtly advising him to treat Conan and Ran separately, claiming that "men and women are different, and Conan should be independent," and even referring to Conan as Shinichi so many times. Now that he's come to his senses and is reflecting on what happened, he clearly knew the inside story!
So Shinichi Kudo lied to this senior; he was already being kind by letting him through the door!
"Dad! Why do you treat Kuromon like this too—"
Recalling the memory of the three of them playing a shooting game with hanging bells on New Year's Eve, Yoruichi Kuromon pulled aside the troubled and confused Ran Mouri and promised her:
"Don't worry, Ran, I'll take good care of Conan. I have part-time experience babysitting, and I've also prepared some cold medicine just in case. I'll make sure you get Conan back in perfect condition."
When she saw that gentle yet firm expression, her tense nerves were soothed.
Ran Mouri nodded, dragged the luggage containing Conan's clothes to the sofa, and couldn't help but sigh, "It's so great to have someone as reliable as you, Kuromon-kun, by my side!"
"Hey Xiaolan, do you think your dad isn't reliable?!"
Completely ignoring her drunken father's cries, Ran Mouri glanced at the clock in the office: "Conan just went out. Kuromon, have a seat for a bit. The tour group's pick-up bus will arrive in about an hour."
Knock, knock. The office door was being knocked on.
Kuromon Haruya got up and opened the door to greet the guest: "Welcome, may I ask who you are...wait, where is everyone?"
The corridor was dark, with the lights off, and not a soul in sight. Kurodo Haruka squinted, carefully discerning the outline of the figure ahead, and finally managed to make out a dark silhouette that resembled Fan Ze from the outline of clothing.
"Real person?"
"I'm here, buddy, you've mistaken me for someone else." The dark figure reached out and pressed the button for the hallway light, speaking in a thick, authentic Osaka accent, "I'm here to see Shinichi Kudo."
The young man walked into the office with an air of familiarity, and looked around at the furnishings and the people there.
His skin was dark, but the texture was smooth and even, unlike the pigmentation caused by sun exposure or artificial tanning. He looked to be about the same age as Shinichi, but his eyes and brows exuded even more confidence, making him seem like a more sunny and passionate type.
Seeing that it was indeed a human being in front of him, and not some kind of hallucination or urban legend, Kuromon Haruya secretly breathed a sigh of relief: What is it? It's just a high school student with very dark skin.
After putting down the large bag on his back, the young man sat down on the sofa without any ceremony, giving himself a thumbs up: "My name is Hattori Heiji, and like Kudo Shinichi, I'm a high school detective."
Upon being reminded, Kuromon Haruya instantly recognized him: "Kudo from Kanto, Hattori from Kansai. So you're the young detective who shares the same name as Shinichi!"
"So, is there something you need from Shinichi? He's not here right now, but we can pass on your message."
"He's not here?!" Hattori Heiji's eyes widened in shock. "Isn't that guy a self-proclaimed die-hard Sherlock Holmes fan? This Sherlock Holmes fan tour is offering a copy of A Study in Scarlet as a prize, and he's not going?"
"Honestly, I signed up for nothing and even went all the way to Tokyo to wait for him. I think that guy is just trying to create a Sherlock Holmes fan persona for himself!"
"You bastard, you're not allowed to question Shinichi's passion!"
A Conan, sniffling, rushed in from outside and protested hoarsely to Hattori: "Shinichi can recite the entire Sherlock Holmes series by heart! He can rattle off the methods, details, and motivations of every case. What is, cough cough cough, what is character creation, cough cough!"
"Conan, calm down and have some warm water."
Ran patted Conan on the back to help him catch his breath, handed him a water glass, and explained, "Shinichi has been very busy with cases lately, so he specially assigned Conan to represent him on the tour."
"Huh? This little brat?"
Hattori Heiji sized up the sulking elementary school boy, then leaned back in his chair with a sigh.
"I rushed over to investigate after hearing rumors that he was missing and possibly murdered, only to find out he's just a little brat with a sister complex. Does anyone have Kudo's contact information? Tell him to show up quickly, the ace detective of Kansai wants to challenge him!"
Conan raised his chin, retorting from what he considered an arrogant but actually no different perspective from anyone else's:
"Hmph, what detective gives up halfway through an investigation? I think you're just afraid of being defeated by Sherlock Holmes fans! I won back the first edition of A Study in Scarlet by myself, not to mention Shinichi, who's even more capable than me!"
"That brat's got a really rude way of talking!" Hattori Heiji clenched his fist and gave Conan a cold laugh.
"That's perfect! I, Hattori Heiji, will take what's mine this time. If Kudo Shinichi doesn't dare to fight, he can forget about ever getting this book again!"
"A word is settled!"
Ran blinked in confusion at the two who seemed inexplicably full of fighting spirit. Kuromon Haruya, holding his teacup, had a hint of anticipation for the excitement in his smiling eyes, while Mouri Kogoro waved his hand, signaling them, these guys trying to steal his business, to hurry up and leave!