Yuji Kudo, the manga artist behind Detective Conan.

"It seems today's meal is not to your liking, miss."

A man in a manager's uniform came out of the banquet hall, preparing to go to the kitchen to arrange the next meal, when he happened to run into Ms. Nohara, who had just been arguing with Segawa Shoichi, at the elevator entrance.

While waiting for the elevator, the man brought up the lamb that had been the point of contention earlier, and assured her, "The lamb we sourced is definitely local lamb from Nyaung."

"Japanese lamb always has a strange gamey smell, no matter how you eat it. Actually, I like that. Adding some vinaigrette makes it even more delicious." Ms. Nohara was really talking to the man about the food.

"Perhaps it would be even better with a little Calpis."

The pointer on the control knob, which indicated the elevator's location, paused, accompanied by a mechanical chime. The moment the elevator doors opened, the two of them entered, inadvertently turning their backs to the elevator's internal surveillance cameras.

Ms. Nohara pulled a mirror out of her bag and then took out her lipstick for touch-ups. While checking her makeup, she pressed the lipstick to confirm that there were no other surveillance cameras in the elevator besides the one she was looking at.

The two communicated using Morse code by placing their hands on each other's wrists in the blind spot of the camera.

[What is the bureau's mission?]

[The assassination of Segawa Shoichi serves as a warning to Kudo Yuji!]

It would have been better to assassinate the prime minister directly, but this man seems to be hiding in his shell, never leaving his Tokyo headquarters, and almost never leaving the Metropolitan Police Department building.

Therefore, the only way to intimidate Yuji Kudo is to eliminate Segawa Shoichi. If this madman still intends to collude with the United States and betray the country, Segawa Shoichi will serve as a warning. [Mr. Yoshioka once said on the radio that only by eliminating these parasites of the nation can Japan have a new future.]
[But with Segawa Taikei dead, Segawa Shoichi will definitely be more vigilant; he knew about our plans from the beginning.]
Ms. Nohara paused for a moment, first typing "[Question]", then "[Who killed Segawa Taikei?]"

[My superior, the person he arranged.]
The man emphasized, then added, "You had an alibi when Segawa Taikei died. Even with the previous arguments, they'd just assume you were a hot-blooded person, not that you were a police officer."
The conversation between the two ended there. Ms. Nohara was the first to exit the elevator. Her mission would not be supported by any physical weapons, so she would have to figure it out herself.

[His superior means there are at least four police officers on this ship...]

My thoughts drifted back to those Kudo kids. I had assumed that Kudo the Madman's descendants would be evil and rampant, but they turned out to be just a bunch of immature children.

[Killing them would create many opportunities to get closer to Segawa Shoichi, but...]

Ms. Nohara opened her phone and looked at a photo of herself in her middle school uniform with a man who was pointing at his ear and laughing heartily.

"Dad, can becoming a kind person save this country...?"

"Of course not, kindness isn't a good word."

An incoherent voice came from beside Ms. Nohara. Upon hearing it, Ms. Nohara froze and turned her head in shock.

"Mr. Segawa Taikei?! You're still alive!" (End of Chapter)