Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 164 Meeting Minobe in Person
Before Shiraishi could even say hello to Megure and the others, the protagonist Itsuki appeared on the scene - Megure didn't want to say hello to Shiraishi either, after all, they were on "covert security" and needed to hide their identities!

Itsuki gave a speech first on the ceremony stage. I don't know if it was because Shiraishi had searched too much negative news about him on the Internet before, so he had preconceived ideas, but Shiraishi always felt that this guy with a mustache looked like a hypocritical and greasy guy!
However, at this time, Gokitani acted as if "I can run for election because everyone wants me to be elected" and "If I can be elected, it means the trust of all sectors of society." He was very shameless...

What Shiraishi hopes more is that this guy with a bad reputation who has offended too many people will not come to Beikacho to eat, let alone hold a banquet!

It was at this time that Gokitani’s real “reason for being elected” arrived!
Secretary Rib, as the host, solemnly introduced: "Next, we have a distinguished guest. Let's welcome Secretary-General Mino with applause!"

Ayako was afraid that Shiraishi didn't recognize him, so she tiptoed and pulled him down a little, whispering in Shiraishi's ear, "He's the secretary-general of the DPP..."

"Yeah, I know." Shiraishi now knows for sure that this is not the secretary-general of some feminist organization.

At the same time, Shiraishi also noticed that some plainclothes officers at the scene, including Kazami and Megure, became nervous.

because……

Along with Minobe came several people carrying wine barrels, but apparently no one dared to check the wine barrels that Minobe brought. At this time, a group of plainclothes officers watched as a wine barrel that had not been checked was carried in.

This was the first time Shiraishi saw Secretary-General Minobe in person, having only seen him on TV before.

He himself looks...

He looks older than he does on TV, not only in appearance but also in body shape. However, this old guy can still occupy the position of secretary-general, which shows how cunning he is!

Most of the guests present were trying to please Secretary-General Minobe. As Suzuki Ayako represented the Suzuki Group, she naturally sat in the closest position, and Minobe... saw Shiraishi at first sight - it wasn't that he was looking for him on purpose, it was just that it was hard not to see him.

"Oh, you are the Shiraishi Kuro, right? Thanks to you for taking care of Councillor Shirai before. You're a good young man..." Minobe even patted his wrist when he passed by - after all, it would be difficult for him to pat his shoulder.

Then Minobe turned around and asked, "Is it your fiancé, Ayako?"

"I hope the Secretary-General will come to have a drink at the wedding." Ayako said without leaking a single word.

after all……

If she wanted to say "yes", it was indeed not, and it was not easy to say it casually, but if she said "no", she didn't want to seem distant!

Minobe also nodded with a smile, and then continued walking forward...

Apart from Shiraishi...or rather, apart from Suzuki Ayako, there was no one worthy of his stopping and talking.

Bai Shi also looked at the old man twice more at this time - except for the intimidating look in his eyes when he mentioned "Bai Jing" at the beginning, he always looked like an old man with dim eyesight at other times. He was indeed an old fox!
When Minobe stepped onto the stage, Itsuki hurried down and excitedly supported him and shook his hand: "Secretary-General Minobe, thank you very much for taking the time to attend the banquet!"

Apparently, Gokitani wasn't sure about this before...

Minobe then said in an old and frail voice: "Well, you are... Itsuki Ya, right? I hope you can secure a seat in the National Assembly in the next election."

Upon hearing this, Gokitani became even more excited.

He had been a bit overwhelmed recently because of the scandal, but...

Secretary-General Minobe said "I hope he can secure his seat", so isn't that equivalent to "his seat is secured"?
With the support of the Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party, how could a mere member of parliament not be elected?

Scandals and the like are no longer worth mentioning!
"This time I also brought some local wine to celebrate the victory... but it doesn't seem to match the style of your banquet." Minobe looked confused, as if he had just discovered something.

However, Gokitani immediately said, "What's inconsistent? This party is simply held for the sake of Jingkai! Ribara, go and prepare the mallet and the wooden barrel!"

During the ceremony, the wooden barrels storing wine are smashed open, and then the wine is drunk together with the guests. This is also a traditional ritual of the island country, called "mirror opening", which is roughly the same as "cutting the ribbon" and is done to seek good luck.

Including Shiraishi, most of the guests present understood that since Secretary-General Minobe had helped him at this time, Gokitani would definitely be his loyal dog from now on.

At this time, all the security personnel present, whether they were in the open or in plain clothes such as Megure, showed nervous expressions!
Minobe came to deliver wine, which was an unexpected event, so naturally no one would check his wine before, but...

Now everyone can't help but be nervous, because this is the only "food" on the scene that has not been inspected.

Feng Jian had already hurriedly contacted his boss!
Although I don't suspect Minobe himself, but... there's no guarantee that those people won't poison Minobe's wine.

By then, not to mention Wumugu, it might cause mass poisoning!
And although Kazami acted like a Dior when facing other police officers, the public security did not dare to act rashly against the secretary-general of the DPP.

Seeing that Wu Mu Gu had already completed the "mirror opening" and smashed the lid of the wine barrel, the guests were also given wooden barrels and waited for Wu Mu Gu to distribute the wine...

Ziyuanhu, who was in charge of the on-site security, couldn't help but stepped forward and said, "Wait a minute..."

When Gokitani heard this, he frowned and looked at the guy who interrupted him to lick the Secretary-General. "Inspector Murasakihara... is there something wrong?" Gokitani frowned.

"Councilman Itsuki, this wine... has not been inspected yet. Secretary-General Minobe, you may not know that someone made a death threat to Councilman Itsuki yesterday and even hinted at poisoning him, so..." Murasakihara did not stand up to offend anyone, and she quickly and carefully explained to Minobe.

At this time, Minobe nodded repeatedly, looking like an old man who was not responsive enough. However, after listening, he said in a dull voice: "Ah! The police are worried that someone poisoned the specialty wine I brought? How about we go and check it out? What do you think? Gokitani."

Gokitani shuddered when he heard this and said quickly, "That's nonsense! How, how could Secretary-General Minobe's wine be poisonous?"

Gokitani was unsure, but... his desire for power outweighed his concern for his own safety, otherwise he would not have insisted on holding this banquet.

That is to say...

He would drink the wine from Jibu even if there was a risk of it being poisoned!

"How can this be good..." Minobe said so, but looking at Itsuki, he nodded in approval, then looked at Shiraishi and said, "Shiraishi? Director Shiraishi, this is your jurisdiction, right? What do you think?"

When Ayako heard this, she opened her eyes, and quickly grabbed Shiraishi who was about to step forward, and was about to say something.

However, Bai Shi raised his right hand to stop her, and gently pulled out her left arm. After saying something in her ear, he took the initiative to come forward.

Seeing that Minobe specifically ordered Shiraishi, all the guests were surprised and looked at the big man curiously.

Everyone can see that...

What Minobe just said was an "obedience test". Gokitani, who was already in a state of panic and greed, immediately said that he "could not be more obedient". However, what Shiraishi said...

The police officers present at the scene couldn't help but become more nervous, especially when they saw the two-meter-three tall Shiraishi standing in front of the hunched Minobe. It seemed that the old Minobe was not even as tall as Shiraishi's waist.

No one doubted that if Bai Shi suddenly attacked, the old man would be beaten to a pulp on the spot...

Especially when Bai Shi walked forward with his head held high and looked down at him...

At the same time, Bai Shi also understood that his [deterrence] would be useless this time - having been active in politics for a lifetime, no matter what other abilities this old man had, at least he was extremely strong [spiritually], and it was impossible for him to be affected by the momentum at this time.

Minobe seemed to roll his eyes at the tall Shiraishi, but he was very calm.

At this time, Bai Shi suddenly laughed and said, "Hahaha, Secretary-General Mino's wine is naturally good wine, but since the banquet is here, it is also the responsibility of my Rice Flower Bureau..."

Just when everyone thought that Shiraishi was not giving him this face, Shiraishi suddenly turned around and said: "Secretary-General Minobe, do you mind if I drink the first cup first?" As he said that, he raised the wooden barrel in his hand.

"You have to drink first... Okay, please... By the way, is that okay? Itsuki." After agreeing first, Minobe looked at Itsuki as if he had just remembered something.

It would naturally feel disrespectful to use instruments to examine Minobu's celebratory wine, especially when Minobu himself was making a big deal out of it!
but……

It was another matter if Shiraishi was willing to drink it first. It was just "asking for a sip of wine" and could not be considered "disrespectful". Minobe seemed to be satisfied with this arrangement.

"Of course, of course! Please, please..." Gokitani was also timid, wishing that someone could drink first.

Some people were curious about Ayako's attitude, but when they turned around, they saw that Miss Suzuki didn't say a word at this time, but she stared at the stage without hiding her face...

If Bai Shi hadn't specifically instructed her just now, she would have stepped forward to stop it. Even now, she was on the verge of a fit.

Without saying a word, Bai Shi directly used the wine ladle to fill his wooden barrel, then raised it, gestured around, and drank it all!

Seeing this, all the police officers were sweating profusely. Murasakibara regretted standing up and ended up asking the chief to clean up the mess for him...

On the contrary, Bai Shi is the one who is most confident!

It looked like he drank it all in one gulp, but in fact he had taken a small sip first - just as he could feel a little bit of alcohol in his blood, if there was any poison, he would be able to detect it immediately and would definitely spit it out directly.

For Shiraishi, there is no such thing as "carelessness and poisoning"...

Only after making sure it was not poisonous did Bai Shi drink it in big gulps.

"Good wine!" Bai Shi praised it after drinking it.

(End of this chapter)