Conan: Rice Flower Spring

Chapter 384, Chapter 378: Shiratori Begins to Suspicion

"Hey, Kuroba, if I asked you to impersonate a police officer from the Metropolitan Police Department, could you do it without being detected?"

At the Isshin Rescue base, Shiratori specially arranged to meet Kuroba Kaito there.

"Disguise yourself and not be discovered? That's just a cover-up, brother! My disguise is flawless, there's no way I could be found out."

Kaito Kuroba replied smugly, naturally having reason to be proud. In his past operations, Kaito Kuroba had proven that if it weren't for the detectives (specifically referring to Shinichi Kudo and Saguru Hakuba, those two "annoying troublemakers") interfering...

Ginzo Nakamori of the Second Investigation Division could never see through Kaito Kid's disguise.

Inspector Nakamori was the one being led by the nose, and he was also the one being completely outmaneuvered by Kaito Kid.

Kaito Kuroba said he wouldn't be discovered, and he really wouldn't be discovered.

Kaito Kuroba's words made Shiratori even more certain of his suspicions.

He then looked at Ryoma Hayashi: "Ryoma, do you think there are any criminals in Tokyo who are bold enough to impersonate police officers and work at the Metropolitan Police Department?"

"Of course there is, isn't there one right in front of you?" Ryoma Lin pointed directly at Kaito Kuroba.

Our Black Feather Bro, let alone the substitution of one thing for another, even planning to blow up a power plant, didn't he?

Kaito Kuroba's plan was not just talk; if it weren't for Ryoma Hayashi and Shiratori, he really intended to blow up the power plant.

That takes a lot of courage.

It's just pretending to be a police officer for a few days, what's there to be afraid of?

"I'm not talking about Kuroba. Besides him, are there any other thugs with that kind of audacity?" Shiratori was already annoyed enough, but seeing Kuroba Kaito made him even more "annoyed".

The commotion didn't stem from Kaito Kuroba's true identity, but rather from his disguise skills.

Ever since Shiratori met Kaito Kuroba, he knew that there really were people in this world who could perfectly impersonate another person.

It is precisely because of this knowledge of "skill" that Shiratori felt uneasy.

"Ha!" Lin Longma guessed some of Bai Niao's thoughts at this moment, chuckled, and then said seriously:
"Dude, what do you think this place is? We're in Tokyo, in Beika Town."

Do you think this place is short of audacious individuals?

Dude, this is exactly the kind of person we have in Beika Town!

Shiratori's question seemed pointless; Beika was known as Little Gotham, and it was no wonder he was only replacing a manager at the Metropolitan Police Department.

If these thugs were given the chance, see if they would dare to pretend to be the Superintendent General and send the SAT to kill their own accomplices when they are fighting amongst themselves.

The reason these thugs didn't do it wasn't because they couldn't think of it, nor because they were afraid.

Rather, it's because they lack the necessary skills—none of them are proficient in such masterful disguise techniques.

At this moment, Shiratori, who was somewhat bewildered by his discovery, was awakened by Lin Longma's words.

Yes, this is Gotham, a very prestigious place. It wouldn't be surprising if something this audacious happened here, would it?
Supported by this argument, Shiratori suddenly became certain of his own guesses.

He then looked at Kaito Kuroba and then at Ryoma Hayashi, hesitated for a moment, and finally said:

"Ryoma, Kuroba, I have something to tell you, but please don't be surprised."

"Go ahead." "Don't worry, we're all professionally trained, and we won't show any surprise no matter how much we're surprised."

Kaito Kuroba remained completely calm, even exchanging witty remarks with Shiratori.

Shiratori swallowed hard, then lowered his voice and whispered to the two of them, "I suspect that the officer in charge of our division, the First Investigation Division, Matsumoto Kiyonaga, has been switched."

After speaking, Shiratori stared intently at Ryoma and Kaito, seemingly trying to discern their expressions.

I still don't want to read any expressions from the two of them.

"Wait, why aren't you guys reacting at all?" Shiratori asked, puzzled. Shouldn't you be staring in disbelief at such a shocking situation?!
How can they all be so calm!

Shiratori's words left Lin Longma speechless: "Brother, didn't you tell me not to be surprised? I'm not surprised at all, I'm very calm!"

"That's right, that's right. We professionally trained people are trained to have a poker face."

Kaito Kuroba nodded repeatedly, indicating that Rinkaka was fine. He then said to Shiratori:

"Actually, I can guess some of it."

Officer Shiratori, you first asked me if I could replace a certain officer in the Metropolitan Police Department, and then you asked Chairman Hayashi if there were any audacious criminals in Tokyo.
Just by combining these two questions, you can figure it out.

"But this is really outrageous. Officer Shiratori, your colleague was actually 'replaced'?"

"Not a colleague, but a boss." Shiratori had finally gotten the "scene" he wanted from Kaito Kuroba, and now he was genuinely feeling it.

He rubbed his throbbing temples and began to tell the two about the suspicious points surrounding Matsumoto Kiyonaga.

To be precise, it was something that came to mind when he was listening to Nagano Prefecture Inspector Yamato Kansuke complain to him.

After listening quietly to Shiratori's account, Ryoma said softly, "So, up to now, everything you've said is still in the stage of doubt."

There's no evidence, is there?

“Of course there’s no evidence.” Shiratori sighed. “If there were, I could have just shouted at the joint meeting and had all the pillars of the criminal departments across the country rush in and arrest that imposter.”

"But it's precisely because I lack evidence that I feel uncertain. What if it really isn't a fake but a real product?"

If a real-life Shiratori were to let out that cry, things would get interesting. After all, island nations have a tradition of overthrowing superiors.

If it is later proven that Matsumoto Kiyonaga is indeed him, what will Matsumoto Kiyonaga think of Shiratori?
To describe it as impulsive would be an understatement; to put it bluntly would be to say that someone is already eager to take the position of manager.

Why not launch a "great rebellion" led by junior officers?
This island nation must have its own "Sibi Sibi," right?
Before verifying Matsumoto Kiyonaga's identity, Shiratori dared not make any rash moves—in the context of such a large-scale joint investigation meeting, any unwise action could easily turn into a scandal for the Metropolitan Police Department.

If such an embarrassing situation were to happen in front of colleagues from other places, let alone becoming a manager, one would have to put in far more effort than their peers to get promoted and secure a good position.

Efforts that multiply exponentially.

"Since you're not sure, why don't Kuroba and I go to the Metropolitan Police Department to check it out for you?"

Lin Longma understood Shiratori's concerns and sensed his firm suspicion about Matsumoto Kiyonaga's identity.

Staying out of it was clearly impossible, so Lin Longma decided to personally step in and become a micro-management master—the serial killer hadn't been caught yet, and the victims' personal belongings that had been taken by the killer hadn't been recovered.

Binga's identity cannot be exposed so easily.

(End of this chapter)