Conan: Rice Flower Spring

Chapter 388, Section 382. Matsumoto: Oh, it was me!

"The serial killer has been caught!" Shiratori excitedly told Ryoma.

This was the "timeframe" they had agreed upon. Regardless of whether they found Matsumoto Kiyoshi himself or not, as long as the real culprit was caught, they would begin dealing with this imposter in the Metropolitan Police Department.

"Great news!" Lin Longma was equally overjoyed and hurriedly asked Shiratori, "What's the current situation with that fake from the Metropolitan Police Department?"

“I just sent someone to the superintendent’s office to find him. Someone said he led a team to investigate the suspect’s hideout.”

When Shiratori answered, he was full of confusion. Did this guy really think he was Matsumoto Kiyonaga? A criminal who never commits any crimes, yet acts like a policeman.

This is truly a case of the mouse catching the cat—a reversal of the natural order.

“That’s perfect, his absence from the Metropolitan Police Department makes it easier for you to carry out your mission.” Lin Longma’s expression was rather subtle.

How can Shiratori's behavior be explained simply by "actions"? This is clearly a coordinated effort.

Fortunately, the person they were dealing with was not Matsumoto Kiyonaga himself. Such actions can only be described as correcting past wrongs, not as insubordination.

Although overthrowing one's superior is a traditional "custom" in island nations.

"I've already made an agreement with Inspector Megure: the day that fake returns to the Metropolitan Police Department building will be the day he's arrested!"

Inspector Megure knew very well that this matter could not be delayed indefinitely, and that both Shiratori and Inspector Megure had done their utmost to wait until this point.

Even if Matsumoto Kiyonaga returns safely in the future, it can't be blamed on them.

If Matsumoto Kiyonaga returns and doesn't understand the situation, that's fine. Once this is exposed, Matsumoto Kiyonaga himself will be the first to be sidelined.

Who can he take revenge on then? He can't take revenge on anyone.

Whether viewed from the rules or the unspoken rules, Shiratori and Inspector Megure did their best within their capabilities.

Once this kind of thing is exposed, only Matsumoto Kiyonaga will suffer the most.

Shiratori did not return to the Metropolitan Police Department to oversee and direct the operation.

Even though Shiratori had the highest participation rate and the strongest presence throughout the entire operation, it was not appropriate for him to appear on the scene during the final "harvest" phase.

He's still vying for the management position of Matsumoto Kiyonaga. If he were to lead a team to arrest "Matsumoto Kiyonaga" at the Metropolitan Police Department, who knows what kind of rumors would circulate within the department.

Everything in excess is bad, and Shiratori only needs to wait for the moment of victory to arrive.

Just then, Shiratori's cell phone rang loudly, and he answered the phone excitedly: "Moshi moshi, this is Shiratori."

Has that matter been resolved?

"No, Officer Shiratori. There's an emergency!" The denial from the other end of the phone instantly calmed Shiratori down.

"What emergency?"

"We received a report from the criminal police of the Beika Precinct that they have found the imprisoned warden Matsumoto!"

"What?! Has its authenticity been confirmed?"

Shiratori was somewhat skeptical. Could it really be such a coincidence? They had searched for Matsumoto Kiyoshi for so long in Tokyo, but hadn't found a single hair on his head.

They were about to crack down on the "fake" one from the Metropolitan Police Department, but then the real one appeared?
Coincidence?
Shiratori didn't believe in such a coincidence, but the appearance of Matsumoto Kiyonaga's "real self" was indeed a major event that could not be ignored.

After verifying the authenticity with his subordinates, Shiratori gathered a few of them and prepared to go to Beika Town to see the rescued Administrator Matsumoto.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it all!" Matsumoto Kiyonaga's sudden appearance was also part of Shiratori's plan.

But it's not at this time.

Whether Matsumoto Kiyonaga was found earlier or later wouldn't affect Shiratori at all.

But not at this time of day.

The serial killer suspect has been apprehended, but will the fake Matsumoto Kiyoshi in the Metropolitan Police Department be arrested?
Should we still reveal that the superintendent who led the search for the suspect is a fake?

If they don't speak out, and then lead men to arrest Matsumoto Kiyonaga at the Metropolitan Police Department, wouldn't that really be considered an act of insubordination?
If Matsumoto Kiyonaga were arrested "in a muddle", wouldn't Shiratori's reputation in the Metropolitan Police Department be ruined?

The young man next door once said that success is revolution, while failure is rebellion.

Shiratori, who has a bright future ahead of him, doesn't want to become universally disliked in the Metropolitan Police Department because of this "trivial matter."

"Calm down, Ren Sanlang!" Lin Longma shouted, his voice like a thunderbolt, gradually calming the agitated white bird down.

"Those who seek the highest goal throughout history have attained the middle. Haven't we already considered the possibility of finding Matsumoto Kiyonaga?"
Why get so agitated?

“But he was found at this time.” Shiratori was about to say something he shouldn’t have.

Although only Lin Longma and Bai Niao were present, Lin Longma stopped Bai Niao from saying anything further.

"So what if he's found at this point in time? It just means the initiative has shifted."

What good would it do to hand over the initiative to Matsumoto Kiyonaga? Would it do you any harm?

Shiratori and Ryoma Hayashi had discussed what would happen next more than once, regardless of whether Matsumoto Kiyonaga returned or not.

Whether he tells others about being replaced or keeps it to himself, they all have a plan to deal with it.

In short, you won't lose money; the only difference is how much profit you make.

"I understand, Ryoma." After being comforted by Ryoma, Shiratori finally calmed down, or rather, forced himself to accept reality.

"Come with me to meet the manager, Ryoma," Shiratori invited Ryoma.

He was genuinely afraid that he might give Matsumoto Kiyonaga an inappropriate look or say something wrong.

Normally, Shiratori wouldn't be this unreliable, but he's a bit distracted right now.

All I can say is that the group that kidnapped Matsumoto Kiyonaga really knows how to manipulate people's mentality.

"Let's go, Renzaburo, don't keep Manager Matsumoto waiting."

Finally, Shiraishi carried Hayashi Ryoma and Shiratori to the place where Matsumoto Kiyonaga was "imprisoned".

This is an old apartment building—it doesn't even have an elevator.

There are absolutely no access restrictions.

At that moment, several police cars were parked downstairs in the apartment building. Some were from nearby patrol officers, some from the local police station, and some were from Shiratori's men from the Metropolitan Police Department.

Seeing this scene, Shiratori's mood inexplicably improved.

"Let's go." Lin Longma understood what Bai Niao meant, so he tugged at him to make it less obvious, and then met up with his subordinates from the task force and headed up to the apartment building.

Apartment 401 was where Detective Mikasa reported finding Kiyonaga Matsumoto. He hadn't been picked up yet, presumably because the ambulance was stuck in traffic. Upon first seeing Matsumoto, Ryoma noticed that the First Investigation Division officer seemed to be in relatively good spirits.

At least for now, I can still launch a fierce attack on a bottle of energy drink and a few bags of bread.

Matsumoto Kiyoshi's appearance was average, and the scars on his face could even be described as fierce, so his eating manners were naturally not very refined.
.
"Manager Matsumoto!" Shiratori called out to Matsumoto Kiyonaga with mixed emotions as he approached him.

This shout made Matsumoto Kiyoharu shudder.

"It's...it's Shiratori." After recognizing the person, Matsumoto Kiyonaga suppressed the urge to curse and forced a smile at Shiratori.

To be honest, it was somewhat unexpected for Matsumoto Kiyonaga that the person from the Metropolitan Police Department was Shiratori.

He had assumed that his old subordinate, Inspector Megure, would be the one to pick him up.

Mentioning Inspector Megure of the First Investigative Division inevitably brings to mind various murder cases. Before Matsumoto Kiyonaga was kidnapped, the most important case was...
"Shiratori, is there any progress in that serial murder case?"

As the superintendent of the First Investigation Division, Matsumoto Kiyonaga was well aware of his subordinates' abilities.

He didn't even ask if the case was solved, only if there was any progress.

The joint investigation meeting probably didn't go very smoothly without him as the "chairman."
Matsumoto Kiyoshi thought so, but he noticed the slightly distorted expressions of Shiratori and Hayashi Ryoma, as well as a group of Metropolitan Police Department officers who dared not meet his gaze.

Wait, what's going on with you guys?!

Matsumoto Kiyonaga hated Shiratori's day the most; it was just too unpleasant!

Just say what you have to say! Why are you being so secretive and holding back?

"Shiratori? Just say what's wrong, what's with that expression?!"

"Alright, then I'll tell you?" Shiratori thought for a moment and still tried to persuade Matsumoto Kiyonaga:
"That Matsumoto supervisor must be tired after being imprisoned for so long. Why don't we send everyone outside to keep watch?"

"Manager, could you please take a break?"

Just as "I," Matsumoto Kiyonaga was about to retort, he had had enough of the silence after being locked in the dark room these past few days, and silence was what he hated most now.

But he reacted quickly; Shiratori was just trying to get him to "dismiss his attendants."

“Officer Shiratori is right, you can go now.” Matsumoto Kiyonaga was helped up and sat in a chair, then waved to the officers around him.

The composition of the police officers in the room was quite complicated at this moment.

Not only were there detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department's Shiratori Special Task Force, but also detectives from the Beika Police Station, as well as patrol officers from the local police station.

Upon hearing Matsumoto Kiyonaga's order, the first to leave were the detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department. Detective Beika followed suit.

The last to leave the room were patrol officers from the nearby police station.

This is understandable, given that Matsumoto Kiyonaga was the leader of the First Investigation Division, and Shiratori's subordinates would certainly obey his orders.

Mika is a detective in the criminal investigation system, and who knows when she might be transferred to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Matsumoto Kiyonaga's orders also had some effect.

In the end, the patrol officers from the nearby station were just giving them face, since Matsumoto Kiyonaga couldn't really control them.

In truth, they were Matsumoto Kiyoshi's "saviors." Without their immediate arrival at the old apartment building after receiving the alarm, Matsumoto Kiyoshi might not have been rescued for much longer.

"Shiratori, what exactly happened in the main hall?" Matsumoto Kiyonaga "knew" Shiratori very well.

Shiratori was, after all, a strong contender for the management position after his departure.

To be honest, Matsumoto Kiyonaga didn't have any problem with Shiratori. Perhaps Shiratori wasn't particularly skilled at deduction and solving cases.

However, once a police officer reaches a certain level, reasoning ability and so-called crime-solving ability become less important.

Matsumoto Kiyonaga still thought highly of Shiratori succeeding him as the head of the First Investigation Division.

Rather than handing over the management position to an unknown parachuted-in executive, Matsumoto Kiyonaga preferred to have Shiratori take over his post.

At least he knew Shiratori quite well, didn't he?
However, the Shiratori of today, with its strange expressions, was someone Matsumoto Kiyonaga didn't quite recognize.

"That serial murder case has been solved, Manager Matsumoto." Shiratori decided to tell Matsumoto Kiyonaga good news first, at least to make him happy for a few seconds.

"Solved? That serial murder case that we had no clue about before has been solved?"

Matsumoto Kiyonaga repeated it twice, a touch of nostalgia in his heart. It wasn't just the guys; when he was around, everyone was completely overwhelmed and had no clue what to do.

Then he was kidnapped, and in just a few days, this major serial murder case was solved?

Does this make sense? Does this make sense?!

Matsumoto Kiyonaga suddenly thought of a possibility: "Did the murderer commit another crime and then run into the detective?"

It can only be said that experience matters; Matsumoto Kiyonaga has given a very reasonable and accurate deduction.

In general, when a murder case suddenly takes a major turn, it's usually because a new detective is found at the crime scene or inside the Metropolitan Police Department building.

But this time is obviously different.

"No, although Mr. Mori served as an advisor to the joint investigation meeting, he was not involved in the case much this time."

"Our First Investigation Division is still the main force in solving cases."

Upon hearing Shiratori mention the joint investigation meeting, Matsumoto Kiyonaga immediately asked, "By the way, who chaired the joint investigation meeting while I was away?"

After a moment of silence, Shiratori's fleeting voice reached Matsumoto Kiyonaga's ears: "Chief Administrator, you personally chaired this joint investigation meeting."

"So it was me. Wait, what did you say?! Who's in charge?!" Matsumoto Kiyonaga was just about to relax—but no!
Everyone else is tied up, how could they possibly chair a joint investigation meeting?! That's ridiculous!!
"It's true, Manager Matsumoto. Immediately after you were kidnapped, a 'Manager Matsumoto' returned to the office to work."

He convened and chaired the joint search meeting, he provided guidance on the case investigation (referring to seeking detective assistance), and he was also the one who investigated the suspect's hideout.

Shiratori paused for a few seconds to give Matsumoto Kiyoharu a few seconds to react before continuing, "By the way, before I came to pick you up, it was the 'Supervisor Matsumoto' from this agency who led the team to the suspect's hiding place."

Matsumoto Kiyonaga realized with horror that he had been impersonated!
As a seasoned detective, Shiratori's words lingered in Matsumoto Kiyonaga's mind for a while before he suddenly began to understand their deeper meaning.

"You already knew that the one in this office wasn't me?"

"That's right, not only me, but even Inspector Megure noticed the difference in the fake in the office."

but"

"But you've been holding back because of me?!" Matsumoto Kiyonaga couldn't possibly be a political idiot to have been promoted to section chief in one fell swoop.

He immediately understood why Shiratori and Inspector Megure had been holding back, and even allowed the "fake" to run wild.

(End of this chapter)