Conan: Rice Flower Spring

Chapter 440, Section 434: Give Me a "Big Head"

Do you really believe the CIA's intelligence from the embassy? To be honest, everyone in the embassy is shrewd; they certainly wouldn't.

What's the difference between the CIA reporting intelligence to the FBI and a dog catching a mouse?

Isn't Chun Chun being nosy?

If the FBI really gets into trouble in Tokyo, the first thing to care about won't be the CIA; on the contrary, the CIA will be the one laughing the loudest.

This isn't something the embassy staff are making up out of thin air. It's because the last time the FBI's operation in Tokyo failed, the CIA staff were practically laughing themselves to death with schadenfreude.

At that time, from the director to the deputy director of the CIA's island nation bureau, the smiles on their faces were impossible to suppress when they met people.

Given the CIA's history of such actions, only a crazy embassy would believe that CIA agents would be so kind.

However, the embassy has not expressed any position on the two institutions' "dog-eat-dog" relationship.

They took Langley's Tokyo field office report at face value. If the FBI had objections, they could easily protest through administrative means.
Their embassy isn't some high-barrier government agency—just tell us, how are we supposed to know the Langley branch is lying to us if you don't tell us?

Do you think the American Embassy in Tokyo needs to verify the authenticity of an urgent intelligence report from the Langley branch?

How brave!
Since the embassy did not receive any documents from the FBI in the country, they assumed that the intelligence sent by the CIA was "true and valid".

After the embassy reviewed Robert Taylor's identity, he became a full-time FBI agent in America, although he was on leave.

That explains why Robert Taylor had a handgun in his car.

As an American law enforcement officer, it is understandable that Agent Robert Taylor would illegally possess a weapon while on leave due to a lack of security.

You guys don't actually think that Beika Town, which is next to Beika Town, is a safe place, do you?

As expected, Agent Robert's hunch was absolutely right. Despite his thorough preparations, he was still shot and killed in the street by the criminals.

The embassy has already provided the victim's identity and even helped answer some minor "questions" for the island nation.

Since it has been stated that Robert Taylor is an active FBI agent, from today onwards, Robert's identity must be that of an FBI agent.

If someone investigates and finds that Robert's identity has nothing to do with the FBI, then that person conducting the investigation must be wrong.

In the island nation of America, the United States is a legitimate superpower, so how could its American father be wrong?
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"Shit! Damn Americans!" In different locations, Reiko Kujo and Yuya Kazami simultaneously uttered disgusted curses.

Neither Reiko Kujo nor Yuya Kazami had the right to utter such an angry rebuke.

But when they learned through various channels the American embassy's explanation of Robert's identity, they were still disgusted.

For Reiko Kujo, Robert, an "on-duty" FBI agent, came to Tokyo to work as a broker for a newly established hotel.

This is a blatant insult to her intelligence.

When did FBI agents become such all-rounders?

Reiko Kujo didn't believe a word of the embassy's nonsense. She would rather believe that Robert was a CIA agent than believe that he was a federal agent from America.

Robert's dramatic change in identity didn't have a significant impact on Reiko Kujo, because she wasn't focused on investigating Robert's line of investigation.

Her investigation focused on Rena Mizunashi, a former host of Nichiri TV who had crossed paths with Robert and was equally mysterious.

From TV host to head of a newly built five-star hotel, Rena Mizunashi's career leap is quite remarkable.

In particular, in island nations where class stratification is increasingly solidified, it is not uncommon for a profession to be passed down through three generations.

But the career change was so drastic.
Whether it's a host or a hotel manager, the requirements for professional knowledge are quite high.

The most important question is what kind of investors would support a TV host transitioning into a hotel manager.

Aren't they afraid of losing their investment?

There are many aspects of Rena Mizunashi's character and background that are worth exploring and investigating. Her actions perfectly align with a prosecutor's plans for performance and even future career path.

Reiko Kujo even believed that if she could thoroughly investigate Rena Mizunashi from the inside out, from front to back, the merit would be enough to make her a department head prosecutor.

Reiko Kujo is currently the chief prosecutor in the Criminal Division of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office. This means she is the lead prosecutor, responsible for indicting specific cases and conducting courtroom arguments.

By analogy, the police force in an island nation would be equivalent to that of Inspector Megure, who was a police inspector.

The chief prosecutor is Reiko Kujo's superior, but not necessarily her direct superior.

Because the minister and prosecutor are heads of various departments, such as the Criminal Investigation Department, the Public Security Department, and the Special Investigation Department.

The Special Investigation Department is particularly renowned among the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's departments.

In short, for Reiko Kujo, her future is bright and full of hope.

After a brief moment of disgust, she didn't really care what Robert was all about.

The problem is that not everyone is Reiko Kujo.

Just because Reiko Kujo can be indifferent doesn't mean everyone else can. For example, Yu Kazami, a member of the Metropolitan Police Department's Public Security Bureau, feels like he's about to "die."

Since Kazami Yuya did not receive help from Hayashi Ryoma, he was unaware of the details regarding Robert Taylor and the Tokyo City Hotel.

As for the Tokyo City Hotel business card found in Robert's car, there's nothing wrong with a foreigner carrying a Tokyo hotel business card with him.

What if they wanted to show a stranger the hotel address when they were lost?
Having a hotel business card is much more reliable than having to guess or talk nonsense, right?
Therefore, Yuya Kazami's investigation is more focused on whether Robert unintentionally infringed upon the vested interests of certain interest groups while he was in the island nation.

Or perhaps during the filming process, something that shouldn't have been filmed was captured.

In short, Kazami Yuya assumed that Robert himself was not a "good guy" either, but a troublesome one.

Only in this way can we explain how Robert, a foreigner, could be ambushed and killed by three gunmen on a main street in Beika Town.

Three gunmen, hey!
It has been proven that even if someone wanted to attack the president or prime minister, one or two gunmen would be enough.

Robert was incredibly fortunate to have three gunmen serving him at the same time.
Investigating such unsolved cases is already difficult enough, but what did Kazami Yuya find out from the American embassy?
Robert is a damn federal agent?
Just him?

Are they weak, pitiful, helpless, and insecure?!

What a joke! What's he doing in this island nation because he lacks a sense of security? He even lives in Beika Town, right next to Beika Town.

This place is a paradise for warriors and a hell for cowards—Robert, that coward, has no right to vacation in Beika Town! Regarding Robert's status, the American embassy and the island nation's officials have an astonishing tacit understanding.

That means both the island nation's official authorities and the American embassy knew that Robert's identity was not so simple.

He's not some damn federal agent either.

But that's what the American embassy said, and the island nation's officials had no choice but to believe it.

Those who are "filial sons" naturally cannot resist their fathers, but those who want to be "unfilial sons" are obviously not so tough to fight against in Japan.

This unspoken understanding made Kazami Yuya the one who suffered the most.

The American embassy officials said they have great faith in the island nation's ability to handle cases.

Therefore, instead of sending other federal agents from the mainland, the island nation should also investigate the true reason for Agent Robert's ambush and killing as soon as possible.

This would be quite unpleasant if it were applied to Yuya Kazami.

Robert has been judged to be a good person.

Even though he was illegally possessing a gun, Robert had to be a good person.

If you, Yuya Kazami, or the Metropolitan Police Department, have other ideas, then do you have a problem with the FBI?
Are you trying to say they're troublemakers?
If you have complaints about the FBI, you'll also have complaints about the CIA; and if you have complaints about the CIA, you'll have complaints about the US military stationed in Japan.

Having a problem with the US military stationed in Japan is essentially having a problem with MacArthur, and even with the American government.

Little Japanese chicken, do you not want to be a dutiful son and grandson of your great father anymore?

Look at your South Korean neighbors next door, how well-behaved they are! How dare your tiny Metropolitan Police Department rebel?!
Kazami Yuya may not have the courage to rebel, but he certainly has the courage to curse!
His investigation into Robert had stalled. So he decided to seek the wisdom of Mr. Iruya.

In the morning, Kazami Yu also made an appointment with his superior, Furuya Rei, who was actually Bourbon, who was using the alias Amuro Tooru to infiltrate the organization.

After lunchtime had passed, Kazami Yuya arrived at a crowded restaurant just before the lunch rush ended.

In the restaurant, he immediately found his blond-haired, tanned boss in a corner seat.

The restaurant seemed to be doing very well; even though it was almost lunchtime, the small shop was still packed with people.

The restaurant staff also saw Kazami Yuya walk in and look around the store.

"I'm so sorry, sir!" The waiter quickly approached Kazami Yuya and gave him a practiced bow.

"Since there are no seats available at the moment, you may have to wait a little while if you prefer a quiet environment."

"What if I'm in a hurry?" Kazami Yuya said, looking troubled.

"Then I will ask the other customers in the restaurant for their opinions. If they don't mind sharing a table, and you don't mind either," the waiter replied skillfully.

In fact, most people who continue to ask questions are not bothered by sharing a table, because those who prefer to dine alone will generally choose to wait.

As a shop with a moderate size that is easy to understand at a glance, the waiters aren't magicians; they can't conjure up seating arrangements out of thin air.

"Then could you please find me a corner seat?" Kazami Yuya hesitated for a moment before speaking to the waiter.

"Of course." The waiter smiled, bowed, and then glanced at Amuro Tooru's seat before heading over.

The restaurant's corners and edges are obviously limited, with only a few corner seats available.

The other seats were mostly occupied by two or more people, except for Amuro Tooru's seat, which was occupied by only one person.

When the waiter suggested a table to share, the seat opposite Amuro Tooru was naturally the first choice.

"Hello sir, would you mind if other guests sat with you?" The waiter subtly gestured to Amuro Tooru, indicating that the gentleman at the door who seemed to be in a bad mood wanted to share a table.

"It's alright, let him come and sit down." Amuro Tooru smiled and nodded to the waiter.

This is the old method Amuro Tooru and Kazami Yuya used to meet.

As a boss with a vivid imagination, Amuro Tooru and Kazami Yuya naturally had a variety of meeting places.

Rooftops are out of the question, because that's not a convenient place to escape from.

If the enemy were to occupy the entrance and exit of the rooftop, would they still be able to jump off the building?
Wouldn't that be like catching a turtle in a jar?
Amuro Tooru has no intention of becoming a cuckold who gets caught.

Therefore, when Amuro Tooru chooses to meet with Kazami Yuya, he usually chooses relatively open areas such as under a bridge, in a park, or in a shopping mall.

The advantage of meeting in such a place is that it's a place anyone could come to, and their presence here won't arouse suspicion.

The restaurant is also where Amuro Tooru and Kazami Yuya meet frequently.

As the king of part-time jobs, Amuro Tooru naturally knows many restaurants like today's.

This provided the prerequisite for their rendezvous.

They had made this kind of rendezvous countless times, and each of them was very skilled at it. Kazami Yu also sat down opposite Amuro Tooru with great familiarity.

The two awkwardly went through a series of social etiquette exchanges, and then ate in silence.

After everyone around him left, Kazami Yuya ate while quietly telling Amuro Tooru about the difficulties he was facing.

Immediately afterward, Amuro Tooru heard a very remarkable name in Kazami Yuya's narration.

"Wait, Kazami, who did you just say? Ryoma Hayashi?" Ryoma Hayashi was a rather unique high-ranking member of the organization.

Although he tricked Amuro Tooru, Amuro Tooru didn't harbor much resentment towards Hayashi Ryoma.

The main reason is that Lin Longma joined the organization because he came to repay the organization's kindness by accepting the scholarship, but who knew that the scholarship was poisonous.

As an orphan, Ryoma Lin struggles to survive. How could Amuro Tooru possibly criticize him for having such a grateful heart?
Moreover, regardless of its original purpose or its current development, Yixinhui has at least provided a place of refuge for many members who can still be saved.

The fact that the organization has existed in the island nation for so many years and has grown uncontrollably is not Lin Longma's fault.

This is the fault of the system and these officials.

If we were to categorize the members of the organization, Ryoma Hayashi and many other Isshinkai members would definitely fall into the category of those who could still be salvaged by Tooru Amuro.

(End of this chapter)