The establishment of the Time Travelers Alliance began in the first year of Conan

Chapter 201 Heiji Hattori Decides to Confess (Two Chapters Combined, Requesting Monthly Tickets at the End of the Month OwO)

The League ended its time travel at exactly 0:00, according to Conan's timekeeping, which was 10:00 AM in New York.

At this very moment, Heiji had just finished an important meeting at the Bureau of Unconventional Threat Investigation and Defense (hereinafter referred to as BIDUT).

The discussion focused on personnel arrangements on the Japanese side, particularly in Tokyo.

Thinking of this, Hattori Heiji couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "These people..." he muttered to himself, "They'll really do anything for a position..."

Bribery, seduction, catering to preferences, flattery...

If I hadn't constantly reminded myself that I was a detective, if I hadn't so often chosen to push that old man Gehrman "in front" of me to shield me from those sweet-coated bullets and mountains of knives—

Heiji Hattori really felt like he was about to be overwhelmed.

During this time, he was even forced to become sullen and serious, constantly reminding himself to conceal his emotions and avoid any action taken based on any speculation about his inclinations.

After all, the manuscripts he could find were quietly lying on his desk that afternoon after he casually mentioned that his idol was Ellery Queen.

Even during his phone call with Kazuha, her words made him feel an undeniable pressure: "Heiji! Do you know? Our high school received a huge donation!"

"Even the principal mentions Mr. Granville, the donor, every week. Heiji, why do you think an American would suddenly come and invest..."

Everyone was doing their best to please the 17-year-old high school student.

Almost overnight, the most popular topic within BIDUT smoothly shifted to the cases that Hattori Heiji solved as "Heiji of Kansai".

Everyone was talking about it with great interest, and some people even considered it an "honor" to personally hold newspaper clippings about their crime-solving reports, as if overnight, the whole world was celebrating for them.

In fact, Heiji did briefly immerse himself in this feeling, in the aura of honor.

However, thanks to Hattori Heizo's previous instructions and his own sense of justice, the seventeen-year-old high school student quickly adjusted his mindset.

Heiji kept trying to refuse tactfully, trying to balance the complex undercurrents within BIDUT.

But after that phone call with Kazuha, he finally couldn't hold back and reprimanded Granville's behavior in the meeting—

He could not stand idly by and watch this behavior drag Yuanshan and Ye into it.

Then the next day, Granville disappeared.

"Please forgive his intrusion; we assure you he will never appear before you again."

This is undoubtedly both a way of seeking credit and a subtle threat.

This incident quickly brought Hattori Heiji to his senses, and he immediately brought out Gehrman, a seasoned veteran who "didn't understand politics," as a shield.

Just like that night, when Heiji locked himself in that luxurious office and had a conversation with Gehrman who had sneaked in.

"Heiji, how are you feeling? Are you awake yet?"

The teasing tone in his words made Hattori Heiji let out a wry smile:
"I think in a couple of days, my old fox or my mom will call me and tell me which people I should take in."

"Sigh—" Gehrman also sighed, clearly indicating that he had also had a difficult time these past few days.

If he hadn't found an opportunity today, he wouldn't have been able to see Heiji at all.

“Heiji, you may have a hard time understanding what it means to be the head of the violent branch of a global coalition.”

"More importantly, you are the only one who can often contact Mr. Yusaku directly, and Mr. Yusaku specifically requested that you take this position."

"Mr. Yusaku values ​​you very much."

“Yeah,” Hattori Heiji said, his gaze fixed on the manuscript lying on his desk. “What can we do? Everyone’s cramming people in here.”

"Hehe, you're still too young, aren't you?"

Gehrman chuckled and shook his head, a sly glint in his eyes. He rubbed his hands together and said, "Want to hear my tricks?"

Heiji Hattori sat up straight in his chair; he really needed some helpful advice right now.

However, the events of the past two days still made him a little wary: "If you want to say you have several recommended candidates, then you don't need to..."

"What are you thinking? I mean you need someone to play the bad cop right now, and then you need to lay low for a while."

"Walk away the limelight?" Heiji asked, somewhat puzzled.

“I really made a huge decision this time,” Gehrman said, his tone becoming more serious. “Now I’m basically a lone commander.”

“Give me a list of your selection criteria, then select a few of the most important ones to make public. Then go back to Tokyo for a few days of vacation and leave this matter to me.”

He paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on Hattori Heiji. "That way, the firepower will be concentrated on me."

Heiji Hattori noticed a seriousness in the eyes of this usually unreliable veteran.

“I’ve already sent my wife and children away, and I’ve also talked to my old friends. All they want is a chance to try. If they don’t get selected, they won’t complain.”

There is a great risk in what Gehrman is doing.

This means that Gehrman genuinely wanted to help Hattori Heiji secure his position, rather than trying to take power from the high school student by deceiving and fooling him.

In other words, this veteran betrayed his own side.

That night, he poured out his heart to Hattori Heiji, sharing all his thoughts.

Offering help in times of need and genuine sincerity are always very persuasive, no matter the circumstances.

So much so that when Gehrman explained to Heiji all the developments and undercurrents he had gathered over the past few days, Hattori Heiji became somewhat worried about him: "Then what are you going to do?"

"I'm a veteran, I've been shot before."

Gehrman had absolute confidence in Hattori Heiji, "And you're lucky Heiji, kid, I definitely won't lose money investing in you!"

The moment those words left his mouth, both of them burst into laughter.

The atmosphere eased slightly, and then, a look of contempt for those vying for power and profit appeared on Gehrman's face:

"Aliens are about to attack, what are you still arguing about? You're just a bunch of insects."

“All they care about is money and status; they’re even willing to sell their lives. I, on the other hand, have a wife and kids!”

Immediately afterwards, a rare look of embarrassment appeared on the veteran's face. He coughed forcefully, as if trying to hide this emotion, but he was not completely successful.

Heiji saw him give a somewhat awkward smile.

"And to be honest, I've wanted to save the world since I was a kid, ha, otherwise I wouldn't have joined the army. But what happened?!"

The memories that surfaced in his mind brought a hint of anger to Gehrman's voice, and Heiji saw an indescribable flame burning in his eyes.

Finally, his voice lowered, carrying an almost inaudible plea: "Heiji, please give this old soldier who has made mistakes a chance."

From the perspective of the [real timeline], the [Red Team], and a "detective," none of these three parties had any reason to refuse Gehrman's request.

Finally, Hattori Heiji agreed.

And as he began discussing with Gehrman how to leave the center of this vortex as quickly and discreetly as possible—

"【Plot Guide】Team One has completed the first step of the plan."

Outside the corridor, Iwata Tatsuya, who was invisible, uploaded all his activity records to the analysis department of the Reality Intervention Department via TDD.

"Plan C-13 is effective. After meeting with his children during his vacation, Gehrman, out of a sense of justice and a strategy to protect his family, chose to join Hattori Heiji's camp. He has provided Hattori Heiji with a reasonable excuse to return to Tokyo. OVER."

"Command received."

Iwata Tatsuya heard the command center's response: "Please proceed according to the B-01 strategy. [Eternal First Strike] will cooperate with you based on the relevant contingency plan for B-02. Over."

For the alliance, the key to resolving the battle for Shiho Miyano ultimately comes back to those who hold significant weight in the Detective Conan universe.

In fact, this is exactly what many researchers in the alliance find most abhorrent.

Apart from the characters in the story's timeline, the other characters are not important.

Just like the Alliance's attempt to directly kidnap Shiho Miyano, the [Story Timeline] would rather have the sky fall and the earth collapse, and countless deaths and injuries to hinder the Alliance's actions—as long as Shiho Miyano is still in its hands, or even as long as the Alliance can't take her away.

"We must acknowledge that it is indeed very difficult for the Alliance to make inroads on its own without relying on RSI anomaly targets and without utilizing the dual timelines themselves."

The head of the Narrative Studies Department believes that the key to rescuing Shiho Miyano lies with Shinichi Kudo.

"Simulation results from the timing section also prove this point."

“We can’t touch Yusaku Kudo. The two timelines are watching him too closely because of what happened before. The results of the third time travel have already proven that as long as he truly realizes that Conan is the key to everything, he will be reset by the combined efforts of the two timelines.”

"Therefore, we must get Heiji Hattori involved in the operation. He is currently the only one who can immediately contact Shinichi Kudo and has a GSSRA ID card."

More importantly, the Timeline Reconstruction Design Bureau found a problem that no dual timeline would ever realize.

Moreover, this not only aligns with Shinichi Kudo's subconscious fluctuations over the past few days, but also conforms to the historical trajectory of the story's timeline.

It even fulfilled the [real-world timeline's] intention to have Heiji Hattori act as a "detective"—

Otherwise, even with the Alliance's covert interference, Gehrman wouldn't have been so "naturally" influenced, and wouldn't have been able to sneak into Hattori Heiji's office so easily without being stopped.

After all, both the dual timelines and the alliance are aware of this.

Once inside the case's "loop," the director of the Unconventional Threat Investigation and Defense Bureau is nothing compared to the "famous detective" persona.

This identity could even become a hindrance and a burden.

In fact, if it weren't for the universe's reminder, the two timelines wouldn't have realized it at all—

Because all of Hattori Heiji's reactions were just too "reasonable".

Who would have thought that a love story, a high school student's confession plan, would be related to the course of a timeline war?

"Heiji, this parting might just be the end for us..."

While waiting for the private plane to land in Tokyo, Hattori Heiji immediately interrupted the jinxed remarks of the man who had come to see him off.

“Gelman, I made a special point about your safety this morning, and I specifically said that it was all my idea.”

Heiji Hattori ultimately didn't let Gehrman take the blame alone; his sense of justice and responsibility wouldn't allow him to do so.

At that emergency meeting this morning.

Gehrman watched as the boy impulsively brought to light some of the things he had been told to him the day before, and then had the guards take those people, or rather, almost everyone, away.

“You’re absolutely safe now, Gehrman. I don’t believe they’d dare lay a hand on you after I’ve brought up Mr. Yusaku’s name.”

But that's where the biggest problem lies.

With a helpless sigh, Gehrman could tell that Hattori Heiji was doing this on purpose.

After all, all we need to do now is replace all the positions with our own people.

"Heiji, then you're under just as much pressure as Yusaku-san."

Gehrman's voice became serious. "This means that all our future actions must be fruitful, and even groundbreaking."

Not playing political games requires resources.

"And it has to be at least three or four huge achievements, otherwise it won't matter if you are still the director of BIDUT, the council can just allocate resources to other organizations."

"For example, the Global Rapid Reaction Force (GRF) or the counterinfiltration agency in Europe are keeping an eye on them."

"Yes." Hattori Heiji nodded to indicate that he understood.

Then, this serious topic took a 180° turn in the next second.

"Heiji, do you have a girlfriend now?"

"I...you..."

Hattori Heiji was puzzled as to how the topic had suddenly shifted to this point, and his voice became somewhat stammering.

What are you saying?!

Heiji's reaction elicited a hearty laugh from Gehrman. "Judging from your strong reaction, you have a girlfriend?"

Almost at the same moment, the three special task force members of [Eternal First Strike], who had been blocking the way, activated the "Guidance of Cupid" magic circle, which was a modified version of Koizumi Akako's "Cupid's Chocolate".

The image of Kazuha Toyama immediately popped into Heiji Hattori's mind.

A voice echoed in Heiji's mind: "Come to think of it, it's been about two months since I last saw Kazuha face to face."

Gehrman's voice carried a hint of emotion as his gaze fell on the plane that was adjusting its attitude and slowly descending. But what appeared before his eyes were clearly images of himself with his family.

"The reason I chose to stand by your side is because of my wife and children."

"No matter what, we can't live without this planet, so at least I should try to protect their future."

When Hattori Heiji saw him smile and saw a hint of helplessness in Gehrman's eyes, the weight and determination in his words weighed heavily on Hattori Heiji's heart.

Fortunately, they understood why I did this.

"Especially when my son yelled, 'My dad's going to save the world,' you know what? Heiji, I immediately agreed—"

"At that time, I made up my mind to go all the way down this path."

Gehrman habitually pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and put it in his mouth. He took out his lighter, then put it back in his pocket—it's never good to smoke in front of children.

However, his tone became somewhat serious.

"Heiji, do you remember what I told you before?"

"Which sentence?"

At this moment, Hattori Heiji's mind was in turmoil. He looked up and asked instinctively.

However, memories of the past he spent with Kazuha kept resurfacing in his mind.

Gehrman's voice sounded calm at first, but what he said next was like a heavy blow to Heiji's heart.

"The saying goes, 'In real war, there are always deaths.'"

He patted Heiji Hattori on the shoulder, his tone heavy: "Heiji, we're probably going to be in a lot of danger from now on, and you're right in the eye of the storm. Whether it's inside GSSRA or those unknown enemies, you'll have to face them all."

He paused, then casually mentioned, "That child's name is Toyama Kazuha, right?"

Gehrman then took out a stack of photos and placed them in Hattori Heiji's hand.

“When the news got out that you were going to be the director of BIDUT, she was targeted. I sent a few of my brothers to warn those guys to behave themselves.”

Seeing the grateful look in Hattori Heiji's eyes, tinged with lingering fear, the old soldier smiled smugly, a hint of pride in his eyes:
"You don't actually believe that what I told you in the UN conference hall about going through fire and water was a lie, do you?"

He turned his head and looked at Heiji with a different kind of deep meaning in his eyes.

Gehrman always forgets that Heiji is still a child—which is why he suddenly brought it up today.

"In short, if there's anything urgent, do it quickly so you don't have any regrets, Heiji."

"Go confess to your girlfriend, and it would be best to get married in the next couple of days."

Gehrman's words were astonishing; they struck Heiji's heart like a bolt of lightning, causing him to stumble and nearly fall to the ground.

But the veteran in front of me spoke frankly and honestly, and even his eyes showed his seriousness.

Finally, Hattori Heiji took the stack of photos that Gehrman had given him and boarded a plane to Tokyo.

Throughout this long journey, his gaze remained fixed on the photograph of the distant mountains and leaves, and his resolve grew stronger with each passing day as the sky darkened.

"Confess your feelings...?"

(End of this chapter)