Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

Chapter 243 Hattori Heizo was fooled

"I didn't expect this silly dog ​​to be such a romantic." Lin Xiuyi teased Wangcai, amused by his reluctant expression.

"You must be feeling really good about finding a beautiful girl as your apprentice, right?" Eri, who had been trying to behave normally since the afternoon, finally couldn't help but let out a sour laugh.

"I just taught her how to cook, it has nothing to do with whether she's pretty or not," Lin Xiuyi argued before quickly changing the subject, "Let's go, I'll take you home."

Just as the two were about to leave, a young man walked up to the door of the izakaya and said, "Huh, why are you closing so early?"

Lin Xiuyi turned his head and saw that the speaker was a young man dressed in swordsman's clothes. His skin was dark, and if it weren't for his Asian face shape and features, Lin Xiuyi would have suspected that this man was an African.

“I’m sorry, our store is open from 6:30 pm to 10 pm every day,” Lin Xiuyi said. “We are closed today.”

The dark-skinned young man looked Lin Xiuyi up and down before asking, "Are you the owner of this shop? The high school detective named Lin Xiuyi?"

“Yes,” Lin Xiuyi frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, “You came to see me?”

“That’s right,” the dark-skinned young man said with a bright smile. “I heard that you were the one who found the body in the cement pillar at the construction site yesterday, so I came to ask about the situation.”

"You're not a police officer, why are you asking about this?" Eri Kisaki snorted impatiently, her expression full of disdain. "Shuichi is busy right now."

"Sorry, I need to take my girlfriend home now," Lin Xiuyi waved his hand.

"Then I'll wait for you here," the young man said firmly, showing no intention of leaving.

……

"Who is that guy?" Eri asked doubtfully on the way home. "Shouldn't normal people avoid murder cases?"

“You said yourself that you’re a normal person,” Lin Xiuyi said with a smile. “There will always be some people in this world who aren’t quite right in the head, especially detectives.”

"Does this include you?" Eri Kisaki asked with amusement. "You always take the initiative to get involved whenever there's a case."

“I’m not like those detectives who actively pursue cases,” Lin Xiuyi smiled.

"That person was wearing a swordsman's uniform, and his accent was from the Kansai region," Eri thought to herself. "He was probably here for that kendo tournament too, right?"

"Hmm," Lin Xiu nodded, recalling the man's dark face and narrowed fox eyes, and her steps slowed down.

I had just met Hattori Heiji's mother, Ikenami Shizuka, at the store.

Could the one coming next be Hattori Heiji's father, Hattori Heizo?
This is too coincidental, right?

"What are you thinking about again?" Seeing that Lin Xiuyi was lost in thought, Fei Yingli gently pushed him with some displeasure. "Now you're even distracted when you take me home. Men really do take things for granted once they get them. What they say on TV is absolutely true."

“I was just thinking about that person from earlier,” Lin Xiuyi chuckled, reaching out to put his arm around the girl’s slender waist, his face full of doting affection. “How could I not cherish you? What if you ever find another pair of handcuffs…”

"Can't you just not mention what happened that day?" Eri glared at her lover, then said, her face slightly flushed, "My parents aren't home tonight..."

She stopped speaking halfway through her sentence, but secretly glanced at Lin Xiuyi with anticipation in her eyes.

Lin Xiuyi immediately understood, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. He pulled the girl along and quickened his pace, saying, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry up and go!"

"But didn't that person say he'd be waiting for you outside the izakaya?" Eri hesitated. "Maybe we should just call it a day?"

Lin Xiuyi waved her hand dismissively: "It's his business if he wants to wait, I didn't agree to it. If he doesn't see anyone, he'll leave naturally."

……

Rice Flower Hotel.

After returning from the izakaya, Shizuka Ikenami and her teammates were told by their teacher to go to bed early and get some rest.

"Tomorrow morning, we'll be playing against Kyoto University. They have a guy named Hattori Heizo on their team; he's very strong, with exceptional swordsmanship. Ikenami, he's in your hands!"

"Understood, teacher," Ikeba Shizuka nodded calmly.

“Sigh, I also want to fight Ikenami,” a teammate said half-jokingly. “After all, if I beat you, I can make you my girlfriend.”

“I said, whoever can beat me, I’ll consider him as my boyfriend,” Ikeba Shizuka said with a slight upturn of her lips and a soft laugh, “but I didn’t say it’s a certainty.”

“That’s better than having no chance at all,” his companion replied with a smile.

After exchanging a few jokes, everyone returned to their rooms.

After taking a shower, Ikenami Shizuka changed into a loose set of pajamas and went to the window.

Outside the window, the night view of Mihua is bustling and dazzling, with cars and lights flashing.

She crossed her arms and gazed silently out the window, the words her teacher had just spoken involuntarily replaying in her mind.

Hattori Heizo, no matter how strong you are, I will definitely defeat you tomorrow!
A resolute glint flashed in Ikeba Shizuka's eyes as she clenched her fist and swung it forcefully.

If I can win the national championship this year, I can continue to compete next year and see Michiko Tsubaki again.

Thinking of this, a fierce fighting spirit ignited in the girl's eyes.

At the age of twelve, she unexpectedly lost to her junior, Michiko Tsubaki, in a kendo competition.

The fiercely competitive Shizuka Ikenami even shed tears because she only came in second place.

Tsubaki, I will never lose again until I defeat you!
Ikeba Shizuka made a silent vow in her heart.

……

As dawn broke, the city was still shrouded in a light mist.

The streets were deserted, with few pedestrians and only the occasional vehicle slowly passing by, making a low thud.

Lin Xiuyi was yawning as he walked home. Just as he reached the bottom of Maoli's building, he saw an unexpected figure.

The dark-skinned young man I met last night was still there, leaning against the entrance of the izakaya, resting with his eyes closed.

His hair was a little messy, and his clothes were slightly wrinkled, still damp with the morning mist.

Seriously? So stubborn?
Lin Xiuyi frowned, looking somewhat troubled, a hint of helplessness on his face.

The dark-skinned young man also heard the noise and slightly opened his bloodshot eyes.

"Sorry I got back a little late," Lin Xiuyi chuckled dryly, reaching into his pocket to take out his key and open the izakaya door. "It is indeed a little late!" The dark-skinned young man glanced at the rising sun and said expressionlessly.

The two entered the izakaya one after the other. Lin Xiuyi asked the young man to sit at the bar, while he took out tea leaves, brewed a cup of hot tea, and handed it to him: "I thought you would go back before I arrived."

“I heard you live on the second floor here. I thought you would definitely come back tonight,” the dark-skinned young man said with a straight face. “I forgot to consider that you have a girlfriend.”

Lin Xiuyi smiled apologetically: "As an apology, our shop is serving breakfast today. What would you like to eat?"

"Okonomiyaki, is that alright?" the dark-skinned young man asked.

"You ordered this too?" Lin Xiuyi asked with some surprise, then smiled and said, "Last night, a girl also ordered okonomiyaki. Coincidentally, she was also here to participate in the kendo tournament."

"Really?" The dark-skinned young man yawned and rubbed his squinty eyes. "Could you make me a strong cup of coffee? I have a match this morning."

After making him a super strong cup of coffee, Lin Xiuyi started making okonomiyaki at the kitchen counter.

"The female corpse in that cement pillar..." the dark-skinned young man couldn't help but remind him.

“If I want to find out this, I need to know your name first,” Lin Xiuyi raised an eyebrow. “Information on many cases is classified as police secret.”

"I'm sorry, it was my rudeness,"

The dark-skinned young man stood up, bowed slightly, then took out his student ID from his pocket and handed it over with both hands.

"My name is Hattori Heizo, a student at Kyoto University. My hobby is investigating and deducing cases."

It is indeed this guy!
Lin Xiu glanced at the student ID and then returned it.

He then explained the case to the other party while making okonomiyaki.
"Yesterday, no, the day before yesterday afternoon, what was found in the cement was the body of a girl who was about fifteen or sixteen years old..."

“Because of the decomposition of the body, it is impossible to identify the person,” Hattori Heizo frowned, his expression grave. “It was clearly a case of asphyxiation caused by strangulation, yet the murderer deliberately damaged the abdomen of the body. Was he trying to cover something up? Did the missing girl have any special marks on her abdomen?”

This guy reacted really quickly...

Lin Xiuyi placed the finished okonomiyaki in front of Hattori Heizo.
"That girl had recently had an abortion at an unlicensed clinic. As far as I know, her recovery is not going well, and she even went to a psychic for divination because of abdominal pain."

"The murderer wanted to destroy the victim's abdomen to cover this up?" Hattori Heizo's brows furrowed even more. "But if the victim wasn't the missing girl, then who was it?"

"I don't know about that," Lin Xiuyi shrugged. "The First Investigation Division is already investigating whether any girls of similar age have gone missing recently, and we should have results soon."

Hattori Heizo nodded, picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of okonomiyaki, and put it in his mouth. His previously furrowed brows immediately relaxed considerably.
"This tastes almost exactly the same as the one in Osaka..."

“The girl who ordered okonomiyaki last night said the same thing to you,” Lin Xiuyi said with a smile. “Although I learned it from a TV program, I’m still very happy that you locals can accept it.”

After breakfast, Hattori Heizo was about to take out his money when Lin Xiuyi quickly stopped him, saying, "No need. As I said before, this is an apology for making you wait all night."

“…Thank you for the hospitality,” Hattori Heizo paused for a moment, “If there is any progress in the case, please allow me to come and bother you again.”

"Have you been very free these past few days?" Lin Xiuyi asked curiously.

“Besides kendo competitions, I have nothing else to do in Tokyo,” Hattori Heizo replied.

"In that case, how about I recommend you to help out in the Investigation Division?" Lin Xiuyi asked. "Would you be willing?"

“Of course I’m willing,” Hattori Heizo said, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He nodded vigorously. “My dream since I was a child has been to become a criminal police officer.”

Then, he hesitated for a moment before saying, "However, this case isn't yours..."

“I’m not one of those detectives who need to increase their value by solving cases,” Lin Xiuyi waved his hand dismissively. “Compared to the fame I gain from solving cases, I hope that the cases can be solved as soon as possible, the murderer can be brought to justice, and the resentment of the deceased can be appeased.”

“I didn’t expect you to think about things similar to mine,” Hattori Heizo said, quite surprised. “Before I came here, I thought you were like those detectives, using investigating cases as a way to gain fame.”

At this point, he scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.

"Because of what happened last night, I was originally planning to defeat you in this investigation and make you lose face a little..."

"If Ruko Nagashima is still alive and we can rescue her as soon as possible, I don't care if I lose face," Lin Xiuyi said righteously. "A person's life is more important than reputation and face."

Hattori Heizo looked at the boy, who was a few years younger than him, with admiration on his face. He nodded vigorously: "I won't let you down. If that girl is still alive, I will definitely rescue her!"

Less than half an hour after Lin Xiuyi called the First Investigation Division, Inspector Megure arrived in a police car: "Lin-kun, are you going to help out at the First Investigation Division today?"

“You misunderstood me,” Lin Xiuyi pointed to the dark-skinned young man next to him. “This is Hattori Heizo, a student from Kyoto University. He is very good at investigating and reasoning cases, and he happens to have some free time recently. I wanted to recommend him to help you.”

"this?"

Inspector Megure glanced at Hattori Heizo, who was dressed in a swordsman's uniform, and quickly pulled Hayashi Shuichi aside.
"Lin Jun, is he really capable? Perhaps you should do it yourself..."

“Inspector Megure, don’t forget I’m still a high school student,” Lin Xiuyi reminded him. “I’ve already missed several classes in the last two weeks. If I take another leave, it will be hard to explain to the school.”

“That’s true,” Inspector Megure sighed. “I wish you could graduate sooner.”

"Hattori Heizo's ability to deduce cases is on par with Kudo Yusaku's," Hayashi Hideichi assured, patting his chest. "With his help, this case will definitely be fine."

“Alright then,” Inspector Megure had no choice but to believe Hayashi Hideichi. He turned to the dark-skinned youth and said, “We’re going to investigate Kitamura-sensei now. Come with me.”

"This one……"

Hattori Heizo checked the time. If he left with the police now, he would definitely lose track of the kendo competition.

He was about to refuse when he remembered what Lin Xiuyi had just said: compared to reputation and face, a person's life is the most important thing!
With that in mind, Hattori Heizo no longer hesitated and immediately nodded.

After seeing off Inspector Megure and Heizo Hattori, Hideaki Hayashi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He wanted to help with Ruko Nagashima's case, but he simply didn't have the time. Now that Heizo Hattori is involved, it should be fine.

After all, this guy's reasoning ability is much stronger than Shinichi Kudo and Heiji Hattori. I just don't know who is better, him or Yusaku Kudo.

……

At 8:00 AM, at the All-Japan Student Kendo Championship.

Members of the Osaka University Kendo Club arrived at the scene early, standing on the sidelines warming up with bamboo swords in hand.

Kyoto University, on the other hand, seemed to have encountered some problem; the teacher in charge was pacing anxiously, frequently scolding the students...

(End of this chapter)