Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

Chapter 187 An IOU

Kogoro and Touya each supported Shuichi Akai from either side.

This gesture is less of a show of support and more of a tacit form of control.

Kogoro's arm appeared to be casually resting on Akai's shoulder, but in reality, his knuckles exerted a subtle force, conveying an air of unyielding authority.

On the other side, Higashiya looked tense, his eyes occasionally glancing at Shuichi Akai's seemingly calm profile.

Shuichi Akai did not offer any obvious resistance; he merely frowned slightly.

Fine beads of sweat glistened under the light, and his breathing was slightly heavier than usual.

"Can I take off my clothes?" Shuichi Akai asked.

"You should get dressed first," Kogoro said.

After saying that, Kogoro gave Ran a wink.

Xiao Lan nodded, walked to the heavy solid wood door of Ms. Su Fang's dormitory, and turned the brass handle on the door with force.

"Click." The door didn't budge, clearly locked from the inside.

"Dad, the door is locked!" Xiaolan turned around, her voice urgent.

"There's no other way!" Kogoro growled. "Smash the air vent!"

"it is good."

Xiaolan stood on the chair and smashed the air vent on the wooden door.

"what!"

"What's going on?" Kogoro asked.

Xiao Lanlan jumped off the chair, her face deathly pale, and pointed inside the door, her voice trembling:

"Ms. Su... Su Fang is lying on the ground, her neck... is badly injured, and she's bleeding a lot!"

Moreover, her dormitory room was littered with many of Xiao Bu'er's masks!

Shuichi Akai frowned.

He pointed to the other door and said, "There's another door over there."

“That door has been locked for a long time, and there’s no way to get in,” Higashiya said.

Shuichi Akai frowned.

Just now, he also saw a figure doing something in front of the door.

"Let me go in and see what's going on inside," Conan said.

"it is good."

Ran took some tools, cleaned the glass on the air vent, and then brought a cloth to put on it so Conan could climb inside.

"what happened?"

Just as Conan's figure disappeared behind the air vent, hurried and orderly footsteps came from the other end of the corridor.

Several well-built bodyguards dressed in matching black suits rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

When they saw that Kogoro and Touya were clearly holding Shuichi Akai hostage, their eyes instantly sharpened.

Almost simultaneously, the men silently moved their hands to the bulging areas at their waists, where weapons were clearly hidden.

Kogoro hurriedly explained, "Since Ms. Su Fang had an accident, your bodyguard is highly suspicious."

The lead bodyguard had a cold expression and spoke in an unquestionable tone: "Please release him before the matter is fully investigated."

They clearly didn't want to believe Kogoro's words.

The opposing side outnumbered them and held the truth, so Kogoro didn't want to get into a conflict with them and wanted to make some concessions.

at this time,
"Since he is still a suspect and hasn't been cleared, I think we might be able to get him to cooperate with the investigation first."

Shoichi, wearing a coat, came out, looked at Shuichi Akai, and said in a calm tone:

"It's not that I don't trust him, it's just that the situation is unclear right now, and it's easy for people to gossip, which makes things even more complicated."

It's best to wait until the matter is fully investigated.

Zheng Yi, on the other hand, acted reasonably.

He asked Kogoro, "Could you tell me the specifics?"

"Okay." Kogoro nodded.

"While we were sleeping, someone suddenly called using the villa's internal line and said, 'The Cursed Mask is now craving to drink blood. Who will be the next sacrifice?'"

When we arrived at the west wing, we found Ms. Su Fang injured inside her bedroom; only you, her bodyguard, were outside.

After hearing Kogoro's explanation, Masakazu nodded.

It turns out that Shuichi Akai has become the prime suspect.

"She's beyond saving," Conan said as he climbed into Su Fang's dorm room.

After Conan confirmed Su Fang's situation...

He opened the dormitory room lock from the inside.

Kogoro stood at the door and said, "Don't come in yet, I'll go in and take a look first."

Kogoro released Shuichi Akai and went into the dormitory.

Zheng Yi walked up to Dong Ya and said to him, "Can I talk to my employees?"

"you……"

“I believe my employee is not the murderer,” Zheng Yi said. “But it’s not a pleasant feeling to be the prime suspect and be wrongly accused.”

I wanted to comfort my employees.

Zheng Yi spoke very sincerely, and so did the bodyguards behind him.

Higashiya released Akai Shuichi's arm and took a step back.

"But...it's okay."

"Thank you."

Shoichi nodded politely to Touya.

At this moment, the bodyguard pushed Higashiya aside, putting some distance between him and Masakazu.

Shoichi smiled and said to Shuichi Akai, "I didn't expect you to still have strength. You're in great shape."

He patted Shuichi Akai on the shoulder, as if he were looking at a perfect experimental subject.

Shuichi Akai felt a chill run down his spine.

He looked at Zheng Yi and said in a low voice, "Thank you for your compliment."

Hideaki Akai paused, lowering his voice even further, and said, "I heard from Vermouth that Akemi was killed by you?"

Shoichi also showed his hands to Shuichi Akai.

How could such clean hands kill someone?

"If you can find the body, then I'm the one who killed it," Zheng Yi said casually.

He looked into Shuichi Akai's eyes.

"You seem to really want to kill me. That's not the look a responsible bodyguard should have."

Shuichi Akai said softly, "Why don't you kill me? You people should be able to kill me, right?"

There were so many bodyguards, and they were all armed.

There are quite a few people involved in the organization here.

“How could I kill an FBI top agent? I’m a law-abiding businessman, and I’m planning to do big business in America in the future,” Zheng Yi said.

Shuichi Akai's eyes flickered.

Shoichi took out a slip of paper and handed it to Shuichi Akai.

"By the way, today is payday." Zheng Yi's voice was still gentle. "I was worried that you might not be able to go back to the company to complete your resignation procedures after dawn because of something."

So I'll settle your salary first.

I'm not the kind of bad boss who would delay paying his employees' salaries.

Don't say that Zhengyi employs people without paying them wages.

He's a great boss.

"A note?" Shuichi Akai said softly.

Is his salary just a piece of paper?
Before opening the note, he even fantasized that Akemi was not dead and that the information on the note was Akemi's address.

Shuichi Akai struggled to unfold the note with his fingertips.

Even in the dim light of the corridor, the writing on it was clearly visible.

The note didn't fulfill his fantasies; instead, it was a standard IOU. The borrower's name was clearly written as "Sera Masumi!"

"You deserve to die!" Shuichi Akai said, suppressing his anger.

As if he knew in advance that Shuichi Akai would be angry, Masakazu subtly took a step back just before Akai became agitated. He looked at Akai innocently and said, "Why should I deserve to die?"

I pay you a salary and you still curse me out.

It's really hard to be a good capitalist.

"What did you do to her?" Shuichi Akai asked.

"Nothing's wrong," Zheng Yi said.

Shuichi Akai gripped the note tightly in his hand.

Zheng Yi said, "She just owes me some money and can't pay it back. You seem to be her brother."

Shoichi looked at Akai Shuichi strangely: "You don't want to help her pay off her debts, do you? How can you be such a selfish brother?"

After saying that, Masakazu looked at Shuichi Akai with dissatisfaction.

He didn't ask for any interest from Sera Masumi.

Moreover, Shuichi Akai's monthly salary is not enough to pay off his debts.

Zheng Yi was generous enough to simply let him return any amount without being harsh on him at all.

"What exactly do you want me to do?" Shuichi Akai asked.

Was he threatened with his sister?

“I never intended to do anything for you,” Zheng Yi said. “You just need to fulfill your duties.”

Zhengyi glanced in the direction of Su Fang's dormitory.

"It's a pity you didn't fulfill your duties as a bodyguard; you even took the time to come and kill people."

He patted Shuichi Akai on the shoulder, a gesture so intimate it was as if he were comforting a frustrated subordinate.

He whispered in Shuichi Akai's ear, "Your sister is quite cute, and she's still my sister's classmate."

As if he had thought of something, Zheng Yi added another sentence.

"Your mom is lovely too."

Shuichi Akai stared coldly at Masakazu.

Are you humiliating me?
Zheng Yi shook his head.

Even though he was praising his family, why does Shuichi Akai seem to hate himself so much?

Zheng Yi felt that he really needed to improve his 'emotional intelligence'.

He stepped aside, leaving Higashiya to continue keeping an eye on Shuichi Akai.

Zheng Yi smiled and said to Dong Ya, "Come work at my company tomorrow."

“I told you I wouldn’t go,” Higashiya said.

"Are you going to give up your career for the rest of your life?" Zheng Yi said, "It's not easy for a singer to reach your level."

"I don't understand what you mean," Higashiya said softly.

Zheng Yi shook his head and didn't say anything more.

He respects everyone's ideas.

"The wound was on the neck, it could be considered a fatal blow, the method was too ruthless," Kogoro said. "This is definitely homicide."

The others who were resting inside the villa had also arrived long ago.

Katagiri said, "But the door was locked from the inside, so it couldn't have been murder."

“No,” Kogoro said, shaking his head. “Judging from the condition of the body, this is definitely not suicide.”

Inside the room, Conan found a piece of paper among the scattered masks.

He looked at the words on it and read aloud, "My curse has been fulfilled."

Kogoro looked at Shuichi Akai outside.

This is the first person to appear at the scene and is the prime suspect.

But looking at Shoichi in front of Shuichi Akai, Kogoro felt a bit awkward.

If Zheng Yi were to back this person up, would the police dare to enforce the law impartially?
"Call the police first," Zheng Yi said. "When someone dies, you have to call the police first."

Trusting the Metropolitan Police Department is the only solution.

Kogoro somewhat awkwardly took out his phone and dialed Inspector Megure's number.

The Metropolitan Police Department has always been very efficient in responding to police calls.

They arrived at the villa very quickly.

Inspector Megure's head spun when he saw the group of people.

It had been a long time since he had seen Zheng Yi, and he actually thought that Zheng Yi had become a big shot and should settle down.

Unfortunately, Zheng Yi didn't have as much time as he had imagined.

Inspector Megure looked at the threatening letters in his hand and said, "So, why didn't you call the police immediately after receiving these threatening letters?"

“Because the victim, Ms. Su Fang, said that she often receives these things, so there’s no need to worry about it,” Kogoro said.

"Oh?"

Inspector Megure nodded.

Ms. Su Fang has been murdered.

Even if you say what she said before she died, she can't possibly come out and refute you.

Inspector Megure asked the others, "Is Kogoro right?"

“Detective Mori is right, Ms. Su Fang (the teacher) did say that.” Everyone nodded in agreement.

Inspector Megure looked at everyone.

I believed them for the time being.

But with Shoichi present, can we believe everything Kogoro says?

Inspector Megure walked up to Nagamune and asked, "What's going on here?"

Choso said, "It's very likely he killed him."

Officer Megure nodded.

Even he and Kogoro Mouri could tell at a glance that this was definitely a murder.

Even a professional forensic doctor like you is starting to tell me it's "very likely".

Whether the detective's words can be trusted is another matter.

Anyway, we can't trust what a forensic doctor like you says anymore.

Inspector Megure stood next to Sato.

It feels like Sato is the only one I can trust right now.

I wish Sato were a really good detective.

Sato gave Inspector Megure a strange look before continuing to examine the unusual situation in the room.

Inspector Megure walked up to Shuichi Akai and said, "Is this the prime suspect in this case?"

After the incident, this guy was standing suspiciously outside the door.

Kogoro nodded.

But he said, puzzled, "He's just Zheng Yi's bodyguard. It seems like he doesn't have any conflict with Ms. Su Fang, right?"

He had no motive for committing the crime.

“That’s right,” Conan said softly.

"He's just a bodyguard brought by Zheng Yi. Tonight should be his first time visiting this villa and meeting Ms. Su Fang for the first time, right?"

There seemed to be no conflict or grudge between them. What, what was his motive?

These words seemed to awaken many people present who were terrified by the atmosphere of the locked room and the cursed mask.

“Yes,” Katagiri echoed in a low voice, “Why would a bodyguard risk killing a well-known philanthropist he doesn’t even know? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“A murder without a motive, especially such a brutal throat-slitting... this is too illogical,” said the fortune teller, Nagayoshi.

Voices of doubt began to gather, and the atmosphere subtly changed.

The skeptical gaze that was initially focused on Shuichi Akai began to be mixed with confusion and uncertainty.

Here they come, they've already started making excuses for him.

Inspector Megure scanned the crowd.

He doesn't seem to have a motive for murder, but he had the time to commit the crime.

You keep reasoning in the direction that he has no motive.

Why not deduce whether Zheng Yi had a motive for murder?
He's Zheng Yi's bodyguard, so of course he has to listen to Zheng Yi!

(End of this chapter)