Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass window.

Conan Edogawa curled up on the sofa, casually flipping through a first-grade elementary school Chinese textbook, and couldn't help but let out a long yawn.

"Ah~ha~"

After the thrilling events of the past few days, life seems to have been forcibly pulled back to a seemingly peaceful track.

At least until he finds other clues, he can only continue to play the role of a primary school student and endure this comfort.

"What a hell!"

A low, irritating growl broke the silence.

Kogoro Mouri took a big gulp of the canned beer in his hand, but it did nothing to extinguish the nameless fire in his heart.

He stared at the old television on the coffee table, the screen showing the evening news.

In the picture, there was a young detective who looked somewhat familiar to him.

I vaguely remember him being extremely respectful to me at an industry conference just a few months ago, even complaining that he could barely afford the firm's rent.

He was standing calmly under the flashing lights at a strategic security press conference of a multinational corporation, wearing a well-tailored, expensive-looking high-end suit.

His calm and composed demeanor, and the grand entourage he had made, made one think he was the heir of a wealthy and powerful family making his official debut.

"Humph, pretending."

Kogoro snorted through his nose and curled his lip in disdain, but he couldn't hide the sour feeling in his heart.

This is not an isolated case.

He was dismayed to discover that it wasn't just this lucky kid who had gotten away with it.

Recently, many of his acquaintances, and even some of his colleagues whom he had hardly ever heard of, seemed to have won the lottery overnight.

In the limited gatherings of his peers or through his sources of information, he constantly heard stories of people buying luxury apartments in Tokyo, buying imported sports cars, and spending money in ways that were astonishing.

Have these guys collectively discovered some secret way to make money?

He, Kogoro Mouri, the legendary Sleeping Kogoro, is a famous detective renowned throughout Tokyo and even Japan. He has solved more major cases than those young guys have ever seen a suspect!

But why does he still have to rely on finding lost pets and investigating trivial affairs to pay for his weekly beer and horse racing tickets?
This is so abnormal!

"Dad, why are you drinking alone again?" Xiaolan came out of the kitchen carrying a freshly cut fruit platter, her face showing obvious worry.

She placed the fruit plate on the coffee table, glanced at the TV screen, and said softly, "It seems like many senior detectives have been very busy lately. I heard they've received a lot of cases from big companies."

Xiaolan herself was also confused.

in her cognition.

In the past, apart from the Justice Security Association, which has close ties with the leader, it has hired detectives as consultants or security experts on a large scale.

Other large corporations don't seem to be as enthusiastic about the detective industry.

But the recent change in trend seems to have started in the business world of Nagoya.

More and more conglomerates and large corporations are becoming keen on hiring detectives, and some have even developed a kind of competitive trend.

What puzzled her even more was that some companies whose business scope had nothing to do with security and investigation, such as a well-known daily chemical company, also came to join in the fun and hired detectives at high salaries.

This is truly unbelievable.

"Tch! Who cares!" Kogoro retorted stubbornly.

Why are those who are far less capable and famous than him able to thrive, while his prestigious reputation seems to be ignored by those big companies waving checks?

Thinking about this, he could almost hear the sound of his back teeth grinding together.

"Xiao Lan—!"

A vibrant voice rang out as the door opened.

Sonoko barged into the office.

She instinctively rushed over and hugged Xiaolan's arm, her face beaming with her usual bright smile.

"Yuanzi? What brings you here?" Xiaolan asked, somewhat surprised.

"Hehe, I'm here to ask about something," Sonoko said with a grin, then lowered her voice, adding a touch of mystery, "Ran, have you... heard anything about that mystery fanatic Shinichi Kudo lately?"

Upon hearing that familiar name, Xiaolan's smile vanished instantly, her eyes dimmed, and she replied curtly:
"No. Who knows where he's off to solve his big case again."

Conan, who was pretending to read a book, unconsciously perked up his ears and tensed up slightly.

"Oh, what a pity."

Sonoko sighed, oblivious to the change in her friend's expression, and continued speaking to herself:

"Actually, it wasn't me who contacted him, it was my dad who wanted to reach out to him."

"Mr. Suzuki?" Even Kogoro Mouri put down his newspaper and turned around curiously.

"What does Mr. Suzuki want with that arrogant brat, Shinichi Kudo?"

"I don't know the specifics either."

Sonoko shook her head, resting her index finger on her chin, trying hard to remember.

"It seems they want to invite him to serve as a special advisor or something similar at the Suzuki Group."

Lately, I don't know what's going on, but many large companies are looking for famous detectives everywhere, vying to hire them.

I don't understand what these adults are thinking either.

Why weren't I invited?!

Kogoro suddenly stood up, pointing his finger forcefully at his nose, his voice filled with resentment at being ignored and disbelief.

"I! Kogoro Mouri! am the most famous detective in Tokyo, no, in all of Japan, with the highest crime-solving rate."
Why would Mr. Suzuki invite a high school kid who hasn't even grown his first hair yet?
Am I, 'Sleeping Kogoro,' really inferior to him?!

His excited outburst startled Sonoko, who instinctively shrank back, hiding behind Ran, and muttered softly:
"Well... maybe it's because everyone thinks you... you're already on Brother Zhengyi's side, right?"

"Nonsense!!"

This speculation was like lighting a powder keg, and Kogoro was so angry he almost jumped up.

He rushed to the desk, frantically pulled out a crumpled bank statement, and slammed it on the table as if it were proof of his innocence.

"Look carefully! Every single transaction I receive here is a legitimate commission fee!"

Did that guy pay me a single penny of my salary? No!

Sonoko hid behind Ran, stuck out her tongue, and dared not say another word.

Kogoro's chest heaved with anger, and his hatred for Shoichi instantly surged several levels.

This guy not only made his bad reputation spread throughout Japan, but now he's also indirectly blocking his path to a life of wealth and prosperity!

It's simply unforgivable!

Conan, who had been observing from the sidelines, frowned and put down his book.

This wave of enthusiasm sweeping the detective world has an inexplicable strangeness about it.

He raised his little face and asked Sonoko in his childish voice:

"Sister Sonoko, what kind of work does Uncle Suzuki hire as a detective?"

Also, why are all those big companies suddenly hiring detectives?

"How would I know the details of something like this!" Sonoko waved her hand, looking like it had nothing to do with me.

"Anyway, it just suddenly became popular. It seems like everyone feels that something is missing if the company doesn't have a good detective in charge."

For specifics, you'll have to ask my dad and the other adults.

A silence fell over the office.

Kogoro was still resentful about being assigned to a different party.

Conan's eyes behind his glasses became sharp and deep.

He had a vague feeling that something was wrong. (End of Chapter)