Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

The prince, arm in arm with the princess, steadily ascended the steps of the Sen-oku Hakukokan Museum.

“Welcome, Your Highness.” Zheng Yi bowed slightly, the movement so small as to be almost negligible. “Your presence has brought great honor to this museum.”

"Mr. Zhengyi, you're too kind." The prince's voice was low and indifferent.

He patted Zheng Yi's shoulder lightly, the force neither too light nor too heavy, yet carrying a sense of oppression befitting a superior.

"I heard you've been making quite a stir in Kyoto lately, even getting the attention of the Metropolitan Police Department. How are you getting used to this feeling of being 'protected'?"

“I feel completely safe.” Zheng Yi met his gaze calmly and pointed to the miniature camera flashing red on his chest.

"With so many people watching me, I actually feel more at ease. At least, some people who want to frame me won't find an opportunity."

He walked into the Prince Takeda Dynasty Museum, with Masakazu and the others following behind him.

Takeda-miya smiled and said, "Who would want to frame you?"

Zheng Yi said, "Because I treat my employees and consumers too well, I have a very high reputation among the people. My competitors all have a lot of opinions about me and want to damage my reputation."

The prince gave him a meaningful look but didn't reply.

I've heard about your reputation among the people; it's not exactly outstanding, it's downright infamous.

The criminals in prison have a reputation a thousand times, a hundred times better than yours.

Prince Takeda walked inside, then suddenly stopped and turned to the person in charge beside him, saying, "I heard that Izumiya recently acquired a valuable item—the Bronze Tiger-Eating-Man Vessel. Take me to see it."

The person in charge looked troubled, and his eyes unconsciously drifted towards Zheng Yi.

Zheng Yi shrugged, stepped forward, and blocked the prince's path to the special exhibition room: "Your Highness, that artifact is currently undergoing intensive preservation. The metal oxide layer is quite fragile, and there are strict requirements for light and humidity. In order to protect the national treasure, it is not convenient to display it."

"Maintenance?" The prince frowned even more, a clear displeasure flashing in his eyes.

"I saw related research materials a few days ago, so why are you 'maintaining' it today? Mr. Zhengyi, you're not deliberately hiding it from me, are you?"

"Your Highness is joking." Zheng Yi said in a flat tone, "I said it's being maintained, so it is being maintained. Your Highness won't be able to see it today."

The surrounding air froze instantly.

Inspector Ayanokoji was watching this scene closely from a short distance away, quietly standing between Shoichi and Takeda-miya.

The prince gave Zheng Yi a deep look. Zheng Yi's expression was calm, even with a hint of lazy casualness.

Finally, the prince snorted and didn't dwell on the matter: "Since that's the case, then forget it. Hopefully, its maintenance will be complete by the next time."

The rest of the tour was more like an ordeal for the prince.

Although he was surrounded by officials from the Imperial Household Agency and special police officers from the Metropolitan Police Department, he remained highly vigilant.

Every time he turned a corner, he would subconsciously hunch his neck.

Whenever he saw a sculpture or display case in the exhibition hall, a hint of panic would flash in his eyes, as if he were afraid that an assassin would suddenly jump out from inside.

He knew perfectly well that Zheng Yi was a completely reckless madman.

They dare to assassinate politicians and tycoons, so they may not care about their royal status.

Those seemingly tight security measures may just be for show in the face of a real fight.

"Your Highness, you seem a little nervous?" Zheng Yi followed behind him, his tone quite teasing. "Is the air conditioning here a bit too strong?"

"I'm fine." The prince said without turning his head, his voice somewhat stiff.

"I'm just appreciating these works of art. Mr. Zhengyi, your taste... is indeed unique."

His gaze swept over the bronze artifacts, but he had no interest in appreciating their patterns and inscriptions.

My mind was filled with thoughts like, "Is there a bomb hidden here?" and "Is there a gunman behind that painting?"

He didn't even fully trust the security personnel around him, and he glanced at his attendants and the queen several times.

He knew that Zheng Yi's favorite pastime was to turn the victim's close associates against him and induce them to commit the murder.

Zheng Yi followed closely behind Prince Takeda, and the camera on his body captured all of the prince's reactions.

These are all very valuable materials.

This feeling of apprehension lasted until the end of the visit.

When the prince finally got into the black Toyota and the door closed, his tense shoulders instantly slumped.

He let out a long sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and a triumphant smile of relief appeared on his face.

"I'm safe now," he thought to himself with a sense of smug satisfaction.

Although Sumitomo Shoichi was arrogant, he ultimately did not dare to actually make a move.

The imperial authority, which has stood for millennia, is not to be challenged. In this round, I have won.

He rolled down the car window, leaned out, and called out to Zheng Yi, who was standing on the steps, "Mr. Zheng Yi, the Princess is performing an opera tonight. If you have time, you might as well come and listen. I hope you can appreciate high art."

Zheng was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and nodded: "It would be my honor. I will definitely come to support you."

After the two made their agreement, a servant from Takeda-no-miya walked up to Masakazu and handed him several tickets.

As the convoy slowly drove away, the police officers around Zheng Yi breathed a sigh of relief.

We're finally safe.

The prince's motorcade had long since disappeared around the street corner, and even the roar of the engines could no longer be heard.

The police officers, who had been on high alert, gradually relaxed and began to remove the police tape.

Shiho stood beside Shoichi, tilting her head slightly, her face showing some confusion.

There was no explosion, no screams, and not even a trace of blood.

Her brows furrowed slightly, and her doubts deepened.

Why didn't Conan's death aura work this time?
Is it because the royal family's status is too high that Conan can't influence them?

Based on past experience, the prince would definitely not be able to leave this gate.

But to everyone's surprise, the prince walked away unharmed. Did Conan's "death aura" fail him this time?

"Shiho, what are you daydreaming about?" Koyo asked Shiho.

She suspected that Shiho was thinking about how to escape.

Previously, because of the matter of Shoichi and the prince, Shiho was overlooked.

Now that this incident is over, she has time to keep a close eye on Shiho, watching to see when she will transform. Right now, she must be thinking of a way to escape, right?

"It's nothing," Shiho replied casually, her gaze passing over the red leaves and landing on Shoichi.

At this moment, Zheng Yi was standing next to a police car, toying with the ticket that the attendant had handed him.

“Inspector,” Masakazu said, walking up to Ayanokouji, “now that His Highness the Prince has left safely, can we discontinue this 24-hour close protection?”

Ayanokouji sighed helplessly and lowered her voice, saying, "Although the prince has left, as you just saw, he specifically invited you to the opera tonight. In such an occasion, with so many people around, what if..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

If Zheng Yi causes any trouble at the opera, or if the prince gets into trouble at the opera, he, as the person in charge of security, will be the first to take the blame.

"Alright, since you're so 'concerned' about my safety, then you can continue following me." Zheng Yi shrugged.

Then, he turned around and waved to Conan, who was not far away: "Conan, come here."

"Brother Zhengyi, what's wrong?"

"Let me introduce you. This is Inspector Ayanokoji, an elite officer of the Metropolitan Police Department." Shoichi smiled and patted Ayanokoji's shoulder with considerable force.

"Inspector Ayanokoji, this is Conan Edogawa. Although he is young, he is very quick-witted and will definitely become a great detective in the future."

Shoichi squatted down and said to Conan, "This Inspector Ayanokouji has very good reasoning skills. You can discuss reasoning with him."

Conan nodded, thinking to himself that he and the police were the perfect partners. There was no harm in knowing a policeman in Kyoto.

Inspector Ayanokouji looked at the elementary school student wearing a baseball cap in front of him. Although he found it somewhat amusing that Shoichi was introducing him so formally, he still nodded politely out of respect for Shoichi: "Hello."

Hello, big brother!

Seeing this, Masakazu suddenly said, "Inspector Ayanokoji, I see that you work very hard. Why don't you let Conan come to your house for a visit when he has time?"
Children need to interact with police officers; it helps them develop correct values.

"Huh?" Ayanokouji was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting Masakazu to suddenly do something like this.

But seeing the unwavering look in Masakazu's eyes, Ayanokouji could only nod: "Uh... okay. Welcome, welcome."

It's just helping to look after the kids; it's not a particularly troublesome thing.

Zheng Yi nodded.

You're such an unlikable person, I'll get Conan to kill you someday.

The fact that the surveillance around him couldn't be lifted was already making Zheng Yi uncomfortable, so it was better not to go against his wishes over such a trivial matter.

"Great!" Masakazu nodded in satisfaction, then said to Conan, "Let's go have lunch first, and then we'll go see the opera together tonight."

"it is good."

A group of police officers escorted Zheng Yi back into the modified van. Even the Prime Minister might not have such a entourage when he went out.

Inside the car, Professor Agasa excitedly discussed the opera; he had never seen the princess perform an opera before.

Conan sat by the window, gazing thoughtfully at the scenery outside.

Koyo kept her eyes fixed on Shiho.

Shiho quietly moved next to Masakazu. She pretended to tidy her bag, lowered her voice, and said in a volume only the two of them could hear:

"Zhengyi, what's going on?"

Zheng Yi was looking at his phone and asked without looking up, "What? What's going on?"

A hint of doubt flickered in Shiho's eyes. "Why did the halo stop working?"

Zheng Yi looked up and glanced at her, saying, "It's probably out of power."

Shiho was stunned.

Just as she was about to ask something else, Zheng Yi's phone suddenly rang.

"Hey?"

"Prince Takeda has arrived home."

“Oh, it seems he had a safe journey,” Zheng Yi said.

There was no car accident, and the car didn't explode for no reason. It all went too smoothly.

Saburo Sumitomo said, "He changed cars five times on his way back."

Zheng Yi's lips twitched.

Prince Takeda is certainly cautious.

Zheng Yi couldn't help but say, "Even the Emperor isn't as cautious when he travels."

“Because you dare not kill the Emperor, but you might not dare not kill a prince,” Sumitomo Saburo said.

"Cough cough."

Zheng Yi quickly coughed and said, "I'm recording this, so watch your words."

“There’s nothing shameful about what we’re saying to each other,” Sumitomo Saburo said. “It’s good that you didn’t resort to violence this time. It seems you’ve really grown up and become more mature.”

Zheng Yi shifted uncomfortably in the car.

He never laid a hand on it.

However, when he looked at Conan, his eyes were filled with resentment.

You coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong, why doesn't your aura work on the prince?

Saburo Sumitomo said, "Alright, just bear with it. After all, they are the royal family; we can't solve problems with extreme violence."

Although many people will criticize Zheng Yi, no one will remember this matter in a few days.

"Okay, okay," Zheng Yi said.

"Hmm." Sumitomo Saburo suddenly asked, "Where did you put that bronze tiger-eating-man vessel?"

“It’s being maintained,” Zheng Yi said.

"to be honest."

"They really are taking care of themselves."

"No matter who you sell it to, at least put a replica in the Sen-oku Hakuko Kan Museum."

"it is good."

……

"That kid... he actually held back?"

When Sumitomo Taro learned that Shoichi had openly provoked the Imperial Family in Kyoto, his first reaction was headache and anger. He was even prepared to use his family's resources to "put out the fire."

He thought that Zheng Yi would, as before, tear his opponent apart without regard for anything else.

But he was wrong.

Zheng Yi did not make a move.

"It seems I underestimated him," Sumitomo Taro said with satisfaction.

Saburo Sumitomo put down his phone and shook his head.

Hard to say.

The reason they didn't take action this time was because the police were too vigilant with Zheng Yi, leaving him no opportunity to act, not because they were afraid to.

He looked at his elder brother and said, "We still can't let our guard down. Zheng Yi is going to see the Princess's opera tonight, and something might happen there."

Since nothing happened in the morning, the police must have relaxed their guard considerably, making this the perfect opportunity to cause trouble.

……

In the editorial offices of major newspapers in Kyoto, telephones rang incessantly.

"What? The prince is safe and sound? Zheng Yi didn't make a move?"

The editors roared at their informants on the other end of the phone, their pens leaving angry marks on the discarded drafts.

They had originally prepared a full-page headline: "The atrocities of the Zaibatsu: A member of the royal family was murdered in Kyoto."

They had even devised a plan to portray Zheng Yi as a heartless demon.

However, reality was beyond their expectations; Zheng Yi was simply wasting their writing skills.

"How is this possible? That madman actually held back?" A reporter put down the phone in disbelief.

"Has he changed his ways?"

"I heard he was under close police surveillance at the scene, so it might really have been a false alarm."

The people at the newspaper were very disappointed and cursed Zheng Yi's weakness in their hearts.

He's just a minor prince, and you don't dare to make a move?

Bah! Useless trash! (End of Chapter)