I'm in Detective Conan, and the system has appointed Batman.

Chapter 98: The White Horse Scout I've Been Watching

"Huh? Sonoko invited you to the exhibition hall to see the pink sapphire today?"

"Isn't that where Phantom Thief Kid is going to steal tomorrow? I remember Hakuba Saguru called yesterday and said that they were still setting up traps at the site this morning and he wouldn't be able to go in to check on the security measures until this afternoon."

"Why did the garden invite you over this morning...?"

Conan, who was woken up by a phone call, sat on the bed and groggily talked to Chen En on the phone.

At this point, he suddenly froze.

—Oh, thinking about it, this seems like a date.

The exhibition hall's security measures should be in place. The reason it's not open to the police in the morning is to allow Chen En and Suzuki Sonoko to be alone together.
But Sonoko has never done anything so extravagant before, has she?
Conan stroked his chin.

Suddenly, he remembered that Sonoko had mentioned an uncle to him before.

That uncle is said to have been traveling all over the world. Sonoko hasn't seen that uncle in ten years. The person who spent a huge sum of money to buy the world's largest pink sapphire is named Suzuki Jirokichi, and he is a member of the Suzuki Group.

The person who could mobilize such financial resources must be a high-ranking member of the Suzuki Group. Could it be the uncle that Sonoko hasn't seen for ten years?
"That's not surprising..."

Conan muttered to himself.

Because when Jirokichi Suzuki publicly announced the Phantom Thief Kid's announcement, he spoke with considerable arrogance.

He didn't care about the pink sapphire at all; he bought it simply to have a chance to confront and defeat Kaito Kid as quickly as possible.

It's perfectly normal for such a generous uncle to clear out the exhibition hall to leave it for Sonoko's date.

"Okay, okay, I got it. Have fun!"

Conan quickly ended the call.

He sighed.

Sonoko Suzuki is so fickle; she's forgotten her brothers now that she has a boyfriend!

Although I know Sonoko would definitely ask them to come if I called now, it doesn't seem right to be a third wheel. It wouldn't be so bad to go in the afternoon... I'll go in the afternoon.

Even though I'll be with that arrogant Hakuba Saguru...

"Conan, breakfast is ready!"

Ran Mouri's voice came from downstairs.

Immediately, Conan subconsciously responded in a low voice.

"Oh, here it comes!"

After responding, Conan couldn't help but sigh.

He went down the stairs.

That being said, let’s eat first.

------

Outside the Suzuki Foundation's exhibition hall.

With slightly dark circles under his eyes, Hakuba Saguru was standing by the window of a hotel room.

His gaze was fixed on the Suzuki Foundation exhibition hall not far away.

—This room has a great location.

From this vantage point, he could clearly see the main entrance of the Suzuki Foundation exhibition hall and all the people nearby.

That's why Hakuba Saguru felt something was strange.

The staff who were supposed to install the protective measures had already left the exhibition hall.

Why does the Suzuki Foundation still claim to the police that it is still installing protective measures and is not opening the premises to the police?

Does this advisor to the Suzuki Foundation have any other ideas?
The white horse explorer could not know.

However, I saw Sonoko Suzuki appear at the main entrance of the Suzuki Foundation Exhibition Hall.

He could vaguely guess some of the reasons behind this.

Suzuki Sonoko.

She is the second daughter of Shiro Suzuki, chairman of the Suzuki Group, and currently the sole heir to the Suzuki Group.

If it were Sonoko Suzuki's decision, it wouldn't be surprising.

But what was Sonoko Suzuki's purpose in booking the entire venue?
The relevant information he had investigated flashed through Hakuba Saguru's mind.

He recalled that he didn't have many friends who frequently associated with Sonoko Suzuki.

The only things that could attract his attention were Ran Mouri and Shinichi Kudo.

Ran Mouri is the daughter of the famous detective Kogoro Mouri.

Shinichi Kudo, on the other hand, was the "Heisei era Sherlock Holmes" who made his name in Tokyo before him.

Shinichi Kudo has not appeared in public for quite some time now.

So, is Sonoko Suzuki waiting for Ran Mouri to come over? Hakuba Tansuke pondered.

Meanwhile, a taxi was already parked outside the Suzuki exhibition hall.

He raised his monoculars and looked at the people getting out of the taxi.

—This is an unfamiliar face.

Hakuba Saguru didn't recall finding such a person in the information he had looked up.

Immediately, he couldn't help but squint.

Is this some newcomer who recently emerged and whom he hasn't investigated?

The binoculars were pointed at the person getting off the bus.

However, just as Hakuba Saguru continued to observe...

The person who had just gotten off the bus seemed to have sensed something.

He suddenly turned his head to look at the room where Hakuba Saguru was.

Their eyes met across the distance.

A strange sense of danger instantly rose in Hakuba Saguru's heart.

However, the next moment, a falcon named Watson landed on Hakuba Saguru's shoulder.

That sense of danger then disappeared.

That person didn't look at Hakuba Saguru's position again.

He simply followed Sonoko Suzuki into the exhibition hall and disappeared from sight.

"Exuding domineering aura."

Bai Ma Tan said in a low voice.

He put down his binoculars and teased the falcon beside his shoulder.

The stranger had clearly noticed his presence and was radiating malice.

However, after Watson flew onto his shoulder.

The stranger then stopped showing him hostility.

This shows that the stranger was able to identify him through Watson, and because of his identity, stopped showing him any hostility.

Somewhat strange.

If it were Phantom Thief Kid, how could he possibly refrain from attacking him just because someone recognized him, given that he noticed someone watching him? Wouldn't he have attacked him even more?
Unless this person isn't Kaito Kid.

“I’ve never seen anyone like this when I was at Scotland Yard.”

Hakuba Saguru reminisces about his experience studying in London.

He has met many criminals in London and helped local police solve many cases.

Even the London Metropolitan Police invited him to become a special advisor to the police.

The hope is to keep him in London and continue to help the London Joint Police Service solve cases.

However, he had never met anyone who gave him that feeling.

Neither black nor white, it's like a delicate gray.

"Why doesn't this kind of character appear in various news reports?"

"If he's active in Beika Town, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department should have noticed his presence and taken a statement from him... Did I miss something? Or did the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department officers omit it in their case report?"

He quietly made his decision.

It seems that, compared to Kaito Kid, there is another person worth investigating.

When we get back, we'll stay up all night again to find out what this person's background is.

—The son of the Superintendent General of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

Hakuba Saguru possesses a wide network of connections and considerable authority.

There's nothing in Tokyo that he can't find out even if he wants to!
------

"What's wrong? Is there something over there?"

After entering the exhibition hall, Sonoko Suzuki asked with some curiosity.

To this, Chen En simply replied calmly,
"It's nothing, just checking what's going on with the reflection over there."

I initially thought it was an illusionist from the Assassin's Guild scouting the location, but it turned out to be Hakuba Saguru watching.

He almost reached out and used the Holy Sword of Physics to crack open the opponent's skull.

What a pity.

(End of this chapter)