Detective Conan: Is Miss Haibara planning to assault a police officer again today?

After a quick breakfast, the two parted ways at their doorstep.

Japanese elementary school students either take a school bus to school together or walk to school by themselves or in groups; very few parents take them.

The little girl walked with a rather cheerful gait, carrying her schoolbag.

Higashino Ning went to refuel first, and then reported to the Metropolitan Police Department.

I'm still a bit worried. Today, when I reported to Inspector Megure, I gave him the same explanation as yesterday, which is practically the same as making no progress at all.

Then let's just not report it, since there's nothing new to say anyway.

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If he doesn't report on his work, then what's the point of him going to the Metropolitan Police Department?

Skip work!

Well, I don't know what to do if I skip work.

Higashino Ning filled up the gas tank and headed straight for the district police station.

It wasn't even time for work yet, and he didn't believe they couldn't catch Officer Zhi even now.

Miwako Sato was loitering outside instead of returning to the Metropolitan Police Department, as was Officer Shiba, and another officer from Narasawa.

Furthermore, all three of them were vague and ambiguous in their phone conversations, so no one would believe they were completely without problems.

Oh...you can't say it like that.

Currently, among the people from the Metropolitan Police Department involved in the investigation of this case, only Higashino Ning seems to think there's a problem.

Gan!

How can I play when I'm surrounded by such incompetent teammates?!

Of course, Takagi is an exception; he's not a bad teammate, he's a reliable and good brother.

...

Arrived at the police station.

Higashino Ning swaggered upstairs and sat down in Shiba Ichiro's seat.

The police officers all knew his identity as a police inspector, so they didn't say much. They just asked him what he was investigating today and brought him coffee.

Higashino Ning bluntly stated that he was there to stake out Shiba Ichiro, which made the police officers lose confidence and began to suspect that their boss was the murderer who had harmed his colleague.

Before long, Shiba Ichiro arrived.

He looked visibly tired, clearly having not slept well the night before.

Shiba Ichiro was quite surprised to see Higashino Ning. "Inspector Higashino... what brings you here?"

Higashino Ning finished the last bit of coffee in his cup. "Officer Zhi, shall we talk outside or here?"

Chapter 159 Forced to Slack Off: Prelude to the Carnival

Yoichiro Shiba frowned. "Inspector Higashino, what you're doing..."

“Because you’re not very cooperative with my work, my attitude will naturally be a little worse.” Higashino Ning interrupted him directly, his tone quite arrogant.

I will treat you the same way you treat me, unless you are of a much higher rank than me.

Shiba Ichiro fell silent, then sighed, "Let's talk outside."

The two left the police station and found a seat at a nearby coffee shop.

Yoichiro Shizuka cut to the chase, “Inspector Higashino, it’s not that I’m deliberately making things difficult for you, but rather that I have no choice in the matter.”

“I really don’t know the details of Officer Qingtian’s death. I have not hidden anything I know or can say. If you continue to investigate, you will only cause trouble for yourself.”

His eyes were deep. “Even if you are a police inspector, you can’t bear the responsibility. I’m not exaggerating.”

Higashino Ning raised an eyebrow. "In other words, can I assume that the investigation you're conducting concerns high-ranking officials in the police or political circles?"

Seeing that Yoichiro Shiba was about to say something, he tapped the table lightly, "Don't rush to deny it. Normally, you shouldn't have any connection with the political world."

"In addition to the deceased Officer Aota, Officer Sato who is just as busy as you but keeps silent, and Officer Narasawa, I can conclude that you are restarting an investigation from a year ago."

"I won't say who we're investigating specifically. Officer Zhi just needs to nod or shake his head."

Shiba Ichiro remained silent.

After a while, he suddenly chuckled, "There is indeed a reason why you were promoted so exceptionally."

Then he suddenly became serious, "Since you have already deduced so much information but still chose to come and interrogate me, then I must remind you to be even more careful."

“Our investigation cannot be made known to more people for the time being, otherwise there will be a serious upheaval in the police force. Just consider it as helping us buy time, Officer Higashino. Thank you very much.”

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, most of what needs to be understood is clear.

Yoichiro Shiba and others were secretly reassigned by Chief Odagiri to reinvestigate the case from a year ago.

The investigation target, Toshiya Odagiri, is now suspected not only of murdering Dr. Yasushi Nino, but may also have recently shot and killed Officer Aota.

The public and the media don't need facts at all; as soon as there's a hint of something, they'll spread the rumors far and wide.

Headlines like "Chief of Criminal Investigation Department Protects Criminal's Son, Who Allegedly Shot and Killed Detective" could paralyze Japanese public opinion for nearly a month.

Spread a rumor and break a leg.

This is no longer just an internal matter for the police; the entire political sphere will be greatly affected.

Higashino Ning, a mere police inspector, really can't shoulder such a heavy responsibility.

However, he didn't come here to forcibly interfere; he just wanted to confirm with Shiba Ichiro whether this was indeed the movie incident.

Now he was sure.

Slacking off!

Wait for Mr. Ke to make his move.

Higashino Ning stood up. "Although it's just speculation at the moment, and Officer Aota may have been accidentally murdered by someone else, I think you still need to be careful."

"Also, please be sure to tell Officer Sato to take care of her own safety."

"I'm still an 'outsider' right now, so it's not convenient for me to tell her in person."

Yoichiro Shiba was quite surprised, "Inspector Higashino and Miwako..."

"Don't misunderstand." Dongye Ning waved his hand directly, "My good brother likes her, and I'm also a very good friend of hers, so I don't want anything to happen to her."

After saying that, leave.

Staying here any longer might mean having to pay for those two coffees, which isn't worth it.

Furthermore, Higashino Ning now needs to return to the Metropolitan Police Department to explain the situation to Megure Juzo.

It's not that he wants to slack off or do nothing, but that he has no way to get involved.

As for confidentiality... it's normal for police inspectors to know each other's information, and they won't just say things randomly.

Besides, he made up that information himself, and he could tell whoever he wanted to.

The Metropolitan Police Department remains relaxed today.

Higashino Ning went to find Inspector Megure, and Shiratori Ninzaburo happened to be there too, so he simply told him everything at the same time.

Both of them were completely shocked after hearing this.

"Chief Odagiri's son..."

"If that's the case, then Brother Higashino, you really need to slow down your investigation."

Higashino Ning casually sat down and looked at Shiratori Ninzaburo, "Is there any way to get Chief Odagiri to tacitly allow me to intervene in the investigation?"

Shiratori Ninzaburo thought for a moment and shook his head. "It's not possible yet. Officer Aota's death is an official incident, but Officer Sato and the others are investigating a private matter."

"Whether there is a connection between the two sides is still just speculation, and it is obviously inappropriate to rashly intervene in Director Odagiri's private affairs."

Ok.

Higashino Ning glanced helplessly at Shiratori Renzaburo. The other man was actually quite excellent in many ways, but he was a bit bureaucratic and always thought about things from the perspective of rules.

Did I suggest we intervene rashly?

I asked you, wasn't that supposed to be a way for you to go and test the waters with Director Odagiri?

Shiratori Ninzaburo wasn't ignorant; rather, he felt that doing so was too presumptuous and impossible.

Then there's no way.

It seems that Higashino Ning has no other choice but to slack off and wait for Ke Zong to make his move.

Just wait.

We've investigated what needed to be investigated, said what needed to be said, and given the necessary reminders.

Next, all you need to do is keep the media's attention.

Higashino Ning propped himself up from his chair. “Anyway, everyone’s just killing time. I’ll take them to investigate. At least we have to do something to save face for the media and the public, otherwise I’ll have to suffer first.”

"Hmm." Inspector Megure indicated that there was no problem. "Thank you for your hard work, Higashino-kun."

...

I touched that fish for three days straight.

During the day she's at work, and when she gets home at night, Ai Haibara is always researching the antidote, so they just chat before bed.

Conan was discharged from the hospital yesterday and hasn't gone back to school yet; he's staying home to rest.

Under Kogoro Mouri's meticulous care, Conan caught a cold and felt extremely unwell.

So... Ai Haibara's hastily prepared initial version of the temporary antidote couldn't be used anymore. After all, the test subject was unwell, and even out of humanitarian considerations, the testing process should be postponed.

But that's just what Ai Haibara thinks.

Conan has his own understanding.

He was equally reckless when it came to taking medicine.

Conan figured that the drug developed by Ai Haibara couldn't possibly have any problems. After confirming that the temporary antidote wouldn't interfere with his cold medicine, he simply reached out and took the temporary antidote.