Detective Conan: Becoming a Zaibatsu - Starting with Joining the Winery

"Hattori, I'm sorry!"

"This time, because of my actions, I never expected that you would get dragged into it as well."

"That Lin Mo guy is really troublesome!"

Conan hesitated for a moment before speaking.

And, in response to this.

Hattori Heiji shook his head, then gritted his teeth and said, "I was careless this time. I didn't expect that bastard to be so insidious."

"He sensed my hostility towards him and then used Kazuha as his target."

"What's even more speechless is that that stupid girl, He Ye, actually fell for Lin Mo's treacherous scheme!"

"But, it's alright!"

"I believe that once I find the evidence and arrest Shimabukuro Kimie, I will make Kazuha see Lin Mo's true colors."

And, in response to this.

Upon hearing these words, Conan felt as if he were seeing his younger self.

Hehe!

He used to think that way too, and then things turned out this way.

Thinking of this, Conan took a deep breath and couldn't help but remind him, "Hattori, I advise you to be serious. Lin Mo isn't so easy to deal with."

"Your current thoughts are similar to mine in the past."

"and then?"

"You've seen what happened to me. I advise you to learn from my mistake!"

"besides……"

"What Kazuha just said makes some sense to me."

"To be on the calm side, Lin Mo should be unrelated to the case. It's highly likely that Shimabukuro Kimie working at his manor is just a coincidence."

"Otherwise, it cannot be explained!"

"Just like Kazuha said, Lin Mo paid such a high price simply because he lacked a head maid?"

"That doesn't make sense!"

Although Hattori Heiji dislikes Lin Mo and doesn't listen to Toyama Kazuha's advice, he can still listen to his good friends.

After careful consideration, it does make sense!

Lin Mo and Shimabukuro Kimie didn't know each other at all before, and there was no relationship between them whatsoever. If someone like Lin Mo was willing to spend money, he could have any type of head maid he wanted.

There's no reason to pay such a high price just to get Shimabukuro Kimie to come to my manor as my head maid, is there?

This is simply not convincing!

Meanwhile, on the other side...

Seeing Hattori Heiji gradually calm down, Conan's tone also became increasingly calm: "Besides, our previous reasoning was actually a bit too subjective."

"Just because Shimabukuro Kimie has a motive doesn't mean she has the ability!"

"And she does have an alibi. Even if her friends might give false testimony, surely passersby and the bartender can't give false testimony, right?"

"If this case is related to Kimie Shimabukuro, then the only thing I can think of is 'hiring a killer'."

"But that would mean going back to the old ways!"

"Either catch the perpetrator or investigate the outflow of funds from Shimabukuro Kimie."

"But neither of these two paths is easy."

"Catching the perpetrator himself is going to be a very long process, given the large number of yakuza groups and lone wolves in Tokyo."

"If we want to take this route, the Fourth Investigation Division needs to take over!"

"When it comes to dealing with yakuza organizations, the Fourth Investigation Division is the real experts."

"The other one won't work either!"

"Although Officer Shiratori didn't say anything today, he must have checked Shimabukuro Kimie's account, since that's standard procedure for the Metropolitan Police Department."

"Since they didn't tell us, it proves that there haven't been any large transfers or withdrawals in Shimabukuro Kimie's account in the near future!"

"So, Hattori..."

"We all have to admit that this case has reached a dead end."

"Highly likely..."

"Even if we investigate further, we won't get any results!"

As Conan spoke, Heiji Hattori, who had calmed down, also fell silent instantly.

Yes!

After a thorough review, he had to admit this as well.

This case is different from the previous ones!

In cases like this that involve yakuza organizations, if you don't have any specific leads, you can only search like looking for a needle in a haystack.

But that kind of search requires a large force!

otherwise……

It's not that the two detectives are afraid of the yakuza organizations, but rather that there are so many yakuza organizations that they couldn't even investigate them all in two years.

So, sigh!

With a helpless sigh, Hattori Heiji gave up!

Just like Conan said, unless they can get Shimabukuro Kimie to talk, there's no way to investigate this case further.

but……

Without any evidence, how could they possibly pry open Shimabukuro Kimie's mouth?

Not to mention...

Kimie Shimabukuro was extremely hostile towards the two of them and would never cooperate with them.

The two originally had a very simple plan: when questioning Shimabukuro Kimie, they would make her logic fall apart, so that they could force her to admit it herself.

But what about now?

Shimabukuro Kimie simply wouldn't talk to them, leaving the two of them completely useless!

Thinking about this, Hattori Heiji suddenly felt a sense of panic.

What should I do?

If he can't capture Shimabukuro Kimie, he won't be able to persuade Toyama Kazuha, and he won't even be able to get past his own father!

Because of such a trivial matter, the Hattori family's reputation was wasted, and in the end, nothing was achieved?

Hold the grass!

I hope I won't get mixed doubles.

Thinking of this, Hattori Heiji's face turned deathly pale!

"Hattori, what's wrong?"

"N-nothing!"

Conan keenly sensed that something was wrong with Hattori Heiji and immediately asked him about it.

And, in response to this.

Hattori Heiji trembled slightly, but did not answer.

nonsense!

Doesn't he have any pride?

How can I tell my friends about getting beaten up when I get home?

Even the best of friends—it won't work!

Such an embarrassing thing is something you have to bear alone.

"Um, Kudo!"

"I suddenly remembered that I have some things to take care of at home."

"Cough cough..."

"I have to go back now, so don't bother seeing me off."

"By the way, um..."

"Please tell Inspector Shiratori that I thank him this time, and there's no need to leave the case for me."

"Goodbye!"

After saying that.

Heiji Hattori didn't say much to Conan before leaving in a very disheveled state and taking the Shinkansen towards Osaka.

Conan: "..."

Watching his friend leave in a disheveled state, Conan was completely bewildered.

Yes!

Although Conan's family is relatively wealthy, they are not on the same level as conglomerates.

and so……

The Kudo couple only wanted their eldest son to have a happy childhood, so they didn't tell him any basic information about adulthood.

Therefore, Conan genuinely doesn't understand what the favor Heiji Hattori owes Ninzaburo Shiratori truly represents within the world of conglomerates...

"That's strange, but never mind!"

"I can't interfere with Hattori's affairs. You should think carefully about how to handle your relationship with Ran."

"That damned bastard Lin Mo, how am I supposed to win Xiaolan back?"

"I was originally thinking of asking Hattori for help, but I never expected to drag Hattori into this mess as well."

"Damn it!"

Conan gritted his teeth, but there was nothing he could do.

At last.

He could only grit his teeth in frustration before heading towards the Mori family's house with a resentful expression.

What Conan didn't realize was that on the second-floor balcony of his Kudo residence, his loving parents and Professor Agasa were silently watching him leave.