Solving cases with Detective Conan's science? No, I'm a cultivator!

Kuroba Chikage pondered for a moment and said, "In that case, I'll go and talk to Kitagawa Taki tomorrow to see if he has any useful information."

This time, they've uncovered the likely mastermind behind the distillery, so she shouldn't be in such a sorry state as she was last time, right?

Thinking of this, Kuroba Chikage didn't even notice what Kuroba Kaito was saying beside her...

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

the next morning.

Beichuan House.

study.

"Miss Qianying, you've come to see me so early. Is there any progress on that matter?"

Kuroba Chikage was visibly in a good mood today, much happier than when she left last time.

“Of course.” Kuroba Chikage took a tablet out of her bag, operated it for a moment, and then placed it in front of Kitagawa Taki: “Seventeen years ago…”

Kitagawa Taki glanced at the tablet, which displayed information about the Haneda Koji case online. He raised his hand to interrupt, "Just tell me the result!"

Kuroba Chikage choked, took a deep breath, and said, "Amanda's bodyguard Asaka is very likely Rum."

As she spoke, she kept an eye on Kitagawa Taki's expression, but Kitagawa Taki did not change after hearing her words.

"Furthermore, the people behind the distillery..."

"Karasuma Renya?" Kitagawa Taki was somewhat disappointed, clearly unable to obtain any useful information from Kuroba Chikage.

"What happened?" Kuroba Chikage asked, somewhat surprised, then frowned and said, "Did you find out about it too?"

Kitagawa Taki said calmly, "I found Asaka."

"what?"

Kuroba Chikage stood up from the sofa, her shock evident on her face. "Asaka isn't Rum?"

“No.” Kitagawa Taki gestured for Kuroba Chikage to calm down and sit down, then said, “Besides, she’s never met Rum.”

"Her?" Kuroba Chikage composed herself and asked, "Who is she?"

Kitagawa Taki smiled and shook his head: "I can't tell you right now."

Even Wakasa Rumi doesn't know his true identity yet, and her fighting skills are quite high, so it's best not to let Kuroba Chikage and the other two know for the time being.

"you……"

Kuroba Chikage was somewhat angry. What happened to the promised partnership?

Are you just going to keep it hidden like this?

But then she realized that she hadn't provided any real help to Kitagawa Taki, so she had to swallow her words.

"What about Karasuma Renya?" Kuroba Chikage gritted her teeth.

Kitagawa Taki said, "Even if Karasuma Renya isn't dead, he couldn't possibly be alive and kicking. The head of the brewery is now called 'that man.'"

He added, "By the way, it was a man."

"That gentleman...man..."

Kuroba Chikage gave Kitagawa Taki a deep look.

Kitagawa Taki knows far more than they do.

"Mr. Kitagawa, how much more do you actually know about Rum and 'that man'?"

“Hmm…” Kitagawa Taki said slowly, “Rum is a man with a prosthetic eye in his left eye, and his code name is inherited from his father. As for ‘that man,’ I don’t know anything else.”

Kuroba Chikage silently memorized these key pieces of information.

"In addition, there is another person involved in the Haneda Koji case. He is a police officer in Nagano Prefecture named Kuroda Hei. Please help me investigate him."

Just then, Chikage Kuroba arrived, and Taki Kitagawa handed over the task of investigating Heiji Kuroda to her.

"A policeman?" Kuroba Chikage frowned. "Is he also from the brewery?"

"It shouldn't be him, but since he was able to appear there, he's definitely not just a simple policeman. You should check his real identity!"

“Okay.” Kuroba Chikage nodded.

"Then I'll go back first."

Kuroba Chikage's gaze was complicated. She knew she had to bring something of value next time; she couldn't let this partnership continue to be so distorted.

"Don't rush, let's put the investigation aside for now." Kitagawa Taki called out to Kuroba Chikage, inviting her, "Ms. Chikage, it's almost noon, why don't you stay for lunch?"

“Okay!” Kuroba Chikage readily agreed.

This is a good opportunity for her to get to know more of the people around Kitagawa Taki.

Before this, she had only met Miyazaki Miho a few times, but had more contact with a little girl named Haibara Ai.

Perhaps that Miss Miho is someone from the brewery.

The two entered the living room one after the other.

Akemi Miyano went out to buy groceries and hasn't returned yet; Ai Haibara is watching TV.

Seeing the two of them come out of the study, and with no sign of leaving, Ai Haibara turned her gaze to Taki Kitagawa.

Kitagawa Taki understood and said, "Ms. Chikage, please have a seat. I'll call Miho and ask her to buy more groceries."

Chikage Kuroba sat down not far from Ai Haibara and greeted her warmly, "Ai, it's been a long time."

Ai Haibara nodded.

That was the end of the conversation between the two.

Kitagawa Taki finished his phone call and sat down between the two of them.

Ai Haibara glanced at Taki Kitagawa and silently switched the channel to the news.

Just as Kitagawa Taki was about to speak, his attention was drawn to the news.

The news broadcast above states that Queen Besbania Mira will be visiting Japan for a state visit the day after tomorrow...

Mira is really good at hiding things. She's coming the day after tomorrow, and she hasn't mentioned it to him at all.

"The Queen of Besbania, it seems, has only recently ascended to the throne," Kuroba Chikage initiated the conversation.

She murmured, "Upon closer inspection, she does look a little bit like Aoko..."

"Qingzi?"

Kitagawa Taki almost forgot about Nakamori Aoko, who looks a lot like Ran.

"Oh," said Chikage Kuroba. "She's one of Kaito's classmates, her name is Aoko Nakamori."

Do you have any photos?

Kuroba Chikage asked warily, "What are you going to do?"

Kitagawa Taki casually said, "Didn't you say you look like the Queen? Let me take a look."

Kuroba Chikage glanced at Kitagawa Taki, then took out her phone and started searching.

"Here."

Kitagawa Taki took the phone. The screen showed a girl in a school uniform who, judging from her eyebrows and eyes, looked somewhat like Ran and Mira.

No wonder Nakamori Ginzo didn't react much when he saw Ran.

It's just a bit flat.

Chapter 324 Even food doesn't taste good anymore

"They do look somewhat alike."

Kitagawa Taki returned the phone to Kuroba Chikage.

"Let me see!"

Ai Haibara, however, reached out her small hand and snatched the phone away.

Hmph, yet another pretty girl.

The key point is that she looks a little bit like Ran Mouri and that queen.

"What is her relationship with your son?" Ai Haibara asked Chikage Kuroba.

"Huh?" Kuroba Chikage was taken aback by the question.

The main problem is that it's strange that a little girl like Ai Haibara would ask such a question.

Seeing that Ai Haibara was staring at her, Chikage Kuroba explained, "She and Kaito are childhood friends."

"Childhood sweethearts?" Ai Haibara glanced at Taki Kitagawa.

Ran Mouri and Shinichi Kudo were childhood friends.

"Yes, what's wrong?" Kuroba Chikage asked, full of questions.

Of course you need to keep a close eye on your future daughter-in-law, lest someone steal her away!

However, Ai Haibara could only keep her thoughts to herself.

"It's nothing, childhood sweethearts are great, they have a good relationship."

Kitagawa Taki smiled and handed the phone to Kuroba Chikage.

Kuroba Chikage glanced at the two strange people and silently put her phone away.

Aoko and Kaito do have a good relationship. Kaito likes Aoko very much and they kept in touch when they were abroad.

However, there was one thing that worried her: Aoko's father, Nakamori Ginzo, was a police officer in charge of capturing Kaito Kid.

If Aoko finds out what Kaito did, it might cause some trouble...

"Miss Qianying, what's wrong?"

Kuroba Chikage snapped out of her daze and smiled, "It's nothing."

……

Not long after, Akemi Miyano returned from grocery shopping.