No one understands the laws of Collider better than me.

"Yes, yes, I was at the Kamen Rider gashapon machine when I saw that old man come out of the alley next door. I noticed him because he smelled of engine oil. He was muttering to himself, 'My good child, grow up quickly. Use your fiery claws to leave your mark on Tokyo! There's only one place left. By then, the eve of the festival will be complete.'"

Yi—

Genta and Mitsuhiko were both shocked. The arsonist's words were just like what the villains in Kamen Rider would say. However, Kitahara Masaki, Conan, and Ai Haibara all wondered if there was something wrong with the arsonist's brain. How could such a grown man still be a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur)?

"Alright, I understand why this arsonist set the fire. Next, we need to collect evidence at the scene. I'll take you kids with me!"

Oh! ! !

The Detective Boys were all excited and ready to set off when suddenly a policewoman stood up and said:

“I’m going there too, Officer Kitahara, let’s go together. Today is a very important day.”

Officer Sato finished packing his things and said this.

Upon hearing that Officer Sato was also going to the scene, Takagi and Shiratori from headquarters stood up and waved, saying they would go with him.

"Officer Sato, is today your birthday?"

No, quite the opposite.

When the car reached the alley, Officer Sato walked to the intersection a little ahead, placed a bouquet of flowers under the streetlight, and then clasped his hands together in prayer.

"Officer Shiratori, do you know who Officer Sato is praying for?"

"Ah, today is the anniversary of the death of Officer Sato's father, Sato Masayoshi. He died on this day."

Is that so?

“Exactly eighteen years ago, Officer Sato’s father died at this intersection while chasing a robber. He was hit by a truck, and because of the heavy rain that day, the ambulance took a long time to arrive at the scene… I remember the case was called…”

"In the case of Chou Si Lang, the detective who was knocked down kept repeating a mysterious name to the fleeing robber—Chou Si Lang. However, because the detective who had key information about the case died, the escaped criminal has not yet been found."

Conan picked up the conversation and launched into a long, detailed discussion. However, he quickly realized he was getting carried away and scratched his head, saying:

"This is all what Kitahara-nii told me."

Kitahara Masaki narrowed his eyes but said nothing. After all, it was a case from eighteen years ago. As an undercover agent, he hadn't bothered to investigate these old cases. He only just found out why Detective Sato was here to pay respects to his father.

"But didn't the police already know the criminal's name? And the truck driver from back then should have seen what the criminal looked like too."

"The police have investigated all the people named Shushiro in Tokyo at the time, but none of them could be the culprit. The truck driver also didn't get a clear look at the culprit's face because he was wearing a very large raincoat."

After finishing the ceremony, Officer Sato explained to the Junior Detective League.

"Actually, besides the surveillance video of the bank robbery and the 'sorrowful lover' my father shouted, there was another clue in my father's police manual, written in katakana as 'KAN O'. The police at the time did not release this clue because they believed it was an important clue to identify the criminal. However, after so long, we still don't understand what it means. When I was little, I always stared at my father's police manual trying to find something, and I often thought that if anyone could solve this mystery, I would fulfill whatever they asked for."

"Ah! In that case, if I solve the riddle, I want a hundred servings of eel rice!"

"I want to stay in the castle in the tropical paradise for one night."

"If it were me, all I would need is a ticket to the International Space Station."

They didn't listen to the clues about the three elementary school students, but they remembered perfectly that they could fulfill any request.

"Oh my, if it were me, I'd just get the latest Prada bag."

"Hey—I wish I could get a ticket to the World Cup."

"Hey, you two are joining in the commotion here too."

Kitahara Masaki rubbed Ai Haibara and Conan's heads, but their interruption livened up the somewhat heavy atmosphere again.

Looking at Takagi and Shiratori, those two were probably thinking about what Officer Sato would look like in a wedding dress.

Really are……

After everyone finished discussing the case of the sorrowful man, they were about to go and see the scene when four elderly people also came to the crossroads and offered a bouquet of flowers.

"Officer Sato, who are these people?"

"Oh! These four are Dad's classmates from high school. They were all members of the same baseball club as Dad."

Kitahara Masaki looked at the four elderly people and suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He realized that after the case was triggered, the Detective Conan world had presented the protagonist with four candidates!

After all, how could there be no suspects after the case has been discussed?

The laws of science are truly undeniable.

"Conan, you've been a huge help."

Ok?

Conan was completely confused, having no idea what Kitahara Masaki was talking about.

Chapter 106 If you're unlucky (E), no one can save you.

Just as Kitahara Masaki was about to ask the four middle-aged men some questions, Inspector Megure called:

"Brother Kitahara, the patrol officers have spotted a suspect in Shinagawa City's Sixth Ward!"

"So fast? Are you sure it's correct?"

“Absolutely right. In this hot weather where most people are wearing short sleeves, he was the only one wearing a coat and leather gloves. It was impossible not to notice him.”

"Okay, I'll go with Takagi and the others now."

Just after hanging up with Inspector Megure, Tooru Amuro called again:

"Officer Kitahara, do you have a moment now?"

"I'm sorry, I really have something to do this time. I just received a tip that patrol officers have spotted the serial arsonist in Shinagawa Ward, and I have to..."

"Ahem, Officer Kitahara, I'm here to talk to you because of that arsonist."

What did he do this time?

"According to our intelligence, it seems that the leader of Tsukuyomi contacted him online and then sold him something dangerous."

"So you guys stumbled upon this Tsukuyomi deal again?"

"More or less. Since most of the Tsukuyomi members have been captured, the remaining members have to go offline to conduct transactions. However, our informants have found traces of their transactions, which is why I'm informing you now."

Oh dear, how did these cases get so intertwined?

"I get it. As long as we catch the arsonist before he sets the fire, we can stop him from having his chuunibyou (adolescent delusions of grandeur) episode. Then what is that dangerous thing?"

"Unfortunately, Tsukuyomi still contacted their bomb maker and then provided the bomb to this serial arsonist."

Ah, explosions are art, so the arsonist with his delusions of grandeur accepted it. It seems Tokyo is now completely surrounded by makeshift explosives. Those inside want to get out, but those outside can't get in.

"Well then, now that the patrol officers have located the bomber, let's arrest him first and see if we can get the location of the bomb out of him. Then, Tsukuyomi, I believe you've already started your search."

"Yes, since they were short of members, they turned to offline transactions. Due to their lack of experience, they gave themselves away. One of our bartenders witnessed their transaction. We've then located their whereabouts. So I'd like Officer Kitahara to personally apprehend him."

"And what about the arsonist?"

"Don't worry, we'll also send people to join the search. Officer Kitahara, please go and apprehend the hacker. In the short term, the arsonist can indeed cause more harm than a hacker who can hide his identity, but in the long term, a hacker who can conceal his identity and use the internet to commit crimes is actually more dangerous."

"So you want me to appear next to that hacker as 'Kitahara Masaki,' right?"

"Yes, the fact that they are trying every means to harm you shows how much they value you. They hope you will take the risk for Japan one more time. Please."

Indeed, if I went there with Kitahara Masaki's face, the leader of the Tsukuyomi organization would probably get so angry that he would plot to get rid of me. But Amuro Tooru really dared to trust me.

"Okay, okay, tell me where he was last seen."

After receiving a reply from a certain station, Kitahara Masaki put away the phone and said to Takagi, Shiratori, and the others:

"You guys go ahead and participate in the search for the arsonist. Officer Sato, take these kids to the scene to check everything, and then send them home. I've received some new information that I need to confirm first."

After hearing Kitahara Masaki's words, Conan knew that Kitahara Masaki must have encountered a more interesting case. However, the arsonist and Shusou cases here also made his urge to solve the mystery return. Just as he was about to ask Kitahara Masaki what kind of case he had taken on, he saw Haibara looking at him with a kind look.

"Great Detective, you're not trying to show off again, are you?"

"Haha, no, I just wanted to ask Kitahara-nii some questions."

Conan, who managed to laugh it off, felt a chill run down his spine. After all, even Kitahara Masaki, who liked to tease him, had never looked at him like he was a lab rat. After several experiments, he placed Haibara in a position of equal terror to Gin.

"Little friend, let's go."

Oh! ! !

The Junior Detective League was still thinking about how to solve the Shusui-ro case and win their desired prizes. Takagi and Shiratori were also preoccupied with Officer Sato's wedding photos, practically oblivious to their work.

After everyone left, Kitahara Masaki immediately headed to the station location given by Amuro Tooru. That station was the starting point for the journey to the Japanese countryside, and although it was still within Tokyo, it was quite far from the city center.

Upon hearing the station's name, Kitahara Masaki immediately understood that this guy wanted to escape, which is why he managed to make a quick buck off the chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) sufferer. It's likely that an 'artist' like this serial arsonist would have taken out most of his fortune to buy the bomb the moment he saw it.

As it turned out, neither of them was familiar with the offline transaction process, and they were discovered by a police informant, probably because they thought no one would hear them talking in a bar.

However, the bartenders have always been very observant. Their direct, unannounced actions, without using code words, were far too obvious to them.

Haha, all three of their transactions were just happened to be discovered by others. It can only be said that even the heavens think that the Tsukuyomi organization deserves to be destroyed.

After parking the car, Kitahara Masaki found the station to be extremely deserted. It must be a rural area that no one would go there, especially on a weekday, and there wasn't a single tour group.

"Hello, when does the bus depart?"

"Oh? Oh... Passenger, I'm sorry, the arrival time of our next train has not yet been determined. Due to the heavy rain yesterday, we are urgently checking the condition of the railway. Please understand."

"Oh, that's alright. You can take your time with the investigation. Safety comes first after all."

Because the journey was too long and no taxis would go there, the only way to get there quickly was by train. However, due to the heavy rain, the train was delayed. Kitahara Masaki began to feel sorry for Tsukuyomi's boss. Just how unlucky was this guy?

He's clearly good in every aspect, but he's unlucky (E), so there's nothing anyone can do to save him.

At this moment, Kitahara Masaki is wearing slippers and a straw hat. The props have transformed his face into that of a middle-aged man, making him look exactly like a country bumpkin who is out of place in the big city. So it is quite reasonable for him to appear in this form at the station leading to the countryside.

Chapter 107 Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix

When I entered the waiting room, the people waiting for the train were beyond my expectations. There were office workers in suits, travelers with bedding, and even middle-aged men who exuded a decadent aura.

"Could you all take a look at this flyer? Representative Daiwei has always been concerned about rural issues. If you have time, you can listen to Mr. Daiwei's speech. Maybe he will talk about the issues you care about."

There was even a member of parliament's secretary there; presumably, he was trying to promote the trip to the countryside to the citizens who would be traveling with him. However, we can't rule out the possibility that he was a member of Tsukuyomi in disguise.

"Heh, so can that congressman help me pay off my loan? My factory was seized by the bank, my wife ran away with the kids, and I'm still burdened with debt. Can that congressman save my ruined life?"

It's so tragic. Another person has been nearly ruined by loans. Even the congressman's secretary, who initially vowed that he could help everyone solve any problem, backed down. After all, there are only two ways to solve this dejected old man's problem: one is to lend him more money to repay the loan and take back the factory; the other is to do charity to help him pay off the loan.

Both methods were unspeakable, so the secretary became much more obedient, picked up her briefcase, and sat back down in her seat.

At that moment, a young man, also carrying a briefcase and dressed in a suit, stepped forward and said: