Conan: Ran, I really am Shinichi, you have to believe me!

That's getting ahead of himself. The priority now is to find Pisco, the distillery executive in the crowd, and stop him from killing someone. So Conan ignored Jiang Chengbei's provocation and continued:

"Among the celebrities I mentioned, I think that Congressman Shigehiko Tobuchi is very likely their target for this assassination. Among the people I just mentioned, he is the only one who perfectly fits Gin's target description."

Now, what we need to do is protect him while finding out who Pisco is.

"Protect this corrupt official, this scum? Who will protect this kind of degenerate? Conan, are you going?"

Conan was shocked after hearing Jiang Chengbei's angry remarks:

"Jiang Cheng, what did you say? Say it again. Is this the kind of thing a policeman should say?"

If I hadn't seen that your police handbook was genuine, and hadn't witnessed you shamelessly showing it to the police, I would have seriously doubted that you were a fake policeman.

"Conan, you've never been a police officer, so you don't know how angry we police officers feel when we know the other party is a criminal, but we can't do anything about it, and we're even ridiculed to our faces."

Look at this Shigehiko Tobuchi, he's surrounded by reporters now, arrogantly bragging in front of them, but we police are completely helpless against him. It makes me so angry just thinking about it.

Conan, stop bragging to me. You must be fed up with this kind of humiliation, otherwise why would you aspire to be a detective instead of a policeman?

Both are about pursuing the truth, upholding justice, and speaking out for the people. Why don't you become a more lawful police officer and instead become a detective who doesn't have to abide by the law? Isn't it because you can't stand the arrogance of those scumbags who can't be dealt with by the law?

Besides, Conan, you're now shouting that you want to protect the victims, but after all the cases you've been through, before each one you were shouting that you could definitely protect the target, only for the victim to immediately become a cold, lifeless corpse after the incident. Haven't you learned enough lessons like that?

This time, keep a low profile and don't make grand claims that you can protect him and guarantee his safety.

I bet you a hundred times that even with Detective Conan's protection, Shigehiko Tobuchi is dead today.

Hearing Jiang Chengbei's implied meaning—that if Tonguchi Shigehiko didn't confess to the police, he, as a policeman, wouldn't help him, and that Conan couldn't protect Tonguchi Shigehiko—Conan was initially unconvinced. But after a moment's recollection, even if he shamelessly denied it, the bloody facts were right in front of him: his success rate in protecting his target was pitifully low.

Thinking of this, Conan immediately took out the Chakra Earring Phone and the Chakra Bow Voice Changer, and used Shinichi Kudo's voice to call Juichi Megure, seeking help from the Metropolitan Police Department, and briefly explained that someone was trying to assassinate Shigehiko Tomonokuchi.

Seeing Conan start calling for backup, Jiang Chengbei also took out his phone to call for backup; he couldn't fall behind Conan in this area.

When Amuro Tooru received a call from Jiang Chengbei, saying that someone was planning a terrorist attack at Beika City Hall to assassinate Toudou councilor Tonguchi Shigehiko, and that he was to lead the Zero Team to provide support, Amuro Tooru frowned: Since when has Jiang Chengbei been able to order him around?!

But considering this is a major case involving the assassination of a political figure, personal grudges cannot affect official business. For the sake of Japan, I should still help Jiang Chengbei.

So Amuro Tooru made a phone call to his underling, Kazami Yuya, instructing him to take men to the Beika City Hall to protect Tonguchi Shigehiko. Meanwhile, Amuro Tooru himself drove his Mazda sports car towards Beika Town while making the call.

After Conan and Jiang Chengbei each made a phone call to call for backup, Amuro Tooru, who had never been caught and fined by the traffic police, arrived at the scene first in his sports car at breakneck speed.

When Anshi arrived at the memorial service at Beihu City Hall according to the address given by Jiang Chengbei, he coincidentally ran into his best work partner and best work companion, Vermouth, as soon as he entered the hall.

At the brewery, Amuro Tooru's best work partner and collaborator is Vermouth. Today, as soon as Amuro Tooru appeared, they recognized each other.

As old friends and good partners, having worked together before, Vermouth had even ridden in the passenger seat of Amuro Tooru's Mazda. Today, when Amuro Tooru appeared, a somewhat surprised Vermouth greeted him.

Most of the people present had East Asian faces. It's not right for Vermouth, who has a Western face, and Amuro Tooru, who has blond hair and black skin, to greet each other, right?

Moreover, Vermouth is only here to provide some assistance to Pisco. She is not part of the operation. What's wrong with her greeting her colleague Bourbon when she sees him?

Unlike Vermouth's relaxed and indifferent demeanor, Amuro Tooru had come to protect Congressman Tomohiko Tōguchi and prevent an assassination attempt on him after receiving a message from his Public Security colleague, Jiang Chengbei. Now, seeing Vermouth present, his heart sank.

At the same time, a terrible thought appeared in his mind, and he kept praying that this assassination was not organized by the distillery.

Amuro Tooru, preoccupied and somewhat worried, searched around for Jiang Chengbei and Tun Gushigehiko. Vermouth, who had nothing to do but socialize, came up to Amuro Tooru with a wine glass and greeted him with a smile.

According to Vermouth's information, the old man Pisco was in charge of this operation, Gin was directing and planning from the outside, and Vermouth was just loafing around here—well, keeping watch for Pisco, providing some support, and playing a supporting role.

The only people who participated in and knew about this operation were the few of them, that gentleman, and Rum. Why was Bourbon here? This small question arose in Sister Bay's mind, so she came over with a wine glass to try and get information out of him.

"Hey, isn't this the famous detective Amuro Tooru? What brings you here today?"

Faced with Vermouth's direct questioning, Amuro Tooru had no way to express his bitterness. Could he say that he was there to protect Congressman Tonguchi Shigehiko, as a public security officer protecting a political figure?

No, he couldn't tell the truth, so he could only start making things up: "I was hired to find someone..."

"A commission? What a coincidence! Our organization happens to be operating here; you shouldn't know about this given your level of authority..."

Seeing Vermouth staring at him with a suspicious look, Amuro Tooru cursed Jiang Chengbei, who was also a police officer, in his mind.

"Operation? The organization is having an operation here today? I didn't know that."

I only came here because I took a case. As a detective, you can take any kind of case. It's normal to run into you here. I was just lucky, it was just a coincidence..."

Why was this commissioned? Who was commissioned? And who was the person they contacted?

It's not that I'm paranoid, but the organization is taking action here today, and you suddenly show up again. If you don't explain yourself clearly, it will be difficult for me to explain to Gin.

"By the way, Gin is in charge of this operation. He's outside. If you don't make this clear, I'm afraid you'll get your head blown off as soon as you step outside."

Faced with Vermouth's probing questions, Amuro Tooru's eyes darted around, trying to find someone who wouldn't arouse suspicion to deal with her.

"Amuro, why aren't you saying anything? Do you need to keep your miscellaneous little jobs outside a secret from your colleagues?"

If you have a reason you can't say, then I won't ask. I'll report your sudden appearance here today to that gentleman.

"Oh, Amuro, you've finally arrived? I've been waiting for you for ages."

"Hurry up! I asked you to come here to help me find someone. What are you standing here for? Get your help finding that person now. If you keep dawdling like this, I might not pay your service fee."

Just as Amuro Tooru was considering how to cover up one lie with another, the voice he hated most rang out.

If it weren't for that annoying voice that called him here and hadn't told him that this operation was planned by the distillery and that there were distillery executives present, he wouldn't be suspected by anyone right now!

Even though Jiang Chengbei has temporarily helped him out of this predicament, he is still cursing the instigator in his heart.

Chapter 244 Amuro Tooru: I'm surrounded by incompetent teammates, help!

"Amuro, I asked you to help me find the assassin and protect the important person, but you're here flirting with girls. I'm so disappointed in you..."

Huh? Amuro, is that Hollywood superstar Chris in front of you?

Wow, it really is Miss Chris!

"Miss Chris, I'm your biggest fan, the kind of die-hard fan... Amuro Tooru, you actually know Miss Chris, but you never told me. You don't treat me like a brother. You've disappointed me so much..."

Seeing Jiang Chengbei drooling over Vermouth like a lecherous pig, Amuro Tooru clenched his fists. He had initially thought Jiang Chengbei was there to help him out, but Jiang Chengbei's thoughtless and unrestrained words, "Let him find the assassin and protect the big shot," made Amuro Tooru's head feel like it was going to explode.

Making such a basic mistake and being so unreliable, is this guy really a well-trained police officer?

Judging from Jiang Chengbei's current state, he's not much better than those incompetent and low-IQ police officers from the Metropolitan Police Department. He's a disgrace to the public security police.

Normally, losing face is a minor matter, but now, standing before us is the cunning and treacherous Thousand-Faced Witch Vermouth. Could you please watch your words?!

Seeing Jiang Chengbei, who was speaking recklessly and was blinded by beauty, Amuro Tooru clenched his fists. And the thing that Amuro Tooru feared most had indeed happened, making Amuro Tooru's heart jump instantly.

Vermouth, who had initially been somewhat suspicious of Bourbon's coincidental arrival, immediately grasped the key point after hearing Jiang Chengbei's words and then asked in surprise:

"An assassin protecting an important figure? What exactly happened? And sir, who are you? What are you doing?"

If you're really capable and have a clean background, then, since you're a fan of mine, I'll ask you to be my bodyguard from now on.

Sister Bei knows Jiang Chengbei. She learned from Gin that he is a policeman and that he had mentioned wanting to infiltrate their organization as a substitute officer. Now she has discovered that he knows Bourbon and that Bourbon accepted his mission. As a result, anyone who isn't an idiot can't ignore this matter and must investigate it.

Seeing that Vermouth immediately took an interest in Jiang Chengbei, Amuro Tooru became more vigilant. Whether his identity could be kept secret now depended entirely on Jiang Chengbei, this terrible teammate.

To prevent Jiang Chengbei, this incompetent teammate, from prematurely exposing himself, and at the same time to subtly remind Jiang Chengbei that the Hollywood actress on the other side was problematic and not to do anything foolish or irrational, Amuro Tooru spoke before Jiang Chengbei could say anything:

"Mr. Jiang Cheng, you said you would give me a large reward before I came here, so I accepted your commission to find someone. But you didn't say that I was here to find an assassin and protect an important person, which is such a dangerous thing!"

If I had known it was about an assassination attempt, I, a third-rate detective who only looks for cats, dogs, mistresses, and investigates extramarital affairs, wouldn't have come.

I can handle finding an ordinary person, but finding a murderer and protecting important figures are beyond my capabilities. You should find someone more capable.

"I'm just an ordinary detective; I can handle investigating celebrity gossip, so please don't make things difficult for me."

In Amuro Tooru's mind, even if Jiang Chengbei wasn't very smart and might let slip some information, they were still on the same side. He had already given such obvious hints that, compared to Jiang Chengbei, who had received police training, even if he was less capable, he should be able to understand that the Hollywood star on the other side had a problem after Amuro Tooru's hints and wouldn't say anything that would expose him.

However, to Amuro Tooru's surprise, Jiang Chengbei completely ignored him. Instead, like a pig, under Vermouth's flirtatious glance, he answered whatever Vermouth asked, just like an ordinary brainless fan.

For example, when Sister Bei pretended not to know Jiang Chengbei and asked him who he was and what he did, Jiang Chengbei immediately pulled out a police notebook from his pocket, patted his chest, and introduced himself:

“Miss Chris, don’t be afraid. I am Jiang Chengbei, a police officer from the Japanese Public Security Bureau. I’m here to protect Congressman Shigehiko Tunguchi. We received information that someone is planning to assassinate him here.”

But Miss Chris, don't be afraid. I'm here, I'll protect you!

Upon hearing Jiang Chengbei's words, Amuro Touko vomited three liters of blood and almost pulled out his gun to shoot Jiang Chengbei!

Amuro Tooru, angry:

Jiang Chengbei, you idiot, do you even know who the woman in front of you is? One flirtatious glance from her and you've revealed all your secrets. Do you think you deserve the confidentiality training the Imperial Police Department gave you?!

You confessed all along, so why did you have to confess in front of me, especially when we had such a clear relationship? Wasn't that just trying to get me killed?!

Amuro Tooru was so enraged by Jiang Chengbei's idiotic behavior that he almost pulled out a gun and shot him, but now was not the time to act rashly. He immediately tried to salvage the situation and prepared to sever ties with Jiang Chengbei, saying in surprise:

"Mr. Jiang Cheng, you're actually a police officer? I never expected to receive a request from a police officer today. I'm truly honored!"

When Amuro Tooru tried to salvage the situation and distance himself from Jiang Chengbei, he already knew Jiang Chengbei was a policeman. However, Vermouth, who wanted to find out more, especially about his relationship with Bourbon, pretended to only now realize Jiang Chengbei's identity and said in surprise:

"Ah, I didn't expect Mr. Jiang Cheng to be a policeman. I like men who are policemen the most. You are heroes who protect the peace of the city. You are so cool."

"By the way, since you're a police officer and received information about an assassination attempt on Representative Tomoya, why didn't you ask your colleagues for help, but instead sought help from Detective Amuro Tooru?"

Originally, Amuro Tooru thought that after hearing that their assassination operation had been leaked, he would ask Jiang Chengbei, that loose-lipped idiot, where the information came from and what arrangements the police had made. However, Vermouth didn't ask about any of that. Instead, she asked about his relationship with Jiang Chengbei to his face. This made Amuro Tooru's hair stand on end and he was extremely nervous.

Vermouth didn't even bother to hide her suspicions and directly asked him about them.

At this moment, Amuro Tooru finally realized how desperate it was to have a terrible teammate. He had been doing a good job as an undercover agent in the Black Organization, and even when he frequently returned to the police station to lead the Zero Team members on missions, the Black Organization never discovered his problem. But as soon as he met Jiang Chengbei, this terrible teammate, his identity was almost exposed.

Just as Amuro Tooru was sinking into despair because of a terrible teammate in Jiangcheng North, he immediately experienced something even more despairing than having a terrible teammate by his side: being surrounded by a group of terrible teammates.

"Hey, Jiangcheng, what are you doing here? Did your police also receive a tip that someone is planning to assassinate Councilor Tunkou here?"

As Megure's voice rang out, Amuro Tooru suddenly noticed a large group of police officers from the Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigative Division, Violent Crimes Investigation Section 3, rushing to his side.

"Brother Jiangcheng, it's wonderful to meet you police officers here."

When I first received the message from Brother Kudo, I didn't know how to find the assassin or how to protect Representative Tonguchi, but with the Public Security Bureau around, I felt relieved.

"Huh? Amuro, my brother... Hmm, Amuro, you're here too. With you here, we're even more confident in protecting Representative Tonguchi."

After hearing Inspector Megure's enthusiastic words, Tooru Amuro felt even more desperate... Well, forget it, I'm not desperate anymore, I'm just giving up...

Last time, during the shootout at the fruit shop in Jiangcheng North and Tennessee, my identity was exposed. Inspector Megure and the other officers from the Third Investigative Division guessed my identity. But I had clearly agreed with them to keep it a secret. Yet today, as soon as we met, this guy named Inspector Megure started talking like a blabbermouth, just like Jiangcheng North. He doesn't even consider the occasion and just blurts out everything like an idiot. Are you even trained police officers?

Sure enough, you can't have any hope for the Japanese police; they can only be a hindrance and a liability!

Compared to the despairing Amuro Tooru, Vermouth's eyes lit up after hearing what Inspector Megure, the plainclothes policeman, said. She hadn't even asked them about their source of information yet, but just from overhearing one sentence, she knew that it was Shinichi Kudo, that nagging, soft-hearted guy who had repeatedly let Gin, his father's killer, pass the buck to the police.

I just don't know when Shinichi Kudo will grow up, and when he will be able to harden his heart and kill Gin, the murderer of his father, to avenge his father!

The police got the information from Shinichi Kudo, but where did Shinichi Kudo get the information that they were going to assassinate Shigehiko Tomoguchi?

It would be great if we could meet more police officers like Jiang Chengbei and Inspector Megure who have lisps in their mouths.