"Huh? Bombs!" Genta cried out.
Standing at the very back, Haibara Ai said leisurely, "You observed very carefully, but if it were bombs, the officers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team would be wearing protective suits, not casually opening boxes like that."
Conan stared at the 'Cheetah Delivery Service' logo and text on the truck, his eyes also filled with confusion and curiosity.
As long as one had the channels, the bounty hunter July's penchant for 'sending deliveries' was no longer a secret, and he had a particular fondness for 'Cheetah Delivery Service'.
Given that the police were cautious but not wearing explosive protection gear, it was indeed possible that these were 'deliveries' sent by July.
However, looking at the wooden strips and cardboard piled on the side, it seemed they had already opened quite a few boxes. No matter what, it was impossible for someone to send several wanted criminals at once, right?
If wanted criminals were that easy to find, the police wouldn't need to issue wanted warrants.
Was the MPD planning to replace tables and chairs?
Judging by the officers' vigilance when opening the boxes, that didn't seem likely either...
Haibara Ai also noticed some clues and asked Conan in a low voice, "Is it that bounty hunter?"
"I'm not sure either," Conan paused. "It could be."
Haibara Ai understood. She couldn't confirm the answer because there were too many of them. However, she didn't dwell on it for long. "Doesn't that person worry about someone impersonating him in the same way and sending bombs to the MPD..."
"He wouldn't," Conan said without thinking. "To get the bounty, he would probably contact the police in advance to inform them to receive the delivery. The police wouldn't easily trust anything sent without prior contact, and they would treat it as explosive disposal when opening it."
"Hello," Takagi Wataru came out from the main entrance. "Are you Professor Agasa? I'm Takagi from the First Investigation Division. I'll take you and the children inside to give your statements."
Professor Agasa turned around. "Ah, hello, I am Professor Agasa."
"Then, there's Mr. Chi..." Takagi Wataru checked his watch and looked up to see a red car approaching.
Chi Feichi rolled down the car window. "There was a bit of traffic on the way. I'm not late, am I?"
"No," Takagi Wataru laughed. "I just came out myself!"
Chi Feichi nodded calmly and didn't say more, driving to the parking lot.
Takagi Wataru smiled, but sighed faintly in his heart.
After moving delivery packages in the morning, he thought he wouldn't have to take statements, and was happy for a moment. At least he wouldn't have to face Chi Feichi, who never used two sentences if one could suffice.
Unexpectedly, three cases required police dispatch today, plus people were needed to open the delivery packages, resulting in a severe shortage of manpower. Taking statements fell on his head again.
Indeed, another day requiring hard work...
After Chi Feichi parked the car, Takagi Wataru issued visitor passes and led the group into the MPD building.
After the three children pinned their passes to their clothes, they surrounded Chi Feichi.
"Brother Chi, Conan said you went to Hokkaido..."
"Yeah, I brought you gifts. Sent them to the Professor's place."
"We'll go get them later!"
"Yay!"
"Is it something to eat?"
"Brother Chi, did Feichi come?"
"No, he's sleeping at home."
"Huh? Sleeping in broad daylight?"
"Dinodon rufozonatum likes to sleep during the day and become active at night."
Chi Feichi lied with his eyes open. While the habits of Dinodon rufozonatum were indeed like that, Feichi was actually sleeping because he was tired from running around all night yesterday.
He stayed up all night to adjust his sleep schedule; he should let Feichi sleep well.
Conan looked at Chi Feichi's perpetually indifferent face and couldn't help whispering a complaint, "I didn't expect someone with his personality to be popular with kids..."
"Because he feels very reliable," Haibara Ai walked beside him. She didn't want to squeeze in with a bunch of kids. "He gives a sense of security."
"Pfft!" Conan laughed out loud, thinking Haibara Ai was mocking Chi Feichi for having a cold face all day. "You're right in a way; he does give a sense of security!"
Haibara Ai didn't make a sound. She was serious.
"Then can you bring Feichi out to play another day?" Ayumi pulled Chi Feichi and asked.
"Feichi is great at video games. We want to challenge him again," Mitsuhiko said. "Also, we want to invite him to join the Detective Boys!"
Conan stumbled and turned back. "Oi, oi, don't make decisions randomly, okay? Feichi is a snake..."
"But Feichi is great at video games!" Ayumi tried hard to speak up for Feichi.
"Exactly," Genta insisted. "So what if he's a snake? He can be the mascot of our Detective Boys!"
Chi Feichi: "..."
What the hell is a mascot!
Feichi is my pet, not for loan!
Conan knew he couldn't out-stubborn three little brats, so he turned to ask Takagi Wataru, "Ne, Officer Takagi, what delivery packages were those officers dismantling outside the gate? You have a ring of dark dust on your upper sleeve, and the area near the inner arm is dirtier. It must be left from rolling up your sleeves while moving things earlier, right?"
The three children immediately shifted their attention.
"Officer Takagi, one of the buttons on your cuff is missing!"
"There are also marks of something snagging on the hem of your pants..."
"So Officer Takagi was helping earlier. You must know what's in those boxes, right?"
Takagi Wataru hurried looked down at his clothes, scratching his head and laughing. "That... it's chairs that the MPD needs to replace."
"What, so that's it..."
The three children were fooled.
Only then did Haibara Ai walk up to Chi Feichi and tug on his shirt hem.
Chi Feichi cooperated, falling to the very back of the group.
"The test results for the blood you gave me are out," Haibara Ai said softly. "77% matches the Common Raven (Corvus corax), specifically the Southwestern subspecies (Corvus corax sinuatus). The remaining 23% has no similarities with any genes in the world raven DNA genetic database. It should be a genetic mutation."
"What effect will the mutated genes have on its body?" Chi Feichi asked.
"Congenital iris pigment deficiency. The iris of the Southwestern raven is dark brown, looking blackish like most Asian eyes," Haibara Ai subconsciously looked up at Chi Feichi's eyes. "Influenced by the genes, its eyes might be red, with a very small possibility of purple irises appearing..."
Chi Feichi turned his head away: "..."
Just talk, why look at me...
Haibara Ai secretly smiled, then pretended to be serious again. "Also, its lifespan might be longer than ordinary ravens. In captivity or protected environments, the longest known lifespan of a raven reached 40 years, with an average of 10-15 years in the wild. It might live to be 50-60 years old."
Chi Feichi listened silently. It seemed Feimo's mutated genes indeed extended his life.
However, Haibara Ai's data judgment still had errors. Feimo's lifespan was much longer than fifty or sixty years.
Haibara Ai continued, "Its physical condition will also be better than ordinary ravens. Both strength and body size can approach that of an eagle."
"Its body size isn't much different from other ravens," Chi Feichi recalled and compared. "Among known raven sizes, it's considered on the smaller side."
"Of course," Haibara Ai clasped her hands behind her back, speaking with a mature tone. "Judging from the DNA comparison, it's still a child."
Chi Feichi remained silent.
A child that has lived for at least a hundred years, lived until it didn't want to live anymore...
"It's also a very healthy child. The blood sample carried no bacteria, and the mutated genes caused no pathological changes," although Haibara Ai didn't particularly like creatures like ravens, since Chi Feichi wanted to raise one, she didn't want to object. "If you want to keep it, I'll organize the detailed test report. You'll also need Professor Agasa to get a stamp from a registered laboratory before you can get the pet-related certificates. You can come pick it up tomorrow afternoon."
"I don't have time tomorrow," Chi Feichi said. "I plan to graduate early. I have theory exams scheduled for the whole day tomorrow."
Haibara Ai frowned. "Isn't that a bit too rushed? Being pressed for time can easily cause excessive mental stress. The doctor should have told you not to have too much stress and to pay attention to rest..."
Chi Feichi's tone remained calm. "No stress."
Given his situation, he might not necessarily get the practitioner qualification. He just wanted to wrap up his university life as soon as possible. Missing this opportunity would mean waiting until next year.
The corner of Haibara Ai's mouth twitched slightly. This answer is too confident, isn't it? "Then... good luck with your exams."