Chapter 1066: The Banquet Where Everyone's a Husky
Inspector Megure turned his head to stare at Hattori Heiji. "Well then, Hattori Junior..."
This one could do the reasoning, right?
*Please begin your performance.* He was ready.
Seeing that Inspector Megure was no longer staring at her, Kazuha Toyama breathed a sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly. "That's right, Heiji can solve it too."
Hattori Heiji glanced at Kazuha Toyama and took a deep breath.
*Calm down, deduce first...*
Five minutes later, four employees were brought to the room that was the crime scene.
Twenty-five minutes later, Hattori Heiji's deduction concluded, the case was solved, and the police led Jun Hasami into a police car.
After thanking Mori Kogoro's group, Inspector Megure also got into his police car and left.
Watching the police car drive away, Kazuha Toyama sighed with some emotion, "I really didn't expect it... Mr. Hozami killed the President and framed the Vice President all because they were manufacturing unsafe toys."
"But the children won't be happy if he does that," Mouri Ran sighed.
"Let's talk about that later," Hattori Heiji said with a dark face. "You guys won, so we'll go see the Takarazuka performance."
Chi Feichi looked at Kazuha Toyama.
He had been out in the corridor getting some air and had only just come downstairs with the others. According to the plan, wasn't Kazuha Toyama supposed to let Hattori Heiji and Conan win? What was going on?
"I accidentally blurted out the question you told me to ask Inspector Megure," Kazuha Toyama explained, fidgeting with her fingers. "And... I mentioned that the Dying Message was 'Iwatomi' and the True Culprit was Mr. Hozami..."
"He is such a proud person..." Chi Feichi repeated Kazuha Toyama's earlier words, looking at her thoughtfully. "So, is it more enjoyable to destroy his pride personally?"
Kazuha Toyama's face flushed red. "I'm not, I didn't..."
(╥ω╥`)
She really didn't have such a deviant thought... but now that she thought about it, it did seem a little thrilling?
"Just kidding," Chi Feichi looked away.
Mouri Ran and Kazuha Toyama looked at Chi Feichi's calm and indifferent face, momentarily speechless.
*Then could you at least crack a smile...*
"Alright, Heiji," Kazuha Toyama said, seeing Hattori Heiji's persistently dark face, and hurried to catch up with him. "We didn't win, you guys won, because Ran, Brother Feichi, and I discussed it earlier—we forfeit!"
"What?" Hattori Heiji looked awkward. "Are you looking down on me?"
"Hey, I was worried you'd be disappointed, so I specifically went to discuss forfeiting with Brother Feichi!"
"I don't want you to intentionally let me win!"
"Hmph, fine, then we won. In that case, we're going to Koshien!"
"Fine, we'll go. The most it can be is boring... Ko-Koshien?"
"I suddenly want to go see Koshien, is that a problem?"
The argument ended at the street corner.
Hattori Heiji looked at Kazuha Toyama, who was glaring at him, and was suddenly at a loss for words. He muttered under his breath, "I know."
Saying thank you was impossible. He would never say thank you in this lifetime.
Chi Feichi stopped at the corner and looked at the group. "I'll be heading back then."
"Right, Brother Feichi is going that way, right?" Mouri Ran looked at the road on the other side and smiled. "Be careful on your way!"
Chi Feichi nodded and turned to walk towards the other end of the street.
"Brother Feichi, you're not coming to the detective agency with us?" Hattori Heiji shouted when he saw Chi Feichi leave so abruptly. "Then I'll invite you to Osaka again next time! We'll compete on my turf next time, and I definitely won't lose again!"
Conan yawned. He had already repeated the phrase 'I won't lose next time' in his head several times.
...
That night, Chi Feichi entered that strange dream again.
Another white box appeared in the dream. This time, inside the box was Fei Li, along with some sea creatures like octopuses, squids, and sea turtles.
The next day, August 25th, summer.
Mori Kogoro led the team, following Hattori Heiji to Hyogo Prefecture.
Chi Feichi didn't see them off. He spent the entire morning at home as an otaku, reading data, sending emails, and making calls. At six in the afternoon, he left Feichi at home to rest and drove alone to the hotel where the cocktail party was being held.
THK Company had sent out two invitations this time. One was for this internal gathering, and the other was an invitation card for a large-scale banquet, scheduled for two months later.
The guests included figures from business, political circles, and the police force. Even if his Old Dad and Old Mom, and Sonoko's parents, didn't attend, they would send high-status Elders from their Group or Financial Group to attend on their behalf and show support.
That was the grand banquet for showcasing influence and connections. Because most of the guests had special identities, the invitations had to be sent out two months in advance to give them time to plan their itineraries.
This, however, was an internal gathering. Although Odagiri Toshiya didn't hide it from the media, he didn't make a big spectacle of it either.
After arriving, Chi Feichi went straight upstairs from the parking lot, avoiding the reporters squatting at the front door, and successfully entered the venue.
Also, because it was an internal gathering, the girls from THK Company couldn't restrain the primordial power within their hearts, forcefully turning a perfectly fine cocktail party into a large-scale amusement park.
Over here, Suzuki Sonoko had moved a drum set directly into the lobby, and a group of people were gathered around, banging away.
Over there, Odagiri Toshiya was being chased around by a group of girls, causing Yoko Okino's former company President to follow along, completely at a loss.
Further in, a group of girls followed Chizuru, waving fans around.
And even further in, Morizono Kikuto was chatting and laughing with a group of people.
Upon entering, Chi Feichi glanced at the insane scene, and with an unchanged expression, walked towards the innermost table, arriving next to Morizono Kikuto.
"Eh? Feichi, you're here," Morizono Kikuto said, turning around with a smile. "Have you eaten?"
"I have."
Chi Feichi vaguely sensed several evil gazes secretly watching him from the vicinity. He picked up a glass of white wine and turned to look.
The crowd that had been whispering in low voices instantly returned to normal.
The 'old employees' of THK Company were corrupting the employees of a traditional, respectable company. Regardless of whether they were familiar or not, as long as they looked agreeable, they were pulled in to play. After a few sentences, everyone from the directors, producers, stage crew, artists, and singers had gone completely wild.
Meanwhile, in the corridor outside the main door, Yoko Okino, dressed in a short orange formal dress, was chatting with Rena Mizunashi (Kir) beside her, walking towards the lobby accompanied by an assistant and a manager.
"Is it really okay for me to come along?" Rena Mizunashi (Kir) looked conflicted, like an ordinary girl with stage fright. "Besides, I just finished work and didn't even have time to change."
"It's fine, this is just a gathering for company employees and some good friends. Several producers from Nichimuri TV Station didn't prepare much either; they came over right after finishing work," Yoko Okino said, linking her arm with Rena's and leaning close to her ear with a smile. "Actually, it's because we got off work too late, and it was too troublesome to go back to eat. This place is so close to the studio, so everyone decided to come over for dinner by the way..."
"Someone else's company... no, it's your company now," Rena Mizunashi (Kir) teased with a helpless smile. "Your company is having an employee gathering, but the people from the TV station are treating this place like a free meal spot?"
Actually, she wanted to check it out herself.
THK Company had risen quickly and was backed by powerful financial resources. Since Yoko Okino had invited her, she might as well come and make her face known. It might be useful in the future.
She, a professional agent, undercover in a dangerous organization, needed to 'keep her eyes and ears open,' gathering all the information she could to prepare for a successful infiltration.
"You're a reporter from the TV station and haven't had much contact with the people from the company, but I've been to the company several times for collaborations. The atmosphere at THK Company is very relaxed!" Yoko Okino said, then added with some reluctance, "And you're about to leave 'Good Morning Seven O'Clock,' so our work schedules will be completely different. If there's a chance, I'd like to spend more time with you..."
"It's great that I'm being transferred to host the Sunday night news program," Rena Mizunashi (Kir) said, comforting her with a smile. "I'm more interested in that kind of broadcast. This change also gives me more free time to do things I want to do."
"That's good too. Actually, a lot of people like you," Yoko Okino said with expectation. "The TV station receives a lot of fan letters for you every time. In a while, you should be able to become the chief anchor!"
"The letters you receive are three times more than mine," Rena Mizunashi (Kir) paused. "And I'd rather go out and do interviews..."
"That's great, you don't seem to like being restricted," Yoko Okino smiled sweetly. "Then I wish you all the success in the world!"
Rena Mizunashi (Kir) also smiled in response. "Thank you."
She wouldn't dare say she dislikes restrictions. In fact, there were too many restrictions; she even had to report attending a banquet like this to the Organization...
After all, Odagiri Toshiya had connections with the police.
Seeing they had reached the entrance, Yoko Okino stopped talking, managed her expression, put on the reserved smile appropriate for a banquet, and pushed the door open.
"Bang! Ping-ping-bang-da-da!..."
"Stop! If you keep chasing me, I'm calling the police!"
"Go for it, President Odagiri!"
"Hahaha..."
"Please, can you guys be more serious! Hahaha..."
Amidst all sorts of infectious laughter, inside the door were people playing the drums, running wildly, drinking and chatting, dancing with flailing limbs, waving fans, and tossing handkerchiefs...
Rena Mizunashi (Kir) even saw Reiko Akiba, who was always poised and serious on TV, bent over laughing while talking to the person next to her.
Yoko Okino froze for a moment, silently retracted her hand to let the door close, then pushed it open again. Inside, it was still filled with joyous noise and laughter, with everyone as cheerful as a pack of huskies.
"Yoko, why did you close the door just now? Over here!" Near the door, Kuraki waved with a grin. "We were waiting for you!"
Yoko Okino pulled Rena Mizunashi (Kir) along, tiptoeing over like a thief.
Rena Mizunashi (Kir): "..."
She felt as if she had stepped into a parallel space.
The people she knew and had seen were all slightly different from her impression of them, and...
The style was too bizarre, seriously clashing with her impression of a cocktail party.
Also, why was Yoko Okino sneaking in? Was there some sort of etiquette for this?
A mystery.
"Yoko, why are you being so cautious?" Kuraki asked curiously. "Did someone already tell you?"
Yoko Okino's eyes curved into a smile in a second. She nodded and pulled a rope from under the sash of her formal dress. "I even have the rope ready."
Rena Mizunashi (Kir) glanced at the sash on Yoko Okino's dress. Hiding a rope there was indeed a good idea, something worth learning.
"Good," Kuraki said, making a fist with a grin. "Tonight, not only will we capture the President, but we won't let the other three shareholder advisors get away either!"
"Right, let's get them all!"
"It's useless to call the police..."
"Hehehe..."
The group of girls next to them laughed with sinister glee.
Rena Mizunashi (Kir): "..."
(End of Chapter)