BWDC:SDDK Chapter 23: That Security Guard Looks Like a Senior Commissioner
"Haji Heiji, you bastard, what are you saying?!"
The coffee Ren Ichimonji had just sipped sprayed right out of his mouth.
If Hattori Heiji hadn't spent years immersed in Kendo and possessed sharp reflexes, he would have been heading off to change his clothes right then and there.
Even so, Hattori Heiji's face was dark with annoyance.
Fine, he figured he could officially rule out that absurd idea he'd just had.
Hattori Heiji shook his head and fired off a rapid succession of questions.
"I say, man, how did you get my phone number?"
"And how do you know about that time years ago when I met a girl playing with a ball at a temple?"
"I've never mentioned that to anyone. Did you find out from her?"
Had Ren Ichimonji's language proficiency not been a skill granted by his system's newbie gift pack, he might not have even understood the lightning-fast speech Hattori Heiji just delivered.
Pulling out a tissue to wipe the coffee from his mouth, Ren Ichimonji replied earnestly:
"No, I saw it in a manga."
Hattori Heiji: ?
Manga? Huh? What the hell is this guy talking about?
Hattori Heiji stared at the man in front of him for a moment.
He couldn't see any flaws or signs of lying.
It was enough to make him start doubting his own professional competence as a detective.
Or perhaps, the man in front of him was just a complete mental patient.
"Fine, fine, let's set that aside for now. I only have one question... who exactly are you?"
Feeling a bit irritated, Hattori Heiji scratched his cap and asked.
"I'm Batman!"
Ren Ichimonji answered with total conviction.
"Of course, it's not night yet, so it's not time for my official sortie. Therefore, you can call me by my real name: Ren Ichimonji!"
...Which way is the quickest route to the nearest mental hospital in Tokyo?
Hattori Heiji sighed.
It seemed impossible to get any real information about the past from this person.
He decided to go say hello to Kudo first; talking to this guy was making his blood pressure spike.
Just as he started walking toward the hallway, he saw Mouri Kogoro's group appearing on the stairs, led by the butler.
Mouri Ran pointed at Hattori Heizo, who was on the first floor directing police officers in their investigation, and said in surprise:
"Dad, the security guard here looks so impressive!"
Hattori Heiji: ?
"Y-yeah, Ran-neechan is right..."
Hattori Heiji: ??
"Mm-hmm. After all, this is the Nagamitsu family, who are on par with the Suzuki Financial Group. It's only normal for their security to be top-notch."
Hattori Heiji: ???
Where are your manners? Does my old man really look like a five-star general of a residential security firm?
And why are you following along with that, Kudo? Do you not recognize people either? Damn it, you guy who chooses girls over friends!
Hattori Heiji silently took a few steps back and turned to ask:
"Fine, Batman, let's talk about your purpose for being here instead."
Ren Ichimonji: ?
Didn't you just think talking to me raises your blood pressure? Why did you retreat back here the second you glanced at the stairs?
"...You're the help Kudo called in? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Hattori Heiji leaned against the wall, feeling somewhat speechless.
To prevent Kudo from finding the case boring and not showing up, he had specifically sent him a message. It turned out Kudo outsourced the help to someone else without telling him. What was the point?
Was it to increase the difficulty for him?
Not dwelling on it too much, Hattori Heiji glanced toward the hallway and lowered his voice.
"Since you're the help that guy Kudo sent..."
"Then I'll tell you why I had that guy Kudo come over this time..."
Hearing this, Ren Ichimonji took a sip of his coffee and nodded.
It was about time they got to business.
The arrow for the public security mission pointed directly at this villa estate. Therefore, a violent incident was bound to happen here. If he could prevent it, it would be for the best. It's not like the mission only counted as a success if someone died.
"Last night, the Chairman of the Nagamitsu Group, Nagamitsu Michizo, called my father."
"He said that every night, the sound of someone running back and forth comes from the hallway. But whenever he opens the door, he can't find anyone. To prevent any accidents, he asked my father to come over."
"After arriving on the scene, we found that the footprints in the hallway mostly move toward the storage room."
"So, my father and I both agree that this is likely a thief scouting the place for a robbery. It's not some violent event like Old Man Nagamitsu fears. Therefore, my father is preparing to head back to Osaka."
"After all, the situation in Osaka... in short, either my father or I must remain in Osaka at all times."
Hattori Heiji pointed his thumb toward the storage room in the hallway before continuing:
"However, I felt like I might not be able to catch the thief on my own."
"So, just to be safe, I asked Old Man Nagamitsu to use the excuse of looking for a first love to bring Uncle Mouri and Kudo here. That way, catching the thief is a guaranteed thing!"
To catch a thief, you called both the God of Death and a plague into the house? You're really something.
The corner of Ren Ichimonji's mouth twitched.
So, both Hattori Heiji and Hattori Heizo were completely unaware that this might be a precursor to a violent murder case? They were treating it as a simple prelude to a burglary?
He'd have to make the others more vigilant in a bit.
"Heiji, come here for a second."
Hattori Heizo's voice echoed from around the corner.
Instantly, upon hearing his father's voice, Hattori Heiji responded and then asked directly:
"I'm going to Old Man Nagamitsu's room with my old man now. Are you coming?"
In the Chairman's room, Nagamitsu Michizo lay in bed, reminiscing fondly about his first love.
It left Mouri Kogoro, standing nearby, feeling completely numb.
Look, buddy. It's one thing if you don't know where she lives or her family situation.
But are you really telling me you don't even remember what she looks like or what her name is?!
Are you intentionally messing with me?
"Strange... why hasn't Ren Ichimonji come over yet?"
Conan, standing beside Mouri Kogoro, whispered to himself.
What is he doing? Did Ren Ichimonji just knock Hattori Heiji out with one punch and is now looking for a place to hide the body?
Creak—
The door to the room was pushed open.
Standing by Nagamitsu Michizo's bedside, the secretary, Hinata Miyuki, noticed the door opening and immediately stood up.
Mouri Kogoro and Mouri Ran's gazes followed suit.
The person at the door was the "security guard" who had been directing things downstairs earlier.
When they were on the stairs, they had only seen a profile and couldn't see him clearly.
Now that they could see his full face, Mouri Ran felt that the man's face looked very familiar, as if she often saw it on the news.
She whispered to Mouri Kogoro:
"That security guard looks like a Senior Commissioner."
Mouri Kogoro was stunned.
A Senior Commissioner is the second-highest rank in the Japanese police hierarchy; only the chiefs of regional headquarters hold such a rank.
Could it be...?!
"Hello, Detective Mouri, and Miss Mouri. I am Hattori Heizo of the Osaka Prefectural Police. Pleased to meet you."
The dignified middle-aged man in the suit spoke.
Instantly, Mouri Kogoro felt his vision go dark.
He had actually mistaken a Senior Commissioner from the neighboring prefecture for a security guard. Luckily, he hadn't spoken loudly earlier, or he would have really lost face this time!
"Yo, Kudo!"
From behind Hattori Heizo, Hattori Heiji poked his head out and greeted Conan.
Conan: ?
End of Chapter
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